I Really Need to Stop Expecting. . .

Landon's been awful on set-pieces until this tournament, during which he's been pretty good. He had two especially dangerous dead balls today and didn't outright waste any.

Um, 6 of the 8 victories under Bradley have been by more than one goal.

 

Umm . . . no.

He waited until the second game to start delivering decent balls.

True. How many of them would have been by more if we quit wasting time with . . . I don't know . . . say . . . Twellman?

 

I need to stop expecting people not comming on here to and piss and moan about Heydude like he was killing our offense and giving up repeated chances on defense.

I totally agree, instead of the professional foul he should have let the guy walk in on Howard 1on1.

 

Did everyone forget Donovan's corner that led to Beasley's goal against El Salvador? It was a great cross that led to the ball falling right to Beasley for the finish. He has obviously been spending time working on his serves, the last two or three games I haven't seen one that was horrible, unlike the first game where there were several.

Beasley's cross on the Boca goal was outstanding, though.

 

...the USA to finish their first three or four open chances.

 

Beasley seems to be the designated deadball taker now (which is a good thing, IMHO).

 

He's got great hustle, love his spirit, but he does kill our offense when he moves up. He can't have converted more than 2-3 passes in the last third of the field. And he should have had a goal or at least been on target with that one shot he took. I love the guy, but I really don't think he adds as much offensively as some people think. And even with his wheels he does get caught up occasionally.

 

Frankie is a great athlete, and a great hustler. He is not a great soccer player, however. He can't cross the ball to save his life, he makes reckless tackles, and he's a red card waiting to happen.

Everyone loves Frankie, including myself, but at this stage I think his deficits outweigh his benefits. Did he save our ass today? Absolutely. No one questions his heart and determination.

 

...people to be happy with a 4-0 record and 9-1 in goal differential.

I like Hejduk too, but Simek is far better. Perhaps BB is saving him and Demerit for the Copa.

 

Umm, no. The Nats have a lot of games to play in a short period of time. This means a LOT of rotating of players, not seeing the best 11 every time out. Furthermore I suspect that Bradley may have though Frankie's game was better suited to what they would face today from Panama, ie a lot of counter-attacking and team speed. I disagree with him there, but maybe that was the thinking.

Heydjuk is one of my all time favorite Nats, but today he was caught out of position too much, stalled offensive surges with poor passing/crossing (even though he helped create those surges with his runs up the wings), and threatened to get a red at any second. He SHOULD have gotten a second yellow in the second half and I honestly question Bradley for not subbing him out.

Simek would have been a steadier option today in my mind. Having said that I am glad he is rested for the upcoming games. Does anyone know if he will be available for Copa?

 

I see, so Haydude starting the first game of the tournament also had nothing to do with who is the better player right?

As for Frankie being caught out of position too much, I must have been watching a different game because I missed all the goals Panama scored with Frankie caught up field. How many goals did Panama score on the counter and why didnt Coach Bob sub him out after the second time it happened? Im sure Timmy must have been pissed!

 

I didn't say they scored when it happened, merely that it DID happen. And actually, Timmy was pissed, I saw him yell at Frankie a couple times. And yes, I think you must have been watching a different game if you noticed none of this.

I will also point out that many coaches, and Bradley seems to be a prime example of this, will alter their lineup to fit the opponent. To them, there is no "best" 11. Merely what they consider best for that situation. Frankie is quick, and fast (not the same thing), and likes to get forward into the attack. Bradley seems to think that that is a good combination when playing against a fast counter-attacking team. I disagree, in this case.

You can't overcome being wrong by being extra aggressive and snarky, not even if you include cool emoticons like rolling eyes. Tone it down friend, and let's just compare ideas.

 

I have to stick up for Twellman. He hit the post and the bar today. Unlike Dempsey (who I also have to applaud for his recent strike rate) Twellman's doing the right things around the goal. That is refreshing for a US striker.

Taylor will get lucky and he will get unlucky, that's what happens with strikers. But he does all the right things.

I remember, one summer ago, feeling like we didn't have a forward.

 

I see, we have a difference of opinion and yet Im "wrong" and apparently need to "tone it down". Maybe you need to "get a life", "friend"

After Frankie starts the next two GC games you can come back with the same tripe about tactics or "resting players" (( insert clever smilie here))

 

the U.S. team to play a complete 90 minutes against decent competition.

Sunil Gulati to not come across as such a twit.

Bob Bradley to smile. Just once.

Pablo to not play like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

 

I'd like to see Beasley or Feilhaber start taking our corners. Get Landon in the box where he can contribute (not that he's really going to win many aerial battles, but if the ball hits the ground he's there to put it away).

Rico Clark might be worth a shot at DFKs--dude has a great long-range shot.

 

I agree, I liked Beas hitting the freekicks against China at the end. He whips the ball across the face of goal and can serve it in with both feet. That to me is most important. Out-swinging balls when you have a dead ball kick 20 to 30 yards out are usually cleared. An in-swinger makes the keeper stay and home and all that is needed is a touch to put it in...(see: ManU vs. Liverpool this season)

Also, I have been defending Onyewu for a while to my friends and others on here, but yesterday....that was enough for me. He is useless against a skilled forward. If the U.S. wants to be a world power of a champion, could you really see Gooch shutting down Rooney, or Klose, or Torres. A skilled forward? Yeah the Eye-ties scored 1 goal and he did fairly well, but the Italians aren't known for the scoring prowless. Yes I know, they have big names, but this is the team that needed a crap PK call to beat the "mighty" Aussies.

Anyway, I would love to see Simek and DeMeritt play a bit more. How are these guys top flight or championship defenders, yet placed below two defenders in the MLS. No offense to the MLS, but DeMeritt was one a the few bright spots this year for Watford and he shut down Chelsea for a full 90 minutes. Simek at Sheffield Wednesday, was a defensive MVP. He gains all these acolades from the English press and is being scouted by many Premier league teams, and he can't even see much of the pitch on his national team. I dunno, I guess I just don't get it.

 

You're right, he got absolutely torched by Koller and Toni in the WC.

I don't think he would match up very well against Rooney, but I do think he could do a good job shutting down Klose and Torres.

 

I really need to stop expecting:

That BS posters will ever appreciate and savor a dominating USA win.

 

Not true. Beasley took the one because we needed someone left footed from that side. Donovan will take the majority of the deadballs.

 

Beasley was taking all the deadballs after a certain point in the second half. If I remember correctly, it didn't matter what side of the field they started from.

 

We are FKD if this is a highlight.

The USMNT looks suspect at so many positions that I can't wait til the U 20 tourney is over and we can look to some unknowns to roll the dice with.

Onyewho - Heyduck - ? Is the best we can come up with in this country?