1. Our team used to have problems when we are physically being beaten by a physical side like Jamaica. No more. I saw Jamaican defenders--Ralph, King, Enuell, etc. bounced off Albright, Sanneh, Onyewu, Gibbs, etc. We used to have problem to contain big guys, now looks like how big we got. 2. The skill on the field is much, much better. In this game, only Sanneh's feet are made by stone. (Corrales didn't play well, but he did have the skill). It is a foresee future that we may not say any skillless player in the field anymore. I still remember the day when Landon made his debut against Mexico. That impression about a skilled American is such remote memory now. 3. We should run over other teams in Hex. We may not, but we should and like Donovan said "more aggressive on the road".
Good points. I would like to address my views on them. 1. I agree that we no longer seem as cowed by a physical side as we once were. Think back, if you can, to France in our first match against Germany. We looked like minnows. Thene think back to '02 against Germany. We played them toe to toe for 90 minutes. And if the ref had just seen a certain handball... But anyway, I think even back in '02 we had established that we could play the physical game. Even more so now. However, I think playing against low skill, high physicality teams could still pose a threat. Think back to the game in Grenada. Although we were never in danger of losing that game, Grenada seemed perfectly willing to throw their bodies around in what seemed like attempts to injure us. And on that waterlogged field, things started to look bad, as though just a small amount of luck and Grenada could get some soft goals and who knows what might have happened? Basically, I hope we can avoid injury against such sides. Players like Gooch will only help in this department. 2. I remember back to 2000 or maybe it was early 2001, when Josh Wolff and Clint Mathis were injured simultaneously, both going to be out for a substantial period. I was so discouraged-- I felt like, without only those TWO players, the US would be in serious trouble. Now, I feel like there aren't ANY two players without whom we'd be sunk (ok, losing both DMB and LD would be pretty bad...) So yes, in addition to our skill being better than it has ever been, our depth is better than ever. It's very encouraging. 3. I can't wait for the Hex. I expect good things. Expect one or two more players to emerge in the Hex the way Eddie Johnson has in the regional stage.
It is good to have a right back like Albright. If Hedjuk or Cherundolo is there, Marlon King would run over both of them. But King bounced off Albright couple of times. Also when Johnson had to do defending one on one, he just put the guy on the ground and took the ball cleanly. Boca, Gibbs and Spector in the left back can do something on physical defenders. In first Panama game, Pope was kept being beaten in the air and Vanney's side is the problem. Too bad Pope is on declining now, and Sanneh has no passing skill at all. I cannot wait to see how those Concacaf defense lines to deal with Johnson, Donovan, and Beasley all run at them full speed for 90 minutes.
You can see now how the talent pool for our National Team is truly growing in all positions on the field. We all know that ever since the end of Steve Sampson's crap out to the success of MLS with Bruce Arena. Our players are truly improving in all directions. I think very soon the pool will get very large and competition for certain spots will be tougher to get. Give credit to the American athlete as well, majority of the time they can adapt quicker than anyone else. Especially playing other sports for recreation like Basketball and anything else. As long as MLS continues to grow, get better and good hard working results, the rest of the World will see that we are not a wimpy Division 2 side. Or in England thinking that it's as equal to First Division, below Premiership. As I have said before the Football Revolution continues.
Arena used a pretty small lineup that day, which I don't think he would use against a better large team. Hejduk, Mastroeni, and Convey were on the backline (with Gibbs) Armas, and Reyna were in the midfield with Donovan and Bease Wolff was upfront with McBride Arena could use Spector/Albright, Pope/Gooch, and Boca/Spector The Dmids/cmids are still kinda small Johnson as the fast forward These are just some of the options that have been capped. I wouldn't worry to much about that one game. I don't think it's very indicative of what you will see on the backline.