2/11, USA v Mexico -- the attack {R} Aside from Michael Bradley's two goals, how was the USA attack? Comments here... Discuss, in a civil manner. Trolling and flaming posts will not be tolerated.
Beat me to it, Dave. I trust you're doing the other related post-match platoon threads as well? I've merged our threads, otherwise.
Damn man we are really really tough to watch. That is all I am going to say. Love the 2-0 win though.
Re: 2/11, USA v Mexico -- the attack {R} Let's talk about Brian Ching. Apparently he played most of the game. I didn't notice.
Ching wasnt as good as he was against Sweden, he and Landon were pretty snuffed out all game. Altidore much the same. Not much to say about the attack today, got the result though.
Jozy only played the last eight minutes. But I think he did a very good job of going forward and holding the ball, and killing time. Hoping he gets a start on Match Day 2.
Ching and Donovan looked for each other, but Mexico actually did a pretty good job of anticipating and cutting off Brian's flick ons. Donovan had a couple of opportunities to run in space in which he should have done better.
Donovan and Ching had a few good moments tonight, but you have to credit the Mexican defense for keeping track of them wherever they were on the field. I am tired of seeing a major part of our offense being pump the ball up to Ching for the header flickon to Donovan. It hardly ever works, maybe once a game and usually not for a great opportunity.
Ching didn't produce a goal or assist, but he was decent up top. Not one of his better games, but not bad either. Donovan looked dangerous a few times, but got some bad bounces that kept him from putting a shot on frame. Not great, but not bad either from the forwards.
Ching did well holding up the ball and laying it back as the midfield attack built. LD was pretty poor in his speed attacking. The combination passing game just didn't work. Personally, I had no expectation of a great game from LD. He was still jet lagged. The game ended around 3 AM Euro body time. LD's accuracy and split second timing was off, but his slower game was just fine, as indicated by the overall # of opportunities he created. Altidore probably should have come on sooner. Ching was worn out.
I think it may be time to borrow a concept from baseball statistics. Value Over Replacement Player. Now obviously its much harder to measure in soccer, as is any statistical measure. That being said, its a useful concept to measure what a person really brings to a match. How much did they add to a match over what an *average player* would have brought at that position. Yes, Ching hustled. Yes he played hard. Yes he worked for long balls. But how many national team forwards for a top 100 national team don't do that? I hate to say, but maybe Jozy wins one or four less balls. Maybe he blocks one less pass.... but how many more offensive chances would be created with him? At some point we have to stop using below average players just because they work hard and are experienced. Don't get me wrong, I understand the value of using Frankie over Wynne because on defensive, experience can mean a whole ton. But for a forward, you are risking far less by using an inexperienced player. To put it succinctly... Ching just doesn't bring enough against the better teams we see to warrant a starting position.
Ching's first half was just bad. his 2nd half was better, but he was tired at about the 65-70 min mark. I thought Altidore was ok, but how much can he do in 9 min? Also, he did hold up the ball (target forward?) on the 2nd goal. Donovan was just ok. a couple of decent moments (especially the header on the goal) and some ugh moments. everything else was so-so from him.
- Ching did what I expect him to do. - I thought Donovan looked a little out of sorts early on but got himself on track. - Dempsey did not look good going forward and kept drifting infield. - We need to get our fullbacks more involved in the attack.
I saw more of Jozy in his limited time on the pitch than Ching the 1st and 2nd half. Doesn't mean he did bad, but we need more from our forwards. Jozy is our starter 2010
I dont think Ching is the type of forward a team can start and have a serious chance at getting through to the knock out stages in a World Cup. I am not sure what Ching can do that Altidore cant do but then again I have never like Ching
Jozy created the second goal. He got the second assist on it. When he brought the ball to the corner he should've went to goal but w/e. Ching- nothing productive Donovan- did his job, but still not himself, I thought he would score at least once.
In the first half, the combination play between the forwards and mids was better. It wasn't good in the 2nd half. Donovan was nothing special. Ching was mostly invisible. Altidore was (sadly) irrelevant. Jet lag, short training time, and some decent Mexican defensive play are all part of the story.
Ok, I guess I'm alone in thinking that Ching played a good game. He brought no danger to score, but that's never been his forte. He got the other attackers involved in the game and allowed us to keep our shape, and he did that very well.