Figured I'd get this started as the game is 12 hours or so away. For the Crew, Dunseth and Cunningham are on the roster. From Soccer America, "Chad McCarty suffered a sprained ankle and returned to Columbus for treatment."
The Crew are droping like flies in NAT camp. It's a league consperacy, I think, involving Arena and DC. I'll tell you more when I get the facts.
Argentina is up 1-0 at the half. I think we played horrible for the first 25 minutes or so, but after that we started to get better and actually make some attacking pushes.
It kind of looked like those young MLSers were wondering if they could play with Argentina. When they saw they could their confidence was raised and they played better.
This version of Argentina is not a great team, but they are playing better than they did against Mexico. I thought they'd be tired, but maybe those two matches in a week are an advantage rather than a liability. It shows the importance of playing together.
Olsen was less than impressive as an attacking mid. We started doing much better when LD moved back in mid. JCs in the game.
yep, you saw this especially when he began pushing foward. in the last 15 minutes of the game he had at least 3 promising runs right up the middle of the field. i dont know how to get him on the field in the midfield but that is where he belongs, though he is not a horrible left back.
Horrible start due to lots of players out of position. Olsen is not a central player. Convey is not a left back. Ball watching on the goal. US rarely had two passes in a row in the first 70 minutes or so. Argentina was stringing passes together left and right - a thing of beauty to watch. Great save by Howard on the near post shot. Pathetic shooting by the US Nats. And their first and second touch definitely shows that they're in pre-season. Glimpse of what I hope to see from Jeff this season with the Crew: back-heel flick after taking three defenders out of the play. Mathis looked good coming back for the ball. Looked terrible on the free kick. Good refereeing for the game - including de second yellow to D'Allesandro for diving. Deserving win by Argentina; they were the better team out there. Was Twellman on the field today?
I thought our distribution out of the back was horrific. Howard was terrible at getting the ball to his guys. He'd just boot it and let it either go out for an automatic change in possesion or he'd make our guys fight to get it back. I was also impressed by Cunningham's pass to Twellman in the box. The US just didn't have the final touch it needed, and there should have been an ejection sooner than the 89th minute. You can also argue that Beasley should have earned a PK in the opening minutes. He was blazing past those fools and got taken down. Just because he was playing the ball ahead of him a bit further than usual, they didn't call it. He also had a wonderful block later on. Two guys left alone at the end of a cross into the box, as the one guy settled it and took his shot, Beasley raced 15 feet or so and took it right off the toe. It's too bad the US didn't move to their 3-5-2 a bit sooner. They played a lot better in that formation.
that felt like a typical friendly for the U.S. -- lots of chasing, not much rhythm, flashes of individual talent here and there. it was good for Il Bruce to see some new faces though, and i'm glad jeffro was in the middle, not out wide. the backheel was nice. one thing surprised me: we haven't seen the words "meaningless friendly" in this thread yet.
As far as I am concerned, it was pretty much a true "exhibition". A few players auditioned for positions that they don't normally play (Olsen, Convey, Victorine) and the US played "OK" against an Argentina side with players already in mid-season shape. I have to agree with Ty ::shudder:: in that Donovan really needs to adjust to physical play. Opponents know of his skill, and will attempt to get into his head and play him physically. Landon showed his age out there, and he needs to improve his mental focus out there when facing a team that wants to play him physically. Cunningham did have that sweet back heel pass. It's scary how much better the Crew can be when Cunningham can draw 2 defenders to him who know of his 1v1 ability, and then Jeff can deliver a pass to a nearby, unmarked teammate in a better threat position. Not saying that he doesn't know how to do this already, but his value to a team increases if he can continue to improve his passing ability and his vision out on the field. Today's game was not a failure of the US Men National Team program by any stretch. It was an exhibition, plain and simple, and more or less an experiment by Arena today.
I agree..it was not a failure for the Nats..but it was not very comforting looking at them today. Clint was invisible most of the game..he looked slow (like most of the team) and his first touch was not very good...I expect more from him. I do have to disagree with the assertion that the Argentines are in midseason form. They are actually in preseason form as the new championship has not started yet. Just for comparison sakes..What did most of you think of D'allesandro (sp?)? What a delightful player. I have managed to see most of his games on tv from the last argentine season...he was a worthy #10 for River last season. He is only one year older than Landon. I would love to Landon turn into that kind of a player. Ok..I will sit back and enjoy the rest of your posts/ take care
Then I was misinformed. During the telecast, I thought it heard something to the effect from Rob and Ty that the Argentine players were in midseason form already. Impressive ability as a playmaking midfielder. His on the ball skill was very evident. However, I also find him to be a complete jackass for his "exit" from the pitch at the end of the game after getting his second yellow card. Obvious gamemanship and classless behavior from him.
Game + anyone from URU/GUA/HON(refs or players) = cards that come too late and uncarded hacks. Tim Howard - Brutal early play and 5 direct turnovers in the first 6 minutes. The shot was not stopable but his errors were a catalyst causing the contant pressure that broke the defense. His play was only average the rest of the game as, unlike Meola, Friedel, etc., he has zero distribution skills to spark the offense. Argies simply had better skill on balance. Klein and Donovan were only standouts for me. Garcia and Bocanegra looked to slow to have any positive impact on the game. DB with the brilliant run past 3 levels of defense was great...right up until he had no touch at the end to do anything to expoit his advantage.
Player Evaluations Evaluations of how players helped or hurth their chances of making the Nats, here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/1044751065/view -Tron
I think it was more the switch to the 3-5-2 than anything Jeff did. Convey made three very good runs upfield after the switch. Mathis and Jeff had a good final 10 minutes. Beasley had a good game on the left; probably the most consistent player on the field today (for the US).