It was the proverbial scrappy win, and even though the opposition only gets tougher from here, I expect a better performance in the next match.
3 points.. love it original game thread had a over 1200 posts for a game that started between 3am-5am across most of the US. Well done BS Man of the Match? Edu.. he's not even playing his true position! Wynne was a very very close second. No cards among the defenders. HUGE! Sahsa should sit.
Three points is three points, especially in an Olympic Games opener. I'm still reading over the details, beyond Stuart Holden's 47th-minute goal that was the difference in a 1-0 win, but I'll gladly take the result. Bring on Holland...
Some BS'ers are were enamored with the Rogers/McBride pairing, saying that we don't need two target forwards at a time. True, but we have learned that Rogers is a bit new to this, and doesn't communicate with his teammates well, especially Bradley and Orozco. But yes, he played well. We will need to target forwards against the Oranje. That, you can bet the bank on.
Nowak gambled that his B squad could handle Japan and saved his A team for the dutch. Ironically, we will likely play phenomenally well against the dutch and still lose on two Mcccccay goals. I think Nowak wants a big line up with Euro experience against the dutch. So Szetela and Feilhaber should start.
The defensive left side was really rather disorganized. That's a major weak point, along with the general failure to apply proper defensive pressure as the ball is brought closer to the PA. Positioning priorities seemed really weak across the back line. I chalk that up to lack of playing time together. Hopefully, that will be less of a problem going forward. I wish Rogers would use his right foot. His unidimensional game is great, as far as it goes, but a better defender will stop him cold.
Because Nowak realized that it's either Jozy or McBride. McBride can't start all the games. Jozy will certainly get his chances We have rested Jozy, 3 points, and zero cards among our defenders I'll take it
You forgot the H in that sentence. It looked as if he was playing holding back a gigantic brown steamer he grew out of a taco bell dinner. Un-Kljestanally bad.
Yep, I said that as well in the game thread. Edu's last 15 minutes made us cringe, but his other 75 minutes in a position that he is not too familiar with, was class. He did an amazing job stuffing plays and giving good distribution of the ball from the back. Wynne had a near perfect game too, a very close second.
Would that this were true. That was Nowak's A side. You will probably see soemthing very similar vs. Holland.
Feilhaber will not start... he's been injured all summer and didn't play the second half of the season. There is NO way he's match fit. He'll be a sub.. and a good one at that
Here here! I think I'm going to go to sleep listening to the Argentina v Ivory Coast game on the tube. I'm so tired.
Things I'd change next time: Orozco - how many dangerous crosses came from his side? He was very weak out there. We have to have another option. KLJESTAN - poor, poor game. Too many bad passes, no creative play. I think he can play, just not with the guys around him. McBride - Sorry but 3 strikes and you're out. We can't get the ball to him due to poor crossing therefore he has no effect on the game. I would absolutely cut his minutes way down or not start him. As much as I'm still not convinced he's all that, Altidore looked much more useful and dangerous in his 20 minutes then McBride did in 70 minutes. Altidore just needs to shoot earlier. Edu - wow, he could have cost us 2 points. He does good as a defender until he has to mark someone. He ball watches and leaves his mark open. Don't we have another option at defender? I like him as a halfback though General stuff - I though Adu was trying to do too much alone but since nobody else was attacking, I guess he thought it was up too him Rodgers - couldn't deliver the ball to McHead. Had trouble getting past his man AND delivering the ball
The Good: * 3 points. * Wynne, Holden, Edu. The Adequate: * Guzan, Parkhurst, Bradley, Adu. The Concerns: * McBride was OK and worked hard, but he doesn't suit this team at all. I'd rather have Altidore's better speed and 1v1 threat. Bring McBride off the bench as needed. * Kljestan's poor passing. * The Rogers + Orozco left side was torn apart defensively. * Overall speed of play still too slow for the high-level international game.
Man of the Match for me - Wynne I also have to give props to Bradley for shutting down the middle of the Japan attack. Japan just could not attack towards Wynne or Bradley.
Indeed. Scrappy stuff. Let's see how Nigeria do against the Dutch. 3 points is good, we need two more to go through.
I don't think so. I believe this was his A squad. This was a must win game and there would be no point in not going for the 3 points