Edson Buddle is a higher threat to score goals than Jozy? What do you base this on? He scored 3 goals in half a Bundesliga 2 season and has a grand total of 2 goals for the US. Jozy isn't lighting it up either but it's a far cry from saying Buddle is better. And Jozy did score against Canada, whether you want to call it a fluke or not. The problem isn't Jozy or Edson, the problem is that none of our strikers are very good at the moment.
Re: Just got back from Raymond James These are all good points, but they in no way at all support your assertion: "This is worse than Iran and I don't think it's even close." Perhaps you could argue that Iran is only slightly worse, or this loss compares, but "not even close"? That is just wrong. The proper response to um_chili would not have been yours an admission that your statement wasn't even close to accurate.
After reviewing the video, as stated previously I was at the stadium last night I was wrong. The penalty was the correct call. However the foul and yellow card on Jones which lead to the first goal was complete garbage. All that said, if the US is playing any concacaf opponent on home soil we should be good enough that the ref doesn't matter. Mea culpa on the commentary on the officials.
Don't be ridiculous. Do you realize that Edson Buddle scored 3 goals in Germany while exhausted after a monster year and in about the same number of games Jozy got 1 goal in Turkey. Jozy must have been exhausted from scoring 19 goals the year before... oh wait. Jozy has scored 1 goal with Burraspor, 2 goals with Hull and 3 goals with Villareal. It's disgusting that he starts.
I think there are unspoken reasons for the players on the roster and the questionable ones that get called up. I really think that Bob and US Soccer try to select "marketable" players that will increase the fan base and attract a following... at the expense of our results.
What exactly have you seen in his 4 caps, other than him playing for San Jose, which makes you think he deserves to start for this team?
I agree... and I should clarify, I don't think they would knowingly or willingly sacrifice results just to field "marketable" players, but that seems to be what's happening.
Re: Just got back from Raymond James The Panama game may or may not be a harbinger of some big change in USMNT play, but we have a long history of not being able to beat relatively equal teams in important games. Iran, Ghana, Ghana, Poland, to name 4. Spain and Mexico are the exceptions. Yesterday's game was disappointing, to my eye, but not tragic, as the game was mostly given up by rash/immature play from a young (in caps) defender, choke finishing from a young (in caps terms) attacker - although Demps and Landon both had chances they sh/could have taken better. For the most part, the US outplayed Panama in the second half, had tons of possession, good combo play and poor/unlucky finishing (and the Panamania D played a bit out of their minds). That is different to me that the other four WC games, where the US lost and was pretty solidly outplayed. (Ghana at SK being perhaps the lone exception - one could perhaps argue we played them even.)
Re: Just got back from Raymond James Then this is the worst ever. I didn't realize it was a friendly.
Perhaps this can add to the discussion United States vs Panama 06/11/2011 game stats United states had just about twice as many balls into the box (44) as Panama (23), but simply don't know how to turn that into goals. US had 20 giveaways to Panama's 16.
Shocking stat, but I can't say I'm really all that shocked. Altidore and Agudelo are always having to receive the ball with their back to goal b/c of the deep central mids in Senior's 4-4-2. Also the lack of any sort of creativity in the middle compounds this. No one is ever making a run where they can potentially get offside b/c the team never has the ball in a position where that run is necessary away from goal. The build up is slow and stale, and allows the opponent to get all 11 players goal side.
Re: Just got back from Raymond James This team is being over-coached by a mediocre MLS coach. They always start out bad because they follow his play book right out of the block (the "feeling out" period, the rigid 4-2-2-2, the static players positioning, etc...). Only after they fall behind and no longer follow Bob's play book, that's when they always play much better. It's time for a new coach, new direction. This team is just really really stale right now.
Re: Just got back from Raymond James Well that's certainly the most creative explanation I've heard so far. I guess it's as good as any other I've heard though.
How difficult is it to strike a ball driven with pace at knee level? After looking at the positions of Wondo and Dempsey at the time of Wondo's miss, I think Wondolowski should have left the ball for Dempsey. The position of the ball makes it look easier to strike from a standing position and swing through the ball with your foot sideways (similar motion to Dempsey's goal vs Spain, just in the air instead of on the ground). Wondo was on a run and ended up really only having one option, a sidefoot. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get over the ball. Frame just as the ball is getting to Wondolowski: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/5827876046_88454f1462_o.jpg
The ball was behind Dempsey. Wondo trying to leave it for Dempsey instead of taking the shot is probably the only thing he could've done that would've been less impressive than sending it skyward like he did.
Yeah, I suppose that's probably the case. But if Wondo wasn't in that area, I wonder if Dempsey would have been able to move to the ball for a swing. Collin's goal for KC today was a perfect example of striking a ball in the air at a similar height.