I have only reviewed the second half, but here were some particular points of interest: Jozy started the second half lined up on the left wing. He spent a lot of time starting out wide and cutting in, like Rooney or Messi both do. Clint's shot off the post was started by Jozy essentially playing as a left attacking forward. Feilhaber was a beast. His movement off the ball into space, then connection with the right teammates, was simply world class. The only downside is he filled in many of the spaces you typically find Donovan. I think this had a lot to do with Donovan's quiet half. Cherundolo continues to be the quiet US hero of the World Cup. For the third consecutive game, he shut down his side of the field, many times in isolation. DeMerit needs to watch his hands when defending set pieces. Yahia got his head to a ball on one corner, and Jay easily could have been called for a PK on the play. The US is world class in transition. Not pretty good. Not very good. They are an elite transition team. Bornstein was ugly at times, but defensively effective. As long as he keeps his game simple, he reduces his limitations and liability. He took Ziani out of the game, something England could not do. The US generated outstanding opportunities. Look out, Ghana. This is not 2006, and this US team is going to cause your suspect transition defense all sorts of headaches. Michael Bradley was the team engine. Today's man of the match. He and Edu are a fantastic partnership. The US is set in central midfield, and they are only going to get better.
Re: USA vs England - 2nd Viewing & Analysis: Jozy plays the Messi/Rooney Role Yes. But I cannot change the title. I am already appealing to the mods for help.
Re: USA vs England - 2nd Viewing & Analysis: Jozy plays the Messi/Rooney Role Appeal granted. Good post as usual.
From box to box I'd agree. We are as fast on the counter as any team in this tournament. But to be truly elite you need to finish your chances at a higher rate. The elite transition teams(Brazil, Spain, Holland, Argentina, etc.) would have scored 3 or 4 goals today with the amount of space given to us on the counter. We are very similar to Chile. We look great running as a team on the counter but we just can't seem to put the ball in the back of the net. Once the US produces a world class striker comparable to your Villa's, Eto'o's, Drogba's, etc. we will be a nightmare for any team to play at a World Cup.
So, in my role as a geologist, I am in the middle of f'ng nowhere, and wonder of wonders; the dish on my trailer is picking up ESPN2 with a replay of the game. Albeit on a 18 inch, non HD tv, but still. They got the game on replay. I saw the game live in Denver earlier. I gotta tell you, it's much easier to watch knowing the outcome... it's minute 16 and Herc Gomez looks good. The Algerian's have already rattled Timmay's crossbar (so that happened). Bornstien looks like Frankie Lite, and the tandem of Bradley and Edu look real good. more to come...and Deuce was just robbed.... after Mikey was taken down in the box...
All it takes is one goal to get everyone going....balls just need to start going in instead of going out. IF they do, we are dangerous.
Really outstanding team performance. I too saw how Jozy was pulling out wide, especially out right, and getting crosses in. It can work because we have so many others to make runs into the box. I also noticed Herc getting back on D when Landon got caught upfield.
29 minutes, timmay springs Altidore alone up top. I am sort of surprised at how slow Jozy is in the open field. He dribbles into a defender and loses the ball. Jay Demerit heads one out of danger... he is playing well. Cherundolo basically has the right side shut off.
BTW, Harkes is still pissed about the disallowed goal (Donovan shanks a chance at min 32, it's this whole thing set up like a movie?) and calls it "horrible". I love that kooky guy (harkes).
i was pissed too, but remember harkes talking about it, laughing and thinking...how is he going to describe his anger/frustration using only the three phrases that he seems to know?
So lightening hit the god dam generator, so I missed the last 10 minutes of my second viewing.... got the roughnecks to go on back up power, without really mentioning the source of my panic. But not to worry, the espn 2 sat feed is back! God dam, the replay of that early shot for Algeria, and the replay of the offside call on Deuce. It's still bullshit in the second viewing.
46th minute; Algeria with a great ball over the top, Matmour doesn't finish, but great ball perfectly timed. Flagged offside by Ray Charles, the AR who called Dempsey offside in the first half on the disallowed goal. Harkes says "good call". Ya gotta love that ********er
Ya, well it's quiet (well noisy on this drilling rig, but not much to do) out here..... minute 56 and Deuce hits the post and then misses the rebound. And Altidore is out left and he is a beast. Edu is tiring. Two things: The Bradley's have both been outstanding. Micheal is motm and his old man has picked the right 23 and is making tactical changes... hats off. Second; Bornstein is so "Frankie Lite". Frankie's footwork without the motor. Even flails his arms...
Second viewing I was so impressed with Altidore. He has wonderful close control on his dribble, and really attacked confidently today. His one touch into Dempsey before the goal was perfect. Jozy is looking confed cup good, and that is good for us. Down side - he got wickedly stepped on like 3 times. Isn't he having some injury issues with his ankle? Ouch. They said on the broadcast that he is the youngest starting striker in the tournament. We are so lucky to look forward to his best years in the future.
I just watched again. Bradley is still impeccable. I'd LOVE to see a touch-by-touch analysis of him in this game. He was dominant. Other thoughts: Feilhaber was also incredible, decision-making was perfect in a stressy situation. This game was a jailbreak for awhile - we were just streaming at their goal in numbers. Most of the chances fell to Deuce, who had a great, but unlucky game. Old Landon doesn't find a way to change this game. New Landon does. I'm going to learn some meditation and get therapy and stuff, and maybe my TPS reports will be awesome too. Seriously, for someone who has defended him and rooted for him for 4 years against the grain, this was vindication. I got to give alot of friends some "I told you so's" today. Defense, in the second half, played well enough to allow us to bomb on their goal. Major kudos to them for holding the fort.
80 minutes, Beasley on for Bornstein.... good call Bob (but rolling th dice no?) and the ball out of the back to Altidore, massive run from his own end and hacked down from behind. FK results, but of course comes to naught. Altidore is still playing well. It's almost like the US is developing a style of it's own. Kind of a Germany/Portugal hybrid or something. But they look good.
The orig post analysis has some nice points but talks about: beast hero world class outstanding fantastic this all just overstates things. We beat Algeria not Argentina.
What I like is that we exchange passes really well in tight spaces in the final third. If we can get that last ball, we're a powerhouse in the future.