USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

The penalty seemed legit, it was Califf afterall. I'm not sure what handball they are referencing.

 

Re: Re: USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

just before the ball bounced to the Turkish player, it supposedly came off a handball by a Turk player.

according to audio guys.

 

I was listening to the Eurosport radio as well. I believe the handball was not called, and immediately preceded the penalty.

 

FIRE BRUCE ARENA, he can't coach......


Okay now that I got that out of the way.


2-1 was about what I expected. Turkey really did seem to be more dangerous and all around the better team. We need to improve at the back for sure. Run DMB is probably playing his last season in MLS.

 

they also said from the tv replay it was a clear handball.

 

Re: Re: USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

i will be more interested to see the penalty that wasn't called at the beginning of the match in which, according to the guys on the radio, kiro was taken down in the box and it should have been a PK and a straight red yet nothing was shown.

going up 1-0 and turkey down to 10 men in the first 10 minutes...

 

I was getting video feed in and out of a slide show, and that penalty was pretty stupid. Howard was just about to grab the ball from his foot, and he had no angle to shoot at. I guess the ref saw something I didn't from all of the replays, because they got a PK out of it. The handball before was crap. He got the ball over the defense coming at his head and he jumped too high and too far forward, so he used his arm to put the ball in front of him with Califf and Hejduk closing him down on both sides and Howard directly in front of him with no net to even shoot at. Not only was it set up by an obviously intentional handball, he wasn't going to get a shot off.

Is this worth recording on Galavision later and watching it tonight? It sounds like we played like crap.

 

The Turkish player in question was streaking down the middle of the field. Just outside our penalty box, the ball was played over his and Califf's shoulders. The Turkish player re-directed the ball into the penalty box. Whether he used his chest, shoulder or arm is the 'handball' in question.

After the ball landed in the box, Hejduk came into the play. I couldn't tell if Hejduk tripped the guy or how much ball Hejduk got. The ball did squirt away and the Turkish player went down in the box.

It probably could have been called a no-call, but Hejduk came in pretty fast (note that I didn't say hard). Whether he clipped the Turkish guy or not was probably hard to tell. But because he came into the play with so much pace, the ref may have assumed he clipped him. It's the kind of play that the home team usually gets the call either way. (So if the game were in US, no penalty and probably hand ball call.)

 

Well from the sound of the game Turkey deserved the win no matter how they got that first goal. Defensivly had all sorts of problems dealing with the Turkish skill and offensivly we didn't get a good game out of Eddie Lewis, and Landon was only good when he had the ball. Which wasn't enough as annoucers kept saying he wasn't coming to the ball. Sounded like DMB was our best player, and Vanney was our worst player out there. Not to surprising. Convey sounded like he had a really good game running the midfield. Announcers probably said it best when it comes to us playing high level international. Just not enough creativity to create, we always need a mistake by the defense to score. However, we almost tied it on 2 different occasions in the last 10 minutes. All in all not a bad game and I'm sure Arena will make sure we come out better vs Brazil. Oh, we'll also have Carlos Bocangra and Cory Gibbs. Two guys who have actual skill. Hope for a tie from Brazil - Cameroon and I think we can get some points from Brazil on Saturday

 

Then Califf shouldn't have seen the need to kick him.

 

Commentators on Eurosport seemed impressed by Beasley, Convey and Howard. They were expecting big things from Donovan - but was relatively quiet. Defence was troubled by skillful Turkish forwards.

Bout as much as I could tell from audio only.

 

I didn't see whether there was a foul or not. What I meant to express was if there was a foul it was a stupid foul because the guy wouldn't have got a shot off.

 

Pope? Boca? Agoos?

Just kidding about that last one, ok?

 

Referee Complaints

The match report I read sure made it sound like Turkey had the run of play -- more possession, more good shots.

So even if the referee "cheated" us in this particular game, we have bigger problems to worry about.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

no, i was assuming if the call that the audio guys said should have been made early on was indeed made that could have been the situation.

 

Mathis definately needs to start verus Brazil.

 

Was a big mistake not starting Bocanegra and Gibbs. Hejduk at right back was also a surprise. They had a 1-0 lead and could not hold it.

 

I got the score right (nah nah boo boo-smile) and pretty much the prediction (of run of game)..

You can not have Hedjuk, Armas, and a couple other of our less skilled players on pitch at same time....Mathis has to play more minutes- we need his skill and creativity at top levels...

Right now- I'm leaning toward 3-2 Brazil, but have to think about it...

 

Turkey was the better team. Result seemed fair. Their PK was a foul, but after what looked like a handball to control the long pass over the top. I thought Howard could have done a little better coming out on the second goal - he seemed like he was there and didn't commit to get to the ball. Why was Mathis not over that free kick from 20 yards out that Convery crossed harmlessly into the box??

Beasley played well. Howard acquitted himself fine - almost got to the PK. I wasn't all that impressed with most of the rest of the team. Donovan was very mediocre.

 

Here's my favorite comment from the EuroSport matchtracker:

"Mathis on for Kirovski, attacking substitution by Bruce Arena"

Either the commentator doesn't know our players very well or he knows them VERY well