151 replies to this topic

[Infield Infidel]

Figured we should start one since the tourney's a week old

Canada and Panama draw 1-1. Canada gave up a goal of a corner to Panama in the games dying moments. They played solid D until the last ten minutes or so, when they packed it in and didn't try to advance the ball. Panama must have had 5 solid chances in the last ten minutes.

Panama wins the group with 7 pts.

US is up next. They need a win or a tie vs Guadaloupe to get second and play Jamaica in the next round

Edited by Infield Infidel, 14 June 2011 - 08:11 PM.

[Infield Infidel]

What a blast by Altidore.

[allaboutthesox]

What a blast by Altidore.

That was a fantastic strike. I didn't think he had that in him to be honest with you. Well done, Jozy.

[Seen The Light]

Good things happen when you shoot the ball against CONCACAF-level keepers. Who knew?

[allaboutthesox]

Am I the only one that is disappointed that we are only winning 1-0 at halftime?

[Infield Infidel]

Good things happen when you shoot the ball against CONCACAF-level keepers. Who knew?

in most cases I'd agree with you, but he plays for Dijon which was just promoted to Ligue 1.
He's looked fantastic so far with 6 saves.

Am I the only one that is disappointed that we are only winning 1-0 at halftime?

The keeper's keeping them in the game (no pun intended).

I like what I've seen from Jermaine Jones so far, he's been everywhere, he's patient on the ball and his touch is solid.

Edited by Infield Infidel, 14 June 2011 - 09:05 PM.

[Seen The Light]

Point taken regarding this particular keeper. But the US looked like the Miami Heat against Panama. Always one more pass, one more pass, until the defense closed and the shot was gone. Even with the goalie's play tonight, some other long-range shots resulted in rebounds and second chances. Shoot when you have an open look. Don't wait for a "perfect" shot.

1-0 is embarrassing. I would not be surprised to see an equalizer early in the second half.

Oh, and Wondolowski is not fit for this level of play. For the love of Bradley, can we please see Bedoya or Agudelo in the second half?

[SoxFanInCali]

Dempsey could have had a first half hat trick. Not sure how he missed those free headers so badly.

[teddykgb]

Damn, that entire play really sums up Jozy....strength and touch and lots of good.....somehow can't really turn it into something, though

[Seen The Light]

Note to announcers: *Everything* surprises Chris Wondolowski.

[teddykgb]

And apparently Landon donovan....impressive miss on a sitter

[Seen The Light]

Damn, that entire play really sums up Jozy....strength and touch and lots of good.....somehow can't really turn it into something, though

The announcers commented on Jozy's first touch as if it was good. His first touch should have set him up to shoot on his second touch. Instead, the touch slowed his momentum and allowed the defender to recover. It was decidedly not a good first touch. And then it was a poorer finishing attempt.

[teddykgb]

The announcers commented on Jozy's first touch as if it was good. His first touch should have set him up to shoot on his second touch. Instead, the touch slowed his momentum and allowed the defender to recover. It was decidedly not a good first touch. And then it was a poorer finishing attempt.

I mean, sure, ideally Jozy is so comfortable on the left foot that he plays it down and blasts it, but it was an impressive enough touch, I think you're being a bit harsh here. Even the 2nd touch to create space was pretty impressive as well, very easy to massacre that ball there on the cut back.

[Seen The Light]

64 minutes too many for Wondolowski.

[Seen The Light]

I mean, sure, ideally Jozy is so comfortable on the left foot that he plays it down and blasts it, but it was an impressive enough touch, I think you're being a bit harsh here. Even the 2nd touch to create space was pretty impressive as well, very easy to massacre that ball there on the cut back.

Maybe I'm being harsh. And I'm probably more annoyed at the announcers than Jozy. At least Jozy turned it into a scoring chance. Maybe I'll be more pleasant now that Wondolowski is gone.

[shawnrbu]

It's getting comical.

[SoxFanInCali]

How did Dempsey not score there?

EDIT: Clint, a touch is not really necessary when you are alone 1 yard out from the center of the goal. Just tap it in.

Edited by SoxFanInCali, 14 June 2011 - 09:46 PM.

[allaboutthesox]

How did Dempsey not score there?

Showboating and knowing he can get away with it on the USMNT. At Fulham, not so much and nor would he try that at his club.

[Infield Infidel]

Dempsey getting nonchalant in front of goal. At least Altidore give it his all all the time.

[Seen The Light]

I really like Bedoya's play and energy.

[allaboutthesox]

Jones played really well in this game. The US looks a little gassed and if we should advance, good thing the game is on Sunday. They can use every bit of rest that they can get.

[allaboutthesox]

Meh, it's a win, but I can't say that I thought the US played exceedingly well.

[SoxFanInCali]

Fitting that it ends with another Dempsey miss.

Got the 3 points to advance, but they aren't long for this tournament on current form.

[Seen The Light]

Despite having been critical of Jones in the past, he was definitely one of the better players on the field for the US yesterday. Bradley didn't really have his best game. He seemed a little tired, and not particularly sharp, especially in the second half. The announcers had it right - he should have come off about 10 minutes earlier.

Lichaj and Cherundolo looked strong, and both made a number of solid runs up-field.

Dempsey had the game he had - there's not much else to be said about it. It happens.

Jozy looked much better and much more involved in the game. He was coming back to the ball in the midfield the way Agudelo had been doing in the two prior games.

For the next game, Bradley needs to decide between Bedoya or Agudelo up front with Altidore (I suppose he could play Bedoya in the midfield and move Dempsey up top, but I don't like that as a starting formation). My preference would be to see Agudelo for 60 minutes, then Bedoya for the last 30 or so, depending on the game situation. If Wondolowski is involved at all, I might throw things.

I have to wonder if this team loses to Jamaica, and especially if they lose 2-0 or 3-0, does Bradley gets fired? Maybe I'm just hoping for this to happen. This team does not look impressive in any phase of the game right now, and I'm starting to get nervous that WC qualifying is not going to be the easy road it usually is. If we can lose to Panama at home and get a significant test from Guadelupe, how are we going to handle games with Costa Rica and Honduras and Jamaica in qualifying?

[BRS BC]

I have to wonder if this team loses to Jamaica, and especially if they lose 2-0 or 3-0, does Bradley gets fired? Maybe I'm just hoping for this to happen. This team does not look impressive in any phase of the game right now, and I'm starting to get nervous that WC qualifying is not going to be the easy road it usually is. If we can lose to Panama at home and get a significant test from Guadelupe, how are we going to handle games with Costa Rica and Honduras and Jamaica in qualifying?

How much of the dissatisfaction with the team is solely based on results? That is, if the US had finished four more goals last night, which could (should) have happened with ease, would we be evaluating them differently? Do we talk about Bradley being fired after a 5 - 0 win, or about poor substitutions, or anything negative? It seems to me that the US dominated the game, giving up very few chances, ceding little possession (the turnovers were sometimes worrying, especially for Bradley because he rarely gives the ball away, but we won the ball back very well), all while creating a large number of chances ourselves. The terrible finishing is a problem (and has been a longstanding concern), but I don't think it's a problem that has a coaching solution. I know the opposition is Guad., but I guess I don't know how to adjust for the level of competition.

So I guess the large question is this: just how bad has the US been in this tourney? Is the problem mostly our inability to score the final ball or are there real problems here?

I've been impressed with the performance of the midfield and wings. As infuriating as Dempsey has been, the fact that he is getting many excellent scoring opps each game is encouraging. The center backs scare me, especially because they have yet to face really good competition and still seem weak. Altidore has been a pleasant surprise, but otherwise I've been wishing for Charlie Davies circa 2009 to return. In other words, the big questions (striker and center back) remain the same.

[Seen The Light]

How much of the dissatisfaction with the team is solely based on results? That is, if the US had finished four more goals last night, which could (should) have happened with ease, would we be evaluating them differently? Do we talk about Bradley being fired after a 5 - 0 win, or about poor substitutions, or anything negative? It seems to me that the US dominated the game, giving up very few chances, ceding little possession (the turnovers were sometimes worrying, especially for Bradley because he rarely gives the ball away, but we won the ball back very well), all while creating a large number of chances ourselves. The terrible finishing is a problem (and has been a longstanding concern), but I don't think it's a problem that has a coaching solution. I know the opposition is Guad., but I guess I don't know how to adjust for the level of competition.

So I guess the large question is this: just how bad has the US been in this tourney? Is the problem mostly our inability to score the final ball or are there real problems here?

I've been impressed with the performance of the midfield and wings. As infuriating as Dempsey has been, the fact that he is getting many excellent scoring opps each game is encouraging. The center backs scare me, especially because they have yet to face really good competition and still seem weak. Altidore has been a pleasant surprise, but otherwise I've been wishing for Charlie Davies circa 2009 to return. In other words, the big questions (striker and center back) remain the same.

Well the problem with scoring in the Guadelupe game was just a matter of finishing chances. In the Canada and Panama games it seemed a little more systemic. More times than I could count, it seemed that promising chances simply fizzled as players dribbled to about 20-25 yards out, and then just gave the ball away. Perhaps it was simply due to poor player decisions, but it seemed to me to be a tactical failure. No one, from the strikers to the wings, knew what to do to generate a real scoring chance - hit it wide? take a strike from 25 yards? try a through ball? I felt like I was watching the same show over and over again. Yesterday, Altidore struck from distance. Dempsey took a long shot or two that generated rebounds and potentially danagerous chances. Maybe the inability to generate/finish chances in the first two games was more properly attributed to the players. But we've seen this team play for a year now (going back to the WC) with a real inability to generate and/or finish quality chances. At some point, I can't believe that it would be a bad thing to bring in a new coach and try something different tactically.

I agree with your assessment of the center-backs, who have given up too many through balls and scoring chances, even if they didn't result in shots on goal. Every time a Guadelupan forward got into the box last night, I was dreading some clumsy tackle, a PK, and an equalizer. We need to do a better job of keeping opposing players out of the box entirely when they have the ball at their feet. That has to involve coaching strategy at least as much as player performance, in my opinion.

[ElUno20]

The US attack under Bradley has been so underwhelming, save for a first half vs. Brasil a couple years ago, that I often wonder how much more steam the sport would be gaining on home soil if the games where entertaining to watch.

[allaboutthesox]

The US attack under Bradley has been so underwhelming, save for a first half vs. Brasil a couple years ago, that I often wonder how much more steam the sport would be gaining on home soil if the games where entertaining to watch.

There are a few questions I ask myself when it comes to Bradley and his position as coach of the USMNT.

1. Has US Soccer progressed in terms of play to include style and development?

2. Has the USMNT improved overall since he has taken over for Arena?

3. What is his biggest accomplishment and the circumstances that surround that?

4. Can/would we be better without him at the helm?

It is hard for me to support Bradley as the US has seemed to be at a status quo or if not gotten worse under Bradley in 5 years. The US still seems to lack any type of recognizable style in their play and seem to rely more on counter attack or set pieces to score than actual build up play. He has failed to find/develop the players he has had as well, but I am not sure how much we can blame him for that since most players spend their time with their club teams. He has had some real head scratching moments as of late to include the Confederation Cup, World Cup, and Gold Cup. He seems to lack the ability to adapt to a game as it evolves and fails to make use or proper use of his substitutions. Some of his call ups are not very strong and there are many players we can cite, but one says it all: Jonathan Bornstein.

All in all Bradley has done an ok/good job, but at some point if the US wants to progress we need to bring someone else in. I think the USSF could use a thorough cleaning out to include Sunil Gulati.

[SoxFanInCali]

I don't expect this to last, but at halftime Guatemala leads Mexico 1-0.

[shawnrbu]

Mexico equalizes.

[shawnrbu]

3. What is his biggest accomplishment and the circumstances that surround that?

Ending Spain's unbeaten streak was very impressive to me. It has to rank way up there in the talk of Greatest U.S. victories. Going unbeaten in Group Play in a World Cup is another achievement. Those are good results for a team that cannot seriously be Top 8 in the World.

[ElUno20]

Could a US lose really bring the Bradley era to an end? I may have to break out my Jamaican accent today.

[ElUno20]

There are a few questions I ask myself when it comes to Bradley and his position as coach of the USMNT.

1. Has US Soccer progressed in terms of play to include style and development?

2. Has the USMNT improved overall since he has taken over for Arena?

3. What is his biggest accomplishment and the circumstances that surround that?

4. Can/would we be better without him at the helm?

It is hard for me to support Bradley as the US has seemed to be at a status quo or if not gotten worse under Bradley in 5 years. The US still seems to lack any type of recognizable style in their play and seem to rely more on counter attack or set pieces to score than actual build up play. He has failed to find/develop the players he has had as well, but I am not sure how much we can blame him for that since most players spend their time with their club teams. He has had some real head scratching moments as of late to include the Confederation Cup, World Cup, and Gold Cup. He seems to lack the ability to adapt to a game as it evolves and fails to make use or proper use of his substitutions. Some of his call ups are not very strong and there are many players we can cite, but one says it all: Jonathan Bornstein.

All in all Bradley has done an ok/good job, but at some point if the US wants to progress we need to bring someone else in. I think the USSF could use a thorough cleaning out to include Sunil Gulati.

Bradley has done a good job at keeping the status quo but everything should stop with your first question. No. We still play like a central american country. We should have made the change after the WC.

[allaboutthesox]

Ending Spain's unbeaten streak was very impressive to me. It has to rank way up there in the talk of Greatest U.S. victories. Going unbeaten in Group Play in a World Cup is another achievement. Those are good results for a team that cannot seriously be Top 8 in the World.

While the victory against Spain is huge. Keep in mind how the US even got to that point, on goal differential because Italy decided not to show up against Brazil. Also, in that very same tournament, the US was on course to beat Brazil and Bradley failed to make proper use of his substitutions. Many of us in the game thread were talking about substitutions and using them prior to the collapse.

As far as the World Cup goes, the US got a fluke goal to draw against England, got a draw against Slovenia after being down early, and had a last minute goal to beat Algeria. The team was hardly impressive in a World Cup draw that was very much to their favor through the whole tournament. Bradley received a lot of criticism about his use of Ricardo Clark over Edu and rightfully so. So while the results may be good. However, if one takes a closer look, one can see those results are not nearly as impressive as some would like to think.

Bradley has done a fair job, but coaches are hardly more successful on their second run with a national team. With that being said, I am not sure what more fans and the USSF can expect to see at this point. We have advanced in the Gold Cup, but have been far from playing well at all in this tournament. Failing to win/get to the Finals of the Gold Cup may see the end of Bradley. Especially when one considers how the US has lost the last two games and failing to win the tournament that was supposed to be the "focus" of the USMNT. Also, take into account that the US doesn't have any WC qualifying this year and now would be the perfect time to make the change. We shall see how it all turns out soon enough.

[mic99]

According to cnnsi.com Landon is on the bench today.


GK - Howard
DEF - Lichaj, Bocanegra, Goodson, Cherundolo
MF - Bedoya, Bradley, Jones, Kljestan
FWD - Altidore, Dempsey

[SoxFanInCali]

Apparently Donovan didn't get to DC until 7AM this morning. He was at his sister's wedding in CA yesterday.

[PedroSpecialK]

Shelton misses a complete sitter after Howard robs Johnson. Can't believe Johnson wasn't ruled offside.

Altidore comes up lame after a run in the 9th minute

Edited by PedroSpecialK, 19 June 2011 - 02:15 PM.

[mic99]

Shelton misses a complete sitter after Howard robs Johnson. Can't believe Johnson wasn't ruled offside.

Altidore comes up lame after a run in the 9th minute

It was close. Bradley may have played him onside.

[allaboutthesox]

The US played much better today and Bedoya was very impressive again. The guy seems to have a motor that hardly ever runs out of gas. I still would like to see more chances being converted, but it was a very solid win for the US. Jermaine Jones continues to do well at the CDM role, but needs to learn to keep his cool a bit more. It seemed like at times when he was fouled he as too eager to try to get back at the opposing player.

Going forward, it wouldn't surprise me if Landon gets the start in the semifinal with Dempsey coming off the bench. Some of the starters have played a lot of minutes and some additional rest would not be a bad idea. Solid win and I am looking forward to the next game.

[mic99]

What a chance for El Salvador as extra time ended

penalties to advance v. USA in the semis

[teddykgb]

Embarrassing dive to get the Jamaican player sent off.

[Mr. Wednesday]

If you watch the video carefully, it appears that Jones's trailing heel gets clipped. He still sold the call, no question, but he doesn't appear to have invented it out of nothing, it's a legit foul and send-off.

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Much better game yesterday and a chance at redemption against Panama. I'd like to see Honduras take out Mexico -- they owe us one after all. Yesterday could have gone much worse if that early try by Jamaica had found the net.

Despite the announcers saying Jones took a dive, I agree he got clipped. Seemed kind of clear to me, but who knows. He plainly embellished.

Biggest disappointment of the game to me was some pretty accomplished players seeming not to know the offside rule. Every kid who has played past high school knows that once the goalkeeper is no longer the last defender, any pass forward is at your peril. Glad that didn't happen in a bigger spot -- I guess just be grateful they learned it in a win instead of a loss.

[mgoblue2]

As far as the World Cup goes, the US got a fluke goal to draw against England, got a draw against Slovenia after being down early, and had a last minute goal to beat Algeria. The team was hardly impressive in a World Cup draw that was very much to their favor through the whole tournament. Bradley received a lot of criticism about his use of Ricardo Clark over Edu and rightfully so. So while the results may be good. However, if one takes a closer look, one can see those results are not nearly as impressive as some would like to think.

Lest we forget that would've been a win if the referee for that game wasn't a complete idiot.

[Titans Bastard]

Lest we forget that would've been a win if the referee for that game wasn't a complete idiot.

And Dempsey's disallowed goal against Algeria was very questionable, too.

[accidentalsuccess]

If you watch the video carefully, it appears that Jones's trailing heel gets clipped. He still sold the call, no question, but he doesn't appear to have invented it out of nothing, it's a legit foul and send-off.

J. Jones drives me insane. He plays well straight-up as a holding mid but he either has mental lapses or is lazy on covering runs up the middle (I can't tell from the TV feed). His vision is horrible and he can be baited into giveaways on 15-25 yard flat passes (at least 3 in the first half of the quarterfinal before I stopped counting in disgust). On top of that, Jones is a hothead. Two cheap yellows in this tournament alone. Then WITH A YELLOW he gambles with an oscar-worthy dive. I don't care whether he got clipped or stabbed with a shiv on the break, go down like a real player. Smart players will goad Jones into these mental lapses; I'm sure the book is out on him.

He may or may not be better physically than Edu however I far prefer Edu in the midfield (and Holden over either if people will stop breaking his legs).

I was ecstatic to see the 5 mids work so well and Agudelo played FAR more physically than in his previous appearances.

[allaboutthesox]

Lest we forget that would've been a win if the referee for that game wasn't a complete idiot.

Yes, the official did blow the call. However, the US should not have found themselves in a situation where they are down 2-0 to Slovenia. Not that Slovenia was not a good team, but the US was much better and didn't show it till late in the match.

And Dempsey's disallowed goal against Algeria was very questionable, too.

True, but once again another team in which we should have soundly beaten.



Look Bradley is a fair/solid coach and I realize he gets a lot of the benefit of the doubt around here. However, I feel some make him out to be a much better coach than what he really is. None the less, barring some type of epic collapse by the USMNT during qualifying, Bradley will be going this team going into WC 2014 going into Brazil.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Does he get the benefit of the doubt here? I get the sense that most here have been somewhat satisfied by Bradley, but never overwhelmed by him and would happily take someone else in a heartbeat. Decent results, but I've never really heard anyone say they particularly like his tactics and certainly not his personnel decisions.

His tenure and the popular perceptions of him as a coach actually remind me a whole lot of Claude Julien's time with the Bruins, pre-Cup of course.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Yes, the official did blow the call. However, the US should not have found themselves in a situation where they are down 2-0 to Slovenia. Not that Slovenia was not a good team, but the US was much better and didn't show it till late in the match.

Slovenia did a great job of starting out the game playing completely against their character from their qualifying campaign. Because our team was initially set up to attack them the way we expected them to play, Bradley had to play catch-up tactically, and it cost us when some of our proclivities throughout the cycle (conceding early and giving up good long-shot looks from 20 to 25 yards out) came home to roost.

[Titans Bastard]

Look Bradley is a fair/solid coach and I realize he gets a lot of the benefit of the doubt around here. However, I feel some make him out to be a much better coach than what he really is. None the less, barring some type of epic collapse by the USMNT during qualifying, Bradley will be going this team going into WC 2014 going into Brazil.

I'm not a huge Bradley fan, but I don't think you can dismiss TWO unjustly disallowed goals in three WC games with the wave of a hand. That's a tremendous disadvantage in what can be a game of inches, but the US won the group anyway.

All that being said, I don't think that the accomplishment is a mark of Bradley's genius or anything. I'm not a Bradley hater, but I would have liked to see a new manager come in because I think that four years is enough. I agree with you that Bradley will be around through 2014. The USSF has the slowest trigger in the world, it seems. That may not be any worse than having too fast a trigger, but it's frustrating nonetheless.

Does he get the benefit of the doubt here? I get the sense that most here have been somewhat satisfied by Bradley, but never overwhelmed by him and would happily take someone else in a heartbeat. Decent results, but I've never really heard anyone say they particularly like his tactics and certainly not his personnel decisions.

His tenure and the popular perceptions of him as a coach actually remind me a whole lot of Claude Julien's time with the Bruins, pre-Cup of course.

I'm not a huge fan of Bradley's tactics, but I think he gets too much heat for his decisions; the reality is that our talent is only capable of doing certain things and our ability level is such that any tactical scheme won't work out all the time. We're going to have some bad days.

I'm actually somebody who gives Bradley a fair amount of credit for personnel decisions, especially in the macro sense. He did a great job of a re-building our midfield after 3/4 of the incumbents simply disappeared after '06. Bradley gets a lot of crap for certain players, most of which is unjustified. Particularly annoying are the people who rag on him for Jonathan Bornstein, a player who he's tried to get rid of but can't because all of the alternatives sucked even worse. In the end, he went with Bocanegra most of the time anyway.

I thought Findley was a defensible idea, although Bradley stuck to him too long when it was clear that it wasn't working. Charlie Davies was not our best player, but his injury was among the most devastating because we had absolutely no replacement for him. We needed speed to stretch the defense and Findley was an attempt to do so. It's hard to counterattack with only one truly fast attacker (Donovan).


Bradley's in-game personnel decisions are a little more questionable. He's a mixed bag overall. I have a hard time getting excited about him in a negative or a positive sense.