USMNT: To Rüssia With Love

[Titans Bastard]

Morales wins a dangerous free kick at the top of the box.
 
Shea stands over the ball.
 
Me: "Shea?  What the fuck?".
 
Sweet bending strike into the upper right corner.
 
Me: "Oh."
 
 
1-0 USA, HT.  Makes sense -- you can't cough up a late lead if you don't score!!!

 

[Titans Bastard]

Here's the goal.
 
https://twitter.com/u90soccer/status/582949543525900289
 
 
From that angle it's obvious that the Swiss keeper was completely surprised that Shea took it.  He was 100% expecting Altidore to take it and leaning in the wrong direction.  Very good strike by Shea, but it might have been saved if the keeper had correctly anticipated it.

 

[Titans Bastard]

That was a good first half from the US.  The Swiss had much more possession, but the US created more danger.  For the first time in while, we're looking sound defensively (knock on wood) and haven't given up many good looks.  Danny Williams is buying himself a few more chances at least.  I've even thought Morales has been decent -- you can tell he's a bit uncomfortable going forward, but he's been solid defensively and has won quite a few fouls, including the one that led to Shea's FK goal.
 
A 4-4-2 counterattacking team? Plus ça change....

 

[Titans Bastard]

>15 minutes in and Brek Shea looks like they grabbed a guy from the stands and asked him to play LB. All the game intelligence and awareness of a rock. 

 

 
 
Brek Shea don't care.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Here's the goal.
 
https://twitter.com/u90soccer/status/582949543525900289
 
 
From that angle it's obvious that the Swiss keeper was completely surprised that Shea took it.  He was 100% expecting Altidore to take it and leaning in the wrong direction.  Very good strike by Shea, but it might have been saved if the keeper had correctly anticipated it.

 
Interesting.  Good catch.  Although that would have been a hell of a save, I think, given that he wouldn't have even seen the ball until it was over the wall.

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
Interesting.  Good catch.  Although that would have been a hell of a save, I think, given that he wouldn't have even seen the ball until it was over the wall.

 
Agreed.  It was a very good free kick and I don't want to take away too much from Shea.
r
 
For the second half, Alvarado is on for Orozco and Yarbrough is on for Rimando.  I've decided I like Orozco.  He's no world-beater but he's surprisingly reliable and seems to outplay his resume for the USMNT (in contrast to someone like Chandler or Edgar Castillo who always play better for clubs).  But now we'll see what Alvarado is made of.
 
Rimando needs to be phased out soon, might as well take a look at Yarbrough even though I'm not convinced he'll wind up in our top three.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Another nice cross from Chandler.  Zardes challenges for the ball, the keeper punches it away.  It gets to Bradley, but a Swiss defender pokes it away at the last second.  Chandler really is a nice north-south player, it's just a shame his brain clicks off defensively at least a few times a game.
 
As I write Chandler with a poor clearance and then narrowly avoids conceding a PK both through a handball and a foul....

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I'm not very good at understanding the Xs and Os of the game, but Zardes seems to be covering a lot of ground, getting in the middle of things, and holding his own pretty well. 

 

[Cellar-Door]

If Brek Shea is our LB he;s going to have to average 1.5 Goals a game scored to make up for how fucking terrible he is defensively.
He's worse than Bornstein. BORNSTEIN!

 

[Titans Bastard]

Altidore with a frustration yellow that you could see coming a mile away, then picks up a second yellow after mouthing off to the ref.  He's gone.
 
He needs to show more composure...it's a friendly he's one of the veterans and leaders now.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Altidore with a frustration yellow that you could see coming a mile away, then picks up a second yellow after mouthing off to the ref.  He's gone.
 
He needs to show more composure...it's a friendly he's one of the veterans and leaders now.

 
It's going be interesting whether it was two yellows or whether it was a straight red.  I think the latter requires him to miss subsequent friendlies, although could be wrong about that.
 
If it was a yellow for the foul and then a yellow for dissent, the proper referee mechanic would be to show the yellow, show it again, and then show red.  I think it might have been a straight red for abusive language, given the way the ref produced it.

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
It's going be interesting whether it was two yellows or whether it was a straight red.  I think the latter requires him to miss subsequent friendlies, although could be wrong about that.
 
If it was a yellow for the foul and then a yellow for dissent, the proper referee mechanic would be to show the yellow, show it again, and then show red.  I think it might have been a straight red for abusive language, given the way the ref produced it.

 
I think you may be right.  We'll need clarification after the game.
 
 
The Swiss get two free headers, and miss both. Poor marking from the US, I didn't catch who was at fault for each.

 

[djhb20]

And there it is.

 

[soxfan121]

Brek Shea don't care.

 
I laughed hysterically. That picture is so 'MURICA. Right down to the black socks.
 

If Brek Shea is our LB he;s going to have to average 1.5 Goals a game scored to make up for how fucking terrible he is defensively.
He's worse than Bornstein. BORNSTEIN!

 
Zero instincts for the position. If Chandler's defensive brain farts are frustrating, I can only imagine how TB is gonna handle Shea's laissez-faire attitude toward defending, closing down or doing the basic things any player should do.
 
He seems to breathe properly, which is the only sort of positive spin I could put on this. BUT HE SCORED!!!, so he'll get plenty more chances to show how disinterested and ill-suited he is to play LB.

 

[Titans Bastard]

That was coming.  15 goals after 75' in the last 15 games now.  US not looking good defending set pieces.

 

[djhb20]

There's a good chance that number will go up in the next 10 minutes.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Zero instincts for the position. If Chandler's defensive brain farts are frustrating, I can only imagine how TB is gonna handle Shea's laissez-faire attitude toward defending, closing down or doing the basic things any player should do.
 
He seems to breathe properly, which is the only sort of positive spin I could put on this. BUT HE SCORED!!!, so he'll get plenty more chances to show how disinterested and ill-suited he is to play LB.

 
I give Shea a little more leeway because he's learning the position and because he's actually playing LB for his club for the first time so there's some hope he'll improve somewhat.  That is to say, I simply have higher expectations for Chandler, so he has the capacity to disappoint me more.

 

[soxfan121]

That was coming.  15 goals after 75' in the last 15 games now.  US not looking good defending set pieces.

 
Huh. Maybe that fitness concern wasn't totally unfounded.
 
ETA: They've looked out of gas for about 30 minutes now.

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
Huh. Maybe that fitness concern wasn't totally unfounded.
 
ETA: They've looked out of gas for about 30 minutes now.

 
Zardes, Bradley. and Shea are the only MLS players on the field.  And we know Bradley doesn't have fitness issues.  I suspect there's more to it than fitness.  And if it is fitness, it's worth wondering why a traditional US strength has completely eroded under Klinsmann.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Morris for Zardes, Ream for Morales late.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

How and when will the second SUI goal be scored?

 

[soxfan121]

 
Zardes, Bradley. and Shea are the only MLS players on the field.  And we know Bradley doesn't have fitness issues.  I suspect there's more to it than fitness.  And if it is fitness, it's worth wondering why a traditional US strength has completely eroded under Klinsmann.

 
Calm down Sunil, Jr. I'm noticing guys like Chandler and Brooks being gassed, so it isn't about MLS or not MLS. I think the coach might have an idea of what he's talking about. 

How that happened, I am sure I don't know. But lots of shorts grabbing and huffing that I've never noticed in the past. 
 
And sure it's more than fitness; Klinsmann has made it a habit to make sure everyone earns an orange slice, emptying the bench and putting out everyone other than the team equipment manager. Most of these guys are marginal talents to begin with, haven't played together, and are going in cold to a "competitive" game. 

 

[robssecondjob]

How and when will the second SUI goal be scored?

Late and on a set piece if history is our guide.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Terrence Boyd in the stands!  Announcers think he's Fabian Johnson, though.  I guess all German-Americans look the same.

 

[djhb20]

So, those of you who know more than me, is there any solace to be taken by the fact that the beginning of friendlies seem to more accurately reflect competitive matches?

 

[soxfan121]

Overall, good effort. First half was encouraging; the USA looked like they at least belonged on the field with a tough, disciplined Euro squad with some real talent. Probably should have had one goal, if not two, from counters (Zardes & Bradley) and the Shea kick was a nice bonus. Got run ragged in the second half, especially down a man. What Altidore was thinking is a legit question. 

More Zardes, please. Active and in the right places is good. Hopefully, he finishes better than he showed today.

 

[soxfan121]

Terrence Boyd in the stands!  Announcers think he's Fabian Johnson, though.  I guess all German-Americans look the same.

 
Again, I laughed way harder than I should have. Well played.

 

[Titans Bastard]

So, those of you who know more than me, is there any solace to be taken by the fact that the beginning of friendlies seem to more accurately reflect competitive matches?

 
I think so.  It's worth noting that over Klinsmann's tenure with the US he's overseen a poor run of friendly performances, but pulled things together in time for competitive matches.  That's no guarantee that it will happen again, but I wouldn't push the panic button unless we lay an egg in the Gold Cup.
 
 
It's also worth noting that Berti Vogts is officially on board as assistant manager.  He had come on as a special adviser before the World Cup and is considered responsible for the switch to the Beckerman/Bradley/Jones midfield that happened during the tuneup friendlies.  I wouldn't be surprised if our tactical approach veers in a new direction once again now that he's back.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

What's kind of amazing about the streak of late goals is the flip side -- how often the US scores the first goal.  Starting at the beginning of 2014, they have scored first in 14 of 19 games.  Their record in those games is 7-7-5.  

 

[soxfan121]

 
I think so.  It's worth noting that over Klinsmann's tenure with the US he's overseen a poor run of friendly performances, but pulled things together in time for competitive matches.  That's no guarantee that it will happen again, but I wouldn't push the panic button unless we lay an egg in the Gold Cup.

 
Maybe true, but harsh. The US hasn't played a cupcake in a really, really long time. And friendlies prior to the WC produced some excellent results. 

Recent form has been shit, but as you note, it's way early in the cycle and no need to panic until performances against good Euro teams like Denmark & Switzerland carry over to the likes of Panama and Jamaica. This 'poor run' against good competition may have the intended effect of proving to the team that they should be competitive in every game, regardless of opponent. And should be much better than our CONCACAF "competition".

 

[luckiestman]

What's kind of amazing about the streak of late goals is the flip side -- how often the US scores the first goal.  Starting at the beginning of 2014, they have scored first in 14 of 19 games.  Their record in those games is 7-7-5.  

 
 
I was thinking along a similar line. It sucks that they lose leads, but man, they are way better at getting leads than I remember (I dont have stats to back that up though). 

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
Maybe true, but harsh. The US hasn't played a cupcake in a really, really long time. And friendlies prior to the WC produced some excellent results. 

Recent form has been shit, but as you note, it's way early in the cycle and no need to panic until performances against good Euro teams like Denmark & Switzerland carry over to the likes of Panama and Jamaica. This 'poor run' against good competition may have the intended effect of proving to the team that they should be competitive in every game, regardless of opponent. And should be much better than our CONCACAF "competition".

 
Yeah.  The US has a pretty sorry track record in Europe in general.  Today we outplayed Switzerland on the road until we went down a man, which should be encouraging.  The nadir was probably the 4-1 walloping by a second-string Ireland team in November which really was "subpar", but it's true that expectations and evaluations need to be calibrated according to the opposition.  Middling-to-bad results against quality opponents on the road in Europe is basically normal.
 
The Gold Cup will be a good gut check.  It's not the toughest competition and holding it biannually can be tiresome, but it provides a consistent measuring stick every two years, which is helpful.
 
My takeaway from today's game is that we need to ditch the one-forward formations for good.  Both Bradley and Altidore play better with two forwards on the field.  And just like it was Bob Bradley's job to get the most out of Dempsey and Donovan, it is Klinsmann's job to get the most out of Bradley and Altidore.  Plus, the US doesn't have the horses to dominate midfields against top teams.  I like Williams and Diskerud, I think Morales has a chance to be useful, and I'm high on Wil Trapp.  But none of them are going to be enough to help Bradley boss top int'l midfields.  And if you aren't going to win the midfield even with three CMs, that third CM is a total waste -- you use that spot in the lineup on someone who can help absorb pressure and/or spring the counter instead.
 
Zooming out a bit, I think it's clear that we're experiencing a down period in the flow of US talent.  The core of the last era is mostly gone -- all that's left is Dempsey's inevitable decline and Howard making his int'l retirement official.  The new building block players are Bradley, Altidore, and maybe Fabian Johnson and Brad Guzan.  But overall, I don't think this cycle we're going to have the top-line talent or depth of supporting cast that we've had at times in the past.  If I'm a betting man, I say we qualify for the WC but go 3-and-out.  Playing a WC in Europe won't help either, though maybe Russia is "different" enough to mitigate the advantage that Euro teams usually have in their home continent.
 
Fingers crossed that some of the young guns improve enough to be real contributors in two years' time.  We could really use the help.

 

[soxfan121]

Saved that post - a 3 & out prediction, even couched, might come in handy in 2018. ;-)
 
That said, I generally agree - there's not enough talent in the pipeline, which was obvious 18 months ago and has only gotten worse as Father Time claims more of the top players of the last (few) cycle(s) like Donovan and Beasley. It's also the obvious reason Klinsmann is so enamored of Julian Green, DeAndre Yedlin and Rubio Rubin - the best hope for a surprise in 2018 is one more of the prospects making a leap to join Bradley, Altidore and Guzan in time for 2018. 
 
I also think history (in Euro WC's) is pretty useless and that Russia 2018 is likely to be a batshit insane affair where all visiting teams are in armed compounds and transported in APCs...making the "freak out factor" a wash for every team involved. Well, except for those teams with Anzhi-alumni and others who've been playing in THE Ukraine for the past year. 

 

[Titans Bastard]

I thought this was an interesting read on Klinsmann's worldview and the differences between the American and European mentalities.  The author is a current American player who spent a few years as a squad player for FC Dallas and has since bounced around a few second division teams in Sweden and Norway.  He's a real journeyman, but he writes with some frequency about his experience as a player.  It's almost always good stuff.

 

[soxfan121]

That is a TERRIFIC read, thanks TB. 

I had a similar thought yesterday as FS1 showed the postgame scrum of Swiss players jockeying to get a word - and handshake - from Klinsmann. They were literally lined up to introduce themselves, and presumably, say "I was a big fan growing up." After reading the article, I wonder if anyone was like "when you get a new club job, look me up, yah?"

 

[soxfan121]

https://sports.vice.com/article/michael-bradley-forever-out-of-place/
 

Meanwhile, Bradley's stuck doing his bravest for the USMNT, even as he's demonstrably out of his element. It's a credit to his skill and effort that his tenure as an attacking midfielder hasn't been an utter disaster, but he disappears from matches in a way he didn't when he played deeper, and his mistakes are more frequent than ever before. His predicament has been created by what now seems like a classic bit of Klinsmannian imagineering. The idea of Michael Bradley as an offensive dynamo is interesting; in practice, it falls flat. Despite this reality, Klinsmann keeps trying the tactic out, either believing it will eventually succeed, or because he doesn't see any viable alternative. Bradley's a good player, but he's being pushed past the limits of his capabilities by a coach and a team that still need more than he can give.
 

 

[Titans Bastard]

The Bomb Pop uniform has been phased out for the blue, as we know.  Our home jersey is still the ultra-boring "white tennis shirt".  IIRC it's not selling well, so the USSF will replace it quickly.  And this is totally unconfirmed but....
 
 
https://twitter.com/MLSist/status/583685144466300929

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Replica national team jerseys don't sell for as little as €15.50 anywhere, do they?

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

I'd buy one of those.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

If that's real, Marvel better be getting a cut of the action.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Profile of Berti Vogts
 
It can be easily argued that Vogts is past his sell-by date.  He got canned by Azerbaijan last year and the Scots still aren't happy about his tenure there a decade ago.  But Klinsmann operates mostly in the world of the abstract and if Vogts is a guy who Klinsmann listens to and who can bridge the gap between JK's abstractions and specific, communicable, applied tactics, he will help this team.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Whitecaps winger Kekuta Manneh expects to receive his US passport next summer.  He came to the US when he was 15 and was eventually adopted by his host family, but too late to automatically receive citizenship.  He lives in Point Roberts, WA to maintain US residency, which indicates to me that he knows what he's doing with the process (not always the case with these guys).
 
I like this news - I didn't know what Manneh's citizenship timeline looked like and thought he was probably done once he went to a Canadian team.  If you guys haven't seen him, he's electrifying when he's on.  He's 20 and needs to polish his game, but he has serious pace and is already a bit more well-rounded than burners of the recent past like Josh Gatt.  He'd be great coming off the bench and running at a tired defense.  He's only six months older than Julian Green.
 
 
 
Darlington Nagbe should become eligible for US citizenship in late 2015 as well.  Can't wait.  I think he'll challenge for a place in the first XI right away.

 

[Schnerres]

Profile of Berti Vogts
 
It can be easily argued that Vogts is past his sell-by date.  He got canned by Azerbaijan last year and the Scots still aren't happy about his tenure there a decade ago.  But Klinsmann operates mostly in the world of the abstract and if Vogts is a guy who Klinsmann listens to and who can bridge the gap between JK's abstractions and specific, communicable, applied tactics, he will help this team.

Exactly. Most people in Germany weren´t happy with either of themas national coach, as Vogts was playing a boring, grind-it-out style, but if you had to say one great thing about him, the guy was coaching like he was as a player, he was a man-marking defender, who was nicknamed "Terrier" and known for his good defense. So he preferred a defense-first mentality in the national team, too and of course, the 90s was a different time (i don´t mean the facial hair and the mullets) when it came to footballing style and talents in Germany. We had some superstars in Matthäus, Klinsi, Sammer, Brehme, Kohler, etc., but it wasn´t like those guys had a huge technical ability like today´s players.
Klinsmann´s methods as a coach are sometimes over the top, as he tries to push his players closer to the european standards, alright. But having a laid-back or old-school guy like Vogts as an advisor seems somehow out-of-line for him and also is a good approach to seeing things different. Klinsmann was the leader of the group in Euro96, so if´s obvious that he wants to give his old pal a job to work, but i also think he trusts Berti Vogts and knows there are other sides to respect and having an elder statesman to work with can only help.

 

[dirtynine]

I'll gladly take all the talent we can legitimately get, but hearing prospect after prospect have the "should get their citizenship soon!" caveat is taking some of the excitement out of the process for me.  I'd like a few home-grown success stories, if only to reassure (delude?) myself that we are actually making progress on seeding and developing world-class talent (especially offensive talent) here.  

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

I'll gladly take all the talent we can legitimately get, but hearing prospect after prospect have the "should get their citizenship soon!" caveat is taking some of the excitement out of the process for me.  I'd like a few home-grown success stories, if only to reassure (delude?) myself that we are actually making progress on seeding and developing world-class talent (especially offensive talent) here.

I'm kinda going the opposite way lately. Seeing the English FA trying to make their game more English and seeing the Italians going back and forth about how natively born the Italian national team should be, it makes me feel like the dual national thing is very classically American in an early 20th century, Ellis Island kinda way.

It's of course not really as simple as that, and I certainly want America to get its own shit together developing players, but I feel like "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to play attacking midfield" is an authentically American way to help build the team.

 

[soxfan121]

I'll gladly take all the talent we can legitimately get, but hearing prospect after prospect have the "should get their citizenship soon!" caveat is taking some of the excitement out of the process for me.  I'd like a few home-grown success stories, if only to reassure (delude?) myself that we are actually making progress on seeding and developing world-class talent (especially offensive talent) here.  

 
What is more American than coming to America being such a success that both you and America want to make things official? 

I get this consternation about guys like Julian Green or John Brooks. I don't get it AT ALL about Darlington Nagbe or Manneh - those guys are as American as it gets - they live in America, they get paid in America, they pay taxes to America and if they're good enough to represent America, I can't think of a better way to "get talent" for the USMNT. 

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
What is more American than coming to America being such a success that both you and America want to make things official? 

I get this consternation about guys like Julian Green or John Brooks. I don't get it AT ALL about Darlington Nagbe or Manneh - those guys are as American as it gets - they live in America, they get paid in America, they pay taxes to America and if they're good enough to represent America, I can't think of a better way to "get talent" for the USMNT. 

 
Agree.  Nagbe has been here since age 11.  He's an Ohio kid who grew up in the Cleveland suburbs, played some old-fashioned NCAA ball down the road at Akron, and then married his (American) college sweetheart.  Manneh hasn't been here for as long (age 15 and he originally came over for soccer-related reasons), but he's been freaking legally adopted by his host family in Texas.
 
Nagbe made it clear that he didn't want to be taken by Vancouver #1 overall in the 2011 draft for citizenship related reasons.  Funnily enough, Manneh is playing in....Vancouver, but he's made it work via the Point Roberts solution.  Which doesn't sound like a really fun place to live, unless you enjoy long commutes and hanging out with ex-mafiosos in the witness protection program.
 
 
These are much stronger connections to the US than many of the German-Americans.  The presence of all those foreign-born players only bothers me to the extent that it's a condemnation of the US player development system at large.  Individually, I welcome them with open arms.  I just wish we were better at producing players at home.  The number of foreign-born players in the USMNT player pool indicates that we aren't where we need to be.
 
As an aside, while a lot of the Germericans (and other foreign-born players) are the offspring of hit-it-and-quit-it American servicemen, some of our USMNT guys have pretty strong family connections.
 
IIRC: Williams (dad), Diskerud (mom), Carter-Vickers (dad), Morales (dad) all grew up with an American parent in the household.  Green's and Brooks' dads are in the US but they have a relationship.  Can't remember where FJ falls.  Jones, Boyd, Chandler were estranged from their American dads.  Boyd couldn't play with our U20s because he had trouble tracking down the American side of his family for paperwork.  But ironically he's the most rah-rah US guy of the entire lot.
 
It's never as simple as it looks.

 

[soxfan121]

Boyd got the flag tattooed on him didn't he? I'm not even that much of an American.

 

[dirtynine]

Agree completely with the above points.  Each case is worthy individually and yeah, the melting pot approach is completely all-American.  I'd like our domestic development process to be producing prospects that rival the current crop of dual-nationals.  (I'd also like to have the depth to forgo players for whom the US is a second-choice callup. Boyd obviously does not have this issue!)  

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Forget flag tattoos.  Nothing says "true American" like double birds.