Confederations Cup

Size isn't irrelevant, but it's close. See Barca v ManU. Creativity is the problem and I think we lose it after the youth systems. In the FIFA under 17 and under 20's, we always make it out of group stages and usually lose to a strong team with a few good showings.

But, the development stops there. We need more players going to youth clubs over in Europe instead of MLS development. I think you'd be better off on Liverpool reserves than the top MLS squad playing.

This probably isn't the best example due to injuries, but more players need to go the JonO'Brien route. He saw the game better than most Nats.

I don't think US culture is as comfortable with that commitment on team sports. Being a teenager pro is only acceptable in gymnastics, golf, and tennis. People are up in arms about the 16 year old baseball prodigy getting a GED or the 17 year old basketball recruit going to Europe for a year to become draft eligible. It's common practice in the rest of the world.
 
I didn't fully understand why Bradley did not take out an offensive player for a D-mid at halftime. You have the lead, you're down to 10 men. Make Italy beat you. It boggles the mind why Bradley wouldn't make that adjustment against a team that will happily take possession if you give it to them. The thing about Italy is that they don't necessarily look to possess, they look for the mistake.

You cannot play a top 4 team (Germany, Italy, Argentina, Brazil) with only one DM. It is suicide.

As a fan of a team that has spent 20 years being told that "playing with heart, we can hold our own with the big boys, (my favorite - jugamos como nunca, pero perdimos como siempre) was enough, I understand y'all's frustrations. Moral victories are for aggy.

That is why it is so important to play these official events at full speed. CONCACAF is tough, but it just doesn't cut it. The US made a huge mistake sending a reserve squad to Copa America last year. And with CONMEBOL inviting Japan for the next one, it looks like the US won't get another opportunity for a while.
 
Well, the only midfielders available on the bench were Beasley, Adu, Torres, and Kljestan. None of which could be considered true D-Mids. He brought Beasley in for Benny and Kljestan in for Bornstien. I would have thought Torres for Benny, but again none of the options were ideal.
 
I had the thought of subbing off Benny and moving Spector into the middle, however then I realized we would have to put Wynne on at right back and Italy would have eaten him alive. The result probably would have been 3-1 anyway.

I coach youth soccer and agree with you about playing reduced numbers at the younger ages. We play 8v8 at u12 and 11v11 at U13.

U12 is a time when some of the kids hit puberty, and you will see a percentage of them able to physically overplay a smaller field, so I'm still undecided on whether 8v8 is the right game for U12. U11 and younger, definitely smaller numbers and smaller fields.

Good post btw.
 
Sounds like a pretty accurate game summary to me TW. I don't understand why Mexico can hang with the best soccer teams in the world and we look completely outmanned. We have got to stop committing cheap fouls that give the international refs the chance to throw red cards at us.
 
Another bad showing on the international stage... and another bad red card. It was late, but I cannot remember seeing two red cards (without a previous yellow) on late tackles from the front, with the cleats down.
 
Phantom foul 30 yards out that resulted in second goal was bad and the red card was again WAY too harsh.

That said, this US team didn't even belong on the pitch today. Brazil's 2nd string would probably have run circles around this collection of US players.

The US shouldn't even show up against Egypt, but since we have to.....why not please try the damn 4-4-2. It best suits our personnel & gives us a better chance to keep from being exposed on the defensive side.

Sigh.

Hook 'em & Go Yanks
 
With the Egypt win over Italy, the boys are still alive, barely. Not that they deserve to get out of the group with the play today, it is nice to still have something to play for.
Some of the challenges in the last 15 minutes of the Italy game were less than what resulted in a red today with no caution towards the Azzuri. Cannavaro was clearly beat and has a cleats up challenge to take out the Egyptian midfielder, but b/c it is a national power and known player, not even a caution. Frustrating to see that but I would love to see our boys come out and win this next match.
One more time, please play Adu.
 
The second goal was off the counter attack triggered by Beasley's abysmal turnover. But as far as the foul that lead to the first goal, you're right, questionable...

So we've played 180 minutes, roughly 90 of those minutes 10 v. 11, and been outscored 6-1...what have we learned?

1) If we weren't already sure, today confirmed that Demarcus Beasley's int'l career outside of CONCACAF is officially over...
2) Spector is the answer at RB. Obviously injuries have plagued him, but when healthy, the guy is very solid IMO. With him, Boca and Gooch, LB is the only question.
3) The midfield remains a puzzle. I'm hoping/assuming that by this time next year we'll be solidified with Jermaine Jones playing the CDM role and Bradley playing more of a CAM role, like he did at Heerenveen. That still leaves two spots...Dempsey continues to improve at Fulham but has been awful over the last year for the Yanks. Feihlhaber is showing promise, Kljestan has been inconsistent at best, Edu hurt and Torres/Adu don't see the field...you're guess is as good as mine for filling out this roster.

As for Sunday, 2-0 Egypt...
 
Interesting to see someone else is less than impressed with Dempsey's role for the national team. I have been frustrated watching him for a while, but it seemed to boil over after the Costa Rica match. I know we have others who can do what he does on the field. He wants the ball at his feel way too much as opposed to continuing to move it. He would rather make the difficult pass than the simple one, and when all else fails, fall down with your feet together to simulate you getting tripped. I do not think that the answer lies in Klestjan either but he is young. Keep Feilhaber on the field with Bradley and let's hope and pray for Jones to be a significant contributor.
I will keep pounding this point as well at risk of being the "lover of the backup and big name", but please give Freddie a shot. He cannot be any worse than what I have witnessed from DMB and Dempsey.
 
I caught the 2nd half on late night replay, here are my observations:1) Although his personal grooming is an offense to all of mankind, Sacha Kljestan's foul could have gone cardless, but should have drawn a yellow for the simple fact that it was very close to being dangerous if the player hadn't been able to jump over him. The Brazilian player's injury was as serious as Rivaldo holding his head after a ball hit him in the stomach in the '02 World Cup.

A studs down challenge from the front that didn't go through the player, but rather stopped in front of him shouldn't draw a red... ever.

And that ref works a lot of top games. That was below him. I think that a yellow would have sent the same message, but I think he just wanted to end the game right then and allow Brazil to play keep away for the rest of the game because it was obvious that the US was no threat to get back in the game and 11 v 11 could result in a more serious challenge later. Other than that reasoning, there was absolutely no excuse for that red.

2) Demarcus Beasley sucks donkey nads.

I didn't even see him play in this game, but The only game that he didn't start in out of the last 4, was the Italy game and we didn't give up a goal within the first 7 minutes. I've read enough message board chatter to confirm that I'm right... again.

3) Hypocritical ******** is alive & well

Both Donovan & Bob Bradley were quoted in the last few days that if Adu wants to play, then he needs to get regular games at his club. However, Altidore, who hasn't played since 2008 started the last two games and D. Beasley, who absolutely embarrasses the USA everytime he takes the pitch, has barely played since last fall, has either started or come on as a sub in the last 4 games. (I'm pretty sure... I don't want to check because his play disgusts me so much.)

4) Bob Bradley's "offense" of sending the ball up to a forward to hold it while others come running is the least effective offense possible with the players at the USMNT's disposal.

Far and away the best offensive attack in the 2nd half was when Spector nutmegged a defender/winger and then moved off the ball into space so that Donovan could one-time the ball back to him. Then Spector laid the ball off to Feilhaber who crushed a ball that easily beat the best keeper in the world right now (Julio Cesar), but unfortunately hit off the underside of the crossbar and bounced back out.

SIDE NOTE: I really wanted Benny Feilhaber to score against the country of his birth that he turned his back on for the USMNT.
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If we abandoned the lone point striker (which we should have when Brian McBride retired), we could play Kenny Cooper the way he wants to play, Donovan, Altidore (the way he's learning to play in Spain), Adu (the way he's been able to play since ~12 years old), and Feilhaber, Bradley, Charlie Davies... am I making myself clear?

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5) DeWitt might not be THE ANSWER, but he's probably better than Bocanegra. And if Bocanegra were to battle Bornstein for the left back spot, it would be better for everybody.

Bocanegra isn't completely worthless and his head on set pieces can save/win games on occasion, so it is nice to have him in there, but Bornstein, although not anywhere close to being a "complete player" does offer quite a bit going forward.

6) Clint Dempsey makes me want to
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I don't think that he should be "off the team", but I don't think he should be starting either. I think that he should be a late 2nd half sub. Period.

I think that playing a combination of Bradley, Torres, Clark (please no more retalitory fouls), Feilhaber, Adu, Edu (when healthy), Donovan, & Rogers (I'm a BIG fan, but he started the year slowly) is what the US needs to do.

4-4-2: Altidore + Adu/Cooper up top.

4-5-1: Altidore/Cooper up top
Clark and/or Edu + Bradley, Torres, Feilhaber, Donovan

When we get the German Kid, I'm thinking he slots in immediately at the DM position (or one of the DM positions).

But having Adu and/or Cooper on the field for free kicks is crucial. Those two are head and shoulders above any other Americans on the team. A distant, distant 3rd is Kljestan and his play doesn't warrant the risk. Donovan is so far behind those three that I don't even know if he's truly #4 or he's just been on the team so long that no one questions him.

Dempsey's free kick from distance in the second half was so far off the mark that it looked like he thought he was competing in a Punt, Pass, & Kick competition.
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IN SUMMARY:

-B. Bradley's "game plans" are mind-blowing atrocious.
-B. Bradley's roster selection is competely separated from playing a cohesive group of guys who might have an opportunity to hold the ball and create an offensive threat.
-D. Beasley is horrible.
-DeWitt is pretty good.
-Dempsey needs to be benched.
-Adu needs to play.
-Cooper should be on the team.

Any questions?
 
Sorry for the awkward post (re: Demerit...) I don't post much and it shows...

Sigi is doing some nice things out in Seattle, although his substitutions in the DC game cost him 2 points.

Not sure I like Preki as a Nats coach, too inflexible and a hot head.

Dominic Kinnear is the domestic coach that I like the most.
 
Appreciate the long and thoughtful post, Napoleon...Unfortunately I'm just too depressed to talk about any of your points.

I kept wondering if you were insulting DeMerit by using a play on his name...lol...

Kinnear is unavailable...Keep moving. Ha. Actually I think Kinnear would be a wonderful choice...MUCH better than Preki. I wonder how the US fanbase would handle his laid back demeanor on the bench...though he does get pretty intense at certain moments. I also wonder whether the base will tolerate another native head coach.
 
Dynamo fan???

I think the fan base who care would accept "anyone but Bradley" at this point.

If by "the base" you mean USSF (Gelati, etal), Kinnear would be more acceptable to them than a non domestic coach. USSF's biggest fear is giving up control of the National program (see the aborted Klinsman hire attempt). Kinnear is still part of the system, and could be expected to take a lesser overall role like Bradley has. Either way I still would prefer him over Bradley.
 
Dynamo fan, indeed.

If you patrol the USA boards on Big Soccer you will find that Kinnear is someone that people discuss and like...However, I think there are also a good amount of fans that would view Kinnear as yet another coach from our third rate league...and couldn't possibly understand how to lead the 'Nats against the worlds best.

BTW...Good to have you joining into the conversation...We can always use another soccer voice on this site.
 
After watching us suck up the place, I'm ready for tomorrow. I'm not demanding that we beat Brazil & Italy every time we play them, I just think we should at least look like we know what we're doing and get some shots on goal. What South Africa did today versus Spain would have made me happy against Brazil or Italy. South Africa really took it to Spain and had several dangerous opportunities.

So while I wait for Brazil vs. Italy (they most definitely will NOT be showing the USA game in Buenos Aires), I leave these funny pics stolen from Big Soccer.

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I really like that first one there, Napoleon.

Kinnear's teams here in Houston are pretty entertaining. They're flexible, hard-working and strong-willed. Just look at tonight's game against RSL: Fell behind on a fluky goal, and spent the better part of 60 minutes in Houston heat constantly working to secure a point, which they did in the dying moments.

He's got a great eye for talent - he's getting to be borderline legendary for taking up other teams' "lost" causes and turning them into productive players. He's not afraid to tinker, but he doesn't do it obsessively like Bradley seems to. And his players all seem to buy into what he's putting out there.

I think he'd be a great choice for the Nats, but only if they let him operate without undue hovering and excessive worries about marketing.
 
Bradley is proving that there are a hundred coaches out there who can get the USA through a qweak CONCACAF into the WC and by God he just might be that 100th ranked coach but the past two games and the embarassing performance in Costa rica show that he just doesnt have that ability to get his team to the next level. This team will make it to South africa and then have a France '98 type meltdown at the rate they are going.
 
This changes nothing about needing to replace Bradley. Took an absolutely perfect storm today for things to go the way they did and the longshot came through.

Will be interesting to see how the semi with Spain differs from their second half against Italy and the entire match with Brazil.
 
Despite the nightmare that was the United States' first two matches of the Confederations Cup, the Nats somehow found a way to advance to the semifinal round on the strength of Sunday's 3-0 victory over Egypt.

I guess it helps to actually play the game with 11 men. It's also nice to get world-class service from your right backs, like the one that Spector crossed in to Dempsey in the 71st minute. Dempsey headed it home and that gave us the goal differential/goals scored tiebreaker over Italy and Egypt.
 
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