Good afternoon folks. The moment has arrived. USA vs. England. Can England exact revenge for the 1950 World Cup and the Revolutionary War? Can the Americans finally get payback for England subjecting us to Simon Cowell?
I’m kidding.
Today’s friendly will be a good test for both sides (despite what more cynical American fans and egotistical English fans might think). Landon Donovan will not play today, but there is still plenty to look forward to. How will the Americans do in a packed Wembley Stadium? We are about to find out.
I will do a running commentary throughout the match so feel free to follow along here. Please share your thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section below.
Let’s get it started:
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FINAL- That’s all for today. Thanks for following the match here and be sure to check back in tomorrow for some post-match analysis.
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FINAL- England 2, USA 0. The AMericans were outclassed today and even if Landon Donovan had played I don’t think it would have mattered that much. He might have helped the U.S. team create some more good chances, but the overall quality of England’s starting XI was clear throughout the first half.
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93rd minute- When you consider that the first goal came off a set piece and the second courtesy of a blown assignment in midfield.
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90th minute- England has dominated play as most expected, but I have to say the U.S. defense didn’t do terribly today.
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89th minute- Anytime Peter Crouch sets up for a bicycle kick you have to just watch in amazement. It’s like a National Geographic episode.
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86th minute- Random question, do you think John Terry would go completely psycho if an American player brought up the missed PK?
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81st minute- Some very nice work from Eddie Lewis, who is making it clear that he can still contribute at his age. He deserves his chances when World Cup qualifying roles around.
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73rd minute- It’s impressive to watch England’s players break out on the counter. You really see the speed disparity between the teams.
England’s just knocking it around now.
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71st minute- Pearce with the yellow card for the foul on Bently. I thought Pearce had a pretty good first half actually.
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69th minute- Freddy Adu comes into the match. It will be interesting to see what he can do.
Also in the match now is Peter Crouch, which may make that the biggest disparity in size between two subs coming into the same match at the same time. (Someone call Guinness).
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63rd minute- As most expected, the American attack has been toothless without Landon Donovan and with Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff. It’s time to start looking into getting some uncapped Brazilian forwards married to some American women or something because the U.S. forward pool needs some help (and that’s even with Jozy Altidore on the way).
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59th minute- Who to blame on that goal? Ricardo Clark gets lost in the midfield, leaving Gareth Barry completely unmarked and Barry has all day to deliver a perfect pass to Gerrard. Is that a preview of Liverpool next season?
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58th minute- GOAL ENGLAND. Steven Gerrard splits the American defense to make it 2-0 England.
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HALFTIME- England 1, USA 0. The Americans are lucky not to be down by two or three goals. Some tactical fouling and poor finishing by England has kept the Americans in the game. What needs to change? Josh Wolff has to come out of this match. Freddy Adu needs to come in. Ricardo Clark should come out as well but I’m not sure Bob Bradley will make two halftime subs.
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44th minute- Cherundolo takes down Defoe and draws a yellow. Here comes another dangerous free kick.
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41st minute- USA dodges a bullet when England wastes a very dangerous free kick.
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39th minute- GOAL ENGLAND. John Terry heads home Beckham’s free kick. Terry outjumps Bocanegra for the goal.
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37th minute- Clark halts a long stretch of England possession with a bad foul. Here comes Beckham for a free kick.
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34th minutes- England comes VERY close but DeFoe sends a close-range shot wide. Bad finish after a great pass from Gerrard.
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34th minute- Josh Wolff has looked pretty useless today.
Also looking a bit off is John Terry. I think it’s safe to say he’s still thinking about the Champions League final.
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32nd minute- Johnson runs at Terry and gets a foul call. Nice.
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31st minute- Defoe whistled for a foul on Onyewu. Yes, you read that right.
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29th minute- Eddie Johnson gets a nice pass in space, but drops it off to Dempsey, who loses it. I’ll give Johnson credit for being active, if ineffective.
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27th minute- Nice long pass from Bradley to Johnson but Johnson’s touch is bad. He’s bailed out by a foul call.
Wes Brown fouls Dempsey, setting up another decent free kick from distance for Beasley.
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26th minute- Eddie Johnson works a give-and-go but his shot is a weak one right to James.
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26th minute- A U.S. free kick falls to Johnson, who chips it back across, but the pass is cleared out of danger.
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24th minute- A dangerous free kick from England results in a clear shot from Gerrard, but Dempsey heads it away.
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23rd minute- Rooney just undressed Bocanegra but his pass into the box is a bit off, keeping Gerrard from getting a good shot on goal.
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21st minute- Beasley and Wes Brown clash, foul on Beasley. Good to see Beasley run at somebody. He needs to get more of the ball.
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19th minute- Beckham with a rushed shot and sends it high.
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18th minute- Americans doing a good job of staying compact, which isn’t leaving England much room in the final third.
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17th minute- The Americans with a spell of possesion. Nice to see Michael Bradley win a 50/50 ball from Steven Gerrard.
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16th minute- For all the question marks in the U.S. lineup, it is definitely a comforting fact that the Americans have Tim Howard in net.
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15th minute- Not much of a rhythm to this match yet.
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12th minute- Beckham’s first free kick results in a Gerrard goal but the ref hadn’t blown the whistle to restart play. Beckham’s second kick misses a bit wide.
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11th minute- Those wondering about Josh Wolff can keep wondering. He hasn’t done anything yet.
Gerrard fouled by Clark. Good free kick position for England.
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10th minute- You’re going to see a lot of tactical fouling by the Americans to contend with the English team’s quick counter.
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9th minute- Bradley with a rough challenge on Beckham to break up a counter.
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8th minute- Pearce does well to break up an England counterattack. That one was close. Defoe has some wheels.
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7th minute- Beckham with a foul on Pearce, who made a nice move.
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5th minute- Rooney almost catches the U.S. offside trap but gets called for it. I can’t see him not scoring one today.
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4th minute- Cherundolo is up. England is knocking the ball around right now. Beckham’s first pass goes straight to Heath Pearce.
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3rd minute- Beasley is looking very active early on.
Cherundolo is hurt after knocking knees with Gerrard.
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1st minute- Look for Dempsey to have some freedom to roam throughout the midfield today. He’s going to be the key to sparking any U.S. attack.
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1st minute- And we’re off
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PRE-GAME- Landon Donovan missing the match is pretty disappointing. I like starting a match with a big understatement. Thank you.
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PRE-GAME- Looks like a late-arriving crowd for this one.
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PRE-GAME- Looks like a good crowd for this one (duh). You can definitely hear them.
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PRE-GAME– For those of you who missed it, here is the U.S. lineup:
————Wolff——-Johnson———-
Beasley—————————– Dempsey
———–Bradley———Clark————
Pearce–Bocanegra—Onyewu–Cherundolo
——————–Howard—————–
Here’s England’s lineup:
———–Rooney——–DeFoe———-
Hargreaves————————Beckham
————Gerrard—Lampard————-
Cole—-Ferdinand—–Terry——–Brown
——————-James——————–
I’ve played plenty, and I still say EJ had a better game today than he’s had in a long, long time.
I only got to watch the second half, so my observations are based solely on that:
Our real weakness was in the midfield. We need midfielders who can keep possession of the ball, take on a defender when he needs to to create something. Without that our midfield cannot hold onto the ball for any length of time to pressure the opposing defense and find a weakness in the opponent’s defense. Instead that is what is happening to us. At least Adu ran at England a couple of times. Eddie Lewis did too, but than crossed the ball too early instead of continuing towards the goal and forcing a scramble.
Until the US Youth System produces players (midfielders) who are really comfortable on the ball, not just support/defensive players for European teams, the USMNT will struggle against the best.
Adu is the only one out there who looked like they had the skill to play on that English team. He had one bad ball and one bad free kick, but the bad ball I’m going to blame on “checkback johnson” and his lack of attacking desire not making a run. EJ was terrible. If people can’t see that then they never played. You can see it in the way he goes for the ball. He always starts his run half a step slow or pulls up at the end. He wants to get close to the pass or the header, but not so close that he’s forced to do something with it. He goes for head balls like I do, but I’m not professional. It’s more about knocking the other guy off then winning the ball. He is crap. He was terrible at Fulham. Beasley, Dempsey and Bradley are great players. I’ve watched clips of Bradley all year playing in Holland. That said, they all sucked today. Back line did well. I am disappointed that we haven’t progressed more than this since the world cup.
I understand that US fans love to pile on Eddie Johnson, but seriously, this is one of the better games that he’s played in a while for the Nats. He didn’t sit with his back to the goal the whole game and he looked to attack some. That shot he unleashed at the beginning of the second half was fierce, just a bit off. Maybe Fulham has helped a bit.
The defense looked pretty good overall, just getting beat on a set piece and a breakdown in the midfield. The midfield looked absolutely horrid. I didn’t expect a win, but I thought that we would hold our own…we did not.
11 players with most caps under Bob Bradley
16 – Feilhaber – WTF
16 – Dempsey
15 – Bradley
15 – Donovan
14 – Onyewu
14 – Bocanegra
13 – Johnson – WTF
13 – Howard
13 – Clark – WTF
12 – Bornstein – WTF
12 – Beasley
Most here would prefer Cherundolo (7 Bradley caps), Edu (5), Adu (4), and Altidore (3) over some of the above names. Spector (9) and Pearce (7) have posters’ support too.
It seems to come down to this: our players are not particularly good.
Chances that the team will be significantly improved by new blood (Rogers… Renken haha) = not good.
So, who can best help this squad of mediocre talent achieve the greatest degree of success — meester bob bradleee, or foreign superstar coach?
This game exposed our lack of quality. It was the EPL vs. MLS. (Yeah…yeah, I know most of the roster was from Europe but the quality in midfield and forward line were all MLS products). The 2nd goal was a jog into the box and a simple pass beyond Guzan. Gerrard’s body language was, “this is so easy.”
My observations:
1. Dempsey seems to have regressed a little. He does not have the swagger he used to have and I wonder if his time in England has really helped his game. I say he would be better off in Spain or he should have gone to the Dutch league first to be schooled more in the game.
I am not hating on him. I love Dempsey, I think we have lost a little of him since his move to England. Something is different.
2. Eddie Johnson is one of our better players technically. Where is he mentally? Where has his swagger gone? Since he did so well his one year, he has regressed also. I like how he receives the ball at the 18 dribbles back 20 yards, gives up a weak pass that result in a turnover when we were in the final third. That’s not him.
Eddie, come back please wherever you went. Get your head back into the game, man.
3. It is time to let Freddy play a bigger role. I am not saying he is the greatest or the best player. I am saying its time to let the boy make an impact like we let Donovan and Beasely. He is a different player and showed some quality on the field. Let him take on more responsibility with the senior team.
4. I would like to see Kenny Cooper get a look on the NT. We miss a big strong forward. He is young too but could be the answer to missing McBride. If we can’t have Altidore, give Cooper a chance. (Sounds like a song – you know…like that Beatles song. Now everybody sing…”If we can’t have Altidore, give Cooper a chance”).
It was a disappointing result after strong performances earlier this year. Our set pieces were terrible today. We did not have the players to deliver a killer ball today.
Maybe if Donovan had been in to provide some service the result could have been different. Surprisingly, that is what we missed in him.
Not sure what some of you guys were watching, but MB was terrible. Can you count the number of times his passes went to the other side? I’ve seen nothing of the flashes we’ve come to expect. Clark struggled in the first half but did much better after half time. Adu came on the field and looked comfy right away. BB needs to give him much more time. EJ wasn’t bad but I want to see more to justify his position. But we need to find players who are comfortable on the ball. Disappointing game..the score i can live with but not the performance.
It is time for a big name coach. BB is not the answer.
Beasley was pretty mediocre, he kept possession but didn’t really have his speed back. If he was healthy, he could’ve really run past Beckham. Could’ve. Sucks to say.
But I’d still start Beasley, either on the right paired with Lewis on the left, or on the left with Donovan on the right.
I find this Michael Bradley to extremely overrated. He has never done much of anything with all of his considerable playing time his dad gives him. I’d rather see someone else in that spot.
m. bradley didn’t put a foot right tonight. what a nightmare! will everton pay $5mil for that??
i think a lot of our guys looked nervous out there from the start. some bad first touches and poor decisions. and with no true leader on the field, we never recovered.
i think that a 4-4-2 away at england is a ridiculous formation, particularly when both wide players are so attack minded for their clubs. what are we trying to prove? did wolff contribute anything today? wouldn’t we have been better off with another man behind the ball in the middle of the field?
adu looked pretty good.
Altidore didn’t play becuase he wasn’t even in England. Bradley did all he could to not call in MLS guys who are very important to their club besides Donovan.
Hejduk and Edu were added after injuries.
Anyway, folks, I’m outta here. Time to work. Have fun debating.
Dominghosa, I guess its a matter of perspective. Bradley was one of the best players on the field for the U.S. which is not saying much. Still, he did what he is supposed to do, clog the middle make the opposition go through the outsides, which England did…and we paid for it with the loss of control of the wings.
DMB does not get a pass in my book. If he wasn’t fit he shouldn’t of been out there. Dempsey is capable of much more, but needs to simplify his play.
I agree on EJ. Best outing for him in a long time, (long time). Still lacks a good first touch, with a nice first touch he would be the best forward in the U.S. pool. but then again if I was 10 years younger, blond, blue-eyed, and sleeping with Angelina Jolie I’d be Brad Pitt.
I was pretty happy with MB, he made some good tackles and was in the better half of our side. Some turnovers, but he was solid. But how can BB not figure out how to get him into the offense more, after the year he had???
Jonathan,
Lets wait for the changes in the next two of these 3 prime time matches. If we see EJ and Wolf again, then we know he is a dullard with no business running our program.
Wow Jonathan, you’re saying if Ives doesn’t agree with your senitment completely that you’ll lose respect for him? Give me a break.
I think Pearce showed he’s the best left back we have. Adu didn’t look that good though–it definitely looked like he hadn’t played in a while.
We need a better partner for Bradley in central midfield, and something that could at least look like a threatening attack.
This is a game U.S. would like to forget. With the exception of Adu, Dempsey (at times), and Eddie Lewis, no one could hold the ball against the pressure of England. I am glad we played England, but it shows how much work U.S. still needs to do.
Also, I’d like to find out exactly what Fulham management had been snorting to sign Eddie Johnson. May be the guy is good in training and he does have speed, but he just cannot seem to do anything with the ball, other than pass it back or lose it to an opponent.
I presume Altidore is injured; otherwise, I don’t understand why he did not play.
As for the English team, looking at their players, I think they are punching waay below their weight internationally. They have a very good team. Cudos to Croatia and Russia for beating a team of this quality.
michael bradley had a nightmare today
I think EJ wasn’t horrible, given who’s there. It’s Wolff who really needs to not play. I agree with Ives, I was pretty happy with our backline, Gooch was good and Pearce hopefully extended his run as the man out left. Dolo had an off day, but I’m not over eager to replace him.
ESPN sucks me in with the Euro programming right after the game…
Chiva, nice summary. You are right. D was OK despite losing 2-0. Central Defense was not too shabby, coulda been better but has been a lot worse. Pearce held his own. Dolo had an off night, Hejduk helped when he came on.
I’m attending the game in Spain as well as the Argentina game. Would be nice to see Adu in from the beginning. He holds possession better than any other Forward on this roster. Will be disappointed if BB trots out Wolff again, or Jaqua.
Not sure what good Bradley did, Pancho. He should be in your below average. And Gooch despite that first goal was great. EJ was actualyl better than expected. mostly becasue we expected a worse performance.
DMB should get a pass. He’s just working himself back. Dempsey wasn’t bad. But below average.
On to Spain.
Well Ives.. the ball is in your court now.. you can either be a responsible journalist and correctly report the crap of a coaching job that bradley did, or you can continue to sing his prase for beating south africa, poland, canada, and a rag tag, mexican side on american soil… go ahead ives, rave about how the Copa didn’t realy count b/c we brought a B squad, or how our offense really opened up against Guatemala… I like your reporting Ives b/c you’re the only american socer reporter who truly loves the game, and goes after every bit of information you can find.. I’m going to lose a lot of respect if you don’t call for either a change of coaching philosophy or a change of coach after this exhibition of futility.
that was a bad starting line up choice by bradley..adu and edu should have started
Let’s be honest, the offense was garbage. The defense was admirable, but it wasn’t their best.
too bad we’re not at a point in soccer’s standing in the US that we don’t get any type of postgame coverage.
Well. Lots of work needed. For those of you who bash LD, well hard to say what would have happened but clearly he was missed on FK’s.
Good: Pearce, Bradley
Better than expected: EJ,Guzan,Adu,Hejduk.
Below Average: Every one else
Poor: Dolo, Dempsey,Wolff,DMB
Central defense not terrible,poor control of flank play. Too many poorly chosen fouls.
Despite the two goals, much of the griping is going to be about the attack. the midfield and the debacle that was the starting forward tandem. EJ did OK, not as terrible as some have said here. but would expect better.
I agree with Dominghosa on Bradley’s play. I think he should be playing a bit higher with Edu behind him in a holding role.
Well that was fun to watch. Getting beat to every loose ball, lack of precision. It was like watching DC except more important. That was not a hopeful game, even knowing that jozy and landon weren’t there and it was being played at Wembley.
Does John Terry have the worst Balding hair cut in history of all of time? What a tool.
seriously outclassed.
must. find. way. to. explain. away. feeling. of. humiliation….
agreed, eric
Game over. England, 2-0. Not much from US.
This match can end, very disappointing, and it was doomed from the start as soon as we where stuck with poo-poo platter at forward, and just got worse with no Donovan, and a scant 23 mins from Adu. Freddy better get some big minutes in the next 2 games.
Bradley hasn’t played very well. Either you have to nix playing him the a central defensive mid role and play him higher or don’t play him at all. I’d prefer the former.
nice hustle jaqua
Can someone tell me why EJ deserved a start and not Adu? EJ has got the same amount of playing time over the last few months (none) as Adu, but Adu can at least stir up some excitement and not give away posession with every touch on the ball
For me, the reasons you wouldn’t start Adu in this game were:
1)You don’t think he’d put in the defensive work required.
2) You want to save him for the start in Spain, because you think he’ll make more of an impact.
3)Depending on how the game is called, Adu gets muscled out of the game.
Thinking about it like that, I can almost understand why Adu didn’t start, but I still would have liked to see it.
Still, if you wanted experience, than it would’ve been better to put Lewis on the left, switch Beasley to the right, and play Dempsey up top with EJ.
That sucking sound? That was our last attempt at 1-touch play before the corner kick.
ives- lets hope its eddie johnson that does bring it up so he can get his face mashed so we dont have to watch him play anymore during this stretch of games.
jacqua in for ej
Funny, Ives. I would have loved to see Landon bring it up, he woulda been the one.
Why Can’t lewis contribute in 2 more years? We’ve got nothing better.
Adu with a shot, gives james a bit of trouble but would like to see adu take it in a little more, he had space.
It’s such a tough call, “American Beckham” can still hit a good ball, and at least is in shape if he ain’t that fast. But he’s not the future. You don’t really want to see him, but then he hits some actual dangerous balls and your glad he’s there.
Wow, Eddie Lewis really has stayed ‘American Beckham’, that’s him to a T.
We’re playing like the bad news bears right now…terrible turnovers.
Hey at least MLS got $4MM for EJ. Now he’s Fulhams problem. And I used to think he was going to be a danger man up front, a few years back.
i mean younger. and as much as i love timmy howard. add b. friedel into that mix too.