Top Stories

USA 6, Cuba 1: A Look Back

Damarcus_beasley_isiphotoscom

The victory was as thorough as it was encouraging.

The U.S. men’s national team went in at halftime against Cuba leading 2-1 on Saturday night and probably should have been leading by much more. The Americans took full advantage of their dominance in the second half, picking apart the short-handed Cubans with sharp passing and quality finishing.

The veterans stepped up and the youngsters showed great promise, and most importantly, the U.S. team moved to 4-0 in this round of World Cup qualifying to secure its place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal with two games to spare.

There were plenty of positives from the match, and few negatives. Those of you who didn’t see it yet can check out my review of the match for ESPN.com.

Here are some observations from the match:

The 4-5-1 formation worked very well and created numerous chances in the first half and early second half. Having Landon Donovan playing behind Brian Ching and next to DaMarcus Beasley maximizes his ability to break down a defense.

Beasley looked very dangerous for the first time in a while and when he plays like that it opens things up for everybody. His speed, willingness to get in on goal and take shots gives the U.S. attack a valuable dynamic.

Brian Ching had a good game and while I know the clamoring for Jozy Altidore continues to grow, Ching showed why he gets the starts. He works well in the attack with Beasley, Donovan and company and the lone forward position is as much about working with your teammates as it is about being able to go at defenders. Altidore’s time is coming, nobody can dispute that, but Ching has brought value to the position.

Jozy Altidore did what he does, go right at defenders with his power-speed combination. It wouldn’t shock me if he led the U.S. team in scoring in the Hexagonal, but we do need to see him work within the framework of the attack, tracking back to receive balls and making good passes to teammates making runs. Once he develops these aspects of hs game to go along with his own dangerous runs at goal, Altidore will permantly takes control of the starting forward position.

Jose Francisco Torres sure looked like the real deal. Yes, it was mop-up duty against a Cuba team applying no pressure, but you can seen the skill and vision he possesses, as well as the confidence. Along with being an instant fan favorite for choosing the USA over Mexico, Torres should also put some pressure on Freddy Adu to step up his game because the two could be battling for minutes down the road.

The 4-3-2-1 formation the U.S. team used late in the Cuba game was effective but probably isn’t a practical formation to use against quality competition. It certainly has some attacking qualities, but a good team like Mexico would tear it apart. That said, it was still fun to watch.

DaMarcus Beasley’s move to left back late in the game was an interesting development. Heath Pearce has had his ups and downs in the past year but remains the top left back candidate. That said, Beasley is a viable option there if the team really needed him to play there. The 4-4-2 formation the U.S. team used briefly, with Beasley at left back, no real left winger, and three midfielders playing centrally, is an interesting variation.

Michael Bradley didn’t have his best game, particularly in the first half, but one thing we did see from him this game was more runs forward. He ran in on goal on two occasions where Donovan found him with perfect passes. Bradley missed both chances, but seeing him show the attacking quality that helped him flourish in the Dutch league last year is promising.

That’s all for now. I will discuss the match, and Wednesday’s match vs. Trinidad & Tobago on Monday. For now, give me your take on the following questions:

Feel free to share your thoughts on Saturday’s USA win vs. Cuba in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. i’m not sure why all the hate for ching is being thrown around. comparing him to EJ is apples and oranges…kind of. he seems to have more of a presence, i do like his ability to hold it up and get it to the quicker guys. i don’t think he’s the best at the position, but he’s certainly not the worst. although, he looses points for snagging that goal from my man, klijsten…that was weak.

    maybe, if cooper and big bradley can get to some counseling sessions together and make up, we won’t be having this ching discussion anymore (i’d take him on the bench though).

    Reply
  2. These pro/anti Ching arguments are getting tired, and I know I’ve contributed more than my share of pro ones. Bradley is not blind: he saw the same game last night that we all did. The bottom line is that Bradley likes Ching, his play as well as his chemistry with the team.

    It was exciting watching the young guys get some minutes and I hope for more of that going forward–the T and T roster indicates as much.

    But Ching is going to around a while, and he deserves to be, especially given Bradley’s priorities.

    The real match I’m interested in is Guatemala; I hope we get see how the youngsters can fare against them. If they can handle Guatemala’s back alley bully style, I’ll be happily surprised.

    Reply
  3. Bob Bradley obviously likes Brian Ching. I think that’s the main reason he gets starts instead of Jozy Altidore. Ching’s also a lot older and has more experience. I’m sure Bradley values that right now.

    Does anyone have a clue why Kenny Cooper doesn’t get called up? I don’t get it.

    Reply
  4. Geoff, he put two past Barbados and stole one from Sasha…I think I saw that streaker from the Olympics put one in against Barbados. Again, supporting the point that Ching is serviceable against the minnows of CONCACAF but will not cut it on a true international stage or the tougher teams in CONCACAF.

    Reply
  5. Sure Ching had a role in some of the goals receiving the ball and spraying it out to the wings, kind of like what Riquelme does, except Riquelme is expected to set up plays and Ching is expected to finish them. Riquelme plays further away from the goal and is expected to set other people up. Not to say that Ching is anywhere near Riquelme’s level, just making a comparison of roles on teams. People are hard on EJ for the back pass but not Ching. It’s like they hardly need to mark Ching because they know the ball is going elsewhere. Sure, Ching is expected to play to the wings in order to keep the play going, but he’s also expected to get back in the play and finish what he started.

    Reply
  6. As far as Ching goes, I think many of the coments on here are way too harsh. In terms of a 4-5-1, Ching is a perfect targaet man, and played the position that way last night. His class at holding-up balls and distributing are evident with each game, and he’s the second highest goal scorer in CONCACAF qualfying, after “pescadito” Ruiz, so all talk of him not being able to put the ball in the net is moot.

    Also. YES! the youngsters came in and did well, but this point is raised by the same people who talk about being unimpressed by a 6-1 win over an under-manned, semi-pro Cuba team. I definitely think that some of these players will step up to be major contributors in 2010, but lets see what they can do against T&T and Guat and then in the HEX.

    Finally, why aren’t more people applauding the efforts of Sasha Klejstan? Both live at RFK and after re-watching the game today, I’m convinced that he is a player who was integral to the team’s win yesterday and Rock solid almost EVERY TIME he was one the ball. Maybe we’ll learn more about him in upcoming games, but for me he showed signs last night of possesing what it takes to be a top class international midfielder.

    Anyway, good win for the boys, and now I’m ready for the HEX.

    Reply
  7. Ching might have gotten my vote for most impressive veteran, but he loses points for stealing a goal from Sacha. Still, his impact can’t be ignored. He played an important role in a couple of the goals (though ironically not in the one he was credited for). If you didn’t notice Ching’s contribution on those goals, then you weren’t watching the game.

    Reply
  8. I agree with A.S. about Bradley. I was thinking during the second half that he should have been taken out–and why not? We were clearly in control. And Edu is more than capable of stepping in for him.

    Reply
  9. Oh, and I don’t understand Ives’s rating of Ching either. The only explanation that I can think of is that Ives thinks that a striker’s primary role is to set up other players. Of the two strikers we played last night, only one – Altidore – clearly has the knack for scoring. If you don’t think that a striker’s primary role is to score goals, then maybe Ching had a better game. Unlike Ives, though, I think a striker’s primary role should be to score. And that means that Altidore played better than Ching.

    Reply
  10. Ives,

    What is with your love for Ching? Ok, we get it, he helped shape what US Soccer is today.

    He is just not that good. He stole a goal last night( that isn’t the first time….he stole one from Pablo against Barbados IIRC) and that was his biggest contribution.

    If the announcer doesn’t say a defenders name alot then they have had a good game, it is the opposite for forwads….and I didnt hear Chings name until he stole that goal.

    Reply
  11. “Michael Bradley didn’t have his best game”

    That’s the understatement of the day. He played badly. No ifs, ands or buts about its. Just bad.

    Yes, he was able to get on the end of a couple of passes – but he played them terribly, despite the fact he was wide open! Moreover, he lack of defense lead to the sole Cuban goal – he was the defender whose poor tackle gave the Cuban player that shot. And it’s not like his poor play in the defensive end was a fluke – he also had the bad play in the prior game that lead to T&T’s sole good goal scoring opportunity! And then he gets the awful yellow card in the last minute – showing his lack of maturity on the field (and, again, it’s not the first time he’s picked up an awful card – he did the same thing in the Olympics and was forced to miss that crucial third game).

    I probably sound like a broken record, but Bradley had simply NOT been a good player on the National Team recently. Far too many people – includeing Ives, I’m sorry to say – are infatuated by those goals he scored in the Eredivisie. But any objective review of what he’s done for THIS team, rather than Herenveen, can only conclude that he is not deserving of his automatic starter status. Even when he is back from his penalty, the coach should be starting other defensive mids regularly (not that I expect that to happen, given who the coach is).

    Reply
  12. Ives, for someone who has made EJ the whipping boy of American forwards I am amazed at your evaluation of Brian Ching. Talk about fair and balanced. It’s ok for you to acknowledge that you’re a fan but please forget the crap. Ching showed nothing. Yes, he completed a few back passes, yes he passed to Pearce to set up a goal but that was after he got in trouble and couldn’t find his way to the goal. For us to play Ching at forward is meaningless. On the fast break when LD was looking for someone to pass to Ching was no where in sight. He has no pace to worry a defense. When Josy came into the game it was so easy to see how many more options he gives the Nats. I appreciate your site but you are way off base on Ching.

    Reply
  13. jonathan great comment. ives you keep waisting your “soccer knowledge capital ” defending ching . the guy is way too slow and he does not how to create his own shot . in 20 minutes altidore did more than the last few games of ching . once again beating a 10men cuban team is something that we should expect .unless we change our tactics (coach) and start playing youngsters with promise like torres ,szetela , altidore , adu etc i dont see any reason that leads me to believe we will pass the first round at south africe

    Reply
  14. I’m pumped about Jose Francisco Torres…and hope he keeps getting minutes at midfield, especially given it will be tough for any young player to break into the center of the American back line at this point.

    Reply
  15. The entry of Adu, Altidore and Torres into the game last night has created a cross roads for Bradley. They showed in twenty minutes what we have lacked in previous games – pace, vision, accurate passing and an eye for goal. As we look forward to 2010 and the calibre of teams we will need to beat to reach beyond the first rounds, what do we do? Keep some of the current players who are struggling at this level or have the bravery to look to the future. I think I know where I stand.

    Reply
  16. Ives, your opinion of Ching suggests that you view the role of a lone striker as similar to a wooden post. If you can bounce the ball off of Ching and get it back to a midfielder he’s doing his job. I’d say Altidore has shown, on every single appearance, a wider and deeper set of skills, including that all important thing called “creating goals.” He deserves a start with the first team when the hexagonal begins.

    Reply
  17. Did anyone notice that the announcers on Galavision were calling Jose Francisco Torres “Gringo Torres”?

    I also think we shouldn’t be that impressed with this win. Ching can play well vs. teams like this but really he’s too slow for a game vs. a real international opponent.

    I know this is a typical refrain for this page but could Cooper fill in this role that Ives thinks is good for him, while also being able to take on defenders and hit shots?

    Reply
  18. Jonathan buddy you should probably relax, although I agree Altidore needs to be starting in 2010, last night Ching was very impressive linking with Donovan and Beasley…so was Altidore when he was in but to say Ching isn’t a starter for this team right now shows a lack of patience on your part. Last night in my opinion was essentially the last chance for the veterans to show they still belong. In 2010 Altidore will be the man when he is 20 years old

    Reply
  19. I still think Ching works well with Beasley and Donovan by receiving the ball and spraying it out to them….and that’s it. While that is a good attribute to have it should not be the ONLY attribute he has. He is not a threat to score, and don’t give me that he scored last night, he stole a goal last night on a ball that was already going in.

    Reply
  20. Ives, I am really surprised at your very high ratings. 7s for Dempsey and Sacha are particularly high. 5s for both. Wasn’t their night. I think Goff was on the money on this one.

    Reply
  21. Ives… I’m disappointed with your inability to criticize this match properly. This is 2008 not 1988, we shouldn’t be applauding ourselves for beating a 10man Cuba team, we should be evaluating ourselves critically with our eyes on the next stage and 2010. If you think that Ching proved that he should start another match over Altidore then you’re insane. If you think that MB justified himself as the player who deserves the most minutes this year on the MNT than you’re equally insane. I’m not saying that we should tar and feather them. But maybe we would have beat Cuba in habana more than 1-0 if BB had tinkered with his line up more. We essentially have seen one change in almost a year. MB DM partner… That’s it. Is that not strange seeing that some of our starters now are starting in 2010 we’re screwed???

    Reply
  22. i told you so ives. I asked you this question about beasley playing left back, and you didnt think it was such a good idea. I believe this team will be much more dangerous with him their. He is solid on defense and can storm up the wing to provide offense.I know where prob. not going to see too much of it,but atleast we know its there if we need it.

    Reply
  23. Ching really didn’t show anything – Cuba was an outclassed team playing a man down… Ching’s goal was scored by poaching a ball that was already going in and could have also been redirected by two other US players – essentially Cuba left 3 people unmarked, so it was more cuba being bad than Ching being good. Unless Ching can start to create chances on his own, he will be useless against european and south american teams that can out-jump him and know to look for the pass back to LD.

    As it was, Ching shanked a number of chances…. not quality for an “international” forward playing a weak team.

    Reply
  24. I didn’t there would be any chance for Cooper to get called in. Now if Bradley doesn’t call him into camp in January, we’ll know for sure its personal.

    Reply
  25. harks made a good point in the post game.

    We should really start to tinker with a 3-5-2.

    we have the central midfield horses in Edu, Bradley, Torres, Mastro, Clark, klejstan etc..to run this formation efficiently

    ex:

    ——boca–gooch–pearce–

    ———bradley–Klejstan–

    Dempsey———————beaseley–

    ————–donovan——–

    ——-ching/cooper—-Altidore–

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Murphy Cancel reply