Photo by ISIphotos.com
I was going to do a standard "Look Back" on the USA-Brazil game when it dawned on me that at this point there aren't many people interested in looking back at that mess.
If you're interested in my views on the second match, and overall look at the U.S. team's first two Confederations Cup matches, you can read my ESPN.com story.
For those of you who want to discuss the Brazil game, I will ask this simple set of questions. What did you consider the best bright spot for the Americans in the Brazil match and what was the most disappointment aspect of the match?
For me? Despite getting beaten on the first Brazil goal I thought that Spector was once again very good at right back. Of course he came up short when compared to his counterpart in the match, Maicon, who is only one of the world's best, if not the best, right back, but I think Spector defended very well and showed some promise going forward.
Disappointment? Bob Bradley starting DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan, and not using that third sub to give someone like Jose Torres or Freddy Adu a look. I don't think Bradley's miscues on Thursday mean he should be fired, but the Brazil match was definitely one of his worst as U.S. national team head coach.
Here are my USA player grades for the match:
Tim Howard (5)– Could have come out and punched away cross on Brazil's first goal, but otherwise did his usual thing, making big saves to keep his team in the game.
Jonathan Bornstein (4.5)– Had his hands full all day with Maicon, but showed some better play in the second half. Not his best game, but the competition has to be considered.
Oguchi Onewu (6)– Another solid showing for the big free agent. He's raised his stock during the tournament, despite the team's bad losses.
Jay DeMerit (6)– Plays well yet again and must have U.S. fans thankful that there is finally someone who can cover for Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra.
Jonathan Spector (5)– Beaten badly on Brazil's first goal, but was otherwise very composed at right back, but defensively and on the overlap. Still not delivering crosses, but is making good runs and showed a good passing touch.
Clint Dempsey (4)– Showed some glimpses but overall he just looked tired and disinterested.
DaMarcus Beasley (2)– Nothing redeeming about his performance at all. Just looks shot and needs a long break from the national team.
Michael Bradley (5)– Wasn't the force in the middle he was against Italy, but still put in another solid 90 minutes.
Sacha Kljestan (2)– Was just plain lost when it came to defending and provided nothing offensively. A wasted performance made worse by the red card.
Landon Donovan (6)– He's the U.S. team's best attacking player but can't make things happen on his own. Showed great effort yet again, but aside from his pass on Benny Feilhaber's post-rattler, Donovan had no signature moments.
Jozy Altidore (4)– Wasn't nearly as involved or dangerous as he was vs. Italy.
Conor Casey (4)- Did well to produce a header off the post, but his defensive "work" was embarrassing.
Benny Feilhaber (5.5)– Is he becoming Mr. Super Sub? Came off the bench and impressed, missing a goal by inches. Did well enough to earn consideration for a start vs. Egypt.
Bob Bradley (3)– Started Beasley and Kljestan, both whiffs, and sat on a third sub when he could have inserted any number of attacking options.
——-
Now it's your turn. What was your favorite bright spot and most disappointing aspect of the match?
Share yours below.
A good coach puts players and teams in a position to succeed. Starting DMB, who is rusty and has played poorly, against one of the best teams in the world, is putting your player and team in a position to fail. I have been disappointed in the hiring of Bob Bradley since the beginning, and this is just bad coaching.
and the reason i loved watching fulham is because they play like america in 2002. They aren’t the best skilled or top of the salary charts, but they leave EVERYTHING ON THE FIELD. They are excellently coached and motivated for each of the 40 games in a row! They play hard football. Its fun to watch.
Reality Check !
Yes USSF could hire a World class Manager
and things could get bit better.
However, the US players talent base is not as great as the top 10 Fifa teams. Also, most Euro based players mostly warm the bench or play for mid-table teams.
Unless that changes, I don’t think their will be much success for the USA at world cup.
I’m sorry. I need to be more tactful. I would just like to add, if we are discussing football still, that I would rather have Lampard and Essien over De Rosario and Eskandarian. I would rather have Drogba and Carvalho over Moreno and Ching…and I love Ching, but I would love it if Drogba was born in Miami more!
With Demerit playing well why dont we try Bocanegra out wide, like he plays in France
So if everybody hates long ball play……………….wouldent it be smart to plug in Adu and Torres two players who Play from the ground and move foward with the ball and create and hold possesion????
Bradley Out!
Join up:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27249621746&ref=mf
TheDuces: Don’t be insulting. First the drugs quip and now this. I do think about what I’m saying. Can you make your assertions with resorting to insults? I would discuss my opinion of the logic you just used, but I’m far too polite.
People are ragging on Dempsey’s dance at the end. It looked pretty silly but he got a free kick out of it deep in the Brazilian’s zone, if I recall. That was one of the high points of the match for the US, along with the three corners and two crossbars, in 90+ minutes. (No kidding.) The guy’s got skill and the cogliones to take on anyone on the planet, something we desperately need. I agree with the knock that he disappears for too long, but we looked so freaked on Thursday we couldn’t even complete 3 consecutive passes. I’m not saying he had a great game, but Dempsey’s at least got the ability to play against that kind of pressure, and we are going to see more of it. Think our future opponents aren’t taking notes? I say rest him vs. Egypt, but does anyone seriously think he should not be playing regularly?
As far as Donovan goes, I think he worked his butt off in both games and looked ten times better than in the recent CONCACAF games, when I forget he’s playing for long stretches. My estimation of him has really gone up. He was one of the few US players that dug in and fought against Brazil. Bravo. If everyone had played that hard we probably would have lost anyway but at least we could hold our heads up.
and by your logic, the MLS All Stars are actually better than Chelsea?
and egypt beat Italy. That means that egypt is better than Italy? No, they played hard and scrappy and they scraped by. They had much more motivation since they were the underdogs, they played with a chip on their shoulder, and they deserved the win though they got it with a keeper playing possessed. Was that likely to happen? No. Is that likely to happen again? No. Is any top 10 EPL team likely to lose to the nats while they are in their season? No. Take the 10th team in the EPL. That would be Manchester City. Do you honestly think the USMNT has the same talent as that team (the most obvious example). Robinho plays for them. You remember him from the Brazil game. The reason Fulham is 3 places above them is because of coaching and tactics. Are you really arguing that Bob Bradley > Roy Hodgeson????
Just think about what you are saying please.
TheDuce: “Tony, now I know you take drugs”
The I recommend you get some. The top four EPL teams are comprised of high level talent from multiple national teams. Kid yourself all you want, but the next ten spots in the EPL are largely interchangeable and are not anywhere near the caliber of the top four. (Although money can change the dynamic.)
You may want to recall this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Mt-rjJCRE
The MLS all stars also beat Chelsea. So by your logic, I guess the MLS All Stars can eat the Nats too?
“My point is simple that the margin between a respectable showing and a poor one is often very small. Without those two mistakes, maybe we are closer to a respectable showing.” But we are not. Our lack of heart and tactics is what we are upset about.
” And Beasley led to one goal in South Africa by my count, not many.” Did you see the left side of the field against Brazil? Beasley never defended resulting in at least 2 goals and lots of dangerous plays and service in the box.
If you are arguing, “If we played better against Brazil then we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” I guess you are correct. But that is saying “If Bob Bradley’s decision to start Klejestan and Beasley had been good team decisions, that they actually somehow miraculously played very well even while being completely out of form, and his expertly coached team showed good heart and skill in executing tactile play,” then I would say, “IF that happened, yes we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
However, none of that did happen. Bob made grave mistakes. They didn’t pay off. And we ARE having this discussion, as we should be.
“As for the notion that he’s surround by better players at Fulham, Fulham couldn’t even beat the MLS all stars. The Nats would crush them.”
Tony, now I know you take drugs.
I watch the EPL and am a strong Fulham supporter. However, not nearly as much of a supporter as I am of the USMNT. Even though I love the USMNT way way way more, (i wouldn’t love Fuham without the players or the coach, I will always love the nats no matter how crappy they are or how bad their attitude, play, and heart are…ahem) I cannot say they would beat the 7th place EPL team overall in 2009 coached by Roy Hodgeson (tactics, etc).
The Duce:
We were playing Italy even until the red card. (And I was not bringing up whether it was deserved or not.) And Beasley led to one goal in South Africa by my count, not many.
My point is simple that the margin between a respectable showing and a poor one is often very small. Without those two mistakes, maybe we are closer to a respectable showing. I think 11 v 11, we beat Italy. (Both of thier first two goals are plays that would have been the responsiblity of Clark to cover).
The best thing to happen: US gets their doors blown off by Egypt. That will set the stage for BB to get the axe. Fingers crossed.
Paging Ives…
1. After every game, put up a poll where we can rate the players and the manager.
(I think this will be a great addition to the site. You’ll get more traffic, etcetera.)
2. Bob Bradley’s performance was dire. I am curious to know what the supporters’ grade would be. I am betting something less than a 3.
Gabe: Or maybe Dempsey is the most overrated (by fans) guy in our pool? Frankly none of the things you said explain what have been his biggest shortcomings the last two games:
– over dribbling to a ridiculous degree
– attempting “moves” in frankly stupid positions often dribbling into coverage
– not passing to open players or space
– taking idiotic shots from 40 plus yards out when he had other options
If Beasley’s decline has been mysterious, Dempsey’s lack of performances is frankly appalling. As for the notion that he’s surround by better players at Fulham, Fulham couldn’t even beat the MLS all stars. The Nats would crush them.
completely agree with Party and blue fish, and I’ll have one too!
~A party, probably not a blue fish.
Bright Spot/Discoveries- certain players showed that they should not be out there anymore. LD is not our leader, he is best used as a supporting vet. Just bc you did the time does not make you a leader. Other Vets fall into the same mold.
(Spector, Heydude, Gooch, Boca, & DeMerit) best options in Def.
Disappointments- BB; awful decisions, looks lost, and players dont seem to respond to him. USSF decsions to back this, we are in a worst spot than 06. Bc we are the USA we put up with this? The talent is there to be better. We just dont have that special someone to harness our progress and put it to good use.
the FIRE BRADLEY talk is not there because we lost to Italy and Brazil…that would be absurd, NO ONE thinks we are at their level… the FIRE BRADLEY talk is about HOW we lost to Italy and Brazil. It was embarassing and this with Costa Rica makes us look like the old usa
1. Positives:
Bob Bradley’s tenure has been exposed for what it is — a slow motion disaster.
As an international coach, Bradley is way over his head. He is insecure and plays favorites. (Sunil Gulati should be on the phone today sounding out replacements.)
Torres: The fact that Bradley has not played Torres is absolutely damning. Kljestan is nowhere near the player Torres is. Clark has always been a tinderbox. Masroeni was obviously spent. Torres is *not* a no-defense player. He can actually control the ball, maintain possession, and pass with vision. He also happens to play regularly for a very good side.
Spector: Come on. He’s been recovering from injury, but the kid gets time for West Ham. The fact that it took this long for Bradley to get him on the field beggars belief.
2. Negatives:
I bleed when this team implodes. I take off work and I get that?
DaMarcus? Sasha? Dempsey getting cute? Conor Casey off the bench? You have got to be kidding me.
tony, no way! Beasley’s sloppy play led to many goals. Clark’s red isn’t even one of the main complaints, most agree it was undeserved. However, Klejestan’s red was the cherry on top of Bob Bradley’s poop cream sunday of a day! He was already having a bad game. The fact that both of them got called in is what we are talking about.
If both of those things didn’t happen, would that mean our team would have hustled more and not walked around the field like lost dogs? No!
we would still be having this conversation.
No tactics, no heart, bad choices. USMNT Confed Cup 09~
saha got the red in the brasil game, but i see the point. but no, the spirit was flat man, and the tactics were awful. those are coaching mistakes, and we obviously werent ready to play.
Gabe…I want to agree. Not sure if I do, but I don’t have any information to contradict that directly. I DO think he is tired, but I CAN also believe that he is frustrated. Then again, I am sure Donovan is frustrated, but you still see the work-rate. I also think that our team would have beaten New Zealand (easily) and would have had real good chances against South Africa and Iraq.
Unfortunately, we don’t always get particularly good draws in tournaments, but that is neither here nor there.
Just tossing this out there BUT…
If Clark doesn’t get a red and if Beasley controled the short corner, are we having a different conversation now? We migh be down 0-2, but would we be talking about positives coming out of those matches?
Time to shake up this country. From USSF at the Top to the Team itself.
Gabe, I think maybe you hit Clint Dempsey’s nail right on the head.
I’m trying to understand what Landon did to deserve a 6. His performance was not in the same category of the other players you gave a 6 (Gooch DeMerit).
It’s time to stop giving him credit for just showing up. He’s the captain, so he needs to be more than symbolic. I think a 4 is more appropriate for his impact.
Otherwise I agree with the ratings.
BrianK & others:
I have other problems with Bob Bradley and I’m sure you do as well, but everyone keeps bringing up this Adu-not-playing-because-he doesn’t-play-for-his-club Bob Bradley hypocrisy. I believe this all started based on an AP report with that title. In that article, Bob Bradley wasn’t quoted in saying anything of the sort. In fact, if anything, Donovan was expressing that. Please, please stop bringing this up as a point against Bradley. He has his faults but this is just baseless. Here is the article on soccernet, but it has been on cnnsi and goal as well because it’s AP:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=655614&cc=5901
Is Bob oblivious to player psychology? Why start Feilhaber against Italy, but not against Brazil? Wasn’t it obvious that Benny wanted to score against his native Brazil more than anything in the world? I also do not understand at all what Kljestan brings in the central midfield position that Feilhaber does not: Benny is Sacha with much better vision, better technique and marginally worse fitness.
It’s not the results of this tournament I am upset with. It’s the wasted opportunities to make a point.
As for our entire left side, it’s a national embarrassment up there with Bernie Madoff…
im going to agree with the last two posts about dempsey and i would love to see him play with adu on the same side
Disappointment:
BB just did not do his homework. Brazil is not the same Brazil. I have been saying this for four years now. BB’s defensive strategy was a disaster, especially when a Brazilian side will let you push up. Substitutions, time management are very poor as well. Brazil has some holes and Bradley did not even know how to exploit that. You do not exploit that by kicking long balls. The team finally figured it out the last 15 minutes of the game when it was too late. I just hope BB learns from his mistakes, because we are stuck with him for better or worse. I do not know if Dempsey is tired or not but if he plays like this in the next two games, give Torres a shot. He should have given Torres the start over Dempsey in the Brazil game.
Positives:
Donovan was very good. Demerit, Spector and Gooch also played well.
I have an idea about dempsey and i would like to have some feedback. the soccernet team touched a bit on this on their podcast.
I think Clint loves representing his country. I think he’s proud to be an american and he is proud to wear our colors. That being said, i think he is very frustrated with what is happening in our squad. our inability to do any sort of attack that requires build up (anything mroe than longball) must be particularly disturbing for a guy like Clint, who is used to having skillful players serve him the ball. Clint is a creative player, but he is not like a robinho or kaka who can take on throngs of players to create his own chances. true, he is adept at running at his opponents and using his skill to create chances, but Clint is better when he has a supportive midfield and a skillful team. Also, it is clear that the seeming lack of any organized plan or attack pattern is obviously dampening his vigor. At fulham, he is an important part of a whole. with the mnt, he is expected to win balls, hold off defenders, make dynamic plays, and create his own chances all from a long ball played out of the back. very rarely do we see clint utilized in an attacking role with players that build up and finish. I think it is terrible annoying for him, and i feel as though he thinks the constant running after hopeful balls and tracking back endlessly to defend is becoming tedious at best. i think other players, such as donovan and altidore, could have similar complaints but are perhaps just a bit more mature in their manifestation of frustration. watching clint against brazil…especially at the end…it looked like a child trying to show his parent on the sideline that he really is a good player. it looked like a cry for help when he was doing all those tricks. tactically, we have to improve or face the frustration and disillusionment of more players than just Dempsey.
thoughts?
Dempsey’s showboating at the end of the match was one of the only sign of guts & competitive drive on this team. So what he botched the Blanco-hop? We were getting killed playing “tactical” soccer, Dempsey at least had the balls to take on the Brazilians
i’ll never understand the critics who complain about his “flashy” play b/c it sometimes doesn’t produce results. NEITHER DOES BOB’S WAY!
Ives, will you explain why you feel Bob Bradley doesn’t deserve the ax? Do you feel that he should be given the chance to right the ship? Do you think he is being asked to do too much with a squad that is not as talented as US fans like to believe? Don’t want to switch horses in mid stream?
What’s been frustrating about this tournament is that the groups haven’t reflected the average quality of a World Cup group. Spain’s group is a joke and our group is harder than any group of death you would ever see at a World Cup.
So everyone is going ballistic about performances from Bradley and the team based on a highly skewed representation of World Cup competition. Our group in 2006 was arguably as strong but that group is a once every 4 or 5 tournament group.
This team is not good enough to win a World Cup. This team is not good enough to get to the semifinals of a World Cup. We just played two teams that are odds on favorites to get to the semifinals in EVERY World Cup. It follows that we didn’t play well or beat them. That we looked half decent against Italy for 33 to 45 minutes was a testament to how well we can play. Calling for Bob Bradley’s head based on that then is absolutely asinine, ESPECIALLY when you look at the history and evidence of what happens to teams that do replace their head coaches a year before the World Cup (which is rarely successful).
About the only criticism I have is (1) the decision to start Beasley, who has not performed at all in the last three or four games and (2) the lack of heart that has surfaced recently and that I sensed from both Alexi Lalas and John Harkes (both of whose opinions I usually ignore). There was a certain anger in their voices about the degree of effort on display that got me thinking something internally is off with the team.
Otherwise, if we were playing New Zealand or South Africa or Iraq, we wouldn’t be getting clobbered and no one would be calling for Bob Bradley’s head. Yet it is entirely possible for us to get a group that looks like Spain’s group next year (or slightly harder than it), putting us in second place advancing to the Round of 16 and that’s about as far as I expect this team to go. That’s fine with me given the level of talent we’ve got right now. I don’t expect more.
I’m not one to say fire him just yet… but I could be convinced otherwise if he trots out a conservative lineup against Egypt.
I would prefer that both Torres and Adu start, but at least one of them. With the other coming in off the bench. If he is unable to do this, all that shows me is his unwillingness to repair what is a sinking ship at the moment. If your current tactics aren’t working… try something else!
I don’t think I have a supreme brain when it comes to soccer, but I think that a player (Spector) who is raised in two of the best academies in England (Manchester United, West Ham) deserves an earlier look over a second division nothing (Pearce), a MLS youngster (Bornstein), and a speedy no. one pick in the MLS draft (Wynne). The fact that it took Bradley this long to put him on the field says enough about his ability to pick talent.
I feel he is doing the same thing with Adu and Torres. Torres has looked good on the pitch, and Adu has looked… well we don’t know!
I like Bradley and think he has done more for our team than Bruce ever did, but the development of the team as a whole has hit a snag, and it must be corrected. I’ll leave it up to the USSF suits to figure it out, but it better be fixed before qualifying ends or there will be little confidence in the US soccer world.
If the team looks the same against Egypt, I will certainly be in the fire Bradley boat. This is probably the biggest game for him in his US soccer career.
To be clear I believe the foul that led to the first goal was committed by Borenstein..
no?
Not yet ready to throw Bob B under the bus…but if we are talking replacements how about Dominic Kinnear? Why not?
He gets the most out of his players every game. He makes great personnel decisions. He wins.
ATTENTION:
inexcusable to not insert an attacking player when down 3-0 late into the second half. inexcusable to start Beasley and Klejstan when both have been off form badly. His job is getting pushed to the edge and with another bad display on the field, BB might fall over the edge.
The bright spot was the sequence that led to Feilhaber’s shot off the crossbar. Spector and Donovan combined well to give Benny a clean look.
Disappointment, aside from the obvious Beas and Sascha, was overall passing and holding onto the ball. 1st goal we’re putting blame on Spector and Howard for not dealing with the set piece better, but if M. Bradley doesn’t lose the ball, he doesn’t “foul” to set up the free kick in the first place. I say “foul” because it was a dive for sure. Anyways, MB shouldn’t have given the ball away! And giveaways happened all day long (and quite a bit against Italy too!)
Ives, if we’ve only got three classy defenders, (I’m counting jay DeMerit, because I agree that he’s played well, in Carlos’ place,)do you think it might be time to go to a three back system? Obviously, these would be a more stationary outside backs then we’ve had, or are currently *trying* to use. But, we might consider using our Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato to make a BLT… Just sayin’.
(aka, working with what you have available to you.)
What do you think the chances, of that happening, are?
Chad, I would DEFINITELY take B. I can’t imagine not watching at least 3 USA world cup games every 4 years. It is the only thing that keeps me sane!!! I’ve been looking forward to this already for 3 years. Then after the cup, no more BB!
Yeah, i’m not that mad that we lost to brazil and italy i am mad about how we lost though playing very uninspired soccer with little effort put in by some players who should know better.
tqb,
1. Yes, It definitely appears that way about Nowak, doesn’t it?
2. You are right, Roy Hodgeson is going no where but up, UNLESS he sucks it up and they get relegated in the upcoming season, in which we would have a shot. HOwever, I expect him to move up to a even higher ranked team in the next 2 years.
Positive: Ives switches to 100 comments per page.
Negative: our comments still suck
Posted by: socrates | June 19, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Well Said!
Would you rather:
A)The US not qualify for the World Cup and have BB fired
B) Qualify, go 3 and out (AGAIN!!!) and maybe win a Gold Cup with BB still at the helm.
Sadly I cannot see BB taking this team anywhere worthwhile, so A it is.
This isn’t redeeming, so I don’t take back my previous comment. However, the highlight was Spector megging Brazilian defender on a play to Donovan. That was awesome work. Thanks for the reminder Bellas Ludas. I wish I had just watched that one minute of play and left the other 94 minutes the hell alone so my eyes wouldn’t be hurting right now!!!
Oh, and nice ones William the Terror and Ros!