Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team played without several star players and still managed a respectable performance in a 1-0 loss to an underwhelming Slovakia.
Marek Hamsik's penalty kick provided the difference, and also changed the tone of the match as Slovakia played like a team content with a 1-0 victory. The host team packed numbers back for more than 60 minutes, allowing the Americans to control possession. Unfortunately for the U.S. team, it's attack couldn't do more with its opportunities.
I will provide a more detailed breakdown of the match on Monday, but for now you can check out my ESPN.com recap of the match.
For those of you who missed Saturday's match, and for those of you who want to see the match again, here are the highlights:
What did you think of Saturday's match? Share your thoughts below.
Feilhaber is not a 90 minute player, but he is a good sub who can bring a spark late in the game and has good passing vision and the ability to hold the ball. A little weak on defending, but he needs to be on the squad as creative option in the last 30 minutes of a game.
It’s because Dempsey plays in the midfield and when he loses the ball he puts the team under sever counter attack pressure. If Dempsey was playing up top, there wouldn’t be as much critism. It seems like every US fan, except Bob Bradley, wants to see Dempsey up top and out of the midfield.
Solid and slow
Overall thought the game was decient. Biggest drawback was 1) Casey was in the mix at all, 2) Overall lack of depth at forward. 3) Left Defense is still our weakest link in the back. Perhaps the reason I like Nic D’s backfield suggestion above. On the positive side, Bradley Played/controled the game well with Feilhaber for a good portion of the game. Spector showed that he has the ability to play across the entire back line. Thats a tallent you can’t aford not to bring to a WC. Rogers got some good minutes and improved his defensive play. If on his usual side (LEFT) would have been better but made the case for his being the #2 Left MID/Winger behind Donovan. Guzan helped relieve the pressure/concern regarding Keeper Backups.
I like it. would secure the left flank and provide a strong defense either with or without Gooch.
Spector brings an extra element to CB that no one else in the pool has. He has the ability to deliver long balls and crosses instead of just hoofing it clear. Bornstein was steadily improving but took a huge step back.
If Gooch does not return before the cup …
Boca – Spector – Demerit – Dolo
Experience – Composure – Tenacity – Width
I Would love to see a combo of these four on the field:
Boca – Gooch – Demerit/Spector – Dolo/Spector
Just Plain Solid!
I really thought the game result was an unfair result for the U.S. If the U.S. team plays with that type of pressure on the ball as they did in the first half of this game they will do ok in the World Cup. Having said that, we struggled in the final third of the field, and Conor Casey is just too slow. Unfortunately, even though I like the guy, Bornstein is the weak link on the defense. I liked seeing Spector in the center on defense.
You’re blaming borenstien for clints bad game? Wow! But when Robbie switched sides with clint him and borenstein hooked up fine, if you watch Borenstein is under so much pressure becuase he is on an island covering for clint he was on the wrong side of the ball becuase there was nno communication on which guy to mark as clint just stood there, so don’t blame borenstien I agree with everyone clint is a defensive liability and he needs to become a forward.
Jozy is Fine-Rob. You dont need Ching or Casey as his partner. They are waste. What you need is good goal scorer like Dempsey or a player with immnese speed and is strong that causes so much problems that gives Jozy less people marking him= like a Johnson and Cunningham.
Fair enough. 🙂
It was an interesting game. Well, maybe the US team controlled the ball more than Slovakia, but we played well, and we had the biggest chance of the match (Sestak). We were short of some good players too, so the win against strong team like USA (11. in the world) is good.
You should let Czech Republic and Poland know that Slovakia is not that good. They came in first in there table to say they are not that good is an insult. Does anyone really think that US would always come in first in a European Qualifying table. Based on Jose’s performance we maybe seeing more of Brian Ching. Kenny Cooper needs to be given another chance.
To me, this match means nothing and states very little about the US side. If anything, it clarifies the lack of depth the US side has and that Bornstien is still very mistake prone in the back. Underwhelming performance from all the “newbies” to this WC cycle.
Was Slovakia at full strength? They aren’t THAT good and we could take them with a full squad in the group stage.
A one eyed man is is king in the kingdom of the blind.
Jozy always looks like this, with the exception of the Costa Rica game and it took a friend nearly dying to get that out of him.
The difference is that Jozy sometimes wakes up for a few minutes and scores a goal. He is classic feast or famine. Which is why I always wonder why people get on Dempsey’s case and not Jozy’s.
That was Gregorio Torres who was sent off for Pachuca. Different guy.
IMHO, I don’t know how a 1-0 loss to Slovakia, a first time WC qualifier is considered “respectable”. Frankly, I thought it was a bit embarrassing for us. With our years of experience in WCs now, shouldn’t we be consistently beating the Slovakia’s of the world? Even if we don’t have all our starters? We should be proving our depth, not accepting losses like this.
“The U.S. men’s national team played without several star players and still managed a respectable performance in a 1-0 loss to an underwhelming Slovakia.”
Agreed. I feel we put up a decent display for what we had available.
http://www.usa2010.org
“Wear your support for the USMNT!”
Looks like Dolo, Dempsey, and Marshall went home. Towers, Castillo, Holden, and Clark are meeting the rest in Denmark according to ussoccer.com. Jose got a red card last night in the Pachuca v Tigres game last night and Castillo did a pretty good job, would have had a goal had on of his teamates sent a better through ball.
Spectors composure on the ball was a plus. He held up well making a couple of mistakes that didnt hurt. But it’s hard to say he and Bocanegra we’re really challenged. A definite find and worth further exploring.
Bornstein gets forward but time and again he makes critical mistakes. He has to be option #2. Surely another combination (or spector) is option #1.
Rogers looked ok but he’s definitely tier 2. I think Dax showed he deserves call ups and should be considered #6 on the CM chart post injury world.. but maybe on the rise.
The forward question will most likely be solved through the midfield. EJ shows he has upside but still looks lost out there somehow. Cunningham while i really wanted to see it.. the two times (if he had something special it would have showed) he was surprisingly not fast and was knocked off the ball.
Sashca.. two dead ball nice crosses does not equal a showing compared to 3 grevious give aways. OK bob we know you like Sascha.. but he’s simply not ready and the field too deep in the position he plays.
Dempsey should take at least 50% of the kicks.
Jozy is raw and really needs Karl Malone to teach him how to use his body. I still think he’s in the starting XI for his intangibles.
Goal keeping is the US’ real strength. still
We need Demps up top. He has the best nose for goal of the remaining team. Dolo and Spector need to be on the field. Props to Spector for doing a great job in the middle. Lets see Torres and Castillo next game.
This was a good match to check in every now and then while doing laundry. A bit of a slow mess of a match with few moments of interest. Nice throwback pitch too. 😉 Good to see Dax and Cunningham get into the mix but neither team really created or showed much. Jozy barely seemed to be awake. Slovakia has a nice team but the U.S. should’ve taken care of business on this one and at least gotten a tie. Still, no one will remember this one very long unless the U.S. team starts to unravel further from this point.
The USA played without any strikers and played decently. How about a 0-6-4 formation and sit all their butts down.
Mr. Bradley, you have no talent up top, put Dempsey up there quickly.
So, is Wednesday’s game not on TV???
I’m not so concerned about this result. We were playing with a less than full strength side, and did not allow any goals in the run of play. We pressured several times, but just couldn’t finish. That must improve, but I suspect had Donovan, Holden, and a few others been in the mix, there might have been a different result.
We do sorely miss Davies. There was one fantastic ball Feilhaber I believe played out left to Casey that he just didn’t have the wheels to get. Davies or Donovan would have gotten that and likey scored.
Regardless, these friendlies provide an opportunity to experiment with schemes with no adverse ramifications.
id imagine no news is good news with regard to dolo.
ya Ives please let us know what is going on with Dolo…no one else is =(
Can we all please get off of the Feilhaber bandwagon now?
The guy absolutely disappears when we play good teams.
seemed like spector’s distribution was a big reason that the CMs looked good and bornstein’s poor quality hurt dempsey’s overall performance by the lack of service.
From the “Don’t Know What You’ve Got, Until It’s Gone” category…
You don’t realize the quality of service provided by Donovan (and Holden) until it isn’t there.
It wasn’t until Sasha came in with about 5 minutes left, that we saw some service on set pieces.
Props to Donovan for improving that part of his game. It was glaringly absent yesterday.
Well if you looked at what the big teams were all doing, this was most likely the best game we could get. We’re no big attraction to a big team looking for a gate
I also am starting to look more closely at Jozy and he doesn’t hold up to close examination. Bad ball control, does not make good runs, and generally waits for the game to come to him. It’s time to sit him down until he comes to play every game. I vote for Clint and Cunningham to start. Maybe Jozy late in the game but NO MORE CASEY …. ever. Lose Ching’s number too
It’s not a waste of time, it was basically a scrimmage….which we need a lot of before the WC.
It was a weird feeling watching it though, after the emotion of the Confederations Cup final, the USA/Mex qualifier at Azteca, and the thrill of the 2nd of away at Honduras…I enjoyed it but it felt empty.
any word on dolo? that knee grabbing at the end looked serious … haven’t read anywhere how he is?
Ives,
Good recap and agree with your player ratings. Spector was a pleasant surprise at center back (do you wish you could take back all those Q&As where you said he wasn’t an option at center back?). Was Zola watching?
Gotta worry about what we are doing up top. I agree with everyone who suggests that Holden at right wing and Dempsey up to with Altidore could be a good option. I wonder if we will ever consider a 4-3-3 with Donovan, Alidore and Dempsey up top and Bradley, Benny and Torres in the middle. Something to consider.
OH, as to Davies, let’s not annoint him as the savior just cuz he’s gone now. He scored a brace in his second game at Sochaux and then went 6 games w/o a goal and with 4 attempts at net….in 6 games.
He scored one goal in his last 6 US starts. He was a prospect with a nose for the partying and good life. Lets see how he recovers.
Jozy looked like crap, Casey is Casey, whatcha gonna do? Deuce threatened all day and MB played well. Bornstein had a bit of a horror show but that’s no surprise. I don’t know but it didn’t look like either team cared much under slate-grey skies, on a joke of a pitch, in front of a crowd small enough to be Weiss’s family reunion. Seemed like one big waste of time.
Strikers were the weak spot in this game, we should definitely be looking to improve. I’d like to see Dempsey and Cunningham. Maybe Findley can get a shot some time. I don’t think we should rely on Jozy when he’s not a proven consistent scorer i.e. at his club team. Casey’s value depends on the style of play BB wants, he’s too slow for counterattacking but he’s good in traffic and massive in the air.
Ives, i Agree on your Johnson Assesment. I thought he showed flashes.Which is an improvement. Plus his physical tools will always give this team chances like his run and shot off the side net, when the team is lacking service-something a player like Casey will trouble with. Overall he was more effective than Casey vs this quality team. I hope we See Altidore with Johnson for half one vs Denmark and than Altidore with Cunningham in the second half. If dempsey starts up top because off Holden than i would like to see the Johnson and cunningham get more minutes in the second-half.
Well, maybe we controlled the ball more than Slovakia, but we looked horribly inept near the goal. Lame headers from 15-20 yards out aren’t really gonna do it, fellas.
Donovan really does set the table for the team. It’s not wonder such a huge portion of our goals in WC qualifying and the Confed Cup came through his assists and finishes.
I’m not sold on Torres being such a huge answer for what the team needs. Although he’ll definitely help.
This team will miss Charlie Davies more than I can really express. And that’s just sad. The WC should have been his coming out party for top teams in England, Spain, and Italy…..but now…… I know the whole story’s not out yet, but what in the world was he thinking being out past the team curfew the night before a World Cup qualifier. We should honor his contribution to the team’s success the past year and hope and pray he gets healed and healthy…..but I suspect he feels that he let his team down with his actions. I can’t say I blame him.
I want to see Roger on the left with Torres as the att mid and Clark as the holding mid with Holden on the right. Let’s try Dempsey and Altidore up top.
Torres said he’s been called up to Denmark. hope he starts.