The final match of the year is set to kick off today for the U.S. men's national team as the Americans take on Denmark (2:30pm, ESPN Classic/Galavision/ESPN2 after Ukraine-Greece) on the last international matchday of the year.
The United States will be playing its 24th match of the year and this match is an important one as head coach Bob Bradley looks to learn more about the depth of his squad.
I will be providing live commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):
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FINAL– That's all for now. Please feel free to share your post-game thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for following along.
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FINAL– Denmark 3, USA 1. The Danes go off for three goals early in the second half to pull away in a game the Americans won't want to remember.
What did we learn? The second tier of American players isn't that strong. Definitely not as strong as Denmark's. The Danes brought in second-tier players who play for top clubs in Europe, quality talent. The U.S. team brought in MLS players and some players who have tried to find places to play in Europe.
Bright spots for the Americans? Not many. Robbie Rogers looked decent in the second half, Benny Feilhaber looked decent in the first half. Negatives? Jozy Altidore was ineffective and Frankie Hejduk was frighteningly ineffective.
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91st minute– USA corner leads to a header that is cleared off the line.
Not a great game today for the Americans. A nice 20-25 minutes to end the first half, but the rest of the day was a study in frustration and ineffectiveness.
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90th minute– Count me among the folks who will be VERY interested to see what players get called into January's national team camp.
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87th minute– So why didn't Bradley make subs earlier? He's always been a coach who leaves his starters in friendlies for at least 60 minutes. He likes giving his starters a good run-out. This loss is down to players not stepping up and making the most of this opportunity.
Bradley isn't blameless though. Hejduk clearly isnt in form and didn't need to play a full 90 today.
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86th minute– Rogers draws a good free kick opportunity. He's shown some good things playing on the right.
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84th minute– I'm not going to completely write off Hejduk after today, but right now he's reached the point where everytime he bets the ball you want to cringe.
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83rd minute– And playing Clint Dempsey's role of John Harkes' favorite target for criticism: Eddie Johnson.
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82nd minute– Dax McCarty comes on for Jozy Altidore. Actually he came on a few minutes ago, but who could tell?
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79th minute– Eddie Johnson has been largely invisible since coming in, though to be fair, the U.S. attack as a whole has been rather toothless this half.
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76th minute- Conrad with a key interception after another Denmark break. The ref missed a clear handball on an attempted Hejduk clearance. That's the same kind of play that led to Denmark's second goal.
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74th minute– Still waiting to see Castillo get involved. Tough game for him to come into. It's a real mess of a game.
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73rd minute– Feilhaber with a turnover in a bad spot leading to a dangerous shot from distance from Denmark.
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71st minute– Hejduk wearing the captain's armband now. And he makes a good tackle, it was a two-footed lunge, but at least it was effective.
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70th minute– Jimmy Conrad is in for Spector. Clarence Goodson is coming in for Carlos Bocanegra.
Frankie Hejduk is still in the match. Is this one of these matches where you give a veteran the full 90 and then after the match you tell them "See, you don't have it anymore"?
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69th minute– SAVE SORENSON. Good shot from Rogers forces a save.
Conrad and Goodson coming on next.
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68thth minute– Jimmy Conrad is coming in, and if it isn't for Hejduk then I may start bleeding after scratching my head so hard.
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67th minute– Hejduk really is having a shocker today.
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65th minute– Castillo is playing on the left flank, in front of Bornstein.
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61st minute– Edgar Castillo is making his national team debut. He, Eddie Johnson and Robbie Rogers come in. Jeff Cunningham, Michael Bradley and Stuart Holden coming out.
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60th minute– BRADLEY JUST HIGH. Nice pass from Holden to free Bradley at the top of the box.
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59th minute– Robbie Rogers, Jimmy Conrad, Eddie Johnson and Edgar Castillo should all be in this match by now, or at least getting ready to come in. Even just one sub would be good against a team that gained a boost from three halftime subs.
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57th minute– The decision to start Hejduk is only being made worse by the decision not to replace him at halftime. Not sure what Bob Bradley is waiting for.
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55th minute- GOAL DENMARK!!! Bernburg finishes one from about 16 after a clear Denmark flop isn't called. Denmark 3, USA 1.
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52nd minute– On the replay it looked like a handball started that whole sequence when Spector tried to clear the ball away. Hejduk got sucked in, then when Spector came to clear the danger, his clearance hits Absolonsen, who runs onto the deflection, before finding a far-post run left wide open courtesy of Bornstein.
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51st minute- GOAL DENMARK!!! And the Danes just shredded the USA defense, with Soren Rieks tapping home a long pass from Absolonsen. Denmark 2, USA 1.
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48th minute– Denmark made three subs at halftime, with Johan Absolonsen being one of them.
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47th minute– That goal started off a beautiful long pass from Kjaer. And yes, Frankie Hejduk lost that mark. Spector knew nothing about the striker until he was already behind him.
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46th minute- GOAL DENMARK!! Absalonsong comes in as a sub and makes an immediate impact. He runs in behind Spector, latches onto a long pass, then beats Guzan. Denmark 1, USA 1.
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46th minute– We're back. No USA subs.
Cunningham with a dangerous ball in, but Altidore can't get to it.
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HALFTIME– As well as Spector is playing in central defense, I'm beginning to wonder if we'll see him get some minutes at right back at all. It would have been good to see him on the right, with Jimmy Conrad in central defense.
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HALFTIME- Bright spots? Cunningham's goal, Spector and Bocanegra in central defense, and Feilhaber and Bradley in midfield. Not so bright spots? Hejduk has struggled, while Altidore hasn't really put a stamp on this match.
We should see Castillo in the second half, and I think Eddie Johnson has to get a look.
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HALFTIME– USA 1, Denmark 0. The Danes dominated play early, but Jeff Cunningham pounced on a defensive miscue and buried a beautiful goal. Since then it's been an even game, even as Frankie Hejduk struggles to stay on his feet.
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45th minute– Guzan reminds us why you don't want a live mic on a goalkeeper.
Dangerous corner misses everybody.
HALFTIME.
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45th minute– Hejduk with a hard foul, somehow he avoids a card.
Some great touches and moves by Bradley, but his pass is blocked.
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40th minute– Cunningham goes 1v1 against Kjaer, who wins that battle easily. The kid is quality (bad pass after the interception notwithstanding)
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39th minute– SAVE GUZAN! Stops a Bernburg shot initially deflected by Spector.
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38th minute– Denmark on the attack after a missed tackle by Hejduk, but Bornstein heads away the danger.
Hejduk with one of his trademark two-footed lunges. The ref came back and told Hejduk to cut that out.
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35th minute– Martin Bernburg is in for Morten Rasmussen for Denmark. Six subs allowed today for those wondering.
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34th minute– Denmark hasn't done well since the goal, that early possession has been tougher to hold on to now.
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31st minute– CLARK JUST HIGH! Great movement from the Americans, Holden with a nice run and cut-back, Cunningham with a good dummy, and Clark barely misses with a blast from 18.
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30th minute– SAVE GUZAN, A near-post shot is saved by Guzan, though Feilhaber had the post covered.
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27th minute– So maybe there are MLS-like defensive breakdowns on the international level. Poor turnover by the Danish defense and a great finish by Cunningham.
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26th minute- GOAL USA!!! Jeff Cunningham SCORES. He says "Forget service, I'll get the ball myself." Nice finish. USA 1, Denmark 0.
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25th minute– Cunningham runs onto a pass, and catches Sorenson off his line, but sends a sharp angled shot into the side-netting.
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24th minute– Cunningham's lack of impact isn't just about lack of service. Cunningham benefited in MLS from poorly organized defenses. On the international level, against top competition, you aren't going to see the types of defensive breakdowns that can often be found in MLS defending.
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23rd minute– Denmark corner after Spector heads clear a long free kick from the left wing.
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20th minute– Holden with a nice idea to spring Clark on a run but Clark can corral the pass. The U.S. team will want to consider sliding Feilhaber into the middle and pushing Robbie Rogers into the left wing role. As it stands, the current lineup isn't producing much of an attack at all.
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19th minute– Snoozer so far as Denmark's back four knock it around under no pressure.
U.S. midfield needs to start winning possession.
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16th minute– Cunningham isn't doing a great job of reading his teammate's passes and movement. Lack of familiarity is definitely an issue there.
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14th minute– Watching Kjaer operate on the ball you realize why so many big European clubs are after him. He's a big-ticket defender who should yield a high transfer next summer.
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13th minute– Lars Jacobson sends a ball in front of goal that Guzan grabs.
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12th minute– Denmark knocking it around a bit, Americans can't gain possession.
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10th minute– Wow, Guzan dodges a bullet after Hejduk lets a loose ball roll at the area. Hejduk needs to do better there.
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8th Minute– Feilhaber looks good early. Playing on the left gives Feilhaber the freedom to float, much like Donovan is free to float from that slot.
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7th minute– SAVE SORENSON! Feilhaber with a stripped pass and hard shot on goal that forces a good save from Sorenson.
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6th minute– USA corner kick.
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4th minute– Let's see how long it takes Jeff Cuningham to make his mark on this match. It will also be interesting to see how Feilhaber does on the left.
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2nd Minute– Gronkaer is high with a clear look in front of goal.
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1st Minute– We're off.
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PRE-GAME– Here is the USA starting lineup:
————–Altidore———Cunningham————
Feilhaber—–Bradley——–Clark————-Holden
Bornstein—–Bocanegra—-Spector———-Hejduk
————————-Guzan—————————
BENCH- Jimmy Conrad, Robbie Rogers, Clarence Goodson, Dax McCarty, Edgar Castillo, Marcus Hahnemann, Eddie Johnson.
MLS scoring leader Jeff Cunningham gets the nod up top, while veteran right back Frankie Hejduk gets the call on the right as Bob Bradley gets a second look at the Bocanegra-Spector centerback tandem.
Jonathan Bornstein starts at left back today, but something tells me we'll see Edgar Castillo before the day is done.
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Guzan; Hejduk, Spector, Bocanegra, Bornstein; Holden, Bradley, Clark, Feilhaber; Altidore, Cunningham
Interesting that all the defensive problems in the back immediate stopped when Goodson & Conrad came on in the middle. Then again they are real CB’s while Spector is an outside back and at this stage of his career so is Boca.
Gotta put this one on BB, you could clearly see we should have been down by 2 or 3 goals but BB went into halftime thinking all was well and made no adjustments or subs. Denmark’s manager made 2 or 3 subs and high pressured us and it immediately paid off.
BB had a very rough trip and really needs to look in the mirror and take the blame for these results.
Ives,
I see the biggest weaknesses being the two central backs. I think the first and third goals resulted from poor marking and the second from a poor clearance. I think Bocanegra is a defensive liability in the center and is even worse on the left because of his lack of speed. I would like to see Bradley try people like M. Bradley at centerback and Holden at an outside back. What do you think about that? Without improving the defense, I don’t think the team will be very competive in SA consideing they are likely to draw 2 european teams and an african team. What do you think the best choices at centerback are if DeMerit and Onyewu aren’t ready or back to form?
I get what you’re saying a bit more now. But, I think it’s difficult to manage the game, use proper tactics and formations when we don’t have the full team.
No goals today were Bornstein’s fault. First two are on Spector who showed he should only be a sub as a centerback (not sure who exactly should be there; I think DeMerit is solid and is our best centerback, but who knows how he will recover from his eye injury – if his vision is permenantly affected, not likely to ever regain his form. At this point, shouldn’t be counting on Onyewu to be available in SA so I think the biggest problem is centerback. Solidifying centerback play will make everyone look better, but right now left full is at best only the third biggest concern.
Hahahahahahahahaha
The USSf needs to be disabused of the notion that Altidore is the leading forward for the US. Heck, Josh Wolfe is more effective as he has more speed, higher soccer IQ, and better control.
This whole team is garbage. Altidore? He showed he is not even a 2nd division player in europe. Worthless. I love Hejduk, but maybe he is indeed past his prime. Holden is NOT a national team player. never wasand never will be. Doesnt have it. Bradley needs the outlet to LD and Deuce. This team wont score one goal in SA.
honestly.. i have nothing good to say.. this should be the last we have seen of Johnson, Hejduk. Moving forward I would also leave Casey out..
Ives, what is up with Altidore??? I saw very little out of him in the last two games… certainly he didnt help his cause with Hull City.
That might have been the worst game for team USA in 2009
I generally respect Bradley, but I do not et the Castillo playing at LM. There is a 0% chance he will get minutes at LM if he makes the team. The reason a middle of the road Mexican league player git a call up was a) b/c of potential and b) b/c the other option at LB is a middle of the road MLS player who has demonstrated no ability to compete against good fast wingers. Therefore all we should have seen is Castillo playing LB.
is not about loosing a friendly game is about the tactics, formation, players selection, the substitution, and how to manage the game that what are the friendly games all about. Yeah once again we are becoming Donovan dependent and WOW Dempsey. Dempsey didn’t do much against slov. the other friendly game. Bob Bradley keep putting players where they don’t belong. why not play spector in the right or left. why not use castillo on the left instead of midfield. when bob already have so many action like (Donovan, Torres, Beasley, Feilhaber, even Robbie Rogers.) what happen to Conrad, Goodson, and other center defense. why used Clark & Bradley all the time together I don’t think they are a good combo. He need to star screaming to his player showing that if they don’t play hard they will be out of the World Cup selection and show that as a coach you want to win any friendly or major games. I not saying that Bob Bradley is bad Coach but he is not ready for a big tournament like the World Cup, We need a guy who knows the game and the tactics to be playing against better team as Slov., Denmark or even the Concacaf region. Thats what I’m saying
No offense but this is a tactic many coaches use its called playing through it, borenstien needs to learn to play through mistakes, I think he left hejduk out there as a sending off gift because the guy is not making the SA squad, When coach k duke team gets blown out by Carolina does he take everyone off NO! especially the guys playing bad sometimes you got to feel what its like to get out played, thats what these friendlies are for.
No Depth. We can’t afford any more injuries or we won’t get out of the group stage next summer.
“The USA can’t pass”
“The USA can’t compete against decent competition”
” USA just aren’t good”
“Fire Bob Bradley”
…..All this from a friendly? Christ on toast people we were missing some of our best players to injuries and playoffs/personal reasons, and you’re complaining that the USA isn’t good enough? I can understand all the concerns about depth and I don’t think the USA played well at all, but I don’t think the friendly is cause for too much alarm. It’s not like Bradley had his regular 7/11 to work with. When we lose like this at home with the full team we can open the flood gates, but I don’t think there was much concerning the main team to be crying about.
gabe, your drunk lol
“This team is no fun to watch.”
……just leave….I’m so sick of the ” our wins are ugly” argument. I’m gonna tell you right now that anyone smart doesn’t care how the USA wins, they leave that for something later, not the game. You put the side out there that wins in Qualifying, not the side that looks the prettiest.
I think the team should look like this is Onyewu is not back…
jozy dempsey
Landy Jones(or Edu) Bradley Holden
Castillo Boca Specs Dolo
Howard
And if I were the coach I would sub out holden at the half for Edu (or Jones) and switch to
jozy dempsey
landy
Jones Edu Bradley
Castillo Boca Specs Dolo
Howard
So I would start the game in a 4-4-2 and switch to a 4-3-1-2
Its a more defensive frame but still allows for a great counter with castillo and dolo playing as wingbacks.
Maybe THATS because the USA’s sub players were STARTING…..jesus….
Angel, maybe it’s because Castillo is a more skilled attacker than Bornstein and he wanted to see that on display.
What do you mean Bornstein was in the wrong place/time? He’d barely put a foot wrong until the goals came about, in which I saw him do nothing wrong.
It’s true that Bradley’s coaching decisions were suspect in this game. However, I don’t think that anyone should be hugely depressed about the World Cup just because the USA lost a couple of friendlies in which they were missing most of their best players. True, depth is important, and with what has happened the past eleven months, the likelihood that the USA will have another injury to a player that they depend on is something to be prepared for. At the same time, we can’t be constantly trying to work players like Robbie Rogers and Jose Francisco Torres into the starting lineup or the match just because they’re exciting young talents, we’ll do so when it’s logical.
There is no doubt that Bradley made some mistakes today, but he’s not the only one.
I agree with most of what you said especially that most goals come from individual effort. I don’t agree with you about Dempsey because he loses ball constantly in the middle of the field which directly leads to goals for the other team. If he’s on the field (which he should be), he needs to be playing forward. Here’s what I would take out of this game if I was Bradley:
– Hejduk out of running
– Spector needs to be on team because of versatility, but should not be starting at any position
– Bocegnra can’t defend; loses his man all the time, he wants to play sweeper (Bradley should have already figured this out)
– Bornstein – nothing learned, has positives has negatives; should have played Castillo at LB for comparison purposes – learned nothing about Castillo today
– Bradley and Clark: both are holding midfielders that turn the ball over way too much. These two can’t be paired togethor against good competition or else the US will never have the ball
– Fielhaber: not an outside player, not a 90 minute player, and a defensive liability, but is the best creative option for a 30 minute attacking MF sub
– Altidore: inconsistent, poor in the air; not a target player
– Johnson: should be out of the pool.
– Cunningham: should still be in the pool right now since no one is stepping up and Altidore’s form is bad
The biggest problem is the defending. It’s clear the US isn’t going to score a lot in SA so they have to be solid on defense. None of the four that started in the back today should be starting in SA. Bradley needs to first shore up the center. If this means moving his son or someone else there, he needs to do it (maybe Edu??). I think Holden should be considered as an outside back. Any goals that come in SA are going to be individual efforts probably in counter-attack. Unless Finley can step up, US will go in without a consistant forward and it will be a crap shoot as to who should play any game other than hopefully Dempsey up top.
Well lets hope Onyewu is back…..
again, you will not be missed
the problem isn’t that we lost a friendly. The problem is that our coach’s decisions, substitutions, and tactical adjustments (or lack thereof) are consistently terrible.
why he would chose to play Castillo at LM instead of LB, when everybody knows we need to find a stronger player at LB is beyond me. BB must be the only american who doesnt think we have a major weakness at LB
Can’t we all seriously accept that the U.S., while it has a few, and I mean very few, talented players somewhat capable of competing against decent teams, we just aren’t that good. Denmark is not a great team by any strench of the imagination. They have some good players, but a great team would easily beat them. They were in a very overrated WC qualifying group. Literally, our best players either don’t play abroad, play in MLS (Donovan), or play average in the EPL (which is still pretty good). Now that Russia failed to qualify, maybe we’ll get Hiddink sometime in the future, but I doubt even he can improve the U.S. that much. Bottom line, if we played in any region besides Asia or Oceania, we’d probably never make the World Cup. We’d be hard-pressed in Africa because the way their qualification works. I’m sorry, we just aren’t that talented, and 11th in the world is the most ridiculous ranking I’ve ever heard of. Realistically we’re below 30 I’d say. And so what if we beat Spain, that was one game and I’m pretty sure that would never happen again. Case closed…
You just made this comment section lose all credibility.
Finding a smart comment during any of these games is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I find more “Do it”s and Adrians than I do actual intelligence from the comment section.
Denmark is deeper than the US.
Maybe because Altidore is our starting forward and he wants to see who works well beside him?
or is Cunningham our starting forward now?
Seriously, the result in these games don’t matter, you realize that, right people?
It’s about the things that happened in the game. For example, the USA-Brazil: 4-2 at Soldier Field was a simple friendly. Even though the scoreline showed domination, the actual 90 minutes showed some excellent play by the USA.
So even if Frankie Hejduk jeopardizes the game, he’s not the starting right fullback like he was a good 5 months ago, so it’s not a big deal.
The USA can’t pass? You do realize that two of USA’s best passers, dribblers, possession holders aren’t there, right?
Im sick of you defending Bob Bradley ives. hes shown time and time again that he does not have what it takes at this level. so we beat Spain, oh well weve beaten top tier opponents before with coaches that also people thought should not be the teams coach. that comes down to his players.
He showed that his “tactical” awareness is next to useless against Brazil, you CAN NOT let a team like that keep possesion of the ball even 60% and expect to win, their just too good. He also showed it by not using his subs properly in that match. if you expect to outlast brazil you need fresh legs on the field, especially with them bringing on fresh players. that is a mistake he has made time and time again. Again the fact that torres doesnt play. Torres has shown in the little playing time that he has recieved that he is better at holding posession than feilhieber.
If he has a personal vendetta against torres then too damn bad it is NOT his job to limit the teams capabilities because he doesnt get along with a player. it is his job to field the best possible team that he can and win games. hes won games sure, but that comes down to the players, mostly donovan, stats dont lie. Bradley if anything has lost more games than he has won whenever he has had a significant impact on it. Ive only seen one game in which i thought he made the right subs at the right time and that was our comeback tie against costa Rica. other than that, the gold cup, the loss to brazil in the confederations cup, were lost because of his decision making. The simple fact that you ever said he may be good enough to land a coaching job in europe appals me.
one of the point of these friendlies is to get looks at players to take into the WC. he brings in Castillo and lets him play for 20 mins in a game that we already lost all control over and playing a washed up player like hejduke who will not go to SA is absolutely useless and does nothing to benefit the team.
The only good that came out of this friendly is that now ill hopefully get Castillo on my FIFA 10 roster which they damn well better do in the next update
(SBI-Who’s defending anybody? The team didn’t play great and it’s clear Bradley had a substitution pattern in place going into the match. I didn’t think starting Hejduk was a good move, and thought leaving him in was a bad move. If you want to read a Chicken Little-like overreaction every time the U.S. team loses a friendly, I’m sure you can find that elsewhere on the web if you look closely enough. I’ll try to survive without you.)
1 game = 2 halves
1/2 game = 1 half
hopefully you understand it that way
Please this is what I’m talking about Denmark had a B/C team also. I am really tired of thinking that we are better and don’t if we loose cause we were 2nd in the confederation Cup and we rank 11 in the FIFA Ranking. Well excuse me my friend all this friendly are play in the FIFA calender and it play against the US ranking and that will bring us way down probably Number 20 and that is not good if the USA want to be in a good seeding in the World Cup. Plus everytime that Landon Donovan doesn’t play is the B-team please is Bob Bradley that doesn’t know how to coach even a B team.
YUMMM…TEX-MEX!
1 game = 2 half
1/2 game = 1 half
hopefully you understand it that way
goquakes:
Point taken. But even our wins lately have been very sketchy. We had to score in injury time to draw with Costa Rica. AT HOME.
I’m not really ready to replace Bradley with Hiddink; but I also don’t think either Bradley should be assured of a spot on the team. This team is no fun to watch. This is my team — our team — and I want it fixed.
Calm down everyone. This was our B/C team in a friendly in away atmosphere (not neutral ground like WC stadiums). No Donovan, no howard, no dempsey, no demerit, no gooch. Calm yourselves.
Everyone go to the US site and go to the forums and tell Gulati to fire Bob (or place him as assistant)or go to the Headquarters and protest damn it Bob Bradle out now Guus in
either Trap or Guus will replace Bob either one is good plz someone make this happen
russia didn’t make it through to the world cup. fire bradley and replace him w hiddink! please god let this happen somehow.
I really fed up will all this Bob Bradley Supporter. If you don’t know Football Soccer please do not want to know your opinion. I am tired that he have to wait until the 75 min. to make any Changes or setup any tactics. We keep loosing always in the second half. You bring Castillo and put him to play left midfield are you freaking mind BOB. what happen to making changes in the half when you have six, I mean Six changes that you can make. please leave at home all this MLS dude that don’t know how to play in this type of international level. Hejduk should have been thrown out the game with those stupid Slide that he makes. M. Bradley keep given the ball backwards and loosing it when he was going forward. Clark was just nuts and running with a chicken without a head. Holden I out the game. Altidore was just like MR. Dempsey I guess EPL brings that in you. Bronstein was always in the wrong time and the wrong place. Disgusted with this team. I don’t think Bob Bradley will get us out the group stages in the World Cup. Please Sunil G. I hope you better pray that BOB Bradley does a good job in the world cup or else we all make sure that your head and B.B. are out this freaking country you piece of garbage. AND F U ANYONE WHO BELIEVES BOB BRADLEY IS THE ONE WHO GONNA GET US THRU FURTHER IN THE WORLD CUP. YES ALL YOU SUPPORTER OF HIM F. U !!!!!!
I wouldn’t go that far. He was terrible today though. He is out of form, and he’s old.
hahaha, nice.
oof– glad i missed this one.
Pathetic display by the US today. Feilhaber was pretty much the only player who had a decent game. Fully expecting a quick 3-and-out next summer with these guys.
I’m just sad and surprised Russia didn’t make it through. A very entertaining side. OK, Guus, gather yourself and provide your interest in coaching the US for 2014.
Why can’t the US hold onto leads? This game was very frustrating to watch. I feel bad for Castillo getting thrown into such a game. I also feel bad for Eddy Johnson, he didn’t make an impact because the midfield just collapsed. Why didn’t Bob sub Bornstein for Castillo? Frankie, what happened to you?
Let me say that Adrian is excitable, maybe, but has valid points. The attacks against him were not addressed against the substance of what he said — they were ad hominem insults. But guys, don’t blame a passionate fan who is getting a sinking feeling about our chances at the WC. You’re aiming at the wrong target.
Bradley coached a terrible game — absolutely terrible. Does anyone dispute that?
Now, here’s the question: Will ANY media outlet in the United States call him on it? Will he have to endure a postgame press conference like the sainted Bill Belechick and explain why he made zero adjustments until the team was down 3-1?
Adrian has it right to exaggerate his fury. Maybe that’s how it’ll trickle upward to Sunil Gulati. I mean, seriously: Is Michael Bradley incapable of an off-night? I have NEVER seen him subbed unless the game was out of hand.
Ives, you know some journalists. Tell them to put Bradley on the spot.
Why do we bother to schedule these games if we are not going to play our first choice players?
The U.S. team has the depth of a puddle.
If we are to give Bob Bradley the benefit of the doubt (which many here are not going to do), he left certain players in this match because they are still trying to make their case for inclusion. At a certain point, he’s not trying to win this game, he’s trying to get a look at certain guys and get out of dodge without his top guys getting hurt.
5 of the 6 guys who were subbed out are all locks (Altidore, Boca, Spector, Holden, Bradley). I suppose Feilhaber (another lock) was left out there because he was playing in his home stadium and there are only a certain amount of subs you can make anyway. The one sub that didn’t follow that logic is Johnson for Cunningham. Maybe he was looking to see a little more from Altidore before taking him out.
I don’t know, just trying to put myself in the coach’s shoes. I would hope that this means we don’t see any more of Hejduk, who had a shockingly poor match, and that Bradley is at the point where he needs to pull the plug on Bornstein as the first choice LB. I think Clark is on the bubble as well.
We’ll see what the roster looks like next time the group is brought together. I am not going to get too crazy about a friendly like this.
They both play for Dallas, as does Heath Pearce.
hoping for this by June 2010
Altidore-Dempsey
Donovan-Jones-Bradley-Feilhaber
Spector-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Cherundolo
Howard
let’s put our best players on the field….positions be damned