Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team didn't pull off the upset, but the fact that it nearly managed to tie a match it had been dominated in has left the Americans with something to build off of from their 2-1 loss to the Netherlands.
In case you hadn't read it yet, here is my take on yesterday's match for FoxSoccer.com. I will provide more thoughts on the match in a bit after I get settled here in Liverpool (where I have arrived ahead of some work on some stories featuring some Americans Abroad). Look out for a proper 'A Look back" on the USA-Netherlands later this afternoon.
For now, please give the above story a read and feel free to share your thoughts on the match, and on whose performances you liked and didn't like, in the comments section below.
I’m pretty sure Holland didn’t “mail it in”. They were pressing until the final whistle just as we were. I think we played decently considering the circumstances and the non-existent performance from Landon and other players. We got no calls from the ref, the second goal for the Dutch was just bad luck and the flop from Nigel de Jong denied Beasley of a clear one on one with the Dutch keeper. Maybe you should watch the game again friend.
We didn’t have a shot on goal until the 88th minute. Fact.
3 and out, or Dad gets another 4 years, and I don’t think I can take that.
i agree with you on the composure. findley looked like he was putting too much pressure on himself, whereas eddie seemed calm on the ball (maybe too calm when he missed bedoya’s run). don’t know if it was because the game had slowed down or if ej’s experience with the team makes him feel more settled. findley is probably quicker and a better finisher, but i think that johnson’s top gear is in a different league and his size allows him to battle with big centerbacks.
A few observances…..I’ve seen Doctoral theses that were shorter.
martin, “No reason why Bradley, Edu, Clark, Feilhaber, Torres, Jones can’t play as a group of 3, with Donovan and Dempsey on the wings and Altidore in the middle. Seems obvious that we try and play to our strengths.’
I agree, and call it a 1-2-3-4. The Dutch, and Barcelona call it 3-3-4 but the principle is the same, The sooner Coach Bradley goes to it the better the USA will look on attack. Your best 3 attacking players will be free to attack while 7 can defend.
yes
I know its just a game, but I played mo edu as a centerback on fifa 10 recently and his number actually went up. He started there in the olympics, so possibly pushing him back to centerback and start bocanegra on the left, maybe? Start clark or feilhaber in center mid with bradley. Also, I can see (hope) bedoya making the squad if he keeps up his game in sweeden.
OH, and I’m still pissed at the Soccer Gods for that yard or two that Torres shot missed by ( he had a decent game, not the best, but I though he was better than a few others on the team and believe he still deserves another look or two as a starter) I believe Bob Bradley has made a pact with the devil so that our creative central mids will never start and we have permanent, longballing CDM’s starting all the time……ala Clark….
p.s. I’m joking, so no one get bent out of shape.
And one more thing I meant to add: His play in the course of over that year in MLS, WCQ, Confed Cup and EPL, he has been outstanding. So I think one stinker out of it all doesn’t warrant him being labeled “loser.”
we just need to run a 4-2-3-1….Simple as that and play to our strength’s…..Altidore was on top all day fighting for balls and doing a decent job, but got no help whatsoever from Findley………It doesn’t look like another CD9 will emerge…Unless, Bradley decides to check out Herculez Gomez or Mike Grella..but we all know that won’t happen.
I need to proofread. It’s “Landon” in the first paragraph and “FA Cup” in the last.
I read your article and agreed with most of it, except your putting Landond in the “losers” category. Loser at what? A spot on the World Cup team? I hardly think so.
Yeah, he had a crap game, but he’s not to blame for all of it – keyed on by the Dutch, lack of quality supporting players around him, and poor tactics.
After his stellar play over the last year and a half, he deserves a bit of a break on the criticism. After all in the last year he went from Jan 2 with Bayern, then MLS, then to the Confed Cup, then back to MLS, then MLS playoffs through to the Final, AND through all that had the Hexagonal WCQ. He has 6 weeks off and then goes straight into the EPL with Everton and he hit the ground running, with their EPL, FAC Cup and Euro campaign. He just might be hitting a wall a little bit.
Are you serious? Give the armband to Bradley? Normally you want your captain to be on the pitch for 90 minutes not 45 and then shown a red card. Don’t get me wrong I like the kid BUT I am scared everytime I see the guy leave his feet and go hard into a sliding tackle, which happens at least 10 times a game. Dempsey, Donovan, and even Onyewu would be better options.