Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
The first thing you should know about U.S. men's national team practices is that they are closed to the media. Well, except for the last 15 minutes, a time period that usually doesn't reveal much about the team besides who is doing well in finishing drills and crossing drills.
On Thursday, we were lucky enough to get to see a bit more of training and there was a little more to see as the squad prepared for Saturday's friendly vs. Turkey. Here are some observations:
Herculez Gomez was partnered up top with Jozy Altidore on their team. The training session wasn't divided up into what could be called a first team and a second team, but the partnerships that were on display seemed to suggest some potential pairings. Gomez and Altidore worked well together and it wouldn't shock me if Gomez got a start (though Clint Dempsey is still more likely to start up top). Gomez impressed in finishing drills and has a blast of a shot.
Among the other interesting pairings was Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit. Onyewu looked fast and confident, showing none of the tentativeness that seemed to creep out at times during Tuesday's match vs. the Czechs. There was no limp to speak of, and on one sequence he raced upfield on the dribble, fended off two challenges and completed a pass. The sequence was impressive and leads me to believe he should have a better game on Saturday than he had on Tuesday.
DeMerit also looked fine in training and you have to wonder how much, if at all, his eye injury will be an issue.
Maurice Edu was deployed at centerback during the late action. After being used there late in the Czech match it is clear he will be called on to provide cover if needed. Does it mean he's already lost the battle with Ricardo Clark for the starting central midfield spot? It's too early to tell.
Jose Torres looked sharp and confident playing alongside Michael Bradley. He definitely brings a calmness on the ball that can help in the middle of the park. Does it mean he's ready to start? Probably not against England, but I could see him getting the call against a team like Algeria.
If anyone didn't have a good practice on Thursday, it was probably Jonathan Spector, who launched some wayward crosses and shots and committed some turnovers. Cherundolo looked sharper in training, but again, we're talking the tail-end of one training session, so don't assume Spector's form is in crisis mode.
Stuart Holden was held out of practice to give him some rest after playing 90 minutes on Tuesday. He's in the mix for a starting role, but could lose out to an in-form DaMarcus Beasley. Brad Guzan was also limited to individual work after going 90.
Dempsey joined the forwards in the finishing drills, and it's fair to say we probably haven't seen the last of him at forward, even with four forwards on the roster.
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What do you think of these tidbits? Encouraged by the word on Onyewu? Hoping to see Gomez get a start?
Share your thoughts below.
Nope, primoone is bass ackwards on this one, and not paying attention. That is a great idea for a little contingency planning.
This is the World Cup. To win it you have to play seven games. How does that relate to American sports fans? Well, think of it as the playoffs where the walking wounded miraculously strap it up one more time for a shot at the prize.
Most everybody, especially the good players, are carrying some sort of injury. It’s always that way when you place a tournament at the very end of everyone’s long season. The US is in the same boat as lots of teams. Get over it.
Pffffftt
You gave him the wrong award as well.
It was the Bronze Ball, not Boot.
aristotle and max,
No sane person believes Gooch is 100% in terms of game fitness and mental sharpness.
On the other hand , this is the World Cup and very few top flight players are in tip top shape. Look at Torres of Spain and Barry of England, Fabregas is coming off a broken leg; all of the top European players have had very long brutal seasons. Most everyone is carrying some kind on injury but they will all play.
The fact that guys like Beasley or Joe Cole of England ( if he makes their team), for example, appear to be healthy and have not played much, yet are proven players, is probably an asset to their respective teams.
Skill and talent are a given at the World Cup. Physical and mental health are not. I think Bradley plans to bring Gooch along so that he will be sharper by the Slovenia and Algeria game and hopefully for the others to come. It’s not perfect but it’s what we have. I think if Chad Marshall had not also been hurt, he might have gone instead, something Marshall will regret till the end of his days. Bradley isn’t giving Edu time at CB just for fun you know. Against England chances are you’ll see some combo of Demerit, Goodson and and Spector in the middle.
How do you know that wasn’t some kind of veggie burger with salad?
“Possesion? Possesion? We don’t need no stinking possesion!”
Copa America 2007 Final, Brazil 3 – Argentina 0.
Watch that game again if you can. It pits the same basic Dunga team you will see in 2010 against the previous edition of Argentina, led by that classic midfield general Riquelme and Messi. Argentina was a classic “possession” team, while Brazil, still wonderfully skilled, had morphed into a more physical, athletic, fast, brutal and direct side. These are the guys you saw in the Confederations Cup final.
Around that time the talk around coaching circles was how Brazil realized that too many passes were a bad thing and being more direct was no bad thing. The popular theory was that anything more than 7 passes tended to decrease your chances of scoring. It gave the defense time to set up and smother the threat, even one as good as the young Messi. Brazil humiliated Argentina.
I mention all this because playing “possession” ball is not about one or two players being good on the ball. The US has more than enough of those guys. It requires the commitment of the entire team starting with the goalkeeper. I don’t much care for Howard’s distribution.
The USMNT does not play that way for a reason. Since Bob and I don’t talk, my suspicion is that, if you slow the game down, then the top teams have time to set their defenses. To beat that you need great one on one players and the US really have no top class, consistent one on one defense breakers, no George Best, no Pele, no Messi, no C Ronaldo, no Maradona.
So the US’ best hope is to beat the defense down the field before they have time to get set up. Simple and effective and it makes use of our strengths, fitness, speed and athleticism. Remember how good the US looked with Charlie Davies?
In basketball terms, the US is best fast breaking and don’t have much of a half court game.
I always kind of thought Demerit’s eye problems have been overblown lately (in that every story about the USA’s injury concerns say that he has vision problems.) He played against the Netherlands in March, and was one of the best players on the field. His eyes have only improved since then, right?
Feilhaber could be a very important player, though. He basically created the second goal against Spain last summer, and has done very well going all the way back to 2007 in the Copa America when he split open Argentina to create the chance for Eddie Johnson that turned into the only US goal there, I think. And really, he’s never played terribly for the US, because when he wasn’t in form with his club, he wasn’t in camp. So you have to figure he’s in position to see the field this summer. He’s a solid player, and an example of the midfield depth that still could lead to the US changing formations at some point. (Maybe.)
African champs?
I wonder if Gooch is going to lose the emo attitude. My wife is a therapist, I was about to FedEx him her card. He had all but the black eye-liner and nail polish.
Gooch clearly has sveral more months of training and rehab to go trough to be at full fitness.
His leg muscles and uppper body too just don’t look like the Confed Cup Gooch’s.
Is a 75% Gooch still good enough to play? .
We better hope so
Right, I am sooo tired of all the idiots chanting ‘Dempsey doesn’t track back.’
Umm, he’s doing what BB wants him to do, and yeah he’s running – a lot.
Really? What doubts do you have about a 3-1 victory?
The last time I checkced the idea in the World Cup was, win = advance. No one cares how you look doing it. You think Italy will give back the Cup because Matrix got Zidane to Jozy him?
“ok bronze, I gave him a color or 2 upgrade, sue me”
I wonder what Michael Phelps would say about that?
Warren,
He didn’t screw up that cross because he couldn’t jump. He completely misread the flight of the ball. The play was over before Gooch was even in position to jump.
Guys,
Just think of the fun you two could have had if Davies had made the squad.
+1
“Even mexico made them look stupid the other day.”
Really? I hope England makes us look stupid as long as we win 3-1.
In case you forget, Mexico beat us twice last year and looked pretty good doing it. On their day they can beat anyone.
you’re right,they already knew they were cutting DMB loose. Because of all the debts they’d run up,they wanted to lose his contract.
And since they were sure to win the league amyway, why not play the other guys and see how they can manage without him.
Capello is considering using Gerrard in Gareth Barry’s role as defensive holding mid, pending the results of Barry’s scans.
ok bronze, I gave him a color or 2 upgrade, sue me
Yeah Gooch’s legs are fine, amazing vertical leap there – ok just kidding.
Yeah 2 must-win games in a row, against the African champs and the team that knocked out Russia will a walk in the park.
affirmative…
I can see where you’re coming from by saying Beasley’s confidence was gone after the Costa Rica game, but he was also suffering from a lack of playing time with Rangers, which made him severely rusty. Throughout the match, Beasley showed a first touch comparable to a brick wall. Nowadays, his touch, confidence, skill and awareness are all on. I find the best measure of a team and it’s players are who they can defeat and how they play on their best form, not on their worst. Beasley clearly hasn’t been in his best form in a while, and there are very few games to point out that show it, but he’s clearly working his way back up the ladder. Bradley just needs to know what his options are and how they’re going to perform in certain positions, especially at the problem position of left back. If anything, I’m asking to test the USA’s depth at ONE position for nothing more than 45 minutes. Is that so wrong or so harmful to the national teams World Cup campaign?
what about torres and holden?
nyuk nyuk nyuk
they won’t back out, but god help us if those two teams meet up in a match. they’ll strap hand grenades to themselves…..
he should get a tattoo of a zipper around his crown. that would rock.
don’t worry he hurled it back up in the bathroom at half time…. just messing with the england spies watching on the tele.
i don’t see Gomez starting mainly b/c I don’t think he can go the full 90. perhaps dempsey shifts up once gomez comes of at the 60 minute mark?
I love the idea of pairing Bradley and Torres. And although I favor having Dempsey as a forward, Its good that Altidore and Herc are doing well. Good news on Gooch- he’s a huge asset when healthy and in form.
I think you may be right but the recent England vs Mexico game casts deep doubts about a superior England, not to be confused with the EPL.
or the MLS…
TELL. EM.
tell em!
yeah and if wishes were horses we’d all be double fisting Big Macs…
true, but Beasely was superb at tracking back in the match against the czechs, and we’ll need tons of that gainst england.
isn’t a new manager coming into rangers next season?
huh huh Frak….
tell em…
Alright Mason.
I’ve got to head out the door, otherwise I think we’d both continue this back and forth banter for several more hours.
Something the other posters and Ives probably don’t appreciate.
With that said, I’ve enjoyed it and hopefully it’ll continue after the match (whatever time that may be) on Saturday.
As I’ve said before, I hope I’m wrong…I sincerely do. We need Gooch and I’m pulling for him.
After all, no Gooch and there’s a higher probability that Bornstein somehow finds the pitch then in the group stages.
Yikes!
Interested to know how one could conceive Beasely as on form? delighted Bradley has taken off the blinkers and made decision to bring Gomez and Torres, at least they have been actually playing this season.
I concur
You know what? I did too: right after he made a nice move, got kicked and drew a foul. Any other times you can think of? A minute would help…
Head or legs, if he’s not all there, Goodson gets the call.
Or Bocanegra in the middle and Bornstein on the left.
(ducks)
I agree with Second City, I also saw him favor one leg over the other. now this report tells me that he some how made excellent progress since 4 days ago. we will see tomorrow how much improvement he has done. no need to elavorate more until fater the game.
Good for you, and welcome to the “tell the truth and your crazy club!”
Yeah… That may have been a bridge too far. Sorry about that!
At least you get to watch McBride now. All we’ve got is zombie Luciano Emilio’s reanimated corpse.