Photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com
The United States men's national team turned in a strong performance in its Gold Cup opener, topping North American foe Canada, 2-0.
While the team effort was impressive, and the victory an important one for a team focused on reclaiming regional bragging rights, a number of individuals stood out with their play.
For starters, Jozy Altidore came through with a goal and, for all intents and purposes, an assist in spearheading the attack and contributing to both goals.
Altidore wasn't alone in starring at Ford Field, though, as a few more players garnered individual attention after the game.
Clint Dempsey scored a crucial insurance goal as Canada was pressuring for an equalizer and nearly scored on an audacious scorpion kick attempt off a deflected cross.
TIm Howard stepped up with some tremendous saves late in the game, including a three-save sequence in the final moments that showed just how influential he can be to the United States' success.
Michael Bradley showed that not playing regularly at the club level hasn't affected his form, as he covered a tremendous amount of distance while distributing accurately and controlling the center of the pitch. Jermaine Jones did the same, playing more of a holding role than Bradley while picking his times to advance.
Tim Ream was given the start ahead of Oguchi Onyewu at centerback and continued to display his composure on the ball, earning high praise from Bob Bradley after the game. Aside from the play where Simeon Jackson nutmegged him in the box but could not get a shot off after a number of U.S. players provided cover, Ream held his own in his first international game in which something was on the line.
Which USMNT player stood out for you the most Tuesday night? Cast your vote here:
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How did you vote? Which player stood out the most? Anybody not named above that stood out more for you?
Share your thoughts below.
Holden had a great year for Bolton.
Bolton is not the US team.
Other than a great B team game against Haiti, Holden has never had a dominant performance wearing a US shirt.
Holden is coming off his second serious injury in around one year. There is no guarantee he will continue to play as well as he has for Bolton.
Anyone who regards Holden and Davies as future locks for the US team is naive.
If those two come back as good as they were, great. If not, BB is doing the right thing, moving on.
Maybe it’s the style Bob B. wants, but Michael Bradley, never, repeat never, marks anyone. He just runs around on D. He will come up and challenge and when the person releases the ball he just drifts. Never, repeat never, runs with the man. This is a weakness that could be exploited. Again, maybe this is a tactical decision. But, I can see why Houllier or other managers may not be confident playing with a guy who never, repeat never marks someone. I challenge anyone to watch him off the ball when the opponent is in possession in the next few games. That being said, I thought he played well. I just worry that a better team will always seem to have a midfielder open. Umm Spain.
“One gift”
Jozy’s goal wasn’t a gift. If you have ever played in goal you’d probably recognize that Jozy shot that ball through the keeper. A powerful, moving shot right at the hardest spot to get down. The keeper would have been better off trying to kick it out.
I’ve seen Howard give up goals on easier shots.
“Reyna was injured too often to be in the discussion of best American field player ever, but when he was healthy, he was one of the best.”
That is not entirely accurate. He was only injured towards the end during his tours at Sunderland, Man City and NYRB. By then he had pretty much made his mark. He probably should have retired after his Man City spell.
“He marshaled the defense, barking orders and arranging his troops all game. And when the defense screwed up or the midfield didn’t close down space, he was there to make save after save”
It’s interesting you say that because most people here wouldn’t recognize that.
Many times they only focus on the acrobatic saves, which any top flight keeper will tell you often means you were out of position in
the first place.
Howard did well but he often gets a pass regardless; when the defense is in disarray, as it often was during the World Cup he never gets the blame for a poor “marshalling” performance.
But when it is good like it was last night, he gets all the credit.
Goodson stood out. Frankly, I expected everyone who did well to do well. No disrespect to Canada (dual citizen for the love of Stephen), but Bradley/Dolo/Dempsey are going to play well against them. Howard and Jozy were my MoTM votes, but Goodson is the one who stood out.He’s fighting for a starting spot in a very up-for-grabs position.
He was very good, very steady, and even dangerous on a set piece or two. I think this tournament is going to be absolutely huge for him. He plays consistently well–maybe even does a decent job checking Chicharito–and we can start talking about penciling him in as 1 of 2 CBs for a few years at this point and he could parlay that into a bigger team/league.
So am I the only one who thought Donovan had a good game. It wasn’t spectacular, but he made the incisive passes that launched both goals (both to Jozy I might add). In addition he made some dangerous runs and mostly helped control the game when needed. I wouldn’t give him MOM, but I wouldn’t rate him #11 either. He did help create both goals.
BTW – oh how with that scorpion kick wasn’t blocked, it was headed in
Besides Michael Bradley’s and Dempsey’s performances, I love what Agudelo brings to the team–he’s fast, fearless, imaginative and highly skilled with the ball.
I’d love to seem this team with Timothy Chandler on right wing, Stuart Holden in front of Bradley in a diamond and Dempsey up top paired with Agudelo. Showtime!
I think BoonBoorRee wiil also play an important future role.
That is his job.
If BB benched Jozy sooner, his scoring would have come awhile ago.
“So Bradley is moving the ball constantly but it’s to the side or backward which just helps maintain possession, it doesn’t help us attack. ”
Not true. If we have it, they don’t ( the Barca defensive theory) and we don’t have to worry about them attacking us. Therefore,its easier to focus on making an opportunity to build another attack. Van Gaal is famous for saying your offense starts when your goalkeeper takes possesion of the ball ( see Algeria game, Howard, to Donovan, to Altidore, to Dempsey, to Donovan……
” it means being able to pick up the ball, pick up his head and find that incisive pass to a striker, splitting defenders. Or picking up his head in a second, sending a diagonal ball to Dempsey who was making countless runs to wing.”
You make it sound like MB isn’t skilled enough to complete a “forward” pass yet I’ve seen MB do that a number of times for BMG.
Completing a pass in soccer is no different from completing a pass in the NFL. Someone sends the ball out and someone gathers the ball in. It takes two to tango.
And in the NFL when you get into the red zone, not unlike soccer’s “forward” pass, it gets a lot harder to complete a pass because there is increased focus on stopping it by the defense and the “windows” get smaller. It is always going to be a lower percentage pass than the sideways and backwards pass.
MB’s personal skill in passing “forward” matters a great deal of course but the guy he is passing to ( and his level of skill) is at least 50% of the equation. The less familiarity MB and his target have with each other the lower the percentage completion of MB’s passing is likely to be.
MB and the core of this US team have played a lot of games together over the years but, as with any skill, repetition and familiarity go a long way towards trumping anything else.
Spain’s enormous advantage over most other national teams, besides the talent factor, is that, since it is built around a core of Barca players, the Spanish/Barcelona team is together literally year round and get to play at a high level and practice together maybe four to five times as much as the US might in an average year.
Bradley has managed about 73 or so games for the US since 2007 so the US plays on average about 14 games per year. Barca and Spain all together probably average about five times as many games in a season as the US.
If you watch the US in a tournament you’ll see that the completion percentage of all their passes, backwards, sideways and forwards will tend to rise.
First off, i said a little fortunate. Second, most people agree there was a bit of a goal keeping error on that play. Third, I’m just a guy offering my opinion on the game.
Unless adub, u are secretly Jozy Altidore, u might want to reign it in a notch. Even if you are Jozy, you got a little lucky.
Kljestan stood out for me because of the moustache.
+1
Bradley wins.
Can we do disappointments now?
I vote for Ream’s mental lapses and Bocanegra getting burnt out wide. Ream is too inexperienced now, and Boca too slow for fullback, so maybe pull Boca in the middle with Lichaj out wide then introduce Ream as a sub when we have a healthy lead.
my vote is Delo and bradley
MB still didnt score. Donovan was better than MB.
….Charlie wouldn’t be able to handle the lone striker role…..
As far as the goal goes, I think Jozy did hit a hard, swerving shot, and did well to use his body and turn on his man quickly. He made a good run as well. We also should expect him to ramp up his game as the tournament/years go on. He’s young. He’s gonna get better with every game. I mean, look at Juan. 🙂
How was he late? He got him pretty much as SOON as he appeared to be an amazing Bundesliga player.
Michael Bradley for me. Did everything – interacted with the attacking players, switched the point of attack brilliantly, covered ground, made good tackles, closed passing lanes, linked play.
Michael Bradley was definitely the best guy on the pitch last night. I’ve always liked Bradley, but I was concerned that without Stu Holden (our obvious CAM, surrounded by Dempsey and Donovan in a 4-2-3-1 when he’s healthy) we weren’t going to push forward from the midfield. Bradley and Jones are both so defensively oriented.
Bradley put on his best Benny impersonation. He’s no Stu Holden, but he attacked, ran, fed balls to our forwards, and generally proved himself to be that crucial link between our stellar defense and our hungry scorers. I can’t wait for Stu/CD9 to get healthy so we can see a 4-2-3-1 with Bradley/Jones(CDM) + Holden (CAM) or a 4-4-2 Bradley/Holden pairing with Jozy and CD9 up top. Our offense would rock.
agreed, hes an all around guy, ive always liked that about him… he gives great effort on both ends
I see what you’re saying, and I think its a good point. I think it is important to find that killer pass. And I think Bradley (and the team as a whole) can do a better job at linking up, but to lay criticism on Bradley for completing a low percentage of passes to forward targets is redundant and futile because the very nature of those passes leads to a lower completion percentage. If a midfielder is looking for that pass, they are most of the time looking at one or two teammates surrounded by 3 or 4 defenders. Its a tougher pass to begin with, and it didn’t seem there was another midfielder for the US that was lighting up Canada. But I’m with you when you say great CM’s frequently find that one perfect pass, but that is a very rare quality, and none of our midfielders have it at the moment.
fortunate to score??? who the hell are you bro? he smashed the ball, things happen, he play brilliantly! and i agree about jones, he plays well with bradley…. we woulda beat ghana w/ jermaine jones
dude cmon, he was late to the party getting to Chandler and now it may cost us dearly…. BB needs a GC win to save his job IMO
BS Canada is a good team bro, El Salvador? Panama? Guatemala? Jamaica?….. Canada can beat anybody but US and MEX, they might be a step below HONDURAS and COSTA RICA…..
ALTIDORE!!!!! WE HAVE NO OTHER FWD’s !!!! ALTIDORE LOOKED AMAZING AND GOING FORWARD OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON PRODUCING A WORLD CLASS STRIKER!!!! CASE CLOSED NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!
Who stood out? Coach Bradley. He picked the right lineup, established the right strategy and got the team’s head right after a very distracting debacle against Spain.
BTW I don’t think that the “bunkering” was Bradley’s doing. There is an ebb and flow to the game and the US couldn’t keep in overdrive the entire time.
i agree with you but we take howard for granted more than any other player…. prob since we have always had top class GK since kasey keller…. i only see 1 more world cup for this guy but who knows, maybe he will be 40 yr old starting in Russia 2018… KASEY KELLER IS STILL PLAYING SOCCER!!!!! LOL
Sir Alex will never take him back. The Champions League final against Porto sealed his fate for United. He is right were he belongs, in my opinion….a top 7 club in one of the top 2 leagues in the world.
I was thinking that as well… I really hope that Lichaj Bedoya Adu get some time in this tournament, especially with MB LD and CD on the pitch with them. Maybe if we get a win against Panama (which I’m not convinced about–I could honestly see a draw). Those guys strike me as being more are the future of a WCQ squad, much more so than Kljestan Rogers or Wondolowski.
I agree, Cherundelo was the standout for me. He nullified the Canadian’s best threat, while still serving good balls into the middle and making runs down the sidelines.
Save your breathe. People see what they want to see. Altidore could have scored a hat trick and people would still be complaining that he didn’t apply enough ball pressure. People have their preconceived notions and most will never change. Except that Bizzy fellow. He manned up and admitted that Bradley was the best CM in the pool. I salute him.
It was pointed out after the game that while Howard saved the US you can’t forget that Canada’s keeper also made a few nice saves to keep it from being an embarrassing loss for the Canucks (soccer team not the Vacncouver hockey outfit.)
I still voted for Howard though.
Dempsey, Bradley, Goodson, Howard, Ream, Donavon, Altidore, Jones, and Cherundolo are all different kinds of players. No team would work if it were made up of all the same type of player.
The question was who stood out. The answer is clearly Bradley, that does not mean he is “better than” any of the others in any absolute sense, nor does it mean he was the player who came up with the play that turned the game (Donavon to Altidore, or Altidore to Dempsey for a goal are possibilities for that, maybe even Howard’s reaction save to keep a clean sheet). Bradley was the guy who popped up time and again to break up a play, win a ball or distribute the ball to a teammate.
That is a comment by someone who was looking only for any small thing M.B. did that wasn’t perfect.
Most C.M/s do not connect on a lot of forward passes simply because many are made a part of the act of winning the ball and are made under difficult conditions of pressure, no time, and teammates who were just a split second ago looking to defend rather than move to receive a pass.
Of course, not all of any C.M.’s passes are made under such conditions, but I saw relatively few bad passes by M.B. that came about when he had more than a split second to adjust and play the ball to a teammate who was expecting the pass.
I thought Jones tried to play too many long balls that came to nothing, but he did make a couple excellent cross field passes that did work.
Altidore, Dempsey, Bradley, Howard sure…
Jones okay…
How is Tim Ream even an option in this poll??
Cherundolo, Goodson, Donovan, even Agudelo were far better.
Ream and Bocanegra were the shakiest players out there for us.
no way. If Howard is smart he’ll play at Everton for a nother few years.
it was not a bad goal.
Dempsey is the closest thing America has ever prodcued to a creative high and IQ player. I really hope he continues to follow his muse in the coming years, even if it means he occaisionally takes on three defenders at a time. It inspires and educates his teammates and makes him a unique kind of leader for teh team
+1
First off I am the biggest fan of Howard so I’m not disagreeing with any accolades heaped upon him.
Perhaps it’s cause I played the position a bit, but it’s always funny to me how ignorant people are about what consititues a good performance for a goalkeeper. Many times a keeper deserves man of the match because he’s organized his defense so well that the opposing team can’t even get a shot off, but we only crow about keepers when they leap around and such.
Conversely, everyone who was going on about how Jozy’s goal was “soft” last night… a low hard screened shot that close in to the feet is incredibly hard to get down on.
I guess it’s the same when folks get on strikers about not scoring even while their game improves…
Agreed … for me, because the question wasn’t “who had the best game,” it was “who stood out the most.” What stood out for me was how apparently comfortable Cherondolo was in coming forward so much. I’m not brave enough to venture a guess of whether it was just a bad perception on my part, how comfortable he was with the other guys being able to cover for him, or if he just always felt he could recover.
yep. just as soon as folks realize that Dempsey is the greatest ever.
I’ll second that. Especially on your first statement. And I’d put his European career right up there with Reyna’s, Friedel’s and McBride’s.
Is Jones ok?
I remember him not faring too well in a qualifier against El Salvador in Sandy, Utah in 2009.
If Tim was honest with himself, and I believe you can see it in his reaction from the quick three save sequence, he made a big mistake on that play. Howard went to ground too early and did not win the ball the first time going after it. That required the second save, again not able to recover the ball, and finally the great reaction save. So that entire sequence was a result of the initial mistake.
I liked M. Bradley getting forward; Bradley makes things happen when he gets forward, considering he does seem more of a holding player, and I think his looks at goal are potent and he keeps things in the mix when the attack is in the box.