Wratho
Player Valuation: £8m
Dolo was playing RB. They had to bring the LB over to the right and place a LB they had on the bench on. The US back line is very inexperienced, or Old. This is the biggest issue with the US squad is the Back 4.
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Dolo was playing RB. They had to bring the LB over to the right and place a LB they had on the bench on. The US back line is very inexperienced, or Old. This is the biggest issue with the US squad is the Back 4.
K
Kay20
Guest
Wow. I pretty much (in the bottom of my heart) knew a loss was coming. I was just praying it wasn't a blow-out.
And then we went up two goals. And so, of course the candle of hope was lit.
And then I realized Bornstein was on the pitch.
I was watching at a local bar, and literally when Bornstein stood up on the sidelines to be subbed in - the entire bar (loaded with USMNT fans) collectively groaned. And yelled "no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" We would have taken Tim Ream over him and moved Boca out left. Hell, I would have taken Spector over him. At least he knows how to position himself once in while opposed to JB's wandering around the left side of the pitch.
Howard - 4 Miserable game. Came out too early on two of the goals and wasn't authoritative enough. On a night when his back line needed him, he came up empty.
Cherundolo - inc
Losing him didn't necessarily cause us to lose the game, but it led to the decision that did. With him on that game would have been much closer. Huge loss. HUGE. Timmy Chandler, you can't be here fast enough.
Bornstein - 1 Never should be in camp ever again. Might be the nicest guy in the world, but NEVER AGAIN.
Boca - 5 Did what he could while being bombarded. Cleared multiple balls out, positioned himself okay, but was trying to block a tidal wave with players beside him that were too junior to help out. Wondering when retirement is going to be announced - it's coming (sob!) - he is just too slow.
Goodson - 4 At 29, not good enough. I'd rather spend the time blooding the new guys over the next year. I know it'll be painful, but without a major tourney on the horizon, we cut our losses and move on to youth. Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, welcome to the national team (and potentially Ike Opara).
Lichaj - 4 His youth showed. But overall, a great tournament for him, and hard to blame him when he'd been spending so much time at LB, and suddenly got moved to RB. Our starting LB for the near future.
Bradley - 4 Too many giveaways. Too long on the ball. Got stripped of the ball repeatedly and was involved in 3 of 4 Mexican goals. Worked hard, but got overrun. He needs to work on his passing game sorely. He needs to get out of Gladbach and find a new home where he's a starter.
Jones - 4 I was expecting much more - didn't destroy enough, and was back to not communicating enough with his partner.
Dempsey - 5.5 Deuce, I love you. But when the LB behind you is off on vacation, YOU MUST HELP THE DEFENSE. And get the hell up off the ground - this is Mexico, not the EPL. Towards the end went back to hero-itis opposed to placing the smart pass as he got desperate. Kudos for the fabulous assist and was unlucky with banging off the crossbar.
Adu - 7 MOTM for the US. Creative play, was clearly up for it, and amazingly, combined with the double D (Donovan and Demps) so well they looked like they had been playing together for weeks! Get out of the Turkish second league, and welcome to being with the team in 2014! Along with Lichaj, the silver lining of the tournament.
Bedoya - 3 Had no idea where he was, might as well been invisible. After all the talk of him having a break-out tournament (which he still has), vanished in this game. I'm back to being "meh" about him. Needs out of Sweden.
LD - 6.5 For one shining instant was the Mexicutioner all over again - great goal. I have no idea why he was playing lone forward - he hasn't played there in YEARS. I understand starting with this plan, but as the game wore on and Clint drifted inside leaving Bornstein even more at sea, LD and Clint should have switched. The team needed Landon in the middle to help hold up play and keep passes moving and protect poor old JB. Landon's defense isn't stellar, but it's sure better than Clint's.
Agudelo - 3 Looked 18. Hard to blame him. Still has potential.
To sum it all up - going into this game we were all worried about the offense, but surprisingly, we had some!!!! In all seriousness, I was pleasantly surprised at how much Adu freed up Clint and Landon. They had chances, even towards the end (cross bar, MB wide, scrum in the middle from balls by LD and Sacha). After scoring so little all tournament, this wasn't our problem.
What was the problem was the defense and d-mids.
At least we know what our issues are. And for all that I was disappointed, that rivalry never disappoints. Great game.
And then we went up two goals. And so, of course the candle of hope was lit.
And then I realized Bornstein was on the pitch.
I was watching at a local bar, and literally when Bornstein stood up on the sidelines to be subbed in - the entire bar (loaded with USMNT fans) collectively groaned. And yelled "no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" We would have taken Tim Ream over him and moved Boca out left. Hell, I would have taken Spector over him. At least he knows how to position himself once in while opposed to JB's wandering around the left side of the pitch.
Howard - 4 Miserable game. Came out too early on two of the goals and wasn't authoritative enough. On a night when his back line needed him, he came up empty.
Cherundolo - inc
Losing him didn't necessarily cause us to lose the game, but it led to the decision that did. With him on that game would have been much closer. Huge loss. HUGE. Timmy Chandler, you can't be here fast enough.
Bornstein - 1 Never should be in camp ever again. Might be the nicest guy in the world, but NEVER AGAIN.
Boca - 5 Did what he could while being bombarded. Cleared multiple balls out, positioned himself okay, but was trying to block a tidal wave with players beside him that were too junior to help out. Wondering when retirement is going to be announced - it's coming (sob!) - he is just too slow.
Goodson - 4 At 29, not good enough. I'd rather spend the time blooding the new guys over the next year. I know it'll be painful, but without a major tourney on the horizon, we cut our losses and move on to youth. Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, welcome to the national team (and potentially Ike Opara).
Lichaj - 4 His youth showed. But overall, a great tournament for him, and hard to blame him when he'd been spending so much time at LB, and suddenly got moved to RB. Our starting LB for the near future.
Bradley - 4 Too many giveaways. Too long on the ball. Got stripped of the ball repeatedly and was involved in 3 of 4 Mexican goals. Worked hard, but got overrun. He needs to work on his passing game sorely. He needs to get out of Gladbach and find a new home where he's a starter.
Jones - 4 I was expecting much more - didn't destroy enough, and was back to not communicating enough with his partner.
Dempsey - 5.5 Deuce, I love you. But when the LB behind you is off on vacation, YOU MUST HELP THE DEFENSE. And get the hell up off the ground - this is Mexico, not the EPL. Towards the end went back to hero-itis opposed to placing the smart pass as he got desperate. Kudos for the fabulous assist and was unlucky with banging off the crossbar.
Adu - 7 MOTM for the US. Creative play, was clearly up for it, and amazingly, combined with the double D (Donovan and Demps) so well they looked like they had been playing together for weeks! Get out of the Turkish second league, and welcome to being with the team in 2014! Along with Lichaj, the silver lining of the tournament.
Bedoya - 3 Had no idea where he was, might as well been invisible. After all the talk of him having a break-out tournament (which he still has), vanished in this game. I'm back to being "meh" about him. Needs out of Sweden.
LD - 6.5 For one shining instant was the Mexicutioner all over again - great goal. I have no idea why he was playing lone forward - he hasn't played there in YEARS. I understand starting with this plan, but as the game wore on and Clint drifted inside leaving Bornstein even more at sea, LD and Clint should have switched. The team needed Landon in the middle to help hold up play and keep passes moving and protect poor old JB. Landon's defense isn't stellar, but it's sure better than Clint's.
Agudelo - 3 Looked 18. Hard to blame him. Still has potential.
To sum it all up - going into this game we were all worried about the offense, but surprisingly, we had some!!!! In all seriousness, I was pleasantly surprised at how much Adu freed up Clint and Landon. They had chances, even towards the end (cross bar, MB wide, scrum in the middle from balls by LD and Sacha). After scoring so little all tournament, this wasn't our problem.
What was the problem was the defense and d-mids.
At least we know what our issues are. And for all that I was disappointed, that rivalry never disappoints. Great game.
K
Kay20
Guest
Because of the rivalry these two teams just play some damn good football when they face one another. The hatred is palpable, the fierceness is there. I love it.
And trust me, this result is going to BURN for the US men's team until they face off again. I sincerely hope we get a friendly scheduled like we have in the past. Would be good for both teams. Otherwise they won't face one another until the end of 2012. Gives the US time to sort out their issues.
Bummer. No USMNT footy for awhile. Sigh.
The good news/bad news for both US and Mexico is that both are essentially a lock for WC qualifying and Gold Cup Final, no matter how much the quality of the squads fluctuate. Thus, its hard to perceive the differential in quality through the years.
Real problem for US is where is the quality below Dempsey (age wise). Where are the under 25 elite players? And by elite I mean better than Bradley elite. Bradley is a very good player, but he can't be our best player if we want to improve.
What I hope for US is that we still have an in form LD and CD for 2014 (and thus make it to the knockout stage of WC), than have some world class young talent for 2018 out of players that are in Junior High now. We will suck between 2014 and 2018, but will still qualify for WC 2018 (perks of CONCACAF), so no one will care.
Real problem for US is where is the quality below Dempsey (age wise). Where are the under 25 elite players? And by elite I mean better than Bradley elite. Bradley is a very good player, but he can't be our best player if we want to improve.
What I hope for US is that we still have an in form LD and CD for 2014 (and thus make it to the knockout stage of WC), than have some world class young talent for 2018 out of players that are in Junior High now. We will suck between 2014 and 2018, but will still qualify for WC 2018 (perks of CONCACAF), so no one will care.
K
Kay20
Guest
Agree. We have a weird void in between our veterans (Boca, Dolo, LD, Clint) and the early 20 year olds (i.e. U23). Other teams (like Mexico) have a slew of players in their mid 20s. We don't. It's like we skipped a generation.
If we don't have those two veterans in form for 2014, I personally think we are screwed because we will have an all youth team (minus Howard). The best teams have a few veterans sprinkled among their youth. We have zero on the back line. We have zero at forward. So basically, that is why I fully believe LD/CD will be in Brazil, if not starting. Question will be where they play, not if they play.
In terms of the talent, it does exist - which is why friendlies will be so important. But it's not top shelf...yet. You are totally right. I think we have to give the "elite" part a couple of years:
Timmy Chandler - Bundesliga 1, and if he plays even better, will most likely be sold to bigger and better pastures (should be at Olympics). I personally think he will end up being one of the best we've got.
Diskerud - scored a couple of times today, expect him to come out of the Scandinavian region (should be at Olympics)
Agudelo - matter of time before Europe calls - but may not be until post 2014. He needs regular playing time in NY. (should be at Olympics unless MLS says no)
Altidore - I haven't given up on him yet, he showed talent in the Gold Cup until he was injured. Still young.
Lichaj - great promise
Whitbread - we'll get to see him this year in the EPL
Big ?:
Adu - needs out of Turkey
Holden - recover from injury?
Gonzalez/Ream - need to continue their development...
We have been a team that has banded together to grow above individual talents, and we'll have to keep doing that for the near future. But it looks easier as the years roll by.
But man, Bob has his work cut out for him.
And yes, I don't want to go three and out in 2014 either. We've been spoiled in 2002 and 2010. I expect the final 16 now for better or worse.
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