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USMNT Post Gold Cup/Rebuild for WC Qualifying

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Took me awhile to get here - too many things to do labor day weekend, but I wanted to post to see reactions.

Thanks for the thoughts pfim - I agree with a lot of them!

Not the overall assessment though. The bar that I was at - people's jaws were hanging open. Forget LD's missed shot. People were like, seriously, is this the USMNT? Are we playing sexy soccer???? Who is this team???????

And then the team ran out of gas. It was clear the mental energy for their new roles taxed them and attacking faded, discipline faded, and the team ran on empty (seriously - they sleepwalked through the last 45 looking tonked as a team). Leading to a crap 2nd half and a loss.

But I'm feeling very positive about where we are headed. It's a friendly, we lost, whatever. But we learned a ton:

I read an article on MLS.com afterwards and Jurgen said the team actually played a 4-1-2-3. This is important because it required a completely different role for LD than usual, and a ton of flank play, as pfim noted.

Howard - great save, could do nothing on the rebound. Other than that, was required to do bupkus. By the way, I don't know if anyone noticed, but someone on bigsoccer pointed out: NO PUNTS. ZERO. Thanks Jurgen.

Chandler - not his best game, but provides speed, and solid defending. I'm still excited about him, and he is the heir apparent.

Orozco-Fiscal - please call in Omar Gonzalez (better defending and height). End story.

Bocanegra - nothing spectacular, was partially at fault on goal, but marshalled his backline overall well.

Castillo - throw him back in the pool. NEXT. (Cannot wait until Fabian Johnson gets here, and he should know he gets a starting XI spot for the next 12 years).

Edu - I thought he was actually pretty efficient if unspectacular. Think Beckerman played better.

Torres - MOTM. Midfield maestro until he got tired and quit running. Can't wait to see more.

LD - brand new role at #10 in the attacking middle of the park. Was meh. Can't believe he missed the target. This is going to be very, very interesting as Jurgen wants to play him here from all the quotes I've read. Can LD make the transition to CAM???? Played it great for 20 minutes against Mexico. Could be amazing combining with Holden/Torres. But can he create space for himself in the middle???????? TONS of folks think no. I think with time he could do it. Something to watch.

Rogers - decision-making was painfully slow. Not good enough for this level, and didn't get out wide enough.

Shea - needed to beat his man more (as he himself noted in an interview), but another promising outing. His future is bright.

Altidore - hold-up play was a ZILLION times better than in the past, and no pouting!!!!! Layoff to Shea was brilliant on LD's should have scored. Still could be better about making runs (offsides calls), and trying to go through traffic like Agudelo.

Agudelo - still young, still raw, but love his runs at defenders. Still needs to learn to PASS more often.
Kjlestan - I do not understand the fascination. Lead foot, bad decisions, please end the misery.

I cannot wait for more to watch this develop.
 
Updates for the Belgium game:
Chris Pontius, Teal Bunbury, Landon Donovan and Fabian Johnson have returned to their clubs.

Interesting to note on Pontius and Bunbury - neither have a game immediately, so guess they didn't impress or they just weren't needed. So far, Juan Agudelo and Jozy's jobs are safe, and clearly with this move, both are getting game time against Belgium.

Someone is going to be wearing the #10 shirt against Belgium...who will it be??? (please lord not Clint Dempsey - that will inspire riots on big soccer between LD and Clint fans.) Will Boca play again? And if not, who will the Captain be????

In the past without LD we have been able to create a giant goose egg. So who will create on Tuesday? Who will step up to be playmaker?

It's Clint's first game with Jurgen - and Jurgen's emphasis on defending if you lose the ball. Clint is notoriously crap at this - so how will Jurgen respond? Will Clint step up?

Will Castillo have another horror show at LB?

Can't wait.
 
Starting line-up, still in the 4-1-2-3:

Howard
Cherundolo - Bocanegra - Goodson - Chandler
Edu
Torres - Dempsey
Rogers - Altidore - Shea

Not dressed: Ream, Castillo

Notes:
1) Dempsey vs. LD in the CAM spot. Although I understand this is the right call (though I thought Kjlestan would have got the start there), I think it might cause weirdness - especially if Clint is wearing the #10 kit. We will have a field day now comparing the two players. Grimace.
2) Ream has now not been able to get in the game day roster three games in a row. Bad sign for him, and hope Omar Gonzalez or George John then get their shot in October.
3) Would have thought Beckerman would start.
4) Chandler at LB experiment. We shall see how that goes. Maybe Jurgen finally developed eyes when it came to Castillo.
5) I don't know how Shea has any gas left.
6) Jozy's club is going to be even more pissed. Tough tookies.

Looks like Jurgen's sticking to his formation. We'll see how it goes!
 

Crap game. We played like everton. pass the ball around and create next to nothing..... FFS does it really seem like that?

I would love to see him play two strikers up front. Once there is any pressure applied, no offensive creativity....

Granted no Donovan , Dempsey, Holden midfield yet. That could be boss......

We need a left back..
 
10/11 match vs. Ecuador confirmed at Red Bull Arena vs. Ecuador. Therefore, two international domestic friendlies in October:

10/8 vs. Honduras in Miami
10/11 vs. Ecuador at Red Bull Arena

November friendlies will be in Europe.
 
Big news over the last two days:

1. Tony Sanneh says Chandler's playing for Germany! EVERYONE FREAK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Oh. That was just a rumor? His agent refuted it?

Oh.

Okay then.

See you in October Timmy!
 

Altidore doing very well at AZ Alkamarr so far. I know he gets stick but its going to take awhile, he wont peak until he's 28-30 Bradley, Beasley and now Altidore were all ace in Holland and kind of lousy everywhere else. Maybe the lesson for US players is to go Dutch and never ever leave.
 

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