You given Altidore & Dempsey 4.0 ! For what exactly?
What contribution-if any-did either or combined has to merit even 1 point each?
How about -4 each.
Little honesty will go along way pal.
What contribution-if any-did either or combined has to merit even 1 point each?
How about -4 each.
Little honesty will go along way pal.
3
The coach has utterly failed to instill the attacking soccer he promised 3 1/2 years to instill. Both the national team and the U23 team simply can't put together a coherent passing game.
And the coach's favorites --Yedlin, Johnson, Jones, Beasley and Green--frequently forget to get back on defense and Altidore is often simply terrible, while other players--Feilhaber, who had an excellent 2010 World Cup; Nguyen, Cameron, Ream--seldom get playing time.
And the coach's favorites --Yedlin, Johnson, Jones, Beasley and Green--frequently forget to get back on defense and Altidore is often simply terrible, while other players--Feilhaber, who had an excellent 2010 World Cup; Nguyen, Cameron, Ream--seldom get playing time.
1
Can we give Altidore and Dempsey negative ratings? While they weren't getting great deliveries (too many passes out of the backfield seemed aimed at Mexican players), they did little or nothing to challenge balls in the Mexican half. I particularly watched Dempsey, who seemed to be walking (or perhaps sleepwalking) for the majority of the game.
3
The man who lost this match for us is Jurgen Klinsman. The team looked unprepared and uninspired and was completely unable to meet Mexico's intensity.
Klinsman only cares what Europeans think and so only cares about winning the World Cup. These North American competitions seem to be beneath his dignity.
Klinsman only cares what Europeans think and so only cares about winning the World Cup. These North American competitions seem to be beneath his dignity.
4
I can pick on the ratings. Bradley is and was over-rated. He is not quite a world-class midfielder. Too many of his passes go awry, so he compensates some with his athleticism. Dempsey was a serious disappointment for someone who has often played at the highest level. Altidore ditto, but he has struggled on the USMNT for years. I'd rate each of them at around 2.0. To the credit of Jermaine Jones, he showed us his versatility, playing both wings, after previously showing his abilities as a central defender and holding midfielder.
But let's look at the big picture. Klinsmann tried to put the best team possible on the field to WIN this match. Certainly Beasley, Beckerman, and Jones will be too old for USMNT duty at the next World Cup, but they are arguably the best we've got. And this underscores the paucity of world-class soccer players in the United States. Who else have we got?
Sunil Gulati and Co, DO SOMETHING! It will take a long time to fix a broken player development process, which is an incoherent mess rather than a system. Start now.
But let's look at the big picture. Klinsmann tried to put the best team possible on the field to WIN this match. Certainly Beasley, Beckerman, and Jones will be too old for USMNT duty at the next World Cup, but they are arguably the best we've got. And this underscores the paucity of world-class soccer players in the United States. Who else have we got?
Sunil Gulati and Co, DO SOMETHING! It will take a long time to fix a broken player development process, which is an incoherent mess rather than a system. Start now.
4
Agree on most, but disagree as follows:
- Beckerman held the middle pretty well and distributed the ball nicely; I'd give him a 5.5
- Johnson played conservatively but well enough; I'd give him a 5.5
- Jones lost the ball more than he passed or dribbled successfully; he's the same way with the Revs, unfortunately; I'd give him a 4.0
Dunno how high Brian's scale goes, but I'd rate DeAndre and Wood higher, for sure.
As for the left back position, I'd say it's time to call up the Revs' Chris Tierney!
- Beckerman held the middle pretty well and distributed the ball nicely; I'd give him a 5.5
- Johnson played conservatively but well enough; I'd give him a 5.5
- Jones lost the ball more than he passed or dribbled successfully; he's the same way with the Revs, unfortunately; I'd give him a 4.0
Dunno how high Brian's scale goes, but I'd rate DeAndre and Wood higher, for sure.
As for the left back position, I'd say it's time to call up the Revs' Chris Tierney!
4
Too generous to Fabian Johnson. His failure to hold the high line with the other defenders played all the Mexicans onside for the opening goal, and his cover was found wanting on the second goal. He has, this year at least, only played midfield for Monchengladbach, and he's left footed. But he should have done much better.
Nobody on the backline covered themselves in glory. Too generous for Cameron. The back line necessitated several desperation advances by Guzan, one of which left him sliding out of the penalty area, and lucky not to be punished.
The USMNT set up to counter as a home side, but had not nearly enough pace to worry the Mexicans.
But on the bright side, at least Landcakes isn't calling for Klinsi's head on a spike anymore.
If the Confed Cup is "an important dress rehearsal" for the World Cup, however did Germany win the 2014 WC without having qualified for the Confed Cup?
Nobody on the backline covered themselves in glory. Too generous for Cameron. The back line necessitated several desperation advances by Guzan, one of which left him sliding out of the penalty area, and lucky not to be punished.
The USMNT set up to counter as a home side, but had not nearly enough pace to worry the Mexicans.
But on the bright side, at least Landcakes isn't calling for Klinsi's head on a spike anymore.
If the Confed Cup is "an important dress rehearsal" for the World Cup, however did Germany win the 2014 WC without having qualified for the Confed Cup?
2
I agree w/Sciaretta about placing Cameron and Bradley and Wood as the USMNT top performers. Boy, last night was frustrating. It seemed like we were playing 2-men down all game.
3
Fantastic ratings, Brian. Every one of them is dead on.
I would only say Dempsey should be a little lower. He plays like he's on his own wavelength, ignoring the pace of the game and even his teammates. He plays entitled, and on the world stage he hasn't earned it. Cameron, whom I usually do not trust to get the job done, was excellent! Not just the goal, but he was directing, and in the right place at the right time, often. Instead of just booting the ball, or making errant passes, he was finding targets well downfield. His play was purposeful and focused. Bradley and Beckerman are both great players, but they are very similar in speed and style, and that's a problem. As the author pointed out, Mexico owned the center mid. Our lack of pace in the middle made it easy for them. Not too many of these players will be in Russia. At least if they are, we're not going to get very far. Yedlin and Wood on the other hand, represent the future.
2
Is the sports "press" totally asleep? ... It's funny that I rarely, if ever, see any article describing this as the real problem facing U.S. soccer: that for all the resources this county has - both in terms of finances and population - we do not have any kind of infrastructure in place to identify, train and produce world-class players. This is especially a shame, since the Americans have won plaudits - particularly at the 2014 WC - for their positive attitude and never-say-die spirit.
Why doesn't U.S. Soccer take a trip to England, and visit Southampton FC, to see how a football operation is run, from the academy to the first team. A club which has lost practically its entire first team the last two years (bought by bigger clubs), yet is still competitive in the Premier League. A club which has such a good academy that they produced among others, Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.
Me thinks it is because they are more interested in running a soccer league - unfortunately, a third-tier one at that.