Of course they won, the players played in a much better formation.Originally Posted by dawg80
It was natural and it showed on the field.
Why the hell they didn't play this in Guatemala is beyond me.
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Of course they won, the players played in a much better formation.
It was natural and it showed on the field.
Why the hell they didn't play this in Guatemala is beyond me.
Our U23 lost to Columbia, 2-1, and thus we will miss the Olympics again. That is unfortunate. A missed opportunity.
As for the MNT, we should go thru to the next round of World Cup qualifying. But yeah, how (why) we lost to Guatemala down there is baffling. Our historic record vs. Guatemala is staggering in our favor. Yet, we tanked last week. Last night it was an obvious mismatch and we were never threatened, not even challenged, even for a period of time. Final really should have been 7-0.
The Bradley-Beckerman duo in the key midfield roles attacking/holding really clicked last night. MB is getting more comfortable in the attacking MF role.
The USMNT is one of the better funded olympic teams with no results. Is it time to cut the cord and give those resources to the women's curling team? That sport is about to explode while we've been waiting at least 40 years for soccer to do so.
USA 1 Ecuador 0
Just a friendly, with all those subs, but still, beating a team from South America is a rarity for us, so I'll take it. Bradley played holding MF in the 2nd half and the youngsters really stepped up tonite.
USA 4 Bolivia 0
Bolivia is weak, ranked 159th in the world, but they are a South American nation so this was another win over a SA nation. Those have been hard to come by in the history of US men's soccer. Again, the youngsters stepped up. Pulisic (sp ?) a 17-yr-old, got his first goal in a USA uniform. It won't be his last.
Now...up next is Columbia, another SA side, a very strong one, and this won't be a friendly. We open the Copa America tourney Friday against them.
Looked bad against Columbia.
We will be lucky to make it out.
Bradley looked out of it. He was not mentally in this game.
Pulisic and Nagbe should be starters, not subs.
The US is ranked 29th in the world. Columbia is a top 10 side. This is what happens when you are out-classed.
All the more reason to go with youth. If you are not expected to win, play for experience.
Dempsey was out of place playing where Altidore should be.
The "handball" could have been waved off, but wasn't. Still wouldn't have been in that situation if Bradley could actually hold and pass like a 10. Donovan he is not.
Bradley is a holding MF. That is his best role. JK keeps trying to convert him into a 10, but he simply isn't good enough, not comfortable in that position. Yeah, he's had some brilliant moments playing the 10, but he lacks the skills and the mindset to be consistent. Donovan is not only the best player in US history, but he was a legit world class 10. The only other player I can remember that even comes close was Tab Ramos.
Beyond that, the US has always struggled to find/have FOUR world class midfielders at the same time. With Donovan and Bradley (playing holding MF) we came close with two at a time. That and a consistent middle backer has been our biggest weakness.
The lack of a world class midfield will keep the US from becoming a legit, consistent top 10 side. We will always hover somewhere between 20-30, with occasional flirts with being a top 15 side. But, that won't get you past the Round of 16 at the World Cup, or help win other major tournaments.
When I coached soccer, and got a new bunch of players, I'd work on two things at once until I was as satisfied as I thought I could be:
1. develop a keeper
2. develop midfielders
The rest of the positions I could/would fill in after I did what I could with those two items.
The US has the keeper thingy down pat. It's #2 that continues to haunt us.
U.S. Vs Costa Rica tonight
Who you got?
Canada!
I think the US will beat Costa Rica tonite....US 2 CR 1
2-0!
3-0 - pull the goalie Costa Rica
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