Gold Cup: USA vs Guatemala

I liked Donovan on the right - better than as CM or Striker.

I liked Dempsey in the Striker Supporting role, able to move around laterally as he needs.

Johnson was useless - no confidence.

 

It has baffled me in the past how Johnson can have loads for his club and then just lose it completely for the national team.

Hopefully he regains that sense of composure before he is put into a meaningful match for the USMNT.

 

so i heard! that's great for RSL. I heard Seitz was excellent, and that some fan got thrown out for waving a Tibetan flag...what was that all about?

 

The match was a great result for RSL and was a nice way for Alecko to finally get on the score sheet. He hustled and was in the right place at the right time.

Seitz was a wall in goal. The defense was not doing well and Atiba couldn't control the ball to save his life. Seitz had some nice stops when his defense was caught out of possession.

The "fan" was being obnoxious and causing loads of problems with the players on the field and the China bench. They were waving Tibetan flags attempting to wind up the China team and they did just that. They weren't trying to make a political statement or aid the Tibetan people, just trying to piss off the China National Team...they succeeded. Idiots...

 

wow!!! i was listening to the radio after the match...and some guy called in claiming he was the fan that was waving the flag...and went off on some tirade about how he was a season ticket holder...yada yada yada...and how he was just waiving a flag.

 

Well that "fan" seemed to be verbally abusing the China players and he was an embarassment to himself and to the other supporters in the stadium. He should of realized he was at a sporting even and not at a political platform of debate.

 

Twellman, great?? Certainly dilutes that term in my book.

As far as EJ, you didn't miss anything, except a better understanding of why using the MLS as a measuring stick of one's potential success is a really bad idea.

 

PCB...shouldn't rag on the MLS as a poor measuring stick. Sure it is a lower league of talent, but what do you expect from a league that has been around I believe only 13 years?

It has given some fairly talented players to Europe, so I don't think we should completely toss the league out when considering it a measure of talent.

Side Note: "great" is used far too often. That term is reserved for the best of the best. (example..."King Kenny" Dalglish)

 

Sorry I missed the chatroom, theres a bar in St. Paul where USA fans go to watch the matches and I ended up there.
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We got the result but the performance was disappointing. Was not fluid and everything was rushed. The central midfield didn't do its job. I like Bradley, and I like Philhaber even more, but I don't like them together. Not this early in the game. If the ball was being distributed it was the back line doing it. We were far to reliant on the counter against Guatemala.

If its 1-0 in a WC Qualifier on the road than fine, but this was at the all to familiar Home Depot Center, we need to do better.

 

Guatemala is an interesting opponent, because they don't often go forward in attack and are more than content with finishing in a nil nil draw. So, I won't be too upset with the result. Very happy it was a win and it is even better that Dempsey scored.

So much room for improvement, but in the brief time Bradley's had the side they have changed their attack and chemistry seems to be building slowly but surely. Not too many negatives to take from the match. Improvement and more importantly CONSISTENCY is needed.

 

You'll learn, if you hang around, that I don't advocate tossing the league. And I am not ragging. I am genuinely concerned about MLS, but more about its players, especially the American ones.

If the MLS is a 13 year old not meeting expectations, I'm the one advocating discipline and tough love.

In my opinion, there are too many goofballs in American soccer, in nearly all aspects, and the fact that everyone has ignored them for so long that those same goofballs make too many of the decisions, is really hurting the competitiveness of the league, the national teams, and most importantly, the players.

 

Well it seems we have an Eric Wynalda on our hands...Ok, if you are coming at it with that perspective I can accept it a lot easier than someone just disappointed in the league, because it isn't living up to their standards.

I firmly believe better coaches/management is needed for these players to develop. There are only about 3-5 coaches that I believe have the quality to truly mold these young yank players into something special. (Nicol is the best IMO)

Tough love is needed, but where to initiate it is the difficult part.

 

Its a repeating fixture on this board you'll have to grow used to. PCB's favorite thing to do is take hit run jabs at MLS. He gets his kicks out of it so nobody really bothers to argue him anymore.

Have to give PCB credit though, he supports the Nat's and of course Fulham. Most Eurosnob types would support Arsenal and have nothing to do with the Nats.

Will say, isn't it interesting that Fulham's top two scorers this season and the guy who scored the most important goal of the season all made there way in MLS.

 

Haha, bit of irony there I would say.

 

Male bonding...it is a beautiful thing...

So is it like a father son type deal?

 

Well not old enough to actually sit at the bar I'm afraid, was in England yet not here, why??. But yes do PM me when your up here.

And I know the crowd wasn't exactly behind USA but it wasn't Aztec or Saprissa stadium. The pitch was good, they were no flares or batteries thrown, and I'm sure the dressing room had hot water. I expect more.

 

Given that, Mexico gets a walk until we beat them in the final. Do they EVER have to do something to get there. Besides cheap shots and buying Central American refs, do they EVER do anything?

 

They are a side going through a rebuilding process. I have a lot of respect for the Mexican National Team. They have some quality players and I'm not going to accuse them of cheating (other than a few cheap shots here and there).

That being said, I can't say there is an opponent that I like watching the US beat more than Mexico. With the Gold Cup Final being played in the US I like our chances.

Now worries...on paper at least we are the better side.

 

As an Englishman supporting the USA MNT I'm just wondering what time GMMT or English time the USA v. Trinidad game is.
Thanks