Confederations Cup Championship - U.S.A. v. Brazil!!

well, great. i record the dvr to what the listings say. but the listings weren't correct.

BAH. i think i am more frustrated than others because at least you got to see it.

but would it be safe to say that the usa under bradley is like fulham under cookie?

they'll (occasionally) show heart and hustle, and pull off a good result here and there. but they will be undone by the woefully inept tactics and strategy and rely on favoritism.

i know we've been saying it all last season, but watching the usa the past month made me fully realize how truly spoiled we are with roy.

regardless of the who, what, where, Roy's army would have never choked away a 2-0 lead.

 

oh, and before everyone slates me, yes i am beyond proud of the lads.

3 red cards, no captain for 3 matches, no MB for the final, no Edu or #1 RB, Sacha and DMB, and still make the final. Simply amazing.

 

Safe.

 

This US team has shown great heart and determination in the past three matches. Something that we can all hang our hat on. I find little fault in their effort and desire, rather I actually find more fault in our tactics. Hindsight is 20/20 though.

We were obviously tired around the 60-65th minute of the match and needed to have some fresh legs come in to pick up the slack. Bradley's biggest issues...

Lack of quality subs. Kljestan is nauseated whenever he is on the field and Bornstein was in over his head. That almost goes without saying.

We didn't change our tactics for the eventual onslaught from Brazil. I would rather us have switched to a 4-5-1 to close down their midfield, but Bradley stuck with the 4-4-2.

The final concern was just the talent that Brazil has at their disposal. They are a deeper side and it showed. Their quality is without question and it still stings all the same when it shows up to snatch a win.

Again Timmy, Demerit, Gooch, Boca, Spector, Bradley, Donovan, Clark, Jozy, Dempsey, Benny, Guzan and Davies have all showed their class. Just a shame it had to end in this fashion.

Done with gaining respect, bring on the wins.

 

Timmy you're wrong and Nevzter you're right! Come on, Timmy give the man a break, Do you realize what we just did?

 

I want to talk tactics, but to be honest - i am too down to tackle it. Maybe in the morning, but the question is- who should have been changed at 60 when we are up a goal, and then after it went 2-2. I know one thing, after SK and bornstein came in they should have never been touching the ball as much as they did. Chase? Yes. Fill passing lanes? Yes. Take more than 2 touches? No. Look to get the ball back? No.

But as of right now I just want to be happy with the fact they got there, but sad at the fact that they couldn't hang on.

 

Clint Dempsey received the bronze ball and Tim Howard received the golden glove award.

 

carolina -- did you read my second post?

don -- when did i ever mention that if 'we just try hard enough' we'd be #1 as a form of prescription? i am saying it in an objective manner in the sense thats really all we can do for the reasons you just stated.

funny how outside of fulham, we tend to get all huffy puffy.

 

I am proud and sad. Our team has a lot to be proud of but maybe this loss will make our players hungry for more. The quality we lacked from the bench was our undoing. Our defense and midfield got tired and it showed. Heartbreaking, i shed a tear with Dempsey at the end of the game. I am glad he won the Bronze Ball but he deserved a win today. I can only hope we get better from this and have our best world cup finish ever. Go USA! Go Clint Dempsey! Go FULHAM!

 

Exhilarating match, total heart breaker. When Brazil scored so early in the second half I got a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach which obviously only grew. :3d crying:

 

What encourages me more then anything was that in three games (against Egypt, Spain and Brazil) we managed to score 7 goals from the run of play. No penalties needed. This US team has given it’s share of heart-filled defensive displays, but we’ve never looked consistently threatening offensively. It’s one thing to beat up on CONCACAF minnows, but it’s quite another to handle Egypt 3-0 or beat Spain 2-0 or go up 2-0 against Brazil.

Here’s hoping for a fantastic finish to WC qualification …

 

Well, as Don pointed out, they were really tired after sitting down and drinking sportsdrinks at the half, and our quality of sports dinks and seats to sit in are and will always be inferior to the Brazilians, the Spanish, and most of the world.

We will NEVER be able to compete in the international sports drink and seat cushion market. We just don't have the resources. I mean, come on, the Brazilians must sell 100 times more sports drinks and seat cushions than the United States!!

 

I'm by no means trying to short change our USMNT, but all things considered we made it to the Confederations Cup Final with third tier athletes.

The Brazil's, Germany's, England's, Spain's, Argentina's, etc... all have their top athletes playing football/soccer. The US' top athletes flock towards football, basketball and even baseball sometimes. I think the effort and performance of our side speaks volumes to the dedication of this team.

 

What, no cautionary tale against Diet Dr Pepper?

 

The realization that I may never again see the USMNT in a FIFA-sponsored final hit me this morning. And it sucks.

 

I wonder if john harkes feels like an ass right now?

 

That is where I am at. If we see a final again in the next 20 years we will be doing well.

Ok... So- at 60 min there should have been either a runner to create pressure on the back line, or another defensive mid. Then at 2-2 we needed another creative attacker who wants to get forward AND you can trust to take some touches. Torres would have been a good option.

I do not believe in the big pointman mentality. I see 3 up top and you go with a mix of speed and creativity. Push Dempsey and torres up top with what's his name, and put Landon right behind. Play to Lando's feet and let him run at the defense. As it was, it was SK and Bornstien bringing the ball forward and that was a terrible idea.