Russia v. USA

Only saw the final 50 minutes or so, should of donned on me about people in the chat. Couple of thoughts

• Nice to see Agudelo contribute, maybe the shot in the arm the kid needs to get back on track.

• I'll leave it for people who saw the first half, but liked what I saw out of Gatt. However, should have done much better on that wide open shot around the 47th

• Up and down performance from Jozy, poor first touch on that great ball from Johnson, excellent effort on tracking back and digging out a ball, and perfect cutback pass to Jones.

• Speaking of Jones. I'll repeat from the CL thread. Give me the Jones that plays for Schalke. His role is clearly defined there and it rarely involves attacking.

• Cameron solid, Goodson SUCKS (and not just today).

• I think Fabian Johnson is an outstanding player, but I would love to see him move to left mid.

• MIchael Bradley is the engine of the team, and that goal... :bow-yellow:

 

A bit of a nasty cold afforded me the opportunity to watch the whole match.

Gatt looked ok out there, considering it was his first cap. Didn't do anything overly impressive, but certainly didn't do anything to hurt his prospects. Didn't really see the blazing speed that Darke and Twellman were talking about, but then again, the US didn't see much of the ball in the early stages.

We looked positively dreadful for the first 15-20 minutes. I mean, just awful. We slowly started to turn it around, and by the end of the half were at least competitive, though not quite up to par.

In the end, a pretty standard US match. Completely out of sorts for long stretches, suffering severe defensive breakdowns, but somehow making the most of the few chances we generate and coming away with a result.

And if we can go to Russia with a makeshift squad, lose our captain early, go down a goal twice, and still rally for a result? Have to feel good about that.

 

Tim summed up everything I would say.

I agree that left mid would probably be his best position personally, but looking at the options behind him at left back for the US, he has to stay at left back.

 

Only been able to watch the highlights so far, gonna try to watch the whole match later tonight.

Judging solely from the highlights, we still need major work on the defensive end. Many, many chances for the Russians, could've been ugly if they'd converted some golden chances. Thank you once again, Mr. Tim Howard.

Michael Bradley. What else can you say? The kid has just blossomed in Italy, and it's carried over to his play for us. What a strike! He belongs in the same group and under the same breath as Donovan, Dempsey, and Howard as a mainstay for USMNT. Barring an unforeseen dip in form, he should be huge in Brazil two years hence.

Finally, a draw away to any top European side is a bonus, especially without our two best players. A bit lucky, to be sure, but a positive result for a bunch of guys nobody really knows very well, both inside and outside the U.S. Showed some real moxie and pluckiness in coming back twice in a situation where it would have been easy to fold your tent and go home.

COUSMNT!

 

Someone needs to tell Sacha that the porn stache/Inspector Clouseau look has to go, did he lose a bet??

 

I wrote up a nice reply to HD's post which disappeared like INXS. Oh well, and in sum, given the talent restraints, I'd have to say it was a positive result. Der Kommissar knows this...Capello shaking his head after the 2-2 equalizer said it all.............

And the 'stache needs to go for Sacha. He doesn't live in Chatsworth via 1978.