Gold Cup: USA v. El Salbador

Beas scores from the top of the area. 1 - 0.

 

Donovan had a brilliant little dribble and layoff to set up another Beasley right footed attempt, but this one sailed high.

Then he had ANOTHER chance, this one with the left foot, but just missed high.

 

Beasley didn't bring the shooting shoes today. He has no right foot wihich baffles me that he scored with it off the corner.

Donovan gets a second chance for a pk after the keeper came off his line early. US now up 2-0, going forward nicely. Liking what I am seeing, but need to convert on chances with greater consistency.

 

Bradley, Feilhaber, and Mastroeni are having a little bit of difficulty linking up with Beasley, Donovan, and Dempsey. However, they are finding a few good ideas, and they've had some good chances because of it. Second half should be interesting with El Salvador having to chase the game.

 

El salvador is really playing for it in the second half, they've been hammered by the linseman though.

 

Twellman goal!!! Beauty attack by the U.S.

 

Nice counterattack ends in a goal from Twellman.

 

Beas with the brace! 4 - 0!

 

Bradley was not real impressive, and has not been much this Gold Cup. You have to wonder how much longer this goes on before some eyebrows are raised. Mine is.

 

Only watched about 5 minutes of the first half and I'm really looking forward to the replay on FSC tonight.

Hometown hero had a fantastic match from what I read.

 

Agreed. He is only 19, though, so I'm still optimistic. He did look a little over his head in this one, but perhaps that is a good growing experience. On the other hand, some of those turnovers in midfield by Bradley, Feilhaber and Mastroeni would have been punished against a better opponent.

Parkhurst looked good, Simek looked good, Bornstein looked good, Onyewu....something about his play bothers me.

 

Maybe it is his inability to use his size to win a ball, being caught out of position and letting lesser forwards beat him...anyone of those could be it. Still hope he can turn it around though. Hasn't been too impressive.

Bradley will be just fine. He is a tough player and will adapt his style in future games.

Job well done to the other youngsters. They are playing well and making a decent shout for the copa spot.

 

I will be dissapointed if Bradley starts another match during this Gold Cup. He's had his chances in this venue, and he is not ready. Let him continue to cut his teeth in Venezuela. We have better options for now.

 

I think he will probably start at least one more game, I mean they only brought 4 central mids and Pablo already has a yellow card. Feilhaber has been playing an awful lot, so Clark and Bradley may give him a spell on the bench in the QF (unless it's Mexico).

I think he is proficient enough at least to play a holding midfielder role, and he can work on his game in Venezuela, like you said. Well, unless he doesn't get included in the squad because of the U-20 WC.

 

I believe Bradley is ready for the Gold Cup and he wouldn't of been placed on the roster if his Pop didn't think he was ready. Sure he has gone through a rough patch to start, but he will come around. He will at least get one more match, maybe even a second.

 

Bring him on as a reserve, if needed. Otherwise, he doesn't deserve it and he is hurting the squad on the field.

Lots of options in the middle. Besides Mastroeni and Feilhaber, there are these two other cats, called Donovan and Dempsey, who can fill those spots quite well.

Bradley needs to be riding the bench, for now.

 

Donovan and Dempsey do far better either up front as a striker or on a wing. They, like Beasley, spread the field along with stretching the defense. So to put them in the middle of the park would be a mistake IMO. Feilhaber has been fantastic and Bradley nothing really special, but you can't deny his work rate. There isn't another player out there who puts in a harder worked shift than him.

Maybe he would do better coming on as a subsitute, because he would bring boat loads of energy to the side. Might work out better for him and the USMNT.

 

Don't disagree that Donovan and his speed look better as an attacking winger or striker, but Dempsey can play some center-mid. The kidz got skillz. To a lesser extent does Donovan, if needed.

I just don't think MB is ready on this stage. U-20 World Cup is probabaly his best bet, but Copa may be an option. I just hate to see us give up like that.

 

So if the USMNT plays MB in a big match you see it as the US giving up? Just trying to get straight what you meant by the last sentence. Not too sure I follow.

 

I am aware that the Gold Cup offers opportunities for the USMNT down the road, so that is USSF's primary concern.

Copa is more of an experimental testing ground for guys who may be ready to take the next step in their careers, but I have to imagine we still want to compete and win to the best of our available abilities.

Based in large part on his performance in the Gold Cup so far, three matches, I don't think MB is ready. So yes, experimenting with Bradley in Copa could very well be missing out on an opportunity to compete better against world class competition.