U.S.A. v. Ecuador (Tampa, FL)

Have a good time FFCinPCB! Cheer on the nats!! Give us a full report upon your return. I will be watching on tv.

 

Here are the players I really want to see... doesn't matter in which match (Demerit, Pearce, Feilhaber, Cooper) and who i want to see them paired with...

Backline: Cherundolo---Demerit---Bocanegra---Pearce
I want to see Demerit next to Boca and I also want to see what Pearce has to offer. I have heard good reports on him. If you ask me...the reason we didn't advance to the second round more than anything was the fact that we had no left back. I thought Bjornstein played well in the Mexico match and I want to see what Pearce has to offer.

Dempsey---Feilhaber---Donovan---Beasley
Ok...I want to Feilhaber out there next to Donovan so that there is some experience with him. I also think Beasley needs a good showing and want to see him with this group. Plus, I want to see Donovan back in Claudio's spot and see if he can be our next distributor.

Cooper-Twellman
I think Cooper does a nice job finishing and I'd like to see him with Twellman.

 

Twellman and Cooper are the answer to our problems. I was pissed when Ching was called up to the WC squad and not Twellman. I thought Twelleman finally had found the MLS form at the International Stage. I think he could be a good goalscorer on this stage. Also Altidore could be ready before the next WC and from what I have seen he could be our first true world class forward. I think that our biggest problem though is not scoring, but our big players play like crap when they are on the big stage. Beasley and Donovan need to step up and play like they can or we will never do anything in a WC. These players can become world class players, but they have absolutely no confidence on the biggest stages.

 

Amen. I've never been a big Twellman fan...but in the back of my mind I've always felt he has the ability to score goals on the International level and I'm willing to give him that chance...and I think it would help having him next to the physical Cooper. Also agree with Beasley and Donovan...they need to step up. I thought Donovan in the 2nd half of the Mexico game did step up and I hope that continues. Let's hope the same goes for Demarcus.

 

Bradley will certainly go w/the Euro's today and mix and match vs Guatemala. I'm not as high on Cooper as everyone else, but let's see what the kid can do. Personally, not ready to give up on Johnson, and I hope he decides that he wants the gig and is willing to work his arse off to get it.

 

Another great win for the US! Our defence was a bit shoddy at times but I thought our midfield played well and Donovan, well, it was surely one of his best games. Problem is, where are those kind of performances when it matters? If he played like that in World Cup '06, we'd have been out of the group stages no problem.

 

His postgame comments were a bit interesting. Said he's worked on his confidence and his long range shots, and it's pretty obvious it showed. He's doin his best to change my opinion of him...

 

I completely agree. I'd heard rumors of revamping talks with Klinnsman, but I think Bradley is an excellent choice.

 

Donovan was fantastic yesterday and like the other comments above, the Feilhaber and Bradley combination in the midfield seemed to work well. That is a comforting feeling as these two are youngsters. It is nice to see some new blood in the midfield.

In my opinion the Mastroeni's and Reyna's (I know he is retired from International football) are past their prime and it was time for some new faces in their. Bob Bradley has done just that.

I thought the defense was suspect at times and in fact left Howard vulnerable at times. The speed of the Ecuadorian front line was menacing at times for the US. I am not saying the defense was horrible, but it was not great either.

I am really looking forward to Copa America and the Gold Cup this summer. I am hoping for some positive results in a meaningful competition. That will be the real indicator in my opinion.

 

Dang man!!! Great performance by Lando but we need to see those performances in the bigger games. Like most of us know....defense was a little shaky but all in all....a good win. Keep up the good work boys!!

 

Agree w/every one's assessment (good/bad), but wanted to focus on Donovan. Yes, he has warranted the criticism. Yes, we all wished he had stuck it out in the Bundesliga, but maybe its time to cut him a little slack. The bottom line is by the time his career is over he will be the best player we've ever produced. When he runs at people he is world-class. Instead of ripping him for playing in the MLS, maybe it's time to buy a ticket when the Galaxy come to town (not just to see you know who).

 

Good win against a world cup side.

Landy lives up to his potential for the first time in a while, good for him. I thought Feilhaber was fantastic and the squad as a whole were pretty good all around.

Dempsey was a disapointment, I can see why he can't get on the pitch for Fulham at the moment. It seems as of now he's declined since the move to Europe. Hopefully he keeps his chin up fights through it and dosen't lose his confidence.

 

Well, I'll give some respect to the USMNT. They played very well against a good team that made the WCs out of a really tough confederation (CONMEBOL) which featured a lot of speed up front and on the backs. Ecuador's back four looked worse than the US' and the USMNT put them to the sword. Landon Donovan ate them up and the score could have been so much more in favor of the US had Clint Dempsey not botch a golden opportunity in front, Eddie Johnson not power a ball home in the 6 yd. box, etc. Even the defense made some crucial stops; I only recall two or three times where they looked bad. Other than that, perfectly OK (Spector stopping an Ecuador counter just as he was subbed in was cool) Oneywu will be fine, just a bad day.

I really liked Benny Feilhaber and Michael Bradley in the midfield. I think the sub for Bradley to move Donovan up top really helped the US out. Bob Bradley's going to have a tough decision in the summer, whether to call up Mike Bradley for the Copa America/Gold Cup or leave him the U-20 WC squad. Brian Ching was also good and tough, taking a kick to the face and still playing 70'.

Personally, I think people should get off Donovan's back. He's happy in MLS, he's paid very well in MLS, and he's a talented player. Will he score a hat trick and destroy defenses every game? No. Nobody (well, save a handful) can do that regularly; but Donovan is clearly the best forward and midfielder the US has right now.

This being said, I think Dempsey and Beasley didn't have good games. Dempsey was quiet on the right, with Cherundolo showing more attack on the right. DMB showed he has speed and did assist that AWESOME third goal from Donovan; but he was beaten hard by Ecuador's RB almost all day long. I don't think we should throw either player away, they can do better and I'm confident they will do better.

Lastly, Sunil Gulati, make Bob Bradley the official head coach. He's proven himself. If he stinks up the Gold Cup (I know the US won't win Copa America, but the Gold Cup is key and the US can win that one), then throw him out.

Hopefully the US does well against Guatemala on Wednesday!

 

I'm back, and what a great time that was (minus the cold I had). Real quick, went down to Tampa Friday, visited some of the more colorful local establishments that night, got blasted. Played the premier U.S. Soccer Supporters Knock-Around match the next day with not nearly enough participants, hung out at the MacDinton's Irish Pub's auction for charity of signed jersey's, got blasted on draught beer (suggest not ever doing that), interviewed Eric Wynalda. Went to the match and watched with Sam's Army the U.S. defeat a decent Ecuador squad and Landycakes try his mightiest to shed the PrimaDonovan tag (still not convinced yet), back to the hotel for a nap, off to MacDinton's to get blasted, but couldn't really rally, in bed by 10:00 p.m. Trip home today.

I think I have some good stuff for an article. I'll provide a copy as soon as I get done.

U.S.A.!!!

 

Here's some quick numbers on the Supporters' party and auction:

Total raised was about $7,500 (raffle + $10 donation + misc donations + live auction)

Auctioned items and what they went for:

Dempsey US --- $255
Donovan Galx--- $180
Beasely US--- $200
Twellman--- $200 Winning bidder was Eric Wynalda
Reyna--- $225
Olsen DC $200 Purchased by Mom Boswell!!
Boswell DC $300
Bocaneg FFC $675 (signed by Boca and FFC players)
Convey US $225
Dondovan US $400
US game tickets $45
US autogr/jersey $700
Demspey FFC $600
US signed ball $675

I think it says something that those were two of the most bid on jerseys. Have to say, I saw more FFC shirts or caps at the game than I did in Nashville.

The FFC Nation is growing.

 

Cool on the article!

Looking forward to your take on Waldo.
He really impressed me in his studio WC coverage and Mike& Mike stints. Much different that the 'insert anecdote or observation here' stuff he does on match coverage.

 

The guy will have as honest and open a discussion about soccer in the U.S. as I would imagine any professional could. Some of his responses are a bit salty, but the points are well taken.

It's right around the corner. Just need to polish the finishing touches.