US vs Jamaica

Who let Beckeman near the Gatorade?

Speaking of whom, Jones, Rastamaan, Edu??? That's 3 holding mids who are supposed to transform themselves into something they aren't?? Tuesday could be squeaky bum time.

 

If Don won't say I told you so about Beckerman I will.

However, the finger pointing should not end at Beckerman because Jones and Edu were both equally brutal in trying to keep possession. How you can flood the midfield with players and see so little of the ball I cannot understand. If the US can't find anyone other than the those three available to play CM I can be hired to scout for the USMNT. I am beginning to wonder how good Michael Bradley would look if he had someone competent playing next to him and any discussion regarding the key man in the US team need to include Bradley's name.

 

Tuesday IS squeaky bum time.

MB must've shaved his head 3 times by now in frustration after watching that tripe last night...

 

Agree Nev, Tuesday is defnitely squeaky bum time, and we need to bring it...big time.

 

:lol:

One of my dad's favorite lines..."Who dat say who dat when I say who dat?!

 

May I remind everyone that Klinsmann was the mastermind behind Toronto FC the last two years. You know the team that stubbornly adhered to a playing style and a 4-3-3 despite the calamities on the field. Oh yes but we have been epic in some friendlies.

There is almost no point in discussing the ins and outs of the game, Beckerman jumping spread eagle like a cheerleader and that stuff, because we have a coach with his head in the clouds (and that is putting it nicely for Heather's sake). If we qualify for the WC, I will consider it lucky. He is not preparing this team properly for that goal.

 

Let's see what kind of adjustments are made on Tues. There is an alarming gulf in the midfield (I was worried about the backline :shock: ), and frankly we are desperate for the return of Bradley, and will have to pray Holden is back for the second round. I know it's not a foregone conclusion the boys will advance, but still think they'll get 9 points in their last 3 matches.

Mo, I certainly have reservations about what is JK is doing, and he deserves every bit of criticism he's getting at the moment, but blaming him for the fiasco at Toronto? As a consultant? That's like blaming the guy in the crow's nest for the sinking of the Titanic for not seeing the iceberg soon enough. Klinnsman is not some mystical all powerful being that has control over everything he touches.

 

No use crying over spilt milk, turn the page, can't do anything about yesterday, the sun will rise tomorrow...OK, got the cliche quota out of the way.

It's in Columbus, no losing sight on what tomorrow's date means to Americans, ZERO excuse not to be first to every ball. To all the lucky ones going to the match w/family and friends, have a great time, and be sure to fill us in on the atmosphere and the play from a live perspective. USA, USA!!!

 

So, not only could I not post a game summary (partially due to Al-Jazeera screwing up the channel guide and causing me to watch separate portions of two DVR'd time slots to actually see the whole game - but mostly due to sheer disgust) but I couldn't even think about it for a couple days.
Bad.
Three def MF is never gonna work - we had zero possession. We've seen that look (especially with Edu playing further forward) fail before. Learn from your mistakes, Klinsi. The more I see Edu, the more I realize that he's a good athlete with limited technical ability. Torres needs to be in there (where are you, Stu Holden?) with the other two CM being the ball winners, and Germany Jones playing a Kevin Prince-Boateng advanced destroyer role in front of Torres and one of the other two. Needless to say - we miss Bradley in there.
Danny Williams still has shown nothing.
Parkhurst mostly plays RB for his club team, so I won't nitpick there. Still would've had Lichaj there (and Spector at home).
I liked the change with Boyd/Shea coming on, then I realized that Brek Shea's body has been abducted and taken over by aliens who've never played soccer. WTF? Surely he's on meth or something? Has he been playing that poorly all year? (sorry FCD fans). His development has gone off the rails somehow.
Timmy couldn't have done much about those free kicks - Beckerman didn't help him on the first, and the second was very well taken.

Ok, C-Bus - this team needs some help. Gotta win this one....

 

Yeah - agree that getting some possession and creativity in the MF is key. Whether it's Torres, dropping Deuce back, or rubbing horse placenta on Stu's knee - any of these are better than putting three CDMs out there.

 

I've looked this roster over and tried to figure out where the creativity and possession is going to come from with this group of midfielders and I see a couple of possibilities but there is one that I think I prefer. I have obviously not seen the practices and I think there is very little chance we will see this line-up but here is what I am picturing:

Howard

Dolo-Cameron-Boca-Johnson

Edu

Zusi - Torres - Dempsey

Gomez- Altidore

There are the names and here is the why. With Goodson serving a suspension the defense picks itself if the Dolo is healthy. He gives the US a wide attacking presence on the right to compliment Johnson on the left that Parkhurst simply will not provide. Sitting Edu in front of the back four will allow either fullback to get forward and putting three midfielders in front of him capeable of transitioning the team into the offensive half takes the pressure off of Edu to get forward and allows him to focus on his strongest attribute and that is playing defense.

Zusi, Torres and Dempsey will offer little width but I am counting on Dolo and Johnson to keep the pitch spread. What I want from these three is once the defense wins a ball is to keep it and transition the team into the offensive end. I would be thrilled to death if Torres didn't take a shot all evening but fed ball after ball to Dempsey, Gomez and Altidore in dangerous positions. If instead he turns into the invisible man I would resort to turning Dempsey into my facilitator by inserting Shea on the left wing and moving Dempsey centrally. I really would prefer to have Clint getting on the end of things rather than pulling the strings in the middle of the park but if Torres can't get the job done Clint may have to carry the load with Bradley and Donovan unavailable.

 

Good stuff Barry. I don't see how JK would keep Jones out of the lineup however, Edu's lack of match fitness compared to the 'Red Card Waiting to Happen' would exclude him. Not even going to pretend to know anything about Zusi (did laugh out loud on Shiner's alien abduction of Shea comment). Tater Torres hasn't played too well in recent appearances, but here is another opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised if Clint didn't go to JK and volunteered to play a more creative role. Good quote by Timmy and Der Kaiser's comment had the opposite effect, I'm worried ray:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/nam ... 81?cc=5901

 

I really don't see Jones being excluded either and expect to see two defensive mids.

 

"I wouldn't be surprised if Clint didn't go to JK and volunteered to play a more creative role."

Clint's best position has always been attacking mid, so hopefully JK will get it right tonite!!!

COUSMNT!!

 

Here we go:

----------------Gomez----------------------------
-----------------------------Dempsey-----------
--Torres----Jones-----WIlliams-----Zusi----
Johnson--Bocanegra---Cameron---Cherundolo
--------------------------Howard----