Glurge of thoughts from someone who is not nearly the technical soccer-head of most.
I consider myself much more on the Joe B scale of soccer knowledge regardless of how many posts I have put in here.
I think that any win against a team with the tenacity of Ghana is an earned win. They are a good opponent that plays a style that is tough to play against. Much respect to them. The US showed the kind of grit and determination that winning teams have. I think it carried us through - and I think it's a reflection of Klinsmann.
I think we could play Ghana 10 times and it would not have played out this way - there were many unique circumstances to the game. I think the early goal set the tone a great deal - Ghana presed a lot more for sure, but I also think that a lot of the more hopeful shots they struck were an effort to get that magic bullet that they surely believed would lead to the US crumbling. If the game were 0-0 for more than 30 seconds I think that they just might have played for better chances there with less shots overall but more quality shots taken. For as much heat as the Ghanaians produced - they played a very wasteful game in a lot of ways.
It was clear the plan from go by Ghana was to attack on us their right side (at our left defense) - it's probably going to be the book for every game against us at this World Cup. I think that Bedoya being clearly gimpy (as well as the need to press for a goal) led them to balance their attack more in the second half. There were times Bedoya was clearly getting abused out there but I personally liked the gustiness of his effort. I think he bought enough time to make Zusi's insertion optimal (as well as get us to a point where the 3rd substitution was able to be more tactical than strictly an injury replacement).
Jozy's injury was terribly timed and I think it greatly greatly altered the game plan for the US. If he didn't pull up there he very well could have generated a dangerous chance on that run. I think the ability to counter with a threat like him would have served to blunt the shooting-gallery situation that ended up playing out. He would have kept them more honest. I think Besler coming out (and from what Klinsmann said it seemed like he took himself out to prevent possible further injury) really tied things up in terms of moves that could be made down the line (thankfully it also put Brooks on the pitch which proved crucial). I don't know if anybody made a count of how many of the US guys looked gimpy out there but there were times it seemed like everybody. As for Dempsey - that i a captain. He was having none of coming out from the word go. Inspiring - even if the situation surely blunted his effectiveness later in the game. The turnovers and poor maintenance of possession drove me nuts - and frankly the way we kept turning the ball over I was particularly irked to see Howard opt for short rolls or kicks to the back-line players to build the attack rather than blasting it down the field - I get what the idea was (build over the course of the field) but our execution was so lacking in linking up that it felt too dangerous.
I think that the fight in the US and the fact that they moved forward after conceding that goal is totally a reflection of Klinsmann and the attitude he is trying to instill in the team. Regardless of what anyone else in the thread says I am 100% convinced that we needed ALL 3 points in this game. We were a different team after Ghana scored - it's like we suddenly realized that we can attack too.
I'm a fan of JJ's pesky style - I think he brings some sandpaper to a team that doesn't have enough. I like the Claude Lemieux comparsion - as a NJ Devils fan that is the kind of player I love to have on my side. That he was able to make mischief without getting caught or at least penalized for it - so much the better. I can't remember the player who forced the corner that led to the winning goal - that is the kind of sustained effort we need - our hallmark is to work hard with less talent - the plus side of this is that guys bust their ### and don't give up on plays like that one.
I was yelling like crazy for Zusi to take a "real" corner - I hate short corners, especially from us. I mean if it's time-killing or whatever I get it. I know the numbers supposedly say there is no difference. But the fact is that set pieces seem to be one of those areas that we are above average at - I want us to fling the ball in the box pretty much every time and let our guys win the athletic battle. Thank God they did it that time
And I really felt like that if we did that the goal would result.
Donovan's place in US Soccer history is secure. I understand how he has a bit of that sacred aspect to many fans (and how there's as many that find his omission simply tactically bad). But Klinsmann's pedigree is better - he's the guy we turned the keys over to - and if we're giving him the keys he has to drive his way
. The fact is that one of Klinsmann's kids is the guy who came on mid-game and delivered the goods. At the end of the day to get the USA to where it's truly elite, to a place where I think that Klinsmann sees we can be long-term, we have to develop players that will be beyond Donovan. And that these players are ones that will get developed in a total structure system. This is a controversal statement I know - but I look at Donovan as a guidepost on the way. If he's the best we ever have we'll never get to where we want to be.
More thoughts - not sure if Ghana was mimicking Ivory Coast - but I think they imagined Essien and Boateng as being sort of that magic bullet that Drogba was for Ivory Coast. I haven't seen what they said post game. I feel like there's a disrespect there - that they'll feel they were unlucky. But what they don't see is that we seized the opportunities that we were given - and that we got these opportunities because they lapsed - and felt that they could get away with it - that they truly had a magic sway over us - and they paid dearly. Notwithstanding that they will be a total handful for Germany and Portugal. Ghana's goose isn't cooked yet.
I am excited for the Portugal game. I am hoping that conditioning doesn't cause the same sorts of problems we had today and they we'll have a free hand to implement the tactics and lineups we truly want. And I especially hope that Portugal wilts, England-style in the Manaus heat.
End overly long glurge.
-QG