NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Strange seeing Dempsey wearing number 10
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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Cool, Fiscal beaten in the air in the first minute
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Orozco-Fiscal gets totally smoked by Carlo Costly and fouls him 19 yards out.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I just don't get it what Klinsmann sees in him. It would be one thing if we had no other choices but we have a few people who really deserve a shot.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Feels a little weird seeing Dempsey wearing the #10 in Landon's absence, and Williams with the #8.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I was hoping to see Fiscals closing speed but his quickness is not great for his size as a center back.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I like Jozy's activity level tonight.
Senor Schmutzig
Footballguy
sounds like a lively crowd. did they mention what the attendance was?
The Gator
Footballguy
no ####, what a joke.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Probably not till second half. I don't think there are any fans on the camera side. As of Friday they had sold 6800 tickets. Could be 10-12kish here. Hard to tell.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Every dangerous play Honduras has seems to see Fiscal chasing.
LHUCKS
Footballguy
there's no question Fiscal is being targeted...can't blame the Hondurans for doing so.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Is it just me, or does Jozy look thinner than ever before?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I think it is the rain soaked tight shirt that makes him look thinner.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Yes, Klinsmann likely saw what we did. Now Gooch needs a good half and maybe the Fiscal experiment can be behind us.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
If Williams takes a better first touch on that layoff from Edu, he scores there. He had more than enough space to take a first touch toward the goal before hitting it (which I'm assuming he was trying to do)....instead, he took a light touch and let it run on him - away from the net - before hitting it from a tougher angle.
It's the little things.
It's the little things.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
What a muff by Shea. That was a gimme.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Jozy is so much better when he can face up. He is a below average player when he has his back to goal.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
This is really turning into an end-to-end affair here. I don't think I like what I've seen from the US backline in the last 10-15 minutes - a lot of breakdowns. A better team finishes at least 1 of those opportunities, if not more; US is lucky they're facing Honduras.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Gooch
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This game should be like 4-3 instead 1-0. Lots of chances both ways.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Perhaps a bit premature, but has the light finally come on for Jozy? Between his club play and now a superb (IMO) first 70 minutes today, he looks like a whole new player.
His fitness looks to be at a high level, he's confident on the ball, he's making good runs off the ball, he's making good decisions with that ball that don't always involve him burying his head and going to goal (ex. that early cross to Shea that he scuffed).
Also, Bradley showing his class in the midfield in winning that ball. I really have no problems with Beckerman, but he's just not at Bradley's level.
His fitness looks to be at a high level, he's confident on the ball, he's making good runs off the ball, he's making good decisions with that ball that don't always involve him burying his head and going to goal (ex. that early cross to Shea that he scuffed).
Also, Bradley showing his class in the midfield in winning that ball. I really have no problems with Beckerman, but he's just not at Bradley's level.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Boca is giving away too many passes today.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The light is probably nothing more than getting regular playing time and having some confidence.
booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
A win is a win but hard to be too happy considering that was the B Honduran side they were playing. Hopefully they can build on this on Tuesday.
LHUCKS
Footballguy
How do we know this?
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I think they said pregame that there were only a handful of players on the Honduras roster that played in the 2010 World Cup. Some of the "big names" that I know were on the roster - Figueroa, Costly, Espinoza (who may not really be a big name, but played in MLS), Bengtson. I don't think Wilson Palacios got in the game, unless I missed something. No Valladares, no Hendry Thomas, etc.Not sure I know enough about Honduras to claim that was a B team, but there certainly some players missing.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
They stated it at the very beginning of the game that they were missing many of their better players (some of the overseas players I think). Certainly they were much closer to a B side than the US was.
Some of the better players missing were goalkeeper Noel Valladares, defender Emilio Izaguirre, midfielder Hendry Thomas and attackers Ramon Nunez, David Suazo, Georgie Welcome and Walter Martinez. D.C. United winger Andy Najar is also not part of the group, although he is not really a regular yet.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Over 21k. They got a great walk up crowd, especially considering the weather.
Ted Lange as your Bartender
Footballguy
Freddy!
biggest win in the two-year history of the franchise. beating a very good seattle team on the road and taking over first place with two games left. hard to believe.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It was a great win, but Seattle did not have their full team. They were missing their three top offensive players in Montero, Fernandez and Morales. The Phili win assures LA of their second straight Supporters Shield and the second ticket to next years CCL.
don't rain on my parade.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Some general thoughts about the US game.
- I've seen coverage of the game talking about it as if it was a pretty comprehensive win by the US with some "defensive issues" to resolve. IMO, Honduras very easily could have put in a few and won the game and played competitively w the US. Seemed to me Honduras was asking more questions consistently about the US defense than the other way around- despite some fantastic flowing moves forward by the US.
- disappointing spacing issues through the MF and D for the US. Beckerman and Edu played fairly well individually, but seemed to both be playing pushed back, which allowed Honduras' very capable MFs time and space on the ball in the middle of the field to look up and find the ball forward (this improved with MB's arrival, and as Honduran MFs tired in the 2nd half). Their forwards were also able to find the seams between the back line far too easily. As a former MFer, I'm not completely on top of zonal marking for defenders- I was always playing man-to-man. That said, Orozco seemed to always be the guy trying to catch up to a guy who had just gotten completely free, or who was able to easily beat him in the air or on the ground... but the spacing with the outside backs always seemed problematic too- seemed like they were spread wide defensively, leaving those huge seams for Orosco to try and chase down. Not sure who's fault that was. Cherundolo looked out of sorts too- worst game from him in a long time- and I might be his biggest fan here. And some odd distribution mishaps from Bocanegra at the end put his team in real dangers... not used to seeing such sloppy play from him.
- I'd have liked to see Dempsey more involved on the ball by being a little more withdrawn. When he did drop back a bit, the spacing for the US improved a ton on both sides of the ball- Honduran MFs had less space to operate and the US had a guy in the help link forward.. but maybe the managerial edict was for him to push higher continuously... dunno. I still thought he looked good, always love seeing him play when he's got his swagger going- even if it means him making some selfish/poor choices with the ball. If he stays up front and central, he'll need to link much better with his MFs and with JOzy- he just didn't seem as involved as I'd like from our #10. LD probably better suited for that role, or even Freddy if he can continue growing his game and getting good minutes.
- Williams and Chandler... all ist gut. Nice to see the way both of them played- some decent linking play with the players around them (particularly by Chandler with Shea), good physicality and nothing much that screamed out that they didn't belong. That said, I don't see either of them as being game-changers for us, but I guess providing some stability (or just a warm body that doesn't completely blow) at the LB is somewhat gamechanging.. Chandler was the guy keeping the Jerry player onsides on his breakaway, IMO- a problem with not playing the position much and not being used to his teammates. Williams will be nice depth and hopefully prove me wrong in future games by showing he can help dictate a game, rather than just play in one.
- another strong performance by Jozy who's overall game grows whenever he gets regular PT. I've always thought he plays best when partnered with somebody close by- either another forward or attacking MF. His holding/posting skills are improving, but he's better help to the US when he can play some quick short balls with a team mate running near/off him rather than hold the ball or try to turn.
- DMB! this was like a performance from his hey-day, taking guys on down the line, hustling back on d, making smart/dangerous balls into the attack- LOVED that play where he tried to bang at Costly defensively (like a fly bouncing off the back of an elephant). whatever's going on in Mexico... its beddy beddy good for Demarcus.
I CAN'T WAIT to see them play tomorrow!
- I've seen coverage of the game talking about it as if it was a pretty comprehensive win by the US with some "defensive issues" to resolve. IMO, Honduras very easily could have put in a few and won the game and played competitively w the US. Seemed to me Honduras was asking more questions consistently about the US defense than the other way around- despite some fantastic flowing moves forward by the US.
- disappointing spacing issues through the MF and D for the US. Beckerman and Edu played fairly well individually, but seemed to both be playing pushed back, which allowed Honduras' very capable MFs time and space on the ball in the middle of the field to look up and find the ball forward (this improved with MB's arrival, and as Honduran MFs tired in the 2nd half). Their forwards were also able to find the seams between the back line far too easily. As a former MFer, I'm not completely on top of zonal marking for defenders- I was always playing man-to-man. That said, Orozco seemed to always be the guy trying to catch up to a guy who had just gotten completely free, or who was able to easily beat him in the air or on the ground... but the spacing with the outside backs always seemed problematic too- seemed like they were spread wide defensively, leaving those huge seams for Orosco to try and chase down. Not sure who's fault that was. Cherundolo looked out of sorts too- worst game from him in a long time- and I might be his biggest fan here. And some odd distribution mishaps from Bocanegra at the end put his team in real dangers... not used to seeing such sloppy play from him.
- I'd have liked to see Dempsey more involved on the ball by being a little more withdrawn. When he did drop back a bit, the spacing for the US improved a ton on both sides of the ball- Honduran MFs had less space to operate and the US had a guy in the help link forward.. but maybe the managerial edict was for him to push higher continuously... dunno. I still thought he looked good, always love seeing him play when he's got his swagger going- even if it means him making some selfish/poor choices with the ball. If he stays up front and central, he'll need to link much better with his MFs and with JOzy- he just didn't seem as involved as I'd like from our #10. LD probably better suited for that role, or even Freddy if he can continue growing his game and getting good minutes.
- Williams and Chandler... all ist gut. Nice to see the way both of them played- some decent linking play with the players around them (particularly by Chandler with Shea), good physicality and nothing much that screamed out that they didn't belong. That said, I don't see either of them as being game-changers for us, but I guess providing some stability (or just a warm body that doesn't completely blow) at the LB is somewhat gamechanging.. Chandler was the guy keeping the Jerry player onsides on his breakaway, IMO- a problem with not playing the position much and not being used to his teammates. Williams will be nice depth and hopefully prove me wrong in future games by showing he can help dictate a game, rather than just play in one.
- another strong performance by Jozy who's overall game grows whenever he gets regular PT. I've always thought he plays best when partnered with somebody close by- either another forward or attacking MF. His holding/posting skills are improving, but he's better help to the US when he can play some quick short balls with a team mate running near/off him rather than hold the ball or try to turn.
- DMB! this was like a performance from his hey-day, taking guys on down the line, hustling back on d, making smart/dangerous balls into the attack- LOVED that play where he tried to bang at Costly defensively (like a fly bouncing off the back of an elephant). whatever's going on in Mexico... its beddy beddy good for Demarcus.
I CAN'T WAIT to see them play tomorrow!
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I was reading an interview with Klinsmann and this seems to have been a tactical choice. Chandler was encouraged to move forward but it was not Shea who was responsible for covering the space left by Chandler, it was Beckerman's job. Having the holding midfielder be the cover for the left back likely means he needs to be pushed deeper.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Good news for Chelsea - Nigeria draws 2-2 with Guinea and is eliminated from the ACN! The bad news is that Ivory Coast qualified, but Mikel is more impotent to the Blues than the two Ivorians under current circumstances IMO.
El Floppo
Footballguy
So that means Edu needed to push a little higher than he did, IMO- something Bradley did either by half-time analysis-design or by his natural inclination. And/or Dempsey needed to drop a bit, as I mentioned already. That gap between the central MF and the forwards was just too big and was teh starting point for every Honduran attack. And when Demspey dropped, he got himself more involved on offense and also helped plug that gap defensively.I did notice with Beckerman- he made a rare run forward, and as he was making the run he was looking for Edu and signalling him to cover for him. That's the kind of tactical discipline/savvy I really like from Beckerman- he sees the run he needs to make to support the play and also is aware enough to make sure somebody's covering for him- always thinking 3 steps ahead. dead-horse time, but if only he had an extra step in his giddy-up...Similar threads
