***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[jonessed]

btw- lost amidst all the hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth, that 2nd Jamaica goal was pretty ####### well taken.Out of 4 goals given up by the US this cycle, 3 have been from direct free kicks. Somebody needs to tell those defensive MFs not to foul so much in front of the box.

That's right. I forgot Pappa scored one as well. They may also need to think about the walls placement. The first goal was a mess.

You didn't like Beckerman's jump and turn sideways technique?

Someone needs to tell him he's involved in the creation of a wall, not a cheer team.

 

[El Floppo]

btw- lost amidst all the hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth, that 2nd Jamaica goal was pretty ####### well taken.Out of 4 goals given up by the US this cycle, 3 have been from direct free kicks. Somebody needs to tell those defensive MFs not to foul so much in front of the box.

That's right. I forgot Pappa scored one as well. They may also need to think about the walls placement. The first goal was a mess.

You didn't like Beckerman's jump and turn sideways technique?

But really- teh point is that the Howard hasn't been too challenged in the 3 games, and that's a result of decent defending in front of him from the back 4. I don't recall Guat doing much at all outside of the goal. And Antigua's goal was just a result of some shoddy individual defending on the play- not a lot of chances other than that. How many shots did Jamaica put on frame? Did Howard even make a save?That said- Jamaica also screwed the pooch with some embarrassing service from the flanks.

Here are the basic statshttp://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-09-07-jam-v-usa/statsHere is the detailed chalkboard with the Opta statshttp://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-09-07-jam-v-usa/chalkboard

Cool, thanks.Hmmmm- I would've put money on the US losing the possession battle.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Hey, TU- where'd you watch the game?

Local bar here in Queens. Had to convince the bartender they DID have beIN

 

[The Z Machine]

While the US was terrible in the midfield, it was mostly a linking up and movement problem with the forwards. Dempsey was the lone bright spot, but he obviously can't carry an entire team.

Oh, and #### Beckerman.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Here's a link to Antigua/Guatemala...

 

[The Z Machine]

Hey, TU- where'd you watch the game?

Local bar here in Queens. Had to convince the bartender they DID have beIN

Dumb####s

 

[Steve Tasker]

Here's a link to Antigua/Guatemala...

I have no idea what's going on here. Massive puddles of standing water on the field. Guatemala just nearly had a 4v1 chance.

 

[The Z Machine]

Go antiguans! Hold them off! Bring on the hurricane!

 

[Steve Tasker]

Guat scores. 1-1.

 

[The Z Machine]

Damnit

 

[El Floppo]

That field...

 

[The Z Machine]

Time in guat game?

 

[NewlyRetired]

El Salvador just blew a great opportunity to jump ahead of Costa Rica getting tied 2-2 at home to Guyana.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Time in guat game?

67 minutes gone

 

[El Floppo]

off the post!!!! A&B almost stole one there.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Screw park ths bus, park the Gondola!!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Here's a link to Antigua/Guatemala...

I have no idea what's going on here. Massive puddles of standing water on the field. Guatemala just nearly had a 4v1 chance.

WTF is this.

 

[Steve Tasker]

My thoughts on the US game...

- First, there was a tremendous atmosphere at the bar tonight. Apparently, Buffalo was starving for a soccer bar...who knew? The tiny bar was packed wall-to-wall, easily 5-6 deep at the bar, probably 100+ people in a very confined space. The local chapter of the American Outlaws was very vocal, singing the anthem and chanting at times during the game. Really cool to see.

- Does this team miss Michael Bradley or what? My god...

- I didn't think the defense played that badly. Jamaica didn't really have many good chances on goal. No real complaints, though we agreed that the US had no width. Johnson and Parkhurst were pretty nonexistent getting forward.

- Midfield was an absolute disaster. It seemed that every time they would string together 2 passes, the 3rd pass would just be given away cheaply. They miss Bradley so bad (did I mention that already?). If there was any doubt of who the team's most important field player is, I think today sealed it. I like Edu a lot, but his first touch was horrible today. Beckerman wasn't much better. I didn't think Jones was noticeably bad, but he just straight-up disappeared for long stretches at a time. I don't like Gomez in the position where Klinsmann has him...I don't know, I kinda like him in the lone striker spot. Does he play the wing at the club level? Simply put, this may have been the worst performance I've seen from the US midfield in the past 5 years or so. It was that bad. No possession, no composure. Every time they got the ball, it was 1, 2 passes and a cheap giveaway. Either that or 1-2 passes, try to push it upfield immediately and play a horrible long-ball or through-ball and just give it right to the Jamaican defense.

- Dempsey was fine but looked gassed at the end I thought. Jozy did nothing but had no service. Part of me wants to say that they should've put Boyd in earlier, but I'm not sure he would've done much better.

- The lack of wide play was a bit disconcerting. I don't know what options they had, but Dempsey likes to drift into the middle and I wonder if Gomez does as well. Shea provided a little bit of width when he came in but didn't have much of an impact. As mentioned above, Johnson and Parkhurst were nowhere to be found...surprising, because I've been impressed with Johnson out there in the past. I thought that was a major problem on the offensive end. Instead of possessing and just letting the play develop, the midfield would just funnel the ball to Dempsey/Gomez/Altidore, who would just drift towards the congested middle of the Jamaican defense and lose the ball.

- This was so ugly.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have not done out all the math but I think this is the order we want the Guat game to end in to benefit the US the most

1) draw

2) Antigua win

3) Guat win by one goal

 

[Steve Tasker]

Not too often you see a GK get 2 yellows in a match . Antigua down to 10 men as their GK gets sent off.

 

[NewlyRetired]

My thoughts on the US game...- First, there was a tremendous atmosphere at the bar tonight. Apparently, Buffalo was starving for a soccer bar...who knew? The tiny bar was packed wall-to-wall, easily 5-6 deep at the bar, probably 100+ people in a very confined space. The local chapter of the American Outlaws was very vocal, singing the anthem and chanting at times during the game. Really cool to see.- Does this team miss Michael Bradley or what? My god...- I didn't think the defense played that badly. Jamaica didn't really have many good chances on goal. No real complaints, though we agreed that the US had no width. Johnson and Parkhurst were pretty nonexistent getting forward.- Midfield was an absolute disaster. It seemed that every time they would string together 2 passes, the 3rd pass would just be given away cheaply. They miss Bradley so bad (did I mention that already?). If there was any doubt of who the team's most important field player is, I think today sealed it. I like Edu a lot, but his first touch was horrible today. Beckerman wasn't much better. I didn't think Jones was noticeably bad, but he just straight-up disappeared for long stretches at a time. I don't like Gomez in the position where Klinsmann has him...I don't know, I kinda like him in the lone striker spot. Does he play the wing at the club level? Simply put, this may have been the worst performance I've seen from the US midfield in the past 5 years or so. It was that bad. No possession, no composure. Every time they got the ball, it was 1, 2 passes and a cheap giveaway. Either that or 1-2 passes, try to push it upfield immediately and play a horrible long-ball or through-ball and just give it right to the Jamaican defense.- Dempsey was fine but looked gassed at the end I thought. Jozy did nothing but had no service. Part of me wants to say that they should've put Boyd in earlier, but I'm not sure he would've done much better.- The lack of wide play was a bit disconcerting. I don't know what options they had, but Dempsey likes to drift into the middle and I wonder if Gomez does as well. Shea provided a little bit of width when he came in but didn't have much of an impact. As mentioned above, Johnson and Parkhurst were nowhere to be found...surprising, because I've been impressed with Johnson out there in the past. I thought that was a major problem on the offensive end. Instead of possessing and just letting the play develop, the midfield would just funnel the ball to Dempsey/Gomez/Altidore, who would just drift towards the congested middle of the Jamaican defense and lose the ball.- This was so ugly.

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

 

[El Floppo]

well tha didn't take long.

 

[Steve Tasker]

And Guatemala wastes all of about 30 seconds with the new GK before Ruiz gets his second. 2-1 in the 79th.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Any chance Ronaldo-baby is old enough to play next week?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Nothing comes easy. Oh well, just need to buckle down and push through this. That Guat game at home is going to be scary :(

 

[Steve Tasker]

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

What about, say, playing Johnson in the MF and putting Cherundolo back into the lineup? I know neither is a winger but both have proven their ability to play the flank in the past.I don't know, I just think they were so one-dimensional on offense today.

 

[El Floppo]

Nothing comes easy. Oh well, just need to buckle down and push through this. That Guat game at home is going to be scary :(

It really shouldn't be- the US dominated Guat for long stretches in Guat and gave up that fantastic free kick we just were talking about late.

 

[NewlyRetired]

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

What about, say, playing Johnson in the MF and putting Cherundolo back into the lineup? I know neither is a winger but both have proven their ability to play the flank in the past.I don't know, I just think they were so one-dimensional on offense today.

I would like to see Fab at MF, but who do you start at left back on the current roster? Spector?Hopefully Cher will heal in time for Tuesday to at least give some attack from RB.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

There was zero width to the US attack. So predictable and narrow.

 

[El Floppo]

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

What about, say, playing Johnson in the MF and putting Cherundolo back into the lineup? I know neither is a winger but both have proven their ability to play the flank in the past.I don't know, I just think they were so one-dimensional on offense today.

CHerundolo is hurt or he would have started today. hopefully he recovers for next week.Good stuff about the wide play lacking. I think part of the problem is that the US needed to be really attentive to Jamaica's speed out there and I have a feeling- especially given then new/makeshift lineup- the wide players made a point of staying back more than they normally would have.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Nothing comes easy. Oh well, just need to buckle down and push through this. That Guat game at home is going to be scary :(

It really shouldn't be- the US dominated Guat for long stretches in Guat and gave up that fantastic free kick we just were talking about late.

Oh I agree. I meant scary in terms of hating anything coming down to one game. Too many things can happen that are flukey that you can't recover from because of single game scenario.

 

[El Floppo]

Nothing comes easy. Oh well, just need to buckle down and push through this. That Guat game at home is going to be scary :(

It really shouldn't be- the US dominated Guat for long stretches in Guat and gave up that fantastic free kick we just were talking about late.

Oh I agree. I meant scary in terms of hating anything coming down to one game. Too many things can happen that are flukey that you can't recover from because of single game scenario.

Gotcha. Scary indeed.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have not done out all the math but I think this is the order we want the Guat game to end in to benefit the US the most1) draw2) Antigua win3) Guat win by one goal

Strike 1Strike 2Come on, even the 3rd option helps the US marginally.

 

[Steve Tasker]

3-1.

I think you could pick 4 of us from this thread and we would play defense better than Antigua.

 

[Steve Tasker]

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

What about, say, playing Johnson in the MF and putting Cherundolo back into the lineup? I know neither is a winger but both have proven their ability to play the flank in the past.I don't know, I just think they were so one-dimensional on offense today.

I would like to see Fab at MF, but who do you start at left back on the current roster? Spector?Hopefully Cher will heal in time for Tuesday to at least give some attack from RB.

I have no idea. Maybe they could play it tactically like they did against Antigua (I think it was) and keep Johnson at LB but have him playing way wide and forward and have Jones drop back into the LB spot when Johnson advances.Either way, Klinsmann better figure something out before Tueday.

 

[El Floppo]

As for wide play, I think the roster is the cause of that. We have one true winger on the roster in Shea. This is one of the reasons so many people were excited for Gatt but then he got hurt in his last game. It is hard to attack wide with players like Jones and Edu, it is not their game.

What about, say, playing Johnson in the MF and putting Cherundolo back into the lineup? I know neither is a winger but both have proven their ability to play the flank in the past.I don't know, I just think they were so one-dimensional on offense today.

I would like to see Fab at MF, but who do you start at left back on the current roster? Spector?Hopefully Cher will heal in time for Tuesday to at least give some attack from RB.

I have no idea. Maybe they could play it tactically like they did against Antigua (I think it was) and keep Johnson at LB but have him playing way wide and forward and have Jones drop back into the LB spot when Johnson advances.Either way, Klinsmann better figure something out before Tueday.

Hopefully he figures out how to get his players to have some better skills during the game.

 

[NewlyRetired]

US and Guat are in a dead tie now

Same record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Costa Rica has dropped 5 out of 6 points at home and are still ok thanks to ELS not getting the win at home against Guyana.

 

[NewlyRetired]

US, Honduras, and Costa Rica all have only 4 points after three games.

 

[Premier]

US has qualified for so many Cups in a row now that it barely crosses my mind that they wouldn't.

It would be funny to see fans flipping out in 2014 when they realize two years after the fact that the US didn't qualify.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

 

[NewlyRetired]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

 

[NewlyRetired]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

 

[Premier]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

And the only road game is against A&B. They're not in terrible position, but they need 3 points come Tuesday.

 

[NewlyRetired]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

And the only road game is against A&B. They're not in terrible position, but they need 3 points come Tuesday.

Yup. Although I would hate it, I think we can still stomach a draw as well on Tuesday. I think we need 7 points from the last three games to not have to worry about any other results.

 

[Eephus]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

And the only road game is against A&B. They're not in terrible position, but they need 3 points come Tuesday.

...and they should get the three points, but their away form continues to be disappointing.

 

[El Floppo]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

And the only road game is against A&B. They're not in terrible position, but they need 3 points come Tuesday.

...and they should get the three points, but their away form continues to be disappointing.

I thought they played well in Guat. Today- not so much.

 

[NewlyRetired]

US and Guat are in a dead tie nowSame record, same GD, same GF and same GA and head 2 head they tied each other.

So what happens if they draw next week?

The US does not play Guat next week.

Ahhh, I thought there was only one game left. Phew, I guess.

We are only half way through the round. Still three games left, two at home for US.

And the only road game is against A&B. They're not in terrible position, but they need 3 points come Tuesday.

...and they should get the three points, but their away form continues to be disappointing.

I thought they played well in Guat. Today- not so much.

I agree. I think it was fair to say the US probably deserved 3 points in Guat where today they deserved exactly what they got.

 

[El Floppo]

I talked about not thinking Jamaica was all that tonight- but I was impressed with their defensive shape in the back and especially their decision making... much more professional approach than what I've seen of them in the past. Usually, one or two guys will get their blood boiling over a player like Jones and do some ruthless hacking, putting themselves and their team in a bad spot. Or will get a rush of blood to the head when they're in the attacking third and try to do too much. But they made smart plays on the ball (despite mi####ting all their crosses and skying a number f shots) and kept their cool.