SeatownJay
Active member
This team has talent, it simply lacks consistency in their play to be successful at this level. Their biggest failing is their inability to keep the ball, they were 31st in possession in the group stage.
SeatownJay":1oqunvp8 said:This team has talent, it simply lacks consistency in their play to be successful at this level. Their biggest failing is their inability to keep the ball, they were 31st in possession in the group stage.
Largent80":2ebmbjal said:How exciting.
InSuarezWeTrust":9ns4ught said:Largent80":9ns4ught said:How exciting.
Thanks for your insight.
Uncle Si":2qvziikf said:InSuarezWeTrust":2qvziikf said:Largent80":2qvziikf said:How exciting.
Thanks for your insight.
Ignore him...he probably had to set an alarm to wake his old ass up and remember to troll the soccer thread
The United States!!!! Howard had the game of his life today.Silky Johnson":1h3zib2k said:Who do you think has the better keeper?
Dude had a game for the ages. Too bad his team didn't step up.Nog":p817hgbf said:The United States!!!! Howard had the game of his life today.Silky Johnson":p817hgbf said:Who do you think has the better keeper?
MizzouHawkGal":t54c298b said:Dude had a game for the ages. Too bad his team didn't step up.Nog":t54c298b said:The United States!!!! Howard had the game of his life today.Silky Johnson":t54c298b said:Who do you think has the better keeper?
InSuarezWeTrust":2u8fktf7 said:Nobody that played a match in Manaus is still playing. Relevant.
Uncle Si":3mwt0bsd said:InSuarezWeTrust":3mwt0bsd said:Nobody that played a match in Manaus is still playing. Relevant.
no...
(in case that was a question)
in retrospect, as upset as we can be with Wondo's miss (come on Chris, you had one job, one!), and then disappointed at the near misses at the end of that match, Belgium was the better side. They got forward with initiative, dominated the midfield play and posed problems for the US on all sides throughout the game. The US never settled into possession, and often were harried off the ball after a couple connected passes. Belgium controlled the 2nd half, implementing a high press whenever they lost the ball, and immediately (sometimes before the US could even connect a pass) winning the ball back. In all, the US keeper made 16 saves, looked down 30+ shots and his defense made 67 (sixty seven!!) clearances. I dont recall Belgium losing an aerial battle (outside the Jones knockdown that lead to the... oh who wants to discuss that again)
Belgium was better. They are a young team with top tier talent. They have a world class player in Hazard, and many on that cusp. their players were in the top teams of England, Spain and Germany last season. Many played in the Champions league knockout stages. They played well yesterday. Belgium ran at the US, forcing us deeper and deeper and having to go further to get the ball on their side. If the US had managed to win that game it would have been theft. that happens in soccer, happens alot in tournaments. its part of the beauty of it.
That said... the US does what its known for. it defended like demons and pushed to the end. Depsite being on the back foot for much of the tournament the US escaped the toughest group and pushed a very good Belgium side to the brink. They had a good tournament. It also exposed some weaknesses the program has. But unlike tournaments passed, it exposed weaknesses that were more apparent in the system the head coach wants to implement than an overall lack of talent.
Thats what I enjoyed about this tournament. Klinsmann remained true to his proclomations. he wants the US to "play" soccer. The outside backs defended by being attackers. The centerbacks were asked to contribute in possession. we tried to build rather than bomb. at times, the lack of technical skill and basic experience in this set up cost us possession. it did not, however, cost us results. Klinsmann let them go. they just were up against teams that were better, more experienced, more consistent. We still nearly made the last 8. thats good. there are a very talented crop of young players on this team and in the wings. it will be interesting to see them in 2016, taking the field in qualifying, and how well this philosophy has been implemented with fresh players. In the end, you can remember that Jones finally showed his quality for the US, Dempsey officially took over the team from Donovan, Howard is a world class soccer player from the United States, Bradley struggled yes, but still went face to face with some of the best midfield players in the world (seriously, look at the names he stared down). but also that Yedlin and Johnson may have been the team's best players outside Howard, Besler, Gonzalez (and in the end Cameron) defended like top tier centerbacks (under that much pressure) and Julian Green made the best, most creative attacking run and finish by an American in the entire tournament.
Uncle Si":1m4822vf said:i dont think the first time finish was an option there. the ball was played a bit behind him, and looks like it almost hit him accidentally. either way, Courtois deserves credit for jumping at it.
thought id add something to your list:
Tim Howard - 39
Brad Guzan - 33 (Is he our guy in 4 years? Depends on Howard)
Fabian Johnson - 30 (yes, but we will see the likes of Eric Miller with Montreal challenging for a spot)
Matt Besler - 31 (yes- but expect to see SKC product Eric Palmer-Brown in the mix)
Omar Gonzalez - 29 (yes)
John Brooks - 25 (yes)
Geoff Cameron - 32 (probably)
Timmy Chandler - 28 (doubtful)
DeAndre Yedlin - 24 (will be a house hold name and European regular by then)
Julian Green - 23 (same as Yedlin)
Michael Bradley - 30 (yes- but Diskerud looks poised to take over)
Alejandro Bedoya - 31 (Bedoya and Zusi will find youth players pushing their minutes by 2016, again, look for Mukwelle Akale to be a name on the team sheet in the wing/mid spot by 2016)
Graham Zusi - 31
Mix Diskerud - 27 (may even be the Captain by then)
Jozy Altidore - 28 (yes, and will be important)
Aron Johannsson - 27 (yes, and will be important)
Clint Dempsey - 35 (sadly, it will be off the bench, if at all)