The Aftermath: Belgium 2 - USMNT 1 (Part 1)

 

The inter-office debate rages on:

Mark: Well that was a heart breaker. My random thoughts: we are back at 1994 watching "Bora Ball" and the all-heart team try to dodge twenty shots and then steal the game with a goal. That wasn't the style Klinsmann was supposed to bring in. This was a great exhibition of heart, but we got outshot and outpossessed dramatically in three of the four games. There could have been some very lopsided losses in this Cup for us.

 

Ed: That's a step too far< I think.  Klinsi didn't promise possession, just more attacking soccer.  And when we got the ball we did attack in numbers.  Plus there was no team that played a tougher four opponents.  But no, we are not as technically gifted as Belgium's golden generation or Germany.  But we were surprisingly close to Portugal on that regard.

 

Mark: Michael Bradley is the toughest player to ever play for the US national team, but should never play another game as an attacking midfielder. Klinsmann really did a poor job of casting him.

 

Ed: Completely agree.  He never looked better than when he orchestrated from the holding position in extra time.  I was reminded how solid he is back there where he should be.  He simply doesn't have the speed or creativity or desire to take on players and space in the attack.  Dempsey does, and dempsey also looked better when he returned to the number 10 spot.

 

Mark: Jermaine Jones is a beast, but like Bradley was expected to carry the team offensively and he just does not have the distribution ability.

 

Ed: Agreed again!  A tough holder who makes for a great spine.  Guys like that thrive on the premier league and his muscle made us better.  But destroyers are never also creators.

 

Mark: Kyle Beckerman is a tremendous position player, and we missed him today. The middle was far more open without him in there. Belgium had far more opportunities than German which is a stronger side. Was shocked he got pulled.

 

Ed: Can't say, really.  Cameron made Fellaini look pretty ineffective.  But Beckerman had a good tourney for a slow dude with big hair.

 

Mark: Why does it seem like we switch formations every game in the World Cup under Klinsmann?

 

Ed: I think that's called tactics and I'm okay with it.  The Dutch switched their formation at halftime against Mexico and it paid off, we can switch game to game if we have too.

 

Cut Adrift: Manchester United 0 - Everton 1 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

Photo by Madhu Babu Pandi on Flickr

Everton finally overcame Manchester United at Old Trafford and David Moyes was around to see it; unfortunately for the Scot, he viewed it from the home team's bench, as the Toffees out hustled, outplayed, and most importantly outscored the Red Devils in a midweek Barclay's Premier League match on Wednesday night. The result left United 12 points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table and virtually out of contention for the title after only 14 games -- this occurring in the season immediately after they galloped over the rest of the field and coasted to the wire 11 points ahead of their closest rival.

Marouane Fellaini once again drew the ire of  the home fans, although truth be told the blame could easily have been spread much further -- from the players on the pitch right on down to the entirety of the United coaching staff. Once again, the home side played an especially narrow brand of football, and missing their talisman Robin Van Persie, turned in another listless performance that left the home supporters fit to be tied. 

Herewith, the individual player ratings for what can best be described as a disastrous result for the Red Devils:

De Gea: Denied Kevin Mirallas before the break and creatively used his knees to stop another Everton shot.  Came up big to blank Gerard Deulofeu from point blank range in the second half. Finally beaten with five minutes to go -- not a fair result for the Spaniard, who deserved a better fate. 6.0

Rafael: Appeared more than a bit rusty after his lengthy time off. Failed to impact the game in any material way. 5.0

Smalling: Pulled off a crucial block on a Lukaku cross and denied another shot by the Belgian with his head. Will not be happy with Valencia for putting him under pressure on the late concession. 4.5

Vidic (C): His typical commanding self in the air but was outmuscled on the ground by Lukaku on several occasions before the break. 5.0

Evra: Energetic presence and strong defending on the left. Required a great Howard save to keep him off the scoresheet. 5.5

Valencia: Appeared more reluctant to take on Everton when he had the ball, perhaps because of increased defensive responsibilities. Rash challenge on Seamus Coleman almost led to an Everton goal, and then totally switched off while at right back for Coleman's winning tally. 4.0

Fellaini: On the plus side, he moved the ball quicker and helped out defensively on a number of occasions. On the minus side,  remind us why United paid £27 million for him? The Belgian ould easily have been red carded for his late game challenge on James McCarthy.. 4.5

Choices

photo by Auntie K	via PhotoRee

Jurgen Klinsman's got some choices to make, and not just the obvious ones -- like whether to play 4-5-1 with a lone striker or play a 4-4-2 that involves more of his midfielders in attack. No, instead we're talking about the elephant in the room: Tim Howard. At fault for Costa Rica's third goal on Friday night, Howard has been off the top of his game for several months now. He's still an excellent 'keeper, mind you, just not the best the US has to offer now. We're not advocating for Nick Rimando, but instead talking about Aston Villa's own Brad Guzan. Surviving the baptism of fire that was the Villans' relegation battle last season -- not to mention a massive barrage of shots -- Guzan grew in both skill and international stature. The time may finally be here to give him a shot at the number one kit. 

o Could we please, please, please give the January transfer rumors a rest for at least a couple of months?  No sooner does the summer transfer window slam shut than the new rumors heat up: Gundogan, Ronaldo and Herrera have all been linked --  or re-linked in all three cases -- with United in the last 48 hours.  Call us skeptical, but if United wanted all three of those guys so badly, what would have been wrong with signing them last week...?

o And meanwhile, the United front office has been in major damage control all week, claiming it's outrageous that a club of their stature wouldn't understand complex tax issues, that they never tried to sign Wesley Sneijder -- not to mention a bunch of other silliness. Facts or not, the behavior of the club bordered on the bizarre during this last window, and that can't be argued. We're willing to give the new crew a one-time pass on this one, but we hope it's been made clear: this type of effort will not suffice going forward. 

o And if true that United turned down the opportunity to sign Mesut Özil, we're still scratching our heads. Sure, we've got (a clearly unsettled, although possibly not unhappy) Shinji Kagawa and (a clearly unsettled and possibly still unhappy) Wayne Rooney. But we're of the Bill Parcells school of team management, which goes something like this: sign the best available athletes no matter their position. World class athletes pick themselves, and Özil is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world at the current time. People who say he wouldn't make United a better team are missing the forest for the trees. 

This is farlieonfootie for September 9. 

The Walking Dead: Round 30 in the BPL

photo by vladeb	via PhotoRee

o What is it with backup 'keepers?  Is it really so difficult to stay dressed on the sideline?  Case in point: Lee Camp, Norwich City's backup goalkeeper, pressed into action on account of Mark Bunn's mid-match dismissal against Sunderland.  Here's some quick career advice, Lee:  don't be see on live television with your shorts around your knees, tucking in your kit.  How about taking care of that pre-game on the off chance you might be used...?!

o We don't know where he came from -- in fact, we'd never seen him before a couple of weeks ago --  but the albino/Walking Dead version of Tim Howard -- aka Jan Mucha -- had a better than decent game against the former Champions on Sunday.  Maybe there is life after Howard in Liverpool....

o Roberto Mancini failed to show at his post-game interview on Sunday -- but don't get too upset. There will be 38 interviews next season he won't be giving for Manchester City, either. 

o The quality of his game against Spurs on Sunday made us finally focus on this, but has there ever been a more ridiculously named footballer than Ashkan Dejagah...?  Have you met his brother, Ashtray?  Or his Uncle, Trashcan?  We defy you to listen to his name again and not have a good chuckle....  Good game, bad name: We present to you Fulham's Ashkan Dejagah.

Dread in the Land of Dreadlocks: Jamaica 2 - US 1

photo by Fabian Bromann	via PhotoRee

If one were searching for subtle differences between the Bob Bradley era and the Jurgen Klinsman era in US Soccer there are plenty of signs apparent to the observant viewer -- the US' recent friendly victories in Italy and Mexico to name just a couple -- and last night gave us yet another: when's the last time you remember the Nats grabbing an away goal in a World Cup qualifier before the contest was even a minute old?  Strike another first for Klinsman and US Men's soccer, as Clint Dempsey took the scoring honors, receiving a surprise start and the ball at his feet in front of a gaping net within the same sixty seconds.

But as evidence that the team remains a work in progress one need look no further than minutes two through ninety of the same game.  The US allowed the Jamaicans to boss the midfield, and although the game was not decided in open play, the US never generated enough scoring opportunities to deserve a win -- or even a draw for that matter.  The resulting 2-1 loss puts significant pressure on Klinsi and the Nats to rebound with a win over the very same island nation side in only four day's time -- that the second game will be played in the slightly friendlier confines of Columbus, Ohio has to be counted on as a significant advantage.

Although Jamaica equalized halfway through the first 45, their opening goal was not due to a total US team breakdown, but rather two Kyle Beckerman gifts: the first when he committed a weak attempt at a tackle just outside of the 18 yard box, and the second coming as he deflected the resulting free kick past a flummoxed Tim Howard to give the home side their equalizer. By this point in the action US fans were likely asking if Beckerman -- he of the rastafarian dreadlocks -- was momentarily confused as to which side he was playing for.

USA 5 - Scotland 1: Player Ratings

photo by Vince Alongi	via PhotoRee

The US players may have impressed you last night, but the key question they are likely asking themselves this morning, is Did They Impress Coach Mark? We find out below:

Landon Donovan – 10 - Donovan created a bit of a firestorm with a recent interview that suggested the greatest player in American history had lost his competitive fire. He promptly proved his poor mouthing was just that, with one of the most electric games of his international career. Showing remarkable pace in the counter attack for a now 30 year old, Donovan did a little bit of everything tonight, including scoring three precision goals and dishing out an assist. There is a reason he’s America’s all-time scoring leader and he showed why with his remarkable accuracy in front of net. Donovan has hit the corners better than any player in American history. He’s never wowed with his dribbling prowess, and he’s ordinary in a half field game, but if you are looking for a fast counter attack and a precision cross or shot at full throttle going on goal, Donovan’s absolutely world class.

Terrence Boyd – 7 – A lot to like here. Boyd didn’t score in a game that saw five goals, but it’s hard not to be excited about America’s latest German import. Thank God for the cold war, or the US would have missed out on half of its top prospects. For all those who wished that Jozy Altidore was an inch taller, ten pounds heavier and a step faster, enter Terrence Boyd. Where Altidore gets pushed off the ball, Boyd looks the part of a true center forward. He’s got size, strength and a nice burst of pace.  He’s raw, and has work to do, but this is a really talented kid with a nose for goal. Altidore is coming off a superb season in the Dutch Eredivisie, but he’s going to have his hands full keeping Terrence Boyd out of the top spot in the US lineup over the course of the next two years. The advantage Boyd has over Altidore is that he’s a true target forward. The US needs one and hasn’t had one since Brian McBride retired. Altidore is gifted and has the mentality of a target forward, but he’s only going to struggle with his physical dimensions. Boyd looks the part.

Steve Cherundolo – 8 – When is this guy going to get old? He was sharp as a tack against Scotland and showed no sign of giving up his spot in the next Cup. He’s a natural for Jurgen Klinnsman’s system with his overlapping runs and effective crosses. Scotland didn’t come close to testing him and it allowed him to freely come into the attack. Plus, being a Bundesliga captain gives him some serious street cred in Klinsmann’s world.

Geoff Cameron – 7 – He scored an own goal on a play where he lost his mark, but otherwise this is a higher school, because he was rock solid for the rest of the game. More significantly, he seems to have replaced Ogucchi Onyewu in the starting lineup after Onyewu had a solid year at Sporting Lisbon. Cameron is a rare combination of size, speed and distribution ability from the back spot. The US has never had the luxury of a center back who could distribute and come into the attack and Cameron, a frequent midfielder for his MLS squad, brings a new dimension.

Carlos Bocanegra – 8 – Another ageless wonder. Bocanegra was both active and plenty chippy, creating a nice edge to a so-called friendly. Can he and Cherundolo hold form for another two years? That's a big question mark, particularly with Timothy Chandler, finding a newfound love for the Deutsuchland.

Fabian Johnson – 7 - Put this next to Terrence Boyd as a lot to like here. The US has had a hole at left back for two decades, and it may finally be filled; the horrific ghosts of the Jeff Agoos and Jonathon Bornstein years may finally be put to rest. Johnson was solid in defense, and just plain dangerous coming into the attack. I am not sure the US has ever had a left back who could bring more pace and skill into the attack. Another converted midfielder bringing an unprecedented level of skill to the US back line.

Michael Bradley – 10 – A classic Michael Bradley game. In addition to his usual habit of running the soles off his cleats, he had a beautiful half volley from distance and some terrific passes. He avoided the sloppy fouls of his past national team performance. It’s hard to believe he’s only 24; he’s one of the guys who feels like he’s been with the team a decade. With Bradley and Jermaine Jones in midfield,  the US will never have to worry about effort, and Bradley should be hitting the prime of his career just as the next World Cup begins.

Questions and Answers from Week Seven in the EPL

Photo by walknboston on Flickr

Quick question for you: if members of the armed forces wears camouflage in order to blend into the background, why does Tim Howard wear it for his Everton 'keepers kit?  Every other goaltender in the league wears loud, garish colors, all the better to stand out: flourescent pink for Jussi Jaaskelainen, day-glo yellow for David De Gea, etc., yet Howard blends into the pitch with his vaious shads of green. Maybe it's so the opponents don't see him, which would explain Luis Suarez' point blank header right into Howard's arms with the whole of the empty net in front of him early on in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.

o King Kenny was looking a bit like a baseball manager on the sideline, wearing his Liverpool practice kit for the derby. In very few sports other than basesball does the manager wear the same thing as the men he coaches. Perhaps Kenny thinks he could still be out there cutting it on the pitch -- He certainly wouldn't be much of a step down in goal production from some of his newer signings....

o I didn't think it possible, but Luis Suarez somehow managed to enhance his reputation as a cheat with his antics against Everton on Saturday, losing a race to the ball to Jack Rodwell, and rolling over and writhing on the pitch as if his ankle had just been surgically removed. Now known around the league for petulance as well as his cheating disposition, Suarez is quickly becoming the man everyone else loves to hate.

o Referee Martin Atkinson once again saw fit to insert his name into the headlines on Saturday rather than letting the players hog the limelight. This isn't the first time Atkinson has done so, nor will it be the last. If the FA had any bit of common sense in its decision making -- it's a bit like yelling into an empty pit here -- they'll examine Atkinson's proclivities for making a name for himself in the games he oversees. And not in a good way.