First, I must admit when Xavi knifed through the United States defense with a brilliant individual play that I applauded. What a move! What a first touch! In the words of Marty Schottenheimer, "he wasn't going to be denied."
That was the only difference in the scoreline in Spain's 1-0 victory over the USMNT at Santander Wednesday, though the gulf in class between the teams was quite noticeable. In defense of Bob Bradley's men, at least they put forth a respectable effort, an effort that was sorely lacking a week earlier in a 2-0 setback to England.
For all the strides the National Team program has made over the last 20+ years, it's never had a player that can simply takeover and turn a game on a dime in the matter like Xavi did Wednesday. Was it the most amazing move of all time? No, of course not, he undressed Oguchi Oneywu and Frankie Hedjuk, automatically disqualifying it. What's important, it was an individual moment of brilliance that pulled Spain up by the bootstraps and saved it massive blushes before entering its Euro campaign next week.
The most encouraging sign for the Yanks, is we just might have a player than one-day might be able to do that in Freddy Adu. God bless him. Every time he touches the ball he's trying to attack and do something. It's a shame he was trying to conduct a symphony, while the majority of his teammates could barely toot out 'Hot Cross Buns' on a recorder.
It remains to be seen if Adu's stature allows him to compete at the highest level, but it's something to dream about.
Now for the rest of the team? To his credit, Eddie Lewis put forth a solid, workman-like effort and still has a nice left foot. Brad Guzan looked very solid in the second half playing goalie. Carlos Bocanegra gave a solid showing, while Michael Bradley's midfield thuggery was much appreciated. (Where was the payback on Marcos Senna for the two-foot evisceration on Clint Dempsey?)
Speaking of Dempsey, for the upteenth game he drifted totally out of the game and was an absolute non-factor. I don't get it.
Eddie Johson, again, by himself up top or not, showed he is not the party. Ok, he did manage two shots on Iker Casilla, still how many times did he simply lope after the ball? Did he ever pressure the Spanish ball possessors? Why Bob Bradley didn't at least try Nate Jacqua in the final 10 minutes is a mystery to me.
Finally Bob Bradley at least changed the shape of the team a little bit. Guess playing a 4-5-1 with Johnson is essentially a 4-5-0. The team could possess, but it's work in the final third of the field was ghost-like.
This was a strange game from the standpoint, why was Spain even playing it so close to the Euro? You could tell in the first half they really went out there not to break a sweat. It was the most rigid 4-4-2 passing I've seen in a long long time. It was clear the guys in the first team -- Torres, Villa most notably -- were not about to risk injury for a game like this.
It wasn't until the second half when Luis Aragones sent on guys like Dani Güiza, Rubén de la Red and Santi Cazorla that the Spanish side showed any signs of effort themselves.
That's definitely a worrisome thought for anyone that cares about Spain. The team seems to cocky, like they believe if they set foot on the field they're simply too good to get beaten. What happens if Theofanis Gekas latches onto a lazy pass in Group D play and makes them pay?
Bottom line, Spain was rightly jeered by the small, disinterested and wet Santander crowd.
Considering what a bad taste the England game left in all our mouths, at least this was a step sort of in the right direction, if only for Adu. Let's all hope he'll be able to play on Sunday.
* Jozy to Villareal -- A great move simply since the Yellow Submarine is in the Champions League proper. The only downside is whether he'll get any burn behind Nihat and Guiseppe Rossi (perhaps he can convince the New Jersey-born Italian to play for the Yanks.)
* John Harkes is getting a little better in the booth and not sipping the Kool Aid from Chicago as much. Don't be afraid to criticize these guys, no one else in the mainstream is. As a broadcaster you have to call a spade a spade or else you have no credibility. (ESPN, you are killing me with that giant banner with the score across the game. Too much!)
That was the only difference in the scoreline in Spain's 1-0 victory over the USMNT at Santander Wednesday, though the gulf in class between the teams was quite noticeable. In defense of Bob Bradley's men, at least they put forth a respectable effort, an effort that was sorely lacking a week earlier in a 2-0 setback to England.
For all the strides the National Team program has made over the last 20+ years, it's never had a player that can simply takeover and turn a game on a dime in the matter like Xavi did Wednesday. Was it the most amazing move of all time? No, of course not, he undressed Oguchi Oneywu and Frankie Hedjuk, automatically disqualifying it. What's important, it was an individual moment of brilliance that pulled Spain up by the bootstraps and saved it massive blushes before entering its Euro campaign next week.
The most encouraging sign for the Yanks, is we just might have a player than one-day might be able to do that in Freddy Adu. God bless him. Every time he touches the ball he's trying to attack and do something. It's a shame he was trying to conduct a symphony, while the majority of his teammates could barely toot out 'Hot Cross Buns' on a recorder.
It remains to be seen if Adu's stature allows him to compete at the highest level, but it's something to dream about.
Now for the rest of the team? To his credit, Eddie Lewis put forth a solid, workman-like effort and still has a nice left foot. Brad Guzan looked very solid in the second half playing goalie. Carlos Bocanegra gave a solid showing, while Michael Bradley's midfield thuggery was much appreciated. (Where was the payback on Marcos Senna for the two-foot evisceration on Clint Dempsey?)
Speaking of Dempsey, for the upteenth game he drifted totally out of the game and was an absolute non-factor. I don't get it.
Eddie Johson, again, by himself up top or not, showed he is not the party. Ok, he did manage two shots on Iker Casilla, still how many times did he simply lope after the ball? Did he ever pressure the Spanish ball possessors? Why Bob Bradley didn't at least try Nate Jacqua in the final 10 minutes is a mystery to me.
Finally Bob Bradley at least changed the shape of the team a little bit. Guess playing a 4-5-1 with Johnson is essentially a 4-5-0. The team could possess, but it's work in the final third of the field was ghost-like.
This was a strange game from the standpoint, why was Spain even playing it so close to the Euro? You could tell in the first half they really went out there not to break a sweat. It was the most rigid 4-4-2 passing I've seen in a long long time. It was clear the guys in the first team -- Torres, Villa most notably -- were not about to risk injury for a game like this.
It wasn't until the second half when Luis Aragones sent on guys like Dani Güiza, Rubén de la Red and Santi Cazorla that the Spanish side showed any signs of effort themselves.
That's definitely a worrisome thought for anyone that cares about Spain. The team seems to cocky, like they believe if they set foot on the field they're simply too good to get beaten. What happens if Theofanis Gekas latches onto a lazy pass in Group D play and makes them pay?
Bottom line, Spain was rightly jeered by the small, disinterested and wet Santander crowd.
Considering what a bad taste the England game left in all our mouths, at least this was a step sort of in the right direction, if only for Adu. Let's all hope he'll be able to play on Sunday.
* Jozy to Villareal -- A great move simply since the Yellow Submarine is in the Champions League proper. The only downside is whether he'll get any burn behind Nihat and Guiseppe Rossi (perhaps he can convince the New Jersey-born Italian to play for the Yanks.)
* John Harkes is getting a little better in the booth and not sipping the Kool Aid from Chicago as much. Don't be afraid to criticize these guys, no one else in the mainstream is. As a broadcaster you have to call a spade a spade or else you have no credibility. (ESPN, you are killing me with that giant banner with the score across the game. Too much!)
Labels: bob bradley, Euro 2008, Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Soccer, Spain, USMNT
I think Adu is showing the right signs at the moment. Only time will tell I think and he could be what the US wants.
Adu was great and the US was listless without him. Hopefully, we can keep him and Jozy on the up and up.
Bradley announced before the game that Jacqua and Cervi wouldn't dress.
How much longer to we need to endure the EJ debacle? It is so obvious that he has stopped caring. Is it getting close to the time where we need to start asking questions about Bob Bradley?
Adu, on the other hand, is always applying pressure and keeping possession so his side can get into the attack. He was a delight to watch last night.
It looks like Jozy is going to be loaned out for a year in order to get some playing time.
"And with a flute up his nose, Frankie Hejduk."
Yeah Jozy does look to be loaned out for a year, which is probably for the best.
As a guy who once played recorder 15 years ago (hey, it was the requirement to learn better instruments!), I can say that it's possible to screw up even while playing the recorder...
The thing that really burned me last night was seeing how many times a mid passed the ball to EJ when he was alone near the mid line. What on earth is he supposed to do when he gets the ball there? If you're playing a 4-5-1 and your mid field can't advance the ball out of their half there's no way you're going to get any meaningful shots on goal.
Adu played well as everyone has said.
I didn't think Johnson was all that bad, was he great? No, a good striker nets at least one of his two good chances, but his speed was a threat. I think Clint not showing up was a bigger factor in Johnson's 'inability' than Johnson himself. And probably more important, who else plays up front? Josh Wolff? Ha.
Hedjuk was terrible. There has to be someone, somewhere, better than Hedjuk.
I've had a day to digest the game and my initial impressions have not changed much.
> In the spirit of my recent nuptials - Adu. Freddy was a joy to watch. He plays with a flair, creativity, and fearlessness unlike any other American player I've ever seen. Thank you Ghana. Amazing that he cannot even drink legally.
> EJ up top as the lone striker - lack of effort, lack of assertiveness, lack of willingness to go to goal. I thought he was shite. The one saving grace; he is still only 24.
> The back four - Ehhhh.
> The midfield - I thought Edu showed well. Bradley was a bit reckless and offered nothing in the offensive third. Deuce completely uninvolved. Eddie Lewis had 1 beautiful service to EJ, who promptly blew the header. Anyone else think McBride would have buried that?
> Guzan and Howard were both solid.
Is it time for the U23's in the Olympics yet? Which over 23 year olds will Peter Nowak take with him????
it should be really fun to watch Jozy up top where Johnson is right now...with Freddy in that same attacking midfield spot. Maybe those services can find someone who can actually FINISH for once.
anyway, much better showing this time.
Gooch sucks.