Me wonder if me can write something intelligently after Nigeria's 2-1 win over the U.S. in the Beijing Olympics Wednesday (or Thursday?) in China. Me brain is hurting. Me feel stoopider. Me feel like the puppy who lost his way.
Ok, in short, want to win the war on terror? Lock suspected terrorists in a room and make them listen to Marcelo Balboa. (Too harsh?)
While it's supremely disappointing that the U.S. Olympic team crashed out of China, when all they needed was a draw the upside is not having to listen to the wisdom of 'Celo anymore. The guy might understand the game, but he clearly doesn't know how to explain it in a non-cable access manner. We might have gotten the best (or worst) 'Celo-ism today, which is somewhat fitting.
At halftime, down 1-0 with 10-men, U.S. Olympic coach Peter Nowak decided to sub off forward Jozy Altidore for midfielder Benny Feilhaber. A questionable move for many reasons. Here's the analysis for whatever soccer fans or curious on-lookers happened to be watching: "Goal differential, it might come down to it. Goal differential it might come down to it. So you're gonna say, you know, let's see what happens."
Maybe that sums it all up, from soup-to-nuts the U.S. Soccer Federation is clueless. Tacitly or not, they allow numskulls like Balboa to have a job and that trickles down to the general incompetence of the program.
Is that the reason defender Michael Orozco decided to give a People's Republic Elbow to Solomon Okoronkwo in the fourth minute? Obviously not. (Was Orozco channeling his inner Rafa Marquez?) But for all the athletes in the U.S. program, how is it possible in a nation of 300 million there isn't one competent left back? Can we stop worrying about winning meaningless youth trophies and develop some technical skills?
The Federation also hired and employed Nowak, who mismanaged this team and game. Yes it was early, but Nowak probably should have made a sub sometime in the first half to change it up. All the U.S. needed was a draw -- or maybe a loss (thanks Japan) -- but the team never seemed to bunker down and play for the needed one point. This is the final group game of an international tournament. There is no shame in playing for a draw, even if this match was the only exposure some housewife in Omaha is going to get of 'soc-cer' during the year. Simply pushing Robbie Rogers back and Altidore into midfielder isn't the solution. Then again, with the roster Nowak selected, there weren't any real defensive options. How does a situation arise when the only player left on the bench listed as a defender is Patrick Ianni? This followed Nowak's decision to lift Freddy Adu in the closing minutes against the Netherlands Sunday. (Adu, another bonehead move to get suspended, though his absence wasn't the reason the U.S. went home...but it contributed. To some extent the also-suspended Michael Bradley probably could have disrupted Nigeria's passing game.)
Feilhaber in a lot of ways was Nowak's Waterloo.
The tactics of this game were maddeningly. When the script was flipped and they went down to 10-men, the U.S. never decided how they wanted to play it. From my couch it seemed clear to pack nine guys behind the ball, try to spring a longball for McBride to hold up and maybe catch Nigeria out. Maybe they could have called 'Celo in New York for some advice -- "You gotta start working down the right side of the Nigerian side." ('Celo plus the USA Studio Host was a true meeting of the minds. Didn't know Ryan Rabel played for the Dutch.)
Of course the two Nigeria goals weren't the result of the U.S. caught out of position. Hate to pick on one guy, but Michael Parkhurst -- an overage pick -- got undressed twice, including an embarrassing falling over on the second goal. The first time Chinedu Obasi shook him (as Marvell Wynne looked on and didn't pressure him) and slotted it to the amazingly-named Promise Issac. In the 80th Victor Obinna faked Parkhurst out of his pants and scored a nice goal. Again, the U.S. is capable of this type of play, but didn't do it.
Optimists can point to pulling a goal back when Sasha Kljestan converted a late penalty or how Charlie Davies (finally showing some value in a U.S. shirt) hit the post in stoppage time via a nice header from a set piece. Doesn't matter, the result does. That's what gets me mad. Nigeria was quick and flashy with pull-backs inside the box, but even up a man they weren't light years better than the U.S. A couple adjustments and smart, heads-up play and the U.S. might still be alive.
Now I don't want to come off as a hypocrite since I openly said I didn't care much about the Olympics. Still, the prospect of a chance to play Argentina and Messi in a tournament would have been fun. It's frustrating, no matter what, when all you need to do to advance is gain a draw.
On top of all this, the American team will get some bad press from the people who still don't understand soccer, especially since Michael Phelps doesn't swim today. Most people I've talked with don't even realize this is an U-23 tournament, so these people will continue to think Americans stink at soccer. Sadly, they might be correct and couple this loss in the same category as the World Cup
From a player standpoint Kljestan (guts to take the PK) and Stuart Holden (Eddie Lewis-lite, sans cultured left foot) proved they should be in the 2010 mix. Maurice Edu at least made his case to be considered in the center-back rotation. Brad Guzan did make some excellent saves is should be a competent back-up to Tim Howard. Everyone else? Orozco has a huge stigma to erase to get back into the squad, ever. (Apparently he declined questions from English language media after the match.) Feilhaber coming in as a sub hurt more than it helped and needs to get his head right before he's considered again. It's a shame Brian McBride was so quiet. He really didn't bring much, if anything, to the table and it's hard to fathom how he and Altidore weren't able to link up effectively. Oh and I think there's a spot for Adu, with or without the yellow cards.
In closing, yeah, I'm the guy that didn't care about the Olympics. Fact. Yet when I see the U.S. shirt, or at least what looks like the U.S. shirt with tape all over the badge, you have to pay attention. Again it's simply disappointing that a team with talent can't put it all together for whatever the reason. Let's hope this isn't a harbinger for what's to come in 2010. If there's any upside, the players still around from this letdown use this experience and don't let it happen again.
Wednesday morning, while bad, was more of a 'fart in the mouth' variety of suck. Another bunk showing at the World Cup would be like a Desert Eagle to the face.
If you're still sticking with the Olympic soccer program. Here's a way to make it interesting. Every time 'Celo says 'knock it around' take a drink. By the 15th minute you'll forget who's even playing.
___________________
Couple other things...
** If only there was enough time for a full preview, but the German 1.Bundesliga begins Saturday, too. Certainly my second favorite European league. I kind of wish I lived in Germany to attend the matches, which are affordable for most budgets. Plus those German grounds have atmosphere bursting at the seams like an over-stuffed sausage -- even the bottom rung teams. It's truly awesome how the crowds shout out the names in unison of goal scorers. You also have to respect that the German court denied a television deal that, while worth a lot of Euros, would have screwed the average fan at put games on Pay-Per-View.
I'd like to see Werder Bremen challenge for the title, but barring a Jurgen Klinsmann explosion the big silver plate is Bayern Munich's to lose. The amazing rise of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is worth checking out, it's if Roman Abramovich grew up in West London and brought Chelsea from the Championship to the Premier League, instead of his souless Siberian oil concern roots.
There's a decent amount of Americans floating around Derr Motherland, lead by longtime Hannover 96 back Steve Cherundolo. Others include Bosnian-born 19-year-old defender Neven Subotić of Borussia Dortmund; 19-year-old forward Preston Zimmerman of Hamburger SV; 21-year-old Sal Zizzo of Hannover 96 and 19-year-old ex-DC United draftee Bryan Arguez of Hertha Berlin. Fringer USMNT-er Kamani Hill is still listed under contract at VfL Wolfsburg, but not part of the first-team, for whatever that is worth.
If you have GolTV you owe it to yourself to consider the German alternative during those dreary West Brom-Fulham PL matches over on FSC if only to extend the laughter toward Jens Lehmann. Oh right, if you love umlauts and other weird European punctuation, this is your league. Tor! Tor! Tor!
** Yeah so the Los Angeles Flying Beckhams dumped manager Ruud Gullit and G.M. Alexi Lalas. Apparently building a team around two stars (Beckham, Donovan) and a defense of chicken wire and pipe cleaners doesn't exactly work....until Herr Garber decides to lift the salary cap restrictions. From what I've read, Gullit never had his heart into it and couldn't grasp the bizarre MLS roster rules. Lalas, well, maybe he can replace his old mullet pal Marcelo Balboa for the rest of the NBC Olympic soccer matches. His future is in television, not roster procurement. Then again, since MLS loves to recycle, expect him to pop up with one of the upcoming expansion franchises.
** Finally, not sure what let me down more, the U.S. against Nigeria or going to Best Buy Tuesday evening to buy Season Five of 'The Wire' to see that I was apparently the first person to pick it up from the rack at Best Buy, meanwhile the stack of 'SuperHero Movie' next to it seemed to have sold at least a couple copies. Honestly, if you're watching that flick you should have your voting rights revoked.
Thursday: Premier League preview continued.
Ok, in short, want to win the war on terror? Lock suspected terrorists in a room and make them listen to Marcelo Balboa. (Too harsh?)
While it's supremely disappointing that the U.S. Olympic team crashed out of China, when all they needed was a draw the upside is not having to listen to the wisdom of 'Celo anymore. The guy might understand the game, but he clearly doesn't know how to explain it in a non-cable access manner. We might have gotten the best (or worst) 'Celo-ism today, which is somewhat fitting.
At halftime, down 1-0 with 10-men, U.S. Olympic coach Peter Nowak decided to sub off forward Jozy Altidore for midfielder Benny Feilhaber. A questionable move for many reasons. Here's the analysis for whatever soccer fans or curious on-lookers happened to be watching: "Goal differential, it might come down to it. Goal differential it might come down to it. So you're gonna say, you know, let's see what happens."
Maybe that sums it all up, from soup-to-nuts the U.S. Soccer Federation is clueless. Tacitly or not, they allow numskulls like Balboa to have a job and that trickles down to the general incompetence of the program.
Is that the reason defender Michael Orozco decided to give a People's Republic Elbow to Solomon Okoronkwo in the fourth minute? Obviously not. (Was Orozco channeling his inner Rafa Marquez?) But for all the athletes in the U.S. program, how is it possible in a nation of 300 million there isn't one competent left back? Can we stop worrying about winning meaningless youth trophies and develop some technical skills?
The Federation also hired and employed Nowak, who mismanaged this team and game. Yes it was early, but Nowak probably should have made a sub sometime in the first half to change it up. All the U.S. needed was a draw -- or maybe a loss (thanks Japan) -- but the team never seemed to bunker down and play for the needed one point. This is the final group game of an international tournament. There is no shame in playing for a draw, even if this match was the only exposure some housewife in Omaha is going to get of 'soc-cer' during the year. Simply pushing Robbie Rogers back and Altidore into midfielder isn't the solution. Then again, with the roster Nowak selected, there weren't any real defensive options. How does a situation arise when the only player left on the bench listed as a defender is Patrick Ianni? This followed Nowak's decision to lift Freddy Adu in the closing minutes against the Netherlands Sunday. (Adu, another bonehead move to get suspended, though his absence wasn't the reason the U.S. went home...but it contributed. To some extent the also-suspended Michael Bradley probably could have disrupted Nigeria's passing game.)
Feilhaber in a lot of ways was Nowak's Waterloo.
The tactics of this game were maddeningly. When the script was flipped and they went down to 10-men, the U.S. never decided how they wanted to play it. From my couch it seemed clear to pack nine guys behind the ball, try to spring a longball for McBride to hold up and maybe catch Nigeria out. Maybe they could have called 'Celo in New York for some advice -- "You gotta start working down the right side of the Nigerian side." ('Celo plus the USA Studio Host was a true meeting of the minds. Didn't know Ryan Rabel played for the Dutch.)
Of course the two Nigeria goals weren't the result of the U.S. caught out of position. Hate to pick on one guy, but Michael Parkhurst -- an overage pick -- got undressed twice, including an embarrassing falling over on the second goal. The first time Chinedu Obasi shook him (as Marvell Wynne looked on and didn't pressure him) and slotted it to the amazingly-named Promise Issac. In the 80th Victor Obinna faked Parkhurst out of his pants and scored a nice goal. Again, the U.S. is capable of this type of play, but didn't do it.
Optimists can point to pulling a goal back when Sasha Kljestan converted a late penalty or how Charlie Davies (finally showing some value in a U.S. shirt) hit the post in stoppage time via a nice header from a set piece. Doesn't matter, the result does. That's what gets me mad. Nigeria was quick and flashy with pull-backs inside the box, but even up a man they weren't light years better than the U.S. A couple adjustments and smart, heads-up play and the U.S. might still be alive.
Now I don't want to come off as a hypocrite since I openly said I didn't care much about the Olympics. Still, the prospect of a chance to play Argentina and Messi in a tournament would have been fun. It's frustrating, no matter what, when all you need to do to advance is gain a draw.
On top of all this, the American team will get some bad press from the people who still don't understand soccer, especially since Michael Phelps doesn't swim today. Most people I've talked with don't even realize this is an U-23 tournament, so these people will continue to think Americans stink at soccer. Sadly, they might be correct and couple this loss in the same category as the World Cup
From a player standpoint Kljestan (guts to take the PK) and Stuart Holden (Eddie Lewis-lite, sans cultured left foot) proved they should be in the 2010 mix. Maurice Edu at least made his case to be considered in the center-back rotation. Brad Guzan did make some excellent saves is should be a competent back-up to Tim Howard. Everyone else? Orozco has a huge stigma to erase to get back into the squad, ever. (Apparently he declined questions from English language media after the match.) Feilhaber coming in as a sub hurt more than it helped and needs to get his head right before he's considered again. It's a shame Brian McBride was so quiet. He really didn't bring much, if anything, to the table and it's hard to fathom how he and Altidore weren't able to link up effectively. Oh and I think there's a spot for Adu, with or without the yellow cards.
In closing, yeah, I'm the guy that didn't care about the Olympics. Fact. Yet when I see the U.S. shirt, or at least what looks like the U.S. shirt with tape all over the badge, you have to pay attention. Again it's simply disappointing that a team with talent can't put it all together for whatever the reason. Let's hope this isn't a harbinger for what's to come in 2010. If there's any upside, the players still around from this letdown use this experience and don't let it happen again.
Wednesday morning, while bad, was more of a 'fart in the mouth' variety of suck. Another bunk showing at the World Cup would be like a Desert Eagle to the face.
If you're still sticking with the Olympic soccer program. Here's a way to make it interesting. Every time 'Celo says 'knock it around' take a drink. By the 15th minute you'll forget who's even playing.
Couple other things...
** If only there was enough time for a full preview, but the German 1.Bundesliga begins Saturday, too. Certainly my second favorite European league. I kind of wish I lived in Germany to attend the matches, which are affordable for most budgets. Plus those German grounds have atmosphere bursting at the seams like an over-stuffed sausage -- even the bottom rung teams. It's truly awesome how the crowds shout out the names in unison of goal scorers. You also have to respect that the German court denied a television deal that, while worth a lot of Euros, would have screwed the average fan at put games on Pay-Per-View.
I'd like to see Werder Bremen challenge for the title, but barring a Jurgen Klinsmann explosion the big silver plate is Bayern Munich's to lose. The amazing rise of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is worth checking out, it's if Roman Abramovich grew up in West London and brought Chelsea from the Championship to the Premier League, instead of his souless Siberian oil concern roots.
There's a decent amount of Americans floating around Derr Motherland, lead by longtime Hannover 96 back Steve Cherundolo. Others include Bosnian-born 19-year-old defender Neven Subotić of Borussia Dortmund; 19-year-old forward Preston Zimmerman of Hamburger SV; 21-year-old Sal Zizzo of Hannover 96 and 19-year-old ex-DC United draftee Bryan Arguez of Hertha Berlin. Fringer USMNT-er Kamani Hill is still listed under contract at VfL Wolfsburg, but not part of the first-team, for whatever that is worth.
If you have GolTV you owe it to yourself to consider the German alternative during those dreary West Brom-Fulham PL matches over on FSC if only to extend the laughter toward Jens Lehmann. Oh right, if you love umlauts and other weird European punctuation, this is your league. Tor! Tor! Tor!
** Yeah so the Los Angeles Flying Beckhams dumped manager Ruud Gullit and G.M. Alexi Lalas. Apparently building a team around two stars (Beckham, Donovan) and a defense of chicken wire and pipe cleaners doesn't exactly work....until Herr Garber decides to lift the salary cap restrictions. From what I've read, Gullit never had his heart into it and couldn't grasp the bizarre MLS roster rules. Lalas, well, maybe he can replace his old mullet pal Marcelo Balboa for the rest of the NBC Olympic soccer matches. His future is in television, not roster procurement. Then again, since MLS loves to recycle, expect him to pop up with one of the upcoming expansion franchises.
** Finally, not sure what let me down more, the U.S. against Nigeria or going to Best Buy Tuesday evening to buy Season Five of 'The Wire' to see that I was apparently the first person to pick it up from the rack at Best Buy, meanwhile the stack of 'SuperHero Movie' next to it seemed to have sold at least a couple copies. Honestly, if you're watching that flick you should have your voting rights revoked.
Thursday: Premier League preview continued.
Labels: Bundesliga, MLS, olympics, Soccer, USMNT
Like I said, the Holland game was nothing to get worked up about. Consider me 'kool-aid free'.
Cardillo makes an excellent point. With 300 million people in a country that has A) been playing soccer now for decades and B) dumps jillions into its national program, why can't we field a competitive squad in any international tourney?
Next subject: Keller signed with MLS Sounders.
I don't know about the big picture of US Soccer, cause my brain doesn't work after getting up at 5am.
Feilhaber was terrible, he was a second half sub and couldn't bring himself to run.
Orozco = awful.
Parkhurst was anonymous at best and embarrassed twice at his worst (as you said).
I personally don't think Edu is a centre-back.
Kljestan and Davies were bright spots, but I'm tired of moral victories.
Great post, and I couldn't agree more with everything on the game.
I'm excited for the Bundesliga this year. Wolfsburg could be interesting. They really rolled out the cash this off-season. I think they could challenge for 3rd place. Schalke picked up Engelaar but he may be more hype than real talent and a new coach.
It's hard to see Bayern not taking the top but they have looked terrible in pre-season and made no changes besides adding Borowski to an already crowded midfield and the necessary goalie switch from Kahn to Rensing. They have a lot of problems like a leaky central defense (lucio is terrible, Van Buyten lacks speed), lack of a quality holding midfielder, a crop of injuries (Ribery, Toni, Borowski) and nobody on the team seems motivated to win. The one bright side is the emergence of Toni Kroos who has been exciting to watch. However, this just makes an even more crowded midfield and Klinsmann better watch out with playing time to manage the numerous egos present. Hopefully, Jurgen turns it around but I'm not optimistic and think Champions League will teach us a lesson.
Is there a more insular cauldron of mediocrity than US Soccer?
Everybody tried real hard but we were unlucky and it's really the referee's fault anyway blah blah blah. It's no fun supporting a national team that combine mediocrity with a sense of entitlement.
I believe an experienced, foreign coach for the national team would, even more importantly than improving the game tactics, provide the perspective everyone officially associated with US Soccer seems to lack. I also resolve not to get angry at the guys who choose not to play for the US National Team. It looks a smarter decision with each passing year.
Again, it comes down to not playing to the national persona. The US hasn't produced a solid back in ages, but we always have a good keeper, and a ton of attacking players now (Adu, Bradley, Edu, Jozy, Szetela, Klesjtan, Deuce, Beasley, and yes, even Landycakes). Why not embrace the strengths, sod the weaknesses, and stop trying to employ four backs?
The US is an arrogant, attacking nation. Why not play arrogant, attacking football?