"Let us never speak of it again" -- Homer, "Itchy and Scratchy Land"
Paraguay 1, U.S. 0.
Alternately, live by the set piece, die by the set piece.
No, this wasn't that bad, or at least as bad as the final result looks ... unless you want to remember that Mexico thrashed this same Paraguay team 3-1 three days earlier. (Remember the good old days, when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge of El Tri? Or when Javier Aguirre was kicking Panama players during live game action? Yeah, that was fun.)
In short this one -- from a results standpoint -- could be summed up by a couple of moments: Tim Ream slipping on the wet grass at LP Field allowing Oscar Cardoza to score off a corner kick followed by Paraguay keeper Justo Villar making three great saves -- preventing an own-goal on a looping deflection, punching away Michael Bradley's screamer and finally smothering Jermaine Jones worm-burner at the death.
A couple bounces here or there and the U.S. would've saved face with at least a 1-1 draw. Do you want to use up all your karma from the soccer Gods in a meaningless friendly in March with nothing on the line? Probably not.
It's probably not worth doing cartwheels, either, that the U.S. can out and played an attack-minded game and dominant possession. If Bob Bradley isn't going to be aggressive in a game with N-O-T-H-I-N-G tangible at stake, then when is he? It's not 1993 anymore, where three consecutive passes strung together from the U.S. midfield was cause for an "Ole!"
The U.S. still don't seem entirely comfortable in the role of offensive aggressor, at least when you get away from the minnows of CONCACAF. Under Bradley the team seems much more suited to sit back and spring on the counter. The U.S. had the bulk of the ball but didn't really create any quality chances until the final 20 minutes -- those from individual strikes from outside the box, at that.
It should be noted Paraguay are obviously a side with some guts, which made the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals allowing only two goals in the process. The team's pride was clearly dented by the Mexico result and showed more defensive resolve tonight. It clearly helped getting a goal inside of 25 minutes, too, as they could then sit deep and absorb pressure as is their wont to do.
Still ... once again the U.S. found itself playing from behind, which is okay if you're into making Michael Scott, "that's what she said jokes," a little less so when you're a team trying to move its way up the international pecking order.
Was this game an end of the world, sky is falling, hand the Gold Cup over to Mexico now scenario? No.
Was it entirely encouraging in a rousing the troops kind of way? Maybe.
One thing we can agree on, however, when you go to a sporting event -- played in the rain no less -- in an elaborate costume more suited for Comic Con than a stadium, you tend to feel a whole lot better about yourself after the team you're cheering on lodges a result.
Quick Hitters:
* Four games into the Juan Agudelo era ... let's call it promising and chill on the massive speculation. He was tricky on the ball, active up top and looked to have drawn a penalty early in the second half. With the U.S.-striker field so shallow, he's going to keep getting looks ready or not for primetime.
* Yes, he fell over on the Paraguay goal. It happens. Still like what we're seeing from Tim Ream, if only a U.S. defender that looks to find a teammate with a pass instead of hoofing up field and hoping for the best. Even at his best in 2005, this was never a strong point for Oguchi Onyewu. Same for Jay DeMerit. (Appreciate his heart and hardscrabble tale, but is he still and international caliber defender?)
Let's hope Ream did enough to move his way up the pecking order in Bradley the Elder's head (and doesn't pick up any hatchet-man tenancies from Red Bulls teammate Rafa Marquez). Is Ream untested on the international level? Yes, but unless he gets games we'll never know if he's suited for it or not. Shame Ream never got a chance to deliver at least one free kick, either.
* Speaking of free kicks, not the best night of service for Landon Donovan. Paraguay didn't seem to have any problems hacking down American players in front of the goal. This might have been a little different if Stuart Holden were healthy and playing. Call it a bad night for Donovan.
* Didn't do a lot, but by simply attempting an audacious 40-yard shot it shows why you have to love Clint Dempsey.
* Jozy Altidore ... pass.
* Not getting into a 4-5-1 vs. 4-4-2 debate. The U.S., right now, is sort of like a "donut" basketball team, which describes those without a center. The U.S. roster, or positions of depth and strength are lopsided. It's all about finding combinations on the field that click together. This isn't a game of FIFA on XBox, with rigid pre-loaded formations. It's hard to come up with a traditional formation with a suspect group of strikers and a dearth of wide players.
* One thing that would help the U.S. field a balanced lineup is a left-sided compliment to Timmy Chandler, who looked well at ease in his second international playing on the right side. He had one very nice cross and burned a Paraguayan defender with a nice ball played to himself into space. Although he might look like a combination of the classic Universal movie monsters of Wolfman and Frankenstein, Chandler's game is anything but scary.
With the play of Eric Lichaj, could Chandler move up the field into the midfield, as he's done at Nurnburg in Germany? The trio of Chandler, Lichaj and Ream seem to be players to build around. The question is when Bradley the Elder decides its finally time to move away from the core of the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads.
* Maurice Edu was invisible in the first half. Jones did a little more in the second. Bradley the Younger seemed to dominate the ball in the center, again making me wonder why the U.S. seems so hellbent on needing to play two defensive midfielders to start every match, especially in games where the opponent is dug in deep and only going to attack on the counter.
* Admittedly, I was working and making a few calls during the second half so totally tuned out the commentary of JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino.
* Not the best night for our old pal Jonathan Bornstein. I'll say something nice about the Tigres-man. When he finally retires it'll be a lot like when Richard Nixon famously said, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore ..."
Closing thought:
Did we collectively learn a lot we didn't already know about the U.S. ahead of the Argentina and Paraguay matches? Beyond the possible emergence of Agudelo, probably not.
The U.S. has enough talent to overcome any tactical deficiencies or imbalances at least until the late stages of the Gold Cup. If there's a worry, it's that the team could run into a hot keeper like Villar somewhere in the knockout stages and it won't be able to dig itself out of an early hole.
By then, who knows, maybe Bradley the Elder can find a way to integrate Chad Ochocinco.
Paraguay 1, U.S. 0.
Alternately, live by the set piece, die by the set piece.
No, this wasn't that bad, or at least as bad as the final result looks ... unless you want to remember that Mexico thrashed this same Paraguay team 3-1 three days earlier. (Remember the good old days, when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge of El Tri? Or when Javier Aguirre was kicking Panama players during live game action? Yeah, that was fun.)
In short this one -- from a results standpoint -- could be summed up by a couple of moments: Tim Ream slipping on the wet grass at LP Field allowing Oscar Cardoza to score off a corner kick followed by Paraguay keeper Justo Villar making three great saves -- preventing an own-goal on a looping deflection, punching away Michael Bradley's screamer and finally smothering Jermaine Jones worm-burner at the death.
A couple bounces here or there and the U.S. would've saved face with at least a 1-1 draw. Do you want to use up all your karma from the soccer Gods in a meaningless friendly in March with nothing on the line? Probably not.
It's probably not worth doing cartwheels, either, that the U.S. can out and played an attack-minded game and dominant possession. If Bob Bradley isn't going to be aggressive in a game with N-O-T-H-I-N-G tangible at stake, then when is he? It's not 1993 anymore, where three consecutive passes strung together from the U.S. midfield was cause for an "Ole!"
The U.S. still don't seem entirely comfortable in the role of offensive aggressor, at least when you get away from the minnows of CONCACAF. Under Bradley the team seems much more suited to sit back and spring on the counter. The U.S. had the bulk of the ball but didn't really create any quality chances until the final 20 minutes -- those from individual strikes from outside the box, at that.
It should be noted Paraguay are obviously a side with some guts, which made the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals allowing only two goals in the process. The team's pride was clearly dented by the Mexico result and showed more defensive resolve tonight. It clearly helped getting a goal inside of 25 minutes, too, as they could then sit deep and absorb pressure as is their wont to do.
Still ... once again the U.S. found itself playing from behind, which is okay if you're into making Michael Scott, "that's what she said jokes," a little less so when you're a team trying to move its way up the international pecking order.
Was this game an end of the world, sky is falling, hand the Gold Cup over to Mexico now scenario? No.
Was it entirely encouraging in a rousing the troops kind of way? Maybe.
One thing we can agree on, however, when you go to a sporting event -- played in the rain no less -- in an elaborate costume more suited for Comic Con than a stadium, you tend to feel a whole lot better about yourself after the team you're cheering on lodges a result.
Quick Hitters:
* Four games into the Juan Agudelo era ... let's call it promising and chill on the massive speculation. He was tricky on the ball, active up top and looked to have drawn a penalty early in the second half. With the U.S.-striker field so shallow, he's going to keep getting looks ready or not for primetime.
* Yes, he fell over on the Paraguay goal. It happens. Still like what we're seeing from Tim Ream, if only a U.S. defender that looks to find a teammate with a pass instead of hoofing up field and hoping for the best. Even at his best in 2005, this was never a strong point for Oguchi Onyewu. Same for Jay DeMerit. (Appreciate his heart and hardscrabble tale, but is he still and international caliber defender?)
Let's hope Ream did enough to move his way up the pecking order in Bradley the Elder's head (and doesn't pick up any hatchet-man tenancies from Red Bulls teammate Rafa Marquez). Is Ream untested on the international level? Yes, but unless he gets games we'll never know if he's suited for it or not. Shame Ream never got a chance to deliver at least one free kick, either.
* Speaking of free kicks, not the best night of service for Landon Donovan. Paraguay didn't seem to have any problems hacking down American players in front of the goal. This might have been a little different if Stuart Holden were healthy and playing. Call it a bad night for Donovan.
* Didn't do a lot, but by simply attempting an audacious 40-yard shot it shows why you have to love Clint Dempsey.
* Jozy Altidore ... pass.
* Not getting into a 4-5-1 vs. 4-4-2 debate. The U.S., right now, is sort of like a "donut" basketball team, which describes those without a center. The U.S. roster, or positions of depth and strength are lopsided. It's all about finding combinations on the field that click together. This isn't a game of FIFA on XBox, with rigid pre-loaded formations. It's hard to come up with a traditional formation with a suspect group of strikers and a dearth of wide players.
* One thing that would help the U.S. field a balanced lineup is a left-sided compliment to Timmy Chandler, who looked well at ease in his second international playing on the right side. He had one very nice cross and burned a Paraguayan defender with a nice ball played to himself into space. Although he might look like a combination of the classic Universal movie monsters of Wolfman and Frankenstein, Chandler's game is anything but scary.
With the play of Eric Lichaj, could Chandler move up the field into the midfield, as he's done at Nurnburg in Germany? The trio of Chandler, Lichaj and Ream seem to be players to build around. The question is when Bradley the Elder decides its finally time to move away from the core of the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads.
* Maurice Edu was invisible in the first half. Jones did a little more in the second. Bradley the Younger seemed to dominate the ball in the center, again making me wonder why the U.S. seems so hellbent on needing to play two defensive midfielders to start every match, especially in games where the opponent is dug in deep and only going to attack on the counter.
* Admittedly, I was working and making a few calls during the second half so totally tuned out the commentary of JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino.
* Not the best night for our old pal Jonathan Bornstein. I'll say something nice about the Tigres-man. When he finally retires it'll be a lot like when Richard Nixon famously said, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore ..."
Closing thought:
Did we collectively learn a lot we didn't already know about the U.S. ahead of the Argentina and Paraguay matches? Beyond the possible emergence of Agudelo, probably not.
The U.S. has enough talent to overcome any tactical deficiencies or imbalances at least until the late stages of the Gold Cup. If there's a worry, it's that the team could run into a hot keeper like Villar somewhere in the knockout stages and it won't be able to dig itself out of an early hole.
By then, who knows, maybe Bradley the Elder can find a way to integrate Chad Ochocinco.
Labels: bob bradley, Friendlies, jonathan bornstein, juan agudelo, Soccer, tim ream, USMNT
I was unimpressed. Martino was saying after the match - 'in a game like this the results don't matter as much as the performance' as if this performance were somehow, umm, good.
The players we expect to play well - Lando and Deuce - were underwhelming. The young kids on the rise - Chandler and Ream - seem likely to be stuck in Elder-prison behind Cherundolo or (erk) Boogaloo Bornstein come the 'real' matches in June. Agudelo was fine. He is young - but the hype-machine is threatening to grind up whatever upside there might be.
You touched on it some. This game didn't matter and yet even in this situation, this situation OF ALL situations, the USMNT comes out in a plodding, pokey, uptight way. Sigh. This is not a disaster, just another in a long line of stuttering, unsatisfying performances. The joy of that second half against Argentina now seems long ago and rather than half a game playing well against a very good team, that lone half amongst three bad ones now seems like a taunting 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' moment. It's also possible I am reading too much into this.
FSC was a joke last night. They should have just had the USMNT Nike representative and a Studio90 host call that game. I actually forgot how annoying a call JP Dellacamera provides. Kyle Martino said the US was having a good/solid/promising first half 5-7 times between Paraguay's goal and halftime. I switched to whatever Spanish channel had the game on in HD at halftime. They even had their B announcing group because the A team with with Mexico and it was still more pleasant than FSC. It's a shame GOL TV can't afford to get the rights to some of the USMNT friendlies or those weird questionable TV-rights qualifiers. Schoen would provide both new and die-hard fans with critical and informative play by play and Hudson would be entertaining. Although, it would be hard for him to get genuinely "Gus Johnson" worked up about the USMNT attack.
Thoughts:
- The US now was 3 real options at right back. The veteran and two very fast 21yr olds. I loved how Lichaj and Chandler worked together on that right side the last 15mins. Did Chandler solve the no third option at winger problem which would allow Dempsey to play forward or withdrawn forward in the middle of field? Maybe I'm over hyping the RB position but when you are comparing it to Bornstein having tons of space and letting traps jump over his feet or skying easy crosses....
-After seeing the blandness of the midfield in these two games, the Holden injury really has halted the progress of this team. I was hoping Jose Torres could one day play that role but he'll probably never be called up again when Bradley got his extension. Diskerud should have gotten some mins, but when Michael isn't playing at Villa those 180mins are booked fairly or unfairly.
Next up a revenge seeking? Spain team where half it's players ( Barc or Real) will have just played the Champs League Final about a week before.
How about Timmy Howard in the booth for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half? I almost felt bad for him... seemed like he didn't even want to be up there as he was as silent as a mouse.
I concur about the Tim Howard experiment. Nothing against him or his disease, but why would anyone put someone who suffers from Tourette's. I don't know Tim so I don't know whether his vocal/phonic tic is obscene language but simply having that disorder would make it unnerving to be in a broadcast booth.
Am I the only one who wants to see Donovan and Dempsey up top in a 4-4-2? Just once. I doesn't even have to be a full 90.
I know I'm looking at this through Winning Eleven colored gogles, but aren't they our best two strikers?
Chandler looks like the love child of Nani and Wes Brown.
Part of the reason I wanted Bradley gone was to get rid of the "will (young player with potential) win the position over (established player)" questions.
I get that experience is important in the international game and I'm not suggesting we should (or would with a new coach) overhaul the entire starting XI. But for somebody like Cherundolo (32 years old) - will he even be around in 2014? Maybe it's because I don't care so much about the GC but all my thoughts are focused on next World Cup. And no disrespect to Dolo, but Chandler, at least so far, looks like the real deal.
I guess what I'm saying - how different would this team look with a new coach that didn't have the loyalty to some of the older guys? I'm not saying Bradley only sticks with "his guys" because he's given quite a few new players opportunities but there's a difference in friendlies and "games that matter." Maybe Cherundolo would be the starter under a new coach anyways, but I feel like that new perspective without the same old mindset is important in a new cycle.