So is it out if place to ask if Jozy could be replaced by Johannson if he doesn't improve. He's in a ridiculously long patch of shit form. I know it's crazy...

Also I heard Toprak is a legit top three or four defender in the Bundesliga but I've never seen him since UVerse nixed GolTV..

6/1/2014 1:34:42 PM

Fair question. Think Keller/Lalas just made good points about what type of player he is and Jozy is all we have. We need more than just a goalscorer in this group. Need a guy that can hold the ball up, track back defensively, etc. against teams that will have more possession than us.

I don't think Jozy looked terrible Tuesday either.

6/1/2014 1:38:39 PM

Lalas is all sorts of mad but did a good job being passive.

Tbh I only watched the first 15 mins or so midweek. Those are fair points though, his strength and holdup will certainly be needed. I really hope he gets a goal before heading to Brazil.

Interesting story on Green there..

(Wow, Rossi didn't make Italy team. Insigne instead...just saw that)

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 1:57 PM. Reason : tangentially related to usmnt]

6/1/2014 1:47:49 PM

It seems like Rossi's been injured for the last 2 years constantly. Can't say I'm surprised.

We're really targeting this right flank early...

6/1/2014 2:12:12 PM

so far:

1) our defense still sucks.

2) that foul on the corner was terribly weak

6/1/2014 2:22:05 PM

Taking away goals. Based on the last cup this is good practice.

To be fair it was probably a hand ball on Jozy.

6/1/2014 2:22:27 PM

Not convinced by Bradley at AM.

6/1/2014 2:25:19 PM

Never thought I'd say this but...

I prefer Beckerman to Jermaine Jones.

6/1/2014 2:26:29 PM

Ronaldo will score 14 against us..

6/1/2014 2:26:36 PM

^^^ neither am I. He is a great DCM and has been meh at ACM.

Edit: good play there though

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 2:27 PM. Reason : ]

6/1/2014 2:26:58 PM

defense is pathetic today

6/1/2014 2:28:17 PM

Quote :

"Never thought I'd say this but... I prefer Beckerman to Jermaine Jones."

Jones has been less than stellar for sure. Would much rather have Bradley in their spot though. Going into the camp, I thought we had the recipe for a very strong midfield (counting Donovan) in this WC. From what I am seeing I am very underwhelmed.

6/1/2014 2:29:20 PM

watching on a small tablet, so i can't tell if it's timmy chandler just choosing to give up a ton of space or brad davis not getting back, but they killing our left side.

6/1/2014 2:30:05 PM

I think it's less of the defense being poor and more of the space being afforded Turkey in front of them.

Weird decision to push up Bradley and leave Jones all alone there. Diamond does not suit us at all because we don't keep the ball enough.


hard to defend when you have guys running at you all game and plenty of time to pick out a pass

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 2:30 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2014 2:30:17 PM

WHAT A GOAL

6/1/2014 2:31:55 PM

Whoa!

6/1/2014 2:32:13 PM

unbelievable ball by bradley...

6/1/2014 2:32:48 PM

haha still think he isn't an AM... what a ball tho

6/1/2014 2:33:19 PM

wow. gg on both the delivery and the finish.

6/1/2014 2:33:19 PM

that was SICK

6/1/2014 2:33:24 PM

i think we're on replay #9 now - worth it tho

6/1/2014 2:35:53 PM

I cant say whether or not the diamond is gonna work or not, but the idea behind getting bradley more offensive touches is solid. He is the best playmaker we have by leaps and bounds.

6/1/2014 2:38:28 PM

If we run the diamond with Bradley in AM role then Beckerman needs to play instead of Jones. Only way I think it can work.

6/1/2014 2:41:31 PM

don't see what Jones has done wrong today honestly.

6/1/2014 2:42:57 PM

Quote :

"don't see what Jones has done wrong today honestly."

agree

6/1/2014 2:43:26 PM

a few bad passes and out of position a few times already. Nothing huge yet but same old story and could cost us against better teams. Maybe I'm biased because I'm not a big fan of Jones or Beckerman though at this level of play.

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 2:47 PM. Reason : ]

6/1/2014 2:44:12 PM

good god there have been more than usual rolling around/spraying shit/magic fix sessions this game

6/1/2014 2:53:27 PM

my biggest concern so far is this: while klinsmann has us playing an attacking style and pace that is much more fun to watch than our team has been in the past, I'm nervous about how that plays out against all 3 teams in our group who are faster and more potent on attack than we are.

^agreed

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ]

6/1/2014 2:53:53 PM

right. I don't think Bradley sees this much of the ball against really good teams which negates the need for a diamond. Drop him back with Jones and add somebody at the top like Zusi, Mix, or Dempsey that can pass the ball.

6/1/2014 2:56:11 PM

I think when we haven't had the ball, you do see bradley getting back. The main thing I like with this style is that we aren't conceding the possession battle before we even step on the field.

They gotta defend us too pal.

6/1/2014 2:58:54 PM

true true. Looks like we'll see Beckerman/Bradley in the 2nd half. Guzan, Beckerman, Brooks (for Besler) coming on.

This looks like a good game to get Green on. A lot of open space to see him run at defenders.

6/1/2014 3:03:57 PM

If he knew the problem why not adjust on the fly and not wait until halftime. Basically left Jermaine on an island for 45 mins...

6/1/2014 3:12:59 PM

tap tap taparoo

6/1/2014 3:20:21 PM

Sure wish FIFA would do something about the shameless time wasting and rolling around that has become so common after every freakin challenge.

It's nearly the same problem that baseball has with the ball scratching and glove adjusting that has made those games unwatchable and take forever.

6/1/2014 3:27:04 PM

wonder if we will continue to get abused up the left flank with green there now.

6/1/2014 3:32:22 PM

lol at Twellman killin Green for that first touch. Ronaldo would have had trouble with that one

6/1/2014 3:34:33 PM

is that who it is? I kept wondering who the american was saying a bunch of questionable/critical stuff

6/1/2014 3:36:19 PM

I agreed with Taylor Twellman about that first touch. It was a great cross and that first touch got away from green. A difficult ball to control, sure. But that first touch took away any chance Green had to make a play.

6/1/2014 3:44:26 PM

obviously the first touch blew the play. the point is that any player in the world would have had trouble bringing that ball down perfectly.

6/1/2014 3:46:22 PM

^

6/1/2014 3:46:37 PM

Brooks looks completely different from Ukraine. He had a good year in Germany and should have more confidence.

6/1/2014 3:46:49 PM

Not true. You and I would have had difficulty, but world class strikers can make something out of that.


I think you guys are going easy on him. Green looks pretty amateurish out there, to be honest.

If that had been Jozy rather than Green on that play, the criticism Altidore has gotten would have continued.

[Edited on June 1, 2014 at 3:50 PM. Reason : ]

6/1/2014 3:47:45 PM

ugh.... hate to see jozy absolutely tearing up their D and not finishing again and again.

6/1/2014 3:49:26 PM

ok


damn Jozy should have scored there

6/1/2014 3:49:35 PM

Giroud starts for France and he would've donkeyed it up far worse than that.

6/1/2014 3:49:52 PM

Wow that was ugly

6/1/2014 3:57:47 PM

why the fuck did timmy chandler give up the ball, run him down and then run away from him?

6/1/2014 3:58:36 PM

Positives:

Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones make a good midfield duo. A anchorman to clean up and Bradley with a very effective box to box role.
Fabian Johnson was very good today I thought, his goal was even better.
Zusi is consistent and will be a very useful player on the counter attack.
Dempsey being Dempsey.
I thought Brooks has a very good game after a shaky start.

Eh, ok:
Altidore. Could have and should have been much better up front. His movement was good today, his finishing and decision making wasn't.

Negatives:
Timmy Chandler. What in the world was he doing today? Beasley isn't exactly a better option but my god Chandler was worse and I didn't think that was possible.

6/1/2014 4:12:36 PM

We looked ok on offense and created some chances, but our defense didn't impress me at all. Thank goodness Turkey couldn't put a shot on frame. We would have been losing at the half had it been the group phase of the World Cup.

6/1/2014 7:36:53 PM

So I guess in general public eyes Davis an Cameron are cheaters now a la Suarez?

6/1/2014 8:34:59 PM