- Jul 10, 2015
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Brad Guzan saving the day.
**Official USMNT Soccer Thread**
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by deepinthajeep,
- Start date
sonoftony
Supporter
- Apr 3, 2005
- 29,814
- 24,044
wow what a save
- Jul 30, 2011
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Dat shove in da back to Yedlin explempifies concacaf play...
- Oct 1, 2013
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Yedlin's tramp stamp makes me feel weird
sonoftony
Supporter
- Apr 3, 2005
- 29,814
- 24,044
just a bit wide
- Jul 30, 2011
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Beckerman should get a part in one of the upcoming Star Wars movies...
- Apr 30, 2011
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3 straight ugly games and we still advance :x :x :x
- Oct 1, 2013
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0 out of 8 to the USMNT today
smh
only thing worse would have been a draw with Panama play man short
smh
only thing worse would have been a draw with Panama play man short
- Jun 28, 2008
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Jurgen Klinsmann needs to stop experimenting now. Dempsey, Mix, Johannsson, Yedlin, Bradley, Beckerman, Johnson, Guzan all need to start in the knockout rounds. We gonna Yedlin pace in the back since Brooks will be out.
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- Oct 1, 2013
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either go 4-3-3
or have a skinny *** 4-4-2 diamond....... quit making central mids play out wide, it just won't happen
or have a skinny *** 4-4-2 diamond....... quit making central mids play out wide, it just won't happen
- Nov 21, 2012
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It's it me or zardes can't hold the ball for his life
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- Apr 1, 2008
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USA-Panama Gold Cup Wrap: Michael Bradley Salvages Team USA’s Sputtering Performance
By Marcus Kwesi O'Mard
First the good news: The United States men’s national soccer team’s hopes of defending its CONCACAF Gold Cup title remain on track.
Now the bad news: Team USA’s prospects of winning the 2015 Gold Cup look increasingly bleak with each passing game.
The United States and Panama played to a 1-1 draw Monday at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. The result bolstered Team USA’s already-earned status as the top team in Group A, but its performance against a hungry Panama team raised more questions than answers.
On the one hand, Team USA is grinding out results and avoiding calamity on its Gold Cup journey. On the other hand, the United States inability to sweep aside regional foes or even perform up to expectations in the first week of the tournament makes observers wonder how quickly this team is progressing in a sport in which constant improvement is mandatory for survival.
U.S. captain Michael Bradley scored a second-half goal, which cancelled out Blas Perez’s first-half opener. Bradley’s goal sparked Team USA’s revival that only was necessary because Panama had the hosts under pressure then behind in the score-line for much of the first period.
Some attribute Panama’s spirited performance to its sense of urgency and pursuit of three points, which would guarantee its Gold Cup survival. That assertion fails to pass the test of scrutiny, as there is nothing but urgency in a three-week, six-game tournament.
Panama out-played the United States for long stretches of both halves because of greater desire and sense of pride in this particular performance. That’s worrying for the United States.
Team USA showed it could dig in and scrappily beat stronger opponents during the springtime exhibitions against European teams and Mexico, but fans expect and demand something else in the Gold Cup. They want Team USA to win and do so convincingly and with style. Three games have passed, and Team USA is climbing each hurdle by any means necessary.
Bradley, the midfield general, showed he can lead this team through peaks and valleys alike.
Here are a few other things we learned in USA-Panama:
Risks apparent. Rewards to-be-determined
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann rotated his team over the course of three games in six days, but his changes failed to reveal any combinations that produce attacking fluency or defensive solidity over the course of 90 minutes.
Panama was stronger and faster out of the gate, and the United States didn’t really start playing until Klinsmann made two halftime substitutions.
Team USA hasn’t played a complete game at the Gold Cup and has yet to produce a comprehensive performance in a single half.
Striker shortage
Clint Dempsey scored three goals in Team USA’s first two games of the tournament and made an impact in the second half of the Panama game,in which he played the last 45 minutes.
But Dempsey, 32, can’t do it alone, despite his impressive track record.
Strikers Jozy Altidore and Aron Johannsson aren’t firing for fitness and playing-time reasons, respectively.
Dempsey is shouldering the burden so far, but he’s essential doing two jobs from his position as a second striker. The former Team USA captain is linking up play in the midfield and finishing chances in the opponent’s penalty area. It’s heavy work-load, and his performance level easily could deteriorate if backup doesn’t arrive soon.
Guzan the gift that keeps on giving
Guzan, Team USA’s No. 1, made more stunning saves — one in each half — as he has done throughout his tournament. Guzan said after USA-Haiti it’s his job to make those saves, but Team USA must eliminate those basic defensive errors that put Guzan in position to shine. After all, the sun always sets eventually.
- Jan 30, 2006
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I feel the same way. He had some opportunities last night but he couldn't hold the ball or his passes were too lazy.
- Jul 30, 2011
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I think it's telling how Giovinco has come into MLS & is tearing it up. His technical ability & his pace are just unbelievable to watch. He's also often the shortest player on the pitch (standing at 5'5").
The coaching & training in our country even at academy level are still lack luster compared to Europe which to me is inexcusable given the money these programs have & what parents spend.
In order for us to advance in the sport, we need to consistently develop great midfield players which we currently severely lack....
The coaching & training in our country even at academy level are still lack luster compared to Europe which to me is inexcusable given the money these programs have & what parents spend.
In order for us to advance in the sport, we need to consistently develop great midfield players which we currently severely lack....
- Apr 30, 2011
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Unless US culture changes drastically, homegrown superstars are going to be few and far between. Our best athletes are playing the big 3 (and even hockey) instead.
- Jul 30, 2011
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I think that's a misnomer, there are plenty of great athletes playing soccer in this country, I just don't see proper coaching/training being given across the board.
- Jul 10, 2015
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Thats an interesting take i never thought about it before like that myself. So would it take a better understanding of the game at the coaching/training level for it to truly take off?
- Apr 30, 2011
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I don't disagree. It's just that where the money goes, the athletes go too as does the resources for coaching and training.
- Apr 30, 2011
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A lot of these elite or upper echelon teams or even leagues don't even require coaches for the teams to have accredited licences. Often times it's the father of one of the players.
Even technical trainers teams may hire have no accreditation which is required in countries like the Netherlands where youth coaches are required to have various KNVB licences depending on level of youth program.
Same thing for England, Spain, Italy, France... To be a youth coach, you have to have a license by the national FA. You don't here & it's a hodge podge of dudes coaching & training.
One could argue, the baseball (which isn't that popular here that much), football, & basketball learned here is terrible. The fundamentals even at a college level aren't taught. That's why you see point guards that can't go left or dribble well with their left, QBs with horrible mechanics, lineman with terrible technique, & pitchers with horrible mechanics.
Look at Stephen Strasburg, pitcher for the Nationals... He was known to have terrible way of throwing since High School & no one did anything about it. Now he's an oft injured pitcher...
The NBA game is terrible. It's unbearable to watch. And the nfl, well it's the nfl... 11-13 mins of actual game time which takes 4 hours to play...
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- Jul 10, 2015
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Thanks I didn't know that. So to me it sounds like for a lot of these upper level people who train and coach are really just doing it for something to do on the weekend to stay busy.
- Jul 10, 2015
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And yeah the rest of that with the other sports is true even though i love em all. Coming up and seeing how guys were coached was really on how to use their athletic ability especially basketball (AAU doesn't help much either). A lot of dudes aren't really coached until college (maybe high school if they were lucky enough to get a coach who cared). I wouldn't say the NBA game is terrible myself but i understand what you mean. As a hawks fan as well and the years of watching Josh Smith play basketball it can get unbearable. That dude is the prime example to me of someone who was never properly coached and trained. But this is the USMNT thread so i digress lol.
- Oct 1, 2013
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good
- Jul 30, 2011
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I'm starting to think that Jozy is a graduate of the Allen Iverson school of training & practice... He looked like he was laboring to run in the games he's played in & his touch & finishing were very off. It's always been feast or famine with Jozy, but this is the worst I've seen him play for the US & with Toronto.
- Oct 1, 2013
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Beasley BYKE
Gordon
Corona I have come around on and kind of dig it
I love Jozy and in his defense, perhaps he rushed coming back from injury too quickly?
I really don't know what other explanation there is other than he was not 100% fit or he plain sucks like everything else there is about US Soccer not srs
Edit: and there is this
Gordon
Corona I have come around on and kind of dig it
I love Jozy and in his defense, perhaps he rushed coming back from injury too quickly?
I really don't know what other explanation there is other than he was not 100% fit or he plain sucks like everything else there is about US Soccer not srs
Edit: and there is this
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