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US vs CR (Gold Cup); 16 July 2013, East Hartford, CT
Topic Started: Mar 15 2013, 03:06 PM (535 Views)
vince stravino
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Group round match. Supporters tix on sale today by USSF. Appears to be a Tuesday match. No time listed as yet.
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vince stravino
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Just bumping these as they are fast approaching.
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americafutbol10
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Ok, it's time to get serious & go with our best XI:

------------------Rimando---------------
Beltran----Orozco------Goodson--DMB
-----------------Beckerman-------------
--Corona--------Diskerud------Torres--
-----------Landon---------Wondo-------

Subs: Parkhurst, Holden & Bedoya


Much as it hurts me to say it, Gooch is just not there and, while Orozco hasn't been amazing, he might be a better choice at this time. Beltran showed me more v Cuba than Parkhurst showed me v Guatemala & Belize! NO doubt that Holden will be a major part of this team but he's just not ready to start & might be a better choice as a second-half sub (change of pace)!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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vince stravino
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I liked Orozco more than Gooch. You can't teach height and that keeps Gooch in the conversation, but you can't teach speed and that drops him from the conversation.

Shea is burning his chances away. Don't forget, he became a pain in Dallas and then he was one of the reported curfew breakers in the Preolimpicos that ended in disaster....and he hardly saw the pitch at Stoke. Just does not have a good smell. Needs to embrace being a professional player more.

Holden was just oozing mediocrity. He will need to really impress with his club play to stay on Klinsmann's radar. As nice a guy as he is, he needs to be able to contribute. At this time, I feel better with Sasha or Mix or Beckerman.

Kinda feel for Gomez. He may get squeezed out of the WC conversation as Altidore and Dempsey are locks. He pulled us through early qualifying, but his clock is ticking. Wondo is just too productive to ignore at this point.

Castillo seems to be in the thick of the action quite a bit when he is on the field, but I am still on the fence. Same with Torres. Nice player, but he needs to show he can provide something indispensable to make this squad for Brazil. It may come down to Holden vs Torres for that final spot for 2014. This Gold Cup, hopefully, will give us a chance to see them against stronger competition in really big games.

Does anyone really think Donovan won't be on the squad thru Brazil anymore? He is just incredible with touch, pace and vision. Klinsmann is really trying to push his buttons. He made Gooch (?) the captain over Landon for Cuba. Just bizarre.

I have really been enjoying the matches to this point, but the competition steps up beginning next week.
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Johnbuildr
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For my money, Gooch, Shea, Parkhurst and even Torres are on the outside looking in at this point. I too am totally "unsold" on Castillo so far as well. Let's see how he shows against the tougher opponents. Orozco is on the bubble, need ot see more of him.

Holden shows he is coming back from injury very well. Plus he clearly has some special soccer skills, such as superior vision and mad touch, that the average US national team player simply does not possess. JK will likely give him plenty more chances. I don't see him as a "mediocre" player for a minute, Vince, even if he did have a quiet game Saturday. He sure didn't stink up the place like some of the others.

Donovan is a lock. The lack of making him the captain is just more of JK's mind games with LD to break him down and then build him back up as a team player. Dumb and overdone at this point if you ask me, but he is still working on his head.

If there was any question about LD going into this tourney, it has already been answered. His defensive run down the entire field to close down what would have been a very dangerous counter attack Saturday was the galvanizing moment for his National team come back. LD will be on the Brasil squad. Take it to the bank.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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TonyDE
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Onyewu and Shea have definitely been the two biggest US disappointments so far in the Gold Cup but each will have more opportunities in this tournament to redeem themselves. But both have a lot of ground to make up to catch up with their positional rivals.

Parkhurst may not be a viable candidate at right back with the full team but on this squad he is a better alternative than beltran and thus I expect he will start against Costa Rica.

The question I have is will Klinsmann look to pair Wondolowski and Gomez? In the past Gomez has been used almost as a winger. That might happen again later in this tournament so that both can be on the field together.
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americafutbol10
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I think we can all agree about Shea being a definite "miss" on the WC roster but, like John, I don't see Holden as a "mediocre" player, Vince. Yes, he had a poor game v Cuba & IMO is not ready to start but I think he's shown enough to be in the conversation & would be a great second-half sub, for a change of pace.

Really liking Diskerud, Corona, Torres and, much to my surprise, even Beckerman. Sorry, Vince but don't see Sasha as USMNT material...he's been given several chances & just hasn't impressed me.

Agree about Orozco over Gooch...and never thought I'd say that! Castillo is still on the fence, despite a pretty decent performance v Cuba...he just seems to be a major liability on defense.

Gomez didn't help himself v Cuba but wouldn't rule him out...Donovan & Wondo have been AMAZING!!

Interesting to see if JK decides to rest some players & give major PT to Beltran, Castillo, Bedoya & McInerney in the final group game, given that we've already qualifed for the QFs & need only a tie to win the group?!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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americafutbol10
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According to Grant Wahl on Twitter...JK is using his best XI v CR tomorrow night! No surprise & no issues with that decision!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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vince stravino
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US 1-0 with a late Shea goal off a great pass from Donovan.

Beasley was especially strong early as he continues to do his best Dwight Yorke impression (ala 2006). Johnson was a bit shaky, but had some bright spots in goal. I was glad Klinsmann threw him a bone in this big match.

Gooch is supposedly hurt...again. Hmmmm. Bad timing...again.

Holden and Torres were just ok. Bedoya less so. Wondo fairly invisible. I think Klinsmann was really trying to get Wondo to step up against a quality opponent. Not sure what this says.

Semi-fianl against El Salvador in Baltimore Saturday.

Did Klinsmann have a Garanimal shirt on?
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shelsoccer
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I thought Orozco and Goodson were the two best US players. Beasley was good early, solid late, and Johnson came up big a couple of times late. Everyone else was in the average range. No one was poor.
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raconteur
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I am with shelsoccer, I liked how Goodson and Orozco played together too. I expect we'll see more of them in the rest of the tournament. ;) Beasley did his job well too and seems to be developing into the prime left back candidate with the full team (assuming F.Johnson plays left midfield.)

This was the US' lineup and subs:

Johnson; Parkhurst, Goodson, Orozco Fiscal, Beasley; Holden, Diskerud; Bedoya (Corona 80th), Donovan, Torres (Shea 77th); Wondolowski (Gomez 77th).

I have to say I was disappointed in Bedoya and Parkhurst on the US' right side while Vince raises a good point about Wondolowski against better competition. Corona's late entrance for Bedoya raised the US' play IMO.

Nice counter attack goal, coming after Costa Rica nearly scored. Donovan did not have his best game but his pass to set Shea up for the goal was perfect.
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Johnbuildr
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raconteur,Jul 17 2013
12:08 AM
I am with shelsoccer, I liked how Goodson and Orozco played together too.  I expect we'll see more of them in the rest of the tournament. ;)  Beasley did his job well too and seems to be developing into the prime left back candidate with the full team (assuming F.Johnson plays left midfield.)

This was the US' lineup and subs:

Johnson; Parkhurst, Goodson, Orozco Fiscal, Beasley; Holden, Diskerud; Bedoya (Corona 80th), Donovan, Torres (Shea 77th); Wondolowski (Gomez 77th).

I have to say I was disappointed in Bedoya and Parkhurst on the US' right side while Vince raises a good point about Wondolowski against better competition. Corona's late entrance for Bedoya raised the US' play IMO.

Nice counter attack goal, coming after Costa Rica nearly scored.  Donovan did not have his best game but his pass to set Shea up for the goal was perfect.

No one has mentioned Corona, but his deft touch header down and his following long sweet pass vertically forward to Donovan set up the game's only goal perfectly. His was the single handed assist to Donovan's assist for Shea's somewhat lucky goal. A decent shot, but the keeper could have stopped that one and many would have.

For his overall play, Goodson was possibly the US MOTM. He is definitely our answer in the air to set pieces with Gooch out of the picture.

Wondo worked tirelessly, but the 5 across back line and stuffed midfield really gave the US offense fits. Expect to see some more of that before this tourney is over, men. I don't fauolt our attacking front as much as our midfield's lack of ideas in penetrating the stacked house.

DMB? Wow, his is one of the more wonderous reinventions of a NT player that I have ever witnessed in my 20+ years of fandom. Except for a few games at WC 2002, Beasley is a far better wingback than he was a midfielder.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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americafutbol10
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Was very surprised that some players didn't start...Rimando, Beckerman & Corona...especially, given JK's comments about our he was going with our best XI.

Sean Johnson was actually very good & still can't believe that Shea came on, as a sub, & scored the GW goal...after that horrible performance v Cuba, though Donovan must be credited with an incredible pass!

Holden still struggled & was surprised he started...IMO he should be used as a second-half sub from here on out, though I'm still a big fan of his.

Thought the USMNT played through the middle too much, instead of taking advantage of the flanks & led to a very uneven performance. And the play of both teams seemed to be in slo-mo at times...neither team seemed very passionate.

Really liking Goodson & Orozco and thought they did very well. Looks like Gooch's national team career might be done :(

Nobody on the USMNT looked overwhelming but not horrible either IMO. On to the knockout stage, where things get serious!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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autogol
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John makes a valid point about how Costa Rica looked to stuff the US in midfield and for the most part that worked. af10 also talked about how each team lacked some passion and I think that was to be expected with both already qualified for the next round, better to save their energies for the knockout stage. Notice how each while playing many first teamers, also left out some typical starters.

JK is giving Holden what he needs, playing time but I would not be surprised to see Beckerman and Diskerud or maybe Torres (if he does not play on the left) in central midfield in the quarterfinals.

Wondolowski is only going to be as good as the service he gets and last night that was not particularly good, thus explaining his ineffectiveness.

JK is making little tweaks each game, expect those to continue throughout this Gold Cup. Corona has stepped up his play recently and is another of those players making a case for inclusion with the "big' squad.

As for Beasley, his conversion to a defender reminds me a bit of the similar conversion of Tony Sanneh in 2002, and look how well that worked out!
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alabastergremlin
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I've only seen the highlight of the goal...from that...Donovan's pass was perfect, that could not have been made any better.

That said, Shea got lucky on that goal. He awkwardly took the first touch and took a shot that a better keeper would have saved. Maybe the awkward comment is something that only I saw or perhaps his somewhat lanky build adds to that. It would have been a shame to have missed that chance. But, credit to him for scoring nonetheless.

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