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| US vs Honduras (Gold Cup Semi); Dallas, TX; 24 July 13 7pm EST | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 22 2013, 02:24 PM (458 Views) | |
| shelsoccer | Jul 26 2013, 10:45 AM Post #16 |
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I'm interested in how much better Donovan has played in the Gold Cup vs. his play for the Galaxy since he ended his sabatical. Is he just now rounding into form? Is he more motivated to regain his spot on the national team? Is he just waiting to turn it up for LA when crunch time hits? Or, is he just that much better than the competition in this Gold Cup? Mind you, I'm not a Galaxy fan. I could care less how he plays for LA (well, sorta). But, his play for the national team has me has me dreaming of what an attacking foresome of Altidore, Zusi, Dempsey and Donovan could do for our chances in Brazil. Add in options off the bench like Johnson, Gomez and maybe Corona and Bedoya. When was the last time the US had that many quality attacking players? I'll answer that question -- never. |
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| James | Jul 26 2013, 02:00 PM Post #17 |
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Donovan looks great in this competition: motivated, quick, intelligent, nice touch, on target... I keep trying to remind myself, however, that what Donovan does now is the same thing as what he has always been able to do; that is he slices you up when you give him space and time. He's not a holding player and he's not an initiator. The current competition cannot run with him and are occupied by all the quality that is around him - therefore, he is free to do his thing. He's excellent, and there is probably nobody else - even on the A level teams - in CONCACAF that is at his level at what he does. The same goes in MLS to somewhat less affect. However, there is more parity among the mid-field players in MLS than what we are seeing now and his production, while quite good, is certainly lower as a result. We shall see for ourselves soon enough. In Europe, he probably could have been a quality player (and still could be). The technical capability is there to succeed at that level, but his head-space was not right. Perhaps this experience is turning things around for him. But, I'm certainly not yet convinced that he's the same player when the chips are down as he is when it's all going well. In contrast, players like Bradley and Dempsey might actually have less overall ability, but the mentality seems much stronger. I just finished reading a couple of articles that are all but proclaiming Donovan as a lock starter for the 2014 World Cup. Incredibly they are nearly saying the same about Johnson. How quickly they forget what Josi was accomplishing up top with Jones and Dempsey slashing behind him. I imagine Klinsmann will take a very different approach and adapt the players and tactics to the game at hand - the team will be much stronger and far more difficult to scheme against as a result. That's one opinion anyway. |
| ... Ain't no pity in the Rose City ... | |
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| vince stravino | Jul 26 2013, 02:11 PM Post #18 |
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James, you can add Wondo to the list that all the pundits had penciled in as a "lock" for Brazil after his early play in the Gold Cup. He is gonna be a reach to make it. Gomez might be on the wrong side of the math as well. A lot will happen between now and next summer and injuries are certainly going to be in the mix. |
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| Sammy Maudlin | Jul 27 2013, 05:50 PM Post #19 |
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Mind you, I'm not a Galaxy fan. I could care less how he plays for LA (well, sorta). But, his play for the national team has me has me dreaming of what an attacking foresome of Altidore, Zusi, Dempsey and Donovan could do for our chances in Brazil. Add in options off the bench like Johnson, Gomez and maybe Corona and Bedoya. When was the last time the US had that many quality attacking players? I'll answer that question -- never. That is an exciting foursome of attackers and then there also will be Michael Bradley coming forward from midfield. If Klinsmann gets the defense sorted by next year this could be a very good US team. |
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11:25 AM Jul 11