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| USA at Bosnia-Herzegovinia (friendly); Sarajevo, B-H; 14 Aug 2013 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 4 2013, 05:41 PM (1,385 Views) | |
| hobbes | Aug 14 2013, 01:04 PM Post #31 |
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Thank you. I would have enjoyed six, but thank you. That is all. cheers, hobbes |
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| Merengue | Aug 14 2013, 03:45 PM Post #32 |
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haha, hobbes taking a lot of pleasure for the uninformed here in ex Canada goalie Begovic of Bosnia eating 4 goals tonight! ![]() Wow at halftime with the US down 0-2 I thought the game was over, is witched on Spain's match with Ecuador and missed Jozy Altidore's 2nd half hat trick and another goal by Eddie Johnson. Edin Dzeko got his second at the end to make it respectable for Bosnia. Final score US 4-3 Bosnia. For those like me, who did not see the comeback,a report on the game plus Grant Wahl's 3 thoughts on the win. as often with Wahl they are intelligent comments. |
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| shelsoccer | Aug 14 2013, 03:49 PM Post #33 |
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A stirring second half from the US. Admittedly, it started after Bosnia brought on a bunch of subs at the break. The US took advantage -- coupled with JK's switch to a 4-4-2 -- and then played Bosnia relatively even after making its own subs. I wasn't overly impressed by Brooks, but I sure want more looks. He's impressive physically and only 20 years old. I can see him being the fourth center back for Brazil, but I do need to see more. In less time, Johansson impressed me more. Good athleticism, good first touch, good vision; you can see the potential and why Iceland is upset about losing him (assuming he does become cap-tied to the US). What to say about Jozy? Well, "wow" would be a starting point. He might just be the long-awaited premier goal scorer the US has lacked forever. His recent performance has me dreaming about Brazil '14. The US has never had attacking options like him, Dempsey, Donovan, Zusi and Johnson. Then you look down the bench and see players like Gomez, Bedoya, Corona and maybe Johansson and Diskerud (who was not good today). Oh, btw, Bradley's ability to hold and create is huge. If we can sort out our outside back situation, I really don't see any holes in this team come next summer and a run well into the knock-out phase is certainly a possibility. I can remember thinking after S. Africa '10 that we were pretty bereft at a lot of spots. Credit to JK for bringing along some youngsters, recruiting dual-nationals, his scheduling and his patience/flexibility. There are certainly other factors -- the continued productivity of our soccer system, the improvement of MLS, the maturation of young Americans in Europe -- but I'm very optimistic about next summer. I'm not talking about winning a World Cup, but right now I'd be disappointed if we didn't match our '02 performance. (Deep breath) OK, it was just 45 minutes of seductive soccer, albeit against a good European team playing at home. So, somebody rein me back in. |
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| enganche | Aug 14 2013, 04:06 PM Post #34 |
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I did not know Altidore had that free kick ability in him. Nice free kick goal there. And thanks Merengue for pointing out why hobbes was so giddy about this win. ![]() Klinsmann has made the US into a pretty confident team and they have in Altidore and Bradley two very good players who should continue improving between now and World Cup 2014. shelsoccer, Johansson is now a US player, even if this match did not officially cap tie him what did was his request to FIFA to switch national teams, a player can only do that once so Johansson cannot change his mind again and try and play for Iceland again even if the US did not want him in the future (which after this performance looks extremely unlikely.) |
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| americafutbol10 | Aug 14 2013, 04:12 PM Post #35 |
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What a difference a half makes I thought the first half we were timid & slow but the second half we really turned it on & the passing was much quicker & precise....and I give credit to Klinsmann, for making a tactical switch & it worked to PERFECTION! What more can I say about Jozy Altidore...the dude is HOTTTTT & that free kick I liked Brooks & Cameron at CB...yes, there were mistakes but, considering it was their first game together ever, IMO it was very solid.I think this game proves that Fabian Johnson should play at LM, not LB, for the foreseeable future. Michael Bradley is always the forgotten man but his game is THE glue that holds the midfield together...another outstanding performance! Evans did enough IMO to warrant being the #1 choice at RB, should Cherundolo not be available by next summer! Bedoya was not bad but I prefer Corona right now. I was cringing when Castillo came on but he performed pretty good. Didn't think Diskerud was that bad & truly believe his place on the roster is very solid. Jones, on the other hand, didn't have a good game IMO and, much as I love Howard, he's not quite as dominant as he used to be. Yes, he made a great save when it was 2-2 but the rebound on the first goal was not good IMO...though, the defense didn't back him up either. Eddie "Demolition Man" Johnson really came alive when he was pushed up top with Jozy! Thought the first Bosnia goal was a blatant offside...but that's me :rolleyes: Loved how the boys fought back, after such a poor first half & thought the "new boys", Brooks & Johannsson, were very impressive and can't wait to see more of them! GREAT game by Jozy & solid comeback win, on the road, against a quality opponent...by the way, Edin Dzeko is quite a star & happy he's on one of my EPL fantasy league teams
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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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| shelsoccer | Aug 14 2013, 06:04 PM Post #36 |
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Thanks, enganche. After posting, I read where Johansson is cap-tied. |
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| Yogi | Aug 14 2013, 08:10 PM Post #37 |
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For those who didn't see the game, look for a replay on espn3.com. It is worth watching. Good work by Bosnia in the first half and yes their substitutions probably did aid the US comeback but let us not downplay the US' effort, notably the adjustments Klinsmann made. And yes of course Altidore's play, he was simply excellent in this match. One of, if not the best performances I have ever seen by a US forward. Here for the record is the lineup the US used, Howard; Evans (Wood 88), Cameron, Brooks, F.Johnson (Parkhurst 79); Bradley, Jones (Kljestan 70); Bedoya (Corona 63), Diskerud (Castillo 46), E.Johnson (Johannsson 63); Altidore. Paul Kennedy of Soccer America's review of the match. Bottom line is Klinsmann is going to have some lineup decisions to make before the US' next match away to Costa Rica. |
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| vince stravino | Aug 15 2013, 03:28 AM Post #38 |
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Very fun game to watch. Winning, after going down 0-2 in a hostile environment against a very good European squad, was just fantastic. Altidore is riding an amazing wave of confidence. Anything like this for Sunderland and he will be a legend in the north of England. Giving up three goals (two on headers in the box) is pause for concern. It is an on-going concern. This game may prove a pivotal time in Klinsmann's tenure. Is it going to be the high-water mark or a spring board for greater accomplishments? Mexico is finding it's way and the Sept 10 clash in Columbus will be interesting. Brooks looks like a player...for the future. Mix was fine. Bedoya effective. Bradley was a stud. Castillo remains shakey. Howard was a push and it is interesting Everton has brought in another keeper to push him (Robles?). Fabian Johnson may be penciled in, barring injuries, for the long run. Pretty impressive win even though it was a friendly. Anyone else take note of Altidore's mild slight to JK in his post-game interview when he said the players were buying into Klinsmann's plan which had begun under Bob? |
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| Johnbuildr | Aug 15 2013, 05:34 AM Post #39 |
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Jozy didn't know it either, I don't think... :rolleyes: My son and I were lamenting the poor free kicking sans Donovan about the time Altidore hit that swerving, dropping knuckle ball. I honestly don't know if that was just a one in a million strike or if he has more of those in him. But his first free kick was about a D-. And Bradley's soft chip of another sucked as well.... In any case, I don't know if we've ever seen a free kick drop that hard and fast after clearing the wall from that short a distance to goal. Unreal. Big point by Vince that bears close watching. How is the US continually giving up headers in their defensive box with all the height and athleticism on hand? The USA D was actually better than the halftime score indicated against a very talented attack, playing with great confidence on their home turf. But Bosnia sure made them pay for the very few and brief but critical lapses. Still, other than Tim's one great second half save and the late goal, how many other shots on frame did they have? Not many at all. Giving up 3 always sucks, but thought the D was decent most of the time. Still not sold on Castillo at all, although he was certainly adequate. Diskerud may have had a bit of a tough game, but he was flying all over the field. I like him. Hate his hair however. Welcome to 2013 Mix... Yep, Johannsson's got that special "it" doesn't he? You can just tell even in that short flash. Klinsmann continues to get great results with mixed line ups. Jozy may still love Bob(good catch Vince), but this is Jurgen's team and it looks special, or like it could become special. I share Shel's enthusiasm. This team's future is currently so bright they have to wear shades, if they keep up this level of intensity and focus the sky is the limit. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| vince stravino | Aug 15 2013, 12:37 PM Post #40 |
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The last time I can recall such a free kick (like Jozy's) was Clint mathis nailing the winner in San Pedro Sula during WCQ 2001 in the waning moments of the match that secured the US Men's Nats first ever win in Central America in WCQ. |
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| hobbes | Aug 15 2013, 02:24 PM Post #41 |
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Happiness is watching Be6ovic pick the ball out of his net. ![]() Okay, Shel, cold water time... Jozy has shown the ability to be as cold as he his hot right now. Dempsey is taking a step down in level of play, Donovan appears to have his head on straight, but a year ago played with the joy of someone making a trip to the dentist. I don’t think Zusi is in the same class as the other attacking threats (though I like Zusi). The backline is a problem. The marking has been loose on set pieces consistently regardless of opposition. Even modestly talented players with pace, like Ariel Martinez, have caused them problems. At this stage a year out, this seems like a weaker back four than the U.S. has had at almost any World Cup since 98. And I would rather have a stong back four than trying to out-gun teams at the World Cup. After playing Devil’s advocate, I would say that if Jozy is in good form next summer (and I see no reason why he can’t be, he seems to be improving as a player) and Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley and Fabian Johnson are healthy, the U.S. will be very dynamic. And as much as attacking with your backs is important to the modern game, if the American’s biggest weakness is the quality of their outside backs, then that’s not a bad situation to be in. I understand the optimism, but Brazil is still a long ways off. cheers, hobbes |
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| shelsoccer | Aug 15 2013, 06:20 PM Post #42 |
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Fair enough, Hobbes. Let's see how the rest of qualifying goes and the form/health of players nine months from now. |
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| shelsoccer | Aug 15 2013, 06:41 PM Post #43 |
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Let me add some additional thoughts about the US defense. Yesterday's game obviously did not feature the likely US starting back four, not that Hobbes' comments were singling out just that game. Given his age and recent injury problems, I'm still hopeful that Cherundolo will be our starting right back in Brazil and summon one last hoorah. I'm less concerned about left back where I'm comfortable with either Beasley (another last hoorah) or F. Johnson. I think the likely centerback combo of Gonzalez and Besler stands to improve noticeably given their ages and relative lack of time together. I'm still on board with Howard. If it's Howard with Cherundolo, Gonzalez, Besler and Beasley, I'm reminded of Sweden's 1994 WC third-place team. That team featured two aging outside backs (Llung and Nilsson), an aging keeper (Ravelli) and two young center backs (Andersson and Bjorklund). I could go on with comparisons between that Swedish team and the current US team, but I've already turned into a complete homer by referencing my two favorite national teams. So, I'll quit. |
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| alabastergremlin | Aug 15 2013, 10:28 PM Post #44 |
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I noticed the comments Altidore made about Bradley. But I didn't take them as a slight against JK in anyway. I saw them more as a little credit being passed to the previous coach that, the very end withstanding, didn't do too bad with his time at the helm. |
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| hobbes | Aug 15 2013, 11:13 PM Post #45 |
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Oh definitely, this is a quick cold shower take a year before things matter. I reserve the right to be drinking the U.S. Kool Aid in six months. I think you have a very good side, I was only trying to offer more of skeptical outsider view. I like Gonzalez and Besler a lot and I think they can grow into a pair that can get the job done — to a point. But they need to keep improving and building chemistry. I like the young MLS guys together more than Cameron, but I think JK needs to try to commit to a pairing. I think Cameron has to play central defence for Stoke to be in the conversation there. I guess we’ll see. I don’t have a lot of faith in Goodson at that high of a level. Brooks is probably not there yet, but a full year in the Bundesliga and he may be pretty close. And to be clear I’m not talking about being at international level, I mean winning your group at a World Cup, winning a round of 16 game level of internationally soccer. If Cherundolo is even close to his old self and can start then that’s a massive step. I’ve been impressed by Davis of late, but I’m still not entirely convinced. I think Beasley can be effective, but only against a certain type of opposition. I think he could be shredded by the wrong team. I’m a big Fabian Johnson fan, but I think he’s better in the midfield. That being said, he’s going to have a hard time getting into the midfield the way it’s looking. Dolo-Gonzalez-Besler-FJohnson could be better than 2010, but there’s about three ‘ifs’ I would want to qualify that with. But the road is long and who knows things will be like in eight months. That’s a pretty interesting comparison with Sweden. And not a bad one at all, but I would say neither Gonzalez, nor Besler are Patrik Andersson, who was a regular in the side at Euro 92 when he was still really young. He was one of the best young central defenders in the game if I recall correctly. And Cherundolo is a lot older than Bjorklund and Nilsson (man I miss Wednesday being a good side), but I take your point. I think having Cherundolo back would be immense and Howard will help the young central pairing a lot. And Bradley (and possibly Jones and/or Cameron) should protect them pretty well up the middle. cheers, hobbes |
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I liked Brooks & Cameron at CB...yes, there were mistakes but, considering it was their first game together ever, IMO it was very solid.

11:25 AM Jul 11