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USA vs South Korea (friendly); Sat 1 Feb 2014 Carson, CA
Topic Started: Dec 23 2013, 10:26 AM (537 Views)
americafutbol10
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Embarrassing to admit but missed the game, because of two big no-no's...no food & binge drinking! Wound up passing out at the tailgate & spend the rest of the day & evening in the ER.

Did set my DVR & some thoughts:

- Attacking is fine, though our finishing is still an issue.

- Backline is still a major issue, especially the outside.

- Very lucky that Korea didn't finish their chances...won't be so lucky v Germany, Portugal or Ghana <_<

- Bummed that Magee didn't get the chance to impress...just hope he feels better soon.

- Zusi proved again IMO, why he should definitely start in the WC, opposite Landon Donovan.

- Great job by Wondo...in putting away those two chances.


Good result v quality opponent...look forward to seeing how the "A" team does at Ukraine next month!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

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

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vince stravino
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af10. Ouch! Hope you are hydrating now. Looked like fun inside the stadium. Maybe next time...

Mix was not especially impressive in the starting roll.

Parkhurst was fine. Gonzo, eh, a bit iffy.

Good effort, fun game...but I can't make too much of it.

South Korea was not close to full strength. It was their third game in eight days (beat CR in San Jose; lost in Azteca badly).

Only Parkhurst, Beckerman, Zusi and Wondo really made a mark. Rimondo will be on the roster as #3, for sure.

Welcome Gaffer.
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Merengue
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Damn af10, hope you are all right now. Water is the key to recovery.

My thoughts are like Rufus', for an early year friendly not bad but I seriously doubt anybody played themselves on or off the World Cup roster.
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libero
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I was most disappointed in the play of Evans and Diskerud. merengue is probably correct nobody played themselves on to or off the roster but in my view neither of the two I named heelpd their cause while Wondolowski helped put himself back into contention for a final roster spot.

Overall my thoughts are like the general consensus here, not bad for an early season friendly but a lot of work remains ahead.

af10, get well soon. Sounds like you made a rookie mistake there! ;)
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Martin
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I did go to the game as a friend of mine got some good tickets for us halfway between the penalty area and the center circle. I also stopped by and had a few drinks with af10 and his crazy US Outlaw friends the night before in downtown LA, I knew you guys were in trouble after you talked about wanting to finish 3 bottles of sake at your pre game party! Hope you feel better soon af10 and learned your lesson for future games!

As for the game itself, I will join the chorus in saying nobody played themselves either on or off the team but like some other posters I was not impressed with either Evans or Diskerud in this game. Evans in particular was getting beat all match long. Well he is not a natural defender and in person that really showed as he was much more apt to push forward than stay back and defend. I do think this match, however, will make Klinsmann think serious ly about the propriety of using Evans as a defender on the World Cup roster.

As for Diskerud, he remains the closest thing to a Michel Bradley clone on the roster so he still remains a strong candidate for Brazil but this was not a good match for him.

I also did not really get the praise I was reading (not here but in online articles on the match) for Parkhurst. I had agreat view of his play from where I was seating and he looked like what he is, a right footed guy playing out of position at left back. Maybe he plays there in an emergency or a match like this but the US does not want him there in Brazil.

Great poaching by Wondolowski, he did not contribute that much to the overall play but his finishing was clinical. And watching Graham Zusi in person makes me appreciate him even more. The guy works hard, has nice skill, plays collectively and is a superb crosser of the ball.

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americafutbol10
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Thanks to everybody for your good wishes. Yes, it was a rookie mistake...HUGE one...and embarrassing, considering I'm no rookie :rolleyes:

It was great chatting about the beautiful game with Martin at the pre-game & glad you got to see the game. Definitely, learned my lesson...EAT before you drink & NEVER binge drink <_<

One other thought regarding the game & it's important for the future...our set piece defending is VERY mediocre & hope JK works on that before we get to Brazil. If we don't improve on that, could be a very short WC run.
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

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Johnbuildr
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Kinda funny, me calling you and your pals "too whacky" earlier in this same thread, af10! You proved my accusation my man! Sake? o.m.g.
Hopefully you are fully recovered by now. Watch out for yourself! :o (My sons' tailgating routine for a long day of intake: at least a half bottle of water for every mixed drink or beer. Ya gotta pee a lot, but you SURVIVE to see the game!! lol.)

Welcome to the board Gaffer.

The US could use some work on set pieces for sure, but that Korean team was really good on them, you could tell they kind of prided themselves on them, above all else as it turns out.

Zusi, wow, is he ever "all in" for Brasil. Only question is whether he will start. You know, a US pool including the likes of Zusi, LD, Dempsey, EJ, Altidore, Johannsson and maybe one or two others slipping my mind will give JK the most dangerous and and deepest attacking contingent ever imo. With solid support from Bradley and a strong supporting cast, the US is "only" in need of a dependable back line to make this an extremely formidable team.

Maybe no one played themselves off the team, but Misk has had so many chances and is so up and down I am beginning to think he is wasting his final chances. And my opinion of Evans is lower than that, I don't think he is good or consistent enough. Put another way, I hope someone else better makes it instead.

The new caps are all looonnng shots, but anything can happen.

Rimando looked strong. Stole one from the Koreans too.

We need better top level competition from here on out. Thought Korea would be, but not with that roster as it turns out.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Roosevelt
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Three days later and all the highlights have been covered, one slightly odd note (to me) that was mentioned in the broadcast is that Klinsmann apparently has approached new Columbus Crew head coach (and, of course, former US Nat) Gregg Berhalter about playing Parkhurst as a fullback between now and June as a way of increasing MP's chances of making the final 23.

Berhalter, who had been assuming he was getting a centerback when Parkhurst signed, agreed to play him outside. WTF? I appreciate there's a bit of a symbiotic relationship between MLS and the US Nats, but that seems to carry it a bit too far, IMHO.

(I will add, re: Evans---from your [collective] lips to Klinsmann's Ear. Please!!! And af10---live and learn! Very happy it was no worse than that, however!)
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raconteur
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Berhalter has to do what is best for his club, not what is best for the US national team.

Funny but I always liked Parkhurst as a central defender and thought he was a pretty good distributor from deep when he played there for New England. As a fullback he is "meh" in my opinion and if Cherundolo and/or Chandler are available then I think Parkhurst will be a long shot to make the World Cup squad. The same applies to Evans even if he did do an adequate job at right back in qualifying.
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americafutbol10
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I do like the job JK is doing...for the most part...but do have issues with some of his decisions:

- Insisting on starting Jermaine Jones in CM :angry:

- Insisting that Geoff Cameron's best position with the USMNT is at CB...when it's pretty obvious that he's better at DM or, should be given a full shot at RB, where he's more needed :rolleyes:

It's good to have players with some versatility but players should also get set positions & stick with them.
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Sammy Maudlin
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Cameron plays right back at Stoke and has done pretty well when playing there for the national team. If the World Cup started tomorrow, odds are Cameron would be starting at right back.

As for the Korea game, a good early year tune up, I disagree with the contention that nobody played themselves off the team. I'd say fringe players who barely saw action in the game like Feilhaber or Magee who missed the match all together are extremely unlikely to make it to Brazil. And youngsters like Yedlin, Gil and Alexander are even more unlikely, their chance will come in 2018.
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Johnbuildr
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,,,and Sammy comes to the mike strong! B)

Have to strongly agree with you too, even though I barely touched on it in my previous post saying "maybe" no one played themselves off the team.

With only a couple of matches left before JK names a roster and gets down to business in prep games for the Cup, the chances for bubble players have almost run out. Any bubble player who didn't light it up in JK's eyes last weekend is probably out, barring injuries as always.
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hobbes
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Pre-game sake?! That is crazy. And you guys were at Casey's? On Grand Ave? I was there twice.

I'm glad you're feeling better AF10. Water and food, always. There's plenty of time for drinking after the match.

cheers,
hobbes
Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires
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americafutbol10
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Thanks, hobbes...yeah, water & food are definitely important. Funny thing is that I've had TONS more alcohol in the past...wow, that doesn't make me look better, does it?...but never passed out <_<

Feel SOOO bad for Mike Magee...this was his big chance to show JK what he could do. Food poisoning? Talk about BAD luck...I missed the game because of STUPIDITY...but hope Magee gets another chance soon.

Actually, I think Wondo might have played himself back into serious contention...depending on his form with SJ, as well as, how Gomez & Boyd perform in the next few months.
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

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

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

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Johnbuildr
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Johannsson and Aguldelo may have an impact on Wondo's selection as well.

But everyone keeps calling Wondo's 2 goals 'clean up' goals like they weren't that big a deal or didn't require much effort, so JK may not rate them as high as he would otherwise, who knows? It was still a lovely double of course...
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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