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USA vs Azerbaijan (friendly); 27 May 14; Candlestick Park, San Fran,CA
Topic Started: May 20 2014, 04:01 AM (559 Views)
libero
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The Sandinavians- Diskerud and Johannsson led the way for the US.

I don't think too much was learned from this game, Ghana, Portugal and Germany will not be sitting back like this against the US. To be successful in Brazil, the US will need to counter attack effectively. Turkey and Nigeria should provide not only a better test but also should more closely approximate what the US could see in the World Cup and should give the team more chances to counter than they had in this game.
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hobbes
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Sammy Maudlin,May 27 2014
08:19 PM
Is Chandler at left back and Johnson at right back, really the best way to utilize either player?

I'm not really sure, but I do think it's the best option for the U.S. I am not convinced by Beasley at all and with Cameron looking like he's needed to partner Besler (I just don't really trust Gonzalez right now and this is where taking Brooks ahead of Goodson limits options), I think those are your best bets at outside back.

What I was surprised by was leaving Jones as the lone holding mid. I mean that's fine against Azerbaijan, but I was kind of thinking the U.S. might use Beckerman, Jones and Bradley in the middle all at the same time (at least against Germany). I don't think Jones can protect the central defence pairing on his own. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Give Bradley some freedom to get forward, but I think he has to be primarily in a holding role. Plus having two holding mids gives Johnson and Chandler a little more freedom to attack.

I think Johansson is going to be important for the U.S. at the World Cup. Unfortunately I didn't see much from Altidore that impressed me and the starting midfield in general wasn't overly impressive (I did think that Bedoya at least put in good work and had some moments).

I think most of us expect the U.S. to have to counter attack in Brazil. Yet I'm not sure they're going to be in that position in any of their pre-tournament games. Given that Donovan's decisive passing, speed and vision on the counter are some of his best traits, is it possible that Klinsmann doesn't expect his team to be a counter attacking team at the World Cup? I know he likes to attack and wants to dictate, but that just doesn't seem likely.

cheers,
hobbes
Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires
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garbaggio
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Good comments.

OK, but not overwhelming performance by the USMNT against a relatively unknown and not highly regarded opponent. Too bad they didn't wear their red-and-white striped Land of Fire! jerseys.

I'm not sure if Klinsmann has the USMNT doing extra heavy conditioning (to taper some prior to the actual WC games) but we didn't look better with the full team last night than we did against Mexico last month when we fielded a US-based side.

I'd like to see crisper passing sequences, more mid-range shots and effective passes back from overlapping players on the endline to break down Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, who mostly put forth a decent effort, was horribly complacent leaving Wondo and Johanssen so wide open on those set plays. We're unlikely to see lax marking like that in Brazil.

Bradley was a bit disappointing compared to his great game against el Tri and Besler had a couple scary moments in the back. Jozy Altidore was not much of a factor for the first hour but looked dangerous over the last 30. The announcers complained about 2 non-PK calls but the reffing was better than most WC games (Coulibaly, Larrionda) the US has played. The foul on Bedoya (I think it was him) looked like it was just inside the area but lots of refs will fudge and spot it just outside. And Johanssen went down pretty easily on that challenge late in the game.

Has Diskerud ever been called Disko Dude? Why not?
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americafutbol10
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VERY underwhelming performance...I can only hope it had a lot to do with first game kinks after a long, draining camp & an opponent who bunkered down.

Dempsey, being a last-minute scratch, didn't help. Didn't think Bradley had a great game, which was a surprise. Liked Wondo getting a couple of great looks...didn't like that he didn't finish them.

The backline wasn't very challenged but, when Azerbaijan did get a chance, it was handled easily. Omar still struggling but Cameron & Besler looked solid.

Diskerud definitely changed the pace of the game & great header by Johannsson :)

Not much to take from last night but Turkey & Nigeria...with Dempsey...should be a much sterner & more viable test.
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Winslow
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And thank you, Brad Davis, for making me look like a dope. He had a very smart and sneaky half, popping up in the right places. So did Wondolowski in his time on the pitch. I agree Bradley was fairly poor. Good point from Libero that the US will not see a WC opponent playing the Azeri style.

2-0 is the worst our boys should do against this level of opposition.
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Johnbuildr
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Yah, ok, this was a very minimal performance vs. a lowly team that the US should have put 4 goals up on without breaking a heavy sweat. Wondo, for the love of heaven, will have to finish his sitters at the Cup, if there are any, or we really will get run out of Brasil.

Underwhelming effort, underwhelming opponenet, underwhelming everything, expect for an individual performance or two like Zusi, and Bedoya who surprised me a little. Altidore skied his only decent chance. Works hard, accomplishes little and that's against a sub par team. Oh, sorry, am I bringin' ya down?? Didn't mean to bring ya down! B)

Why that team came into a nothing-to-lose-friendly like this and laid back all night I will never understand, but it did the USA practically no more good than a controlled scrimmage would have done.



Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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James
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Per my expectations, I think the objective for last night was mostly achieved (or would have been if Dempsey were on the field). After a couple of early defensive miss-touches the back line mostly settled down and handled everything including a horrible back pass or two from one of Jones or Bradley. That was actually the worst moment for me. On the whole, the group kept up pressure until the goals came. So, we know this group can win a game with the right attitude in place - box checked. Next challenge up.

I was rather dismayed by the fall off in pace from late in the first half through middle of the second when Diskerud was brought on.

Besler and Cameron looked fine; can we stop fiddling about with it already?
Beasley was not really challenged defensively. In attack I thought he was out of position and ineffective (though Altidore may have been in his space a bit too often). Chandler looked like an all around upgrade.
Johnson fared somewhat better on the right with a few productive moments in attack.
Jones stayed home but worried me constantly. I had at least one and possibly two inexcusable back passes from him.
Bradley looked off and perhaps pushing a bit too much due to the defensive bunkering. He just needs to keep the workrate up and move the ball around quickly in these situations; all will be well.
Altidore was strong at points but often seemed to be roaming in search of the game. When he did have the ball at his feet the result was usually quite positive.
Zusi and Bedoya were the bright spots in the starting XI.

The Klansman answer for who looks to come on late when we need a saving goal would seem to be Wondolowski, Diskerud or Johansson.

And what's the truth of the story with Dempsey? The booth crew did everything to minimize the situation, but if there is any questionmark on his health and he can't go for a game, just where is the onfield experience and topflight skill going to come from. Beasley - OMG! :wacko:
... Ain't no pity in the Rose City ...
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Roosevelt
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James,May 28 2014
01:52 PM


The Klansman answer for who looks to come on late when we need a saving goal would seem to be Wondolowski, Diskerud or Johansson.


Reminds self to pay close attention to the auto-complete function when I compose World Cup thoughts on the iPad. :o

I had nodded off by halftime and so appreciate all the good reports. As others have noted, the tests are about to become a bit stiffer than Azerbaijan, but dispatching beatable opponents is how you want to start things off.
Another day in June, we'll pick eleven for football
We're playing for our lives, the referee gives us f**k-all

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vince stravino
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Not exactly the cohesion one hopes for heading into a WC. Still feels like a team of parts and not completely put together.

Azerbaijan was not terrible, but did bunker. (BTW James, Azerbaijan recently tripped up US-coached Philippines (Thomas Dooley) in a friendly in Dubai, 1-0.

This performance leaves me as puzzled and as nervous as I was going into it. We had more professional players and should have worn them down (we did, sort of). We certainly looked dangerous on set pieces. Only Brad Davis and Wondo get kudos from this pundit.

Await Turkey on JUne 1st...
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Gaffer
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shelsoccer,May 27 2014
08:04 PM
No need to panic, but hardly good enough, imo.  Not enough cohesive play or opportunities created from the run of play.  We didn't learn much about the inexperienced back four as Azerbaijan was rarely threatening.

I do like the idea of a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield.  However, Bradley needs to be much more effective at the top of that diamond, and Jones makes me nervous at the back of the diamond.

The play of Zusi, Bedoya and Wondolowski (except for his finishing) was encouraging in the first half.  Nice contributions from subs Davis, Diskerud and Johansson.

The reason why Jr wasn't quite as effective in this game compared to the Mexico game was because of Jones at the 6 and having two 9's at top, and the two flank midfielders... so the link up play between back to middle to front suffer... Jones maybe be physically faster but his tactical thinking offensively and defensively is slower also passing range is less than Beckerman. Without a true second striker in a two striker formation it makes it harder to link up with the spear point of the attack. It was just a poor tactical decision by Klinsmann to go with Wondo and Altidore.... one of the two needed to come out and had AJ in Dempsey's place instead... of course I'd rather have Wondo up there than that over inflated overhyped useless Altidore. And Bedoya should not play on the left, maybe he's not confident with his left and why come into the middle too often... and why he was a little better in the second half when he was at the right.

With only two games left, and Klinsmann commitment with staying with Altidore, I think the best formation is to play the 433... and Altidore is a wide forward, AJ center, and Dempsey as the other wide forward, and Jr and Mix as the two 8's and Beckerman the 6 playing behind Jr and Mix.... Mix and Jr had some really good combination and should keep that pairing as our two box to box and Beckerman or Jones in the 6.
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Gaffer
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Roosevelt,May 28 2014
12:26 PM
James,May 28 2014
01:52 PM


The Klansman answer for who looks to come on late when we need a saving goal would seem to be Wondolowski, Diskerud or Johansson.


Reminds self to pay close attention to the auto-complete function when I compose World Cup thoughts on the iPad. :o

I had nodded off by halftime and so appreciate all the good reports. As others have noted, the tests are about to become a bit stiffer than Azerbaijan, but dispatching beatable opponents is how you want to start things off.

It's like getting ready for a prize fight, your sparing partner gets harder as the prize fight gets closer... this first one was to loosen up and work out the kinks and establish a momentum.... not good having a sparring partner that knocks you out at the first stage of training camp.
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Johnbuildr
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Maybe, but we can only accept that analogy, Gaffer, if the US looks progressively better against the better opposition. I expect them to, but they had better kick it into high gear soon or they will be beaten before they get to Brasil. :(
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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hobbes
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Does anyone else find it ridiculous that a team coached by what is effectively a member of the U.S. staff still didn't bother to try to attack? I've seen worse bunkers, but it's always nice to see a team in a nothing friendly adopt a "let's get after it and see what happens" approach.

cheers,
hobbes
Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires
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