ActStriker
Member
So I guess that witch doctor was pretty ineffective.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
American Soccer |OT| Life, liberty and the pursuit of the beautiful game
- Thread starter Askani
- Start date
- Status
lastflowers
Banned
I literally just posted the same thing in the WC OT without seeing your post. I think this would be a good move, as it puts Bradley in his best position and enables a bit more creativity up front through Diskarud. Beckerman's been playing very solid ball though, so it's hard to replace him.
Cornballer
Member
The team just looked exhausted out there, and it isn't too surprising given the minutes they've logged so far in difficult conditions. Beckerman, Jones, Bradley, Beasley, Johnson, and Dempsey have played every minute. It's frustrating how they can't quite deliver what they're capable of (Bradley in particular) but I can't fault the effort. The lack of additional help at center midfield, particularly towards the defensive side, is worrying. Maybe Klinsmann should slide Cameron back to d-mid if necessary. (Sort of joking.)
Props to Gonzalez for a big performance today. He delivered under pressure.
Props to Gonzalez for a big performance today. He delivered under pressure.
Netherlands? CONCACAF Semi final, baby! The Dos a Cero heard around the world.
"So what? Belgium isn't even that good of a team anyway. Of course the US was going to win. Come back when you beat real opposition"
or something like that.
Teams look completely different from the group stages to the knockout stages all the time. We've sort of coasted along without playing a complete game yet - Portugal was close but still a series of mental lapses. It is alarming that we played so poorly today but, again, we looked quite tired.
Mix tweeted the exact same thing!
Yup everyone seemed off today and didn't see anything from US the 2nd half. A little disappointed in Fabian Johnson especially since he gave up so many balls on potential counters. He needed to be more patient with the ball
I wouldn't mind seeing Yedlin and Mix start over Zusi and Bedoya. I say it's worth a shot
smokeandmirrors
Banned
Time to regroup and relax for a day. We made it through however sloppy we played. Time to look forward and forget the past. TO BELGIUM.
Cornballer
Member
A couple quick takes on the match:
- Grant Wahl: Death Defiers: USA loses to Germany but advances to World Cup final 16
- Jeff Carlisle: U.S. grades: Yanks advance!
- Grant Wahl: Death Defiers: USA loses to Germany but advances to World Cup final 16
- Jeff Carlisle: U.S. grades: Yanks advance!
lastflowers
Banned
NoRéN;118384808 said:
admittedly, Belgium hasn't looked that great thus far. Enough to top their group, but not convincing with the star-filled roster they have. It'd still be an achievement, but it's not nearly as improbable as it would have been a month ago.
Cornballer
Member
Delicious Waffles
Member
Those aren't bad odds.
When are they playing next? I remember hearing next Tuesday? If so, they'll get some much deserved rest and, hopefully, Jozy will be back.
When are they playing next? I remember hearing next Tuesday? If so, they'll get some much deserved rest and, hopefully, Jozy will be back.
Cornballer
Member
Avon Barksdale
Member
Is he their best player?
ActStriker
Member
Cornballer
Member
Not even close. It just helps that they'll have to shuffle the lineup a little and run more in this game since they're down a man.
We gonna beat 9 point Belgium 3-1. Jozy with a hat trick.
Delicious Waffles
Member
Shit, my username. :/
Grover Cleveland
Member
I wasn't able to watch the match today, (First time missing the USMNT in at least 7 years) but just from looking on the stat sheet, Germany dominated from the start, is that correct?
68-32 possesion in their favor
12-2 shots in their favor
6-0 shots on target in their favor
One of those stats leaning one way could be pretty misleading, but all three of them pointing so heavily Germany's way don't really leave much doubt.
Still we're through the group stage which is ultimately a credit to this team considering the draw. Now we wipe the slate clean and get ready for Belgium.
(Shout out to Ronnie Da Gawd, I was never quite ready to write off Portugal)
68-32 possesion in their favor
12-2 shots in their favor
6-0 shots on target in their favor
One of those stats leaning one way could be pretty misleading, but all three of them pointing so heavily Germany's way don't really leave much doubt.
Still we're through the group stage which is ultimately a credit to this team considering the draw. Now we wipe the slate clean and get ready for Belgium.
(Shout out to Ronnie Da Gawd, I was never quite ready to write off Portugal)
Guys... we did it.
Piers Morgan @piersmorgan
If USA progress further in this World Cup than England, I can never return there. My life would be unbearable. #ENGvURU
1:24 PM - 19 Jun 2014
Piers Morgan @piersmorgan
If USA progress further in this World Cup than England, I can never return there. My life would be unbearable. #ENGvURU
1:24 PM - 19 Jun 2014
I don't get why US fans are supposed to thank Ronaldo, we'd have won the group even if he hadn't scored. In fact the gap would have been larger, US with 4 points, Ghana and Portugal with 2. And having now watched the goal, we should probably be thanking Ghana's goalkeeper for batting the ball down straight to Ronaldo instead of catching it.
smokeandmirrors
Banned
they'll always be salty as fuck which makes us moving on so much sweeter. Even if we won the world cup they'd push those goal posts to the stratosphere.
his goal just made it less stressful on the entire game and us. Yes I know they were heading for a draw which would help us through but still i feel like we gotta respect him... idk im still drinking from the game.
Cornballer
Member
- Jeff Carlisle: U.S. needs possession to continue run
NYCmetsfan
Banned
I wasn't watching that game and just was stressed ghana was gonna score and screw us, his goal ended that fear. Though in the end a tie would have been fine
His goal seemed to take a lot of the wind out of Ghana's sails, who knew they then needed 2 goals to have a shot at advancing. It was big.
Of course, had he not delivered that cross against us, we wouldn't have needed him to score today. So it all evens out in the end.
Cornballer
Member
- Grant Wahl: USA set to 'really get started' after reaching World Cup knockout stage
- MLS Analyst: USMNT say "Not today" to Group of Death, advance to Round of 16 (assorted tactical analysis)
- MLS Analyst: USMNT say "Not today" to Group of Death, advance to Round of 16 (assorted tactical analysis)
NYCmetsfan
Banned
Where you at the game?
Good thing your amphibious
Delicious Waffles
Member
Agreed 100%.
If they're pressured in their own half, they give it up way too easily. Ghana and Germany proved that. Belgium will do the same. That's the only thing that keeps scaring me as we go forward.
Grover Cleveland
Member
Reading this as a United fan makes me laugh. He did absolutely nothing in the club season. Basically a 30 million pound parting gift from David Moyes to Everton.
Of course, now that's he's not on my team he's going to go back to being quality.
On the one hand, Belgium is the one team that the USMNT just seemed to have no answers for in the Klinsmann era. And if they put it all together, they may be the most talented team left in the field.
But on the other hand, they really haven't been able to put it together so far this tourney.
I think we can do it.
Battersea Power Station
Member
They need possession in general; I'm not sure they should go for it now though, since I don't want them experimenting with things they suck at. They beat Ghana with 40% possession and almost beat Portugal with 48%.
Their strengths are physical midfield challenges and speed on counterattacks. The most they can do this Cup is focus on those and play hard.
I'd love to see a calmer US team more in control of the ball, but that's something they can develop for 2018, helped by the confidence boost from this tournament.
Nelsen is a general. Klinsman is a tactician.
Cornballer
Member
- Brian Straus: USA's chaotic group stretch ends with win-feeling loss and knockout berth
- Grant Wahl video: U.S. advances despite loss, won't dwell on group stage
- Grant Wahl video: U.S. advances despite loss, won't dwell on group stage
This might be the first time anyone has called Klinsmann a tactician. Or is Klinsman some other dude...
Which Klinsman are you referring to?
Cornballer
Member
Of interest from the end of this video:
It'd be great if Altidore could play a role in the next game, but it still sounds like a long shot. I do think that Altidore coming off has played some role in Bradley's issues and the possession problems for the US thus far. Bradley is playing out of position yet he's still covering a lot of ground on defense. As others have noted, he's run more than any other player in the tournament through three games, so fatigue is undoubtedly an issue. You can't play d-mid and a-mid at the same time, but it seems like he's trying. This doesn't fully explain why he seems "off" at the moment, but perhaps it's contributing. Altidore coming off hasn't helped Dempsey either, but Clint is still generating some offense with the scraps he's being fed.
The offset midfield diamond that the US was running in the Turkey & Nigeria games seemed to be getting most of the best players on the field and presented a somewhat balanced lineup that could defend and attack. (Obviously, the level of competition in the three group games is higher than those were.) Having Jozy go down threw that out the window and now there are a couple of players out of position, but you have to make the best of what you've got left. I guess the question is whether Klinsmann should stick with what he's used so far (more or less a 4-1-4-1) or change things up for the Belgium match.
- Status