May 21, 2013

What Should Bob Bradley’s Future Be?

June 28, 2010 by 21 Comments

Over the weekend, the United States was eliminated by Ghana from the World Cup.  It is always sad to lose, but when we look back on this experience later, I think most of us will appreciate how well the United States did.  They won their group despite some suspect officiating.  They scored a gift of a goal against England in the opener for a fortunate tie.  They should have won the second game against Slovenia if not for a disallowed goal that eventually saw the referee’s dismissal from further World Cup action.  Then they overcame another disallowed goal in beating Algeria to take the group over England.  It showed a lot of heart.  Finally, the United States was not able to beat Ghana on Saturday.  The United States survived another early goal to tie it up and take it into extra time, but the journey ended there.

It was a great showing, but there were definitely some questionable decisions by coach Bob Bradley in the deciding match.  The man who almost single-handedly gave up the early goal, Ricardo Clark, was a controversial choice as starter.  Clark then compounded matters by getting a yellow card and was subsequently replaced at a very early 30 minute mark in the first half.  That used up one of the United States three allowed substitutions with a whole lot of time left on the clock.  Seeing as how the match went into extra time, it was even more.  Now, I can’t blame the loss on the coach.  At the same time, it left many wondering what the future of Bob Bradley should be with the next World Cup heading to Brazil in 2014. [Read more...]

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United States’ World Cup Ends Against Ghana 2-1

June 26, 2010 by 20 Comments

It was a decent showing in the World Cup for the United States, but that is for analysis down the road.  Today, the taste of defeat is still just a little bit too bitter for that viewpoint.  The United States survived the referees and the early goals in the opening round.  The defensive issues proved too much of a deficiency for the United States to continue in the knockout stage, as they lost to Ghana on early goals.

In the 93rd minute (very early on in extra time) the United States’ sloppy play on defense haunted them again.  It was a great finish by Ghana’s Gyan through two U.S. defenders and Tim Howard.  A long ball bounced through, Gyan survived a couple of bumps and blasted a left footed rocket practically through Tim Howard.  The United States would have twenty-some more minutes to answer once to send it to penalty kicks, or twice to win the match outright. [Read more...]

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YES! United States Beats Algeria, Ref to Win Group

June 23, 2010 by 39 Comments

The United States scored a goal.  For real!  It wasn’t disallowed or anything.  It happened off the foot of Landon Donovan in 91st minute of the game.  It should have been the second goal the United States scored, but the first was disallowed.  If the United States had failed to advance, this entire World Cup would have been remembered for the United States getting cheated out of two game-winning goals in the first round of the World Cup.  After a flurry of action and Landon Donovan’s eventual goal, all the nightmares of the first round are completely erased as the United States won their group.  It wasn’t easy though. [Read more...]

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United States Gets Cheated Against Slovenia, Ties 2-2

June 18, 2010 by 49 Comments

The United States treated their opening game tie versus England as a win.  The United States wasn’t favored in the game and England is considered the class of the opening round group.  Meanwhile, Slovenia won their first game to lead the group with three points after their victory over Algeria.  The plan for both England and the United States was for both of them to beat up on Slovenia and Algeria to advance out of group play.  At the same time, Slovenia is considered somewhat dangerous and would certainly have other ideas.  So, while the United States were favored today, it wasn’t totally inconceivable to have Slovenia score first early, which they did against a notoriously slow-starting United States team. [Read more...]

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U.S. Goalkeeper Tim Howard Should Play Against Slovenia

June 15, 2010 by 10 Comments

It was a terrifying moment for U.S. fans watching everywhere when Tim Howard stayed down after his collision with Emile Heskey in the opening half of the World Cup for the United States Men’s National Team.  It got especially scary when the backup goalkeeper started warming up on the sidelines.  After all was said and done, Tim Howard stayed in the game and really outdid himself in helping the United States tie the favored English team.  In the end, after treatment and testing, it appears that Howard will be ready to go when the United States takes on Slovenia.  It is a good thing too, as Howard is one of the clear leaders of the U.S. team. [Read more...]

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World Cup Day 2: USA 1, England 1

June 12, 2010 by 26 Comments

Craig and I are teaming up on this one, in terse timeline language. Just as a heads up. – Denny

England struck early.  Steven Gerrard somehow went streaking on a back door run through the middle of the U.S. 18 yard box where he had an easy time receiving a pass and pushing it past goalkeeper Tim Howard.  The U.S. also had a shot at stopping the pass from Emile Heskey.  Giving up a goal so early before five minutes had even elapsed off of the game clock was not a great way to start the game.

In the 18th minute the United States had a great opportunity at an equalizer.  Landon Donovan got some space on the right side and placed a beautiful cross that just missed Jozy Altidore’s head and then Dempsey’s foot.  Despite the early defensive lapse, it was good to see the U.S. maintaining their attack and aggressiveness. [Read more...]

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United States Defeats Australia 3-1

June 5, 2010 by 11 Comments

Landon Donovan and Hercules Gomez sealed a United States victory during injury time at the end of the second half to give the U.S. a 3-1 win over Australia in their last warmup game.  Donovan crossed the ball beautifully and Gomez struck it down the middle of the net to seal the victory.  The United States seemed content with their 2-1 halftime lead as they let starting goalkeeper, Tim Howard, rest in the second half.  In the end, the United States took care of business and look forward to playing against England.

At just over three minutes into the game, the United States drew first blood.  A sloppy play by the Australian backfield led to a steal by Edson Buddle just outside Australia’s 18 yard box.  A couple of moves later, Buddle, starting for injured Jozy Altidore, blasted a right footed shot past the Australian keeper’s left shoulder. [Read more...]

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U.S. World Cup Team Defeats Turkey 2-1

May 30, 2010 by 15 Comments

The United States Men’s National Team was in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday for a World Cup warmup “friendly” against Turkey.  It was one of the team’s last games before World Cup action starts on June 12th against England.  With lots of questions about the team, specifically their defense,the U.S. was looking to find some chemistry and potentially some momentum and confidence. After trailing early, the United States came back and defeated Turkey 2-1.

The United States trailed Turkey 1-0 after a first half of relatively uneven play.  When the U.S. was taking care of the ball, they created opportunities.  They were playing relatively wide open.  Counter-attacking was the story of the half.  When the U.S. drove deep into Turkey’s end, they were quickly barraged right back.  This was the case unfortunately for U.S. defenseman Jonathan Spector.  Spector got caught sleeping on the right side of the back line and nearly single-handedly gave up the lone goal. [Read more...]

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