Generic MGoBlogger

July 5th, 2013 at 11:34 PM ^

Excited to see if Donovan can resume where he left off.  Team has played well without him, but having him at full strength again would be great for the team.  I know we probably won't see the full team again until next WC qualifier, but this team with the emergence of Jozy, could be lethal on the attack come Cup time.  Just a matter of how the defense is able to come together... Either way, definitely a team with a bunch of potential, and Klinsman has done a great job of putting this team together.

RationalBuckeye

July 5th, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^

This game is rather hard to watch after the play in the cup qualifiers. A lot of standing around, and you just feel like the squad on the field just can't possess very well

Generic MGoBlogger

July 5th, 2013 at 11:58 PM ^

Definitely sloppy on the touch, but we have absolutely dominated possession. 71-29 was the latest stat I saw.  Do keep in mind, though, that a lot more of the reserves are playing and there is no Dempsey, Howard, Bradley, and Altidore for this friendly and the Gold Cup, so it isn't surprising that it is a little disorganized.

RationalBuckeye

July 6th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^

Sure we've dominated possession, but that should be a given when you're talking about MLS and MX all stars against Guatemalan league players. Announcers have been dead on, there's no point in developing slowly of the attack doesn't threaten. Also, Donovan's utility isn't great when no one seems to be able to feed him.



That said, we just scored

ken725

July 6th, 2013 at 5:12 AM ^

Brek Shea would be an absolute disaster in central mid. 

Mixx has better vision and technique on the ball.  Shea is good for coming in as a sub and dribbling at tired defenders to put pressure on the defense.

chatster

July 6th, 2013 at 2:27 AM ^

Guatemala wasn't the best test for the USMNT, but it was nice to see Landon Donovan scoring twice in his first game back with the USMNT and becoming the first USA player with at least 50 goals in international games; and it was especially nice to see Stu Holden play so well after he came on at the start of the second half.  Hoping that both of them will be on the USA roster when World Cup qualifiers resume in September.

superstringer

July 6th, 2013 at 6:30 AM ^

Good to see US's B team actually pummel a minnow.  Wow has Guatemala gotten aweful.

But Gooch was really non-dominant, which was disheartening.  Donovan looked rusty, but by the end of the Gold Cup he'll probably be dominating this team's play.

Gomez is intriguing, but in the 4-2-3-1 of the "A" team, where does he go?  Of the "3," you have Zusi on one side and probably Clint on the other.  Is Gomez your CAM?  I doubt it.  IF Donovan is back in the mix, there's no place for Gomez.  (Although, Donovan and Dempsey seemed incompatible lately on the field, the both of them together were less productive than either individually, or so has been my impression.)

ken725

July 6th, 2013 at 7:21 AM ^

In the best case scenario Gomez is not starting. 

He is able to play the wing, but that means we are taking out better players to fit him in. 

In the 4-2-3-1, Duece is playing CAM.  He likes to play just off of Altidore and this also helps Jozy because he needs someone running off of him. 

I don't think we have seen Dempsey and Donovan playing together in the 4-2-3-1.  They were really incompatible in the 4-3-3 in previous games because the 4-3-3 pulls Dempsey out of position. 

WolvinLA2

July 6th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^

This is how bad Guate's soccer team is:

My father-in-law was born in Guatemala and is easily the biggest soccer fan I know. He gets extra channels just to watch obscure soccer leagues all throughout the year. Almost literally, there is a soccer game on at his house every time I go over there (which is often since they live close).

When I saw him this morning, I had to tell him the score of this game because he didn't bother watching it.