Soccer: USMNT vs. Azerbaijan, 10:00pm EDT, EPSN2/UniMas
Johannsson!! 2-0!!
I did see him play lazy as shit for the last 20 minutes of the game and milk it when he did get fouled, but it was a legit foul.
To me flopping is barely getting touched and falling to the ground or faking a foul. I didn't see that at all. I saw a guy get hit and have the chance to get up, but instead chose to roll around in the grass for 45 seconds while he caught his breath.
I noticed in the first half that he was EVERYWHERE. He looked like he had ADHD, he was seriously running in circles when the ball wasn't even in play. It was kind of funny to be honest, he reminded me of a little kid with too much sugar or a puppy when his collar is off and he wasn't to run around "nakie."
He clearly wore himself out because in the 2nd half, especially the final 20 minutes, he was worthless and just trotted around or stood and watched. He was far less active.
For me, he's a player that I don't trust in the first 15 or the final 15 minutes of a game, in the middle, I think he can be a very good player. If he's a starter, he would be an automatic sub for me between 65-75 minutes.
I think he proved what he had to prove in that game, ie that he can maintain the discipline needed to play as a #6 defensive midfielder if the US plays a diamond midfield. All that running along the top of the backline is basically what a #6 does, both to cover that space and to provide a link between defense and offense. That said, he wasn't really tested in his destroyer ability, because I don't thing Azerbaijan attacked with more than 3 guys the entire game.
One result of Jones's play is that I can't think of any points in the game where the US had to resort to just banging balls out of the back, completely bypassing the midfield when they initiated their offense. While the wind may have had something to do with that, and the mediocre quality of the opposition did as well, the US played more fluidly and more on the ground than I can ever remember. The next two games will tell a lot about whether that was just the result of an overmatched Azeri team, or if the US can actually play that way.
I didn't notice him tiring, but then again, I thought the game totally lost all steam after the Johansson goal.
I understand that position does a ton of running...you didn't read what I said. I said when the ball wasn't even in play (or even a threat to him or his positioning).
That is maybe the most active position on the field along with Bradley's spot, I get that. But that's not what I was talking about.
I also thought he got a little antsy late in the game and lost some of that discipline that you're refering to. I agree, he did a wonderful job in the first half.
That said, I do think he wore himself out. He seemed more fatigued than any other player on the field and this is why the poster thought he was flopping.
I understand with it being the first game and all, but you still have to play with pace if you're going to play for 90+ minutes and play well for 90+ minutes. It does no go to have that phenominal first 65 minutes and then walk around for the remainder of the match. Against this team, you're fine. But I don't care if you're up 1-0 or 2-0 on any team in our Group, they will score on you if you play that way...ESPECIALLY at his spot.
Nonetheless, even if he isn't fatigued, I still don't trust him to man that position in the last "quarter" of the game. That's JMO, but I'd play him for a hard 65-75 and then sub for a player I can trust a little more at that in the CDM position.
If you need offense, sub in another offensive minded guy who can help get a goal, but with fresher legs...if you need defense, get someone who you can trust will help the back line and is more defensive minded.
I don't think it's a bad problem to have, I actually like the flexibility.
I honestly didn't notice him tiring toward the end. AZE had so little going forward in the latter parts of the game that it wasn't evident to me if he did. This game was also about as worn out as these guys will be until maybe the third group game (it's going to be brutal recovering from the game in Manaus).
If we do play a diamond, I do think we'll see Beckerman (likely in for one of the forwards) if we're protecting a lead, morphing into a 4-2-3-1, and Jones could be pulled for whichever of Mix, Zusi, or Bedoya if we're chasing the game, with either Bradley dropping back or Cameron moving forward to play defensive mid in front of a back three (the latter alignment being a desperation move).
Thanks for the insight, Im not a soccer fan, but I watched the whole game to try and gain an appreciation for it. To an uneducted fan, what #13 was doing was exaggerating a fall and then look frusterated that the official didin't agree with him. If it is part of the game, I just didn't understand it or like it. He was not doing it the whole game. When I posted, it was directly after he sat on the ground with his hands up.
Next question, WHY IN THE WORLD is there a thing called "overage" when it comes to the clock, I felt like I was back in East Lansing again.
What is there to stop a team from stalling after they get a one goal lead. It seemed to me that just passing the ball back and forth for 30 minutes was possible.
Im all for learning about this game. However at this point it feels like watching golf, I know the point and the concept, but it's very hard to get excited about.
At times the game made sense, I could see they were running what looked like designed plays. Then at times it looked like a couple friends got together at a park and decided to play a game of keep away.
Briefly, the stoppage time at the end of the half and the end of the game is intended to make up for time spent on injuries etc. during the half. The amount of stoppage time is at the referee's discretion. So, in theory, you can't just stall by faking injuries or taking forever to throw the ball in because there's stoppage time to make up for the former and various penalties - yellow cards - to discourage the latter. However, in practice, teams can and do push the limits to burn time when they have the lead.
As for the part about stalling by passing the ball around for 30 minutes - sure. That's part of the game. Although no one can pass the ball around for 30 minutes without the other team touching it; that's way too long. Eventually the other team will start pressing you enough that the best option you have is to push it into the space on their backline, which often leads to shots too good to pass up. But teams can and do change formations and style of play once they go up 1-0 with the intention of bleeding out the clock.
...Victory!
Nice little warm-up game. I like that USA used the bench and got a live look at a few different lineup combinations.
Ovbious is ovbious, though. Gotta find a way to score earlier than that in WC games. Ovbious.
In other news.......
If you hate soccer so much, why post in almost every soccer thread?
I'm starting to think that you just want to love it, and soccer is opening its warm cuddly arms to you, but you just don't know how to accept that affection.
Like Will Graham, he refuses to see, and that is why he fails.
I was satisfied with that performance. Obviously, not good enough for Brazil, but it was just a friendly. Bedoya had a good game IMO. Jozy, I'm not sure how I see it. Seemed like he was just slightly out of position on a couple opportunities and couldn't decide if it was just bad bounces or bad positioning by him. Might just be a confidence thing and him not going after the ball aggressively enough.
Back line did okay. Not overly impressed, but it'll take some matches to gel. I thought the back line looked bad after the first rounds of subs were made though. Chandler did impress me though. As did Diskerud. Yedlin looked a bit lost to me, but his speed could cause some problems. Maybe JK knows something.
The substitutions made the difference--and not just the goals. I think Brad Davis was my Man of the Match. He made good runs, delievered solid crosses and drew a penalty, which wasn't called.
That said, Bedoya and Zusi were good on the wings. The back four did what they needed to and other than that awful clearance from Besler in the first half, I thought they were okay. I love Fabian Johnson running up that right wing.
Altidore and Wondo...well, Jozy managed his first (and only?) shot in the 63rd minute. He didn't play his best game, goal or no goal. But man, he really needs a goal. Wondo missed two header's in the first fifteen minutes--the first one he definately have converted and the second was saved spectacularly. Johannsson should get the start on Sunday (healthy Dempsey or not).
AZE put 10 men behind the ball all game--the US won't see that again until they start qualification for the 2018 World Cup against CONCACAF opponents. I'm not sure how useful last night's game was. Hopefully Turkey and Nigeria are more aggressive.
on mgoblog? make it stop.
I have to agree. Realistically it is just a few people commenting over and over. I forgot how sensitive soccer guy is...apolgies
we are both guilty of that.