USA vs. Ghana Open Thread
I BELIEVE!
As the starters has been announced I thought it time to start the thread.
Altidore---------Dempsey
Jones-------Beckerman------Bradley------Bedoya
Beasley-----Cameron-----Besler-----Johnson
Howard
(No they don't use a true 4-4-2 but it isn't a true 4-3-3 either...but these are your starters)
Edit-Being listed as a diamond w Bradley attacking & Beckerman defensive/holding
Also notable exclusions for Ghana starters are Boateng and Essian
Go USA!!!!
Yes our passing has been bad as have first touches. We are usually halfway decent - it is not like Ghana is man marking extremely fiercely in the middle of the field. We need to come out and play like normal to relieve some pressure and at least push Ghana back every few minutes.
Thus far this is the soccer equivalent of Virginia Tech Sugar Bowl. You look at the stats and the game and say "how are we in it again?" Hope a similar ending.
When the US gets in the attacking third, they look tremendous. It's just in the center of the field and clearing out the back that makes me feel uneasy.
So, we look bad on pretty much the whole field?
Expect for the little slice where we've only advanced the ball once every ten minutes or so.
WHEW - the traditional Red wings give up a goal right before break almost happened.B
Beasley is a horse - crazy work rate.
Hopefully Ghana begins to tire in the 75th minute or so, so maybe need to survive that first 20 minutes in the 2nd half. Will take this score all day - basically played well for 10 out of 45 minutes. Midfield is completely lost to Ghana right now.
This defense is turrible.
Defense seems OK, doesn't it? I mean Ghana's basically 'strategy' is 'let the US kick it right to one of our players, then we bomb deep to their left and let our little fast guy beat the US to it".
I'm ok with them dombing it deep because that is a low percentage play.
the early goal helped the US play exactly how they want: make ghana put together passes to score, take your chances on the counterattack, and play defense. unfortunately, the US passes were not crisp at all, and you didnt see much counterattack. apart from a couple 1/2 chances from ghana it worked, but the lazy US passes on the counterattack made it seem worse than what it was.
the jozy injury is a huge kick in the nuts. i like aron, but i dont think hes a starting world cup striker.
what do we see in the second half? would love to push the tempo a bit more - im not confident in our defense pitching a shutout - but we need michael bradley to take charge.
I can't believe they're bringing in Landon Donovan to talk about this.
I guess I view it as "salt in the wound".
I feel like when I think "We're OK", that acutally means "We're totally not OK". The US, just needs to not turn the ball over so quickly every possestion.
Here's the thing: they're doing everything on that right side, but until that very last play of the half Beasley was typically in good position and those crosses weren't easy to put on target, and the central guys were usually in good position to take care of business.
Yeah and with Portugal that said is going to be Nani... and Bedoya is going to have fun with Ronaldo. They definitely do not respect Jones. I have no issue with Beasley - he is doing his job...it's the midfield crosses that are destroying them... they are not going deep into the corner vs Beasley. Jones is the target.
Brooks coming on for Besler due to hamstring. I hate hamstrings.
Bradley also needs to play much better. He is the best player for us. He has a few bad turnovers, a few poor first touches, and not distributing very well.
Seriously, he has really hurt us on the offensive end
Hamstrings - 2, USA - 0
Seriously? WTF with these hamstrings?
...Brooks is in.
So our center forward and one of our center defenders out. Great.
Cmon Bradley wake the fuck up
And Brooks strikes.
Why can't we keep possestion? Just every other touch betrays this team since Demspey's opener.
Good god Bradley
Bradley looks like a MSL reserve player tonight. I have no idea what is going on.
This is gettin scary.
We don't deserve this game. Very fortunate over and over today.
All right, boys. That's enough of that shit.
I'm going to have a heart attack. Where is the offense?
Death to hamstrings.
That's a fucked up call. Ghana dude acting like a Bitch.
This feels like 2013 Michigan football now, no rush offense :(
I wish there were timeouts in soccer, we need one. Like a 10 minute one
And ww're back to typical US world cup form
This is just target practice right now.
Barring a counter attack goal against the run of play we are in big trouble.