Player Ratings vs Czech Republic

The last posts are right. Let’s look ahead. Italy is Italy, and we’re in trouble. Ghana is good too. Yes, our boys had an off day, but the worst performance of the Cup has been the ABC/ESPN coverage!! It is kind of ironic to listen to Lalas and Wynalda and Balboa talk down about the US. I used to think that our past poor WC performances were due to inexperience. Now I think that it was because those guys weren’t (and still aren’t) very knowledgeable of the game. I’m about to switch to Univision coverage.

I’m very disappointed with
how we played the game. The
defense was poor and Gooch
was out to lunch. The 1st goal
set the tone for the Czechs
and we never responded. Beasley
was the worst player on the field… At least Gooch tried,
DMB never challenged anyone and
passed back every time. How
can he play with no confidence?

Your ratings are quite charitable; none of the defenders were better than a 3. At least with a solid defense, the US might have salvaged a 0-0 draw. There could not have been a clearer example of the difference between a bona fide soccer power (CR) and a pretender (US). Basic soccer competencies were nowhere to be seen by the US side. Being the “fittest” team (according to the ESPN announcers)isn’t enough. I just do not believe that we can’t field a national team with better players AND (especially) a better coach.

Posted from  United States

The U.S started out strong but the Czechs capitalized on the US defenders mistakes….u just can not do that agains the #2 ranked team in the world by FIFA. Next up, is the powerhouse Italy, its a must win or the US can start packing their bags to go bak home.

Posted from  United States

After reading that article in SI about Oneywu, Donavon, and others, I was very dissapointed by today’s match, and I’m sure all fans and players are as well.

They didn’t play good soccer. Rarely was their passing innovative, most of their chances were squandered or easily handled, and their defense made some overmatched mistakes.

The pessimistic player ratings may be accurate, and Keller and Beasley certainly had poor days, but these mistakes combined with the strange absence of other players’ presences indicates a failure in strategy and attitude. Whether that is the coach’s or the nation’s problem I’m not sure, but I do know that something has changed since in American soccer from the 2002 squad that could’ve beaten Germany.

We were outplayed. We didn’t even come close.

Let’s pray this doesn’t turn into another 98.

Posted from  United States

Wrong on Convey – He played well under the circumstances. He must be featured – DMB is overcoached and is actually playing away from his natural game. As an ex-goalie, I am sorry to say that Keller was not world class. I believe he is over-rated. The goals were not un-stoppable – difficult yes – but are expected to be spectacular in this setting – not merely club level.

tito surely you dont turn to sports illustrated for an actual analysis of a soccer team…

it;s a joke, a parroting of the faux optimism of nike/espn/fifa as others have commented. it would be great to sell soccer in the usa as we have tons of money and TV time to throw around but the fact is, at any position, in any game, not one of our players can beat or even equal the best of virtually any other country in the tournament, and probably many who didnt make it. I had a bit of hope going into this game that we’d be exceptionally well managed and ready to run other teams ragged, but, neither of those coming remotely true, we are SO OUT.

That being said, GO USA!!! (honestly)

Posted from  United States

I didn’t think we were as awful as most posters here think. We got hit with an early goal, but responded well, I thought, and had 65% possession time at one point 25 minutes in. I think if Reyna’s shot had gone in, we might have had a different game. Once we were down 2-0 we were sunk, but we had some bright spots in the 1st half.

Clearly, tho, we were outclassed by the Czechs today, who had arguably the best showing in the cup so far. The U.S. is going to have to play the game of their lives to beat Italia, which is a must win since Ghana lost today.

Posted from  United States

Looking back at the game, it shows that every attack US had on goal was set up by Donovan. He is too small to be fighting off defenders. I suggest he switch with Reyna. Reyna can push his way through. Donovan needs room and can set up Reyna, and McBride. He can also keep the wings outside and set them up for crosses. Reyna did not set anyone up. Arena needs to see it in the tapes. If not, need new coach.

Posted from  United States

wutevr,
You are absolutely right, the coverage is aweful and the comentators should do Basketball instead, because they keep comparing it with basketball for god sake this football. And what really made switch to Univision is not only how poor their knowledge of the game and commentary is, but also because of their insisting on not showing the national anthem and the players entrance. This further indicates their ignorance about the game, because we as fans live for those small moments when players are in the tunnel and during the anthem, then we get really psyched up for the game from there on. I wish they knew.

Posted from  United States

The US gave the worst performance of any team that I’ve seen so far. Completely uninspired.

In my original picks for the tournament, I picked the US third in the group, with the observation that they might very well end last.

When I made those predictions, I nevertheless wished it weren’t true. However, there was nothing in the performance to make me change my mind.

Posted from  United States

Given the results of the match,the US side needs to realize an attack oriented offense will work. Look how Germany has changed, and Italy, and the African countries- to say nothing of Brasil and Argentina. Back passes will not score goals, shots will. Italy looks like a tough match, as well as Ghana. Do we have a striker like Essien? It may be time for a new coach after the Cup- should be a Brazilian or European, anybody remember Preki? As for the goalkeeping remember we still have Tim Howard on the bench who has played extensively for ManU in the EPL. The US side did not do Concacaaf proud, Trinidad and Tobago tied Sweden with only 10 men, and Costa Rica at least scored 2 goals on Germany. These 2 countries have a small population base to choose its players from, the US is much larger and must do better with the talent it has.

Posted from  United States

The US were TERRIBLE! They’re even lucky that the Czech Republic was not full power. They played without star striker Milan Baros, who scores in almost all their games. They missed Koller, he could probably have scored again. They also missed Smicer, who could take the left wing and leave Nedved to play directly behind their attackers and rip defenses to shreds. Even though, only PSV has managed to play Beasley correctly on the right wing, and the US could learn a thing or two. Donovan was a glaring disappointment, so was Reyna, Onyewu, and McBride. Only Johnson did a good job. Someone actually told me that Keller was the best keeper in that group, and I remember laughing my head off. This match proves that the US can’t win on “confidence” alone, but with actual excellent play, and that Keller can’t match up against Cech or Italy’s Buffon. Speaking of Italy, I think that Italy may destroy the US if they play like they just did.

Posted from  United States

Okay, I’ll point the finger at myself: I was one of the commentators on this board who was touting Gooch.

Yesterday’s performance left me wondering why.

I sincerely hope that he signed a deal in England before yesterday’s match.

EJ looked like he wanted to play.

No one else really looked as though he wanted to take the match to Czech Rep.

The truth is that Czech Rep. didn’t press us. They waited patiently and took advantage of prime opportunities. I don’t wish ill on Koller, but for the US’s sake, it’s a good thing that he went out – or it could have been worse.

Posted from  United States

I completely disagree with Reyna’s rosy rating. He was the reason the US was thumped in my opinion. Didn’t anyone see him loaf on that second goal? Granted, it was a weak clearance, but Reyna could have stuffed that shot if he hustled. That is inexcusable for someone who is the captain. As far as Onyewu goes, banish him to the bench. He bore responsibility for all three goals, but the last one took the cake. Tackle the man for God’s sake, don’t stand there and watch him run by you. Is everyone aware of Pope’s comments regarding Onyewu? He was openly asking Arena to send in Bocanegra.

Posted from  United States

The team as a whole were not agressive enough. Played more of a defensive game rather than attack, and still gave up 3 goals. Its a known fact that teams who are more agressive are more of a threat. Put the other team on the defensive right from the start and you’ll have better results. Scotland had good talented players in the 80’s and suffered from the same lack of agressiveness.

Posted from  United States

Reyna a 6??????? ON WHAT PLANET????

World Cup is fast paced and ferocious (it’s a young man’s game in general) … it’s not for the old and timid. Gooch cleared the (second goal) ball quickly and effectively – 35 yds out from the goal. The player closest to Rosicky (sp?) was Reyna, who slowly jogged toward Rosicky, giving him all the time necessary to fire his rocket (Mastroeni (sp?) charges and closes that shot down, at very least making the shooter cut and reset or charge). For the whole game Reyna was slow on the ball and didn’t have the ferocity necessary to earn a player position. Our starting line up should have included Eddie up front (unless he couldn’t go a full 90) and Reyna out.

In general I support Arena, he’s done a damn fine job up til now. But his allegience to Reyna appears misplaced. First, we need the speed/work rate, and second, the best we’ve ever been able to say about Reyna is that he is so close to being great … but it’s generally the crossbar – not the goal – close, or the “semi great” pass that’s 6″ or a foot off the mark … it was almost great, but not. We need the work.

REYNA IS NO LONGER WORLD CUP CAPABLE

Walter

Posted from  United States

I grew up crying, partying and celebrating through Germany’s world cup experience. Now, that I live in the United States, I am also fully behind the USA teams. Hate to say this, but the problem with the USA team is, they are the only team that is not backed up by the entire nation they represent. They have fans but just like all the others they need their country ……. USA– do not wait for your team to become the champion, be there now! Don’t tell me.. oooh, soccer is so boring. Think about your team. It is not boring if you get into it. (Am I the only German who cried when the USA lost?)

Posted from  United States

Will everyone PLEASE get off of the Pablo Mastroni band wagon. He was terrible in Korea (I was at the matches) and was completely lost yesterday against Czech Rep. (at the game as well) He plays no compliment to any player on the pitch, does not control any any part on the center midfield (check out how Nedved and Rosisky roamed free all half he played. Keep him off the field!!!!

Posted from  Netherlands

Jack V. Where do you get the info that Pope was openly asking for Boca instead of Onyewu? I haven’t seen anything to that effect.

Posted from  United States

Reyna is still world cup capable but I agree that he can’t offer the same workrate that Donovan can give out of that position. However, in the system we play Reyna really can’t play any other positions (someone suggested putting him up top but he is going to play up top ahead of McBride and Johnson?) REyna has earned the right to play throughout this world cup in the middle and then he will go off into the sunset when it is over and perhaps we turn the page with a new kind of central midfielder in Donovan.

Posted from  United States

This is why U.S. Soccer is so terrible, and will have trouble going forward. All of you MLS fans (who are so gullible as to get excited about what is a totally rigged (i.e. forced trades) “league”); Oneywu is a goat. A complete goat that should never play another match for the U.S.. Cobi Jones would have been better back there, as slow as he is. But all of you idiots that somehow put up with J.C. Dellencamp/ “I Don’t Know a Thing About Football” O’Brien (the espn commentator, not the player) and their idiotic/irrelevant comments that somehow make the matches about as exciting as a Major “Legaue” Soccer match just don’t realize that. You think about the game and can’t see Onewyu single handedly lost the match. Instead, we get to some idiot going off about that Renya is no good, Yeah, go Colorado Rapids or whatever the hell they are called. Meanwhile, in the real world, if you can’t clear the ball. you don’t deserve to make Luxembourg’s national side, much less, the U.S.’s. Arena should send Oneywu home; but he actually said he did a good job. Oh well, we’re finished. I’m sick of U.S. Soccer, because it’s supporters are so clueless.

Posted from  United States

For me, the disappointment was not that we lost(I do not subscribe to the American “optimism at all times” mentality), but that the team did not show up.

I think the criticism of Beasley is ridiculous. If he had this performance in his natural position, the criticism would be just. But to put him in an unfamiliar and unnatural poistion and against Nedved was a severe coaching miscue. A leader is responsble for putting his team in positions where they will succeed; to do otherwise and then criticise Beasley seems like a double standard.

Almost every chance going forward resulting in a sincere attempt at goal was started by O’Brien. This guy does not get enough credit. He should be the captain and the midfield general. I think he earned that in 2002.

McBride is a target forward and not a speed and moves striker. That is not a knock on him as he is great at what he does. It just doesn’t make sense to start that style forward against a bigger more physical defense. Speed is more logical here.

I would have liked to have seen Johnson and Wolff up front, Beasley at Left wing mid, Donovan at right mid, Reyna at holding Mid, and O’Brien at attacking mid. Bocanegra at left back, Pope and Berhalter in the middle, and Cherundolo at right back attacking on the flank similar to Roberto Carlos style of play. Tim Howard of even Brad Friedel would start at keeper.

kig – hes the only guy spot on about Keller. Keller should have come out of the goal to intercept the cross the Koller elegantly headed into the back of the net. What the heck was he doing waiting in goal for?!

Posted from  United States

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