Thursday, April 7, 2011

Paraguay Quick Thoughts and Player Ratings

Well what a rough patch for the United States.  It has been since the May 2010 match against Turkey in Philadelphia that the US has won on home soil.  The matches at home the US has played since then?  Brazil, Poland, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.  Some shocking statistics from MLS Analyst Matthew Doyle:

"Since the start of 2010, the US have played 17 times and are 5-6-6. They have scored 21 goals and conceded 24. In 12 of those 17 games – including all three this calendar year – the US have conceded the first goal.

Of the five times the US have scored first, two were 1-0 wins where the goal came in the dying minutes of the second half: the first over Algeria in the World Cup, the second over South Africa last November in a friendly.

In each of the three other games in which the US took the lead first, they gave it up at least once:
  1. Against the Czech Republic in a WC warm-up, it took 27 minutes. The US lost 4-2.
  2. Against Australia in another warm-up, it took 15 minutes. The US then reclaimed the lead after another 12 and held it for the last hour en route to a 3-1 win.
  3. Against Poland in a post-WC friendly, the US went in front twice. The first Polish equalizer took 15 minutes, the second 21. That game finished 2-2.
That hour – technically 59 minutes – of playing in front against the Aussies is the longest the US have held the lead in any game since July 4, 2009, against Grenada. Those two games also represent the only times in the last 44 matches the US have scored inside the first 10 minutes.

Of the 1,560 minutes the US have played since January of 2010, they’ve held the lead for a grand total of 159 minutes. They’ve trailed for 558.

Take out the Australia game and the US have led for only 85 minutes of the 1,470 for which they’ve turned out. For comparison’s sake, Mexico led for 83 of the 90 minutes against Paraguay last Saturday."

Those are some telling numbers.  Bob Bradley and his staff should be very, very concerned.  While individually, some players played quite well against Paraguay, the full US team just isn't meshed like it should be with only a game to play until the most important tournament the US will play in for at least the next two years.  More needs to be done.  Now we all see just how much the loss of the Egypt friendly really hurt the preparations.

Most of you have seen the match and or highlights so I won't describe that much to you on that front. 

I can say that the crowd at LP Field was outstanding and the weather was phenomenal for soccer.  Well done to all who turned out, setting a new Tennessee record for soccer match attendance. 

I'll run down the player ratings:

Marcus Hahnemann (6)- Didn't have much to do but made a couple long range saves and probably could've been more aggressive in coming off his line on the goal scored.  Certainly made no glaring errors.

Timothy Chandler (8.5)- What a start this young man has had to his international career.  Was a terrific threat on the flank and showed multitudes of pace.  Warrants more callup's AND starts.

Jay DeMerit (6)- He gets a six for having the heart of a lion.

Tim Ream (6.5)- Well, it was a decent outing for Ream, and while most will praise him for his composure and distribution, I'll remain cautious about all that.  Paraguay was baiting him into playing some of those balls straight up the middle.

Jonathan Bornstein (3)- "Don't mistake activity for achievement" - John Wooden.  That is all.

Clint Dempsey (7)- Clint was in beast mode for this one, and his "let's just see what happens" blast from some 35+ yards showed it.  Probably should've scored from Lichaj's cross in the second half, but overall, a solid night from the Texan.

Michael Bradley (6.5)- Much better against Paraguay than against Argentina and his cannon from 25 yards was worthy of a goal. 

Maurice Edu (5.5)- Not his best night in a USA kit.  Seemed to be a step behind all evening and was sacrificed at halftime. 

Landon Donovan (6)- Another mehhh performance from Donovan.  His set pieces were off the mark and was continually fouled on the counterattacks.  

Jozy Altidore (5)- He's just lost it a bit.  Regular playing time in Turkey will help him regain his form and confidence. 

Juan Agudelo (6)- Showed flashes of potential once again, however, its easy to see how ineffective he can be when an opponent is keen to his abilities. 

SUBS

Carlos Bocanegra (6.5)-
Played well once he entered for DeMerit, no glaring mistakes.

Jermaine Jones (6.5)- Much better in relief of Edu and nearly equalized in the dying seconds.

David Yelldell (6)- Didn't have a single save to make from what I recall, decent enough for a first cap.

Eric Lichaj (6.5)-  An injection of pace that nearly resulted in a goal, Lichaj and Chandler seemed to be very fluid on the right.

Sacha Kljestan (6.5)- A solid 15 minute outing for the Belgian man, be interested to see if he makes the Spain squad. 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Postponed Paraguay Thoughts, USA Tactics During the Drought, and USA 23 for the 2011 Gold Cup

Dearest all NP faithful,

My sincerest apologies for the lack of coverage.  Taking 18 hours of classes plus starting a 40-hour/week job really runs down time to actually sit and analyze soccer all day (unfortunately).  But fear not, for as the title says, it is all coming, perhaps a post tonight and tomorrow on my day off (kinda) I'll get us all caught up on the comings and goings of the USMNT and the U-20 kids, who are currently runnin' game down in Guatemala for the U-20 CONCACAF Championships. 

For a sneak peak of the 23 for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, here is this: