U.S. Men's National Soccer (Official Thread)

[TooTall]

I wish Jones played more CDM and stayed around there in the midfield than out on the right side like he's been.

 

[AKAK]

WTF Bradley, shoot the damn thing

EH, yeah, no composure. He needs to look first with that much room.

Not saying the pass was bad, but he had the time to realize it wasn't there and get something on goal. (Obviously not his first instinct, so, it was gonna be forced either way)

 

[OHSportsFan]

I wish Jones played more CDM and stayed around there in the midfield than out on the right side like he's been.

I just see far too much redundancy with Jones, Edu, and Bradley all being central midfielders (specifically, deep/defensive CMs). So Jurgen put him out wide...which has had no positive result.

At this point, 2 of the 3 need on the field and something a little more dangerous needs to be out wide.

 

[Mac]

Not sure if its the formation or the personnel, or a combination of the two, but I feel like we have not had good offensive pressure since the Scotland game. And that's not saying much against Scotland

 

[Mac]

Well I guess its better than a loss, but worse than a win

 

[OHSportsFan]

Ugh, hard to be mad with the end result. Ties on the road and winning the home games will get the US through to the Hex. And Guatemala is a tough place to play (they'll likely be the other team through in the group).

Still, pathetic performance when it comes down to it, in my opinion. Just not pleased with the play on the field. Doesn't feel up to par.

 

[TooTall]

Good point on the road, I guess. That free kick was an excellent strike, but why so many people on the wall?? Completely blocked Howard's view. He didn't stand a chance.

I'd love to know why there was no advantage played there, US were still passing in rhythm..

 

[TooTall]

I just see far too much redundancy with Jones, Edu, and Bradley all being central midfielders (specifically, deep/defensive CMs). So Jurgen put him out wide...which has had no positive result.

At this point, 2 of the 3 need on the field and something a little more dangerous needs to be out wide.

Bradley should play more of a CAM so Dempsey and Donovan can move a bit further up the pitch, while Jones is at CDM. I agree that having three out there is a bit strange. Light bench?

 

[OHSportsFan]

Bradley should play more of a CAM so Dempsey and Donovan can move a bit further up the pitch, while Jones is at CDM. I agree that having three out there is a bit strange. Light bench?

I love when Bradley gets up the field. I think he's the best distributor on the team and the ball needs to work through him. Jones and Edu can switch roles as the CDM depending on health/form/matchup, but I just don't like all 3 out there.

And the US could really use some more speed on the pitch.

 

[jlb1705]

At least none of us paid $30 for that shit sandwich, right?

There's a lot that needs to be fixed by September. Certain players need to find the right attitude between now and then. Certain others need to see some competition at their position, so that either a fire is lit under their ass or they are replaced by somebody on better form or who wants it more.

I agree about the midfield. I've been banging this drum since the Brazil match. I think the three that were mentioned in particular are all too defensive minded and/or passive to be able to carry out the style of play that Klinsmann is trying to implement. Depending on the formation, there should probably be no more than two of those three guys on the pitch at any one moment.

In the end, I don't care if the squad ends up being all MLS guys or all German leftovers. Just give me eleven guys who will show some work rate, some quickness of thought and who will get their chest over the ball on a one-timer for fuck's sake.

 

[AKAK]

Not sure if its the formation or the personnel, or a combination of the two, but I feel like we have not had good offensive pressure since the Scotland game. And that's not saying much against Scotland

Bradley should play more of a CAM so Dempsey and Donovan can move a bit further up the pitch, while Jones is at CDM. I agree that having three out there is a bit strange. Light bench?

Can I ask you guys a question. I try not to comment in this thread because I don't follow the day-to-day stuff as much as you guys do...

But, what is the obsession with formations. Or, more, why the questions like "is it personnel" or formations?

It's always personnel...

You could call it a 1-10 or a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 (is that 11 1's?)

The personnel is going to dictate the formation... (including strategy against the other side) and even a bit of this tweak and a bit of that tweak... these guys know what roles they fill or are going to fill regardless of what you call them...

Now it might be that guys are out of position in the formation and all that jazz... but, these are international football players... they are good at most shit.

The reality is, if you want to be in a "formation" the key is depth, which we don't have, or haven't yet evaluated, or it doesn't have experience.

Call the formations what you want, Brazil doesn't do a lot of different stuff, they're just about 13 deep at every role.

So, my point is... its personnel... you could call Bradley the herder of dead cats, but, either his job is to let Dempsey and Donovan forward, or it's not... or he can do it or he can't. (Edu and Jones too)

If there's space behind your defensive MF's, you've got a fucking problem.

If you can't mark the guy you need to mark, you've got a problem... or worse, other guys on the team aren't confident there isn't space behind you or you can actually mark someone... then they aren't going forward.

Call them whatever you want, you still have to mark the other team.

Not saying those are all the issues, and systemically there are clearly still concepts to grasp... but, calling some guy one position doesn't really matter.

At any rate... as mentioned... road point. Take it, go home, evaluate... get better, work harder... gain confidence together.

 

[jlb1705]

Bradley should play more of a CAM so Dempsey and Donovan can move a bit further up the pitch, while Jones is at CDM. I agree that having three out there is a bit strange. Light bench?

Torres being out I'm sure had a lot to do with the lineup. I didn't think they would miss him that much though.

I don't see Bradley as a CAM. I think he'd drift too deep to make it work. He seems to be more comfortable having the play in front of him and being more withdrawn. I'd prefer to see him in a CDM role where he can pick his spots to get forward or shoot from distance, and to see a true CAM/distributor-type step up.

While you're probably right that he's the best suited for that role at this moment, if he's still the best for it by the time they get to Brazil in 2014 this team will be in trouble.

 

[TooTall]

Can I ask you guys a question. I try not to comment in this thread because I don't follow the day-to-day stuff as much as you guys do...

But, what is the obsession with formations. Or, more, why the questions like "is it personnel" or formations?

It's always personnel...

You could call it a 1-10 or a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 (is that 11 1's?)

The personnel is going to dictate the formation... (including strategy against the other side) and even a bit of this tweak and a bit of that tweak... these guys know what roles they fill or are going to fill regardless of what you call them...

Now it might be that guys are out of position in the formation and all that jazz... but, these are international football players... they are good at most shit.

The reality is, if you want to be in a "formation" the key is depth, which we don't have, or haven't yet evaluated, or it doesn't have experience.

Call the formations what you want, Brazil doesn't do a lot of different stuff, they're just about 13 deep at every role.

So, my point is... its personnel... you could call Bradley the herder of dead cats, but, either his job is to let Dempsey and Donovan forward, or it's not... or he can do it or he can't. (Edu and Jones too)

If there's space behind your defensive MF's, you've got a fucking problem.

If you can't mark the guy you need to mark, you've got a problem... or worse, other guys on the team aren't confident there isn't space behind you or you can actually mark someone... then they aren't going forward.

Call them whatever you want, you still have to mark the other team.

Not saying those are all the issues, and systemically there are clearly still concepts to grasp... but, calling some guy one position doesn't really matter.

At any rate... as mentioned... road point. Take it, go home, evaluate... get better, work harder... gain confidence together.

I see what you're saying, but I just don't like Jermaine Jones in an attacking position. He's not great on the ball, and he'd be better with the one touches in the defensive midfield than out on the right side (where we need speed).

 

[RocketBuckeye]

I don't see Bradley as a CAM. I think he'd drift too deep to make it work. He seems to be more comfortable having the play in front of him and being more withdrawn. I'd prefer to see him in a CDM role where he can pick his spots to get forward or shoot from distance, and to see a true CAM/distributor-type step up.

Agree with this 100%. Personally, this is how I would love for us to set up.

--------Gomez---------
Shea---Deuce---Landon
-----Jones----MB90-----
Johnson-Goodson-Boca-Dolo
---------Howard---------

I think we are sorely missing someone on the wing that can create width and space. Deuce plays better off the striker, so we move Landon out wide, and put someone who plays well on the flanks, like Brek Shea, in. Take Edu out, as I think both Jones and Bradley do the job he's trying to do better.

 

[TooTall]

Agree with this 100%. Personally, this is how I would love for us to set up.

--------Gomez---------
Shea---Deuce---Landon
-----Jones----MB90-----
Johnson-Goodson-Boca-Dolo
---------Howard---------

I think we are sorely missing someone on the wing that can create width and space. Deuce plays better off the striker, so we move Landon out wide, and put someone who plays well on the flanks, like Brek Shea, in. Take Edu out, as I think both Jones and Bradley do the job he's trying to do better.

I like this. So long as one of the two CDM's play more static, Jones preferably.