So...I've got to comment on the US game last night. Sad for the US fans and the players. It was a deflating game compared to the exhilaration of the one against Algeria. And maybe that was the problem. The team needed to collectively move on and prepare for the next. But we like to relive past glories...so that's all anyone wanted to talk about.
Let's be honest, our side has no natural strikers unless you move Dempsey and Donovan in as strikers. They don't give up, they will battle to get to the ball. And we have very little depth in most positions except maybe keeper. Our game last night was pedantic, predictable, and while the team had given us thrilling and chilling late game "miracles" in group play, was sadly reminiscent of past years. I think Dempsey played consistently well throughout the tournament; Donovan inspired and did what he could; Tim Howard played well, in fact I think he shined in a position where most keepers from other sides had problems; I think Bocannegra also had a good strong tournament...except for the added time when the goal was scored.
Altidore seems like a nice guy but he was in too long and I think overall, is overrated. He crossed a couple good balls in, but he has NO movement off the ball and what he does is pretty lateral. You could see this when he had the short spell at Hull in UK. No slashing, diagonal runs and he got bumped off a ball similar to the one Gyan finished for Ghana. Obviously, Sr. Bradley was out of ideas on top. But he did pick the side after all, he's got no one to blame for lack of choices but himself....that's another topic.
No one talked about it, but on the scoring run by Gyan, Bocannegra gave him a good bump, but then pulled off and looked into the heavens while Demerit was still trying to run with Gyan. Never saw Bocannegra do something like that....and what happened? Any ideas...anyone hear why? Perhaps if he'd kept running the guy couldn't have pulled the shot off.
This game was probably one that we should have pulled off; but it's not too surprising we didn't. Donovan said "we were a little naive". Hmmmm.....Clark starting instead of Edu maybe? One of those things we'll probably never know. Better luck next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment