tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198732413882406269.post1591127316263974360..comments2023-10-14T19:01:03.490-04:00Comments on The Fullback Files: The Agony of Defeat | a USA Match ReactionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14548145598767127627noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198732413882406269.post-24426460079442840722009-06-30T09:26:31.450-04:002009-06-30T09:26:31.450-04:00Freddy and Torres might have been interesting opti...Freddy and Torres might have been interesting options precisely because they wouldn't have been in the bunker. Once Brazil got rolling, it was only a matter of time before they breached us for the second (that early goal in the second half should have killed any thoughts of successful bunkering). <br /><br />The Brazilian defense had looked particularly uncomfortable dealing with our speed and dribbling on the break, and probably would have been even more so as the game wore on. Why not bring on somebody to test that weakness and keep them honest rather than rely on the fickle winds of fate to keep Brazil's attacking waves at bay for the last 40+ minutes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198732413882406269.post-62523374748657642752009-06-29T10:00:42.807-04:002009-06-29T10:00:42.807-04:00Your analysis is fair. I'm not sure if Donovan...Your analysis is fair. I'm not sure if Donovan was mad, but he sure was motivated. There was certainly enough criticism after the first Brazil match to get the guys angry and keep them angry for a while. What struck me when they were all lined up behind the banner with the refs and Brazil, was how Donovan responded to the Camerounian kid. He leaned in and said something nice to him right after the kid finished reading his remarks. None of the other players did though Clint seemed to be hanging on every word too. I thought that was classy on their part.<br /><br />Wth regard to the actual play, the 4-4-2 held up well but this time the wings gave us even more trouble than Spain. Donovan did well, but Dempsey (who played well overall) always seemed to be a step behind the man he was covering or would lose him in the 18. Feilhaber was good, but not the wrecking ball that Bradley can be. The center backs, Clark and Howard held the spine together well, but they were working all the time (along with Spector and Bocanegra) and you knew they would get gassed eventually.<br /><br />Davies was effective, but you're right, a few better decisions on a couple of balls might have netted him man of the match for another assist to Donovan or the right tap to Jozy or Clint. Jozy did his body-up thing pretty well, but often looked like he was setting the standard for Casey on how to jog around the pitch. We know that at any point he can erupt, but his volcano only blew smoke yesterday.<br /><br />The subs were what they were. I would not have put Klejstan on the field for the same reasons I would not have put Beasley on the field - but there you have it - there were not a lot of options. When you need guys to jump into a collective defensive effort, the first names that come to mind are not Freddy "don't make me track back" Adu or "Where's my man" Torres. Yes they can dribble and make darting passes up the middle, but they're not every good bricks for the bunker. Maybe putting Freddy up top for Jozy instead of Casey would have been better, but Freddy is not a guy who plays well with his back to the goal either. Bornstein was the right call to play defensively -- only it was five minutes too late.<br /><br />In any case, the Gold Cup showed that Demerit, Davies, Clark, Feilhaber, and Spector have earned their tickets to the WC. Add in Howard, Guzan, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Cherundholo, Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Edu, Altidore and Ching and you have 16 players that can book reservations. That leaves seven slots of which three will be defenders and one will be a keeper. That means that between, Adu, Torres, Beasley, Klejstan and the impending Johnson, only three will go. Can you see imagine the blog riots if precious Freddy or el nino du jour Torres aren't in (my bet is that they will be given the poor play of Beasley and Klejstan - but they are on the bubble).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com