A bad night for United States, and problems ahead
by Steve Davis on Jun 12, 2011 10:53 AM EDT
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I’m heading up to Kansas City tomorrow for the U.S.-Guadeloupe match. A lot of this trip was about seeing Livestrong Park, the shiny new ground at Sporting K.C. that is supposedly such a high-tech dream machine.
But this little trip just got a lot more interesting. Now, the United States needs a result. Badly.
I think the U.S. will get what it needs Tuesday night in the Midwest. But safe arrival into the Gold Cup’s second round isn’t really the issue. (Well, it certainly will be if things go horribly wrong – but I just don’t see that happening, especially considering that the entire first round serves only to eliminate four teams. #Whatever.)
The issue now is how much harder Bob Bradley and his men just made things on themselves. Now there are fatigue issues to deal with. Now there are tough personnel decisions ahead. Now there are yellow card issues to deal with. Now there’s a tougher opponent lurking for the quarterfinals (perhaps Jamaica, which brought a good team.) And there is a fresh round of questions about Bradley, the Gold Cup roster and how he’s using the 23 he brought.
Last night, for instance, in desperate need of more offense, perhaps something different on offense – Alejandro Bedoya was the best he had to offer off the bench? Yikes.
If you need to know more about a very bad night for the United States, my SI.com analysis and ratings are here. Otherwise, get ready for a wildly interesting Tuesday night.
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The Blame Begins at the Top
For me, there are two hallmarks to Bob Bradley’s tenure: poor starts to matches and generally unimaginative play from the central midfield.
Both failings were on display last night. Again. When a team, with a changing cast of characters, consistently stumbles out of the gate, the problem can lie only in one place. If a coach can’t get his players ready to play, he’s severely deficient in the motivation department. There simply is no excuse or defense for consistently lethargic, uninspired starts.
The midfield problem could be a product of a lack of a true No. 10 in the USA ranks. The team has struggled here since Reyna retired. But I’ve got to wonder just how an at-his-prime Reyna would have fared under Bradley’s defend-first approach to central midfield. Michael Bradley shows offensive flashes when he goes forward. But his father’s system restricts these forays. How many other potential attacking central mids have been stymied by Bradley’s system? Visualize: Bolton’s Stuart Holden isn’t injured and brings his at-times brilliant Premiership playmaking to Bradley’s camp. Where would Bradley play him? On the wing, like before? Or, if in the middle, would he let Holden be Holden? Or would he make him defend first?
I was never a fan of retaining Bradley after the 2010 World Cup, which was a regression for USA from the 2009 Confederations Cup. I am even less of a fan of it now. He needs to resurrect the Gold Cup outing by winning the tournament. Before Mexico lost five players to drug accusations, the USA’s chances of defending Chicharito and winning the GC were iffy. Now, with the weakened Mexico squad, winning the GC is imperative for Bradley’s credibility. If he doesn’t win, Gulati should fire him. If Gulati won’t fire him, the USSF board should fire Gulati. Would any of the big football nations — or even smaller ones like the Netherlands or Mexico — tolerate a coach presiding over such consistent underachieving by its national team? Does team USA want a status quo for 2014?
USSF board should fire Gulati first...
… then Bradley.
Both are at fault for the Spain fiasco (Gulati for scheduling it, and Bradley for trotting out a B team in the first half that got demolished in the most demoralizing way possible).
I think that embarrassment against Spain just 3 days before the Gold Cup kickoff took a toll on this team’s morale that we are now seeing the full effects of.
by vineyarddawg on Jun 12, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Morale problems from the Spain game? Is this team that fragile?
That was what, a week ago? And it was Spain, the World Champs. How many players get the chance to be on the same field as the world’s best? Of course they’re going to school you! You pick yourself up and move on and you consider yourself lucky to have had the opportunity. And since that game they’ve had a workmanlike win against Canada, and were set to put 6 points on the board and easily advance. Blaming the Spain “embarrassment” is just grasping at excuses.
This team has real issues. It cannot create. These things didn’t happen because of the Spain exhibition. In fact I was hoping that some players (and a certain coach) would profit from the Spanish example.
The issue isn't that simple.
No one is under the illusion that the USMNT is one of the best teams in the world, but our players always like to pride themselves on the fact that they can compete with the best in the world, and can defeat them on any given day.
And now the starters on the team see that the guys one notch behind them not only can’t threaten to defeat a team like Spain (which we did defeat just 2 years ago with a similar lineup), but they can’t even stand on the same field as the Champions.
It messes with the team’s chemistry and unity when you don’t think you can rely on each other. Just as the old saying says, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Same basic principle.
If this had been a month or more before the Gold Cup, I probably would have dismissed the match as a one-off. This one was on the eve of a major, stressful competition, however, in which the matches are spaced so closely that you know for a fact that you will have to rely on your reserves to contribute in at least a few matches.
Who knows, I might be wrong… we’ll let the results speak for themselves. We’ve pulled ourselves out of a hole before, so let’s hope the boys can pull themselves out of this one, too.
by vineyarddawg on Jun 13, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
You put your finger on the problem.
And now the starters on the team see that the guys one notch behind them…
Yes. Even the starters couldn’t have dealt with Spain, not on any given day. The problem here is that the USMNT has always been thin. Even at their best they’re constantly trying to find some combination of players that will hide their deficiencies, but the fact remains. They have few top-drawer players. When a guy like Onyewu drops in form, when a guy like Charlie Davies becomes unavailable, the US has no depth to cover the loss. Another problem is complacency. The USMNT program has always been too cozy for some players. Those who do start know they are in little danger of losing their spot. That must change. Does Altidore really deserve an automatic starting nod? Bocanegra? This is not a hungry team. And this has long been a problem. It’s nothing new.
I wouldn't say "morale" problems but it was a bad idea
Spain was poor preparation for the gold cup… they held so much possession and our players didn’t want to chase the game b/c they were saving their legs for the gold cup. It wasn’t much of a game and gave our players little time on the ball to gel with each other. It ended up being a very poor preparation game for an important tournament. We would have been better off playing a mid level country.
Win or lose, we'll always be there for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Jun 13, 2011 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what is awesome?
Wondolowski on the National Team. This man is in no way out of his element. And how is Jermaine Jones such a force in Germany with absolutely minimal passing ability? His touch is excruciating.
Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange
by bigbluethruandthru on Jun 12, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions
Wondo usually finishes those
even Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller miss shots from time to time. Wondo still did his thing and is good at interplay with his teammates and he created a nice chance with Michael Bradley later in the match.
Win or lose, we'll always be there for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Jun 12, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I would hope that a striker
who has been practicing his craft for literally his entire adult life, would usually finish a wide open tap-in from inside the six. That would kind of come with the territory for being a professional striker in this day and age. What I’m saying is that he has seemed to be overmatched, and in his best moment to make a huge statement he failed in the worst way possible. Its almost impressive to miss the goal by more feet than the distance you were in front of the net. Yes it was a nice layoff for Bradley, but again that should be a routine play for a professional striker with his back to the goal to be able to tap the ball three feet away. The irony is that if he had hit the Altidore pass at exactly the same pace and placement he would be a hero now. He’s a very good MLS player, but he wasn’t ready for this stage, and Bradley putting him on the team in such a huge tourney was assinine. How many caps did he even have before this tournament? How about easing a guy in before throwing him to the wolves?
Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange
by bigbluethruandthru on Jun 13, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Sample Size
It’s foolish to judge a player by one play. Michael Jordan missed 26 game winning shots in his career and he was the best ever at his craft. Wondo has had too few minutes at the int’l level to judge whether he belongs there or not. The jury is still out on that question. It would have been nice if BB had called Wondo up to the Paraguay and Argentina friendlies in March.
Who else would you have taken over Wondo at forward that was left off the roster? Bunbury has taken a step back this season. Buddle regressed in Germany. Herculez Gomez was on a 10 month goal drought until his recent hot streak. Davies is still not 100% fit and only has 3 goals from open play in MLS this season, half his goals are PK’s.
Win or lose, we'll always be there for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Jun 13, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that it would have been nice to see him earlier
While his play has been frustratingly bland, it’s not so much that I’m bashing him per se, as I am the decision to make this tournament his debut. That’s all on Bradley, and he should answer for that. It’s too much too soon for almost anybody, and Wondo hasn’t exactly seized the moment. That tap-in should have silenced any doubt, he was in the perfect position. But his touch completely failed him, instead of just re-directing the ball he tried to hit it in. I don’t know what he was thinking, but it looked like his nerves got the better of him, or he wanted to make a statement with a rocket into the top of the net when a square pass would have suited him just fine. I have nothing personal against him, I would have loved to see him step up and hit a home run. Instead he struck out with the bases loaded. To answer your question, none of the above (maybe Davies, he and Altidore had great chemistry in the Confed Cup). I personally think Kenny Cooper can be a serviceable backup striker, and he is playing fine right now. Plus he has experience in important games; qualifyers and the like.
Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange
by bigbluethruandthru on Jun 14, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Like tainted chicken...
If Panama can make our back line look this bad, Mexico is going to eat us alive. That is, assuming we make it that far.
by DissidentAggressor on Jun 12, 2011 9:32 PM EDT reply actions
Bocanegra is trash
I have always liked Bocanegra and wanted him to hang on as the captain even though he is slipping a bit, however, after that cheap-shot I am done with him. That was bad. Time to get rid of that armband.
He's not trash
let’s also remember he is kind of playing out of position at LB… his best position is CB
Boca was far from our biggest problem in the panama game
Win or lose, we'll always be there for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Jun 13, 2011 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
