The first game ended today as a 3-1 loss to the world champions Italy, and it was a good game for the most part. Scrappy, stop and go football with the possession changing frequently as both teams went head on with tackles. However, it was a loss to the US. It was expected to be a loss, as the Italian squad had rebuilt since the debacle at Euro 2008, they brought back the world cup winning coach and got a few new faces that are pretty good, including an American.
But that’s not why I’m writing all this. I’m writing all this because I’m a bit upset with Bob Bradley as the coach for our team, and I’m a bit upset with one of the players on the squad as well. I don’t think we’ll do well at all in any major tournament without some real talent in coaching.
The US has been playing pretty well for quiet a while, and its gotten pretty solid at scraping out results, against good teams and bad team, home and away. It’s also gotten pretty good at wiping the floor with rubbish opposition. It’s been like this for a very long time, probably all the way since 1998 when Bruce Arena took over. He was able to stabilize the team after the 1998 debacle, and get some winning form to the nation’s team. However, there’s always been one thing lacking. That one thing is Style.
The US has no style of play. It’s all individuals that work their magic, and sometimes it works and we get a decent goal. But it’s never the same kind of goal over and over, or a well worked goal.
Sure, that might be because the strikers in the country are no good, but I’m not quiet certain that’s what the problem is. We have good strikers now, they can score from anywhere. But because we don’t have a style of play, it gets lost, and only found in the players individual flares.
What I’m really looking for is a stand out style of play. Lets take for example a team that we all know has a style. Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has stamped his authority on the team with a special kind of progressive attacking style that the team never sways away from, no matter what the score is, no matter what the condition is. When you turn the telly on, and you see Arsenal playing, you know you’re going to see high possession – high speed – high passing games, and generally, a lot of goals (for or against doesn’t matter). Barcelona plays in a similar style too. Germany plays a distinctive style as well with pin point passing as its signature.
So why cant the US have a style? Better yet, why not adopt on of these styles? Is it too difficult to do, is it so special that only Guardiola, Wenger, Loewe, Beckanbaur or Klinsmann know? If so, fine i accept that these coaches have special ingredients. But guess what, some of these coaches are available, including one that lives 15mins from the USMNT’s base camp.
No more excuses, i want a style for the team, and i want it now before the 2010 world cup.
This means that Bob has to go. He’s a good coach, for scraping out the wins. But for a country that’s do dominant in CONCACAF, i’m expecting the team to blow out rubbish opposition with lots of goals, not just 1-0’s and 2-0’s and 3-0’s. Some of the opposition we play in CONCACAF are comprised of part time players, that aren’t even considered professional. Surely we’re good enough to get 6 goals against them, right ? I think its because we have no technical direction. Arsenal would wipe the floor with some of the CONCACAF nations, with its reserve team.
As for the team itself, i think its more or less fine. The backline is decent, its good enough given the talent pool. The midfield is also alright given the talent pool. We’re weak up top, but almost every other country is weak up top (no, i don’t include Spain or Brazil in that list of “other countries”).
What i do think, is that Landon Donavon is done. He’s had more than a 100 games to be a leader, and he’s just not up to it. Sure’ he’s a great player when playing for games that don’t matter, or a game vs Mexico on home turf. But beyond that, he’s useless for the USMNT now and he needs to be dropped ASAP. It’s dragging the team down trying to find a spot for him. Just like how Aragones dropped Raul for Spain in 2008, USSF as a whole, has to drop Donovan to progress. I also think that FIFA should put a cap on international caps for a player. I think that number should be 100. Play for the country 100 times, and you’re done. No more. Do not pass go.
No more Landon please. Thank you
Thats it.
Done.
Here are a few ideas to ponder:
1) Strong emphasis on team approach has worked well to get us where we are now. But to evolve further we must allow for a few individual leaders to develop their talents and gain the appropriate recognition, on the field as well as in their bank account. Every successful battle requires a good blend of generals and foot soldiers. With the current blue-collar all-worker mentality, the next level will remain elusive.
2) If you want to run with the big dogs you have to challenge them. Sure, U.S. players can be found in European leagues in increasing numbers, but the USMNT needs to follow suit and take on other top national teams regularly. It is not enough to beat Mexico 9 out of 10 times (the 1 loss stemming from the WC qualifier played at Azteca every four years). Mexico is, and always has been, an average team despite their decades-long CONCACAF dominance. Playing Sweden’s B-team in California every January is not the same as taking on UEFA’s top teams on their home turf and during their season.
3) MLS needs a stronger foundation, more focused on sport and away from the entertainment approach. AEG is all about selling jerseys, which results in over-the-hill stars like Beckham and Blanco drawing salaries that exceed those of the entire remaining team combined and taking the attention and motivation away from young talent.
First of all, don’t drop donovan. I wonder if you’ve been watching the USMNT as long as I. Since day one when D. Beasely was introduced to the USMNT as an attacking midfielder/forward, it should have stayed that way until dropping him. He’s a fast player, with no sense of how to pass or defend. He stayed on the team for way too many years when I called for his dismissal, and now Bob Bradley has found some sense by taking him off the starting line-up. I guess it took the SAME mistakes he’s made, against a team like BRAZIL in actual Fifa tournament, not like the cheap old gold cup.
Second, Clint Dempsey. He’s got great flare, great moves, and as Bradley said “Moments of Brilliance..” Well.. Let me say this, that’s all he is.. Just like Beasleys moments of Speed and Quickness, you will find Clint Dempsey dragging his ass across the grass, only to bust a few moves here and there. Maybe he’s got a knack for finding the right place at the right time, but that’s it. He’s got NOWHERE NEAR as many goals as L. Donovan
Thirdly, KEEP DONOVAN YOU CRAZY ASS! He’s been playing on the USMNT since the U-17. He’s got WAYY more experience than the others and skill. Your whole article was good until you said drop the most talented, the most experienced (aside from Frankie Hedjuk who wasn’t named to the final 20 man WC Roster)…
Now.. Who should really go? Here’s my analysis.
Brian Ching, scores lots of goals in a sissy league (MLS), but can’t score with the big boys, so kick him off. Take Clint Mathis, he had confidence issues but hes got way more edge and fire than Ching who seems to make a mean face but plays passive.
Clint Dempsey, kick this wannabe maradona off and put in a real SOCCER MIND… Kyle Beckerman. The man can fire a rocket, he dribbles close and releases the pass late like Valderramma, and his passes are clean and strong, they glide off the ground like Beckham.
Conor Casey… OLD, TOO LATE… a version of Clint Mathis, but bigger and meatier… Also, drags his butt around like Dempsey… Who do I have in mind for this sack of shit? Yuran Movisyan. The kid was recruited from PASADENA CITY COLLEGE.. check out his history, this guy Scores goals.. Maybe he wants to play for Armenia, I dunno… But lets not do the same screw up we did with the American Born New Jersey Kid who now plays for Italy, that 20 yr old has a future, too bad its not with the USA the little cunt. Sorry, but if ur born here and live here, u play here. Im glad his team didn’t go to the final.
Thats my analysis, a much better one than yours.
100 Cap? Are you insane!!!? Who in the hell wants to see a bunch of No names, who aren’t as good as the 100 Cappers you want to ban represent their Country!!!!? Thats what the Olympics are for!!! You mean to tell me, back when Pele dawned the yellow and green, yes.. That man, the one who scored 1000+ goals in 1000+ games, yes… The only man to average almost 1 goal per game? That guy, had just under 100 games… You would have told the entire world, the entire country, Nope.. Sorry, the rest of this greatness is reserved for Santos. Oh please..
What about Cuatemoc Blanco? He’s inspired his Mexican NT to win their last few WCQ matches, and he’s playing Great! They might make it to the WC! Hes playing better than I’ve seen in literally years, it’s as if he’s rejuvinated.. We wouldn’t have the pleasure of seeing the best in the world play because of this rule….
Thats the dumbest god dam rule in the world. We create the sport, we put rules to govern the play, and taht should be it. No 100 caps bullshit.
I’ll tell u what, I’ll give you 100 days of internet access, and then you can write all of your letters and post all of your articles in the penny saver. Now I hate to compare apples and oranges, but I hope no net access for the rest of your life makes you think about this 100 cap bs.. not being allowed to represent your country after a lifetime of commitment and sacrifice, to just a dam 100 games, is not only stupid, its cruel and thoughtless and needless. WHO NEEDS YOUR RULES!
Oh, and kick Bradleys son off and put someone else in..That kid is spoiled and doesn’t have what it takes. He won’t improve, mark my words.
Joey,
My aggressive words are towards US Soccer and its inability to find a coach that will take us to some measure of success. Bob’s an alright coach, but he knows nothing of tactics. That’s been evident throughout all of his USMNT career *SINCE* Peter Novak left. You can trace the decline in *quality* of our play since Novak left for the U20’s and olympics.
Landy cake’s quality has increased dramatically since the first game in South Africa this summer, and i recently learnt of his split up with Bianca, which could contribute to his sudden increase in productivity. I don’t blame him at all for the loss in Mexico, thatblame goes straight to the bald man on the sidelines who simply couldnt send the message of “KEEP THE BALL” for the 2nd half.
The 100 cap rule is somehting i’m suggesting, its not the same as 100 days of interenet access.
I still don’t like the rule. Yeah my metaphors sux but all for the benefit of US Soccer, keep the faith! usa will be crowned world champ one day i swear.