OSUCat wrote:I really hope Altidore is ready by the next game.
It probably a good thing that USA did not win the group. If USA won the group they would be playing on Monday instead of Tuesday. That extra day is really important for Bradley (Pull your head out of your ass) and Jones (Keep up the worse) who are just work horses.
Anyone else surprise that Jones hasn't earned two yellow cards in the group stage?
Anyone else thought when they saw Gonzo starting that we where about to get creamed? Outside of a one or two bone head moves he felt more comfortable and probably has the starting job again.
Yeldin is making a strong case that if Altidore is still out that maybe you play him with Johnson on the right side. Zusi is playing the best out of the Zusi, Davis, Bedoya trio. Yeldin speed and strength is a real asset especially since Davis, Bedoya, nor Zusi have any. Personally, all three are the same player to various degrees of being better (Zusi>Bedoya>>Davis).
Bradley has been the most frustrating because he clearly has better game. And has not been 100% bad even in the WC games. The jitters should be done...no "must win" pressure (yes, it is a knockout game, but it is also a successful WC for us at this point) , no "result of group matters more than this game" weirdness. Just playing a game against what everyone will deem a superior opponent, yet an opponent I believe has some cohesive play issues. Maybe that will settle MB down. He is, and will remain short of months of similar play, the best choice for the US at that position.
Was terrified to see Gonzo start. And he had his bone head moves, including what was also maybe his best move...his sliding challenge in the box that was going to be ball or PK. Might not have been necessary. But it worked. My biggest frustration with Gonzo this game was his turning to look for the flag when beaten on a great run in the 1st half, losing a step on a ball in a dangerous position. But, by and large, he came up big, and again, a Klinsmann call works.
I like Zusi for his set piece potential. Yeldin is flat out changing games with his speed. That was the one area we did not exploit today as much as we could have. We had a couple of 50/60 yard runs on the ball from Beasley and others. Yeldin immediately widens the defense, and seems rather competent bringing the ball back across goal from the end line, though his first touch today was clumsy in a similar situation. It was his first touch, tho.
Happy to get the extra day, though I would exchange it for Algeria/Russia over Belgium. My fear is Jozy gets to "OK" but really isn't 100% and the run of play we have developed over 2+ weeks gets interrupted with a feeling out process. If Jozy is truly OK, he is our best option...clearly. But I don't want to rush him back.
