US Soccer 2009

No wonder why Adu hasn't had much playing time at AS Monaco--he has been sitting on the wrong bench. However, Monaco is returning him to Benfica. But you are right--better to play in a lesser league than to sit in a better one. The US is lacking two players: a striker, who is always a danger to score; and a creative midfielder. Until those two guys come along (maybe Charles Renken will be such player). We will always be behind.

We are not among the elite teams in the world and some fans expect us to be (wrongly). We cannot consistently compete w/ the Brazils and Germanys of the world. However we are in the next, very crowded group maybe about 15-40 in the world. We are a good team who on the right day can compete w/ anybody but also can lose to anybody, too.

For teams in this category qualifying for the World Cup is never a sure thing. World Cup qualifiers on the road are tough for almost everybody. We are winning all of our home games--we are very tough at home. Sometimes we are mediocre on the road. All in all though this represents great progress. Assuming we qualify for SA 2010 it will be our sixth world cup in a row.

We are no sure thing to get out of the rounds at the World Cup--depends on the draw and how we play. We are capable of it. We have world class goal keeping. Altidore is coming along as a striker, Freddy might yet develop. A bunch of pretty good pieces, no great pieces except for Howard.

The full backs are killing us. They're play directly led to most of the costa rica goals. Apparently nobody in america can competently play left back.

The US needs a creative attacking midfielder. Adu must start. He (and possibly Dempsey) is the only creative player in the US national program.

Also play Charlie Davis up front with Attidore. Davis has blazing speed, skill, and size.

At present the US team is "workmanlike" but there is no creativity, no flair, no skill.

Workmanlike will beat Honduras and Trinidad and the 2009 version of Mexico, but it will not win a game at SA 2010.

Just my 2 cents.

these points are definitely spot on.

--more sure defense-- the play against costa rica was awful. lazy balls, missed balls, poor touches, absent tackling. the turf was challenging and the crowd was loud, but there were some flat out blown coverages.

--more creative midfield-- dempsey is becoming more dependable, but we lack a player who can transition from controlling the possession to a run. most of our chances come on set plays or counters, rarely are they created through the midfield.

--a reliable striker-- who knows if altador (sp?) will develop into this. his hat trick was nice, but donovan gave him one goal and the degree of difficulty on another wasnt super high. and donovan goes back and forth between playing up front and in the midfield and he hasnt really progressed that much in the last few years. i think i would like to see him play more midfield, but beasley needs to be better in the back for that to happen.

we will qualify. we are in an awful division. we will be lucky to get out of group play and if we do it will be because of favorable grouping and stellar play from howard. for a team like the US to advance far, they have to get lots of breaks, like we did in 02: a favorable matchup with a declining mexican team that we play well anyway.

For diehard US national team fans it has been a stressful year. The US team of late is giving up goals early and putting the team in a hole. I do admire their heroic comeback tie against El Salvador since they were down two goals. Still, they should not have been in that situation to being with.

I am much more concerned about Mexico. Remember, Mexico and US are key representatives of the region, and when one does not do well it reflects on CONCACAFE as a whole. Nobody wants to see the people of Mexico go through the agony of their team not making the World Cup. They are in real hole right now!

Folks, Bradley is a pretty good play maker, and you realize this when he is not on the field. He is also doing well on his club team in Europe.

Below is an article about Bradley's concern about player fitness.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=653300&sec=us&cc=5901

I am not a soccer fan on the level of most you guys but I will note that this thread has about as high a quality level and any I read on LetsRun.

Every point so far on this thread has been spot on.

The US has not played well so far in qualifying. The fact is the USMNT has done what they are supposed to do in order to qualify...Win at home and get a few results (i.e. ties) on the road. Falling behind by two at a clearly inferior El Savador team was a disappointment. Losing at Costa Rica was expected. I don't expect us to win at Mexico in two months, either.

Frankie Hedjuk has played out of his mind in the first few qualifiers and was sorely missed the last two games. At the same time, can we rely on this type of performance from him for the rest of qualifying and in WC 2010?

If anything, we are still relying on a core group of veterans to get us to S.A...Give the young guys a chance. Beasley isn't the same player he was. Mastroeni should be done as a national team player. No more Eddie Johnson (ever!). Play Adu, Altidore, Bradley, Davies, Spector, Edu & others more.

I don't like the direction the team has been going for many months now. Too many players ride the pine in Europe and miss out on game time experience, and then think (coaches too- listen up Bradley!) that they'll be good to go come game day. Well, after reading the ESPN article Bradley is starting to get it. Perhaps he realized it when the US was demolished in every way last weekend.

Point being, I'd much rather see us play active MLS contributors than rusty big names who sit for months at a time in Europe.

On the bright side, Crew Cat told me the US will do better when Frankie gets back on the back line.

"Nobody wants to see the people of Mexico go through the agony of their team not making the World Cup."

Really? Setting aside, for a second, how this would reflect poorly on the CONCACAF region, I don't see how you can make this statement.

The Mexican fans have been about as boorish as it gets when it comes to the U.S. Have you forgotten the chants of "Osama" at the games? Or when Mexican fans threw bags of urine at U.S. players?

I realize that the actions of a few should not be imputed to a whole country. But I am pretty sure the hatred of the U.S. extends far beyond just a few people in Mexico.

The MLS is probably 85 - 90% as good as the best leagues in the world. So maybe it would be better for these aforementioned players to get off the benches on their European teams and play in the MLS. At least by playing and practicing every week in the MLS they will be in condition. Heck, Beckmen is not finding the MLS a cakewalk!

Frankie Hejduk's is typical of a well condition MLS player. Nobody will confuse him of being Ronaldo, but he plays with enthusiasm and is constantly causing havok. Right now a high strung Hejduk will help out the US more than a bench ridden, but more skillful Adu. Frankie also can score when called on. Get Adu off the bench, and possibly back to the MLS. His talents are being completely wasted!!

With luck and the right draw a team like the US despite some flaws can make the semifinals.

Somehow I think Bradley is taking the blue collar approach to coaching.

MLS is not 85-90% as good as the Bundisliga, La Liga, Ligue One, EPL, and Seria A. There is very little depth in MLS, a few good players and a lot that just can't play at all. MLS might be 85-90% as good as some of the other Euro leagues, like the Eerdivisie, but players like Bradley and Gooch that play in those leagues improve over MLS competition where they are clearly a cut above the rest. Plus, regardless of how much you might like to see the players get more playing time in MLS, they are getting paid more money to sit on the bench in Europe. It is the same reason a star in the Spanish Basketball League would come to the NBA and sit on the bench.

Our outside back situation is a mess right now. Beasley at left back=failed experiment. Pearce is not on form, having ridden the bench most of the year for a Bundisliga 2 side. Right back was just fine until injuries claimed both Cherundolo and Heydude. I still think Wynne has potential there but based on his performance in C.R. he is not ready yet.

The guy who tries to pit Adu v. Heydude, I don't know what to say, they don't remotely play the same position. I think our attack will incorporate Adu, Altidore, Dempsey and Donovan by next year. Klejstein (off form lately), Bradley, and Feilhaber all have some potential to contribute going forward from midfield too. Beasley I think is done for now as a national team player. I think Bradley has been pretty good at getting some opportunities for new guys.

I'd love to see Mexico fail to make it. I think they are probably headed for the fourth slot in CONCACAF and a playoff vs. CONMEBOL #5. We need to continue to win our home games and tie T&T on the road. It is hard to picture 17 pts. not getting us in, although it is mathematically possible. I would love to win at T&T so we don't face Costa Rica at home needing a win on the last day of the Hex.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

I would love to win at T&T so we don't face Costa Rica at home needing a win on the last day of the Hex.

Especially when 75% or more of the crowd in Washington DC will be cheering for the Ticos.

I reckon it would do the USA good to be in a slightly more competitive qualifying group for World Cups, like maybe in with the South American teams.

I would imagine you would still have a very good shot of qualifying and match experience against some big teams could bring the team on.

Friendlies against these teams are one thing and the USA are usually motivated for these, but when the other team is usually involved in a difficult qualifying group, they tend not to take it so seriously.

trollism wrote:

I reckon it would do the USA good to be in a slightly more competitive qualifying group for World Cups, like maybe in with the South American teams.

I would imagine you would still have a very good shot of qualifying and match experience against some big teams could bring the team on.

Friendlies against these teams are one thing and the USA are usually motivated for these, but when the other team is usually involved in a difficult qualifying group, they tend not to take it so seriously.

Hopefully the confederations cup will give us just that. Even if we don't make it out of the gorup we get matches with Brazil and Italy. That's solid competition against top tier teams. If we can get 4 points out of that group it'll be a successful trip.

And making 95% of the noise.

We need to do well in this tournament. Another wash out won't help matters. It would be nice if this Bradley team would perform above expectations. Safe conservative football can get boring.

Well, at least we're eventually going to get a great coach in Dominick Kinnear. Its just a matter of time. He's the hands down best coach in the land for melding a great TEAM out of seeming disjointed pieces and unknowns.

Believe me, I HATE everything about Houston, and am still pissed that our 2005 Earthquakes ended up winning 2 more MLS titles. Dom wants out of Houston, as any clear thinking person would.

absent Mexico, CONCACAF will lose a slot in the following World Cup, because the slots are based (wholly or partly?) on World Cup performance and there has not been a lot of World Cup success by CONCACAF teams other than Mexico and the U.S. When Mexico is down, the whole region suffers. Hejduk was out with an injury. He'll be back. What U.S. juniors are on the rise and will help by next year? Were there any obvious slights of productive, goal-scoring MLS players for this team?