The Back Heel

This is one of the biggest gut wrenching losses I’ve experienced as a US Soccer fan.  The USA U23 team could only get a draw out of playing, at home, against Canada and El Salvador.  A team filled of only professionals, many who get first team playing time at their clubs failed against inferior talent.  I’ll present the bad and the little good that came out of this tournament:

BAD

Goalkeeping: Bill Hamid wasn’t aggressive enough to clear out the balls on both set pieces against Canada.  He also did not do well against the two goals he gave up against El Salvador, although he was injured.  Sean Johnson then let in the equalizing El Salvador goal, while not the worst goalie error ever, still an inexcusable play on his end.

Defenders: Ike Opara had a terrible tournament and now it should be questioned if he’s a legit national team player.  He was out of position and covered no one at times just space, including the final goals that Canada and El Salvador scored.  Perry Kitchen seemed a little more composed but did nothing to assert himself.  The fullbacks fared a little better but they didn’t shut anything down on the defensive end.  I guess this shouldn’t be too much of a shocker, defense was known as the weak point of this squad and it really showed.  

Teal Bunbury: How much longer until CJ Sapong takes his spot on the national team as well?  Bunbury was invisible and ineffective in the Canada game and lost his starting spot to Terrance Boyd.  

Caleb Porter: Was this international stage too much for Porter?  Being a college coach could one have argued Porter should have gained experience first as an assistant in the international level before being thrust in a head coaching position. The team still tried to play through the middle against Canada even though Canada caused problems by out numbering the USA midfield.  One could argue more emphasis on wing play would have worked by shifting Adu into a central attacking role and introducing Gyau to the starting lineup.  It will also be questioned why Porter left in Hamid after he suffered an ankle injury and then gave up 2 goals and then was subbed off at halftime.  I still think Porter’s coaching future is bright but one could argue it has taken a little hit.  

GOOD

Terrence Boyd: Possibly the only positive to really come out of this tournament.  He should have been brought on earlier against Canada and his two goals had a bit of class to them.  Good chance he becomes a fixture on the senior national team.  Has for sure moved headed the pecking order above Bunbury and depending on how Agudelo recovers form injury, may catch up to him soon as well, given shallow striker pool for USA he could get a senior cap soon.

Freddy Adu: Yes Adu’s club career has been somewhat of a joke and he only seems to play well in age restricted competition.  But he did play well in 2 out of 3 games this season, which is better than the majority of the players on this USA team can say.  He provided some good service and scored a wonder goal against Cuba.  It’s hard to say if this will translate into club or senior national team play because it hasn’t really happened yet.  

I can’t really think of anything else that was positive to take away from the tournament.  I wish Gyau had played more because he helped the attack when he came on against Canada and his fresh legs may have helped against El Salvador as well.  Not sure what else to say.  This isn’t doomsday for US Soccer, not by any means after all countries like Germany and Argentina aren’t played in the Olympics either and many powerhouse soccer nations don’t put an emphasis on the Olympics.  However to lose in this fashion to inferior teams at home is nothing short of an embarrassment.  Eventually with the players in this age group time will tell if this is a disturbing trend or something they can use to build on.  

theleftflank:

Pretty exciting game, that went to extra time before ending 4-1 in Chelsea’s favor, allowing them to advance into the final eight of the Champions League.

Although, Drogba did have his fair bit of feigning injury -

Lets call it “taking a page out of Sergio Busquet’s book”.

Dear US Soccer Fans,

Jozy Altidore doesn’t not suck and he shouldn’t be dropped from the national team picture ahead of Juan Agudelo or Edson Buddle. Apparently in the first half of the friendly against Italy, many fans were calling for Altidore to benched, which is idiotic.

Altidore didn’t have a good first half by any means but the role of a lone striker when USA plays it’s 4-2-3-1 is a thankless one especially against superior opposition.  Against Italy, Daniel Williams was invisible at the right wing and Brek Shea was inconsistent on the left.  This left Altidore on an island to deal with the Italy defense most of the time without any support.

It’s true that Altidore could use a better first touch and make a little better effort to win balls every now and then but he’s still a solid player and the best striker in the USA player pool at the moment. 

Also the role of holding the ball up as the lone striker isn’t the best way to use Altidore’s skill set.  If you look at the goals he’s scored with AZ, his club team, he scores mostly with service of the ball to his feet.  This is not a criticism on Klinsmann, he feels going away from the standard 4-4-2 is the way to go for the future.  The attack will look better against equal or lesser opposition and when key attacking players like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Stuart Holden are finally able to play together.

In the mean time, please shut the hell up about how Altidore needs to benched.