To my point here, I just found this quote “It has to be our goal to develop a style in which Americans will recognize themselves,” he [Klinsmann] says. “They have to be in front of the television and say, ‘Yes, that’s my team.’ ” … Klinsmann believes that the team’s playing style will eventually resemble something like the country’s assertive entrepreneurial culture. “Americans are proactive,” he tells me. “You want to be world leaders in everything you do. So, on the field, you shouldn’t just sit back and wait.”
Really interesting lineup tonight. Bradley's work rate from that attacking mid spot will provide a lot more cover than Dempsey does, and Dempsey being on the left gives the left footed Beasley room to overlap and provide service. I was really confused at first, I kinda like it now.
Thought I commented on this earlier, but I thought that tifo was really cool. Well done to the guys who worked on that.
Yea, I'm guessing NJ AO worked on that. Nothing as cool in Jax. On my way out of the stadium, I'll post a few pics later. Got players coming off the bus. My wife was able to find our names on the bus and take a pic of that. Game wasn't that promising. But at least Altidore got the monkey off his back (my friend jokingly called that comment of wife racist ).
Post those if you get a chance jealous that you got to go. I thought we looked ok today against a team that will likely be similar to Ghana. Besler's been struggling some which worries me a bit. He's the one guy I expected to be able to doubt count on in our back 4. The 2 goals from Jozy are huge for his confidence. When he's confident he's a handful. I hope that gets him going. Fabian Johnson needs to be our starting right back. Absolutely love him back there. A goal and an assist in the last 2 games has me sold. I suppose he didn't actually get the assist but he definitely set that goal up.
What game were you watching? He's not flashy, he's probably not going to score a 65-yard goal, but he does his job and he does it effectively.
The only job he does effectively is turn the ball over and complete less than half of his passes. Every. Single. Game.
Opta says he was 24/28 passing, including a "Key Pass" in the 23', 1 interception, 4 "Recoveries", 1 Tackle, and 1 Foul committed. Beckerman allows Jones to roam (which he does regardless of who he's with). So you can take Beckerman out and risk Jones doing whatever he wants without cover, or you can keep him in and let him sit in front of the defense while Jones goes swashbuckling around the field
Agreed. I used to be the biggest beckerman hater but at this point we need him. Bradley, while it's not his natural role, has been brilliant as our CAM. Most of us agree the diamond is not for us. Therefore Bradley as the CAM with a disciplined beckerman as the true holding mid which allows jones to be a box to box mid which is what he likes is a good thing. Also I'll eat crow on Beasley. While I think chandler is a better back he has played like crap. He's really a RB but Johnson has been fabulous and has it locked down. Howard is comfortable with Beasley and he seems to communicate better with the other three on the back line. Plus he does have pace.
Exactly my thoughts on Beckerman. I was 100% against him even making the squads a year and a half ago. Always thought he was a fantastic MLS player who couldn't compete on the international level. He's really adjusted well and I think he's earned a spot in the starting lineup.
Did you guys notice in the first half how well we were countering? We were shaky with the final pass several times but we are really starting to play attractive football. Ghana is the youngest team at the World Cup. We're not going to win the possession battle against any of the teams in our group but Ghana isn't disciplined in the back. They are inexperienced. We can and will get them on the counter and that's how we are going to beat them.
I have pretty much the whole team but that would get boring to post all My name is on M of the "ONE TEAM". Have a close up as well Not a big fan of the lower seats on the side. Corner view in NJ was a lot nicer. From this angle, it's hard to see the far near corner. It's also annoying that people keep standing up and sitting down. I'd prefer being up for the whole 90 minutes but it doesn't work when you're the only one. I may try General Admission AO next time. Not an option in Brazil obviously, but I'm hoping everyone will be standing the whole game over there. Game comments later, gotta leave.
hedache (tagging because I don't want to quote that huge post), if you enjoy standing and yelling for most of the game AO is definitely the way to go. It does get a little bit hard to follow the game sometimes, but for me it was worth it for the atmosphere.
Oh definitely. Best place to follow the game is TV. With my European culture, going to the game means making noise, creating discomfort for opposition, etc. So most times I'm feeling out of place anyways (especially at Florida Panthers games all season long). I'm the guy that is there to create some aspect of hooliganism without stepping over the line. Last night, Emenike came towards us to sign stuff for a few Nigerians a few rows in front of us after the game. If I had seen that coming, I would have made a move to get there and swing and yell at him in Turkish something in the lines of "you sold out (match fixing), cheating dog, son of a..., etc". I'm pretty sure he would understand all of it. Yep, I'm that guy and I don't even have to be drunk to be that way. In terms of the game, I think it's unfair to call Beckerman scrub. He's not a great player, but some points are made about him above and gotta give credit for it. Even after him not being able to send a simple pass on the attack to Dempsey towards the left. That one was frustrating and at that level you need to do better than that. But he's got his strengths and perks that benefit the team indirectly (like Jones' situation). I think having Beck and Jones as defensive mids and then Bradley in front of them is the safe way to go for at least the first two games in Brazil. It hurts us in terms of, you have to play Dempsey along with Bradley, so that leaves only one spot for one of the Bedoya, Davis and Zusi trio. And it also leaves us without the guy that can counter fast on the wing and swing one inside for Altidore (preferably a faster forward but we don't have that either). In my opinion you need that duo when you have Beck, Jones and Bradley in the center and we don't have that kind of personnel. Maybe Green in 4 years. And that is for counter situations. I think Fab Johnson is doing great. He may not be the best defender, but the combination of defense and offense, he's our best bet on right back. And in that same sense, I prefer Beasley over Chandler, but from Jurgen's perspective, it might be the other way around or very 50-50 that it could go either way any given day. Center of defense should stay as Besler and Cameron. No need to shift Cameron to the side to squeeze Gonzales into the line up (unless needed due to mandatory reasons like suspension, injury, extremely terrible form). And yes, those two are not doing great, but they're the best we've got at the moment. I think Howard should be our starting goalie... I think... Any thoughts on this anyone? I won't discuss Altidore since it's pointless. I have no idea what Jurgen is thinking for that top spot. Now that he's finally scored two goals, I have no doubt he's starting Ghana. If he's ghana start on another intl streak, be it. Show us what you got Jozy.
Ok, lets see if this works. The pictures I took were mostly of family and friends at the game. Yes, that is my daughter acting a fool dancing on the roof of the car. https://plus.google.com/u/0/1136738...89bac1-25e0-3397-8687-b2df86459ae81467e83a1d9
yeah, I had no idea anyone else would have been at the game. I was MIA on the forums the last couple of weeks.
Ok, this link should work. https://plus.google.com/11367386748...89bac1-25e0-3397-8687-b2df86459ae81467e83a1d9
