Comments on: Honduras 2:3 USA- Casey Brace Leads USA to World Cup

By: Rex

Rex — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:11:54 +0000

I did not get to watch the game? Was Holden really terrible?

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:09:29 +0000

this game almost gave me a heart attack. donovan’s goal was brilliance, and good to see casey finally have a good night out there…i am still a believer on holding my tongue on how good our team is after a win (i hate it when supporters lose their jock straps when we win, thinking we will dominate world football), and i think this game had some points to prove it. we need to mature IMMENSELY before SA, our midfield and defense seem to lose their composure at the end of games with leads, we play too much of a prevent defense, and our midfield just turns it over again and again, nerve racking.

By: The Ghost of Josimar

The Ghost of Josimar — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:42:38 +0000

Ah Tim,

Your post is as charming as it is incisive.

Teams do not get rewarded for playing good soccer? Certainly they do. Not only that, we all know that “good” is not always synonymous with “pretty.” On this point, see my observation that Velvet Toes Casey played an ugly but hugely effective role for us last night.

As for Bob Bradley not being “top class” — fair enough, the point could be pinned down better.

Bradley seems like a good man. That said, would any other highly competitive national federation hire him? Have we performed well in qualifying? Is the team well organized? Did it make sense for Sasha Kljestan to get the minutes he got this summer? Why did it take injuries to preferred players for Charlies Davies and Jonathan Spector get serious time?

Some people are quite satisfied with the squad selection and our performances under Bradley. I’m not wild about Bradley’s qualities as a manager. He is serviceable; he is our manager; but he is not outstanding. Maybe you disagree.

By: HSNCalSJ

HSNCalSJ — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:00:14 +0000

Regardless his history, after watching the entire game by feed yesterday, I believe the referee was completely fair in this game. I did not see any biases. He made several correct non-calls late in the game when Honduras was playing to get free kicks. If either team had any claim to a belief that the ref was unfair, it would have been Honduras.
But I’m not a referee basher, I’m biased because how hard the job is. The center ref has the hardest job of anyone on the field, and the hardest officiating job in any major sport (thanks to FIFA). I’d like to see an NFL, NHL, MLB, or even NBA game called with a single official on the field/court/rink. The results would be hysterical.

By: HSNCalSJ

HSNCalSJ — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:44:46 +0000

Not even close, against any opponent. Holden is absolutely the better choice, because Dempsey is one lazy-assed give-away after another. Talk about movement off the ball, there is none with Dempsey when playing midfield. And for wing play, and defensive play on the wing, Holden also is much better.
As a midfielder, Dempsey’s only advantages over Holden are how he plays in the box, both offensively as a finisher and defensively clearing high balls.
It’s another story when Dempsey moves to forward. He is then creative, and there absolutely isn’t a better finisher on the team.
What I want to know is why we see two completely different Dempseys when he plays midfield with Fulham and when he plays midfield with the Nats? Maybe it’s the way that the US likes to bang balls from the backline over the midfield, which doesn’t allow him to play one-twos with midfielders (since the US plays without any attacking central mids)? I think this makes him sulk. He needs to grow up and be more professional when playing with the national team.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:33:35 +0000

Two things Kartik:

You make a great point that the defense looks and plays better when Jay Demerit is on the field.

You are right that winning the group is meaningless. The A team guys most likely want to get back to their clubs as soon as possible. Yet, from a selfish point of view the doom and gloom element will have nothing to complain about if we do win it. If we do not, then promise me Kartik that you will allow no one on the podcast to complain that we failed to win the group as a sign of Bradley’s poor coaching.

Maybe you can enlighten us on this but do we have any scheduled warm-ups as fixtures? The team will not be together again for how long? The USA has a recent history of playing better as they are together longer. This worries me for the WC. With many players coming from Europe we will have little time between the end of the European season and the start of the WC.

By: Sunday Sides

Sunday Sides — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:29:30 +0000

Is there anywhere I can watch a replay online of this match?

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:18:09 +0000

You do realize that you don’t get rewarding for playing “good soccer” just as arsenal and just ask euro 2004 winners Greece. Your biased is easily exposed when you try and make a case for bring in a “top class” (what does this vague statement even mean?) manager after the team wins on the road against a team that beat every other team at home.

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:17:22 +0000

Then again, against better opponents, ie, teams that actually reach the world cup or euros regularly, would you rather have Holden or Dempsey. In CONCACAF, it is one thing. But movement off the ball and timing is so critical against better opponents who keep their shape and possession well (Honduras I have noted previously is not a latin styled team- they are built more athletically like an African team or the US even). I still think Dempsey is the one real high level player in the US setup that has a tactical sense in big games. Actually, him and Spector would be the two top ones.

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:14:56 +0000

Holden looks raw and unfinished at this level playing 90 minutes. Great cross to Davies, but I would say he is nowhere near the level of player I would personally select for a World Cup. He can come off the bench and is versatile, but I would not consider him for the starting XI.