Comments on: USA 1-3 Italy: Some Positives but Same Old Story

By: Gulati

Gulati — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:49:50 +0000

So let me get this straight: american defensive midfielders shouldn’t be allowed to come in on hard tackles due to a lack of grace or technique? what the fuck does that even mean? Who decides when you have the “grace or technique” to play hard and challenge? A straight red for coming in late on a tackle is a ridiculous call as was both red cards given to the US against Italy in 2006. Up until the red card, the US went pound for pound against Italy just like in 2006, and once again the outcome was thrown into question by the referee. That’s the best we’ve looked in a long time, and the Davies subsitution did nothing to shore us up defensively. your blog sucks

By: Tony H

Tony H — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:11:50 +0000

We were spared a shameful own goal by an offsides call. It was given a goal by a rather questionable foul on Altidore. Altidore was not free in the box; his and the defender’s legs became entangled. He certainly embellished his fall. And equally as certainly, he would not have scored.
So there were three major calls in the match. One went against us, and resulted in the team playing one down for sixty minutes. The other two benefited us in the form of two goals.
It is truly absurd for the US fans to attribute the loss to the officiating. If England had lost a similar match, English fans would be scrutinizing every player and the coach.
The US fans, much like the US players, make up for their lack of knowledge of the game with blinkered energy and spite for the “enemy.” A bit of objectivity, please!
I love our team but people who think this was somehow some remarkable performance like Ives and all the tool posters there don’t know the sport at all!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:08:04 +0000

Here is the bottom line. 1.Jozy Altidore had no desire or ganas at this level to strike the ball on goal when he is one v one with the keeper. He is supposed to be an international striker and if he can’t score or at least attempt a strike from that distance we will never be able to beat teams at the highest level. 2. Losing the ball in the center of the pitch (Dempsey versus Honduras and today Dempsey and Feilhaver against Italy) is nonsense. again at this level inexcuseable! Both times we were punished with an immediate strike and goal. 3. Oneyu is perhaps the worst central defender I have seen in a long time, he needs to go. 4. Where is Adu? Where was Torres? Where are the players that actually know how to play? Either sitting on the bench or home watching the game on TV. 5. Yes we can and have been able to play with the best teams for awhile now and occasionally managed a victory here and there and even a spot in the quarterfinals not so long ago and ironically should have won that match and went on to the semi’s…but our lack of desire and commitment 4 ninety minutes will be our downfall…we havent accomplished anything yet but we seem to play as if we had

By: Angry USA Fan

Angry USA Fan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:01:13 +0000

The red card was deserved. Clark lost the ball and then lost his head. The foul seemed hard and deliberate. Clark struck Gatusso too late and too high for it to look like a fair challenge. It came off as a lame bit of revenge. … The ref could’ve mercifully given a yellow card instead, but didn’t have to. A player who commits a malevolent, boneheaded foul like that one is lucky — not entitled — to avoid expulsion.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:12 +0000

Time is up Bradley. His adjustments are always too late. Playing down a man why didn’t we sub for fresh legs sooner? The team looked rutterless in the second half. What sis Bob say or not say to them at halftime?

I would love to see Boca move to left back, although isn’t that we we had him for the Ghana game in 2006? He did a piss poor job at LB in that game. That being said he is a much better option than Bornstien, Pearce, or Beasly.

Also why is Adu even on this roster if Bob has no intention of playing him? OR for that matter Torres? I know Bob eluded to these players being a defensive liability. Well I hate to tell you this Bob all your players in mid are dfensive liability so you may as well go with someone, anyone that has a snow ball’s chance in hell of finishing a shot.

I know Charlie Davies did not play well but we need speed up top whith Jozy. People keep saying Connnor Casey is there to hold the ball up and relieve pressure. As far as I am concerned Jozy can do it and do it well.

The formation I would like to see is

Jozy Altidore-Charlie Davies
Landon Donovan
Jose Torres-Michael Bradley-Dempsey
Boca- Gooch- Demerit- Spector
Howard

By: Trey

Trey — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:24:27 +0000

Bradley is not fit to be an international manager. I agree with Adam Beasley.

Consider this fact.

Bradley started Feilhaber after 45 minutes of good soccer in a home game against Honduras, a team as has been pointed out by Kartik time and time again that was missing its two best midfield players

Bradley benched Torres after 45 minutes ON THE ROAD in Costa Rica, where despite being partially to blame for the first goal Torres was the only guy to hold the ball up and show some attacking intent. Also the kid had probably never played on astroturf before.

Torres is an influential team member of perhaps the top club in this region.

Feilhaber has played for three clubs in three years in three different leagues and has been a malcontent.

So what does Bob do?

He starts Feilhaber against Italy and leaves Torres to rot on the bench.

Knee jerk reactions and different standards for different players make a losing national team coach.

Bradley must be fired!

By: Angel

Angel — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:18:28 +0000

Bob Bradley is a person who play with players that he feels very comfortable, That is why he keep using his players that he knows best and like Kartik says he used player from the USSF youth System. He always use (Beasley, Bocanegra, Sasha, Broinstein, M. Bradley) all this come from either Chicago Fire or Chivas USA. and of course even tho Donovan and Dempsey are good players they know or think that they are Irreplaceable. Donovan sometimes he so Premadona that he think he is the best free kicker we have in this Team. Not only I think that Bob Bradley keep a grude with some players for Samples (Adu, Cooper, Orozco, Arturo Alvarez, Benny B.) all this guy have one thing in common and that is that either they had make a mistake that cause something to the USMNT or in the Youth USNT. For Example Benny, Alvarez, Adu and Orozco had problems before with Nowak in the Olimpic team or in DC United. and Now Cooper and Torres had some kind of problem with Bradley in the USMNT Camp or in a game. Anyway we as supported and as fan on the USA we need to know why are these player are been left behind or bench. Sunil have to start thinking that if this keep going on we are not going to have player with good talent on the field but we always going to be the laughing stock of the World of Football (Soccer). Noone is going to think that we are a legit team. Believe when I hear spanish comentator in ESPN español, Fox Soccer Network., Fox Español and even on GolTV. We are an emberrassment and they think we don’t belong on a the Big stages. what the heck they don’t even want to talk about team USA or mention anything about it. And why is this, cause if have an Idiot as President of the USSF who doesn’t know or even play soccer in his entired life. A Coach that never play either, that never play in a world cup or even professionally. I’m getting tired of this Idiots. And now the question is what can we do as fan and spectator of Good Football to correct this problem, Should their be a change of presidency of USSF and coach of the USMNT. Who is about Sunil G.

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:25:30 +0000

I used to really hate Trecker. But these last few months of listening to him on your show plus US related performances have convinced me he’s right. He’s much more sincere on your show than he appears in print and as I’ve listened to him my eyes have opened up as to the ineptitude of the USSF and the totally amateurish nature of our coaching.

By: Louis

Louis — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:12:59 +0000

I cannot believe I am about to say this because I have for years advocated MLS playing second fiddle to the USMNT because of the nature of this country and the fact that anything that happens to grow the sport will need to be done thru the nats, but go out and support MLS, support USL, support your local amateur side but do not watch or write about this stinking team as long as they continue to hire second rate american coaches. It’s the only way Gulati and the suits will learn.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:47:31 +0000

I still can’t get over why people think we should have played better against Italy. We simply aren’t good enough, how can you really blame Bob Bradley for us playing down a man for 60 minutes, was that his fault. People need to get a grip and realize we just aren’t there yet as a soccer nation. Who knows if we ever will be but to claim Bradley is the problem is just to take the easy way out on this. There were definite positives from the first 45 minutes and we will never know what the outcome would have been if the game ended 11 v. 11, but we are playing Brazil and Italy here not Honduras and Costa Rica. I can’t wait to see everyones reaction after Thursday.