I wasn't going to write a post on this match, but feel compelled to after seeing it live last night at the Meadowlands. This is one where the box score kinda sorta tells you what happened:
Stats Summary: USA/ARG
Shots 7/13
Shots on goal 4/6
Saves 5/3
Corner Kicks 2/6
Fouls 12/9
Honestly, I didn't even realize that the U.S. had seven shots - I think that's a generous count. It felt more like 1-15. And I agree with much of what Grant Wahl had to say in a quick post-game analysis, but I also thought it was sort of beside the point. Whether the U.S. play 4-2-3-1 as they did in the first half or 4-4-2 as they did in the second (when the Argentines started coasting a little), the U.S. just didn't have the personnel on the pitch to really be in the game. Honestly, seeing it up close to the pitch, it was dismaying how easily the U.S. was outplayed by Argentina. Mind you, Argentina did have the world's best player on the field, and they were set up to play through him. But aside from Messi's otherworldly skills, what was most amazing was how technically and tactically unsophisticated the U.S. looked compared to Argentina. And, mind you, the pitch looked slow and seemed to lack any kind of bounce (which should have helped the U.S.).
So what to do? Sure, the U.S. is still a good bet to qualify again for the next World Cup, but playing like this and selecting players like the ones we saw last night will not move U.S. soccer forward. I would plead for something more radical. I'd keep about half the team and try to build a new squad around them with younger players who have the potential to be great.
Who should stay? Howard, Donovan, and Dempsey, perhaps Bocanegra.
Who should definitely go? Last night convinced me that the market for players is pretty efficient. There's a reason most of the U.S. guys play in second tier leagues. I don't think scouts out there are discriminating against American players. Instead, they've taken a look and taken a pass. Several guys just looked out of their depth, including Onyewu (Messi won a header against him!), DeMerit (just doesn't have the skill), Edu (lots of bad first touches), and Altidore (whose primary attribute seems to be his athleticism and size, rather than footballing skill and instinct).
The others? You could make an argument either way (based on lots more data than the one match), but Bradley and Jones seemed solid (they played their positions well, tactically speaking).
Two highlights: Agudelo and Chandler.
The biggest obstacle to improving U.S. soccer? Honestly, I can't believe it's primarily the player pool. Strikes me someone should think about whether it made sense to renew Bob Bradley's contract last year. Or at least, maybe he should give Jogi Loew or Juergen Klopp a call.
Stats Summary: USA/ARG
Shots 7/13
Shots on goal 4/6
Saves 5/3
Corner Kicks 2/6
Fouls 12/9
Honestly, I didn't even realize that the U.S. had seven shots - I think that's a generous count. It felt more like 1-15. And I agree with much of what Grant Wahl had to say in a quick post-game analysis, but I also thought it was sort of beside the point. Whether the U.S. play 4-2-3-1 as they did in the first half or 4-4-2 as they did in the second (when the Argentines started coasting a little), the U.S. just didn't have the personnel on the pitch to really be in the game. Honestly, seeing it up close to the pitch, it was dismaying how easily the U.S. was outplayed by Argentina. Mind you, Argentina did have the world's best player on the field, and they were set up to play through him. But aside from Messi's otherworldly skills, what was most amazing was how technically and tactically unsophisticated the U.S. looked compared to Argentina. And, mind you, the pitch looked slow and seemed to lack any kind of bounce (which should have helped the U.S.).So what to do? Sure, the U.S. is still a good bet to qualify again for the next World Cup, but playing like this and selecting players like the ones we saw last night will not move U.S. soccer forward. I would plead for something more radical. I'd keep about half the team and try to build a new squad around them with younger players who have the potential to be great.
Who should stay? Howard, Donovan, and Dempsey, perhaps Bocanegra.
Who should definitely go? Last night convinced me that the market for players is pretty efficient. There's a reason most of the U.S. guys play in second tier leagues. I don't think scouts out there are discriminating against American players. Instead, they've taken a look and taken a pass. Several guys just looked out of their depth, including Onyewu (Messi won a header against him!), DeMerit (just doesn't have the skill), Edu (lots of bad first touches), and Altidore (whose primary attribute seems to be his athleticism and size, rather than footballing skill and instinct).
The others? You could make an argument either way (based on lots more data than the one match), but Bradley and Jones seemed solid (they played their positions well, tactically speaking).
Two highlights: Agudelo and Chandler.
The biggest obstacle to improving U.S. soccer? Honestly, I can't believe it's primarily the player pool. Strikes me someone should think about whether it made sense to renew Bob Bradley's contract last year. Or at least, maybe he should give Jogi Loew or Juergen Klopp a call.
