Tag Archives: Demarcus Beasley

Confederations Cup: Brazil 3-0 USA

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Pure and simple, this game was an embarrasment.

Brazil is traditionally one of the better teams in the world and few people expected us to win, but the way in which we lost was just sad.  We showed no heart and barely any fight throughout the whole thing.  And again, I really have to question Bradley’s line-up and substitutions decision making, again.  I’m starting to feel more and more that Bradley is not the right coach to take us where we want to go.

My early prediction is three games and out in 2010.  My quick thoughts on this debacle:

  • Beasley can’t play anymore until he gets his game and confidence back together.  He’s consistently very average, and when he shows flashes of anything but average, its bad more often than good.  He doesn’t bring near enough to the attack to play outside midfield and he just isn’t cut out to play outside back at the international level.
  • Our offense sucks.  We don’t have a clue how to build up an attack to save our lives.  We regressed in this game to just trying to knock long balls down the field to a striker that wasn’t able to hold the ball because he had two defenders on him all the time.  Set pieces and PKs are only going to take us so far and its not going to win us games against tough opponents.
  • Clint Dempsey is having serious problems translating his form from Fulham to the USMNT.  I saw him play numerous games in the EPL this past season and his impact on the game was almost always much greater there than I’ve seen in the last several national team games.  Some are questioning if he’s burnt out or he’s having trouble feeling comfortable in or knowing what his role for the national team is.  Whatever the problem, we need him to get that sorted out before next year.
  • On the positive side, Jay Demerit and Jonathan Spector have proved themselves as quality defenders for us.  They won’t necessarily be considered world class, but they did a very solid job for us and give me a little comfort in the event of injury.  The left side is still a little questionable, though.

Our last match of the Confederations Cup is this weekend and its going to be very interesting to see what Bradley does with his line-up.  Egypt barely lost to Brazil and beat Italy in their first two matches so I honestly don’t expect us to have much of a chance against them.  It would be the perfect chance to give some of the less experienced players a chance, but I honestly don’t hold out much hope of that happening.

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WC Qualifying: USA 3-0 Trinidad and Tobago

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So this post is way way overdue, but I still have the thoughts bouncing around in my head and wanted to share them anyway.  Removed from the immediate reaction to the game, it will likely be more abreviated than it originally was going to be.

Generally speaking, a better game against a worse opponent.  Yes, we looked much better, but I also think that El Salvador was a better opponent.  That being said, we took care of business in the way we should have against a weaker opponent, which is something we haven’t consistently done in the past.

Jozy Altidore had a bit of a coming out party on the night.  He’s shown ability every time he’s been on the field for the US, but as they used to say on Sportscenter, he did with “with authority.”  The first goal, once again, displayed his instinct to be in the right place at the right time.  His second goals showed the composure and guile a striker needs to be consistent at putting the ball in the back of the net, and his third showed his ability to get lucky; another quality strikers will always appreciate on their side.  For any that didn’t see it, Altidore’s third goals was more the result of unselfish play from teammates and really poor goalkeeping than clinical finishing.

I liked having Donovan at outside midfield rather than up front.  I think he can get more involved in play and have a better impact on the game.

Beasley was servicable at left back, but his lack of playing time with Rangers has noticeably hurt his form.  Unless he’s able to prove he is not in fact stagnating in his growth, he could become more familiar with Bob Bradley’s demeanor on the bench during games than he’d like.

Here are the positions I think we need to focus on getting sorted out.  Other places on the field aren’t necessarily perfect, but they are a little better off then what I’ve listed here.

  • We still need to find a solid mainstay at left back.  Actually, we just need to find someone that can play there that isn’t going to be a defensive liability.
  • Decide which of the pretty solid options we have at right back is going to start.  Hejduk is in the twilight of his playing days and that needs to get sorted out soon.
  • We need to settle on a midfield partner to play alongside Michael Bradley.

The summer looks to be pretty busy for the USMNT starting in June with two more WC qualifiers, followed by the Confederations Cup in South Africa, and then the Gold Cup back here in the states.  With all of these games we should learn a great deal more about the first team players, and I would imagine, some of the newer players in the mix and their ability to push for a starting position or solidifying a reserve spot on the bench.

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