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World Cup 23 man roster named. no Donovan


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I've been unimpressed with Zusi at the USMNT level. He's had a couple of incisive passes here and there, but he's too slow, not creative enough and doesn't provide the service that Davis does (which is why i would choose Davis over Zusi).

Bedoya made a good play, but he usually runs around with his head cutoff and very little technical ability. He's a slightly more polished version of F. Hedjuk playing RM/LM.

Individually, I think Cameron and Besler are "ok" CB options. However, when they play together they are pretty bad. Lack of cohesion? Lack of communication? Lack of time together? Whatever it is, they're going to give up a lot of chances. Bad thing is, Gonzo is way worse. Heck, right now, Brooks might be our best CB and that's scary (although I think Brooks will turn into a monster CB for us down the road) or maybe even Edu. Based on the CB and RB/LB players called in, I still can't believe Ream didn't get a call to the 30-man roster.

No chance I take Davis over Zusi though I'm not in complete disagreement regarding your assesment of him. We do have a player that could play in that spot ( oh never mind, we don't he's only a forward) I wouldn't have a problem with Mix on the right rather than Bedoya or Zusi though. As we sit now though ... where do you play Mix?

The real problem is the need for 2 defensive mids neither of which have much offensive ability other than an occasional decent pass which doesn't make up for the countless turnovers.

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I've been unimpressed with Zusi at the USMNT level. He's had a couple of incisive passes here and there, but he's too slow, not creative enough and doesn't provide the service that Davis does (which is why i would choose Davis over Zusi).

I really like Zusi's game (although I prefer the Beckerman/Bedoya/JJ trio with Bradley and the backs). Zusi is one of our better players in tight spaces, and he competes with Davis for the best service on the team.

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That's a decent play but are you calling it a great play by putting up the video? He actually missed his target and got lucky there was a 2nd man coming through the box. Everyone at this level can make them.

We'll just disagree.

Who would you start against Ghana?

It was a very skilled play. The guy makes stuff happen out there. And no, not everyone at this level can make them.

Versus Ghana (not going to mess around with the dots, but a 4-2-3-1):

Jozy

Dempsey Bradley Bedoya

Jones Beckerman

Beas Besler Cam Johnson

Howard

I'm not a dempsey fan. Bedoya has the work rate, i'll go conservative v. Ghana and give him the start because of that.

I'd bring Aron and Mix on at half but not later than the 60 minute mark if Demps (aron) and/or Jones (mix) are ineffective or we need offense.

and you're absolutely right, landon should be starting where Bedoya is.

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World Cup....The only....and I mean ONLY time that soocer matters.

Yes, just take "under" 2 1/2 in the opening round and all games that matter. When a team is eliminated but plays a meaningless game, take the "over", they get out of their tedious monotonous dreary apathetic shell defenses and play aggressively.

Tim McCarver a few innings ago tonight kidded "all soccer games end up 1-0", then backtracked a bit and complimented the World Cup so as to not offend the soccerheads. MB73 and Tim McCarver: I once played Foosball with him, we won 3-4 games then he quit undefeated. I played "D"; I didn't know at the time that he thought soccer was boring, too.

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That was all we needed yesterday....another example of professional soccer players flopping to influence a game. I called it ten minutes before it happened that Brazil was going to start resorting to its "tricks" to make the game move in their favor. And I was exactly right. You could see the Brazilians were frustrated by the looks on their faces and feeling the pressure to win the game. Complete sham. The ref should have known better given the dynamics that were at play. As if he didn't realize, Brazil was looking at possibly drawing in their first game of a World Cup they are hosting and that may start to influence the game with their antics on the field? Seriously poor. I'm willing to say the call was right on the Neymar elbow to Modric because both guys were looking at each other as the ball came down and while Neymar raised his elbow to create space, Modric instead lowered his shoulder to lean in on Neymar, but ended up hitting the elbow instead. However, in real time, I don't know how that doesn't look like a red card.

Anyway, I'm fully against Brazil now and hope they crash out in the knock out stages. Potentially great game today with Netherlands and Spain. Hope they each play to win instead of draw. England v Italy this weekend as well. Have you seen the pitch they will be on up in the rainforest? It's complete crap and there are pics and reports of groundskeepers actually painting parts of the field green just so the worst parts don't look so bad. That field could be a disaster when the US head up there.

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Balls ... I'm with you. Seriously bad call the player should miss a game and the ref should be done. I liked Croatia and there willingness to attack right at Brazil with the dribble. Damn, was their keep poor though. I'm taping a game a day and it's the Netherlands/Spain today. I've been looking forward to this game. I thought yellow was right on the Neymar elbow. I didn't like the call on Croatia bumping the keep late. He did come into the keep, but even as a keeper myself, I feel they are over protected, and this should have been a non-call ... with that said, it is the way they call it so no real *****, I just don't like it.

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Balls ... I'm with you. Seriously bad call the player should miss a game and the ref should be done. I liked Croatia and there willingness to attack right at Brazil with the dribble. Damn, was their keep poor though. I'm taping a game a day and it's the Netherlands/Spain today. I've been looking forward to this game. I thought yellow was right on the Neymar elbow. I didn't like the call on Croatia bumping the keep late. He did come into the keep, but even as a keeper myself, I feel they are over protected, and this should have been a non-call ... with that said, it is the way they call it so no real *****, I just don't like it.

Brazil just playing up the home-field advantage I presume...?

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Yes, just take "under" 2 1/2 in the opening round and all games that matter. When a team is eliminated but plays a meaningless game, take the "over", they get out of their tedious monotonous dreary apathetic shell defenses and play aggressively.

Tim McCarver a few innings ago tonight kidded "all soccer games end up 1-0", then backtracked a bit and complimented the World Cup so as to not offend the soccerheads. MB73 and Tim McCarver: I once played Foosball with him, we won 3-4 games then he quit undefeated. I played "D"; I didn't know at the time that he thought soccer was boring, too.

How have those unders been treating you?
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Well, we got the 3 points and a great score in the Germany vs Portugal game. That score almost assures us moving on with a tie vs Portugal unless Ghana somehow beats GE and I don't see that.

Jozy is a huge concern. Don't really know what I'd do if he can't go, and I'll be shocked if he can.

We had no linkage between the back and the midfield with Beckerman and Jones along with Bradley looking off. We need Bradley there. I'd think about moving Dempsey up top and adding Mix along with Bedoya in front of the 3 of Bradley, Beckerman, and Jones. I don't think we can risk going without both of the 2 defensive mids.

If Beasley is going to go forward so often, he has to recover and he didn't do a good job last night. I think he needs to pick his runs better.

Still just giving up too much space defensively in the middle allowing players free run to get their head on the ball while we watch. Cameron and Brooks both just watched a Ghana player stroll right in and get an unchallenged head on a cross from 8 yards out. Could have and should have been a Ghana goal. Other instances of the same thing.

Great opening goal and great fight to come back

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Well, we got the 3 points and a great score in the Germany vs Portugal game. That score almost assures us moving on with a tie vs Portugal unless Ghana somehow beats GE and I don't see that.

Jozy is a huge concern. Don't really know what I'd do if he can't go, and I'll be shocked if he can.

We had no linkage between the back and the midfield with Beckerman and Jones along with Bradley looking off. We need Bradley there. I'd think about moving Dempsey up top and adding Mix along with Bedoya in front of the 3 of Bradley, Beckerman, and Jones. I don't think we can risk going without both of the 2 defensive mids.

If Beasley is going to go forward so often, he has to recover and he didn't do a good job last night. I think he needs to pick his runs better.

Still just giving up too much space defensively in the middle allowing players free run to get their head on the ball while we watch. Cameron and Brooks both just watched a Ghana player stroll right in and get an unchallenged head on a cross from 8 yards out. Could have and should have been a Ghana goal. Other instances of the same thing.

Great opening goal and great fight to come back

That was a battle last night. It was ugly but the result is what matters. Ghana were fast, athletic, physical and had enough skill to be dangerous, constantly testing our backline. They may be a load for Portugal. The inability to pass out of the back I think was affected by Ghana's higher pressure and probably our nerves. Not that it's an excuse.

Bradley wasn't his typical self; telling play was toward the end of the game, he had the option to dribble out the game and head to a corner but he chose instead to send into the box to no one giving Ghana one last attack. I'd expect that from a younger kid but Bradley should have been better.

If Altidore is out, we are going to either see guys ready for prime time (Green, Johannson) or they will be exposed. I hope its a strain that only needs a bit of time. I'm a little more concerned with Besler given our depth at centerback.

Brazil v Mexico should be a good one today.

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If Altidore is out, we are going to either see guys ready for prime time (Green, Johannson) or they will be exposed. I hope its a strain that only needs a bit of time. I'm a little more concerned with Besler given our depth at centerback.

It might be more than a strain, I think with a strain you can walk off under your own power. They pretty much has a hearse out there for him. He's toast.

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I hope Brazil spanks Mexico today. Anyway, I think the CONCAF had a great showing in all their games so that gives me hope that perhaps USA is actually better than we think.

Great result in the game yesterday not pretty but it was what we needed so badly.

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That was the worst game I've seen Bradley play and yet we still won. He was downright bad. Dirtyrican - It all depends on the severity of the strain, he could be out a week or be out a month.

Agreed. I'm hardly a soccer expert but it was obvious just how poorly he was playing.

If there is one universal truth in sports, particularly tournaments. it's that it doesn't matter how pretty the win is. Winning is all that matters and the US is now in good shape to advance. At the end of the day that is all you can ask for.

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I hope its a strain that only needs a bit of time. I'm a little more concerned with Besler given our depth at centerback.

It might be more than a strain, I think with a strain you can walk off under your own power. They pretty much has a hearse out there for him. He's toast.

Backhand loves the post game soccer analysis from dirtyrican. Enormous amount of soccer knowledge.

What a barn burner last night!

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