Despite a dominant performance for the majority of the game, the US failed once again to reallly dominate on the scoreboard. I expect at least 3-0 against a team the likes of T&T when playing on US soil. Twellman was robbed, though. Tough luck for him. What does the US team have to do to put some shots in the net? Is Eddie Johnson really that important?

On a side note, the red card on the T&T player was well deserved. It was an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Shame on Balboa for showing his lack of knowledge on the rules of the game and arguing for a yellow in the commentator's booth.

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Twellman was robbed, though.

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Yep.

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Is Eddie Johnson really that important?

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In my opinion, yes. I've said ever since his first start with the full men's team that he's the only striker we have right now who can consistently put the ball in the net. I stand by that. McBride is great, but he's getting older and doesn't finish a lot of opportunities. Last night he looked really out of shape. Donovan has obvious skills, but he's not straightforward enough and has a hard time knowing when to take the shot himself instead of trying to make a cute pass. Wolff, Ching, Twellman, Casey, Noonan, etc. all have their strengths, but none are in the same league as Johnson. Johnson's straightforward style is exactly what the team needs to put up more than one goal when they have a 18-1 shot advantage. No other striker available right now offers what he does.

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On a side note, the red card on the T&T player was well deserved.

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Yes, it was well-deserved. A lot of referees will call a yellow in that situation if the defender at least makes an attempt to look like he was trying to play the ball (even though it should always be a red), but the way that play went down the referee really didn't have a choice but to show red. Balboa needs to review the laws of the game.



[This message has been edited by tool (edited 8/18/2005 2:01p).]

I was cursing obscenities to Balboa and ESPN in general for having commentators that don't know the rules. You could tell someone off camera had to tell JP that it was red because he was the last defender. Come on ESPN...get some people who know the game.

As for the game, its really nothing new here. The US has consistently failed to put away there chances (with the exception of Panama away) and its going to bite them in the ass someday...maybe not in qualifying but definitely in Germany. Convey should have scored in the first with only the keeper to beat (went about 6 inches wide) and how Donovan missed that gift towards the end of the 1st half is beyond me. An oak tree could have made that save...he hit the ball right at his legs. The T&T keeper did make great saves against Convey and Onyewu in the 2nd half, and Twellman's goal was clearly onside but the finishing was still pretty horendous. If the US wants to get out of the group stage in Germany, they have got to take their chances when they come, because they will be few and far between.

It was good to see Reyna and O'Brien in MF for the first time since Korea. I'll be interested to see how Bruce sorts out the MF because its obvious that O'Brien and Reyna have excellent vision and passing abilities and thus should be there, but Beaseley is great to have on the wing and I think Donovan plays about 10X better as an attacking MF as opposed to striker. We really do have a ton of options there.

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McBride is great, but he's getting older and doesn't finish a lot of opportunities. Last night he looked really out of shape.

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Keep in mind his domestic season just started and he's still coming into shape. He played the full 90 for Fulham so I can see why he started to labor towards the end of the game. I think he'll be fine as the EPL progresses and he gets his fitness back.

As far EJ goes, I think you nailed it on the head. EJ and McBride are the only forwards in the pool that I would trust in Germany on a consistent basis. If we can beat Mexico in a little over two weeks and clinch a spot in the top 3, I would love to see Bruce use a few of the remaining qualifiers to give some other forwards a chance. The thing is that other than Cunningham, I can't think of any forwards available for the US that haven't been given a chance with the national team that could produce results.

I think twellman has finally made the next step up the skill ladder, every time I've seen him play, hes puttin the ball in the net.

You must not have been watching too many of his national team performances because he still hasn't scored a goal for the US (thanks to a blind linesman) although he has been performing very well for the Revs for quite some time. If we can clinch a spot soon, I think Bruce will give him one more chance in the late stages of qualifying to make an impact for the national team.

I left out "recently" every time I've seen him play. Obviously changes what I mean. He plays differently now in my opinion, is all.

I posted this on another board. There are some comments towards other posters in regards to their assessment of players, but I think you'll understand it when it comes up.

It's always a little harder to pick out where you could improve after a win, but there were a few obvious things that can be said about their play against T&T.

First off, obviously, finishing. The T&T keeper had a very good game by CONCACAF standards, but was helped a little by the speed in which we got our shots off. Donovan and Reyna both had opportunities to get an easy goal, but it looked like they took one too many touches and were closed down by a T&T defender, which screwed up those shots. On Convey's 1v1 it looked like he was a little unlucky with his first touch and closed off his scoring angle. We also had a few longer range shots that looked good, but aren't going to go in against a good keeper without being stronger or placed better.

Overall it looked like Convey and Donovan were our two most dangerous players on the field. We should expect that from Donovan, but Convey is a nice surprise after having a poor year in England.

Onyewu is a beast and should start next summer in Germany.

I don't really understand how you were disappointed by Albright. He was solid in defense and added a little to attack. I thought he patroled the right side better in defense than Lewis did on the left side. I do like Lewis in the back though, but think he should be used as a sub or to rest somebody during the WC tournement when we have our full team available. Also, on Albright, he's not fighting with Bocanegra for a spot, he's fighting with Cherundolo, and if Cherundolo is healthy and in good form he's a definite starter over Albright.

O'Brien and Reyna were solid in the middle and, while they didn't make many runs into the attack, they distribute the ball extremely well. I like their roles and like to think of them as pocket passing QBs in that they don't have to move a whole lot, but can find the open man anywhere on the field.

The one player that I was a little disappointed with was Ralston. Here's a guy who has athletic limitations, but is out there b/c of his crossing ability. Yesterday though, his crosses were horrendous. He may have hit 1 or 2 good ones. He should be able to hit crosses like Reggie Miller or Glen Rice used to hit 3s in warmups(missing 1 of every 7 or 8). I like his replacement Quaranta and thought he played decently, but I wasn't overwhelmed like some people are. He'll be a very solid addition, but I think he'll really start to hit his stride and have a Beasley-like career in a few years.

I would have liked to see Twellman five to ten minutes earlier as well. McBride played well, but looked very tired mid-secondhalf and could have came out and given Arena a longer look at Twellman.

Overall a good, strong game from the men, but our finishing should be a lot better.