CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualification - Play Resumes June 4

[Stadium-Armory]

The first year of Klinsmann has been pretty mixed huh?
.

Well, we did beat Mexico in Mexico and Itally in Italy. First win in Mexico EVER. First win against Italy EVER.

Those are huge. None of it matters though if we don't qualify.

[jobaga]

Well, we did beat Mexico in Mexico and Itally in Italy. First win in Mexico EVER. First win against Italy EVER.

Those are huge. None of it matters though if we don't qualify.

If they win the home games and get a result in Antigua, we will be fine...

[RichmondRedskin88]

Well, we did beat Mexico in Mexico and Itally in Italy. First win in Mexico EVER. First win against Italy EVER.

Those are huge. None of it matters though if we don't qualify.

Friendlies are friendlies. No one got into the Word Cup on friendlies. If we don't qualify those games truly mean nothing.

[Stadium-Armory]

Friendlies are friendlies. No one got into the Word Cup on friendlies. If we don't qualify those games truly mean nothing.

I agree. Still, they are firsts for the national team - and one against our bitterest rival Mexio.

[prsnljournalst3]

lol the US uses world cup qualifiers as warm ups for important upcoming friendlies

[RichmondRedskin88]

Our biggest issue is we don't even know what kind of style to play. We attempt to play this Spanish tiki taka when we don't have the ability to. Other times who knows what style we're playing. Playing style is what helps you handle tough environments especially during qualifying. Playing style allows each teammate to know what the other will do. We don't have a true playing style and we keep changing players. Jurgen said last night that formations and style didn't matter and that we lost due to two free kicks. What caused those free kicks? Our lack of style, lack of possession, and lack of a true formation.

[abdcskins]

When we didn't qualify for the Olympics that was an omen of what was to come. I remember people saying, "the World Cup is what counts." Well...

[Stadium-Armory]

The Olympic team is a different team. U-23.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...23_soccer_team

[Rodriggo]

The U.S. has Jamaica then @ Antigua and Guatemala. If they get less than 7 points it would be a shocker.

[RichmondRedskin88]

True the olympic team is different but we can use those players. For note there is no excuse for not qualifying for the olympics. Unfortunately that gives me bad feelings as far as the future also. That says we have a load of work to do as far as developing our players. I got a feeling Tues night in sold out Columbus Crew stadium Jurgen's back is against the wall. I don't want to call it a pink slip game but it's very close to it. I will say this now. If we fail to qualifying Jurgen is done. Honestly though it start at the top. Sunil needs to be gone.

[jobaga]

The problem with US soccer is the same problem we have always had: lack of depth. The starting eleven can (stress can) beat anyone (Spain, Italy) the B and C teams can lose to anybody. We need to find the next group of players and get them going ASAP! The USNMT will qualify for the World Cup or US soccer will suffer a catastrophic blow that will take years to recover from...

[Sebowski]

Last night was an embarrassment.
Get Well Soon Michael Bradley.

[RichmondRedskin88]

Last night was an embarrassment.
Get Well Soon Michael Bradley.

Well according to Jurgen Bradley isn't his ideal mid field anyway. Jurgen's comment are beginning to make me sick honestly. Saying that the formations and such weren't what determined the game and that two free kicks did just annoys me. How do you think Jamaica got free kicks? They walked into the middle of the field and we fouled them everytime. If he doesn't think there were some serious issues with the way we played last night we got the wrong coach. We got owned. Jurgen needs to face that and realize it or we're gonna lose again tues.

[Stadium-Armory]

They were running circles around us. Team speed was an issue as well as skill in the midfield.

[Elessar78]

Well according to Jurgen Bradley isn't his ideal mid field anyway. Jurgen's comment are beginning to make me sick honestly. Saying that the formations and such weren't what determined the game and that two free kicks did just annoys me. How do you think Jamaica got free kicks? They walked into the middle of the field and we fouled them everytime. If he doesn't think there were some serious issues with the way we played last night we got the wrong coach. We got owned. Jurgen needs to face that and realize it or we're gonna lose again tues.

Well he's right. Formations don't mean squat. No team roams the field in an exact 4-4-2 (or whatever he ran last night) for the whole match. After the opening whistle, at any point, take a snap shot of the field and there won't be any discernible formation. There's a lot of talk everywhere about formation, player selection, systems, etc but really we're just taking a roundabout route to find out what Bradley already knew-- there's not enough quality out there.

There's no undiscovered, un-called up player that would turn this team into world beaters.

The problem is we don't have enough good players to play this "Spanish" style. To be accurate it's called Positional and you need players with high technical ability, high soccer IQ and a very good understanding of what they are supposed to do within each of the 4 phases of the game. There's not enough of the ingredient I mentioned above to play this style. The nations that have most success with his are Spain and Holland. Why? Because this is primarily ingrained since youth. How many youth teams in the US are brought up to play in this style? I'd say probably 1% of all youth teams.

Which is a shame. There is a youth club in southern california who does an excellent job at playing in this style and has put the first American player, Ben Lederman, into Barca's youth academy.

It's admirable that Jurgen wants us to play like Barca, but it's also folly. Well, maybe, more folly to expect our group of players to produce in this style so soon. Soccer is best played when you're not "actively" thinking out there.

Our pool's ability is better suited to being very organized and grinding out results. There's no shame in that, results are results at this level. We're not Brazil where we have a standard to live up to in terms of aesthetic play.