Eddie Johnson scored 14 seconds after coming in earlier in the tournsment. Breck Shae scored 42 seconds after coming in today in the final. It was a tough match but Panama never really threatened. The USA is at worst in a playoff for the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Gold Cup
- Thread starter patdog
- Start date
Glad to see the US playing good all around and to see the Landon is finally back in the works. The win streak we have going on is truly something special, I just hope we can continue it when it really matters, in about a month for WC qualifying.
We seem to be a very physical team and if we get a strict ref then we are due for trouble the whole game. For example watch the end of the first half of the Panama game.
Who won 3rd place by the way? When is that game?
We seem to be a very physical team and if we get a strict ref then we are due for trouble the whole game. For example watch the end of the first half of the Panama game.
Who won 3rd place by the way? When is that game?
Donovan is no doubt on the WC squad. I think the guy that gained the most from this was Shea. He had a couple goals and played some very nice balls in the box. I hope we can just run through the rest of the qualifiers and go in on a high note. You don't wanna have questions about your squad when your about to play the best in the world.
That's actually the opposite of most everyone I have heard. Shea really did not have a good tournament. As has been mentioned, he played horrible in the Cuba game, and he never really looked that great. His 2 goals were not very fantastic either. His first he made a great run but his finish was not good at all. He was 1 on 1 with the keeper and kicked it straight at him. The ball hit the keeper but still got in the net. His second goal was a trash goal he tapped in from a foot out and the ball was going in regardless. I was not impressed with him other than the ball he played into Johnson yesterday where Johnson missed a point blank shot.
For players I think improved their stock, Goodson I think now has put himself back in the contention for starting CB. Diskeruud played well to me. Beckerman played pretty well, but I don't like how his first thought is always to pass back. He is definitely a ***. Corona and bedoya had moments as well.
Wondolowski scored 5 goals, but all in all he really didn't impress me that much.
ETA: It seems like Klinnsman is a big Shea fan, and he is definitely a talented player, so I would not be surprised at all to see him on the WC squad.
For players I think improved their stock, Goodson I think now has put himself back in the contention for starting CB. Diskeruud played well to me. Beckerman played pretty well, but I don't like how his first thought is always to pass back. He is definitely a ***. Corona and bedoya had moments as well.
Wondolowski scored 5 goals, but all in all he really didn't impress me that much.
ETA: It seems like Klinnsman is a big Shea fan, and he is definitely a talented player, so I would not be surprised at all to see him on the WC squad.
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Every
talking head has noted that Shea, with limited action, had a good tourney. He definitely didn't do anything to warrant being dropped.
Beckerman, minus Donovan, probably had the best tourney out of anyone else on the squad. He was a master in midfield, always controlling the ball from deep and building it up.
Our wings did ok at times. I'm not a big Beasley at left back fan. His defense is lacking, to say the least.
Right now we've got some battles for WC spots. Jozy & Deuce up top are probably a given right now. Eddie is a solid three, there. Then it gets pretty cluttered. Bradley & Donovan are probably set in mid. However, Cameron, Castillo, Davis, Bedoya, Jones, Beckerman, Zusi, Johnson, Torres, Shea, & Corona are all fighting for spots. In the back, theres three solid CB in Goodson, Besler, and Gonzalez. Then the left and right back spots are pretty open between Parkhurst, Evans, & Beasley. Clearly the r&lb spots are our weakness. Lot of talent in the mid that needs to be more consistent.
talking head has noted that Shea, with limited action, had a good tourney. He definitely didn't do anything to warrant being dropped.
Beckerman, minus Donovan, probably had the best tourney out of anyone else on the squad. He was a master in midfield, always controlling the ball from deep and building it up.
Our wings did ok at times. I'm not a big Beasley at left back fan. His defense is lacking, to say the least.
Right now we've got some battles for WC spots. Jozy & Deuce up top are probably a given right now. Eddie is a solid three, there. Then it gets pretty cluttered. Bradley & Donovan are probably set in mid. However, Cameron, Castillo, Davis, Bedoya, Jones, Beckerman, Zusi, Johnson, Torres, Shea, & Corona are all fighting for spots. In the back, theres three solid CB in Goodson, Besler, and Gonzalez. Then the left and right back spots are pretty open between Parkhurst, Evans, & Beasley. Clearly the r&lb spots are our weakness. Lot of talent in the mid that needs to be more consistent.
I don't see Shea taking a spot on the WC qualifying team as a winger. Donovan will go onto the squad and Zusi is already there.
Zusi is a beast.
I think the squad is pretty much set. I think, regardless of how it might have looked, Wondolowski might have cracked the rotation as a sub. Anyway I don't expect to see many or most of these Gold Cup guys in September once Evans, Jones, Bradley, Howard, Dempsey, and Altidore are back. Donovan and Beasley are safe. Holden might have been a key next summer. Tearing his ACL hurts. Nice to know we have insurance though. We're in a lot better shape than this time 4 years ago.
We seem to be playing well when it counts. We've moved pretty far up the rankings and we only have to keep that going until December when the field is set to get a good draw.
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I thought Goodson played well in the Gold Cup. Gonzales and Beasler were solid in qualifying, but Goodson may crack the squad. But I don't remember who else was on the qualifying roster at those central defender spots.
Beckerman is a controversial figure for some reason, with some that like him but some that don't, but I think he is actually very good at his position of holding midfielder. If you are expecting an attacking or box to box player, then you aren't going to get it out of him. But if we need a holding midfielder, I'm not sure who else we have that is better.
talk of Beckerman doesn't matter
he won't play a minute as long as Bradley and Jones are healthy. he'll be filler, if anything and he may not make the team if Jeff Cameron gets another shot at playing in the middle and does well.
right back is the biggest weakness. we have no clear starter there.
i think Beasley is set at left back. he's not the most physical but you don't have to be at left back. you need to be quick, good in your positional play and have the ability to overlap and get forward into the attach.
i think it looks like this(you could sub Gonzo for Goodson but i think Goodson is better).
jozy dempsey (more of a roaming forward role playing deeper into the midfield)
f.johnson bradley jones donovan (could play Zusi on right and push Donovan to the left)
beasley besler goodson cherundulo (if healthy he's our best option - or Chandler based on talent alone)
howard
super sub: eddie johnson
he won't play a minute as long as Bradley and Jones are healthy. he'll be filler, if anything and he may not make the team if Jeff Cameron gets another shot at playing in the middle and does well.
right back is the biggest weakness. we have no clear starter there.
i think Beasley is set at left back. he's not the most physical but you don't have to be at left back. you need to be quick, good in your positional play and have the ability to overlap and get forward into the attach.
i think it looks like this(you could sub Gonzo for Goodson but i think Goodson is better).
jozy dempsey (more of a roaming forward role playing deeper into the midfield)
f.johnson bradley jones donovan (could play Zusi on right and push Donovan to the left)
beasley besler goodson cherundulo (if healthy he's our best option - or Chandler based on talent alone)
howard
super sub: eddie johnson
I think Jozy and Dempsey are definitely set up top with Dempsey having some freedom to roam. Donovan moves to a winger position due to this combo. Eddie Johnson definitely played himself into the third spot there. His energy off the bench should be huge as well as his versatility to play the wing as well.
With what seems to be an abundance of talent(for us) in the midfield I see no problem moving Fabian Johnson back to LB. With Zusi, Donovan, Bradley, and Jones in the midfield I feel good about moving Johnson back there with his speed and overlapping ability he should provide awesome opportunity for more uncontested service into the box. I think it is all about getting your best talent on the field at once and this line up allows us to do that. Also I want some speed at our LB and RB spots and Johnson gives us that for sure. I like Diskerud's potential in the holding midfielder spot now that Holden went down again. Zusi is the only one that I could see losing his starting spot, but I doubt it. Right now I think Corona would be his immediate replacement. Shea's potential is huge but right now he is an energy guy off the bench, and that's about it. Not to down play that role but he is too unproven to play for 90 minutes. He will be a great sub for a tired Donovan or Zusi, if he is on the squad at all.
Goodson and Gonzales in the middle seems to be pretty stout. Although Besler and Gonzales have showed they have great chemistry back there. Johnson at LB given the midfield above and either Cherundolo or Chandler at RB. All positions seem to have solid back ups considering Cameron, Beasley, and Besler have all received substantial minutes and played well.
Timmy!!!
If I see Hercules or Kljestan on the field again I will be pissed and we might as well re-hire Bruce Arena. Definitely heading in the right direction, but we have to find the right mix to keep this momentum going. Good to see Klinsmanns influence finally taking.
With what seems to be an abundance of talent(for us) in the midfield I see no problem moving Fabian Johnson back to LB. With Zusi, Donovan, Bradley, and Jones in the midfield I feel good about moving Johnson back there with his speed and overlapping ability he should provide awesome opportunity for more uncontested service into the box. I think it is all about getting your best talent on the field at once and this line up allows us to do that. Also I want some speed at our LB and RB spots and Johnson gives us that for sure. I like Diskerud's potential in the holding midfielder spot now that Holden went down again. Zusi is the only one that I could see losing his starting spot, but I doubt it. Right now I think Corona would be his immediate replacement. Shea's potential is huge but right now he is an energy guy off the bench, and that's about it. Not to down play that role but he is too unproven to play for 90 minutes. He will be a great sub for a tired Donovan or Zusi, if he is on the squad at all.
Goodson and Gonzales in the middle seems to be pretty stout. Although Besler and Gonzales have showed they have great chemistry back there. Johnson at LB given the midfield above and either Cherundolo or Chandler at RB. All positions seem to have solid back ups considering Cameron, Beasley, and Besler have all received substantial minutes and played well.
Timmy!!!
If I see Hercules or Kljestan on the field again I will be pissed and we might as well re-hire Bruce Arena. Definitely heading in the right direction, but we have to find the right mix to keep this momentum going. Good to see Klinsmanns influence finally taking.
I can
live with this. I just DO NOT want to see Beasley at LB. He cannot defend. That crap he pulled to give up the PK will happen on every attack, against first team WC squads. Also, he only does something worth a damn on his overlaps about once every ten to twelve tries.
live with this. I just DO NOT want to see Beasley at LB. He cannot defend. That crap he pulled to give up the PK will happen on every attack, against first team WC squads. Also, he only does something worth a damn on his overlaps about once every ten to twelve tries.
Yeah. I like the idea of Fabian Johnson getting a shot at LB. I cringe every time anyone attacks Beasley with the ball. I like the guy, and I think he could still be a serviceable bench player at midfield. But he just scares the hell out of me at left back.
I don't think Beasley will be playing left back in the WC
With Donovan back in the fold, I think he'll slide in at midfield and Fabian Johnson will go to left back, and Beasley to the bench. I heard Grant Wahl on a radio interview recently and he said that is pretty much what Klinsmann's plan is.
With Donovan back in the fold, I think he'll slide in at midfield and Fabian Johnson will go to left back, and Beasley to the bench. I heard Grant Wahl on a radio interview recently and he said that is pretty much what Klinsmann's plan is.
Beasley plays the mid great when he has a guy who can go and get it like Altidore, Dempsey, or Donovan. I just can't see them replacing his flexibility and experience for a question mark. It's not like he's a liability... he's one of our more solid players in USMNT history. Who knows. He could play one half I suppose.
Good to have options. Seems like everyone except Donovan wants to play for Klinsmann.
I think Donovan's made it pretty clear he's on board with playing for Klinsmann. His attitude and work ethic have been questionable for most of his career, but he's playing as hard as I've ever seen him play the last few weeks. He really looks like he's turned it around (at least for now).