Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Matchdays Two and Three: End the Insanity!
By the close of business next Wednesday night, CONCACAF will have completed the first half of its semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying. For the United States, games two and three in the six-game round are a home tilt against El Salvador on Saturday in Foxboro, MA and a road match in Panama City next Wednesday. Each match is unique and thus requires a different mindset and parameters of an acceptable outcome.
Roster (wth clubs listed for newcomers to the pool): Tim Howard, Kasey Keller, Jonny Walker; Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Bobby Convey, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Eddie Pope, Greg Vanney; DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven (Metrostars, MLS), Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, Claudio Reyna, Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City, MLS); Conor Casey (Mainz, Germany), Brian Ching (San Jose, MLS), Eddie Johnson (Dallas, MLS), Brian McBride.
Overall objectives:
* Put to bed ANY questions of not advancing to the Hex. The US can and should take six points off the next two opponents, moving to seven through three matches and securing at worst a three-point gap on the third-place team in the group with the two home matches to go along with a trip to San Salvador.
* Integrate new pieces as possible. We need to give significant time to players such as Eddie Gaven, Eddie Johnson, and Brian Ching SO LONG as we have the ability to do so while still getting the desired result.
El Salvador objectives:
* LAY THE WOOD! There is always one match in the group phase where the perceived dominant team in the group needs to show such and build a sizable goal differential in case weird things happen down the road and they were to end up tied with another team in the group for advancement. This is the match which the US needs to do so. Waiting until Matchday Five against Panama is too late to have it take effect, and since the goal of these two games combine is to distance ourselves from the rest of the field, we need to do it against the Sallies.
* Start strong. With Chris Armas absent from the side due to injury and there being a lack of defensive midfielders in camp, I am quite unsure how Bruce will line the boys up for this match. Based on the roster, I would reckon that we might see a skinny diamond in the midfield. This will allow the wingbacks to push up, gives Landon Donovan appropriate freedom to pinch in from the right side, and starts our most-offensive XI possible. My first XI: Keller; Cherundolo, Pope, Bocanegra, Vanney; Donovan, Reyna, Mathis, Beasley; McBride, Casey.
Panama objectives:
* 1-0 is enough. In this match, getting full points is MUCH more important to meeting our overall objective than racking up a huge scoreline. We will see a US team that will want to dictate possession while attempting to take opportunities as they are presented.
* End it early. The one thing the US has not done in this region in all of my time watching them has been getting an early goal on the road in an important match. With Panama being considerably lesser in quality than the US, we need to score in the first ten minutes and then eat up the clock (a little Catenaccio, if you will). If we do that, we win this game and win it without a lot of sweat.
Roster (wth clubs listed for newcomers to the pool): Tim Howard, Kasey Keller, Jonny Walker; Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Bobby Convey, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Eddie Pope, Greg Vanney; DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven (Metrostars, MLS), Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, Claudio Reyna, Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City, MLS); Conor Casey (Mainz, Germany), Brian Ching (San Jose, MLS), Eddie Johnson (Dallas, MLS), Brian McBride.
Overall objectives:
* Put to bed ANY questions of not advancing to the Hex. The US can and should take six points off the next two opponents, moving to seven through three matches and securing at worst a three-point gap on the third-place team in the group with the two home matches to go along with a trip to San Salvador.
* Integrate new pieces as possible. We need to give significant time to players such as Eddie Gaven, Eddie Johnson, and Brian Ching SO LONG as we have the ability to do so while still getting the desired result.
El Salvador objectives:
* LAY THE WOOD! There is always one match in the group phase where the perceived dominant team in the group needs to show such and build a sizable goal differential in case weird things happen down the road and they were to end up tied with another team in the group for advancement. This is the match which the US needs to do so. Waiting until Matchday Five against Panama is too late to have it take effect, and since the goal of these two games combine is to distance ourselves from the rest of the field, we need to do it against the Sallies.
* Start strong. With Chris Armas absent from the side due to injury and there being a lack of defensive midfielders in camp, I am quite unsure how Bruce will line the boys up for this match. Based on the roster, I would reckon that we might see a skinny diamond in the midfield. This will allow the wingbacks to push up, gives Landon Donovan appropriate freedom to pinch in from the right side, and starts our most-offensive XI possible. My first XI: Keller; Cherundolo, Pope, Bocanegra, Vanney; Donovan, Reyna, Mathis, Beasley; McBride, Casey.
Panama objectives:
* 1-0 is enough. In this match, getting full points is MUCH more important to meeting our overall objective than racking up a huge scoreline. We will see a US team that will want to dictate possession while attempting to take opportunities as they are presented.
* End it early. The one thing the US has not done in this region in all of my time watching them has been getting an early goal on the road in an important match. With Panama being considerably lesser in quality than the US, we need to score in the first ten minutes and then eat up the clock (a little Catenaccio, if you will). If we do that, we win this game and win it without a lot of sweat.
Ten-spot
The Crew extended its unbeaten streak to a club-record ten straight games with a 1-1 draw in the Swamp against the Metrostars. Despite another tie, Andrulis did almost everything possible to put his team in position to get full points, but alas it easn't meant to be. The recap:
* Good gameplan. The starting XI was the same as the past few matches and seems to be gelling as a unit. Greg's subs were all offensive in nature and the team attempted to get the full result.
* Set-pieces are lethal. For the second straight game, all the goals for both sides came on set pieces or their derivatives. It is becoming a slight problem for the defense, but it is more convicting of the offense, whose last goal from the run of play came on August 7th against New England (two PKs, a pair of free-kick conversions or clean-ups, and a counterattack goal coming in the past four matches).
* We are in the driver's seat! We remained two points back of Metro with a game in hand and two more matches head-to-head with the Giants Stadium side. We CAN win the conference. We CAN play for MLS Cup on November 14th at the Home Depot Center. Now let's GET AT IT!
* Good gameplan. The starting XI was the same as the past few matches and seems to be gelling as a unit. Greg's subs were all offensive in nature and the team attempted to get the full result.
* Set-pieces are lethal. For the second straight game, all the goals for both sides came on set pieces or their derivatives. It is becoming a slight problem for the defense, but it is more convicting of the offense, whose last goal from the run of play came on August 7th against New England (two PKs, a pair of free-kick conversions or clean-ups, and a counterattack goal coming in the past four matches).
* We are in the driver's seat! We remained two points back of Metro with a game in hand and two more matches head-to-head with the Giants Stadium side. We CAN win the conference. We CAN play for MLS Cup on November 14th at the Home Depot Center. Now let's GET AT IT!
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Nails on a Chalkboard
The Crew once again wasted an opportunity to climb into the driver's seat in the Eastern Conference, giving up a late penalty and accepting a 2-2 draw versus DC United. The tie brings the Crew's unbeaten streak to a record-tying nine games and moves us two points back of the Metrostars heading into their showdown next Sunday in the Swamp, but reminded all who follow this club just how blah this season has been. The recap:
* Everything old is new again. We got a very good performance out of the starting lineup, but bad decisions took a relatively easy win and gave DC a point that was not indicative of the play on the field. Eskandarian's goal was a blinder and Busch could do nothing with it, but the foul which set up the free kick was just DUMB. Then, late in the game and with DC attacking yet getting nowhere, we give up a penalty kick on a handball in the box. Again, avoidable. So both of DC's goals came from set pieces and instead of trotting out with a win, we get one point for our effort.
* Danger, Will Robinson. The late-game collapses which were such a large part of our collapse in 2003 are starting to show their ugly head again. After going almost four months without giving up a goal after the 75th minute, we have surrended game-tying goals after that mark in consecutive games (we did pull back one in the KC game to get out with full points, though). We were outplayed late in both games and were fortunate to get four points out of the week rather than two.
* Where were the SUBS?!?! Andrulis has once AGAIN frustrated this writer with his inability to sub strategically on a consistent basis. We used just two of our three switches, bringing on Cunningham for Buddle in the 81st minute and Szetela for Akwari in the 88th, both after the tying marker and much too late for either to have an impact on getting a win. This keep-your-job-at-all-costs mentality has turned this mild affliction of bad in-game management into an outright epidemic. I honestly think Greg just doesn't know HOW to effectively sub at the professional level with a limited number of chances and no re-entry (as opposed to the rules for substitutions in college, which allow for a little more tinkering and opportunity to correct in-match mistakes) and holds onto his subs too long because of that.
The Crew has slowly but surely made its way past the two-thirds pole with a seven-point gap on last place in the East (which to me seems to be the ultimate goal this season rather than winning the conference or playing in MLS Cup) and barring a late-season collapse, post-season soccer should be visiting Crew Stadium this year. But is it too much to ask that our goals be JUST a little higher than this, especially when the top of the league mountain is SO CLOSE (five points back from the Galaxy and Wizards for the supporters' shield with a game in hand on KC and two on LA) and this team is capable of getting there? Oh well, let's see if this team has the intestinal fortitude to take the conference lead next Sunday or whether they will be content with riding home in second.
* Everything old is new again. We got a very good performance out of the starting lineup, but bad decisions took a relatively easy win and gave DC a point that was not indicative of the play on the field. Eskandarian's goal was a blinder and Busch could do nothing with it, but the foul which set up the free kick was just DUMB. Then, late in the game and with DC attacking yet getting nowhere, we give up a penalty kick on a handball in the box. Again, avoidable. So both of DC's goals came from set pieces and instead of trotting out with a win, we get one point for our effort.
* Danger, Will Robinson. The late-game collapses which were such a large part of our collapse in 2003 are starting to show their ugly head again. After going almost four months without giving up a goal after the 75th minute, we have surrended game-tying goals after that mark in consecutive games (we did pull back one in the KC game to get out with full points, though). We were outplayed late in both games and were fortunate to get four points out of the week rather than two.
* Where were the SUBS?!?! Andrulis has once AGAIN frustrated this writer with his inability to sub strategically on a consistent basis. We used just two of our three switches, bringing on Cunningham for Buddle in the 81st minute and Szetela for Akwari in the 88th, both after the tying marker and much too late for either to have an impact on getting a win. This keep-your-job-at-all-costs mentality has turned this mild affliction of bad in-game management into an outright epidemic. I honestly think Greg just doesn't know HOW to effectively sub at the professional level with a limited number of chances and no re-entry (as opposed to the rules for substitutions in college, which allow for a little more tinkering and opportunity to correct in-match mistakes) and holds onto his subs too long because of that.
The Crew has slowly but surely made its way past the two-thirds pole with a seven-point gap on last place in the East (which to me seems to be the ultimate goal this season rather than winning the conference or playing in MLS Cup) and barring a late-season collapse, post-season soccer should be visiting Crew Stadium this year. But is it too much to ask that our goals be JUST a little higher than this, especially when the top of the league mountain is SO CLOSE (five points back from the Galaxy and Wizards for the supporters' shield with a game in hand on KC and two on LA) and this team is capable of getting there? Oh well, let's see if this team has the intestinal fortitude to take the conference lead next Sunday or whether they will be content with riding home in second.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
MLS World Cup Qualifying update
The tally after CONCACAF semifinal matchday one:
* 31 goals by 13 current or former MLS players (yes, I'm counting former Crew draft pick and current Toronto Lynx striker John Barry Nusum in that total) representing 11 countries OTHER than the United States in 3 confederations.
* 31 goals by 13 current or former MLS players (yes, I'm counting former Crew draft pick and current Toronto Lynx striker John Barry Nusum in that total) representing 11 countries OTHER than the United States in 3 confederations.
John Barry Nusum (Bermuda) 7
Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) 4
Dipsy Selolwane (Botswana) 4
Dwayne DeRosario (Canada) 2
Amado Guevara (Honduras) 2
Duncan Oughton (New Zealand) 2
Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand) 2
Jean-Philippe Peguero (Haiti) 2
Stern John (Trinidad/Tobago) 2
Zizi Roberts (Liberia) 1
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa) 1
Saul Martinez (Honduras) 1
Jorge "Zarco" Rodriguez (El Salvador) 1
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Seven!
The Crew ran out a 0-0 draw in Los Angeles last night, making it seven straight league matches without a loss and retaining their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference. While no one should see a point gotten from the Galaxy as being a bad thing, the fact is we dominated the match and should have been able to get all three. The recap:
* BAD management all the way around! Andrulis must be given a S (for spineless) in how he managed this match. He started with ALL five midfielders being of a defensive nature (Paule being forced in this case to bring some creative spark to the center of the field), then subs too late while never changing the posture of the match (Cunningham for Buddle in the 78th, all while Martino is still on the field and these two are like oil-and-water; Den-TON for Wingert in the 90th in what looked like a sub based on ANOTHER twinge in the upper legs of the rookie; and Barclay for Martino IN THE 94TH MINUTE to make any different in the match). Apparently Big Greg feels getting SOMETHING out of every match is more important than trying to WIN games and develop positive momentum in a conference that can won but for one good run of wins.
* First XI still stud! I have said after previous matches that Andrulis' best work comes in crafting the starting lineup and we definitely had the better of play on the night deslpite not getting a goal nor looking particularly threatening to do so for most of the night. If we could have SOMEONE ELSE manage the match AFTER kickoff, then perhaps the Crew could put together the kind of run necessary to challenge LA, Kansas City, and the Metrostars for league supremacy this year.
* No spark. The past two matches with Sampson's revenge, we have had offensive forays of the sort unseen in Soccer Mecca since the days of Bake-and-Stern. Last night, it didn't happen for the same reason I harp on continually: we didn't start enough offense to do it. That would have been fine if we would have then been able to change that up in the second half, but again our gaffer is too worried about keeping his job to risk a loss for the sake of getting a win. The Galaxy kept pushing for the win and was slightly taking hold when Greg swapped man-for-man and tried to maintain the draw. That shows me a manager running scared.
A loss last night would not have been the end of the world, considering the other Eastern teams were not able to jump past us (DC/New England drew and Chicago lost to Colorado) even after their collective chase on Wednesday (all three won). But the boost a win would have given this team heading home for the Buck-a-Brat Hunt Derby against the Wizards on Wednesday would have been SO MUCH BETTER than treading water in the standings. Being 6-5-8 (26 points) with two games in hand at this point is a fine accomplishment after starting the season 0-3, but the constant strive for points-over-momentum and a philosophy built solely on getting a playoff spot is becoming unacceptable in a conference where any team can run away and hide (as Metro is close to doing). Greg, SAQ UP!
* BAD management all the way around! Andrulis must be given a S (for spineless) in how he managed this match. He started with ALL five midfielders being of a defensive nature (Paule being forced in this case to bring some creative spark to the center of the field), then subs too late while never changing the posture of the match (Cunningham for Buddle in the 78th, all while Martino is still on the field and these two are like oil-and-water; Den-TON for Wingert in the 90th in what looked like a sub based on ANOTHER twinge in the upper legs of the rookie; and Barclay for Martino IN THE 94TH MINUTE to make any different in the match). Apparently Big Greg feels getting SOMETHING out of every match is more important than trying to WIN games and develop positive momentum in a conference that can won but for one good run of wins.
* First XI still stud! I have said after previous matches that Andrulis' best work comes in crafting the starting lineup and we definitely had the better of play on the night deslpite not getting a goal nor looking particularly threatening to do so for most of the night. If we could have SOMEONE ELSE manage the match AFTER kickoff, then perhaps the Crew could put together the kind of run necessary to challenge LA, Kansas City, and the Metrostars for league supremacy this year.
* No spark. The past two matches with Sampson's revenge, we have had offensive forays of the sort unseen in Soccer Mecca since the days of Bake-and-Stern. Last night, it didn't happen for the same reason I harp on continually: we didn't start enough offense to do it. That would have been fine if we would have then been able to change that up in the second half, but again our gaffer is too worried about keeping his job to risk a loss for the sake of getting a win. The Galaxy kept pushing for the win and was slightly taking hold when Greg swapped man-for-man and tried to maintain the draw. That shows me a manager running scared.
A loss last night would not have been the end of the world, considering the other Eastern teams were not able to jump past us (DC/New England drew and Chicago lost to Colorado) even after their collective chase on Wednesday (all three won). But the boost a win would have given this team heading home for the Buck-a-Brat Hunt Derby against the Wizards on Wednesday would have been SO MUCH BETTER than treading water in the standings. Being 6-5-8 (26 points) with two games in hand at this point is a fine accomplishment after starting the season 0-3, but the constant strive for points-over-momentum and a philosophy built solely on getting a playoff spot is becoming unacceptable in a conference where any team can run away and hide (as Metro is close to doing). Greg, SAQ UP!
Monday, August 09, 2004
Matchday One: Destination Kingston
The United States National Team kicks off the semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying next Wednesday against Jamaica. I will add the roster once it is announced, but for now, keys to the semi round and the Jamaica match:
Semifinal Group points:
* It is INTENSE! For all the glamour ties that happen in the Hex (US/Mexico and US/Costa Rica to name a couple), it is the semifinal round that is the most intense and dangerous for its twelve combatants. With six matches in the span of ninety days (the first half of those over just 21 days), a team must find its form right away and ride a good run for all it's worth. The semifinals are also the stage where teams that could very well make it to the World Cup get eliminated because of a tough group. Group B this time invovles four sides that ALL have legitimate claims for Germany (Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras), but only two will make it out of that group to the Hex.
* If you are home to open the round, YOU MUST WIN! There is no room in the round for dropping points at home, especially right off the bat.
* That said, the home team must also SHUT OUT the opposition. Those of you who follow club competitions with aggregate scoring know the value of away goals. It is the same in group play (though not a tiebreaker in advancement). Every match in qualifying is played on a 1-0 edge for the home side and giving up a goal might cost you two points that cannot be made up.
* Group play can be broken down into a series of home-and-away battles, so that if you win more of those battles than you lose, you will advance. The United States won two of the three series in their semifinal group in 2000 (losing the one to Costa Rica while beating both Guatemala and Barbados) and went 2-0-3 in the series in the 2001 Hex (split with Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica while beating Jamaica and Trinidad/Tobago). We should win the series over El Salvador and Panama, thus making the Jamaica one all about working out game plans for the two matches against them in the Hex.
US/Jamaica points:
* A tie is a good result from this point, but three points can be had. Kingston is the tamest road venue in the semifinal round for the US and they have never lost to the Reggae Boyz. In addition, a win on Matchday One would in theory secure their advancement to the Hex (Panama and El Salvador will NOT win in the States).
* The US will be aggressive but focused. The goal of this game is to secure the draw and then attempt to get out with three points. The US has been known to take early leads in qualifiers, and an early tally here will surely help in pulling off a result.
* The tactic will be possession-oriented combined with interplay amongst Donovan/Beasley/Reyna to wreak havoc against Jamaica's lack of a defensive midfielder (Whitmore and Williams are both attack-minded central midfielders and will be the middle pair for this match in all likelihood).
* This is the toughest match of the round for the United States. Our other two opponents are at least one step below Jamaica in quality despite being tougher road venues for us. Jamaica NEEDS the win in this match and will play with high intensity to secure it. The merged roster of in-form players from Major League Soccer and our European-based players who are just starting their season could make for a messy match on our part.
Unofficial roster: Kasey Keller, Jonny Walker; Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Pope, Greg Vanney; Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart, Kerry Zavagnin; Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven, Ed Johnson, Brian McBride.
Prediction: United States 2, Jamaica 1
Semifinal Group points:
* It is INTENSE! For all the glamour ties that happen in the Hex (US/Mexico and US/Costa Rica to name a couple), it is the semifinal round that is the most intense and dangerous for its twelve combatants. With six matches in the span of ninety days (the first half of those over just 21 days), a team must find its form right away and ride a good run for all it's worth. The semifinals are also the stage where teams that could very well make it to the World Cup get eliminated because of a tough group. Group B this time invovles four sides that ALL have legitimate claims for Germany (Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras), but only two will make it out of that group to the Hex.
* If you are home to open the round, YOU MUST WIN! There is no room in the round for dropping points at home, especially right off the bat.
* That said, the home team must also SHUT OUT the opposition. Those of you who follow club competitions with aggregate scoring know the value of away goals. It is the same in group play (though not a tiebreaker in advancement). Every match in qualifying is played on a 1-0 edge for the home side and giving up a goal might cost you two points that cannot be made up.
* Group play can be broken down into a series of home-and-away battles, so that if you win more of those battles than you lose, you will advance. The United States won two of the three series in their semifinal group in 2000 (losing the one to Costa Rica while beating both Guatemala and Barbados) and went 2-0-3 in the series in the 2001 Hex (split with Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica while beating Jamaica and Trinidad/Tobago). We should win the series over El Salvador and Panama, thus making the Jamaica one all about working out game plans for the two matches against them in the Hex.
US/Jamaica points:
* A tie is a good result from this point, but three points can be had. Kingston is the tamest road venue in the semifinal round for the US and they have never lost to the Reggae Boyz. In addition, a win on Matchday One would in theory secure their advancement to the Hex (Panama and El Salvador will NOT win in the States).
* The US will be aggressive but focused. The goal of this game is to secure the draw and then attempt to get out with three points. The US has been known to take early leads in qualifiers, and an early tally here will surely help in pulling off a result.
* The tactic will be possession-oriented combined with interplay amongst Donovan/Beasley/Reyna to wreak havoc against Jamaica's lack of a defensive midfielder (Whitmore and Williams are both attack-minded central midfielders and will be the middle pair for this match in all likelihood).
* This is the toughest match of the round for the United States. Our other two opponents are at least one step below Jamaica in quality despite being tougher road venues for us. Jamaica NEEDS the win in this match and will play with high intensity to secure it. The merged roster of in-form players from Major League Soccer and our European-based players who are just starting their season could make for a messy match on our part.
Unofficial roster: Kasey Keller, Jonny Walker; Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Pope, Greg Vanney; Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart, Kerry Zavagnin; Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven, Ed Johnson, Brian McBride.
Prediction: United States 2, Jamaica 1
