The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup
United States vs Honduras
3-24-17
World Cup Qualifier
6-0
The US defeats Honduras in style, 6-0. Bit of a surprise. Honduras is usually very good. Maybe 2-0 or 3-0, but 6-0? Big win for the US, and Bruce, as they gain momentum for Panama. Nagbe played a crucial role, which was lacking under the guidance of Klinsmann. Ream came in at center defense, which is where he's needed, for possession dominance. Dempsey is back and healthy. Pulisic, Dempsey, Nagbe, Lletget. Scratch Altidore,* put in Nguyen, and there's major trouble for opponents. Other key to victory: Jermaine Jones had zero touches on the ball; Nagbe instead of J. Jones is the clearest, most obvious choice in the world; should've been done a long time ago. But people insist, "We need J. Jones' defense. We need defense." Trust me, defense is not our problem. (More offense...more possession.) As is, things are looking pretty good. Maybe a sign of even better things to come...
* It's been ten years of "Average Altidore." Move on already. He's not Romario, for God's sake. But he's scored goals. Sure. He’s built like a tank. An arm wrestling match with Altidore – I’m not showing up to that. Why bother? Sylvestor Stallone’s kid from Over The Top would have a better chance winning than I would, that’s for sure. If you're built like him, with a shot like him, and stand in front of net, and pound home loose balls, and never sit the bench, and this goes on for ten years, you're going to get some goals. It's his quality of play which is keeping the US back. What did the guys at Sunderland say? 'It's not his first touch that concerns us...it's his second and third.' They said it, not me; i.e., there are others out there who see what's wrong with his game; yet, the US is obsessed with keeping him on board as if it's insane to suggest anything otherwise. In his defense, Ronaldo in 2006, who was injured or whatever, contributed practically nothing to the possession side of things, and when he scored, all the sheep fell in line, taking away their previous criticism, asserting that he was as good as ever. No, not even close; one goal here or there was the bi-product of teammates in action; the quality of play throughout the lineup suffered by his lack of contribution. Altidore's presence, now ten years in, is similar; someone else, who's craftier in possession, needs to be inserted.
United States vs Honduras
3-24-17
World Cup Qualifier
6-0
The US defeats Honduras in style, 6-0. Bit of a surprise. Honduras is usually very good. Maybe 2-0 or 3-0, but 6-0? Big win for the US, and Bruce, as they gain momentum for Panama. Nagbe played a crucial role, which was lacking under the guidance of Klinsmann. Ream came in at center defense, which is where he's needed, for possession dominance. Dempsey is back and healthy. Pulisic, Dempsey, Nagbe, Lletget. Scratch Altidore,* put in Nguyen, and there's major trouble for opponents. Other key to victory: Jermaine Jones had zero touches on the ball; Nagbe instead of J. Jones is the clearest, most obvious choice in the world; should've been done a long time ago. But people insist, "We need J. Jones' defense. We need defense." Trust me, defense is not our problem. (More offense...more possession.) As is, things are looking pretty good. Maybe a sign of even better things to come...
* It's been ten years of "Average Altidore." Move on already. He's not Romario, for God's sake. But he's scored goals. Sure. He’s built like a tank. An arm wrestling match with Altidore – I’m not showing up to that. Why bother? Sylvestor Stallone’s kid from Over The Top would have a better chance winning than I would, that’s for sure. If you're built like him, with a shot like him, and stand in front of net, and pound home loose balls, and never sit the bench, and this goes on for ten years, you're going to get some goals. It's his quality of play which is keeping the US back. What did the guys at Sunderland say? 'It's not his first touch that concerns us...it's his second and third.' They said it, not me; i.e., there are others out there who see what's wrong with his game; yet, the US is obsessed with keeping him on board as if it's insane to suggest anything otherwise. In his defense, Ronaldo in 2006, who was injured or whatever, contributed practically nothing to the possession side of things, and when he scored, all the sheep fell in line, taking away their previous criticism, asserting that he was as good as ever. No, not even close; one goal here or there was the bi-product of teammates in action; the quality of play throughout the lineup suffered by his lack of contribution. Altidore's presence, now ten years in, is similar; someone else, who's craftier in possession, needs to be inserted.
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