There is a lot of
disappointment flowing through the American soccer community after last night's
game in San Jose. After much buildup, the American men failed to take a point
from Costa Rica and continued their unending struggles on Costa Rican soil.
Here are three things that are prescient on my mind after last night's game;
- Jurgen's Magic Hippy
- After what seemed like months
of something like a magic touch when it came to roster decisions and
substitutions, Klinsmann made some questionable decisions that didn't
end up with him looking like a genius. The first of which, was trotting
Michael Orozco out at right back. Orozco, who plays right back for
Puebla FC in México and had a strong gold cup, was a surprise start at
the problematic right back spot. Orozco, in my opinion, has certainly
earned the right to a start in an important game but I think most people
were expecting Geoff Cameron. This might be a moot point in the end,
because Bradley was forced out with an ankle injury during warm-ups and
the US needed a replacement in the center of the park. For me, the guy
that starts in England's top flight for a mid-table team deserves a
start at RB over the guy that starts in Mexico for a mid-table team.
Kyle Beckerman plays in MLS, but I've never seen him considered an
option at RB. The guy is a CM and he deserves a look when our star
player and central midfielder, Michael Bradley, goes out with a severe
ankle role during warm-ups. Back to Orozco, he has upside, with
his ability to nic a goal, ability to get forward, and decent passing
ability but his defensive positioning is questionable and that became blatantly
evident early in the game. Orozco was continually caught ball watching
and drifting inside, leaving the defensive right flank wide open. In the
run-up to Costa Rica's second goal, Orozco pushed up the field to make
an unsuccessful challenge on the ball. This forced Omar Gonzales out
wide to put pressure on the ball and the US defense sorely missing his
height in the middle as a lofted cross floated towards the back post.
This cross leads me to my second point;
- Tim Howard Perhaps too Reluctant to Leave His Line
- The ball played in for the
Tico's second goal was not played on a rope. It was a lofted ball,
played to the edge of the six from approximately thirty yards out of
goal. Many might disagree but I think that Howard could have easily
collected this ball before it ever hit Zamora's head. Zamora was
outside of the semi-circle when the cross was played into the US'
penalty box, Howard, obviously, was about a yard out from the goal
line. So to break it down, Howard needs to run about 6 yards to catch
that ball, Zamora needs to run about 12 yards to get his head on it,
approximately twice as far as Howard. Tim Howard is probably not as
fast as Zamora but I highly doubt the difference in speed is double.
Did I mention that Timmy can use his hands? I understand that the
defense completely broke down before Howard was even needed, but what
good is a goalkeeper that is glued to his line? I am not calling for
Howard to find the bench, just offering my opinion.
- Ball-watching and Becker-MAN
- Far too often, you can find
the USA national team focused on the ball, letting their man run free.
It happened on the second goal and it happened on the third goal.
On the third goal, Matt Besler is creeping forward, watching Jozy
Altidore dribble the ball and hoping he can somehow be available for a
rebound or drop pass. Unfortunately what ends up happening is Besler
chasing Joel Campbell down for sixty yards before a soft shot beats
Howard and finds the net.
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