Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England v Algeria)*** Im more into punting, ala baxter off of bridge.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** So we control our own destiny for finishing first in group now. Please don't fuck it up guys!
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** No we control our own destiny to advance. If Slovenia beats England they finish first with 7 points no matter what we do.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Oh true, I was assuming an England win or draw like that would happen 100%. I guess Slovenia is capable of beating them.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** “I’m surprised England fans booed… I thought they were asleep” - Arsene Wenger when asked to react about English fans booing the team
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** I hate him but I thought that was awesome.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** RT @Dale_Howard: The England team visited an orphanage in Cape Town today. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Jamal aged 6.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Who else is stoked Findley can't play? I'm really hoping we see Boca Demerit Gooch Boca Demp Bradley Edu Donovan Altidore Buddle With Gomez coming on for Buddle Let Edu play the whole match too unless we get down and need Torres/Feilhaber
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Stolen from the Guardian's daily podcast
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Saw that too. Probably means Cherundolo at RB
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** the bigger problem is he still has gooch at CB
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** buddle hasnt seen action. gomez is more likely to start
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Buddle was first off the bench against England
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** does arsene know his team is located in the capitol of england
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Here's my ideal lineup: Howard Dolo Demerit Goodson Boca Dempsey Bradley Torres Donovan Altidore Altidore Buddle comes on for one of the Altidores. Herc for the other. Holden comes on for Torres. Thoughts? Howard is big so they're not scoring on him.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** As much as I like Torres, I don't think you can start him after the performance he had in the first half on Friday. I'd start Edu. I'm also confused by this second Altidore you speak of. I read an article yesterday about how using a single striker and playing wide is the way to go against Algeria. Let me try to find it.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/writers/jonathan_wilson/06/21/algeria.overview/index.html?eref=sihp Wide play key against Algeria All the talk at the African Cup of Nations in January was of how Algeria had decided to abandon the three-at-the-back system that has been habitual in North Africa for a couple of decades (and with which Egypt has won three successive Cups of Nations) and adopt a back four. After an opening 3-0 loss to Malawi -- which at the time was ranked 73 places below it in the world rankings -- while using three in the back, Algeria switched to a four. The Algerians proceeded to keep clean sheets against Mali and Angola, then beat Ivory Coast in the quarterfinal, only to lose discipline in a 4-0 defeat to Egypt in the semifinal. Rangers center back Madjid Bougherra spoke in favor of a four, making the point that a back four operating zones is easier for players who do not regularly play together because it requires less interaction and mutual understanding than a three. Sure enough, Algeria began the World Cup with a back four against Slovenia, although with no orthodox left-sided midfielder, left back Nadir Belhadj had license to get forward almost as though he were a wing back. That seemed to cause Slovenia initial confusion, but it was notable that by halftime Miso Brecko, the Slovenia right back, was beginning to take advantage of his lack of defensive responsibility to become an extra man in midfield, which is probably the main reason Slovenia had come to control the game even before Abdelkader Ghezzal's red card. Against England, though, Algeria coach Rabah Saadane reverted to a far more orthodox back three. One of the reasons 3-5-2 and its variants have largely gone out of fashion (although it seems to be making something of a comeback at this tournament) is the prevalence of 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Against a customary 4-4-2, two center backs mark two center forwards with a spare man, with the wing backs given the green light to advance, ideally pressing the opposing wide midfielders back onto their fullbacks. A team playing 3-5-2 overmans three-to-two in central midfield, the wing backs tend to be forced deep by opposing wingers, leaving three central defenders to deal with one center forward. One spare man is fine; two is redundancy, allowing the side playing the lone central striker to overman elsewhere, usually from the fullback positions. Of course, one of those two spare central defenders could push into midfield, but if he does that he may as well be a midfielder to start with. England, bewilderingly, played into Algeria's hands, with forwards Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey both deployed high up the pitch in what was effectively a straight 4-4-2, allowing Bougherra and Antar Yahia to mark them, with Rafik Halliche operating as a spare man. Had Rooney dropped off into an attacking midfield position, as he did in qualifying, then one of those three central defenders would have been pulled out into an unnatural position, and holes would have been created for England to try to exploit from the flanks. England's failure to do that was one reason it was unable to create opportunities, and it surely suggests that U.S. coach Bob Bradley should play with a single striker -- or, if with two, then at least instruct one of them to make darts in behind the wing backs, as Charlie Davies did so effectively against Spain's fullbacks in the Confederations Cup a year ago. The likelihood is that Bougherra, a splendidly uncompromising figure, will pick up Jozy Altidore, who is unlikely to enjoy the physical advantage he did against Marko Suler in the Slovenia game. Algeria's greatest deficiency is at center forward, and it was notable against England that it pretty much operated without one, with Karim Matmour, usually an advanced midfielder, functioning as a "false nine," or dropping deep from a center forward position. That is the main reason Algeria so often seemed able to find passing options in midfield -- as England holder Gareth Barry effectively dealt with two men -- but also why Algeria, despite shading the possession stats, created next to nothing in the way of clear chances. Against the U.S., it's hard to know whether Saadane will stick to his policy of containment, or whether his ambitions will stretch to seeking the win that could take his side to the last 16. It seems probable he will opt for a cautious start, probably with Matmour as a false nine again, with Ryad Boudebouz and Karim Ziani -- excellent against England -- used to support him from midfield. He then has the possibility of either Ghezzal, his suspension now served, or Rafik Djebbour to come from the bench and offer a more natural center forward's threat. There seem to be two areas where the battle will be lost and won. The first is, as ever, in the center of midfield, where Michael Bradley probably needs a defensive presence alongside him -- presumably Ricardo Clark or Maurice Edu -- to handle Boudebouz and Ziani. The other is where the U.S.' wide midfielders meet the Algerian wing backs. The two areas are related -- assuming Algeria plays as it did against England -- by the way when Algeria is out of possession, Boudebouz and Ziani drop wide to try to prevent the opposing fullbacks from pushing on. Clint Dempsey's battle against Foued Kadir will be intriguing, but the key matchup should be between Landon Donovan, who has had a superb tournament so far, and Belhadj. The Slovenia left back is a natural attacking player, and if he can impose himself upon Donovan, forcing him back and making him stay wide, the U.S. may find itself lacking a creative edge. If Donovan gets the better of Belhadj, though, then Algeria's already limited attacking options are reduced even more. In those wide areas, it's essential the U.S. gets its fullbacks forward. Even if Steven Cherundolo, who formed such an effective partnership with Donovan against England, or Carlos Bocanegra do no more than occupy Boudebouz and Ziani, that at least should allow Michael Bradley and his midfield partner to engage Algeria's two central midfielders, Hassan Yebda and Mehdi Lacen, rather than letting them function -- as they often did against England -- as an additional defensive shield. Against Slovenia, the U.S. lost the first half by ceding the center, and won the second by regaining control and exploiting Altidore's physical advantage. Here the Americans seem to have a clear advantage in attacking wide areas, demanding a more thoughtful approach to work the ball to Dempsey and Donovan than the inspired muscularity that turned the game against Slovenia.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** dempsey up top with holden on the wing? tired of nothing moving forward.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Jozy has a stomach flu but should be ready for tomorrow http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5315043/ce/us/jozy-altidore-misses-us-team-practice-fine-algeria-match?cc=5901&ver=us
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** I'm not sure I trust Bob to make the right lineup. Let the players vote on it imho
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Does anyone else think we should move donovan inside? I understand that we like him on the wing because his crosses are always money, but it seems like we don't consistently get him enough touches outside.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** He's a playmaker but not in a central role, he's much better running at defenders and in this system, he and Dempsey do have the freedom to pinch in a bit. Also, Algeria has a very good attacking LB and Landon is great at tracking back.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Pretty big match up in the game. Hopefully LD can put a lot of pressure on him on the right flank and not allow him to come forward.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Belhadj?(sp) Yeah, he's really good. He was a force in their last game against the redcoats. Didn't really watch much of the Slov-Alg game.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** Yeah that's him. Couldn't remember it and I knew it wasn't Boughera from Rangers
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** my Algerian friends at the liquor store will not shut up on how they are going to come out and abuse our backline......but hey if US wins they will let me have any 3 12 packs I want! Lets fuck them up from the get go!
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA 2:2 Slovenia, England 0:0 Algeria)*** like I said, he's great out on the wing, but it seems like sometimes we go for long stretches where we don't get him a single touch out there. He's far and away our best player, and nearly all our goals come through him, so we need to find a way to get him the ball more often and more consistently. I've never seen him play in the middle though to be honest, so I don't know if he's any good at it. That said, we did much better at working the ball through him in the second half of the Slovenia game than we had at any point prior in the WC. If we keep doing that, my point is moot.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** Landon played CM in the '06 WC and pretty much sucked against Czech Rep and Ghana, (Italy game was tough to gauge because we had like 5 guys on the field). He's going to be the focus of any opposing team we play regardless.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** God, please let slovenia beat england tommorow.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** I'm going to assume we win tomorrow. What is our card situation going into the match? Who is likely to miss time in the next match when we progress?
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** I know Findley is going to miss the match (which isn't a bad thing). Don't think anyone else is affected though.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** Edu starting over Clark/Torres, Bornstein starting over Onyewu, Gomez starting at striker Howard; Cherundolo, DeMerit, Bocanegra (c), Bornstein; Donovan, Bradley, Edu, Dempsey; Gomez, Altidore
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** not crazy about Bornstein but doenst really have a choice at this point agree with everything else USA USA
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** Starting Lineup: USA Starting XI: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 3-Carlos Bocanegra(c), 12-Jonathan Bornstein; 10-Landon Donovan, 19-Maurice Edu, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey; 9-Herculez Gomez, 17-Jozy Altidore.
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** Well I guess we had no choice with Onyewu. I hope we win, it's a long 4 years till Brazil if we choke out
Re: ***Group C Thread (USA v Algeria, Slovenia v England)*** Fuck i dont trust Bornstein at all, hope he doesnt get abused on the flank!!! but i like Gomez and Edu in the starting lineup