theycallmedan'lboone

MY take on the US v Italy.


The US started strong, physical going toe to toe with players like Gattuso, Pirlo and de Rossi. The team had some early chances, some pressure on goal. The defense looked soft and let the Italians make too many dangerous runs. 1 on 1 defending wasn't horrible. Jozy Altidore, when he had the ball at his feet looked dangerous. He and Michael Bradley had two chances that one would figure, one of them would have put it away. I felt that they were not selfish enough, Bradley trying to be cute, and Jozy trying to square to Donovan, when he should have let fly. The US had some poor penalties given away but really the red card was a bit harsh IMHO, but Gattuso's typical Italian antics. Grosso's deliberate elbow to the face of Donovan should have certainly be a sending off. The US seemed to settle down, play aggressive and scored a goal, to say Jozy didn't exaggerate would be a laugh, but he certainly was fouled. The center official was a little inconsistent, some minimal contact would be called for a foul, othertimes a player on both sides would be crushed with no call. Jozy's touch isn't the best to be a lone striker, in fact was so inconsistent with his touches that on the occasions he made a good touch down or laterally his target wasn't ready for it. I hate divers, which explains my hatred for the Italians, even the firey ones like Gattusso. As physical as some of these guys are they are sheer fairies when it comes to anyone touching them. The US Wasted too many chances by over thinking their time on the ball in the final third, I understand that the team needed to control the ball and not waste chances, but we aren't Arsenal and we can't try to walk the ball into the goal. Take shots, take chances, you don't take chances you don't win. The defense started the second half pretty strong physically and on the through runs by the Azzuri, balls served into the box were defended well in the air, and on the ground, however the team cannot continue to concede corners at the breakneck pace. I will not mention the name of the traitor, who moves to this country at a young age, takes advantage of all the opportunities given to him and then decides to play for a different country. Obviously he has talent and his goal was a was well taken, but a result of a defender refusing to step, at this level you do NOT give anyone space 25 yards and in. Imagine what a player of that type skill could do in the midfield. From the moment the US went down a man it was more than an uphill fight. The US defended valiantly and tried their best to give no quarter and take no prisoners but playing 60 minutes with 10 men against a team as talented as the Italian team is difficult to say the least. Tired legs pushed hard but the go ahead goal seemed inevitable after the 65th minute and constant pressure. The Italians brought on some help in the air with Luca Toni in the 70th minute. I personally feel Bob Bradly should subbed two midfield players to help defend, but he seemed to be pushing for offense by subbing in Beasley de Rossi's goal was a nicely taken one but more a result of Onyewu's inability to clear a ball coming in and the fact that he was in front of Timmy Howard. On a completely separate note, if I ever find the guy who did the A/C in my house I am going to choke him stupid. back to football. Donovan wasted wasted a really good chance by keeping the ball instead of passing the ball to Beasley. Donovan should have won a penalty in the 80th minute but in my opinion went down too easy, had he tried to win ball he might have picked it up. The US didn't play HORRIBLY but certainly could have played better. Losing a man so early really hurt. Jay Demerit and Oguchi Onyewu played pretty well at the back. The Italians goals all came from medium to long range strikes, partially from poor finishing but some solid aerial defending. One huge thing I noticed, our midfielders and strikers seem to hesitate to shoot from distance, trying too hard in my opinion, to not waste chances. You can't waste a chance you don't take. Tim Howard did well probably the best player for the US. The final goal, nothing you can say, poor and tired defending. traitor. Overall the us didn't play the worst I've ever seen 'em but certainly didn't play the best, had we had 11 men, might have been a different story.