Oso planning to go pro
The US can play with Germany. I doubt they lose big.
MUfan12 the US is still in the drivers seat. Even if US loses they beat Ghana and Portugals goal differential is still -4. The US is at plus 1. US would have to lose by several goals and either Portugal or Ghana would have to win by several goals for the US to not make it through.
God just watched that last sequence. All Bradley had to do is make the easy pass, but he tried to take it himself. Brutal.I think they had too many men forward too.
He's a quality player, but needs to be better.
Curses! The ball-watching ghost of Jeff Agoos channeled by Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson AND the soft hospital passes by Michael (“I give a 100% every time I put on the uniform and go out on the pitch. I have no regrets.”) Have spoiled what should have been 3 points for the Red, White, and Blue against a very beatable Portugal. Rats!
If I closed my eyes I'd swear I was at a TC presser.
I think you guys need to go back and watch the wide angle version of the last sequence. Does Bradley deserve a little blame? Yes, if he one touches a pass back or just focuses on trapping the ball we aren't talking about anything but how awesome it is to have no pressure. But his misplay occurred 10 yards from midfield on the Portugal side of the field...hardly an inherently dangerous position.If you look at the entire field when Portugal gets the ball, there are more US players back than Portugal players forward. In fact, Cameron, Gonzales and Johnson are all within 5-10 yards of Valera and Beasley is within 2 yards of Ronaldo. Cameron, especially, loses his mark....but it should have been Gonzales marking Valera(fresh legs vs fresh legs) but I definitely put more on Cameron than Bradley.But I actually blame Tim Howard by far the most. I have played goalkeeper at very high levels, and I will tell you flat out that Howard completely choked at the end of the game. It was an outstanding cross from Ronaldo, but he launched it from at least 25 yards out and Howard had to know the only threat in front of him was Valera. There is no reason a cross from 25 yards out should get to the only attacker in sight 7 yards in front of the goal without the keeper contesting. Hell, at my fitness level and age I could have gotten to that ball easily and caught, wasn't even one that would have required a punching clear. That cross was about as routine as could be for a keeper. You'd have thought Howard was tethered to goalline....you can even ask my wife as the cross was in the air I was scream about why wasn't Howard coming off his line. So if you guys want to blame anyone blame Howard.
US would have to lose by several goals and either Portugal or Ghana would have to win by several goals for the US to not make it through.
Who do you blame the last goal on? Does it matter?
Now you've got Cameron and Omar in the middle. Cameron never saw Valera, he was looking at the trailing Portugese guy the whole time. In fact, if you watch the cross, Cameron was surprised where it was heading. Is it Omar's fault?
Oh well, I think a lot of the hang wringing and teeth mashing is a lot of new fans to the game.
Or those who have followed long enough to have that sense of dread when it comes to the national team.
Just on this small sample it goes to show how varied perspectives can be from the play. I thought Bradley played fine yesterday. Not sure where in all the criticism of him people ignore that he was a main cog in a midfield that overran Portugal for nearly 70 minutes. 99 of 100 balls from his spot go in the net. Just happened this one hit Costa's knee (who knew nothing about it). And, sure, Eder muscled him off the ball in Portugal's half but as rightly pointed out above the US was covered so well in the back it never seemed a dangerous moment until the ball was in net. Hell, who in their right mind would think Ronaldo would ever turn down the chance to take a defender (an old converted mid at that) on 1v1 in that spot?Hadn't seen much on the Howard angle which was interesting from mu03eng. But I probably blocked it out because Howard made that game saving double save in the first half to keep it 1-0. For my money if you pin it on one guy, it has to be Cameron. For there to be only one opposition player in the box and a defender not have a clue to find him is nearly inconceivable. Throw in a grade school level clearance in the fifth minute and Cameron should be in hiding.
Missed an open net and committed a crucial giveaway.