{"id":3612,"date":"2011-08-11T07:05:50","date_gmt":"2011-08-11T11:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/?p=3612"},"modified":"2011-08-11T07:05:50","modified_gmt":"2011-08-11T11:05:50","slug":"57-minutes-of-stink-stank-stunk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2011\/08\/11\/57-minutes-of-stink-stank-stunk\/","title":{"rendered":"57 Minutes of Stink, Stank, Stunk …"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did it really take the U.S. a full half and then some to get their first shot on goal against Mexico? I didn\u2019t expect miracles the first match out with Jurgen Klinsmann leading the way, but I was expecting the U.S. to show off a more attacking approach based on the buildup<\/a> to this not so \u201cfriendly\u201d with bitter archrival Mexico.<\/p>\n

Instead, the U.S. was adrift<\/a>; playing on its collective heals until the final 25 minutes before managing the equalizer. 1-1 sure does look better than 1-nil.<\/p>\n

Mostly, the U.S. walked away with a draw in which it actually had the bulk of chances because Mexico didn\u2019t look sufficiently perturbed by the score line to actually do something about it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Agree. In fact, while the US may have been missing its full complement of players (i.e. Dempsey), Mexico certainly didn\u2019t bring its A game to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Yet much that ails this team is still far from resolved. Mexico eventually began running through the lines, tapping the U.S. into oblivion and picking it apart like it had in June, destroying the Yanks in the possession department. It was only the U.S.\u2019s sturdy play in the middle and El Tri\u2019s inability to connect with a forward through the middle that kept the scoring floodgates from opening. Not until Mexico tired in the final 20 minutes did the U.S. start producing on offense, when young forwards Robbie Rogers, Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea created problems for Mexico with their movement. Before then, however, the U.S. had mustered nothing of consequence on offense, establishing a presence neither on the wings, through the middle nor at center forward.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The bad is still bad; defensive play is shaky at best, and no real attacking threat. The U.S. now has a tendency to exhibit miraculous, tenacious spurts of attacking, which is nice until you analyze and consider that the opposition is either digging in, waiting to sting the U.S. via a counter. Or in the case of Mexico, not pissed off enough to take the game back.<\/p>\n

The good news is that we have some young talent (Juan Agudelo, Brek Shea, Robbie Rogers) that made a difference in the second half, but I temper that by saying how much did Mexico care at that point in the game? Agudelo can only get better; needs to not be so feather light getting position. I hope in the upcoming September matches, we get to see more of Shea and what he can bring to the team. Rogers? I\u2019ll be honest, I do not know much about him, but was pleased to see him immediately go over to Shea and congratulate (thank) him on the open net assist. It looks like Rogers may also bring some much needed speed to the pitch. It should be fun to see how these guys develop.<\/p>\n

The ratings always tickle me because sometimes they are so arbitrary; everyone sees the game differently. I thought Jermaine Jones was useless, and that Landon Donovan played a solid game on offense, defense, in transition, and servicing the ball into the box.<\/p>\n

D Carlos Bocanegra, 7.5: The captain is still completely irreplaceable in the middle of the U.S. defense. He had another strong game and was caught out just once by Rafa Marquez.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Agree. Major concern over the buildup to World Cup qualifying next year has to be shoring up the defense and finding the eventual replacement for Bocanegra. At some point age will catch up with him. It always does.<\/p>\n

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