Cannot believe how poorly these games are being officiated. Clear foul on Bedoya's break away and many other bad no calls or calls. It's sickening.
Team played poorly in the first half, only solidified my thinking that Chandler is a liability on defense. Missing Brooks for the next game could be a problem also. Hoping we bring on Beasley and rotate Johnson over to Chandler's spot. Not sure who he will play at CB.
Came out firing the second half with much more energy, have to think the lineup changes may have effected that.
Beckerman has not been playing as well as he can and was really exposed last night. Bradley had the goal and played ok but I cant remember any other outstanding plays he made.
Enjoyed watching Bedoya, just seems to have a better feel for the game than the other options we have there. He obviously was not fit enough to go the entire match but he gives us and option going forward who can control and keep the ball.
Zardes didn't do much up top and it seems he may be better sutied to play on the outside for the time being. I enjoy watching his pace.
Don't like the decision to start Wondolowski, hasn't done anything the past few games he has came on and didn't do anything productive last night.
It's obvious to me that Johanssen and Demspey are the best pairing up top, at this time. They seem to have a decent connection and both are a threat to make a turn and have a shot on target. Johanssen seems to be the best passer out of Altidore, Wondo, and himself.
Another good perofrmance from Guzan, seems to be solodifying the starting spot.
Will be interesting to see what Jurgen decides to do with the rsoter in the next 24 hrs.
I would like to see us go away from the diamond, go 4-2-3-1 next match. Not sure who to put on the back line other than Fabian Johnson seems to be our best option at LB. Play Bradley and Beckerman as CM, Dempsey as attacking mid, Zardes on the left wing, Bedoya on the right wing (bring on Yedlin on in the second half), then Johanssen up top.
First off give Panama credit. They dominated the first 35 minutes of play. I don't know if our guys didn't care or not it was still domination from Panama in the first 35 minutes. The crowd of KC gave the team energy so it was disappointing how we started.
The officiating has been awful. These refs let the players play so physical. UEFA teams don't like playing CONCACAF teams in friendlies because of the physical nature of the games. I can't believe how Wondo didn't get a penalty in around the 43rd minute as he get clipped on a beautiful run and thought it could have been a red card as it was a goal scoring opportunity and the ref didn't even call a penalty.
Then their was about a two minute sequence late in the first half where the Panama players were clearly gunning for our guys with disgusting challenges and this ref did nothing to deescalate the tension. Our guys got more yellow cards which was crazy. 3 of our back 4 got yellows.
We lose Brooks for the quarterfinal which is likely going to be Guatemala. Unless Canada beats Costa Rica and El Salvador gets atleast 2 goals and a draw from Jamaica then Panama will be better than the group B third place team and we will get Guatemala in Baltimore.
I would make the following changes Johansson-Dempsey up top,
Bradley, Bedoya, Beckerman, Morales in the MF,
Beasley-LB, Brooks(Omar Gonzalez in the QFs), Alvarado-CBs, Fabian Johnson-RB,
Guzan-GK.
I would play a 4-4-2
Yedlin and Zardes would be my subs that would play and the 3rd sub for whoever needs a sub.
Our bracket is going to be most likely USA-Guatemala, Jamaica-Haiti and then T&T-Mexico 1st place v. Panama and T&T-Mexico 2nd place v. Costa Rica on the other half.
Biggest match to determine the USA half will be Jamaica-El Salvador if Jamaica wins Costa Rica will go into the other half.
