Such a mix of good (read hopeful) and bad, it is difficuly to condense the game into a single set of emotions.
Columbia was and is a bad match up for this squad. A counter attacking team that is faster, better on the ball, better passing and better on defense requires a fistful of lucky bounces for this US side to beat them.
If you watched the game you saw swift and crisp passing boot to boot and a lot of speed tearing up the side of the field when they got the ball. That's what the US should be looking to do. We did have a lot of decent looks over the top but connected on almost none of them.
Again, why are you taking Wood off. It was the only thing that is working unless you threw in the towel and wanted to save a 20 something year old for a game on Tuesday???.
Zardes offered nothing and Dempsey didnwhat I expect from a 30+ guy looking to hold onto his spot. Everyone citing Dempsey dropping back as a false 9 as if that were a good thing. It isn't. It results only in free kicks, which there were plenty, but that is not our game. It would be better to serve early balls and let guys faster than Dempsey run onto them. That is our game these days.
The back four did pretty well defending against a potent side. You have to expect moments of horror from these guys, especially Yedlin. Cameron got beat on the corner, but it was a bang bang well taken corner. I want to know where was everyone else. The center space can't look like Yellowstone. Brooks had a solid game. Johnson was velow his standards in defending and distribution. He did get forward more than last week's friendlies, so that's a plus.
Bradley, what can you say, horrible performance. Chasing, several bad giveaways, poor distribution. If you want him off the squad then stop watching, because we only go as far as he takes us. There is no one behind him and he is our indispensable player right now. Hope he picks it up.
Jones did well for his time, was one of the few pressing the ball on both offense and defense. He's just old and can't keep it up for long stretches.
Bedoya had an excellent game for him, JK made the right call playing him v..Columbia. Missed a volley, but was decent in possession and in the right place most of the game
The subs had zero impact on the game. Pulisic and Nagbe were all but invisible. It's a reminder that if the young backups were really all that they would be starting. Zusi's cameo was just that.
I'm hoping Zardes starts on the bench and that the step down in competition yields a better result. I might consider a 4-4-2 leaving Wood and Dempsey up top and telling them to stay high. I'm not expecting JK to agree.
