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Did it seem like Ghana was on a Power Play for 85% of the game?
Posted on 6/16/14 at 9:54 pm
Posted on 6/16/14 at 9:54 pm
Seemed like they were on the attack & we were on the defensive almost the entire match. We were just happy to clear the puck and waste a couple seconds for the most part.
Is this due to our early goal? Is this how we usually play (defensive)? Is Ghana one if the best teams in the world?
Every Ghana player seemed quicker/faster than the American lined-up on the other side. Ghana players had awesome footwork & passing.....very athletic. How do they rank in that respect?
Ghana players also seemed very dirty to me, and they are floppers (not as bad as the Brazilians and majority of the European teams). Seems like Americans don't really flop at all. Tough team to persevere through the injuries & adversity to make it count when it mattered most. USA definitely made the most of the select few opportunities that presented themselves.
Chime in and let me know where I'm right or wrong. Complete noob observation over here....
Is this due to our early goal? Is this how we usually play (defensive)? Is Ghana one if the best teams in the world?
Every Ghana player seemed quicker/faster than the American lined-up on the other side. Ghana players had awesome footwork & passing.....very athletic. How do they rank in that respect?
Ghana players also seemed very dirty to me, and they are floppers (not as bad as the Brazilians and majority of the European teams). Seems like Americans don't really flop at all. Tough team to persevere through the injuries & adversity to make it count when it mattered most. USA definitely made the most of the select few opportunities that presented themselves.
Chime in and let me know where I'm right or wrong. Complete noob observation over here....
6
Posted on 6/16/14 at 9:56 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
US won. They will make adjustments with water 
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:00 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
Ghana is the best team in Africa, they are one of, if not, the most athletic team in the world. If i had to rank the teams i would put them from late teens to mid 20s
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:01 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
quote:
Is this due to our early goal?
Nope.
quote:
Is this how we usually play (defensive)?
Kind of, but not THIS flat.
quote:
Is Ghana one if the best teams in the world?
Nah.
quote:
Ghana players also seemed very dirty to me
No doubt.
quote:
USA definitely made the most of the select few opportunities that presented themselves.
That's kind of been our calling card. Tough, pacy team that capitalizes when opportunity knocks....which isn't super often.
Final score aside, we had a rough game. I expect a better showing on Sunday.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:01 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
I'd say you are mostly correct. This game was odd because usually the US is more athletic than their opponents and in better shape. Especially the latter.
Under Klinsmann we aren't nearly as defensive, as that was also very rare to see. However, the more skilled team almost always has more possession of the ball. Ghana is more skilled than us. And they are one of the most athletic teams in the world. They were very close to making the semifinals in 2010 with many of the same guys.
This was a very weird game for a first time fan to watch since our usually subpar defense played very well and had no mental lapses.
Obviously I am biased as a fan, but I think the US is one of the cleanest teams in the world. Jones is the only dirty player, and in my opinion, every team needs a guy like that. Ghana doesn't flop too much since hey didn't have the lead, but they had some dirty plays today. The ref was okay but gave too much room for Ghana to foul without getting carded.
Under Klinsmann we aren't nearly as defensive, as that was also very rare to see. However, the more skilled team almost always has more possession of the ball. Ghana is more skilled than us. And they are one of the most athletic teams in the world. They were very close to making the semifinals in 2010 with many of the same guys.
This was a very weird game for a first time fan to watch since our usually subpar defense played very well and had no mental lapses.
Obviously I am biased as a fan, but I think the US is one of the cleanest teams in the world. Jones is the only dirty player, and in my opinion, every team needs a guy like that. Ghana doesn't flop too much since hey didn't have the lead, but they had some dirty plays today. The ref was okay but gave too much room for Ghana to foul without getting carded.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:02 pm to au21tigers
I noticed this too. It's like when Ghana got the ball, the U.S. midfield basically sagged until they got just outside the box. Then they played defense with 8. The midfield was almost always moving backwards. (When we had the lead. You saw more aggression after Ghana tied it...which I guess I understand....but if they are basically playing "prevent", it seems a little early to do that with 70 minutes left in the game.) Then again, I don't know whether the injuries the US had early affected their game plan either.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:02 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
1) It had to do a lot with USA's style of play
2) We played not to lose after that 1st goal
3) I believe this, because we scored that 2nd goal almost instantly after Ghana scored.
2) We played not to lose after that 1st goal
3) I believe this, because we scored that 2nd goal almost instantly after Ghana scored.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:06 pm to fightingtigers98
quote:where would you rank USA?
Ghana is the best team in Africa, they are one of, if not, the most athletic team in the world. If i had to rank the teams i would put them from late teens to mid 20s
Mid 20s for Ghana?? That seems really low....
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:09 pm to Indfanfromcol
Ghana is a very technical team and are one of the most athletic teams in the world. They can run, but don't have a massive amount of size. They are missing a passing central midfielder who can link attack and defense really well. Basically if they had Essien in his prime they would be a much more dangerous team.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:10 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
Ghana is top 15. US is also top 15. This is an absurd group and FIFA has a terrible means of selecting groups for the World Cup.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:12 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
quote:
Mid 20s for Ghana?? That seems really low....
Like in FIFA rankings? Truth be told there are about 8 really good teams in the world and every team between 10-30 is basically equal.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:15 pm to rumproast
quote:
The midfield was almost always moving backwards. (When we had the lead. You saw more aggression after Ghana tied it...which I guess I understand....but if they are basically playing "prevent", it seems a little early to do that with 70 minutes left in the game.
It takes two to tango. They forced us to play like that.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:17 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
Like in FIFA rankings? Truth be told there are about 8 really good teams in the world and every team between 10-30 is basically equal.
Yeah, I was about to post the same thing.
I would add that the gap in talent (and depth of talent) between the top 6 or 7 and the rest of the field is pretty large as well.
As in whoever you put at #12 is still a lot closer to #40 than to number #5
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:23 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
Losing our center forward Jozy Altidore early in the match destroyed our tactical setup. He's mainly there to hold up the ball and connect with our midfielders. He tries to out-muscle and force the Ghanian defenders into giveaways and rushed passes.
Aron Johannsson is a different type of forward. He's not used to playing with his back to goal and holding up the ball for our midfielders.
Think of the difference between a power forward receiving on the block and working a defender, and a point guard attacking the rim.
Johannsson had to do a lot of work that he wasn't accustomed to and frankly isn't meant to do for the team.
Ghana also pressured our defenders and midfielders deep in our defensive zone. This forced giveaways and rushed clearances. However, it opened up the Ghanian backline for that counter that led us earning the eventual gamewinning corner.
Aron Johannsson is a different type of forward. He's not used to playing with his back to goal and holding up the ball for our midfielders.
Think of the difference between a power forward receiving on the block and working a defender, and a point guard attacking the rim.
Johannsson had to do a lot of work that he wasn't accustomed to and frankly isn't meant to do for the team.
Ghana also pressured our defenders and midfielders deep in our defensive zone. This forced giveaways and rushed clearances. However, it opened up the Ghanian backline for that counter that led us earning the eventual gamewinning corner.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:25 pm to wm72
quote:
As in whoever you put at #12 is still a lot closer to #40 than to number #5
Agreed, although I'd say more like 30.
But certainly the US and Ghana are closer to a team like Turkey or Sweden than Spain or Germany.
I'd say the true top tier consists of:
Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France at times, and Portugal times.
Then come your teams like Uruguay, Croatia, England, and I'd also say teams like Ghana, Belgium, and maybe even Japan and the US.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:27 pm to UFownstSECsince1950
quote:
UFownstSECsince1950
1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Argentina
4. Holland
5. Italy
6. Spain
7. England
8. Chile
9. Columbia
10. Belgium
11. USMNT
12. France
13. Russia
14. Portugal
15. Swiss
16. Ghana
17. Uruguay
18. Ukraine
19. Croatia
20. Ecuador
21. Bosnia
22. Sweeden
23. Japan
24. Costa Rica
25. Greece
it depends on how teams are playing at the moment, hell Ghana has a top 5 attack imo, however they have one of the worst defenses in the top 35
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:30 pm to Keys Open Doors
quote:
and maybe even Japan and the US.
Japan and US are nearly in that 2nd/3rd tier, but I'm not sure if either are there yet. The US is missing the technical ability and the Japanese are missing the physical ability.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:31 pm to Indfanfromcol
The biggest reason for this was the Jozy Altidore injury. Jozy's job in our offense is to work as a target forward. Essentially, when we make a defensive stop, and no one is open because opposing pressure is high, you use the forward to release the pressure either by booting it upfield to an empty space (like leading a receiver on a fly in football) Or knocking it directly to Jozy like throwing a jumpball to Marc Gasol, letting him use his size and strength with his back facing goal to set up the offense. Jozy is the only forward on our roster with the skillset for the job, and that is the biggest reason we were dominated by Ghana today, in layman's terms.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:35 pm to Keys Open Doors
quote:
Agreed, although I'd say more like 30.
But certainly the US and Ghana are closer to a team like Turkey or Sweden than Spain or Germany.
I'd say the true top tier consists of:
Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France at times, and Portugal times.
Then come your teams like Uruguay, Croatia, England, and I'd also say teams like Ghana, Belgium, and maybe even Japan and the US.
Yeah, that's probably right. I was thinking about all the good teams FIFA's computer has outside the top 30 but I guess that there's also a handful of much weaker teams than the USA and Ghana that they have in the 20s.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 10:38 pm to wm72
Comparing European teams to everyone else is tough. You're unlucky in that the team you follow is always very legit.
The team I follow is the definition of middling, and I've come to the realization over the past 4 seasons that the US player pool is much deeper than Turkey's. Much deeper and the difference is increasing by the year.
The team I follow is the definition of middling, and I've come to the realization over the past 4 seasons that the US player pool is much deeper than Turkey's. Much deeper and the difference is increasing by the year.
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