Gold Cup Match Ratings: USA v Panama

Team and player stats courtesy of ESPN.com and Concacaf.com respectively, and as usual I am distraught that whoscored.com does not carry Gold Cup coverage.

USA v Panama

Score: USA 1 PAN 1

4-4-2 (Diamond)


GK Brad Guzan: 8.0

Guzan was forced into more action than usual in this match. Panama was able to get off thirteen shots, seven of which were on goal. They regularly got the ball into dangerous areas, keeping Guzan on his toes. Panama received four corner kicks, and several free kicks around the box, but were not able to score off of their set pieces. Guzan consistently had to make saves in this match, some of which were pretty spectacular reflex saves. At one key point in the match he defended a ball deflected against his own Alvarado before getting up to dive at the rebound shot. Guzan has been the best performer for the United States thus far this tournament, and it says a lot about this team that he has had to be.

RB Timothy Chandler: 4.5

Timothy Chandler continues to disappoint for team USA. On defense he attempts risky tackles high up the midfield, and when they fail—and they always do, he leaves huge gaps in the defense. He is worse offensively. Chandler gives up the ball very easily. His overall passing accuracy last night was not bad, 84%, the whole US team combined for an 88% pass accuracy. However, the big problem is where he gives up the ball: in US territory before reaching the midline. This leads to easy breaks for the opponent. Chandler does not provide a positive contribution on offense or defense. It is time to give someone else a real chance.

CB: Ventura Alvarado: 5.0

Once again Alvarado has an uneven performance, but it is the bad that will overshadow the good he did in this match. Alvardo was the main culprit allowing Panama's goal. He came to the edge of the box to defend the man receiving the ball and he was easily turned by the offensive player allowing a dangerous ball to cross right in front of the goal. Alvardo also nearly put in an own goal when a FK ball deflected off his knee towards goal, and only the quick reflexes of Brad Guzan saved him form that indignity. Otherwise Alvarado was pretty good. Despite his size he handles balls coming into the box and can head them away. He also did well coming out to the right to contain wingers when he had to. Alvarado led the team in pass attempts and did well with an accuracy of 95%. He is an exciting prospect, but right now he is too prone to the big error.

CB John Brooks: 5.8

Brooks picked up a yellow card, his second of the tournament, early in the match so will miss the quarterfinal match. He was alright in this match. He was too late tracking the runner on the goal scoring play, and should have down better. However, Brooks' tackling and ability to win aerials into the box were on display, and vital to the US's ability to hold onto a draw in this match.

LB: Fabian Johnson: 6.4

Fabian Johnson was just ok in this match. In the first half he got caught up too high on the pitch, but Morales did a great job defensively to cover him. In the second half Johnson focused more on defense and made some key tackles, and did a good job winning the ball for the US, whether it was intercepting a ball or winning races to loose balls. Alejandro Bedoya came to the left side in the second half, and he and Johnson formed the most prolific wing attack the US has had all tournament while they were on the pitch together. Johnson was dangerous in spurts on offense. He made a couple deep runs allowing goal scoring opportunities, but none of those were too dangerous for the defense.

CDM Kyle Beckerman: 5.0

Kyle Beckerman is an interesting case. He shows all the tools to dominate the midfield at times, but others he seems completely overwhelmed. He was unable to trouble the Panamanian attack, and slow them down, putting too much pressure on the center backs. He needs to commit to a holding position, especially in the first half when Panama was dominated possession. Panama should not be getting off twice as many shots as the United States, and a big reason they are is their domination of the midfield. Beckerman also failed to deliver in distribution. His passing accuracy was below 80%, and he was not as involved as he should have been, playing in the center of the midfield.

RCM: Alejandro Bedoya: 7.3

Bedoya struggled in the first half while playing on the right. He and Chandler had trouble linking up and he was not receiving the ball in ideal positions. He did receive one great opportunity in the first half receiving the ball on the right and dribbling towards the goal. He had men in the middle but failed to cross it early enough and ended up taking a tough shot at a bad angle that was easily dealt with. In the second half Bedoya did much better to get involved in the attack, linking up well with Johnson. He recorded the assist on a play started by Gyasi Zardes, receiving the ball on the left side of the box and finding Bradley towards the far post for a goal. Bedoya also did a respectable job on defense, once he was paired with Johnson on the right side.

LCM: Alfredo Morales: 6.4

Morales struggled to get involved in the game on offense. He only made six passes the entire first half before being subbed following the break. However, he did an excellent job covering for Fabian Johnson on the left side and contributing to the defense.

CAM: Michael Bradley: 7.7

In this match Michael Bradley played the farthest forward he has all tournament. His passing was excellent he finished with a 91% passing accuracy, which is outstanding considering how far forward he was playing. He also threatened the defense with late runs into the box, one of which scored the US's only goal. Bradley needs to get back to his opening game free kick form, because since that match he has been inconsistent taking free kicks.

ST Chris Wondolowski: 6.5

Wondolowski only played the first half. He was substituted in favor of Clint Dempsey to begin the second half. Wondolowski had trouble getting involved in the first half. However, this was because the US struggled to get possession of the ball, and when they did have possession they rarely were able to enter the final third. This is hardly Wondolowski's fault. He even tried coming out to receive the ball deeper in the midfield, and tried to employ some trickery to advance the ball. So, no, Wondo did not have a great performance, but he was trying to do what he could with what was given.

ST Gyasi Zardes: 6.0

In 90 minutes Zardes did not attempt a single shot. He also only made seventeen total passes all match. He needs to find a way to be more involved. There is no excuse for having that little effect on the game (from a quantity perspective). Now, when Zardes did touch the ball, good things often did occur. He started the play which led to Bradley's goal. However, he needs to be more assertive and create more opportunities: take on some defenders on the dribble, position yourself for the long ball, drift out wide to receive the ball in space, whatever it takes, but ultimately he needs to work harder. Sorry that there is not Robbie Keane by your side to draw the defense for you, sigh.

SUB DeAndre Yedlin (45' Morales): 6.0

Yedlin played the entire second half but did not get too many touches in that times. This is because the US's attack shifted to the left side in the second half, and Yedlin was often left out of the play. Yedlin did not take a very aggressive position in the match. He was content playing deeper in the midfield and focus on defense. This helped the US carry much more possession in the second half and also aided in covering defensive lapses by Chandler. However, Yedlin also did not threaten offensive as a result.

SUB Clint Dempsey (45' Wondolowski): 4.8

Dempsey seemed completely lazy in this match. He wasted multiple chances created by Fabian Johnson, Michael Bradley and Gyasi Zardes, specifically, as he was unwilling to put forth his best effort. He was given a couple excellent chances too. A little after the seventy-fifth minute, Johnson received the ball deep down the left hand side and he sent a ball on the ground to an open Dempsey at the top of the box. He should have had a clear goal scoring opportunity, but his first touch was too heavy and he lost possession of the ball. This happened several times in the half.

SUB Aron Johannsson (71' Bedoya): N/A

Johannsson came in with twenty minutes to go. He only made two passes and did not attempt a shot. There is not much to say here.

Man of the Match: Brad Guzan

Panama could have scored several goals and easily won this match in the first half if not for Guzan. He is proving his worth, and showing that the US may not be lost in goal without Tim Howard.

Final Thoughts:

-I am again befuddled by the team selection. This game ultimately did not matter. The US would win the group no matter the outcome. So, it was an opportunity for the US to try something they hadn't yet. This could be useful considering how dreadful the back line has been all tournament. I would of loved to see them try and pair Fabian Johnson with someone new, rather than insert the always dreadful Timothy Chandler. I have not hidden by preference for Brad Evans in that position, but he has only played one half opposite Johnson this tournament. So, it is unlikely they go with that option for the quarterfinals if they would not play them together in this match. Or, if they preferred, they could have tried Garza on the left, and moved Fabian Johnson back over to the right. This would have been a welcome experiment to see how the team reacts to the change. But, they declined to try something different, and I must assume they intend to roll with Johnson and Chandler. CHANDLER CANNOT PLAY AGAINST MEXICO THEY WILL BE HIS KRYPTONITE, NOT THAT HE NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED TO KRYPTONITE TO BE TERRIBLE.

That said, I do like that they tried Zardes up top in this match. That is the way to go about this match, trying something to see how the team reacts to it.

-I am not a big proponent of Chris Wondolowski, but he would have done a heck of a lot better job than Clint Dempsey in that second half. The rest of the offense seemed to click, but they failed to link up with the guys up front. So, I just have to sit and Wondo to myself how different if the indifferent Dempsey had not been brought in for Wondowlowski.

Group Stage Best XI, ie, who should start in the quarterfinals:

4-3-1-2

GK Brad Guzan 7.4

RB Brad Evans 6.2

CB Tim Ream 6.0

CB John Brooks 5.8 (Omar Gonzalez 5.6 due to YC accumulation)

LB Fabian Johnson 6.3

RM DeAndre Yedlin 6.7

CM Mix Diskerud 6.0

LM Alejandro Bedoya 7.3

CAM Michael Bradley 6.8

ST Aron Johannsson 6.5

ST Clint Dempsey 6.1

The above is obviously based upon current roster, but I am pretty sure they can substitute a few players from the roster if they want to before the quarterfinal. Based upon the way they have played thus far I am going to assume they will.

Questions for discussion:

What would your optimum starting XI be now that group stage is over for the US?

What do you think the US's chances are to win?

MLS Player Ratings: Toronto FC v NYCFC

All stats are courtesy of whoscored.com. That is the go-to place for Soccer (football, or whatever your country calls it)statistics. Check that site out. Be warned though, they're coverage of the United States' events isn't always great (see, Gold Cup), but they have really stepped up giving excellent MLS coverage this year. I could not be more bullish of whoscored.com. 

NYCFC
4-2-2-2

GK Josh Saunders 5.2

Saunders has been a steady goalkeeper for NYCFC this season, but this match was not his finest hour and a half. He did not get any favors from his center backs, but Saunders was completely beffudled by Giovinco. The goal post ultimately had more saves, two, than he did, one.

RB Andoni Iraola: 6.0

Iraola made his NYCFC debut this match. Make no mistake, there should be high expectations for Iraola however, he was overshadowed by the absence of Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. Iraola had a fine debut. He did not make any big mistakes. He played fair defense, finishing with a team hig five tackles. However, Iraola was not as important a part of the offense as he should have been. The MLS is lacking in star quality fullbacks. Iraola could be just that. However, in this match he had zero key passes and attempted zero crosses. He needs to be more assertive and support the offense, because he can be a difference maker.

CB Kwame Watson-Siriboe: 4.8

Watson-Siriboe was completely overwhelmed this match against Toronto's attack, which was missing two of their starters. Giovinco had no problems getting passed, or around, or through Watson-Siriboe. Kwame was also responsible for the second penalty, when he bowled over Totonto's player the box.

CB Shay Facey: 6.0

Facey was the stronger of New York's two center backs, clearing the ball six times, and avoiding as many mistakes as his counterpart. Facey also was heavily involved in the passing game. He passed the ball sixty times during the match with an accuracy of 93%.

LB Chris Wingert: 5.8

Wingert played pretty well defensively as a fullback. He prevented the team from being beat from the outside, and helped support the offense, making sixty-one passes with an accuracy of 80%. In the second half Wingert moved to center back to make room for Angelico.

RDM Andrew Jacobson: 6.8

Jacobson had a good game. He helped NYCFC maintain possession throughout much of the match, especially in the middle third of the field (cannot call that surface a pitch). His passing accuracy was a stellar 89%. He also contributed winning the ball on defense. He finished the match with three tackles and two interceptions. Still, Jacobson—like everyone else—could not provide an answer for Giovinco, and he failed to both slow him down in the midfield, and deny him the ball.

LDM Ned Grabavoy: 6.0

Grabavoy does not often play like a defensive midfielder. He usually plays well ahead of Jacobson, and lends himself to the attack, rather than staying back on defense. His ability to come forward gives freedom to the four men ahead of him to get even further forward and receive the ball in perilous positions for the defense. In this match he provided three key passes, and a total passing accuracy of 84%. Despite the offensive contribution, Grabavoy provided little aid to a defense that ultimately allowed four goals.

RAM Thomas McNamara: 7.0

McNamara played pretty far forward in this match, and did a good job linking up with David Villa. He finished with a passing accuracy of 87%, which is excellent for someone who plays as high up the field as he does. Still, he could not always get the ball into the right spots, and his delivery in the final third just was not as precise as it could be; he finished with only one key pass, and only one short, which was off target.

LAM Mehdi Ballouchy: 6.2

Ballouchy had a relatively quite match. NYCFC tends to attack down the left hand side more than the right. So, he is often left out of the attack. He was not bad. He actually had more shots than McNamara, two one which was on target. However, Ballouchy was not as assertive as he needs to be to get in on the attack, and help win his team the game.

ST David Villa: 8.9

David Villa had another excellent match; he has been nearly unstoppable of late. Villa should only continue to to get better as the new additions of Lampard and Pirlo get settled. Imagine how dangerous Villa is going to be in the box when a defense cannot cheat on him because Lampard is waiting just outside it. Villa scored twice, once on his second PK, and the other off a terrific free kick outside the box. Villa contributed all over the final third. He ended the match with eight shots, six of which were on target. He also got out wide and tried a few crosses, but only a couple found teammates. The main criticism on Villa is he does not play defense. In fact he sometimes is reluctant to get out of the final third. Now, if I were David Villa perhaps I would not either, especially in a match that my team had 62% of the possession.

ST Patrick Mullins: 7.7

This was the best I have seen Mullins play. In fact, this is the best I have seen any striker play alongside Villa—with no apologies to Nemec. He scored the equalizer with a header off a free kick scramble, and also created the own goal as his shot took a deflection off Perquis—you could argue Mullins deserved both. He also put the ball in dangerous positions for his teammates finishing with three key passes.

SUB Angelino (45' for Watson-Siriboe): 7.2

Angelino had a very impressive debut for NYCFC. He came on after the half and provided great energy on the attack. He was the catalyst for much of NYCFC's offense in the second half, and moved the ball around well, finishing with a passing accuracy of 93%. Angelino did not get back much on defense. NYCFC was down for much of the second half. It is a wonder why Toronto did not attack NYCFC's left side as a result.

SUB Kwadwo Poku (67' for McNamara): 6.7

Poku came in and brought great energy and physicality to the attacking third.

SUB Pablo Alvarez (76' for Grabavoy): N/A

Alvarez came in the final fifteen minutes and only received eleven touches.

Toronto FC
4-1-3-2

GK Chris Konopka: 5.9

Konpka was the better keeper tonight, but both gave up four goals. Konpka however, managed five saves. Despite the saves, Konpka made a few critical errors. He was responsible for the second penalty kick that tied the match four-four. He also relaxed for a moment after saving the first penalty kick, making him susceptible to the goal that followed seconds later.

RB Justin Morrow: 7.0

Morrow was pretty steady during this match. His defensive statistics stand out: team high tying three tackles, four interceptions, and three clearances. However, there were too many occasions that he allowed McNamara between himself and the center back where he was able to cause trouble. Morrow is excellent in the midfield and does a good job with possession and winning the ball. He also was good getting forward and getting balls into the box. He finished with a key pass and a perfect two for two on his crosses despite a mediocre passing accuracy of 76%.

CB Damien Perquis: 5.5

Perquis had one of his weaker performances this match. He had trouble with the pressure NYCFC put into the box. He had a couple tackles and interceptions, but made two big mistakes in this match: He fouled McNamara in the box to give up the first penalty kick, and he took the deflection off Mullin's shot (off the deflection of said penalty kick), which became an own goal.

CB Nick Hagglund: 6.5

Hagglund was about as good defensively as you can get while allowing four goals. He finished the match with five interceptions and four clearances. He was also good getting a head onto balls coming into the box. Hagglund really struggled distributing though, which may have been part of the reason Toronto had such a problem maintaining possession. His passing accuracy was only sixty-one percent.

LB Daniel Lovitz: 6.6

Lovitz got the start in Ashtone Morgan's absence. He did a good job on defense grabbing five interceptions, and three clearances in the match. However, he was playing on the left side, and NYCFC tends to attack from the other direction. He also allowed Mullins to drift between himself and the full back, which led to a pair of goals. He was not a big threat on offense.

CDM Collen Warner: 6.0

Warner is a good defensive midfielder, and he had his bright moments in this match, finishin with four interceptions. However, there were times when he was completely overwhelmed by NYCFC's attack, allowing them to dominate possession and constantly put pressure on their back line. Warner also had a mediocre passing accuracy of 78%.

RM Marky Delgado: 7.0

Delgado scored his first goal of the season in this match, benefitting from Giovinco's domination of the NYCFC back line. Delgado had a good passing accuracy of 87%, but he was not helpful in winning back possession, and was completely circumvented in the attack as the ball often went straight to Giovinco.

CM Benoit Cheyrou: 7.3

Cheyrou is one of the most underrated players in the MLS. His greatest strengths are leadership and experience, and he makes up the heart of Toronto's midfield. He is capable of playing anywhere in the midfield, and contributes both offensively and defensively. Cheyrou was positioned in Michael Bradley's usual spot just behind the strikers, but he played further back in a more central midfield role. Cheyrou's most obvious contributions were defensively in this match; he finished with three tackles, an interception and three clearances. His passing was good as well; he finished with an accuracy of 83%, and he did well to hold onto the ball. His long passes were also helpful keeping pressure on the opponent's back line. Still, NYCFC dominated the midfield despite Cheyrou's solid play, and Cheyrou was not as dynamic as you might expect playing in a no. 10 role.

LM Jackson: 6.7

The highlight of Jackson's match came in the way of a beautiful back heel that found a running Giovinco for an easy goal. A part from that play though, hr offered little offensive assertiveness, tallying only twenty touches all match. His passing rate was high, 92.3%, but, again, only attempted thirteen passes. He also offered little resistance on defense. This was a big opportunity for Jackson with so many players missing from Toronto's squad, but he has to make an effort to be more involved; he has a lot of potential.

ST Sebastian Giovinco: 10.0

Giovinco proved he is the best player in the MLS right now. He took the entire NYCFC back line on his own, and won out time-after-time. His three goals were beautiful, and he could have/should have had more. Giovinco's dribbling is unparalleled in this league, and allowed him to get in to positions where he could either shoot, or distribute. Giovinco finished the match with three goals, an assist, three shots on goal, while hitting the post twice, on seven total shots, he had three key passes, and completed five dribbles. That's called filling up the box score.

ST Robbie Findley: 7.2

Findley received the opportunity—and great honor, to play alongside Giovinco in Altidore's absence. This was also the best I have seen him. He only had one shot on target, on two total shots. But, fed Giovinco for an assist on an excellent pass into the middle. Findley did positioning himself on the right side, giving Giovinco space in the middle to work—we see this all the time in basketball, giving LeBron space to drive into the lane.

SUB Eriq Zavaleta (76' Perquis): N/A

Zavaleta came into the match late for Perquis to help maintain a one goal lead. Perquis had struggled this game, so perhaps the thought was you do not want nerves influencing Perquis to make another big mistake. However, Perquis is a veteran, and you have to trust him to hold the final fifteen minutes. It is not necessailry Zavaleta's fault they scored—it was Creavalle's, but it is not always safe to start rocking the defensive boat so late.

SUB Creavalle (Jackson 84'): 1.0

Creavalle only needed two minutes to earn an abysmal rating. Creavalle came in late to help Toronto hold their one goal lead, and he literally gave it away.

Man of the Match: Giovinco

Come on, who else would it be?

Final Thoughts:

-Once NYCFC receive their second half reinforcements and Toronto FC gets their guys back from the Gold Cup, these two teams may be the very best teams in the East. These two and the Red Bulls are the most exciting teams to watch in the East at least—no apologies to DC United.

-This was a very exciting match to watch. During the broadcast one of the commentators mentioned how David Villa had said the players in the MLS lacked technical skill compared to the other league's he has been in—well, no duh—and that caused more scrambles and 50-50 balls, and caused the game to be more physical. This is exactly right, you cannot expect to see a European style match when you are watching the MLS, but it is it's own brand of entertainment. These two teams going back and forth was a great thrill.

Team of the Week:

My team of the week is constructed ONLY from the players involved in the two matches I have watched this week.

GK Bobby Shuttleworth NE

RB Justin Morrow TFC

CB Damien Perrinelle NYRB

CB Matt Miazga NYRB

LB Anthony Wallace NYRB

CDM Dax McCarthy NYRB

RM Lloyd Sam NYRB

LM Mike Grella NYRB

ST David Villa NYCFC

ST Sebastian Giovinco TFC

ST Bradley Wright-Phillips NYRB

NYRB 7, TFC 2, NYCFC 1, NE 1

Question for discussion:

Who do you think is the best team in the East right now in MLS?

MLS Player Ratings: NY Red Bulls v NE Revolution

All stats are courtesy of whoscored.com. That is the go-to place for Soccer (football, or whatever your country calls it)statistics. Check that site out. Be warned though, they're coverage of the United States' events isn't always great (see, Gold Cup), but they have really stepped up giving excellent MLS coverage this year. I could not be more bullish of whoscored.com.

New York Red Bulls

4-2-3-1

GK Luis Robles: 6.5

Robles was fine. He made the couple saves that were available to him. He commanded his box well and came out when he needed to. The one goal the Red Bulls did give up was not one he could have done much with. It came off a cross from Lee Nguyen on the right side and he put it to the far post where Dorman was charging into the box, and Davies was already waiting. There was a scary moment when Nguyen charged a loose ball in the box and Robles came out to grab it and they collided, sending Nguyen flying. I thought Robles got to it first, and the no penalty was the correct call.

RB Connor Lade: 6.6

Lade had a very silent night, but that does not mean he was not effective. He ended the match with five interceptions. However, he left too much space at times for Tierney and Nguyen, who often drifted out wide, and allowed quite a few uncontested crosses. Lade was not much of a factor on offense, allowing Wallace to surge ahead more on the other side. He ended the match with 76% passing accuracy, and did not complete either of his crosses.

CB Damien Perrinelle: 8.0

Perrinelle made a couple of errors early in the match, but was strong for the remainder and majority of it. He was adept at heading crosses out of the box, as well as getting out wide to defend and contain a winger. Perrinelle finished the match with a game high eight interceptions, while also completing three successful tackles and blocking a few incoming shots. I like the poise he and Miazga had when Lee Nguyen controlled the ball at the top of the box. They stayed home and contained him, cutting off his passing lanes and making him take shots over them or swinging the ball way outside of the box.

CB Matt Miazga: 8.2

Miazga and Perrinelle worked great as a team; Miazga was just a little bit better than his counterpart though. He was outstanding in the air, winning six aerial battles, he also snagged four interceptions, made four tackles and cleared a game high nine balls. Miazga played pretty error free to boot. As previously stated, he and Perrinelle did a good job of containing Nguyen when he got the ball at the top of the box (which he did often throughout the second half).

LB Anthony Wallace 8.5

Wallace seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. He was terrific on defense. He had no problems handling Agudelo and Bunbury, although Rowe had more success late in the second half once Wallace had finally slowed down. He contibuted with a few clearances, a few tackles, and a few interceptions. He did allow Nguyen to slip in between himself and the center back at times, which ultimately led to New England's lone goal, but he did a good job throughout most of the match. Wallace was even better on offense. His passing accuracy was only 65%, but despite this he did well to get the ball into dangerous positions. In the second half he got his chance to put a shot on goal from just outside the box and it took a deflection off Goncalves and into goal.

RDM Dax McCarthy: 9.0

McCarthy is clearly the most important player on the Red Bulls' squad. He is an engine, constantly working to win possession for his team while on defense. This is evidenced by his game high six tackles, a stat that looks good no matter what league you are in. McCarthy also does a good job of retaining possession, and carrying the ball through the midfield. McCarthy is not a defensive specialist. He was able to find his teammates in the final third as well, and was responsible for two assist tonight.

LDM Felipe: 6.4

Felipe was the weakest of the Red Bulls' midfielders, but to his credit, his fellow midfielders were all ridiculous in this match. Felipe was the free kick taker for the Red Bulls and could have been more precise; he had difficulty picking out teammates in the box, and deliver a dangerous ball. Felipe's passing accuracy was only 74%, while making more passes than anyone else in the match. He was much better on defence, helping McCarthy win back the ball and carry possession.

RM Lloyd Sam: 9.3

Lloyd Sam was unbelievable this match. There was a stretch in the first half when every touch he had provided a scoring opportunity. Sam's delivery into the box and passing was on a different level tonight, and really showed just how good he is (Henry who?), and how good Wright-Phillips can be when he has someone of that caliber assisting him. Sam finished with a goal and an assist, four key passes, and a passing accuracy of 88%. Sam looked like the best wing in the premier league in this match.

CAM Sacha Kljestan: 7.0

Kljestan arrived with big expectations this year, he has European and national team experience so there is an assumption that he is going to be one of the best players in the league. So, from that perspective Klejstan has been somewhat of a disappointment this year. He was alright in this match. He did a good job distributing the ball to the wings; he finished the match with an 85% pass accuracy. However, he struggled with his own balls into the box, and struggled putting the ball and himself in dangerous positions.

LM Mike Grella: 8.3

Grella was another midfielder who excelled for New York tonight. He provided an excellent compliment to Sam on the right side, and made the defense stretch, having to be wary of both wings. Grella was not quite as effective as Sam. He was more prone to giving possession away, and his passing accuracy was much lower at 67%. However, Grella had three key passes and kept peppering the box with crosses, ending the game with an assist.

ST Bradley Wright-Phillips: 9.0

Bradley Wright-Phillips is not having quite as spectacular a season as last. That will happen when you lose one of the best players in the league's history as a battery mate. However, Wright-Phillips, like many of his teammates, was spectacular tonight. The midfield kept Wright-Phillips well fed, linking up well with him. He finished with five shots, three of which were on goal, and two of which found there way to the back of the net. Another was very close, as he headed a great cross from Sam just to the left of an open goal. Wright-Phillips showed off his all-around ability as a striker threatening with his head, his feet, his speed, and his passing. He finished the match with a passing accuracy of 90%. He even played good defense when he shifted to left midfield late in the second half.

SUB Anatole Abang (68' Sam): N/A

Abang was on the pitch long enough to have a rating assigned to him, but it's not necessary. He is an attacking player and the Red Bulls already had a three goal lead by the time he came on. He received only twelve touches in his twenty minutes on the pitch. He did take a shot, receiving a nice cross from Grella to their left side, but he could not get it on target.

SUB Sal Zizzo (79' Kljestan): N/A

Zizzo was only on the field for a little more than ten minutes. He received a good ball in the box where he was “fouled.” He took the PK, and was unsuccessful, getting his shot blocked by the Revolution GK twice.

SUB Sean Davis (83' Wright-Phillips): N/A

Davis came on in the final ten minutes, and only got four touches. Nothing to see here. He is happy to get some pitch time.

New England Revoltion

4-2-3-1

GK Bobby Shuttleworth: 7.0

Shuttleworth looked about as good as you can while giving up four goals. The New York attack was just too lethal, and came at him from every angle. He had four saves, and it always looks impressive when you not only save a penalty kick, but immediately get back up and dive in the opposite direction to block the rebound.

RB London Woodberry: 6.4

Woodberry had an uneven, but fair performance. He was surprisingly good in the air on defense, winning five aerial duals. He also recorded seven clearances and intercepted three balls. However, he often gave Grella too much space, and allowed him to pass around him and get the ball into dangerous areas. Woodberry is usually a good offensive full back, and he certainly got his chances, trying seven crosses. However, he was only accurate on one of those occasions. His passing accuracy was also subpar at 68%.

CB Jose Goncalves: 6.5

I feel bad for Goncalves; he seems to garner a red card in every match I watch him play, and the one he received this time was pretty unjust.

How much can Goncalves be expected to do? He finished his match with eight clearances, five interceptions, three tackles, and a partridge in a pear tree. New England's midfield was just getting run over and provided little assistance.

CB Andrew Ferrell: 6.3

Goncalves lite had a similar experience, minus the two yellow cards. He finished with eight clearances, three interceptions, two tackles, and a blocked shot to boot. He did make a couple errors at times, but none which led to goalscoring opportunities.

LB Chris Tierney: 6.2

Tierney is an attacking full back, and was given opportunities deep on the left flank. He crossed the ball ten times, and connected on three occasions. However, Tierney and Woodberry's combined passing accuracy was right round, or a little under, 70%. It is not good when your attacking full back gives away the ball, often times deep in their opponent's territory, because it can expose you to the counter attack, and when an offense is clicking like New York's was, they do not need any added help. He also lacked quality when tacking free kicks, struggling to put dangerous balls into the box off corners. Tierney did end up with four interceptions, but did not have an answer defensively for Sam, and forced Goncalves to cover too much ground.

RDM Andy Dorman: 7.0

Dorman scored New England's only goal. He timed his run into the box perfectly to strike Nguyen's ball to the far post into the open left side of the goal. Dornan could have been better in possession, his passing accuracy was only 70%, and he did little to slow New York's charge through the midfield throughout the first half.

LDM Scott Caldwell: 6.7

Caldwell had spells where he seemed absent, but he quietly did the little things in midfield. He had five interceptions and a couple tackles, but could have done more to put pressure on the ball while New York attacked.

RM Teal Bunbury: 4.5

See Agudelo, Juan, and add one goal—not on target, then lower passing accuracy to 60%.

CAM Lee Nguyen: 7.6

Lee Nguyen was easily the best player on his side. After tallying an assist on New England's only goal in the first half. Nguyen really took off in the second half. He consistently got himself and the ball to the top of the box right in the center of goal. However, despite regularly getting this position, New York's center backs did a good job of containing him and not providing him an avenue to pass through them. It did not help that Charlie Davies was unwilling to work himself into a position Nguyen could pass into. So, often Nguyen was forced to try and take on both center backs, and sometimes McCarthy too, on his own on the dribble, and work himself into a shot. He finished with four shots, but only one of them was on goal, but he really had to force himself to take difficult shots, because his team was so far down, and the rest of his team provided little support on the attack.

LM Juan Agudelo: 4.5

Zero key passes. Zero key dribbles. Zero shots. Pedestrian 77% pass accuracy. Little defensive contribution, and a tendency to give the ball away. Keep up the good work Agudelo.

ST: Charlie Davies: 5.0

This was not an immpressive performance from Davies. He had trouble linking up with his teammates in the final third, and had trouble finding open space behind the line. He finished the game with zero shots. It stands to reason that if your lone striker has zero shots in a game, there is a good chance you will not win. It is easy to be negative on Davies when you compare him directly to Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips is a complete striker, he can take on the defense on his own if he needs to, is an aerial threat and can shoot from anywhere inside, or outside the box. Davies is more limited, and seemed in this match if he was just waiting for an opportunity to poach a goal.

SUB Daigo Kobayashi (57' Dorman): 6.2

Daigo played well the final thirty minutes. He did a nice job carrying possession for New England and distributing to his attackers. He finished with a passing accuracy of 83%. New England had possession for a majority of the time he was on the pitch. Daigo was not much of a factor defensively; he did not really win back the ball, or help out the center backs when New York got the ball in precarious positions.

SUB Diego Fagundez (56' Bunbury): 6.5

Fagundez tried to energize New England's offense, using his fresh legs to carry the ball around the midfield. He had a pair of key passes in the final thirty minutes of the match, and even played a little quality defense.

SUB Kelyn Rowe (66' Agudelo): 6.5

Rowe took advantage of the time he had on the pitch. He consistently got the ball out on the right flank and peppered the box with crosses, although he was unable to connect with a teammate. He did score a couple of key passes though.

Man of the Match: Lloyd Sam

You cannot go wrong picking Sam, Wright-Phillips, or McCarthy. I just liked how dynamic Sam was. It seemed every time he touched the ball a goal was soon to follow.

Final Toughts:

-I was pleasently surprised by how good the Red Bulls were. This was the first match of theirs I have watched all of this season. They have a formidable attack and several creative options. The defense is also sturdier than I expected. They are a good balanced team, and the East can be had still.

-It is hard to believe the Revolution were in the final last season. They are really struggling right now. Jermaine Jones' absence was felt in this match, as the Red Bulls dominated the midfield, and were very efficient with the ball.

Gold Cup Player Ratings: USA vs Haiti

The US squeaked out a victory over Haiti last night, clinching their group and assuring their place in the quarterfinals. Let's take a look at how all of the United States' players performed.


GK Brad Guzan: 7.2

Guzan's frustration rating: 9.9. He must be wondering how the United States is allowing twenty-one shots in a match against Haiti. Luckily, most of those shots were nowhere near target, and the few that were Guzan dealt with easy enough.

RB Brad Evans: 6.0

Brad Evans was the first of several changes to the starting XI. Evans was adequate defending the right side. He avoided making a big mistake, and was usually adept at containing his man. Evans was not a threat on offense. He did get forward in a deep position to cross once, but remained back the remainder of the match. This was beneficial, because he was always there to pick up his man when Haiti broke forward. At times, Evans had trouble dealing with Haiti's speed, especially in the second half, as his opponent could get around him on the dribble. However, Evans showed good composure, waiting for the perfect time to make a tackle, and break up the play.

CB Omar Gonzalez: 5.5

Omar Gonzalez was the weaker of the two center backs last night. He is the central defender with the most experience; he should be expected to be a solidifying force in the back four, but he was not. He and Tim Ream failed to communicate at times, and work together to handle attacks. Often Omar did not put enough pressure on the attack, Hait typically only broke forward with one or two men, and allowed many shots to be taken. Omar also missed a few tackles high up the field when he tried to break up an attack, which led to some scary moments for the US defense. Omar was best when defending balls coming into the box, where he could use his size to head the ball out. The US sometimes tried the MLS style of attack—long passes from their own territory to a lone striker sitting in front of the opponent's defense, but Gonzalez was not able to hit anyone in a possession of any real danger.

CB Tim Ream: 6.0

Tim Ream was the better of the two center backs. His clearances were more sure-footed. He did better than anyone (Gonzalez, Brooks, or Alvarado) moving to the outside to help the fullback. He was just as adept at dealing with balls into the box as Gonzalez was, but everywhere else he was a quite a bit better than his counterpart. He even had a better passing accuracy percentage 82%:77%.

LB Greg Garza: 5.6

There was quite a bit of hype surrounding Greg Garza's potential start last night. He showed some good quality getting forward in spots. However, he gave the ball away too easily after his initial run forward, which led to counter attacks from Haiti. Luckily some of Tim Ream's play helped cover Garza. Garza worked himself into the middle more on offense than out wide, and did not show off his cross.

RCM Graham Zusi: 5.2

Zusi did not have his best match for the US. Despite a deeper position than he is used to playing, Zusi played very forward throughout the match; he often ended up playing behind Dempsey and Altidore. Zusi did not help the team in possession, especially during their early struggles in the first half. Zusi at times put himself on an island on the right side, where he was ignored. Upon receiving the ball he often gave it away promptly, whether it was a misplayed dribble, or pass (he had a poor 73% passing accuracy).

CM Michael Bradley: 6.1

Michael Bradley was the keystone for the US when they had the ball. All possession went through him, especially in the first half. Bradley did a good job committing to his holding position in the first half. He distributed the ball well, and kept himself in a good position to help defend when Dempsey, Johannsson, Zusi and Mix inevitably gave the ball away in front of him. He also picked his moments to come forward well, though he did not have any shining moments offensively either. In the second half, Bradley switch places with Mix, and played a more forward role. He played alright there as well, although he did not have any particularly dangerous balls into the box. Interestingly enough, Bradley led the US with two shots, both of which were off target. Finally, the best part of Bradley's game last match were his deliveries on set pieces. However, the quality of these were just a little lacking, missing on several occasions. He did have one dangerous FK, placing a ball near the far post for Dempsey in a similar position as their goal a match before, but the goalkeeper did well to get to it.

LCM Mix Diskerud: 6.0

Mix's performance last night was, well, a mixed bag. He struggled in the first half playing ahead of Bradley, and being expected to carry possession. He was often dispossessed leading to a counter from Haiti. He also was not able to get deep enough into Hait's territory to cause mischief with his passing. In the second half, Mix moved back behind Bradley, and played as the holding midfielder where he was the fulcrum of the US attack. He excelled there offensively able to make long passes to Zusi and Zardes on the wings, and immediately get the US in dangerous positions. He finished the match with an impressive 91% passing accuracy, and most of his damage was done in this second half. Mix is not a typical defensive midfielder though, and although he was a willing defender, his defense sometimes amounted to nothing more than a frantic slide tackle, which would sometimes win the ball, but was just as likely to miss, or be late and called a foul for a free kick in a threatening area.

CAM Clint Dempsey: 6.4

Another match, another goal for Clint Dempsey. Dempsey started the match in a No.10 position. He got a couple good balls to Johannsson and Altidore, but could not consistently be the offenses catalyst. Thus far this tournament he has struggled making passes in dangerous areas and holding position for the offense. However, in the second half, Dempsey was moved into a forward position, which freed him into the box where he excels. He immediately got a goal off a great effort and pass from Zardes.

ST Jozy Altidore: 5.7

Altidore had trouble getting into dangerous areas with the ball. He had trouble controlling the ball when he received it off long air passes, and he did not use his body as much as last match to work himself into the box. Later in the first half he resolved to play deeper and receive the ball before entering the final third, but this left him too far away when Johannsson got himself in the box. Altidore did have one great opportunity, receiving the ball in space inside the box just to the left of goal, but he gave up the open left-footed shot, and instead decided to cut back to the other side where several defenders awaited him.

ST Aron Johannsson: 6.5

Johannsson was the catalyst for the team in the early going. He utilized great positioning and speed to get into the seams of the defense and threaten with the ball. Despite getting the ball in these dangerous positions, Aron could not turn the opportunities into goals, or even shots. Altidore and Dempsey were rarely on the same page as Johannson as he was much further up the pitch expecting the long ball. Once he received the ball, there was no one to help support him, and he was unable to work himself into a shot once the defense caught up. Johannson should have had a goal off of a deflection, but it was unjustly called offside.

SUB Gyasi Zardes: 7.5

Zardes was great coming into this match in the second half. He immediately made an impact, receiving the ball in the box, and making a great play to cut in and find Dempsey for a goal. Throughout the remainder of the match he used his speed to put the defense in uncomfortable positions. His passing was also much improved, ending with an 89% passing accuracy, and he was a much more willing defender.

SUB Fabian Johnson: 6.0

Fabian Johnson came on for Garza halfway through the second half. He immediately got forward to initiate a US attack. On a later play, he received the ball in space on the left hand side, but had to slow down as it seemed he wanted to pull back and cut in. It is obvious Johnson would prefer playing on the right—his natural side. However, there still is not an adequate option for the US to take his place.

SUB Kyle Beckerman: N/A

Beckerman came in late in the match to help close out the win. He did well in a deep role, holding possession.

Man of the Match: Gyasi Zardes

Coming off a less than stellar performance in the opener. Zardes really came into his own in the second half of this match. He used his speed to get the ball in perilous positions on the left side, which quickly led to the creation of the US's only goal.

Final Thoughts:

-Well, I got my wishes from the other night and both Brad Evans and Graham Zusi were added to the starting XI. One of these, Evans, seemed to work out, while the other, Zusi, struggled to find where he fit in this formation.

-I did not expect so many changes to the squad for this match. I understand this is just the Gold Cup group stage. The United States can afford to change things up, and try different formations and personnel switches. However, just because you can do something, does not mean you should. Lineup tinkering is why there are friendlies. I have heard Arsene Wenger say (paraphrasing, and imagine a French accent), “It's not good to make too many changes between matches because it can ruin the chemistry.” You can also think of squad changes scientifically. In every experiment you need a variable and a control. If you change a ton to the lineup there is very little constant, and it makes judgement difficult.

I do not think it aides the US tinkering too much with lineup because they need to know what their best XI is when the quarterfinals start (which is only a single match away). How could you possibly know if Bradley or Beckerman should be your designated holding midfielder if you employ one in a 4-3-1-2 and one in a 4-4-2 wide diamond? How do you know if Ream and Omar is a better pairing than Brooks and Alvarado if you set them up with a different set of full backs and a different group of midfielders in front of them? You won't. So, you can tinker all you want, but you are unlikely to find the necessary answers by the quarterfinals if you change too much match-to-match. This will also convolute the chemistry between players. I think Dempsey, Altidore, Zusi, and to some extant, Bradley all suffered from this. Now what will happen if they go back to a completely different formation next match?

-At this point, I'm willing to say Fabian Johnson, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, DeAndre Yedlin, and Brad Guzan should start every match. Zardes could be the next to enter that group with another good performance (and the fact the US does not have another capable LM).

-I really miss Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron. This entire group of center backs scare me.

-I was really expecting the US to show me how good they could be last night, after I proclaimed Mexico to be the favorite to win this tournament, but I am not any less convinced.

(Thanks to http://www.concacaf.com/category/gold-cup for keeping surprisingly detailed statistics, even when WhoScored.com thinks the Gold Cup unnecessary.)

Mexico v Cuba: Gold Cup Player Ratings

Mexico vs Cuba
Mexico destroyed Cuba in their Gold Cup opener, winning 6-0. With so much offense and possession the Mexican team must be filled with a lot of high rated players, right?

GK Guillermo Ochoa: N/A (7.0)

I don't really want to rate Ochoa. Cuba put one shot on goal, and it was a slow roller from the edge of the box. He showed some nice reaction to a late free kick from the right side that he snatched, but otherwise, Ochoa stood twirling his beautiful hair.

RB Paul Aguilar: 7.2

Aguilar saw a lot of action in this match. Cuba presented no offensive threat so he was able to run up and down the right side at his leisure. Aguilar finished the match with an impressive 87% pass percentage. He did well linking up with Hector Herrera and his strikers on short passes. However, Aguilar struggled at times with his final ball into the box; they simply could have been a little more precise. As good as Aguilar was, the left side of pitch (Layun and Guardado) were a bit more dynamic and dangerous. Aguilar did not need to do much in defense, but I question how he will fare in future matches against team's with a more potent attack. You have to practice like you will play in the “real” matches, right?

CB Francisco Rodriguez: 6.2

A recurring trend here is going to be Cuba's lack of offense. Obviously, Rodriguez had little real responsibility. However, Rodriguez was caught playing a little too high on an occasion, which led to Cuba playing the ball into open space at the edge of the box. Fortunately for him Cuba is not a good enough team to punish him for the mistake. Rodriguez was also late on a couple of tackles. Rodriguez did stifle Cuba, and prevent them from crossing the midline for most of the match though.

Despite a couple of defensive lapses, Rodriguez was very effective in supporting the attack. He was perfect making passes: thirty-nine for thirty-nine. He was able to complete long passes to his wingers and strikers in space to help kickstart the attack.

CB Diego Reyes: 7.0

Reyes gave a dutiful performance. He did what was necessary. He blocked a few balls when Cuba tried to play the long ball. He headed the ball out on the rare occasion Cuba sent the ball in. He was also an effective distributor.

LB Miguel Layun: 8.2

Layun was one of the many stars in this match for Mexico. He worked excellently with Guardado on the left side. Layun found success getting the ball into the box, whether it was working the overlap and crossing the ball, or cutting inside and drawing defenders out to him. He earned his assist late with a great pass over the top of the defense to Giovani Dos Santos who was waiting inside the box. Layun also did a nice job containing defenders on the left side, when they did happen to cross the midline (probably on accident).

RM Hector Herrera: 7.9

Hector Herrera played a very active game. He was deployed by Mexico on the right side, but drifted inside often as well, especially when Aguilar came forward (which was often), and he was eventually moved inside when Giovani Dos Santos came into the match. Herrera excelled cutting inside and engaging in quick exchanges and short passes. However, this give-and-go style seemed a little wild at times. Luckily, Herrera did well chasing down the ball and taking possession back immediately.

CM Antonio Rios: 8.0

Antonio Rios played just above the two center backs in this match. Mexico announced they were playing a flat 4-4-2, but Rios positioned himself and played more like a CDM in a 4-1-3-2. Rios excelled there, halting an Cuban momentum, and also distributing very well—his passing accuracy was 97%. He earned an assist in the closing stages of the first half, delivering a beautiful lobbed through ball to the head of Oribe Peralta.

CM Jonathan Dos Santos: 6.4

JDS was fine in this match. In a match where 2/3 took place in Cuba's half, he was the player with the most forward role to contribute the least amount to the offense (if that makes any sense). Again, JDS was fine. His passing accuracy was 80%. He won back the ball several times. He got three shots off, two of which soared away from goal from beyond the box. JDS is necessary for this team. He is one of the few box-to-box midfielders on the Mexican team; he would be replaced by a more attacking player (Corona, Esquivel, G-Dos Santos), until at least, we see to what extent Jose Vazquez was injured.

LM Andres Guardado: 8.4

Guardado was everywhere and a part of every facet of the Mexican attack. It was very evident that Guardado is the best player on this team. Guardado teamed up with Miguel Layun very well, and Andres' ability to cut inside and draw defenders to him really created room for Layun deep on the left side, and the strikers on the inside. Guardado delivered one of the finest balls in the match from distance and into the box, which led to a Gio Dos Santos goal, assisted by Carlos Vela. He earned his own assist when he settled a header forward in the center of the box into the path of Oribe Peralta. Guardado became a little trigger happy and fired from distance with regularity. He co-led the match with four shots off target (while he only scored one and putting only another one on goal). He also got a little carried away at times and gave the ball away while cutting in. He also had the occasion errant pass; his passing accuracy ended at 69%. Andres was the man behind most of Mexico's free kicks, and he was just ok in this area; he could have been much more accurate and created more danger. On defense, when it was infrequently needed, Guardado was a willing participent to go back and help win back the ball, assisting Layun on the left (US wingers should take note).

ST Carlos Vela: 7.6

Vela is finally playing national team soccer (I'm not going to pretend I'm not American and call it football.), and he got the start over Gio Dos Santos. Vela was good in this match. He gave Mexico's attack a varied look. He played all around the box and was effective when getting to the outside and delivering the ball into the box (he plays best as a winger). He was also able to cut in from the right side into the box where he could make a dangerous pass or shoot. Vela collected his assist after receiving a long ball from Guardado in the box; he was patient and drew defenders to him, while giving GDS time to position himself on the far post before sending him the ball. There were times when Vela wasted the ball, giving it away or passing it away, but there was only so much offense Mexico could muster before it became unsportsmanlike.

ST Oribe Peralta: 8.6

It is difficult to argue with three goals. Even though he sent four off target, and his passing accuracy was a paltry 41%. Oribe Peralta is excellent at being at the right place at the right time, and he can finish both with his head, and his feet. He has a great—nose for goal—as they so often say.

SUB Giovani Dos Santos (in for Jonathan Dos Santos): 8.0

GDS is arguably Mexico's most skilled player. So, it was surprising to see him sitting on the bench, especially considering Chicharito's injury. He originally came in for his brother JDS, and was stationed far to the right (sending Hector Herrera inside). He was alright from that position, but he was most effective when drifting inside, which is where he played once Carlos Vela was subbed from the match fifteen minutes last. GDS did have good chemistry with Vela when they were on together. Even though they have a similar style and prefer to play in the same areas. GDS is a little bit better working through the center. His ability to finish the ball in the net stands out on this team, and he is not quite as adept at delivering the ball into the box as Vela is. GDS finished the match with both a goal and an assist, though he was close to adding a few more goals that were dismissed.

SUB Jesus Carona (in for Andres Guardado): N/A

Corona came in around the seventy-first minute for Guardado, so he had big shoes to fill. He was alright, but unspectacular. He struggled getting into the box, but finished six for seven in passing.

SUB Carlos Esquivel (in for Carlos Vela): N/A
Esquivel did not contribute much during his time in the match. The greatest thing about his arrival is it sent Gio Dos Santos into the middle in place of Vela.

Man of the Match: Oribe Peralta 
The hat trick gets the nod from me.


Final Thoughts:

-The FS1 commentators said after the match that, although Mexico played great, they did not do enough to make them the Gold Cup favorites in their minds. I disagree. At the moment, I think Mexico is just a little ahead of the US, although that could change tonight.

          The US and Meixco seem to have the same fatal flaw: defensive shape. In this match Mexico did not need much, they were dominating Cuba, and their two center backs, and sometimes one center back was enough to stop any breaks from coming. Still, even against better teams, Layun and Aguilar are going to charge up the pitch—they are offense first full backs, and really elevate the Mexican attack. This is very similar to the USA's own fullbacks, and although Fabian Johnson may be the best full back of the quartet, Timothy Chandler is far and away the worst of the group. Both sets of center backs are capable of making mistakes as well. The major difference I see is Antonio Rios. Antonio Rios played a great game, and despite Mexico carrying a large majority of possession, and getting ample opportunities to attack, Rios stayed back. He anchored the midfield, and did not let anyone past; he was Gandalf on a bridge, if you will. I hope Kyle Beckerman was taking notes. Now, I will admit this was effective also because the center backs were playing a very high line, supporting Rios more directly in the midfield at times. So, while I see how Mexico's performance translates against better teams, the same cannot be said for the USA. Can Beckerman commit to the holding role? Will they change shape? Will they replace Chandler? These are all questions that need to be answered before they take on Mexico.

          Another thing that really affected me was the amount of pressure Mexico's attackers put on their opponent's defense. All of Mexico's players work on the defensive end, and help create errors in the passing game. This is one of the US's biggest weaknesses, dealing with pressure. The US had a hard enough time building their attack against Honduras. How much more will the struggle be against a team as skilled as Mexico, especially when they are constantly pressuring the man with the ball, disallowing them the time and space they need to build? It is possible the US commits to the long ball and counter attack on offense against Mexico. Mexico's full backs play deep in their opponent's territory and their attackers can be careless at time with the ball. So, the counter attack would be a premium weapon at the US's disposal. The long ball may be tricky though because of A) Alberto Rios, and B) The high line of the Mexican center backs. If they can beat the offside trap then there is little stopping them, but it may be tough to do. In this case, if I were the USA coach (and of course I'm not, no should I be), I may choose to take out Altidore and replace him with a little more speed and dribbling ability. I suspect very little of this match will occur in the US attacking third, which would limit Altidore's effectiveness. As much as I hate to say it, Chris Wondowlowski could be an effective replacement. A goal-hawk such as himself would be useful, and we all know how much he loves to sit back and wait for the long ball to come to him (it's the way of the MLS...sigh).

All of that said, Mexico is tailor made to deal with the USA as they are playing right now, and it would require some significant changes from the Red, White, and Blue , both in personnel and tactics, to deal with their neighbor to the south.

-Mexico is known to employ three center backs and a pair of wing backs However, they played a standard four man back in last night's match. I wonder if that will continue to be the case as this tournament goes on, or they just saw the opportunity with a weak Cuba team. It is possible the injury to Marquez forced Mexico's hand as well. Despite playing a four man back, Layun and Aguilar continued to play as wing backs. I wonder if that will continue against stronger teams if Mexico keeps playing that way. As wing backs Layun and Aguilar can commit to the attack more, and this is what is familiar to them. However, playing this way against better teams will leave big holes in the defense.

-Vela and Peralta started at the top for Mexico in this match. Gio Dos Santos also came in and was effective. After his hat-trick Peralta is not going to the bench. So, it is possible GDS and Vela switch places in the next match. I would love to see them play together, because Guardado, Vela and GDS together is a dynamic group. However, that would force either GDS—who suffers offensively out wide, or Vela—who would be forced into more defensive responsibility (Yikes!), to play on the right side of the midfield. I do not think that is possibly for a whole ninety minutes with the way Aguilar is playing. I do think it is possible if Mexico returns to a five man back, maybe a 5-2-3. Until then, Mexico will likely have to choose either Vela or Gio, leaving one of their best creators on the bench.

USA v Honduras: USMNT Gold Cup Player Ratings

The USMNT was successful in their opening match at this year's Gold Cup. They now sit atop their group with three points. I am distraught by the lack of coverage the Gold Cup is receiving on football/soccer websites, so here are my player ratings for Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and the rest of Team USA.

USA 442 (Diamond Wide)

GK Brad Guzan 1: 7.0

Guzan is an underrated goalkeeper. Tim Howard obviously casts a large shadow as the best US goalkeeper of all-time; he is a heroic figure of legendary ability. Nick Rimando is obviously not Tim Howard, however, I think he gets a little notoriety because he is the best domestic goalkeeper (no need to apologize to Hamid or Steve Clark). That leaves Guzan a little out of the limelight. That said, he put on a very good performance in the Gold Cup opener. He did a nice job combating Honduras' counter attacks throughout the first half despite the lack of help from his defenders (more on that to come). Guzan was also aided by Honduras' inability to put their shooting opportunities on target; they put only 33% of their shots on goal. Honduras' lone goal came off a mistake by Alvarado, allowing Honduras' attacker to come in unhindered. Guzan had no shot at stopping it. Guzan's only mistake came a little bit later as he came out of goal to try and impede a low cross from the left side. He was unable to reach the ball, and was fortunate the right winger could not handle the ball just outside the far post. Otherwise, this match very well could have ended in a draw.

RB Timothy Chandler 21: 4.0

Timothy Chandler was one of the US's worst players in this match. He was ineffective in both attack, and defense. On the defensive side, he gave Honduras too much room to work with on their left side, allowing unimpeded crosses into the box, and leaving space for multiple shots from just outside the box. He also gave the ball away far too easily. In some cases this led directly to break aways from the opposition. Chandler passing accuracy was only 59% (19 of 32), which led to a stifled offense early, and created opportunities in the US's own half. Chandler was lucky to have Yedlin on his side to cover for him when he gave up possession too far up the pitch. On the bright side, Chandler did not give up any big mistakes, just lots of little ones.

CB Ventura Alvarado 13: 5.3

I was initially impressed with Alvarado. He seemed to do well cutting off through passes, and stopping the counter attack. A couple of times he did this by coming forward into Honduras' half and winning back possession after the US's attackers had been dispossessed and Honduras was springing forward. The US was not able to retain possession off of these plays, but it at least stopped the counter. As the game wore on Alvarado's play suffered. He was beaten by Honduras' Discua in the second half, allowing him to get into the box and get his shot off with little impedance. He also allowed an attacker to get in behind him later in the match; he was lucky not to have allowed another there. Alvarado has a lot of potential however, he needs big match experience (I know, that is exactly what he is getting right now…)

CB John Brooks 6: 5.8

Odd to think the twenty-two year old, Brooks, was the—veteran—in the center of the defense for the US. Brooks put in a fair performance in this match. He made a couple mistakes early when Honduras was pressing the defense hard. However, this had a lot to do with the US's inability to slow down their opponent in the midfield, cutting through it as if it were butter. Brooks was often left with too much to cover. He was also forced to defend out wide on multiple occasions in the first half, as Johnson was caught high up the pitch, and Zardes was unable to cover him. Brooks did do a nice job handling crosses into the middle. His size is a tremendous asset, and Honduras had no one near his physical equal.

LB Fabian Johnson 23: 6.5

Fabian Johnson is one of the US's best and most reliable players. This was not his most spectacular match, but he was solid enough. The US's biggest struggle on offense was maintaining possession, and creating chances from their build-up play. However, they were most dangerous when Johnson was surging forward with the ball, and dribbling his way into the middle. He did this to great effect late in the first half, placing a perfect ball to Yedlin who was cutting into the box, but Yedlin just does not have the quality to hit the one timer and had to continue his dribble, giving the goalkeeper time to stifle his shot. At times, Johnson and Zardes had trouble linking up, and working on the outside. Johnson does occasionally get caught up the pitch, and this leaves an opening for the opposition, but Zardes needs to be able to give him more cover. You cannot hinder Johnson from making his runs forward.

CDM Kyle Beckerman 5: 6.3

Beckerman had a mixed outing. He struggled early in the match against Honduras' charging counter attack. Beckerman struggled to slow down the attack, and this left the defense open to the onslaught. However, he did better as the game went on, especially after the US scored their first goal. Beckerman plays a more forward role for Real Salt Lake, and plays well as box-to-box midfielder and scoring threat for them. However, he cannot allow himself to play that same way as the deep lying midfielder in the US's diamond. He needs to be more disciplined defensively, or better teams will take advantage. That said, Beckerman did an excellent job distributing the ball. His passing accuracy was 91%. This was a huge plus considering the US's weakness in this match was ball retention, and build up play.

RM DeAndre Yedlin 2: 7.4

Yedlin has been great since moving up the pitch to play as a midfield winger. He is extremely comfortable playing in that role, and his composure on offense is palpable. Yedlin's offensive ability shined compared to his counter part, Zardes, the more experienced attacker. Yedlin made a great run inside the box late in the first half to receive the US's best scoring opportunity of the match (if you seclude set pieces). Yedlin's forgiven for not being able to finish said opportunity because he should not be expected to—he has played most as a fullback, how can he be expected to finish like a striker? This match continued to prove Yedlin has scary potential as a winger. Yedlin's biggest contribution to match was his ability to get back and help defend. Yedlin is never shy to chase down attackers and take back possession. He did a great job covering Chandler, who struggled in this match.

LM Gyasi Zardes 20: 5.0

Zardes continues to prove he should not be deployed on the wing. He showed very little creative ability in this match, failing to hit on his crosses, and only threatening once when cutting inside. Zardes' biggest deficiency is on defense. As a left midfielder Zardes has more defensive responsibilities than he would as a striker. However, Zardes often leaves the defense high-and-dry on the counter attack, and refuses to help cover Johnson when he surges forward. Perhaps, this is less a criticism of Gyasi and more a commentary on the chemistry between he and Johnson. They do not complement each other. Johnson is an attacking fullback, and Zardes is an offense only winger. This creates a huge hole in the defense at times, especially since the US is only utilizing a single holding midfielder.

CAM Michael Bradley 4: 6.6

The US's new captain had a fairly good, if uneven at times performance. Bradley's greatest contribution was his handling of free kicks. He did a nice job putting a cross into the box after receiving the short corner kick from Yedlin on Dempsey's first goal. Then he got the outright assist after delivering a great ball to Dempsey on the far post. He also nearly—and might have—scored on a third set piece. Bradley, like the rest of the US team struggled in the attacking third. However, some of this is due to Bradley playing deeper after Honduras' early attacking pressure. His 83% passing accuracy certainly cannot be blamed.

ST Cliny Dempsey 8: 7.2

Dempsey did a great job taking advantage of the two opportunities he was given, sometimes that is all you need a striker to do. However, Dempsey really struggled the rest of the game, and was one of the main causes of the US's inability to threaten from build up play. Dempsey's passing accuracy was only 56%, as he failed to link up with his fellow attackers, and was dispossessed too easily while the US was pressed deep in the opposition's half. This often led to Honduras' breaks the other way.

ST Jozy Altidore 17: 6.0

Many people likely have Altidore rated lower for this match. However, he was far from horrible. He actual did a good job linking up with Bradley and Dempsey, but the latter were unable to connect with him, making him look worse than he was playing. This is evidenced by Altidore's 83% pass accuracy. He also did a nice job holding up the ball inside the box, and almost used his physicality to create on his own a couple of times. Sure, Altidore's workrate is not great. He gets significantly less touches than everyone else, and he does not play defense. But, he could have been worse, especially considering how bad the US was in build up offense.

SUB Chris Wondolowski 18 (Altidore, ~59'): 4.0

Worst sub of the match. Did Wondo touch the ball more than twice in the half hour he was on the pitch? He simply sat at the top of the pitch waiting to receive long balls, playing absolutely no defense—while the team had the lead the entire second half.

SUB Brad Evans 16 (Chandler, ~63'): 6.3

The US's best sub. Brad Evans brought stability to the right side of the defense that was absent in the first half. He played smart and decisively. He did not overextend himself, and avoided making mistakes. Evans did not threaten down the wings, he may not of even crossed the midfield line, but he did not have to. Job well done.

SUB Graham Zusi 19 (Zardes, ~86'): N/A

Zusi came on in the closing minutes for Zardes. He used his fresh legs to carry possession for the US in the closing moments; he even created an opportunity for them.


Man of the Match: DeAndre Yedlin

All respect given to Dempsey and his two goals, but Yedlin played the best game. He was a factor on offense and defense. His ability to get back and harass Honduras' attackers may have saved the win. 

Closing Thoughts:

-Brad Evans really impressed me with his defensive ability, while Timothy Chandler thoroughly unimpressed me (as he always does). The US's weakest position is at fullback, Fabian Johnson is a stalwart, but they do not have anyone comparable to him, and Johnson himself would probably make a better left midfielder (much like Yedlin does). Brad Evans could be the US's answer. Evans may not be able to threaten while attacking on the wings. But, I do not want him to. The last thing the US needs is both fullbacks charging down the wings—why do you think Yedlin is playing as a winger? Evans would be both a perfect complement to Fabian Johnson—a defense-first fullback, and DeAndre Yedlin. A stable defensive presence on the right side of the defense would allow Yedlin to commit more on the attack, and that could be real dangerous.

-To go along with the above sentiment. Does anyone else think the US may be best served employing three center backs and position Yedlin and Johnson as wing-backs? This would strengthen the back line and give both Johnson and Yedlin more freedom to go forward.

-If I were USMNT coach—and, of course, I am not, nor should I be, nor should I even suggest I should be—Gyasi Zardes would not start on the right or left side of the midfield for the rest of the tournament. He is simply too much of defensive liability, at least if they continue to trot onto the pitch in a wide diamond. Zardes would be best served playing up top, or playing on the right side in a 4-2-3-1. Graham Zusi is a better all-around player, and would serve the team better in their current formation.

-Why on earth would Chris Wondolowski be brought in with a lead? I do not understand the reasoning behind this. He contributes nothing to the defense, perhaps less than Altidore himself. I understand the need to pace Altidore, but bring in someone who will help you win the match while you have the lead. Not someone who is going to wait up top till the other team equalizes then try and poach a winner.

-Kyle Beckerman needs to commit to staying back, and being the deep lying midfielder. He is the key to the US's diamond formation. If Beckerman cannot slow down the opposition, then it forces Bradley to play deeper, which completely voids the purpose of the diamond and stifles the US's build up play, which it did in this match. The point is to allow Bradley forward to create, but he is unable to do so because he needs to play as a second holding midfielder too often, and the US is essentially playing a 4-2-2-2 (or if Wondo is in the match it becomes a 4-2-2-1------1).

-I feel for Michael Bradley because he is both the US's best no. 10 and he is the team's best holding midfielder (he would also be their best box-to-box midfielder). If given the ability to play one or the other in the diamond he would excel, but instead he is forced to play this quasi, inbred version of both roles, which prevents him from playing to his potential.

-I am appalled by the USMNT composition. There is no depth at fullback and there is no depth at the holding midfield position. The backup for both would seem to be Brad Evans. Yet, the US has loads and loads of attackers, all of whom could not possibly hope to play...sigh.

(Appreciate http://www.concacaf.com for keeping pretty in depth statistics for my reference, even when WhoScored.com decided not to cover the Gold Cup.)