Reviews

Julian Green Might Help US in World Cup – In 2018

4/3/2014

One thing I learned from Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw between the United States and Mexico: a promising but small forward – Julian Green – is not going to help patch up the central defense for the U.S.

Watching Omar Gonzalez trudge around near the goal, suffering from Gooch’s Syndrome, I could not help but think there is more of that ahead in the Group of Death in June.

Yes, the Puebla club – in Mexico, oddly enough -- did not release DaMarcus Beasley for the Mexico match. Beasley adds a lot at left back, including courage, experience and offensive range, but the U.S. is still vulnerable in front of its fine keepers. No Balboas or Popes in sight. Steve Cherundolo just retired as a right back. Trouble ahead.

Wednesday’s match was also a reminder that Michael Bradley is the core of the team, as he pretty much was in 2010. He was able to attack from midfield against Mexico, which is not the Mexico of a generation ago.

The theme of the night on ESPN was who is going to make the 23-player squad -- a seat on the plane.

Junge Meister Green showed nice pace and speed and willingness to attack when he came into his first U.S. match in the 59th minute. He is now officially a Yank, while playing in the Bayern organization.

Green is 5-8, 160 pounds, nearly infiltrated the box on a challenging dribble, but is not yet a Neymar or a Messi. So far he has played 3 minutes for the Bayern varsity.

Coach Jürgen Klinsmann, with a contract through 2018, may feel he has the luxury of bringing Green along this time to prepare for the future. But if the U.S. hopes to get out of its hideous group this time, it will need every seasoned player who might poke in a goal -- Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson and Chris Wondolowski.

Things happen in a World Cup. Injuries. Cards. Forwards out of gas at 60-70 minutes.

Klinsmann is fearless and has improved this squad. German fans thought he was a bit of a moonbeam in 2006 but he is not afraid to publicly challenge the Donovans and Dempseys. Show me. Get better. This week he dropped his long-time assistant Martin Vásquez because of conflicts. My guess is Klinsmann will let Bayern prepare Julian Green for 2018. They both have time.

John McDermott

4/3/2014 06:40:34 pm

Three and out...I don't see any way this USA team will capable of surprising Portugal the way they did in Korea. Who is going to mark Cristiano? And Germany? Forget it. Ghana? Maybe, but not likely.

George Vecsey

4/4/2014 01:27:11 am

John, their only hope is to have Bradley distribute to players who remember how to score in the WC.
But horrors are going to be happening between Bradley and Howard.
They still have to try. Ghana first, and best chance. But you are right.
GV

Alan Rubin link

4/4/2014 08:12:40 am

In the vernacular of today’s youth, I thought that the USA-Mexico game was “awesome”. A picture perfect USA first half and an action packed second half.

George and John are probably correct in that we will probably not survive the group stage. However, the games will be decided on the pitch and not by speculation. Although hope may be slim, the potential of surprises is always there. I would be pleased with three very strong outings and any surprises would be a bonus.

I almost turned off at the end of the first half, but I wanted to see Green and had a sense that the second half might be different.

Klinsmann indicated that he would substitute after 15 minutes if things continued to go well. My respect for him increased when he substituted after 10 minutes with the lead cut to one. At this stage, with the cup almost upon us, he is totally focused on evaluating his talent.

I’m not a fan of Alexi Lalas’ game commentaries. Ian Darke is my gold standard. After the goal was disallowed by an offside call and Green’s foul was not called, Alexi commented that the referee was caught up in the flow of the game as a way of explaining the missed calls. The referee’s job “is” to be in the flow of the games and to insure that it is under control.

Recently, I’ve seen many referees speaking out on announcers who do not understand the rules of soccer and make incorrect statements and often confusing statement.

As has often been mentioned, soccer is an extremely fast paced game that constantly requires split-second decisions. It is humanly impossible for players, referees or fans to always get it right or even observe what happened.

I’m not a big fan of goal line technology as it would apply is an extremely small number of instances when an official missed the obvious. I am in favor of using technology to assist officials when close calls can affect the outcome.

Offsides is the perfect example of where technical support would be useful. Substantially more games are affected by offside calls in which goals are erroneously called back or others are awarded when an offside was missed.

Referees, who are trained to not be part of a game’s outcome, would probably come to welcome a tool that would assist them. A quick review would allow the referee to make a fair call. This would not be second guessing.

Some thoughts after the game:

What did Mexico's coach adjust at half time to completly alter the game? What was Klinsmann thinking while the second half was unfolding? How did he try to adjust? What did USA change in the last 15 minutes to begin to get back into a rythem?

Wishfull thinking--I would love to see both the goalie and the referee miked. What is the referee saying to the players to control the game? How is the goalie directing the team? It would probably require some censoring.

John McDermott

4/4/2014 10:55:54 am

Lalas is a circus act whose fifteen minutes should have been over a long time ago. Ian Darke is an English boxing announcer who also happens to do soccer. He benefits from the fact that the dolts who run espn think a Brit accent conveys authority and expertise. It doesn't. The gold standard, however, is another Brit, Martin Tyler. The only American I consider to be very good is John Paul Della Camera, who espn got rid of. Taylor Twellman is showing real promise though.

George Vecsey

4/4/2014 11:19:21 am

I came to appreciate Tyler during the 2008 Euros.
And JP DC is a professional who came along with the American game in the last generation.
Only drawback, I'm guessing, is he doesn't have a British accent.
GV

Alan Rubin link

4/5/2014 04:25:46 am

Thanks for the comments on the good announcers. I'll watch for them.

Sgc

4/7/2014 08:56:49 am

In fairness to Green, if he is brought to Brazil and used at all, it won't be in the same game situation. He won't be brought in to hold a lead (assuming we can even get one)--that's a job for a savvy veteran.

Green would be brought in to unlock a defense if we are down a goal or perhaps (particularly against Ghana) if we are tied late, and given the comparatively simple assignment of running at defenses.

Green's header mistake was a contributory factor on Mexico's second, but he won't make that mistake in Brazil because he'll never be given the chance to.

Alan Rubin link

4/7/2014 10:53:17 am

Experience is very important, but there is much to be said about youth and enthusiasm of a talented player.

Past World Cups have seen numerous examples of disappointing veterans and surprising youngsters.

It is fun to discus and speculate in advance, but once the games begin it is best to sit back and enjoy what comes.