USA-Panama: Post-Match Thoughts & Highlights

The USMNT’s January camp closed out with a second 1-0 win on Wednesday night, albeit with a lot fewer of the bright moments and dominating play that we saw against Venezuela.



Instead of the same controlling 4-3-3 that dictated the match in Glendale, we saw a scattered 4-4-2 and sloppy play throughout the lineup. It was, result aside, a step back for most that left a lot to be desired.

But before we delve into the bad, let’s first look at some of the good.

Nick Rimando, earning the fifth cap of his career, made a couple of stellar stops in his 45 minutes of play that preserved the USMNT’s 1-0 lead. Sure, he nearly got caught when he missed the ball on an aggressive rush off his line, but that’s far outweighed by the stunning one hand stop he made on a shot that was already past him, plus the scrambling clearance that followed. Not a lot of positions came out of the January camp having generally succeeded in both matches, but the goalkeeping corps (albeit without a ton asked of them) got the job done very well.

Another good thing to see was the international debut of Jeff Parke, who came on after the Geoff Cameron red card. As I’ve said time and time again, it’s always a special thing for a player to earn his first cap, so it was great to see the Drexel product get his shot with the Yanks. In his debut, Parke was solid (save for one gaffe that led to a shocking Panama miss from close range), helping the back line weather the storm after the US were reduced to 10 men.

Similarly, a first international goal is always special, so it was neat to see Graham Zusi find the back of the net in an otherwise decent but unremarkable appearance.

Well, that’s pretty much it for the good, unfortunately. Slim pickins in Panama City.

In general, many players had off nights. Brek Shea wasn’t particularly effective going forward, Jermaine Jones and Ricardo Clark didn’t exactly wow in the center of the park (so much for the snowball effect for Rico following that Venezuela goal), and Teal Bunbury turned in another underwhelming performance.

The center backs got beaten over the top on several occasions, and Cameron’s night ended in undesirable fashion with his second half red card (there's some debate as to whether or not he made contact, but it looked like he clipped Blas Perez to me, and once that call was made in that spot, the red card wasn't really a surprise). Playing a high line, the duo looked far less comfortable than they did against Venezuela, with Panama attackers finding space behind and threatening goal a number of times. Though, it must be said for them and for others, the squad’s tactics on the night worked to their detriment.

That, of course, falls on the shoulders of one Jurgen Klinsmann.

I said in my preview piece that one strong tactical performance against Venezuela was nice, but I wanted to see Klinsi replicate that success on the road against a tougher opponent. Well, he fell short of that by a decent margin.

Instead of continuing on with the 4-3-3 that was so successful in controlling possession and generating quality scoring opportunities, Klinsmann opted for rather defensive, dare-I-say Bradley-esque tactics with a 4-4-2 of the “empty bucket” variety. With two defensive-minded midfielders, a gap between the strikers and midfielders emerged, leading to a general disconnect within the US attack.

Forwards weren’t often provided great service or support, while the midfield was lost at times at both ends of the field, failing to command the game against a Panama team that was, apart from some veterans, pretty young and inexperienced.
Moreover, without a pressing midfield and front line controlling the match, the high back line that was employed was exposed on multiple occasions with simple probing balls over the top, as the Panama midfield had enough time on the ball to drop passes behind Parkhurst and Cameron. Once again, it could be argued that there was a lack of coherence between tactics and personnel, as Parkhurst and Cameron struggled to hold the high line at times against a Panamanian front line that included Blas Perez.

But most importantly, it seemed to show a lack of coherence between elements of Klinsmann’s larger tactical plan. A high back line coupled with a deep-lying midfield that concedes a decent bit of possession just by the nature of its positioning creates a situation in which space exists both for opposing midfielders to possess the ball, and for opposing forwards to run in behind the defense.
Granted, it did not cost the Yanks in the form of a goal, but there were a number of close calls that easily could have wiped away the US win.

The formation also did few favors for the forwards trying to impress. Chris Wondolowski, while not spectacular, did do well all things considered (mainly the lack of consistent service and support), helping set up Zusi’s goal with a nice flick-on header to get the ball into a dangerous spot. Wondo was also agonizingly unlucky not to score his first international goal, getting absolutely robbed after smartly following the rebound after a bullet from distance by Jermaine Jones.

Did he do enough to merit a call into the Italy camp or at least keep himself on Klinsi’s radar heading into World Cup qualification? I certainly don’t think he hurt his case across the two matches, and I wonder how much Klinsmann will take his own tactical missteps – which hampered the play of many Yanks – into consideration when evaluating the Panama performances, though. Ultimately, a lot will likely depend on what happens with other forwards in the pool, several of whom have a little bit of a leg up as is, being part of Klinsmann's "A-team". And, of course, we aren’t able to see what goes on in all of camp, which very well could impact any decision that is made.

While Wondo was okay – the lack of a connection between the forwards and the midfield limited the effectiveness of those in the front six – Teal Bunbury capped off the January camp with an uninspiring performance. Perhaps it’s a lack of match fitness and sharpness that will come back once the MLS season is underway, but Bunbury looked far from a player capable of breaking into the full team in the coming months.

Do I think any of the guys who haven’t featured with the full team in the past handful of months have a shot at getting called into the Italy camp, now that the January camp is over? Cameron, while not overly impressive against Panama, still seems like someone who could get called in because he resembles the type of skilled center back Klinsmann has been looking for. Do I think that Cameron is capable of filling that role? Eh, it’s hard to say at this point, but Klinsmann’s desire for that type of defender led us to several agonizing appearances from Michael Orozco Fiscal, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Klinsi takes a flier on Cameron in February. Realistically, though, I think that would probably wait until the summer.

Benny Feilhaber’s absence was curious after a solid outing v. Venezuela. Was it perhaps the result of being a little banged up after a long camp? Or was instead an indication that Benny is further down on the totem pole?

Ultimately, I expect the Italy camp to be the usual suspects, with few from this January camp getting the invite.

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All of that aside, it must be said that the Yanks still prevailed on the road in Central America, something that is never easy to do. In the end, it’s good for the players, as well as Klinsmann and his staff, to get that experience ahead of World Cup qualification, where a trip to Guatemala (and likely other Central American destinations) awaits.

I guess it’s just a sign of higher expectations that even a 1-0 road win by a B-team is still met with some consternation stateside.

On to February we go…

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USA-Panama: 5 Things To Watch For

The USMNT take on Panama tonight in the second of their two January friendlies. Here are some of the things I'll be watching for:

1. Response to a tougher test?

Michael Parkhurst and Geoff Cameron managed to do what was asked of them at center back against Venezuela, keeping a clean sheet and helping build a number of US attacks. But the fact of the matter is that they were rarely tested on the night, in part because of strong play from the center mids in front of them, but also in large part because of a rather toothless Venezuelan attack.

Against a well-coached Panama side that includes Blas Perez up front, how will Parkhurst and Cameron fare? Will they be able to handle the physical presence of Perez, something Tim Ream struggled with during last year's Gold Cup? And how will they manage playing on the road in Central America, an always challenging task that may help paint a better picture for Jurgen Klinsmann as he starts looking towards World Cup qualification.

Unlike the Venezuela match, expect Cameron and Parkhurst (assuming they're the starting tandem again) to be tested in this one.

Behind them, Bill Hamid should also get more work to do than he did in his international debut- a match in which he wasn't forced to make a single save. (Fun fact: Hamid is the first USMNT keeper to keep a clean sheet in his first senior team cap since Matt Reis did it in January 2006.) With a stronger opponent and hostile environment, organizing his defense well and taking command of his box will be greater challenges.

On the sidelines, it'll be interesting to see how the Yanks fare from a tactical perspective. After a miserable couple of months at the end of last year, Jurgen Klinsmann quelled some fears with a strong half against Slovenia in the final match of 2011 (only to renew some concerns with a rather poor second half). He has managed to start 2012 off on the right foot, employing a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 that dominated Venezuela in Arizona. But, like Cameron and Parkhurst, how will he fare against what should be a tougher opponent in a tougher environment? Will the US be as dangerous in the final third as they were on Saturday?  Or will they revert back to some of the drab attacking displays that we saw in the first months of Klinsmann's reign?

Let's see what kind of tactics Jurgen puts forward, and how he is able to adjust in-game.


2. Will Wondo build his case?

Teal Bunbury didn't really wow against Venezuela, but fellow striker Chris Wondolowski managed to impress in less than a half hour off of the bench. He put himself in good positions, used his body well to create separation and opportunities, and was quick on the ball in the final third, helping generate a couple of quality scoring chances.

With the USMNT forward corps still in a state of flux (Bunbury wasn't great against Venezuela, Juan Agudelo is still fighting for club team minutes and may move sooner rather than later, Edson Buddle- while impressive against Slovenia- is still very much unsettled at the club level, Herculez Gomez is just working his way into his new team, and Jozy Altidore has come off the bench lately with AZ; and it's not unreasonable to say that a lot more could change in the next couple of months, for better or for worse), I don't think it's beyond Wondo's reach to work his way into the full team picture ahead of World Cup qualification. He has proven himself to be a very capable finisher over the last couple of years (well, most of the time), something that can't exactly be said of many players in the US pool.

I think Wondo could be in line to start tonight. Another strong performance would go a long way towards putting him on Jurgen Klinsmann's first team radar heading into the coming months.  

And I'm sure the San Jose Earthquakes star will be gunning for some small measure of redemption after his awful miss against Panama last summer.  A goal tonight would be the first of his international career.


3. New faces in MLS

USMNT-centric focus aside, tonight will also give MLS fans a chance to see three of the leagues newest signings. Gabriel Gomez, who was named to the All-Tournament Team in the 2011 Gold Cup, signed with the Philadelphia Union in December and will likely tangle with Benny Feilhaber and Jermaine Jones in the center of the midfield. Blas Perez (whom USMNT fans are likely already familiar with) and Carlos Rodriguez, meanwhile, are both headed to FC Dallas, and will be facing off against their new club teammates Brek Shea and Zach Loyd. With the MLS season still an agonizing two months away, it will be nice to get a sneak peak at some of the league's newest acquisitions.


4. One more debut?

Last Saturday's friendly gave us four USMNT debuts, as CJ Sapong, Graham Zusi, AJ DeLaGarza, and Bill Hamid all earned their first cap.

Of the players currently in camp, there is now just one player who has yet to make an appearance with the senior national team: Jeff Parke. Will the Pennsylvania native get his chance tonight? The odds aren't great, but like Lloyd Christmas- I'm saying there's a chance.


5. Another step forward for Rico?

Saturday night was a feel-good moment for Ricardo Clark and his fans. Now, let's see him build on it. A good outing could help start a snowball effect with his form and confidence (the two aren't unrelated, in my book; what goes on between one's ears can be just as important as what happens with one's feet) at the club level, as he seeks to revive his career (hopefully away from Eintracht Frankfurt).

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Well, that's it for now. The match kicks off at 8:30 ET on ESPN3.com and Galavision. Be sure to come by tomorrow for some post-match analysis, and join in the conversation on Twitter (@USsoccerDaily).

Enjoy the match, folks.

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USA-Venezuela Post-Match Thoughts: On Cameron, Rico, Wondo, & More

There certainly are worse ways to start off the year than the USMNT's dramatic 1-0 win over Venezuela on Saturday night. Check out the highlights below, which includes Ricardo Clark's record-setting game-winner:



While the win did not come until the dying moments of the match, a positive result never seemed in doubt, as Venezuela hardly ever threatened in their attacking third.

I mentioned on Twitter prior to kickoff that Geoff Cameron and Michael Parkhurst would be two players that I would be monitoring, as they might provide the kind of possession-oriented center back that Jurgen Klinsmann has been seeking. Neither were greatly tested, thanks in part to strong support in front of them from the defensive mids, but both managed to do what was asked of them without much trouble.

Cameron, who looks capable of making the leap to the full team in the near future, was solid going forward, helping build attacks from the back. One notable example occurred early in the first half, when Benny Feilhaber was able to spring Brek Shea behind the defense, a sequence that began with a properly-placed ball from Cameron into the midfield. Parkhurst, meanwhile, brought his usual understated game to the table, positioning himself well to disrupt attacks without much drama.

In the end, though, Venezuela's toothless attack leaves me not entirely convinced of either center back's merits. Getting tested in a hostile environment against a Panama side that will include a couple of strong, skilled forwards should give us a much better idea of where the two stand at the international level.

As I mentioned above, the midfield was key in limiting the amount of work Parkhurst and Cameron actually had to do, with Jermaine Jones leading the way. Jones looked very much the part of an in-season veteran on a Champions League squad, bossing his way around the center of the park. While he looked to get a little too heated at times (wearing the captain's armband didn't smooth out all his rough edges), Jones led by example, tracking well and helping initiate attacking forays. I was hoping to see Jones show his class instead of perhaps playing down to his competition, and he did not disappoint, turning in a very solid performance after an abbreviated camp stay.

Alongside him, Jeff Larentowicz quitely pulled his weight as well, providing a more under-the-radar kind of support next to the more eye-catching play of Jones.

The big moment of the match, though, came from Larentowicz's replacement, Ricardo Clark. His goal in the 7th minute of stoppage time was the latest second half stoppage time winner in USMNT history. It must be said, also: Jermaine Jones provided the service after hitting several other quality corners throughout the match. That could very well be something that we see carry over to the full national team if Jones continues to produce dangerous set piece deliveries.

As far as Clark goes, though, his time on was largely anonymous until his goal. But that goal alone could go along way to boosting the confidence of a 29 year old who as recently as last year was doing some good things in the Bundesliga. It was a nice moment for a player that left the field at the World Cup nearly in tears, and you could tell by his reaction that the goal really meant something to him.

While some love to write him off or blame him for the World Cup loss to Ghana (this just in: several others were involved in that play, from Bob Bradley to the center backs to Tim Howard), the fact of the matter is that Rico could very well still have more to offer to the national team setup (even if just as depth). He needs a move from Eintracht Frankfurt, which has devolved into a pretty terrible situation for him, but Saturday's goal could go a long way to boosting his confidence as he seeks to revive his career.

In that regard, his call into camp (which some were not too pleased about, for various reasons) has already been a success in my book, and could pay greater dividends down the road than bringing in a fringe young player just to fill out the ranks. And for that, I commend Jurgen Klinsmann for his unexpected decision. We'll see if Rico is able to build off of that against Panama and in the coming weeks as he seeks a move.

As I've always said, in never hurts to have a surplus of experienced, skilled, in-form options. So don't write someone like Rico off just yet.

Elsewhere in the midfield, Brek Shea showed flashes of his quality and was unlikely not to score at least one goal in the first half. Ultimately, though, he disappeared for long stretches of the match, which was a little disappointing. As one of the more talented (and internationally experienced) players in the squad, I was hoping to see Shea do what Jermaine Jones did and really help dictate the match. Alas, he did not, apart from a couple of bright moments in the attacking third.

Benny Feilhaber, meanwhile, did some good things in the middle, setting up a Shea opportunity with a gorgeous through-ball among other things. In the end, though, I found myself frustrated with his outing. While Feilhaber showed his quality and creativity at times, there were also a couple of instances of being "too cute", where he passed up a shooting opportunity for an ill-advised pass. Nevertheless, he reminded us once again that he possesses a skill set that is still pretty unique in the USMNT's center mid pool, which could keep him in the full team picture in the near future.

What irked me, though, was his constant yelling at the ref. Without a doubt, referee Roberto Garcia Orozco missed a lot. A lot. Between several maulings in the box on nearly every corner, the US has legitimate penalty claims on a number of occasions, with Feilhaber often on the receiving end. But Benny let his anger get the best of him too often and nearly cost the US dearly when he kicked out at a Venezuelan defender, an unpunished act that very well could have led to a red card on another night. That kind of petulance or lack of composure takes away from Benny's game and is in stark contrast to the reaction of someone like Chris Wondolowski, who responded to a clear take-down on a corner by getting up and working to get a shot off just seconds later. At 27 years old with 39 caps across some big competitions, Feilhaber simply needs to better at keeping his cool in that spot.

Up front, Teal Bunbury had a little bit of a tall task, playing without another true striker. But he managed to get himself into some dangerous spots throughout his time on. With that being said, though, his finishing and performance as a whole left a lot to be desired, with several good opportunities squandered. While undoubtedly a talented young prospect, Bunbury still has plenty of room to grow before he starts making a big impact with the full side.
zusi, sapong, hamid, delagarza

In contrast to the performance of Bunbury was that of Chris Wondolowski, who came on in the 62nd minute and was highly active and effective up top. The San Jose Earthquakes star was unlucky not to score his first international goal, getting robbed by an acrobatic save from Leonardo Morales. He put himself in dangerous spots and used a little veteran wisdom to create some space between himself and Venezuelan defenders in the final third. Wondo also helped set up a couple of good scoring opportunities with good movement off the ball and quick, well-placed passes. All in all, he was one of the more impressive Yanks on the night, behind the likes of Jermaine Jones and perhaps one or two others.

While many still can't forgive Wondo for his Gold Cup miss against Panama, I still see him as a valuable player in the pool (there aren't many quality finishers) that could very well work his way into the full team picture as we move into World Cup qualification. A strong follow-up performance against Panama could help keep him on Jurgen Klinsmann's radar.

Speaking of Klinsi, his tactics were good on the night, and the USMNT's issues usually were ones of execution, rather than planning. The Yanks dominated, and the 4-2-3-1 (or, at times closer to a 4-3-3) helped create a fair share of goalscoring opportunities. Really, were it not for an outstanding performance from Venezuela's keeper, the score could have been something closer to 3-0 or 4-0.

With that being said, the same thing that I said about Cameron and Parkhurst applies to Klinsi: Venezuela weren't the strongest side, so I'd like to see him replicate his success against a tougher foe on the road on Wednesday in Panama.

Before closing, it's also worth highlighting the fact that a couple of Yanks earned their first cap, a milestone moment in one's career. While CJ Sapong, Graham Zusi, AJ DeLaGarza, and Bill Hamid (who didn't have to make a single save on the night) did not have particularly remarkable debuts, it's always a cool thing when players get to wear their national colors for the first time.

Last, but not least, one of the big stars of the night was not on the field, but rather in the stands. The crowd of 22,403 in Glendale, Arizona was loud and involved throughout the match, creating a wonderful atmosphere. The numbers and enthusiasm are all the more impressive when one considers that this was a friendly between B-teams. Perhaps with the right opponent (read: not Mexico or certain Central American teams), the Phoenix area could provide a good home-field advantage during World Cup qualifiers. Hypotheticals aside, Arizona fans showed well on Saturday. Kudos, folks.

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After a 2011 that included far too many losses and underwhelming efforts, the Yanks' 1-0 win was a welcome beginning to 2012. Let's hope they're able to build upon that as they take on a much stiffer challenge on Wednesday in Panama City.

I'll have a match preview piece up tomorrow, so be sure to come by and check it out.

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Yanks in Europe: Dempsey Hat Trick, Edu Equalizer, & More

What a weekend for Yanks (and other MLSers) in Europe. Here are some of the highlights:

Clint Dempsey played 90+ minutes for Fulham in a 5-2 win over Newcastle. Deuce scored a second half hat trick, the first ever by an American in the EPL, giving him a career-high 15 goals across all competitions. His previous career high was 13, set last year. Considering it's only January, it's looking very possible that Dempsey could end the season with over 20 goals for Fulham. Needless to say, his recent run of form has been absolutely incredible.

Check out the goals:

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=b3d31c83-2e5b-4e25-bd59-6e55aefe496b" target="_new" title="">Clint Dempsey is sensational</a>

Elsewhere, Landon Donovan helped set up Everton's lone goal in 1-1 draw against Blackburn:



Donovan played all 90 minutes for the fifth time in 18 days. David Moyes is certainly making sure he gets his money's worth.

Zak Whitbread turned in a strong 90 minutes for Norwich in their 0-0 draw with Chelsea. So long as he stays healthy and in decent form, he is certainly a feasible candidate to get called up for the February friendly against Italy.

In the second tier, Jonathan Spector played the full 90 in Birmingham's 3-0 win, while Robbie Findley and George John did not feature in the West Ham's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

In Scotland, meanwhile, Maurice Edu scored the tying goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw with Aberdeen (a result that pushes them further behind SPL leaders Celtic). He got a little help, with his shot deflecting off a defender before finding the back of the net. But to his credit, you can't score if you don't shoot.



In Germany, Steve Cherundolo and Danny Williams went the distance for their respective clubs as Hannover took on Hoffenheim. Williams played at center back, with both Americans helping preserve clean sheets in a 0-0 draw. Fabian Johnson came on for the final 24 minutes, while US U-20 Joseph Gyau was an unused sub after making the match day squad for the first time with Hoffenheim.

Jermaine Jones and Timmy Chandler were not in action with their respective clubs.

Sacha Kljestan played 90 minutes for Anderlecht in a 1-0 road win, while Jozy Altidore came off the bench for the second straight match, playing the final 17 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Ajax.

Last, Michael Bradley played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Chievo's 2-2 draw at Lecce. Bradley has now played all 90 minutes in 17 straight Serie A matches since making his Chievo debut. He has yet to be subbed off with the Flying Donkeys.

Not a bad weekend at the office for Americans across the pond.

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