USA 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0

2009-09-11T20:34:35-04:00

2009-09-09T21:09:48-04:00

2009-09-10T08:42:10-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/728/225/thumb/heat-p.jpg 1549 GA

kennybabs

Atlanta 728865

I agree with Grant on that major point: Qualifying is just that. Nobody really cares if you snuck in through the last spot or if you finished first in the group. The important thing is to get there. It was uglier than sin, but we got six points out of six. That helps. Now, if only El Salvador can help out against Costa Rica tonight!

52 winning the group could potentially help in our WC seed, but i don't see us winning one. 6806459

2009-09-11T20:34:35-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/222/078/thumb/tribute_to_charlie_davies2-fannation.jpg 1149 GA

Manchester United-CR7=14-3-2

Atlanta 222378

winning the group could potentially help in our WC seed, but i don't see us winning one.

55 Not after that 5-0 GC thrashing. 6835430

2009-09-10T12:21:41-04:00

2footU

Santa Barbara 688821

54 Let me start off by saying that I have consistantly ripped Donovan over the years for disappearing when we need him most....and I also don't like most of BB's coaching decisions.....but moving Donovan to a wide position is brilliant. He operates best in space, is usually beating a poor defender (wide midfielder) starting his runs which makes the rest of the defense adjust, and his ability to serve a ball is very good. I also like Dempsy in a wide role, but he needs much earlier balls to his feet than a double defensive CM pairing gives him. Donovan has enough pace and movement to make up for the slow play of Bradley and Clark, Dempsey doesn't. The only reason to play two defensive midfielders is if you are going to set your outside backs free.....essentially play a box of 4 defenders in the middle and everyone else attacks.....the problem is that Spector is the only outside back who gets forward. With three holding defenders, one defensive midfielder is fine. Donovan plays best when he defends because it keeps him in the game, and when he knicks a ball he has 40 yards to run with it before getting to the outside back which makes him very difficult to stop. Bradley hasn't played well, but he is still our best option as a holding midfielder. He is most effective making late runs into the box, which only happens when he's paired with a more attacking player.....he ends up holding defensively and picking the right moments to step rather than always trying to be in the attack. The last thing that drives me crazy is when we play with two defensive CMids, or try to hold onto a lead, we sit so deep that we never pressure the ball. Sure we have 8 or 9 behind the ball, but we still allow to much time on the ball and the attackers end up with better chances than when we are playing a more offensive style. 6811549

2009-09-10T11:34:57-04:00

DMurray4

Westerville 852570

53 A win is a win, we are playing down to teams though and need to be more consistent. That's what good teams do and what we need to do to have a good showing in the Cup. 6810317

2009-09-09T21:38:58-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/414/46/thumb/30092009594.jpg 702 BR

Raven1971

Manaus 41666

6 I agree with Grant on that major point: Qualifying is just that. Nobody really cares if you snuck in through the last spot or if you finished first in the group. The important thing is to get there. It was uglier than sin, but we got six points out of six. That helps. Now, if only El Salvador can help out against Costa Rica tonight! 6803962

2009-09-10T08:42:10-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/728/225/thumb/heat-p.jpg 1549 GA

kennybabs

Atlanta 728865

52 winning the group could potentially help in our WC seed, but i don't see us winning one. 6806459

2009-09-10T01:32:17-04:00

thoughts

Santa Clara 851556

51 repetitive much...apologies 6805550

2009-09-10T01:27:30-04:00

thoughts

Santa Clara 851556

50 i understand that clark is good defensively, but he's a liability with the ball at his feet. if the US ever hopes to keep any possesion clark shouldn't be on the field. i like the combination of benny/bradley in midfield because both are good w/ the ball and bradley is tough enough to make up for benny's stabbing. if they work on their shape and the center backs step up to help a little more they'll be fine. i'd also love to see dempsey benched for a game or two. he's been simply awful. take his ego down a ring or two. put donavan on the right and give torres a chance or give holden some more time. 6805564

2009-09-10T01:23:46-04:00

thoughts

Santa Clara 851556

49 i understand the benefit of clark defensively, he's tough and covers a lot of ground. but the reality is that he's a liability with the ball at his feet and if the US ever hopes to keep posession in midfield clark can't be on the field. i still like benny/michael bradley combo in midfield, both can create and bradley provides plent of toughness to make for benny's stabbing defensively. if they just work on their positioning and the center backs step up and cover for them if they get caught up the US will be fine. Dempsey also needs to be benched, send him a message and take his ego down a ring or two. 6805582

2009-09-10T01:14:52-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/286/29/thumb/images.jpg 1387 CO

j11forbes: Go Jo-Jo Go!

Denver 28709

48 Anton Ego: Yes, I think I do. After reading a lot of overheated puffery about your new cook, you know what I'm craving? A little perspective. That's it. I'd like some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective. Can you suggest a good wine to go with that? Mustafa: With what, sir? Anton Ego: Perspective. Fresh out, I take it? Mustafa: I am, uh... Anton Ego: Very well. Since you're all out of perspective and no one else seems to have it in this BLOODY TOWN, I'll make you a deal. 6805558

2009-09-10T00:17:36-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/212/18/thumb/snarl.jpg 280 MN

Wytefang

Minneapolis 21258

"Underwhelming? Yes. But it's still six points."- Grant WahlThat's right folks. Tonight's games were worth double!T&T aren't really a team that gets walked all over and really matches up with the size and athleticism of the USA. It was a good game, and I didn't see anyone getting amped or up for this match on either side. No one looked to have bought tickets and it just seemed like an underwhelming atmosphere.

40 I believe Grant was referring to the two games against light-weight opponents (T&T and El Salvador). 6805377

2009-09-10T00:48:06-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/856/30/thumb/kb.gif 1721 PA

Buck Feckham

Philadelphia 85930

I believe Grant was referring to the two games against light-weight opponents (T&T and El Salvador).

47 My way of seeing it is funnier. headline + first bulletpoint = funny to me 6805536

2009-09-10T00:46:42-04:00

Your Sissy Dad

Los Angeles 822067

46 An ugly win but who cares. Costa Rica is dead in the water. I predict we take them 5-0 in the final qualifier. Enough pessimism... let's survive this **** and get primed for 2010... And for all you 'tards on the boards, let's start talking real... (1) like him or not, BB WILL be the coach at 2010 if we qualify. If you see a scenario in which this isn't true, explain it or shut up. Or better yet, just shut up. They will not fly in Klinsmann for no reason at the last minute, Hiddink wll not appear out of a monkey's arse, etc... the coach is set in stone... make the best of it in your head (2) All you clowns who find U.S. "starlets" who have signed for clubs like Everton and AV... forget it... not happening... in fact, most of you 'tards seem to assume that Jones is a sure thng for WC. Based on what? Bradley won't even discuss this very average player. But hey, he plays in the Bundesliga, right? Let's all wax nostalgic on David Regis... 6805518

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Three thoughts after the U.S.' 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier: • Underwhelming? Yes. But it's still six points. It's hard to imagine the U.S. performing much worse and still finding a way to get a huge six points from this week's two qualifiers against El Salvador and T&T, the two bottom-feeders of the Hex. The U.S. played a brutal first half, losing possession easily (often without much pressure at all) and letting T&T have the three best chances of the first 45. Not much improved in the second half, either, but Landon Donovan's penetrating run down the left side created space for him to lay off to Ricardo Clark, who has shown in the past that he can shoot from distance. (Copa América 2007, anyone?) Bottom line: With 16 points, the U.S. is in good shape to qualify for South Africa 2010 and doesn't have a must-win situation at Honduras on Matchday 9 next month. Good thing, though, because if they continue playing this way, the Yanks will have no chance in San Pedro Sula. • Donovan is the U.S.' only consistent offensive threat these days. There's no way the Yanks would have gotten six points this week if it hadn't been for Donovan, who after years of going hot and cold has turned into a regular performer when the games matter most. Remember the '06 World Cup, when Donovan was often afraid to take on defenders with the ball at his feet? You just don't see that anymore. Clint Dempsey needs to turn into that type of player for the Americans. Dempsey seems out of synch with most of his teammates in the attack, and his reliance on tricks when they're not necessary often results in killer giveaways. What happened to the Dempsey that we saw during the second half of the Confederations Cup? • It's still 2009, not 2010. If there's any solace for most U.S. fans, it's that how you perform in 2010 may have nothing to do with how you qualify for the World Cup. Would anyone have predicted that the U.S. (which finished third in qualifying for '02) would be a World Cup quarterfinalist a year later? That Brazil (which barely qualified for '02) would raise the trophy a year later? England fans will no doubt be sky-high after their team's 5-1 blowout of Croatia on Wednesday, but what does that say about England's chances in 2010? Perhaps very little. In the end, qualifying is about qualifying -- and then wiping the slate clean. Thoughts on the game? Post them below and check back later for my post-press conference piece on SI.com. Grant Wahl's New York Times Best Seller, The Beckham Experiment, is in bookstores everywhere. You can order it <a href="http://tinyurl.com/layry6" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also find him on <a href="http://twitter.com/GrantWahl" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 76901 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615