The USA played Japan today in their opening game of the Beijing Olympics. Hoping to play better than their female counterparts, they took on a highly unfavored Japanese squad, and with the mostly Chinese crowd that came to see the game, this could easily have been described as Home game for USA. What I particularly liked on USA's side was the way that Marvell Wynne ran at the Japanese defense in the second half. What made it even more entertaining? Marvell Wynne himself was a defender (right back). His blistering run allowed him to provide a cross that was deflected of the Japanese captain and to the feet of Stuart Holden who drilled it into the shaky hands of the Japanese keeper who could only watch as the ball crawled into the side netting. The goal was of course lucky but no one can forget the great Wynne run that lead to that(He can defend too folks!). Despite that goal from the Scottish-American midfielder, USA's midfield still wasnt as good as Peter Nowak, coach of the U-23 team, could have hoped. the central midfield only had the spark of Michael Bradley. Sacha Kljestan, familiar but inexperienced at the central midfield position, made pass after pass that ended off target.(Although one of his passes lead to the sequence that started the goal). My opinion? Kljestan simply wasnt at his preferred postion(Attacking Midfield). Robbie Rogers also recieved criticism due to his lack of service to Overage forward Brian McBride who, without proper service, was practically invisble, other than when he drew fouls. But of any player who stood out on the field it was Maurice Edu, the central midfielder converted to center back. Hardly anything got past the Toronto FC man, with most passing plays and runs ending at the Generation Adidas players immense frame. partnered with Michael Parkhurst in the central defense and you had a pretty solid defense. If Edu and Parkhurst can stay healthy for the entire tournament, then Nowak will have VERY dangerous combo. Michael Orozco the left back wasn't really a standout. A good tackle here ,a good touch there. Orozco practically told the Japanese defense that he wasn't a natural left back. Overall the USA had a pretty iffy game. Possibly tightening up the midfield will give them a good chance against Netherlands. Once Adu is behind two very large easy to target strikers he'll have much more space to work with. Holden can help Orozco more than Rogers did on that wing. Kljestan will be MUCH more comfortable on the wing than he ever was in central midfield. Bradley will be able to stop every one back there and if he doesn't look whose behind him.
-----------------Altidore---McBride-----------
------------------------Adu--------------------
Holden---------------------------------Kljestan
----------------------Bradley-------------------
Orozco---------Parkhurst---Edu----------Wynne
------------------------Guzan--------------------
Something like this.
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