Observations:
1) Chris Birchall still has it. Its a travesty that he was ever off the team. I am also convinced that if he had get a third crack on goal,he would have scored. That was the kind of game he had.
2) I haven't seen Phillip play outside of the USA thrashing, but Ince was a boss on the night, especially with the save for the one heading into the left V. He made ONE potentially fatal mistake and got lucky on it, but greater keepers have done the same. He commanded his box very well - something that Phillip needs to work at.
3) I was very impressed by Wolfe. He take a serious beating and consistently involved himself both on and off the ball. I understand why he get the start over Daniel, but I would have preferred to see both of them on the field at the same time. As far as i am concerned he drink tea for Cyd's fever. Seeing that he is going to miss the USA game, i don't see what the harm was in leaving him on.
4) Cyd's sending off was not merited. If his first yellow was a yellow, ruiz should have got one as well. Those who think that he was wrong to tackle the guy before he whipped in the cross need to watch the play again. I'm less pissed about him getting sent off than his enforced absence against the US, especially if it means we lose some of Carlos's offensive ability
5) Carlos is on his way back. It will take time, and possibly more time than we have in this campaign, but no player on the field in a red shirt at the time, with the exception of Latapy, woulda have the strength, touch, and speed to eliminate the defender on the play to create the goal scoring opportunity that everyone berating him for missing. He made admittedly a bad decision on the shot - someoen like Stern woul have opened his foot more and hit it to the left, but the goal wasn't half as wide open as some seem to think. I think the keeper did a good job of cutting his angle, and an even better job of not letting the ball rebound when he save it, because Carlos hit it very hard.
Otherwise, he displayed the most intensity in the outfield over 90 minutes after Birchall. Offensively in the second half, we see him a lot less because of him taking Cyd's position, so I'm not worried about that. If there was another solution to slotting him into the right back position against the US, i would take it.
6) I was not impressed by Latapy. I think he suffered from us not slowing down the game enough for him early on, but he also did a mediocre job on the dead balls as far as I'm concerned. His class and vision is not to be disputed, but none of that is very useful when you don't have the ball, and as far as I'm concerned, this is why Beenie didn't start him in the WC. I would have preferred to start with Daniel and then bring him on to frustrate the Guatemalans when they start tiring, slow down play everything he does well in the second half. I'm not a Hyland fan, but i haven't really seen him play, so if Daniel wasn't starting, those of you who like the kid could have put him instead.If more defensive cover was really needed, the Leon sub for Wolfe could have been done at the same time. I think this is where Maturana drop the ball as far as squad selection goes, and i know i will get stick for it.
7) I could be wrong, but I don't see what Leon contributed to the team after coming on. As a matter of fact, this is about the third time I see him play, and three times I spend half his time wondering what his purpose on the field was. He morphs more and more into Denzil Theobald with every passing game...
Scotty played well in the first half and then seemed to disappear. Contrary to some in here, I get the impression that he plays BETTER alone up top than with a more mobile partner. Nevertheless i STILL wouldn't start him over a 100% Stern John.
9) Cornell Glenn miss his vocation. All now he should have been touring T&T with Darell Brown and co. If he was on the track team, we mighta actually get the gold. The play where he belt the last defender was set up by nothing else but pure speed running unto the ball, too bad he got held back (another ref woulda send off the Guatemalan for that) This is the first time Maturana play him in his element.
10) Dwight was class as usual and run even harder than he normally does. But the real reason we need him on the field, in those pressure cooker type situations was for the play of the game PUTTING RUIZ IN HE DAMN PLACE natural natural. If he didn't do it the way he did, somebody else would have done it, possibly getting a direct red in the process. Dwight is a nathural and you can't buy that experience anywhere. The only play where he show his limits was when he get a Cornellian ball to run unto in the second half and never get the run started, but other than that, his passing and tackling/closing down was 80-90% spot on.
11) Avery handle his business as usual or better. I have mixed feelings on Thomas coming in for Hislop, but i think in that situation, you needed a cool experienced head - something that Cyd can't really give you on the right side of the defence
Conclusion:
The next game is going to be nothing like this one. We will be home and the US will have no pressure on them away and already qualified. Bradley is going to play some of the second stringers and the newboys on the team and try to mix them in with the less important first teamers with one or two fixtures. A draw should definitely be a possibility - but we will still need something special to beat them. Think of it as our Mexico hex game.
We will need someone to spark the team like Whitley did in the first 60 minutes, and someone to step up and take the responsibility for scoring. That's why I think Daniel needs to start especially since I believe that like in that game, or even moreso, Latapy is not going to be very useful early on against the hard running americans. Wolfe will have to be replaced. I want to see Daniel in the middle as opposed to being on the flank, but its not going to happen with Colin Samuel injured.
Having to pull Carlos back is a decision i wouldn't want to have to take, putting Aklie Edwards to replace Cyd is an ever harder one. If Telesford can play right back, I'd slot him in
I think we need to go with two strikers from the start, and that is why i wouldn't normally start Scotty, but if Stern is still injured we don't have much of a choice. I however believe that Roberts needs his chance and would play him in the hole behind Scotty or play Glen of of him. Dwight is probably going to be tired in the second half, and we have to anticipate substituting him before the end of the game, chances are Hyland will have to be called into action if we're not looking for some desperate magic from the magician.
I think Thomas/Lawrence did a good job last night, but Thomas played for Joe Public and it might make a pretty tired central pairing with their combined age.
Is it too late to call up Julius?
1st Half
-----------------Ince---------------
Telesford----Tallest----Hislop-----Blade
---------------Birchall------------------
R. Royce---------Yorke------Daniel
--------Roberts (R)--------------------
----------------Scotty/Stern-------
2nd Half - attacking
-----------------Ince---------------
------Tallest----Hislop-----Blade--
--------Telesford------Birchall-------
R. Royce-----------------------Latas---
---------------Daniel--------------
------Glen-----------Scotty/Stern-------
Latas for Yorke, Glen for Roberts, 3rd sub as needed
2nd Half - defensive
-----------------Ince---------------
Telesford----Tallest----Hislop-----Blade
-----------Birchall---Leon---------------
R. Royce-------Hyland------Daniel
----------------Scotty/Stern-------
Hyland for Yorke, Leon for Roberts, 3rd sub as needed
if Dwight can play the 90
2nd half offensive
-----------------Ince---------------
----Tallest----Hislop-----Blade-------
-------------------Birchall-----------
R. Royce-----Yorke----------Daniel---
---------------------Latas--------------
---------Glen-------------------------
------------------Scotty/Stern-------
Latas for Roberts, Glen for Telesford, 3rd sub as needed
if Dwight can play the 90
2nd half defensive
-----------------Ince---------------
Telesford----Tallest----Hislop-----Blade
------------Leon-----Birchall------------------
R. Royce--------Yorke -----Hyland-----
------------Scotty/Stern-------
Hyland and Yorke can change positions if necessary
Hyland for Daniel, Leon for Roberts
