Dear Frank,
Hey man. I read your post and I can't help but notice something.
But before I continue, I just want to say that this blog post i'm making is a direct response to your post. With that said, I will continue.
First, let me congratulate you on your post. It really takes courage to write such a deep thought of one's faith and just leave it open for people (like me ofcourse) to read on and comment.
I know most of the things I will mention here in this post will probably ring a bell or two, and end up sounding really redundant. I hope though that it can help you find the fire that I know was once in you.
I can't say how many times I've questioned my faith. I've always said that my conviction is really, really strongly founded in the Lord. Because i've seen what He has done in my life. It may not have been movie-scale-J.J. Abrams-epic-star trek-super nova-explosion like.....but it has certainly felt that way at times.
The same feelings you described.....yeh, i've felt them too. But to be frank (no pun intended), It's perfectly normal. We at some point have to question our faith. I've questioned it. Sometimes I feel like "ahhh screw it, i'm jumping ship", but then I realize something. I get this feeling inside of me.
Can't quite explain it, but if i had to describe it....it is like a.....break-up. Like "well Jesus, it's been fun sir but I just don't know if this can work out". Then I start to feel remorse. Sadness envelopes me and my heart starts to hurt a little. I realize, I can't do that to Him. Not after all He's done (besides die on the cross for my sins). Things like rescue my father from the claws of alcoholism. He liberated my house form domestic violence. Restored a once torn and dysfunctional family.
Saved my life like HUNDREDS of times! (I can't tell you how many life-threatening-events I've gone through in my early childhood.)
Given me a lil' bro. I was an only child for seven years. I was alone most of the time. I felt lonely and I wished so much to have a little brother. God granted my wish. My mom kept saying "it's gonna be a girl" and I would get angry and tell her "no, because I asked God for a little brother". Surely enough, God granted my petition.
I just begin to reminisce on those things. How good has He been to me? God has been in the middle of even the toughest parts of my life (thus far)!! and even though when I was going through the thick of it....I didn't realize it then, but now here...where I am....I realize....that.....he was there the entire TIME!! I was just too caught up in MY problem, that I had forgotten the solution was there....next to me.......IN ME! residing in my heart since I was five years old, when I made the decision to accept Jesuschrist into my heart (granted, I knew little of what I was doing) even though I was really young....I knew that He has the answer to my problems. More like, my parents problems at the time. For they would fight and I would just lie on my bed and cry and wished that they wouldn't fight anymore.
Yeah, and I want to just call it quits on Him?!?!?!?
How can I do that when He's never called it quits on me......and with EVERY right to. I don't deserve His love or sympathy! I don't even deserve to have my life saved by Him, but He went and did it anyway. WHY? (obviously) we know that answer Frank. We both know the "why". I don't follow Him to stay out of Hell (even though, that's a BBIIGG benefit). I follow Him because of the promise I have in Him. Gratitude and Love is all I have for someone who has rescued me.
Yet, why is it we question our faith in Him. You would think that after EVERYTHING he's done in our lives that we wouldn't have doubt, but it's not true. We do doubt still. But, when I doubt I have to realize where the source of that doubt comes from. Doubt isn't from the Lord. Doubt has no business in a Christian's vocabulary. As a matter of fact.....Doubt is the EXACT opposite of Faith. It is then when I realize, that anything that makes me question that....CANNOT....i repeat.....CANNOT come from God, but from the adversary that we face everyday.
The devil is very good with inception. Which is a great movie by the way. He is the MASTER of inception. Putting an idea in your brain, and making you think it was your original though. At first is starts with guilt. Like "I'm not a true Christian, I don't follow God like i'm supposed to".....yeh......and it's true! but then again who does? not even modern day apostles and prophets can claim to live the way God wants us to live. No one is perfect and no one will ever be, so why should you judge yourself so harshly?
Then it doesn't stop there, the idea has already been planted and that seed quickly starts to blossom. Now you feed this guilt..."I feel like He's so far away and i don't know how to get back to Him". Then he creates this illusion (all in your head, using the doubt he has installed in you, that you are now feeding) that going back, is SOOO far and gives this feeling like... when you have a deadline on a paper and that you won't finish in time.
Final phase is when we believe it's over. You give up. Mission accomplished. That's another one for the team. You've fallen for the greatest lie ever told. That we are too far to reconnect. No Frank, I'm writing this to say to you that you can RUN and even SPRINT many steps away from the Lord, but It only takes ONE step of faith, just one tiny speck of faith to go back and repent, pick-up your cross and keep going.
After all, it is a race to the finish line......... and if you just sit and think "Gosh it's too damn far, I'll never finish this race..." all of a sudden, you feel a hand on your back and you turn around...and there He is, and with a calm voice tells you "Don't worry, we're almost there"
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Deep Breath Before The Plunge...
Hello!!!
Yes, this is it everyone. The second half of a 4 game play-off between one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) club rivalries in soccer to date, will take place today at 2:45PM EST.
The war on the pitch has extended off the pitch into the conference rooms with some verbal jousting between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
So let's look at what's happened so far.....
First Match - hard fought battle in the mid-field, Mo knows that if they're going to have ANY advantage against a team that starves you of possesion and can generate plays at anytime with Xavi and Iniesta's laser guided passes,tiki-taka 1,2 triangulation that can catch you off guard in a split second and the world greatest player (according to FIFA) in their arsenal to boot... he would have to stifle and disrupt the midfield plethora of passes.
He did this to a certain degree of success when he deployed Pepe in to a Defensive Midfield role who's only mission was to be the designated "destroyer" in the center of the park. Yellow cards, professional fouls and some pushing with a tad bit of shoving..... It doesn't matter as long as the trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi worried about the "bald-headed wonder" from pushing up behind them sending them face down to the grass.
Barca were able to penetrate (as expected) but Casillas was prepared each and every time. The man within the posts had made up his mind that day to not concede..... UNTIL...... a penalty call ruined all his heroics up to then and the point scored by no other than the acclaimed Messi(as) himself.
Real Madrid didn't let up, their blood was drawn first so they came back with a fury. This time a penalty called against the Catalan side. Slotted calmly by no other than Ronaldo himself.
end verdict. 1-1.
A TIE.
This was it. The Barca side that struck fear into every opponents hearts now were matched. Not in posession, passing percentage or shots on goal.....but in equal determination to win. Teams that contain Barcelona torrential downpour of attacks have a hope and figure they're still in it as long as "THEY" don't score but the inevitable occurs and the drop of morale to the damaged side is evident as the fervent closing and determination to contain the all powerful Spanish Conquistadors goes out the window.
Second Match: But not Real Madrid. This tie was said to be flukey as calls for questionable calls and referreeing were shouted and in particular the penalty conceded to Los Merengues. Yet in GAME 2 of these play-offs, Real Madrid went to enact a man for man 4-3-3 (matching that of peps favorite formation) and not only holding out a Barcelona side to a scoreless night but to bring it to them and score and end a 13 yr. drought of silverware to the capital side.
NOW..... we head into GAME 3: Barca supporters claim Barcelona didn't care about the Copa Del Rey to put a winning effort into the Final. That the only real cup match that mattered was the Champions League. Real Madrid meanwhile cared so much.....that they let the Cup drop 12 ft. from the Madrid-mobile and get squashed by it. While the fans celebrated the victory as if the World Cup was won once more. Casillas finally gets the only trophy that eluded him through-out his 13 yr tenure with the club. While Ronaldo gets temporary bragging rights.
So what changes today? how do the 2 sides go into these matches?
for one..... Barcelona depth will be tested to new lengths today. With the confirmed abscence of Andres Iniesta and the BIG question mark hovering over the head of Carles Puyol, it is clear Pep Guardiola is going to have to prove the his squad's dominance does not solely rely on his starting 11 or even his 1st choice subs. With Adriano, Bojan, Maxwell all injured... It is clear that Pep is gonna have to pull something out of that hat of his today if he hopes to contain a FULL-STRENGTH Real Madrid side.
Meanwhile....... Los Blancos will be firing on all cylinders. Having the return of the confident Gonzalo Higuain, plus having the likes of Karim Benzema and Kaka as back-up (though it's absurd to me to have such a player like Kaka as back-up) with the only down of Carvalho and Khedira who are both comfortably replaceable with not much of a difference within the subs. Real Madrid HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO keep a clean sheet today. That is both vital and crucial to completely have success within these 2 legs.
Today will be just as important as next week but I believe that whatever is the outcome today will defeinitely set the tone for what happens next week.
PREDICTION:
Barcelona: Today they will show what Champions are made of, if they keep posession calmly and not let the rough/power gameplay of Real get to them, then they will succeed in frustrating the other side. With one man in particular who absolutely HATES not having the ball (CR7).
Real Madrid: These folks have to take advantage of the fact the left side will be weak. Sergio Ramos needs to return to his old self and take charge of that right side. Marcelo needs to pressure Dani Alves and pin him to just defensive runs. Ronaldo needs to be selfish when needed and less greedy when the opportunity appears to pass the ball. Gonzalo, Benzema, Adebayor, Kaka. Whoever is chosen to partner Ronaldo need to make smart off the ball runs as much as with it.
FINAL VERDICT - Real Madrid edge Barcelona with a 2-1 scoreline.
Next week will be a different beast.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Life - We change to learn, but do we learn to change?
I'm sick and tired......
Tired of people that whine and moan.
And it's not the action of whining and moaning that gets to me...NO....cuz i whine too. I get irritated at life sometimes. It becomes hard and I complain too.
But what gets to me are those that complain when they KNOW the answer to their solutions. Then they blame God.....like if it's God's fault that we put ourselves through difficult times!!
To me it's ridiculous to expect God to act for you when the only time you give to him, is when you are forced to go to church!
EVEN THEN you don't praise, you don't open your mouth, you don't raise your hands and surrender your troubles and tribulations to him.
NOT EVEN A SIMPLE "THANK YOU".....
but NOOOO.....things go bad for us......and then suddenly "WHY GOD?!" "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!"
"IF YOU WERE REAL I WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION!"
says who? where in the bible does it say that we are exempt of problems, simply because we worship God?
Where does it say that HE is accountable to US!!!???
NOWHERE.
God is JUST. He is FAIR. He is MERCIFUL. HE IS THE STRONGHOLD TO THE JUST WHO COME........TO.......HIM!
PERIOD.
Tired of people that whine and moan.
And it's not the action of whining and moaning that gets to me...NO....cuz i whine too. I get irritated at life sometimes. It becomes hard and I complain too.
But what gets to me are those that complain when they KNOW the answer to their solutions. Then they blame God.....like if it's God's fault that we put ourselves through difficult times!!
To me it's ridiculous to expect God to act for you when the only time you give to him, is when you are forced to go to church!
EVEN THEN you don't praise, you don't open your mouth, you don't raise your hands and surrender your troubles and tribulations to him.
NOT EVEN A SIMPLE "THANK YOU".....
but NOOOO.....things go bad for us......and then suddenly "WHY GOD?!" "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!"
"IF YOU WERE REAL I WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION!"
says who? where in the bible does it say that we are exempt of problems, simply because we worship God?
Where does it say that HE is accountable to US!!!???
NOWHERE.
God is JUST. He is FAIR. He is MERCIFUL. HE IS THE STRONGHOLD TO THE JUST WHO COME........TO.......HIM!
PERIOD.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Life - Bands and artists with songs for the soul!
I listen to a lot of music.
There are many groups that sing so much but say so little. And once in awhile, there comes a song that just leaps out of your Ipod/Zune/Radio and tugs at your heart in the slightest way, but enough for you to notice.
You know.... those songs that makes you wish you were in high school again with your friends,songs that make you think about your first-kiss and brings back those other memories along with the nostalgic side-effect to boost.
Those are the songs I search for.
It's true, there are times where I just want to headbang my frustration out to some good punk track or some wild yet soft scream-o ,but mostly, I prefer the songs that make your eyes water a bit.
Tracks that seem more like a therapist that hypnotizes you. Transporting you to that exact moment in life, that you treasure so much.
Here are some bands and artists that do have the uncanny ability of this (at least for me):
1) Nickelback - these guys sing 2 type of songs - a) the ones that make you wish you were them (i.e. "Man I wish I could've done that")
b) songs that have you reminisce about your past.
2) Relient K - over the years there sound has changed, but they still keep the good'ol fashioned punk riffs coming. They've gone from "Life blows!" to "GET ME OUTTA COLLEGE!" to "I OWE IT ALL TO YOU LORD!", great group to listen to both when you're in a happy mood or when you're down on the ground....these dudes can really pick you up.
3) Switchfoot - they're a special group, because when their first album came out it gave you a sense of a man vs man conflict. It confronted you and yet, in a subtle way, managed to lift you up and give you hope....great pick me up songs with great vocals and nice riffs make for one well-blended group!
4) Emery - Don't be fooled by their occasional screaming, because it's not meaningless. With dueling lyrics and melodic magic, this group can make a song out of any situation that will have you head-bobbing, headbanging, crying or screaming in a span of 4 minutes. They're not a group to just listen to, but a group to pay close attention to, as they confront their listeners with the hard issues not usually addressed by any bands or groups and just throws it in your face. One of my personal favorite bands.
5) Anberlin - Great alternative rock group, with a mix of conflicting lyrics accompanied with soft yet aggressive music to happy and upbeat songs with great high-tempo drumming. The lead singer & main songwriter Stephen Christian has an unusually high voice that delivers the message in the way necessary. Love songs and memories told in the first-person takes you into Stephens life in a roller coaster of emotions and with lessons to learn as well. Another personal favorite of mine.
6) John Mayer - For some, this guy needs no introduction. For those who don't know......you don't know what you're missing. What defines John Mayer is not only his skill and mastery of his instrument (guitar) or his strangely whispery voice; it is his song-writing gift that he is able to get you to feel exactly the way John Mayer felt when writing that specific song. You can relate to his lyrics and so making him accessible and ordinary just like the rest of us. Top musician and great song-writer....makes him my number one music man.
Comment and tell me who speaks to you through the speakers of your car/room/ipod....wherever!
GBY!!
There are many groups that sing so much but say so little. And once in awhile, there comes a song that just leaps out of your Ipod/Zune/Radio and tugs at your heart in the slightest way, but enough for you to notice.
You know.... those songs that makes you wish you were in high school again with your friends,songs that make you think about your first-kiss and brings back those other memories along with the nostalgic side-effect to boost.
Those are the songs I search for.
It's true, there are times where I just want to headbang my frustration out to some good punk track or some wild yet soft scream-o ,but mostly, I prefer the songs that make your eyes water a bit.
Tracks that seem more like a therapist that hypnotizes you. Transporting you to that exact moment in life, that you treasure so much.
Here are some bands and artists that do have the uncanny ability of this (at least for me):
1) Nickelback - these guys sing 2 type of songs - a) the ones that make you wish you were them (i.e. "Man I wish I could've done that")
b) songs that have you reminisce about your past.
2) Relient K - over the years there sound has changed, but they still keep the good'ol fashioned punk riffs coming. They've gone from "Life blows!" to "GET ME OUTTA COLLEGE!" to "I OWE IT ALL TO YOU LORD!", great group to listen to both when you're in a happy mood or when you're down on the ground....these dudes can really pick you up.
3) Switchfoot - they're a special group, because when their first album came out it gave you a sense of a man vs man conflict. It confronted you and yet, in a subtle way, managed to lift you up and give you hope....great pick me up songs with great vocals and nice riffs make for one well-blended group!
4) Emery - Don't be fooled by their occasional screaming, because it's not meaningless. With dueling lyrics and melodic magic, this group can make a song out of any situation that will have you head-bobbing, headbanging, crying or screaming in a span of 4 minutes. They're not a group to just listen to, but a group to pay close attention to, as they confront their listeners with the hard issues not usually addressed by any bands or groups and just throws it in your face. One of my personal favorite bands.
5) Anberlin - Great alternative rock group, with a mix of conflicting lyrics accompanied with soft yet aggressive music to happy and upbeat songs with great high-tempo drumming. The lead singer & main songwriter Stephen Christian has an unusually high voice that delivers the message in the way necessary. Love songs and memories told in the first-person takes you into Stephens life in a roller coaster of emotions and with lessons to learn as well. Another personal favorite of mine.
6) John Mayer - For some, this guy needs no introduction. For those who don't know......you don't know what you're missing. What defines John Mayer is not only his skill and mastery of his instrument (guitar) or his strangely whispery voice; it is his song-writing gift that he is able to get you to feel exactly the way John Mayer felt when writing that specific song. You can relate to his lyrics and so making him accessible and ordinary just like the rest of us. Top musician and great song-writer....makes him my number one music man.
Comment and tell me who speaks to you through the speakers of your car/room/ipod....wherever!
GBY!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
LIFE - No coincidences, just an unknown plan.
Everyday, is a struggle for me.
Yet....I smile.
Yes, I smile because even though I may not have a cellphone or my own car and even though I may disagree a lot or a little with my parents or sibling.
Even when I get in a car crash, lose a job, hit my foot on the corner of my dresser cabinet in the morning. Even when I trip and fall, spill my milk on my new pants, forget to take the food after paying at a drive-thru restaurant.
EVEN AFTER i had a bad argument with my girlfriend or with my best friend. Even if I was stabbed in the back by my best friend and/or worse.....by my own family member.
Even though I got stopped by a cop and had to pay a ticket or I can't find my car keys, wallet, glasses and get late to work.
Even when i make bad decisions and suffer the consequence later, try to help someone and i end up getting hated by that person. When i don't feel understood or I'm in a bad mood. Even when i lose a close one that has been dear to me all my life, I end up separating from my friends after high school because we are no longer obligated to see each other everyday so everyone goes on to their different paths and set of to start their new lives. Even when, i have lost trust on those who lead this beautiful country I live in.....I was BORN in..... and call home.
When everyone is against me or I against the world. Even when I lose faith in my God, when I doubt and cloud my mind with useless clutter, having lost faith in myself and I feel lower than dirt.....
I remember ...... that HE loves me.
WHY? i don't know why. What did I do to possibly deserve such love.
When I feel like ALL that I have mentioned. I remember a song that comes to me from a poet:
"I'm here again before you, in humble prayer. You don't even half to answer.....just set your eyes on me my Lord. I just don't know what to think, and I don't even know how to express..... the fear and the wonder that is in me. I still do not know, you have yet to let me know, what you have seen me for you to love me. It's just that I can't find the reason of such WASTED LOVE........who am I, for you to love me so."
and when I remind myself of this........ I smile.
Yet....I smile.
Yes, I smile because even though I may not have a cellphone or my own car and even though I may disagree a lot or a little with my parents or sibling.
Even when I get in a car crash, lose a job, hit my foot on the corner of my dresser cabinet in the morning. Even when I trip and fall, spill my milk on my new pants, forget to take the food after paying at a drive-thru restaurant.
EVEN AFTER i had a bad argument with my girlfriend or with my best friend. Even if I was stabbed in the back by my best friend and/or worse.....by my own family member.
Even though I got stopped by a cop and had to pay a ticket or I can't find my car keys, wallet, glasses and get late to work.
Even when i make bad decisions and suffer the consequence later, try to help someone and i end up getting hated by that person. When i don't feel understood or I'm in a bad mood. Even when i lose a close one that has been dear to me all my life, I end up separating from my friends after high school because we are no longer obligated to see each other everyday so everyone goes on to their different paths and set of to start their new lives. Even when, i have lost trust on those who lead this beautiful country I live in.....I was BORN in..... and call home.
When everyone is against me or I against the world. Even when I lose faith in my God, when I doubt and cloud my mind with useless clutter, having lost faith in myself and I feel lower than dirt.....
I remember ...... that HE loves me.
WHY? i don't know why. What did I do to possibly deserve such love.
When I feel like ALL that I have mentioned. I remember a song that comes to me from a poet:
"I'm here again before you, in humble prayer. You don't even half to answer.....just set your eyes on me my Lord. I just don't know what to think, and I don't even know how to express..... the fear and the wonder that is in me. I still do not know, you have yet to let me know, what you have seen me for you to love me. It's just that I can't find the reason of such WASTED LOVE........who am I, for you to love me so."
and when I remind myself of this........ I smile.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Trouble brewin' for the USMNT
Sheesh..... It's been awhile but I'm back.
There's not much time but there's loads to cover. So I'll start of first with a BIG shout out to the miners in Chile who have been trapped 700km underground with temperatures reaching 87 degrees Fahrenheit for the past 2 months. Great top see them healthy and ALIVE most of all. Thank God for taking care of them.
Back to Soccer...
The US Men's National Team played Poland on Saturday the 9Th of October. I was watching this game and I was glad to see the debut of Jermaine Jones and displeased on seeing Maurice Edu next to Onyewu.
My question is WHY? Why Bob, should a great Defensive box-to-box midfielder like Maurice Edu be used as a Centre Back? I don't understand this decision especially when you have 2 center backs in the bench who NEED to gel with the current back four?
Fine, we're past that now. On to the (sort of) good.
Jermaine Jones made his debut provided an assist not just for us but for Poland too, by failing to clear a ball at the top of the 18.
But he played well defensively while tracking back and helping little Bradley when he got in a mess.
To me, the midfield lacked the spark that Landon Donovan provides. And it's ever more clear how crucial he is to the team. Stuart Holden was given the roll of the "play maker" but has not quite gotten used to that roll yet. Still his confidence, hard work and determination had him running all over and curving the ball with his set-pieces to dangerous areas (to the point of assisting Onyewu on the team's second goal).
Holden definitely has all the tools of being the next play maker equal to (maybe) Donovan. For the next 4 years we need to (slowly) start letting go of our veterans, to make way for the new blood that will eventually take our team to (hopefully) new heights during the 2018 and 2022 cycle.
The thought is sad for me, but it is inevitable that one day we won't see Donovan or Dempsey anymore after 2014 World Cup.
Yet, not all change is bad. Or is it?
That was the question on everybody's mind. Was the changes done to the starting lineup good or bad on Tuesday night. When USA faced Colombia, the formation was a modified 4-3-2-1 made to function like a 4-3-3.
Now, let me break this up for ya:
you have 4 defenders in front of the goal (that's the obvious). Then you have 3 midfielders....what do these 3 do... well, there's plenty that can be done here. Granted, you lose an extra midfielder but, you gain a forward. This allows for the 2 higher midfielders to supply the upper 3 in front of them, leaving 1 more withdrawn closer to the back 4 for defensive support.
just look at this picture below:
RB-----CB----CB----LB
----------CDM--------
---RCM----------LCM
RW--------ST--------LW
The back four = RB (Right Back), CB (Center Back), LB (Left Back)
The middle 3 = CDM (Center Defensive Midfielder), RCM (Right Center Midfielder), LCM (Left Center Midfielder).
The front 3 = RW (Right Winger), ST (Striker), LW (Left Winger)
now that you have a clear picture on the formation used. Let's analyze the lineup:
Jonathan Spector-----Clarence Goodson----Oguchi Onyewu----Heath Pearce
---------------------------Maurice Edu-------------------------
--------Michael Bradley-------------------Jemaine Jones--------
Stuart Holden---------------Jozy Altidore------------------Benny Feilhaber
Here you have 3 Defense-minded players in Edu, Bradley and Jones. All three specialize in Box-to-Box, tackling, tracking back and breaking up offensive plays from the opposing team.
Holden and Feilhaber are given the winger spots to primarily feed Jozy. In this formation the scoring responsibility here relies heavily on him. Yet, he has support from the right and from the left.
What went wrong on Tuesday? well, It's actually quite simple.
First of all, in the middle 3 there are supposed to be 1 mid that drops back and reinforces the back 4 and the other 2 feed the upper 3 forwards. As said before, Edu, Bradley and Jones are 3 defensive midfielder there tendency is, should and will always be.... to track back and help the back 4!
So this already disrupts and defeats the purpose of using the 4-3-3 formation. Now there is a gap in the midfield leaving the 2 wingers (Holden and Feilhaber) to track back and try to bridge the gap in the middle. So the wingers weren't being fed appropriately and were dropping back more and more.
The first half of the USA vs Colombia showed, just because it works for other teams....doesn't mean it'll work for ours.
Then again, it was JUST a "friendly" and Donovan (our most important play maker) wasn't present for us to truly view the formation with all our starters.
Honorable mentions:
Eric Lichaj was a beast on a mission. On his post-match interview he stated that he did not feel intimidated at all by the 8k crowd that night, since he is used to more hostile and energetic (not to mention numerous) fans of Aston Villa (a home match is easily over 20k) back over the pond. He definitely did not take long to make an impact and showed that the right back position has new depth.
With this I will go, and please comment and Follow MUA! if you like what you read. God Bles Y'all!
There's not much time but there's loads to cover. So I'll start of first with a BIG shout out to the miners in Chile who have been trapped 700km underground with temperatures reaching 87 degrees Fahrenheit for the past 2 months. Great top see them healthy and ALIVE most of all. Thank God for taking care of them.
Back to Soccer...
The US Men's National Team played Poland on Saturday the 9Th of October. I was watching this game and I was glad to see the debut of Jermaine Jones and displeased on seeing Maurice Edu next to Onyewu.
My question is WHY? Why Bob, should a great Defensive box-to-box midfielder like Maurice Edu be used as a Centre Back? I don't understand this decision especially when you have 2 center backs in the bench who NEED to gel with the current back four?
Fine, we're past that now. On to the (sort of) good.
Jermaine Jones made his debut provided an assist not just for us but for Poland too, by failing to clear a ball at the top of the 18.
But he played well defensively while tracking back and helping little Bradley when he got in a mess.
To me, the midfield lacked the spark that Landon Donovan provides. And it's ever more clear how crucial he is to the team. Stuart Holden was given the roll of the "play maker" but has not quite gotten used to that roll yet. Still his confidence, hard work and determination had him running all over and curving the ball with his set-pieces to dangerous areas (to the point of assisting Onyewu on the team's second goal).
Holden definitely has all the tools of being the next play maker equal to (maybe) Donovan. For the next 4 years we need to (slowly) start letting go of our veterans, to make way for the new blood that will eventually take our team to (hopefully) new heights during the 2018 and 2022 cycle.
The thought is sad for me, but it is inevitable that one day we won't see Donovan or Dempsey anymore after 2014 World Cup.
Yet, not all change is bad. Or is it?
That was the question on everybody's mind. Was the changes done to the starting lineup good or bad on Tuesday night. When USA faced Colombia, the formation was a modified 4-3-2-1 made to function like a 4-3-3.
Now, let me break this up for ya:
you have 4 defenders in front of the goal (that's the obvious). Then you have 3 midfielders....what do these 3 do... well, there's plenty that can be done here. Granted, you lose an extra midfielder but, you gain a forward. This allows for the 2 higher midfielders to supply the upper 3 in front of them, leaving 1 more withdrawn closer to the back 4 for defensive support.
just look at this picture below:
RB-----CB----CB----LB
----------CDM--------
---RCM----------LCM
RW--------ST--------LW
The back four = RB (Right Back), CB (Center Back), LB (Left Back)
The middle 3 = CDM (Center Defensive Midfielder), RCM (Right Center Midfielder), LCM (Left Center Midfielder).
The front 3 = RW (Right Winger), ST (Striker), LW (Left Winger)
now that you have a clear picture on the formation used. Let's analyze the lineup:
Jonathan Spector-----Clarence Goodson----Oguchi Onyewu----Heath Pearce
---------------------------Maurice Edu-------------------------
--------Michael Bradley-------------------Jemaine Jones--------
Stuart Holden---------------Jozy Altidore------------------Benny Feilhaber
Here you have 3 Defense-minded players in Edu, Bradley and Jones. All three specialize in Box-to-Box, tackling, tracking back and breaking up offensive plays from the opposing team.
Holden and Feilhaber are given the winger spots to primarily feed Jozy. In this formation the scoring responsibility here relies heavily on him. Yet, he has support from the right and from the left.
What went wrong on Tuesday? well, It's actually quite simple.
First of all, in the middle 3 there are supposed to be 1 mid that drops back and reinforces the back 4 and the other 2 feed the upper 3 forwards. As said before, Edu, Bradley and Jones are 3 defensive midfielder there tendency is, should and will always be.... to track back and help the back 4!
So this already disrupts and defeats the purpose of using the 4-3-3 formation. Now there is a gap in the midfield leaving the 2 wingers (Holden and Feilhaber) to track back and try to bridge the gap in the middle. So the wingers weren't being fed appropriately and were dropping back more and more.
The first half of the USA vs Colombia showed, just because it works for other teams....doesn't mean it'll work for ours.
Then again, it was JUST a "friendly" and Donovan (our most important play maker) wasn't present for us to truly view the formation with all our starters.
Honorable mentions:
Eric Lichaj was a beast on a mission. On his post-match interview he stated that he did not feel intimidated at all by the 8k crowd that night, since he is used to more hostile and energetic (not to mention numerous) fans of Aston Villa (a home match is easily over 20k) back over the pond. He definitely did not take long to make an impact and showed that the right back position has new depth.
With this I will go, and please comment and Follow MUA! if you like what you read. God Bles Y'all!
Friday, August 13, 2010
(Soccer) Belated thoughts on the USA friendly
Welcome back everybody!!
I know this a little late, but I was caught up on several things so I had to postpone my post about the USA vs Brazil Friendly on Tuesday night.
It ended (unsurprisingly)with the USA losing 2-0 to a young but EXTREMELY talented and fun to watch Brazil squad that looked like the match was theirs before they even stepped on the New Meadowlands field.
NOW.... even though the USMNT looked like they were vastly outclassed (which they were). We should not buy too much into this friendly. It IS a friendly not an OFFICIAL match but man, man, man! I really wish we could tie if not beat a weakened Brazil side!
Is that too much to ask people!? Really?! that we score at least once and not be made to look like fools in front of our "home" crowd every time. It also bothers me that we are the only National team incapable of filling up our "home" stadium with US supporters than the opposing team's supporters!
I'm fed up with that but w/e... that's what we US fans have to put up with apart from MANY other things that come with this sport... well in the US that is.
Yet, apart from the clinic Brazil put against the Nats. One thing was made clear to me.... and it's that is there is any position on the field that we don't have to worry about for at least 3 World Cup cycles.... it's the goalie position.
T. Howard though he conceded two goals had remarkable moments in the 1st half and Brad Guzan coming on in the 2nd half also had an extraordinary 45 minutes. He single-handedly prevented us to be severely humiliated Tuesday night. Let me tell you that there are national teams envious of the people we have between the pipes.
But let's move on....
Jozy - I don't know if you were trying to impress Besiktas or Villareal or WHOEVER, but you gotta play more relax buddy! Nice flair here and there but no effectiveness and no efficiency makes you look pretty....but USELESS! but no one will have use for a striker who can't score.
That's like having Cristiano Ronaldo..... without the goals. We need serious help up top, and we need to look into players like Lenhart or Najar, maybe even Pontius----HECK! why not Mike Grella or Lee Nguyen! they play abroad and they both look good and I believe they should get a shot!
Does anyone agree?
We need a striker NOW! we don't need new Donovans or Dempseys because I believe that S. Holden, R. Rogers, Bedoya or S. Kljestan have those spots that demand creativity covered, but we NEED (and I mean with URGENCY!) a new McBRIDE or WYNALDA, people that can score from far or close, near, left, right, volley or header Goals in.
we need people that can stick that ball in the NET 3 or five times consistently.
AND IF THEIR NOT SCORING, they are setting up plays. So that is my Christmas wish list Santa I don't care where it comes from as long as they do their job.
Comment y'all or contact me at Kennyalvarez123@GMAIL.COM or tweet me up - @kennyalvarez123
God Bless!
I know this a little late, but I was caught up on several things so I had to postpone my post about the USA vs Brazil Friendly on Tuesday night.
It ended (unsurprisingly)with the USA losing 2-0 to a young but EXTREMELY talented and fun to watch Brazil squad that looked like the match was theirs before they even stepped on the New Meadowlands field.
NOW.... even though the USMNT looked like they were vastly outclassed (which they were). We should not buy too much into this friendly. It IS a friendly not an OFFICIAL match but man, man, man! I really wish we could tie if not beat a weakened Brazil side!
Is that too much to ask people!? Really?! that we score at least once and not be made to look like fools in front of our "home" crowd every time. It also bothers me that we are the only National team incapable of filling up our "home" stadium with US supporters than the opposing team's supporters!
I'm fed up with that but w/e... that's what we US fans have to put up with apart from MANY other things that come with this sport... well in the US that is.
Yet, apart from the clinic Brazil put against the Nats. One thing was made clear to me.... and it's that is there is any position on the field that we don't have to worry about for at least 3 World Cup cycles.... it's the goalie position.
T. Howard though he conceded two goals had remarkable moments in the 1st half and Brad Guzan coming on in the 2nd half also had an extraordinary 45 minutes. He single-handedly prevented us to be severely humiliated Tuesday night. Let me tell you that there are national teams envious of the people we have between the pipes.
But let's move on....
Jozy - I don't know if you were trying to impress Besiktas or Villareal or WHOEVER, but you gotta play more relax buddy! Nice flair here and there but no effectiveness and no efficiency makes you look pretty....but USELESS! but no one will have use for a striker who can't score.
That's like having Cristiano Ronaldo..... without the goals. We need serious help up top, and we need to look into players like Lenhart or Najar, maybe even Pontius----HECK! why not Mike Grella or Lee Nguyen! they play abroad and they both look good and I believe they should get a shot!
Does anyone agree?
We need a striker NOW! we don't need new Donovans or Dempseys because I believe that S. Holden, R. Rogers, Bedoya or S. Kljestan have those spots that demand creativity covered, but we NEED (and I mean with URGENCY!) a new McBRIDE or WYNALDA, people that can score from far or close, near, left, right, volley or header Goals in.
we need people that can stick that ball in the NET 3 or five times consistently.
AND IF THEIR NOT SCORING, they are setting up plays. So that is my Christmas wish list Santa I don't care where it comes from as long as they do their job.
Comment y'all or contact me at Kennyalvarez123@GMAIL.COM or tweet me up - @kennyalvarez123
God Bless!
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