Nats need to go to Finishing School

In the 19th Century, finishing schools were where the elite sent their daughters to become proper ladies of society. The US Men's National Team might want to take a page from their playbook and set up a finishing school of their own, as this crop of Yanks could surely use the lesson.

During last night's 3-1 loss to Paraguay in the Copa America group stages, the consensus is that the Americans outplayed La Albiroja, but were stonewalled in their finishing. Just in the few minutes I watched, I can agree. The American's passing combinations and creativity were much improved from the Argentina game. Paraguay was a World Cup Finalist last year, so it wasn't some slouch team. However, I saw Justin Mapp hit the crossbar, Eddie Johnson panic in front of the net and pull off an attack (not the first time), numerous shots go wide, and Ricardo Clark's blast that seemed destined to be a golazo smacked away by the Paraguayan keeper. In the Gold Cup, first-teamers Landon Donovan and Damarcus Beasley did not do much better, both shitting their pants with the goal yawning in front of them. While Americans have never been great finishers, or attacking forwards for that matter (Our specialty is goalkeepers and defenders), it is a glaring weakness that must be addressed if the Yanks are to ever seriously contend on the world stage.

In the end, I think it may be a focus problem. Not for the players, but the whole institution. It seems I can't go through one US Soccer broadcast without hearing someone talking about "creating chances." Creating Chances is about the stupidest strategy I've heard of. It's the equivalent of using a machine gun to kill a fly. The basic reasoning is that if you create enough chances, eventually you're bound to get a goal. However, the drawback here is that you will likely wear yourself out trying to keep up a flurry of chances and frustration builds when it doesn't come through. The Americans' total exhaustion in the last 30 minutes of the Argentina game are evidence of this. The US should focus more on clinically finishing chances, not just creating them.
Last night Paraguay took 12 shots on goal, and put 3 in the back of the net (25%). Team USA took 14 and put 1 on target (7%).

Against Argentina, the Americans took 6 shots, and only scored on a Penalty kick. Argentina took 10 shots, and four of them found net.

Time to go, Kasey

Also posted on Yellow Chair Sports...

I've always been a Kasey Keller fan. It's kind of hard not to be. The man was tough-as-nails on the field, easily one of the best (if not the greatest) American goalkeeper in history, a metalhead who rarely gave a shit in interviews with the press, and lives in a German castle. But it's time for him to go.

Keller is listed as the Americans' starting goalkeeper for tonight's Copa America match against Paraguay. The whole point of sending a roster devoid of stars and regulars to Copa America was to develop the kids. By exposing a young group of players to the intense pressure cookers and world-class teams in South America's premier tournament, the team hoped to have a leg up for the bright lights of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Kasey Keller will not and SHOULD NOT be on that team. He is 37 years old now, and will be 40 come 2010. He's at least the 3rd or 4th best keeper in the US Player Pool. While Keller was a great keeper for the US National Team, "was" is the key word in that sentence. More cerebral goalkeepers can play into their 40s, but a keeper like K eller whose skills are based more on quick reaction time and reflex saves cannot. Keller's continued inclusion on the roster can only be attributed to misplaced loyalty for his years of service or to serve as a "field general" or "mentor to the kids." However, both of these can be accomplished in a coaching or reserve keeper role.

So what's the alternative? In the United States' 4-1 loss to Argentina last week, admittedly no keeper could save the US from Argentina's world-class strikers, but had backup keeper Brad Guzan (who figures to be on the 2010 World Cup roster) been playing, the US could have at least gotten some player development and experience out of the process. Keller still believes he is a top-flight keeper, despite being cut from his now-Second Division German club. With Keller's aging body and slowing reflexes, it is plainly obvious to anyone who watched his performance against Argentina, or against Canada in the Gold Cup, that he has lost a step. I wish him the best of luck finding a new club, but it is clear that he is the past, not the future of the US National Team, and as such, should be benched by Coach Bradley.