Fuck that bullshit! Mustoe was right. It was basic defense, and when Cameroon was getting frustrated because of the middle being shut down, they should've adjusted. This match was lost from bench, but you couldn't see that from the bottle. You're always yelling that midfield shit. Muhfucka, make the adjustment! They had all kinds of chances when they were dumping the ball into the 18 yard box. Japan had been taking away the midfield all match. What the fuck did you think was going to change midway through the second half?! so far, you've blamed EVERYONE but the players. Whose fault was it when Nigeria rolled over like a bunch of bitches, was it a European coach too?
You are shrill but ignorant about the game. You make wrong attributions, and yet use my arguments. If the game is disjointed in midfield, and it is not the fault of one players, it is usually because of a deficient coaching scheme. Here is why (the ignorant American) Mustrowe is wrong, and Ruud Gullit basically said the same thing. Defence is midfield. Midfield is defence. I do not care if you 4 Lothar Mathiases on defence, if your team keeps exposing you to the other teams strikers, they will score sooner or later. This is not about the back 4, or about discipline... It is about the midfield. Most teams use 4 defenders in the back. Left to their own devices, they would have to face 2 forwards and 2 midfielders..If you look at the spacing, the offense has an advantage. One defender will pressure the ball, leaving 3. Another defender must share his attention with of keeping an eye on his wing, that leaves you with 2 defenders marking 2 or 3 men. I do care if the goal keeper is combination of Dino Zoof, Oliver Kahn and Gordon banks, the ball is going.. from any of so many ways..
Even that ignoramus, Alexi Lalas, had the sense to see during the confederations cup, that fundamental defense requires the placement of at least 2 bodies between the ball and the next striker. Well, that means someone must come in from somewhere and provide that defence. Cameroon did not do this, and left their defenders in solo istuations. Most of the time they won the ball, since defence is the stronger of the two types of warfare, but sometimes the Chinks got through and Cameroon had to foul, leading to the many Chink (and Argentine) kicks.
All the above relates to the play of the midfield, not of the backline. The midfielders have the job of plugging in the spaces. That is not about disciplined back 4 defending, but about midfielders understanding how to move without the ball. Klins-Nazi said the same thing about the Australia. He said they were moving with the ball, not not moving without the ball. The US used to play that way 15 years ago (I know because I saw them live on many occasions), now they are better at it.
This game is about the midfield, and if you read my comments, I said at half time, that the Cameroon coach would have to earn his money with his half time adjustments. He told the midfielders to go after the Chinks and they did. However, they did not improve their offensive movement and could not improve their passing because these are things you have to prepare and perfect in training. This team is not built that way, and they are gonna pay a stiff price. They will lose their next 2 games and be on the way.
This game proves my point about the midfield. Eto'o , one of the best strikers in the world, was nowhere to be seen partly because his midfield was not existent and partly because he was out of position. You put Eto'o on South Africa, to receive service from Pienaar and Benard Parker, South Africa scores 5 goals.
The reason why I know these things is that I grew up playing this sport. I went to training with a few people who became pros and went to Europe. I was taught these fundamentals, but I did not have the talent. Other people were faster on their feet and in their mind than I was... But I learned a lot about the game...
That is why I know bullshit when I hear it. Martinez, was saying the same thing. Listen to the Europeans. Do not listen to these Americans... they cannot break down this game..
Cameroon's problem is a tactical one, not a technical one. Technique is a player issue, tactics are a coaching issue. The same was true about Nigeria. That is why we blame the coach and not the players. A technical problem was the weak or reluctant marking of Pienaar. This is directly what led to the Mexican goal. The bugger reached the guy with the ball, and then stopped 2 yards from him. He made a perfect cross and Rafa Marquez scored. As good as the bugger was offensively, Carlos Aberto Perreira was angry and he took the motherfucker out..
Do not listen to me.. do not listen to any commentator. Rewind your DVR and watch the game. See how many times Cameroonian forwards were isolated by 3 Japanese defenders with no help in sight. And then see how the Japanese always seemed to have some around to support whoever had the ball. This speaks to good movement without the ball. This is a midfield tactical issue.. bucause in order to facilitate progress, you must not only move into space, but you must move into the right space... This was the big difference between Mexico and South Africa in the first half. The Mexican midfield just obliterated the South African one with superior movement. However, Carlos Aberto Perreira not only corrected the situation at half time, but countered brilliantly with speed up the middle... such that Mexico almost lost the game. One advantage South Africa have is that they replaced one Brazilian coach with another, and so it was easy for theire to be continuity in the system.