There seems to be an epidemic among US Soccer coaches. They seem to play several key players in positions other than their usual or natural positions. Is it just me? Or, are other people seeing what I see and are just as confused?

Now, I coach college basketball and I am huge sports fan, particularly the beautiful game. That is why I started writing this blog. So, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. But, like I said, as a major sports enthusiast and a head coach myself, I feel I have a very good understanding of what's going on in all sports.

Isn't Freddy Adu an attacking midfielder? Isn't he only 5'7"? Why was he playing as a forward during today's game versus Japan in the Men's Olympic Soccer Tournament? Isn't Maurice Edu a defensive midfielder? Why was he playing as a central defender? He almost blew three points for the US late in the game. I'm not sure what the referee saw, but if not for that porely missed call, Japan should have been awarded a PK as Edu blatantly grabbed and pulled down a Japanese attacker in the box after he porely misplayed a high ball into the penalty area.

If you read my 1st blog yesterday, you would have heard my rant about Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, historically midfielders themselves, being played as forwards on the National Team by Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley. I called for USA's best forward to play more, Jozy Altidore, period. I also called for Kenny Cooper, who is 23-years old and eligible to play in this tournament, to be called to the National Team. The both of them should play up front for Uncle Sam's Army for the next 7-8 years, spanning the next two World Cups.

Why does the US insist on playing Brian McBride? He is 36-years old for heaven's sake! He was a great player but isn't anymore. He didn't score a goal in three games during the 2006 World Cup, where he was featured as the lone striker. What makes us think he will score in this tournament? Fulham let him go this past June. He is a sub at best. Certainly, he shouldn't be playing 75 minutes and Jozy Altidore only 15. Why is Team USA's best forward on the bench?

Which brings me back to Adu. Freddy, now 19 years of age and playing for Monaco in France, is Team USA's most creative player and the best one with the ball at his feet. Why is he playing as a forward where he needs someone else to play him the ball. He should be getting the ball in open space in the middle of the field, leading the attack and distributing the ball as the playmaker he is, not waiting for someone else to get it to him. He didn't have enough touches on the ball today. If he was properly positioned as a central attacking middie, Adu would have created many more scoring chance for Team USA. Many more!

The United States deployed a standard 4-4-2 alignment against the team from the Raising Sun. I strongly feel they should have deployed a better suited 4-3-1-2 with Adu playing as the roaming, attacking midfielder to set up Altidore and McBride up front. OR, they could have played the 4-4-2 with a diamond in the midfield, which would basically have done the same thing with Adu at the front of the diamond, Rogers and Kljestan on the wings and Michael Bradley playing the defensive middie role. That is actually the same thing Argentina does with Riquelme as the attacking mid and Marcherano as the defensive mid.

Did you see the last 15 minutes? Altidore had a huge impact in the short time he was in there. You had that feeling that he was going to score. You just didn't know when. I'll tell you one thing. Altidore would have scored if he had more time on the field! How many chances did he create? More than McBride did in 75 minutes. McBride is only good in the air. We have heard what a star in the making Altidore is. Well, how is he going to develop if he is on the bench? It is an under-23 tournament with 3 exceptions. It doesn't mean that Jozy HAS to play behind a 36 year old.

As I said yesterday, can the US Soccer coaches please play their stars in their natural positions and positions where they can be most effective? Please. Get Jozy out there for 75 minutes and move Adu to an attcking midfield position. I can live with Maurice Edu as a center back, if you feel you have to get him minutes because you can see he does have loads of talent, but get him out of there for someone who plays that position regularly when the game is on the line. Make these adjustments and the US Men's Olympic Soccer Team may just surprise the Dutch and ####ians.

If you greeted the new day at the ungodly hour of 5am to watch the US Men's Olympic Soccer Team play Japan in their ultra important tournament opner, Uncle Sam's Army certainly got your heart going, didn't they.

The Americans were more than shaky on defense in the final 15 minutes, highlighted by an uncalled penalty kick as midfielder-turned defender, Maurice Edu, had a foul in the box. Japan had several chances to tie the game late and couldn't convert, not to mention they missed two point-blank chances with a wide open net, the last of which Japan was in an offside position and the refs missed the call.

Left Back Michael Orozco was getting beat, as Japan seemed to be wide open on Japan's right flank, all day long. Everytime Japan attacked along the right side, they created a scoring chance, as the US defense continually brokedown. That is something the Red, White and Blue will have to fix as they face the two-time defending U-21 World Champions. the Netherlands, on Sunday morning, at least that contest will be a more reasonable 7:45am.
For some reason, Japan seemed to get away from attacking on the right side for a while in the second half, realizing their mistake and resuming their strategy in the last 20 minutes or so.

The lone US goal was scored by Stuart Holden right after the restart in the 47th minute. I have to be honest. It was a lucky goal as the Japanese goaltender got his hands to it, but it trickled tortureously slow 5 yards or so past him and over the line for the US Men's Olympic Team's first goal, not on a set piece, in their last 3 games. I say the US got lucky as the Japanese netminder didn't have to move much at all as Holden shot the ball right at him. It was on the low side, however. and was able to sqeak past him. The goal held up as the Team USA went on the victory and secure those all important three point before they face heavyweights Netherlands and ####ia, as they try to advance to the knockout stage of the Olympic tournament,