Copa America

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 1:22 pm

I'm seeing where the US are slight favorites going into the game on TH. And, I guess.. home soil and all.

But I don't like this match-up one bit.

1) The friendly from last month is total fool's gold. Both teams, but particularly Ecuador, were playing that game to a) get touches, b) a bit of cohesion, c) gain some fitness, d) NOT GET HURT.

2) Point "d" leads me to the next key... More than most teams, when Ecuador flips a switch into high gear... Absolute bedlam ensues. Guess who doesn't deal well with that?

3) Yedlin getting tossed is a HUGE DEAL for this game. Ecuador's outside wingers can FLY, as can their forwards, particularly Enner Valencia. I imagine Klinsmann puts Castillo out there? I guess?? Orozco? Besler? Birnbaum? Whoever is over there, Brooks or Cameron are going to have to either cheat over, or just cross their fingers and hope.

I do like the matchup in the middle. Where I think Jones and Bradley can, hopefully, settle things down a bit and work through Dempsey to create chances.

I'm not saying we're going to lose, but a lot of pundits I'm reading are all "Whew, not Brazil..." and, yeah, fine. But this is a team that beat Argentina in Buenos Aries and, again, is not typically a style the US deals with very well (high press, extremely fast out wide and up top.)

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 2:20 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote:I'm seeing where the US are slight favorites going into the game on TH. And, I guess.. home soil and all.

But I don't like this match-up one bit.

1) The friendly from last month is total fool's gold. Both teams, but particularly Ecuador, were playing that game to a) get touches, b) a bit of cohesion, c) gain some fitness, d) NOT GET HURT.

2) Point "d" leads me to the next key... More than most teams, when Ecuador flips a switch into high gear... Absolute bedlam ensues. Guess who doesn't deal well with that?

3) Yedlin getting tossed is a HUGE DEAL for this game. Ecuador's outside wingers can FLY, as can their forwards, particularly Enner Valencia. I imagine Klinsmann puts Castillo out there? I guess?? Orozco? Besler? Birnbaum? Whoever is over there, Brooks or Cameron are going to have to either cheat over, or just cross their fingers and hope.

I do like the matchup in the middle. Where I think Jones and Bradley can, hopefully, settle things down a bit and work through Dempsey to create chances.

I'm not saying we're going to lose, but a lot of pundits I'm reading are all "Whew, not Brazil..." and, yeah, fine. But this is a team that beat Argentina in Buenos Aries and, again, is not typically a style the US deals with very well (high press, extremely fast out wide and up top.)

100% agree, and I'll say Ecuador should be favored. I'd much rather have finished in second and played Peru, of course. And in retrospect, Ecuador might be a tougher opponent than Brazil. Without Yedlin's speed, we are going to have a really hard time. Might need to go into a more defensive mode and play for the counter attack, mostly as a means of avoiding Ecuador's counter attack. Zardes in a more defensive role isn't a bad idea. I could see putting Cameron at right back, and putting Besler in center. More likely, since Brooks and Cameron have partnered well, putting Besler at left back and Johnson at right. I don't think Besler is fast enough. I don't think Cameron is either. Fuck, I don't like this matchup at all. But hey, we won the group so we keep Jurgen!

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:22 pm

Hey you party poopers, are we supposed to be upset about Mexico losing too?

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:42 pm

Think Venezuela is a bit of a sleeping giant in the sport. Fourth biggest country in CONMEBOL, big enough that soccer can coexist with beisbol.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:44 pm

Chicarito with the DDT takedown.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:47 pm

Yep. The other kid 1 min earlier had a nasty sequence too. Has to be 2-1.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:51 pm

Oh bicycle. This tourney is lots of fun.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:06 pm

brian wrote:By the way I'll bet my left nut Brazil gets a penalty shot in the last 8 minutes here.

So how did the removal process go?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:18 pm

Rex wrote:Think Venezuela is a bit of a sleeping giant in the sport. Fourth biggest country in CONMEBOL, big enough that soccer can coexist with beisbol.

and beauty pageants

Post by **brian** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 11:08 pm

...but not a functioning economy.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 5:55 am

HaulCitgo wrote:Oh bicycle. This tourney is lots of fun.

I very much enjoyed the second half of MEX/VEN.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:18 am

degenerasian wrote:
sancarlos wrote:How does Barcelona get off barring Neymar from playing in Copa? Aren't all their other stars representing their countries this week?
Brazil wants to use Neymar in the Olympics so Barca said you can only use him in one tournament, you pick. They chose the Olympics.

Yes they want to rest him and actually give him some time off from Soccer...so he can play in the WSOP.
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/n ... eat-061316

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 11:44 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:
degenerasian wrote:
sancarlos wrote:How does Barcelona get off barring Neymar from playing in Copa? Aren't all their other stars representing their countries this week?
Brazil wants to use Neymar in the Olympics so Barca said you can only use him in one tournament, you pick. They chose the Olympics.
Yes they want to rest him and actually give him some time off from Soccer...so he can play in the WSOP.
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/n ... eat-061316

ha!

I love that he played two satellites to get in!

Post by **Sabo** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 3:11 pm

Dunga fired by Brazil.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 6:09 pm

Will Brazil ever hire a foreigner? Pelligrini and Sampeoli are out there.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 6:25 pm

degenerasian wrote:Will Brazil ever hire a foreigner? Pelligrini and Sampeoli are out there.

Might also be able to pry Klinsmann away. [blushes]

Post by **Shirley** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 11:56 pm

Did you guys see Messi nutmeg the keeper tonight? Too bad he was offside. It was nasty.

https://vine.co/v/iLYM336jPMa

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:56 pm

Mexico facing the music for "Puta!" chant.

This will be fun.

Post by **brian** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:06 pm

They should make them play all of their Hex home games in front of empty stadiums. That would be hilarious.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:22 pm

Just make 'em Russia's next opponent.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:21 pm

Oh gawd 9:30...

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:09 pm

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:54 pm

this start is not inspiring confidence

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:57 pm

shit that was nice

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:58 pm

Sweet reverse hex, bronto

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:02 pm

Don't know why everyone thinks this game is evenly matched. An entire country should be able to beat East Carolina University.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:05 pm

Yeah, but University of South Alabama?

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:07 pm

Had the same thought. Those Pirates are tough.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:09 pm

howard wrote:Had the same thought. Those Pirates are tough.

I think you're thinking of Somalia's soccer team.

Post by **Sabo** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:18 pm

After seeing that Zardes' first touch video earlier this week, I've been paying attention to his first touch this game.

All I can say is he's consistent. And that ain't good.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:19 pm

bedoyargh

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:27 pm

Can we get the 5 goals we need to make me feel comfortable?

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:29 pm

How many bad giveaways has Bradley had? At least three?

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:33 pm

The midfield has not covered itself in glory for sure.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:49 pm

What in the world was Jones booked for?

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:50 pm

brian wrote:What in the world was Jones booked for?

Sort of fist sort of in face.

Fuck.

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:50 pm

Geez, this is uglier than the hoops. Maybe Jermaine said something?

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:51 pm

Not sure if worthy of a booking but dumb as shit.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:55 pm

brian wrote:Not sure if worthy of a booking but dumb as shit.

Just walk away Jermaine /theleftbanke

Post by **brian** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:02 pm

Sabo wrote:After seeing that Zardes' first touch video earlier this week, I've been paying attention to his first touch this game.

All I can say is he's consistent. And that ain't good.

Nice first touch on that goal though.