October 10th USA v. Mexico @ Rose Bowl

[wlu_lax6]

Figure this is a good way to kick off a thread for the next game.

Well Done TV Azteca...Well Done.
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ht: SoccerByIves

[wlu_lax6]

I put my name in for the ticket lottery. Will not be able to get out to LA so if I do get a shot a tickets...anyone want them. Will find out the middle of next week.

Note: I have been in the Masters lottery for nearly 20 years and never hit, so my chance seem low.

[mister d]

Is there a time yet?

[Keg]

I put my name in for the ticket lottery. Will not be able to get out to LA so if I do get a shot a tickets...anyone want them. Will find out the middle of next week.

Note: I have been in the Masters lottery for nearly 20 years and never hit, so my chance seem low.

I'll take them.

[Keg]

Signed up for two spots in the lottery...

[The Sybian]

Signed up for two spots in the lottery...

One as an American, one as a Mexican?

[Keg]

Signed up for two spots in the lottery...

One as an American, one as a Mexican?

One American and one Neutral...I figured the odds would be worse for the Mexican side.

[Keg]

Looks like I am in! My pops scored 4 tix on the Mexico side.

[mister d]

Guardado out seems like a pretty big deal, eh?

[wlu_lax6]

Looks like I am in! My pops scored 4 tix on the Mexico side.

I did not get selected in the lottery, but will be more than happy to mail you my swamp-gifted Bradley jersey if you wear it in the Mexico section. I mean it is way too clean and does not smell like Urine yet.

[wlu_lax6]

Guardado out seems like a pretty big deal, eh?

Mexico is still deep and currently in way better form than the U.S. I like the turmoil with coaching for El Tri. This game won't be as bad as playing in Mexico City but it won't be a home game like Seattle or Columbus. Mexico wins this one..dos a cero.

[wlu_lax6]

no Dos Santos for Mexico.

Tim Howard on his way


So is Rimando

[rass]

Figure this is a good way to kick off a thread for the next game.

Well Done TV Azteca...Well Done.
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ht: SoccerByIves

Uhhhh....

[brian]

Jesus, Fox sucks so bad.

[Keg]

Should I wear my Trump hat to the game?

[The Sybian]

Should I wear my Trump hat to the game?

If you do, we'll miss you. And name the next Swamp racing team in your memory.

[rass]

Damn syb. That was dark.

[howard]

Ah, those boos as the Mexico squad enters the Rose Bowl are music to my ears.

[Steve of phpBB]

Well, the US U-23s got dos a ceroed by Honduras today, in front of about 17 people at Rio Tinto Stadium (6 of whom were my group). It was grim. I hope the big boys do better.

[mister d]

Nope.

[howard]

yep

[rass]

yep

So soccer brings out the optimist in howard.

[howard]

So soccer brings out the optimist in howard in odd-numbered years.

fify

[Rex]

I haven't thought that Guzan vs. Howard was that important a decision tonight, but just note that Howard would have literally killed someone in that scrum.

[degenerasian]

it should be 3-on-3 overtime

[Rex]

the US is to extra time what England is to penalties

[brian]

Probably just as well as Mexico will probably be killed by terrorists in 2017. I wish that was a bad joke but it's entirely plausible.

[howard]

In Mexico or in Russia? 50:50 I guess.

[mister d]

Do I get some kind of fan badge for staying up?

[HaulCitgo]

Don't know if everyone is still too stunned to comment but a great game. Didn't dissapoint at all. If they could play more games like that both teams would be better. I'd say the lesson is that everyone needs to step it up a half notch. Then another half notch after that to compete with the best. Tough sledding but on the right road. Can hold their head high.

[wlu_lax6]

So Johnson is dismissed from the Costa Rica game so he can "rethink his approach to the team". They say it was because he was took himself out of the game at 111th minute when it was 2-2.

http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/stor ... om-us-camp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Nonlinear FC]

I hated the result, but I would agree with many... Probably the most entertaining US - MEX game in terms of the actual play on the field. Proud of the US for not folding up when they got down early.

Beyond that, still feeling like the team is a bit untethered right now.

[mister d]

Is our midfield really shitty or am I really shitty at watching games?

[P.D.X.]

Is our midfield really shitty or am I really shitty at watching games?

Bradley was the best player on the pitch for us. Beckerman needs to be put out to pasture, especially in these face-paced games against a technically-superior opponent. Jones is fine, but had a frustrating game. All in all, the performance fell short of our abilities.

[mister d]

Good. I loved JJ (no idea if people actually call him that) in the last World Cup but he looked bad. And Beckerman is a 30+ year old white dude with dreads.

[Steve of phpBB]

And Beckerman is a 30+ year old white dude with dreads.

... who is my 12-year-old daughter's favorite player.

She is going to be trouble.

[The Sybian]

I've been too depressed about this game to even open the thread until now. Surprised to see a lack of criticism of the team, the starting XI and the tactics. I didn't like the lineup from the start. Jurgen has gone with Bradley, Beckerman and Jones together before, and it doesn't work. I love Beckerman, but he is too slow and not technically gifted enough to play against quality teams. Jones had a decent game, but he isn't an outside midfielder. Jozy should be paired with a speedy partner to play off of, and draw defenders away to get Jozy space. Jozy isn't going to create his own opportunities, and needs a creative midfielder to create opportunities, or a player with good crossing abilities, like Zusi or Brad Evans. Fabian Johnson fits this bill, so at least one guy was in. Zardis can create and cause some problems with his speed, but Yedlin is way more of a threat down the flanks, and has the ability to slip players through, like Wood's goal.

Speaking of Wood, I said before the game he should be playing. He seems to be able to do what Jozy can do, but he is faster and more aggressive. I haven't seen enough of him, but he has looked great when I have seen him. Clint completely disappeared for almost the entire game. I can't remember him having any good games playing up top with Jozy. Maybe put him as an outside midfielder playing more centrally with Fabian behind him playing more of a wingback role.

The USMNT lacks defensive cohesiveness, mostly due to constantly shuffling the back four, so none of these guys seem comfortable together. Beasley was atrocious. He had no ability to contain any of the Mexicans that took him on, and he couldn't get back to cover. He made some decent runs, but gave away the ball too many times. You just can't have a defender on the field who gets physically manhandled by a guy who guys by the name "Little Pea." Come on! Should have started Fabian on the left, and Brad Evans on the right. Cameron had a fantastic game, even if you ignore the goal he scored. Beslar was serviceable.

I thought the gameplan sucked, and it was obviously not working from the start. Jurgen seemed content to sit back and absorb the punches. I don't know if he was looking to score on counters. If he was, he had the wrong personnel to play that strategy. Jozy and Clint don't have the speed to pull off quick counters. Zardes is fast, but I haven't seen that skill set out of him. I've only seen him play with the USMNT, so he may be better on the counter than I realize. Mexico walked through our defense several time early on, but as usual, Jurgen failed to make adjustments. I thought Jurgen waited too long to bring on Yedlin, and he immediately changed the game. I get the idea of bringing him on late as a sub, to blow past the opposition when they start to tire. Jones was clearly hurting for the last 20 minutes of regulation, and should have come off. Before he looked hurt and tired, the announcers discussed Jones coming off an injury (groin?), and gutting it out, knowing he wasn't fit to go the full 90. So hey, let him go 120 and see how that works?

While I'm heartbroken and depressed over the loss, I wasn't that upset when Mexico netted the winner. Mexico dominated the US and completely deserved to win. Hats off to the Mexicans, I underestimated their ability to put it all together in light of the upheaval and run of bad play.