El Salvador? Seriously? WTF? I have said it before, and I will say it again, Team USA is the MOST underated and underappreciated team in the world. We had a home match and more Hondurans showed up than Americans. That is sad. This team has talent and will shock the world. Book it. BTW, I wish D-Ro was still on the Dynamo, it just isn't the same without him...
It was a good result for the US, but there are still problems. I'm very concerned about the depth at outside back. Spector and Bornstein did very well last night, but what's behind them? I'd rather not see Marvell Wynne back there any more. I've never been a Steve Cherundolo fan. Heath Pearce is OK. Beasley should never play there again. I though he was going to find a way to let Honduras tie it up last night. I'm glad Bradley made the change to Feilhaber in the 2nd half. That clearly changed the game for the US, having a more offensive minded center mid. Watching Masteroni these last 2 games, I'm wondering if his window to be effective at this level has passed him by. Clark have a very good game on both sides of the field...though I'd like to see him more willing to make the run forward and hit a shot from distance. Connor Casey did nothing to impress me other than collect an impressive number of fouls. He had a great opportunity in the 1st half, only to put it in the upper deck. You have to put those on goal. A win is a win, but I wanted to see a better showing. They did show heart and hustle. I think the same lineup, but with Bradley in for Masteroni and Ching in for Casey would have done much better. Hopefully, we'll be able to see a full squad for Mexico. I'd like to see a good showing for the Confed. Cup, but at this point, I want to make sure we have healthy bodies for the next qualifier in Mexico City. A win there would bury Mexico and all but guarantee the US's spot in 2010.
Crazy to think that the world cup is one more summer away...seems like yesterday. On the Qualifiers, Mexico really misses the experience of rafa; yet many mexican fans want him out. So what if he is male model too, appreciate the guy. I'm glad E.S won the game. The mexican players were acting like complete Dbags to the salvadoran media the day prior to the game.
All right. I know everyone's waiting for my response. I'll stay respectful to all of you... Historic wins happened yesterday. U.S. beating Honduras for their first ever loss in U.S. soil in qualifiers and El Salvador beating Mexico for the first time in 10+ years at El Salvador in any type of match. Congrats, U.S., on beating HON on a handball and a gimme loose ball. I'll start cheering for you when you create a great opportunity, kill the goalie with an awesome shot like you did Sanchez in 2007, or when you run circles around defenders. Clearly, none of that happened yesterday. It seems Beasley woke up too late. Clark did a good job hustling and not losing the ball as much. Y'all need Ching big time. Dempsey was non-existent, either, save for a couple of shots directly at the goalie. Clint needs to go... losing the ball like that to Pavon and the Honduran midfield was terrible... he didn't mess up that bad after that, but he was instrumental only on the corner and hustling for the ball. It seems he's not a threat with the ball on his feet anymore like he was way back. Put HOLDEN in there... give him a chance, darn it! Pizza, the U.S.A. is probably the only team that plays as a visiting team no matter WHERE they play. Until the United States crowds realize the extent of "home field advantage" in football, it will never happen. Look at El Salvador's crowd... that was a SEA of BLUE... I kind of feel happy they got what they went there to see... I was at my Salvadorian uncle's house and he was ecstatic... he taunted us Mexicans many times and he rightfully had the reasons... they earned their game. More power to El Salvador's team, who are coached by none other than a Mexican De Los Cobos... Blanco was moving the ball and handing out chances like crazy, yet no one capitalized. He should have been there from the beginning and I am expecting him to start in the 10th of June's game. I wished I could see Pardo and Blanco together... but I don't think it will happen. Darn you, MIGUEL. Darn you. Too many of us remember what he did to Cobi in 2002, and what he does against other teams after that. Too much of a hot head to be in the team. That's another reason Oswaldo Sanchez is no longer there. You apparently only saw the tail end of that... the Salvadorian media had been dBags to anyone coming to Cuscatlan forever. I can cite some examples if you'd like. Two wrongs don't make a right, though, and they shouldn't retaliate. I give you that much. See y'all on Wednesday, folks interested in talking about Italy.
It really pisses me off that El Salvador slacked off on defense in the game against the US. They really should have won that game, and they'd be sitting at 7 pts right now, instead of 5.
I talked to my uncle about that. I hated the fact that they gave up a 2 goal differential to the Estadounidenses... De Los Cobos must have learned from that game to keep the Mexicans off with more defense... I really hope El Salvador makes it to the next round. They've come a LONG way and deserve it.
There was also the penalty that wasn't called against Rico that should have been. I will agree that Ching is a must for this team right now and that we need stronger home field crowds. Playing that game in Chicago was a dumb decision by the US Fed. However, the rest of your post is just sour grapes.
You call sour grapes the fact that I am pointing out that your team can't manufacture a score and wait until a defender touches the ball with their hand? What do you think the U.S. will do in the Confederations Cup? Will they represent CONCACAF well?
That says something about Team USA. They don't get the respect they deserve, and yet, they still make noise. I know you wanna dog them for the goals they got, but does it matter how they score? Nope. A goal is a goal. Tell the spurs that ugly doesn't work, they'll show you some rings. I don't care how or what other football fans expect, as a soccer fan I just want wins. Right now, team USA is in second place and Mexico is struggling to qualify. I'll gladly take that.
Wrong. See Canada. I think it has more to do with immigration and soccer's lack of popularity in Canada and the United States. So when there's a game, the passionate fans from down south are all over it while most Canadians and Americans don't even care.
Where did the corner come from that created the 2nd goal? It came from a well drawn out possession that led to the corner. Then it was a nicely placed corner to the back post, headed back to the middle, and finished. What exactly wasn't created there? If that defender doesn't use his hand, Donovan has a 1v1 with the keeper. I'll take Donovan in that one. So f***ing what if it was a PK? A goal is a goal is a goal. Honestly, I don't care about the Confed Cup. I'd like a good showing, but in a group with Italy, Brazil, and Egypt, I'd be happy with 3 points and everyone making it out healthy. It's good experience for the younger players, but who honestly cares if they win the thing or not? You say it's not sour grapes? I think you're just stewing right now. Mexico has the most losses in CONCACAF. That must really suck for you.
So now scores on corners don't count? How about the goal we scored to pull within 2-1 against El Salvador IN El Salvador? Didn't it take the Mexican National Team drawing a phantom penalty to get that first goal? How about the three we put on T&T, all from the run of play? Do those not count? When do goals scored from the run of play count and when don't they count? It's important to know.
Exactly, who gives a fliying **** if it one of them was PK. Clark was tripped up in what looked like should have been a PK earlier in the game too. Don't act like you wouldn't love to have scored some goals against E.S. no matter how they happen. A goal is a freaking goal. USA! USA!
WTF was Bradley thinking with that move? Bornstein was doing OK at left back, but he decides to move Bornstein to right mid and put Beasley at left back??? I guess things weren't exciting enough beforehand. Our depth at outside back (especially on the left) and forward is pretty scary. I think Cherundolo is good enough on the right, and Hejduk is serviceable but will probably be too old to make a difference in South Africa and relying on him too much to get us there could come back to hurt us. One of Spector's greatest strengths is his ability to play anywhere in the back line, once Cherundolo is healthy it would be nice to try Spector on the left to see how he does. And if Conor Casey is our third best forward we're in trouble.
We need Donavan and Adu in the midfield .....we have to get more offensively minded midfielders...also missing Bradley there hurt as well. Adu creates so much with the ball, not sure why he doesn't get more run. Dempsey is really dissappointing, but he plays as a Striker for Fulham I believe so midfield is not his strength. Bradley needs to get a set rotation going as it looks like we will get into the WC with 10 points half way through qualifying...looks like 15 or 16 will get us in.....and we have 5 matches to get 5 points. At the end of the day, I can not believe Mexico is playing so poorly, they really need to pick it up to get in... DD
