I'm predicting... Howard Bornstein Onyewu Bocanegra Spector Clark Donovan Dempsey Bradley Davies Altidore
Swoly, teams in Europe laugh at Mexico, they laugh at all the teams over in our region. You may BELIEVE they fear Mexico, but as a guy who lived over there for a few years and visits frequently, the people I talk to do not. DD
What does it matter what other countries, fanaticos or teams, think of the USA MNT. It´s was always going to be tough gettng any respect in a sport the rest of the world dominated. Hell, even the USA Men´s basketball team has taken a slight beating in respect over the last 10 years (sans 2008 Olympics). All that matters is results. Not opinions, not excuses, not anything but results. Everything else is conjecture or wasted bandwith.
I was in the UK 2 weeks ago and had a great discussion on a train from Manchester to London about US soccer, and the fans over there were wondering why with our resources and talent pool we have not done better. I told them because our kids grow up watching baseball, Basketball, and football on TV, and that is what all their friends play, so our better athletes go into those sports rather than soccer. And that while soccer is gaining in popularity, it is still a slow build rather than a quick haul....we need a true professional league that has a good TV contract..... And we need some success on the world stage......American's love success. But, at the end of the day....TV rules.......remember how Hockey got a boost from the 1980 olympics.....where is Hockey today? Exactly.... DD
plcmts17, someone brought up the fact that "the US doesn't get any respect"... and that's why I am citing things about the U.S. compared to things about MEXICO, is all. Thank you very much. arno_ed, your insight brings another point I am making: From 01.01.1872 To 31.12.2010 Mexico 3:1 (1:0) Netherlands - 26/06/1960 Mexico City Friendly Netherlands 1:2 (0:1) Mexico - 19/04/1961 Amsterdam Friendly Mexico 2:3 (0:3) Netherlands - 24/02/1998 Miami Friendly Netherlands 2:2 (2:0) Mexico - 25/06/1998 St. Etienne FIFA World Cup™ Final Netherlands 2:1 (0:1) Mexico - 01/06/2006 Eindhoven Friendly Mexico 2-2-1 against Netherlands From 01.01.1872 To 31.12.2010 USA 0:2 (0:1) Netherlands - 21/02/1998 Miami Friendly USA 0:2 (0:1) Netherlands - 19/05/2002 Foxboro/Boston Friendly Netherlands 1:0 (0:0) USA - 18/02/2004 Amsterdam Friendly USA 0-3-0 against Netherlands <- this is why. You all need the criticism... so you can gain fans like that... those that ask for your team to gain that respect by making better showings than just beating your own region's teams. Who knows... you guys say the U.S. is better NOW than ever... and better than Mexico... OK... but can they beat teams like arno_ed's? I hope they can. I really hope they can.
Come on Swoly, you had to go back HOW many years? The teams in Europe can see that Mexico is no longer a threat, and has even fallen below the USA. They don't fear any of us at all. The best US athletes do not play soccer, we will probably never be a power, I am just hoping for some incremental advances and some creative soccer play. DD
Ok, then. Since '98, 1-2 against your 0-3. Better? Sorry. You're right about falling below. We ain't got it. If U.S. performs better than '98 and 2006 in the Confederations and the WC, they will have MY respect.
No way, he is just a passionate fan about futbol and his side. I can respect that. Honestly, I wish Mexico were better, I miss the USA vs Mexico matches where I felt like both sides were making progress. Now I watch the US matches and think....where is the creativity? Donavan has it, but he needs more players like Altidore who are on the same page... Dempsey, IMO, goes too often for the fancy and not enough for the smart creation of plays... And I miss Eddie Johnson's speed....but not his inability to think. I like Altidore, and Adu, but we need more players playing overseas and getting some premiership experience. DD
Considering we're going to be vastly outclassed by both Brazil and Italy, and hell possibly Egypt, I think a 4-3-3 might be necessary to even attempt to compete in midfield. A 4-4-2 will simply get over run by the other teams in group. I'd like to see: Howard Spector Onyewu Bocanegra Bornstein Clark Bradley Torres/Feilhaber Donovan Dempsey Altidore
Man, I have no idea where you came from but this is absolutely classic. This is what you did to him... Spoiler
3814 is Canadian. Dang. I'm even getting "jabs" from a token Canadian guy. I didn't say BECAUSE OF THAT. You know what it is... your "oh, well, at least we qualified and beat Mexico" gets you nothing. More games tonight (MEX - TRI, SLV - HON), some games to be televised in the wee hours of the morning (AUS? - BAH?) .
Mexico and Honduras will win tonight I think. Anything less will be somewhat of a surprise I think. T&T is without Avery John tonight.
