U.S.A v. Mexico

Don, what the hell did you think was so wrong with Convey?
Not M.O.M. by any means, but I think he actually had more time on the ball then Dempsey.

Jimmy Conrad, M.O.M. no doubt. For chrissake, how can there not be a European team that thinks he's worth a flyer? Sure, he might only play inspired ball for the Stars and Stripes, but wouldn't it be worth a shot to see if he could play like that for a Club team?

Great, freakin' result, and all you naysayers should be deeply, apologetically ashamed.

Bradley for President!! (Okay, not yet, but I am willing to give him many more chances now.)

 

A great win last night. It had all the makings of a 0-0 draw, but the US pulled it out. The first half was absolutely horrid on both sides. The passing was terrible and there was absolutely no flow to the match at all.

The second half was much more inspiring from both sides. Even after the US went up one goal, the Mexicans looked to be the aggressor and looked to be the team that might score the next goal. Fortunately, the US scored another and that was all she wrote.

I know there are a lot of naysayers out there, but Landon Donovan was quality last night. He did very little at the World Cup, but when he is on his game, he is a heck of a player. He has pace, quickness and can do some things with the ball that few other Americans can do. While I have not agree with his career decisions, I have to pat him on the back for a job well done.

Lastly, I am sure I am in the minority on this one, but neither the US nor Mexico are very good right now. I think both of these teams would get their asses handed to them by a good number of European and South American teams. I would hope that was not the case, but after the World Cup in which neither team was impressive and after this match, I have not been too terribly impresses with either team.

As Americans, we need to quit using Mexico as a measuring stick in our growth as a soccer nation. Yes, five years ago they were the team to beat for us, but if the US has aspirations of becoming a great footballing nation, they need to look beyond Mexico and realize that even though they won last night, there is a lot of work to do to get better and compete with the bigger countries around the world.

The US-Mexico rivalry is fantastic, but it is not the be all, end all for this nation's soccer future. It helps beating them, but there are bigger fish to fry.

 

Here, here.

Especially since Mexico really isn't competitive with us any more.

Ha-haaaaa!! (Picture me gloating.)

 

Tom, I have been thinking the same thing about Mexico. They make for a great regional rival and the games are fun, but you are 100% correct: they should not be our measuring stick. A few years ago, they were. But we have advanced a bit and Mexico has stayed about the same or even regressed. Beating Mexico doesn't make us a great, or even a good, team.

I'm also with you on Donovan. He has the talent and plays very well when he is motivated. God only knows what motivates him, though. His run on the 2nd goal was pure class. I think the Mexico keeper is still on the pitch looking for his jock :twisted:

 

A couple of reflections;

Nice win, but when the best play in the midfield all night was by the ref on the second goal it is a bit of a concern.

Can Bradley get Eddie Johnson pointed in the right direction?? We're all quick to bury a kid for a perceived bad attitude, but frankly the U.S. needs him in a big way.

I like Eric Wynalda's non-PC Johnny Miller-like commentary, but did he forget Bobby Convey had knee surgery and has played sparingly the last 3 months??

Mexico will always be our arch-rival, but we have to that "anyone, anytime, anywhere" mentality when it comes to our schedule. If that means playing the France's, Italy's, etc.. in their backyard so be it.

 

So lets get this straight the US is coming off a horrid world cup, we've got an interim coach, a bunch of are better players just called it quits, the programs in disarray, we call in a second team line up. Where as Mexico has a new coach everyone is juiced about, they call in the their best possible team, and tell everyone their priority is to WIN...........

And we still beat those little PUNKS 2-0 :3d laughing:

Well done, I was proud of the team last night. I wasn't looking forward to it that much, but as soon as it came on I was instantly pumped. I thought the game was excellent, particularly by international friendly standards.

Bravo to Bradley for pulling the armband from Donovan and handing it to Mastro! Donovan it appears responded positively, although if it weren't for the goal I don't think anyone would be making much of LD's performance.

btw am I the only one that sees Mastroni and Micheal Brown as remarkably similar players?

Boca, Conrad, Mastro, Bornstien, Howard, Dempsey were good. Donovan was mixed.

Convey was good considering the conditions.

Clarke?? I don't know if he's worthy of the hype he's given in MLS circles, you can see the potential, I guess its all a matter of how he comes along.

And oh yeah, Mexico really are a classless bunch! Won't shake hands?? wtf, Sanchez clearly tried to take out Johnson after the goal, and Baptista should have no problem medaling in the high dive in Beijing next year.

On to the Copa we GO!

 

I agree. Anyone notice that we always seem to play our WC qualifiers against teams like Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, but always seem to get our asses handed to us ('02 notwithstanding) when up against real competition? I think it's time to follow the suit of mid-major college football teams: schedule the big boys (Argentina, Italy, England, Brazil, etc.), and while we may initially get the hell beat out of us, it will eventually pay off, as that kind of experience is always good. Who knows? Maybe we'll even start expecting an '02 WC-like result every four years, instead of being surprised and hanging our hats on outdated bragging rights. That being said, it is nice to get an excellent result and see our boys with a win!

 

I know you guys missed me in the chatroom last night...
How do I know?

Because I was there and you werent and the US still managed to win.
Chat login worked.

With me were LeoUSA, and MattUSA who joined me referred by my post on the offal.
Matt had never heard of FUSA

 

Wynalda and the Bruce are something else in the booth together - they're both just so very very blunt.

 

Considering where we are in the four year cycle, why not go into the summer tournaments mixing the new guys who have shown some spark with some of the younger vets and see if they can gel? Assuming everyone is available, how about this line up:
--------------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------------
----------Cherundolo--------Onyewu------Conrad------------Bornstein------------
-------------------------------------Bocanegra----------------------------------------
----------Mapp-----------------------Clark---------------------------Beasley--------
---------------------Dempsey------------------Donovan-----------------------------

 

Don't like your midfield, mate. Do kind of look at your Bocanegra placement with interest, though.

Here's my go at it:

Keeper: Same.

Backfield: Same, with Conrad, DeMerit, or Spector next to the REALLY big guy, and Bornstein, but with a watchful eye on Gibbs return from injury.

Midfield: Mapp, Beasley, Bocanegra or Mastroeni, Convey

Forwards: Same.

Lots of "or's", but too many guys at the same level these days.

 

The US were the better team despite Mexico's "A" squad, the "home" crowd, and the "talent;" as they actually made most of their chances and weren't "classy" enough to leave the field without shaking hands and go after players after goals were scored.

I liked Bornstein and Clark; I can see them being USMNT regulars in the future. Jimmy Conrad was great; he just made the USMNT CB pool a lot better if he can continue being that strong in the backline (sorry DeMerit). Donovan, despite all the haters, does not suck; where as Chris Rolfe and Eddie Johnson do.

Arena and Wynalda were dead right at halftime, the USSF either needs to give Bradley the head coaching job for real (I have no objections to it now) or give it to someone else.

I think CONCACAF/FIFA decides the WC qualifiers, not the USSF.

While it would be nice if the US national team played abroad and against different, stronger competition; I wonder whether the other teams would agree to such games? I mean, if I'm Italy or England, I'd likely prefer to have friendlies against potential Euro 2008 opponents. Plus, the USSF wouldn't be the only ones "competing" for friendlies against stronger opponents. Still, I see your point.

 

I know it was one game, but is Conrad a potential center back for a certain English team that can't seem to find one?

 

I will give Conrad his props for a nice game, but I do not see him as Premiership quality. Perhaps others think differently, but I do not think he has the speed, strength and physical presence needed to defend in the Premiership. He does have heart and energy which does go a long way, but I think it would be a big gamble for Fulham or any other Premiership club to bring him in and expect him to play consistently well. As Radiohead sings about though, "I Might Be Wrong."

 

But those are the two things missing on Team USA. I actually think Dempsey and Donovan may not be a bad combo. Both possession strikers, and Dempsey has a rocket.

 

I don't know about anybody else, but that Conrad header was the best goal I've seen this year...Ha...

I hate Mexico so much.

 

I attended a coach training session with Steve Sampson today. He did a game analysis. When I was watching I thought Mexico was creating the more dangerous chances. He broke it down as to why. Part of that was fitness in that the Mexican players are into their season. Part is that the Mexicans support and change the point of attack better. Bradley also put some young players in difficult situations to see how they would respond. Bornstein did really well. Rolfe not so well. SS mentioned that Rolfe and Donovan are both players that want to slash and not play with their backs to the goal. They ended up being too separated and not supporting each other. SS said it's to Bradley's credit he was not worried about exposing new players to our ultimate "friendly" nor how it would affect his interim tag.