USMNT v. Guatemala

It's called ambient lighting, don't ya know. Live from the Stadium of Candlelight in Guatemala. I'm guessing they don't play many night games down there.

Who'd have thunk it, but there really is an occasion where chelski's neon yellows would be desirable.

As for the game, not much good to say so far.

 

The US get a 1-0 win. A very, very, very ugly 1-0 win but a win none-the-less.

 

props to Boca for shaking free for the goal. The Guatemalans were dirty as can be, and it as a tough match to watch, because you could feel a moment like the Lewis 50-50 challenge coming. Ruiz is an absolute prick. Landon played like Landon, and literally jumped out of at least 3 tackles, pansy. Not usually a fan of DaMarcus, but he helped when we needed to knock it around, spraying good passes all over.

 

I know a man when I see one, my man, McBride, and Ching in that order.

BTW, why did we spend the last bazillion minutes in our defensive end. We were the better team, why didnt they at least send some balls into space or something. seemed slightly retarded to me. Thoughts?

Finally, the ref should be reprimanded, suspended, something. the game was way out of hand. If it's the environment then dont allow matches there. This is my first time following WC qualifiers from beg. to end and I am pissed about what I saw tonight.

Final finally -- we had Howard and they didnt!

 

A little post match analysis (aka my opinion)

Forwards - Ching and Dempsey is a poor pairing in my opinion because they both offer the same qualities up front. I would prefer to see Demps move back and Donovan up front to offer a little speed. No complaints with either Dempsey or Ching because they received poor service all night. I still think that Cooper and Jozy up front offer more than either Dempsey or Ching.

Midfield - I am having a hard time figuring out why everyone thinks this is our strongest position yet Mr. Bradley keeps throwing out the same guys who keep performing poorly.

Donovan - looked lost on the right wing. I am beginning to think Bob has a height requirement to play in the middle of the field.

M. Bradley - His performances for the national team really seem to be going backwards. He looks good at times but disappears for long streches of the match and his passing was poor tonight.

Pablo - He may add a bit of toughness to the midfield but his passing was atrocious tonight. Way to many bad give aways.

Lewis - Has looked good leading up the this match but he never seemed very involved.

Defense

Dolo - Lost his composure. Had one or two nice moments going forward but not much else in the positive column.

Gooch - Gooch seemed to win every ball in the air and for as much pressure as the back four were put under tonight he seemed to go unnoticed and for a CB that is a good thing.

Boca - quite probably the man of the match.

Pearce - semed to struggle with the pace on his side of the field. He did not get forward much but that may have been the game plan.

Timmy - Nice job in front of the net.

Subs

Beasley made a significant impact. Provided a nice corner kick and Pearce looked better after DMB came on.

Edu played well while he was in. I really want to see more of Maurice in the middle of the park as a ball winner.

Hejduk looked shaky.

 

Pissed may just be an under reaction Mo.

 

Oh come on Mo! Its tradition. I love games like this, even though we end up getting screwed 9 times out of 10 in them, they're great! In addition to the Ruiz hack job, the stiff arm close line on Lewis, and 100 million other little things did ya see the guy try to kick Boca right after he scored the goal?!

In all seriousness though I don't want the world and all its contents sanitized. The PC, fair play, consider the children BS has gone way to far. Don't take my qualies away Mo cause you can't stomach a bit of gamesmanship.

That feels better...


Yeah Tim Howards the man and that Boc-En-eg-eRRa guy should play for Fulham.

 

These guys showed a lot of heart and guts.... I love that. Boca and Gooch: Men of the Match. I'd take Boca over Konch anyday!

 

Well, I was right about Boca knocking in a corner anyway.

 

That was a brawl that at times turned into a soccer match. Typical Guatemala, grab, hold, elbow, kick, dive like no other team I've ever seen. Frankly they are an embarassment to the game, easily the dirtiest team in CONCACAF.

Agree w/Barry on assessments, except for one thing...when has Pablo ever passed well?? He is a tough guy, a faithful servant, but he's a walking yellow card, and frankly shouldn't see the field in a USMNT uniform again.

 

I have yet to read a match report, but saw the scoreline. So tell me, from a fan's perspective. Was it the gruelling 90 minutes that grinded away with cheap shot after cheap shot on top of defending that I expected?

Glad to see that Boca got the goal.

 

Dirty Guats. Good riddance to that poorly lit landfill, they call a stadium.

 

I think Ching was the right choice for forward in this game. He has the toughness and holding ability we needed to control the flow of this game. Cooper is a better out an out scorer, but he'd have been hacked to pieces in this game.

Pearce will get a lot of stick for his performance, but I think it has to do more with having Eddie Lewis in front of him than his individual performance. For proof, just look how much improved Pearce looked after Beasley came into the game. Lewis, I feel bad for him because of the mugging he took, but he can't handle this type of game... AT ALL.

'Dolo - played well, but he lost his cool and that's unexcusable in this type of game.

Gooch/Boca - possibly the best I've ever seen them play together.

Think how badly Freddy would've been hurt in this game if he'd have played...

Ruiz - I hope he gets a warm reception back in the MLS...I'm thinking solid boobirds every time he touches the ball, not to mention the shoulder bumps in the locker room. It's bad enough that he pulls that crap at the club level, but kicking the USMNT goalie in the head is a good way to earn permanent emnity.

 

Twellman has been hurt. Also, he's not good enough to get any more calls.

 

Observations:
Ching - agreed with the announcer that he got stronger when the match progressed - especially at the end.
Demps - tough - didn't get the ball enough to be truly effective
Lewis - this game was too fast for him and he was getting beat up too much - should have been subbed at the half. I am glad he was able to walk off from that collision.
Pablo - tough guy in the middle - probably needed in this game b/c he dishes it out too - got cheap shotted from behind with a no call by the ref.
Bradley - I like him, but not enough positive play from him - between him and Mastro, not enough creativity, but a lot of defense. Made a risky tackle on Pando near the end from behind.
LD - seems like he disappeared in this match - bummed out about that. He did not use the speed we oh so dearly needed in the match.
Pearce - can possibly be exposed by the speed, but had no midfield help until Beas came in. Improved at the end
Boca - Rennes will benefit where FFC should have
Gooch - better - seems to be improving his game - no dumb fouls and his distribution is a little better each game.
Dolo - solid except for the mental errors.
Howard - stud
Hejduk - good at being an agitator without getting into fights - fit well into this game.
Beas - instantly changed the game for the better
Edu - I liked what I saw - the CB position in the Olympics helped him for the defensive role he played against the Guats.

I think we got lucky to get the goal - another set piece - glad we can take advantage of them. We need to put more together. There has to be more of an attack with opportunities - we are not currently known for our outside shooting ability. Also where are the through runs, where is the midfield control? I hate sitting back and staving off the other team's attack. We have to do more than string 3-4 passes together. Once we passed it around more at the end, it was frustrating the Guat midfield.

Guats - dirty divers that complain way too much. How many snipers were at the top of the stadium shooting their players in that game? Overall, they did outplay us, so that is the disappointing part. That winger created a lot of problems. Pando played well in the middle when he was not writhing on the ground. I was bummed that he crapped out at the Galaxy. Ruiz is a jerk. Things will never change. I thought that when he came back to the Galaxy that he would be a poison. I think the deal is in motion to ship him to TFC anyway. See ya jerk.

Ref - lost control early, tried to establish some control, but not effective. I was yelling for the red when Lewis got hammered, so I am glad he did the right thing - completely reckless challenge.

When Boca scored, I jumped up and screamed. I watched the game this morning (had to work late last night and also watched women's volleyball), and my wife said it startled my son (14-15 months). He was ok when I was doing victory laps around the house and saying Boca Boca Boca to him.

 

Hehe, you should read what the press had asked Bradley after the match.

 

Actually, i think that is quite witty...hilarious! Sublicon in as the next USMNT manager when Bradley goes!