The Association Football Thread

#1,401
#1,401
The Rose Bowl would be packed out for the UCLA/USC game, but we won't pack it out to support our own damn country? Sickening.
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#1,402
#1,402
bleedorange0037 said:
What an unspeakably shameful performance. Did Bob Bradley spend the last 3 days in the lab with John Chavis hammering out the best way to convert the mustang package from the gridiron to the soccer pitch? There is never ever an excuse for blowing a 2 goal lead, it would be like a football team blowing a 4 or 5 touchdown lead. Any sort of decent defensive strategy should make that lead insurmountable. And then, not only did Mexico overcome the 2 goal deficit, they managed to double us up after tying the game.
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Several things happened tonight:

1) We encountered Bradley's typical inability to:

a) implement a tactically sophisticated gameplan, and
b) adjust tactically at halftime

2) We witnessed exactly how thin we are. I'm not saying that if Cherundolo stays in/healthy we hold the two goal lead and win, but Bornstein was clearly outclassed.

3) We witnessed a Mexico team that was fired up/ready to play, and a US team that was asleep at the wheel. Several US players were shadows of themselves tonight (Bradley, Jones, Dempsey, Howard)

4) We witnessed an away game in our own damn country. That crowd had to have been 90/10. Nothing like having no supporters at your home match. Pathetic...

All in all, I truly hope this is the curtain call from Bob. Thanks for your service, time to move on. Sunil needs to pull his head right out of his rear and go to South America or Europe to find a coach who will take us forward. Did Hiddink take the Chelsea gig?
 
#1,404
#1,404
MphsBlues said:
It's a shame. Whether we play in the states or in Mexico, Mexico is the home team.
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One of the most sickening things about this. Booed at the beginning of our national anthem, our team booed at the ceremony afterwards, in our own country. People need to wake up...
 
#1,406
#1,406
zidanefan said:
Several things happened tonight:

1) We encountered Bradley's typical inability to:

a) implement a tactically sophisticated gameplan, and
b) adjust tactically at halftime

2) We witnessed exactly how thin we are. I'm not saying that if Cherundolo stays in/healthy we hold the two goal lead and win, but Bornstein was clearly outclassed.

3) We witnessed a Mexico team that was fired up/ready to play, and a US team that was asleep at the wheel. Several US players were shadows of themselves tonight (Bradley, Jones, Dempsey, Howard)

4) We witnessed an away game in our own damn country. That crowd had to have been 90/10. Nothing like having no supporters at your home match. Pathetic...

All in all, I truly hope this is the curtain call from Bob. Thanks for your service, time to move on. Sunil needs to pull his head right out of his rear and go to South America or Europe to find a coach who will take us forward. Did Hiddink take the Chelsea gig?
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1. I'm not sure what you expect. Agudelo and Kljestan for Bedoya were our only two options with the 2nd sub. All our other attacking players either started or were injured. And we don't exactly have an abundance of outside backs either.

2. Absolutely.

3. I wouldn't include Bradley in that group, but generally agreed.

4. Typical. Yet sickening. Why does this never improve?

Biggest factors, in my opinion:

1. Cherundolo injury. With Chandler back in Germany, we have no passable replacement.

2. The Mexican CM isn't very good. We should've dominated possession. We got none. Jones was the biggest disappointment this side of Bornstein.

3. And Howard, who picked a terrible time to have his worst game.

4. Mexico's attacking four is very fast. Our two center backs are very slow. This is a bad combination.

Positives were volume and quality of scoring chances despite poor possession and the knowledge that it shouldn't get any worse this cycle. Boca was the only field player who will be too old for WC 2014.

Also, this felt like the '95 Florida game. If only we could go 11-1 and beat Ohio State in a bowl.
 
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#1,408
#1,408
MphsBlues said:
Is that right? I haven't paid much attention of late, but I thought we owned Mexico for like 11 of 12 matches.
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We have beaten them in our fair share of important matches since the '02 World Cup. I'd say that since then, we've played six and are 3-3.

2005 WCQ (Columbus): 2-0 USA
2005 WCQ (Mexico City): 2-1 Mexico
2007 GC Final (Chicago): 2-1 USA
2009 WCQ (Columbus): 2-0 USA
2009 WCQ (Mexico City): 2-1 Mexico
2011 GC Final (Pasadena): 4-2 Mexico
 
#1,409
#1,409
Incipient said:
We have beaten them in our fair share of important matches since the '02 World Cup. I'd say that since then, we've played six and are 3-3.

2005 WCQ (Columbus): 2-0 USA
2005 WCQ (Mexico City): 2-1 Mexico
2007 GC Final (Chicago): 2-1 USA
2009 WCQ (Columbus): 2-0 USA
2009 WCQ (Mexico City): 2-1 Mexico
2011 GC Final (Pasadena): 4-2 Mexico
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Thanks. Since the doc told me I could never play again I lost touch (sort of). I did watch tonight, but it was a pitiful showing in the second half.
 
#1,410
#1,410
MphsBlues said:
Thanks. Since the doc told me I could never play again I lost touch (sort of). I did watch tonight, but it was a pitiful showing in the second half.
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You should keep up more, it makes it a lot more enjoyable. Although not on nights like tonight. For those who have been following the team, the scoring ability was the only positive takeaway tonight. Well, that and that Lichaj doesn't look out of his depth. For those who haven't, I'd like to point out the list of players who weren't available tonight:

*Stuart Holden. 25 year old center mid, starts for Bolton in the EPL, knee injury in March. likely USA starter when he returns
*Benny Feilhaber. 26 year old center/attacking mid, starts for New England in the MLS, currently out with injury. Likely key sub when he returns.
*Timothy Chandler. 21 year old right back/right mid. Starter for FC Nuremburg in Die Bundesliga. Held out of the Gold Cup because of fatigue concerns after his rookie season. Likely primary backup to Steve Cherundolo when he returns.
*Jozy Altidore. 21 year old striker for. . . okay, his club situation sucks. Hamstring injury last week, out for a month. Has 12 goals in 39 games for the USA.
 
#1,412
#1,412
I really don't want to see much more of Feilhaber.

Holden should be awesome.

I'm excited about Chandler as long as he doesn't defect to Germany.
 
#1,413
#1,413
tvolsfan said:
I was talking about the crowd. I'm not actually sure that is true, but at least it wasn't all Mexicans, IIRC.
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Make Columbus an exception and I agree.

tvolsfan said:
I really don't want to see much more of Feilhaber.

Holden should be awesome.

I'm excited about Chandler as long as he doesn't defect to Germany.
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Also really excited about Holden and Chandler. All signs point to Chandler playing for the US. He reportedly had a really bad experience in the German youth system (although all these reports and inneundoes feel like college recruiting).

Regarding Feilhaber, he doesn't excite me, but having him on this team would've been an improvement. He would've started over Bedoya. And when you're down late and need an offensive spark off the bench, he's a better option than Kljestan (although Kljestan is still young and could make something of himself). I expect that his Confederations Cup role of subbing on at 70' is what we should expect from him going forward, and I think he could do well in that role.
 
#1,414
#1,414
Incipient said:
Make Columbus an exception and I agree.
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No excuse for me to miss that as I live in central Ohio.

Also really excited about Holden and Chandler. All signs point to Chandler playing for the US. He reportedly had a really bad experience in the German youth system.
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Hope you're right. However, if Germany does come calling, I imagine it would be tough to turn down. I can't help but think he probably feels like a German, and they're my early favorite to win in 2014.
 
#1,415
#1,415
tvolsfan said:
Hope you're right. However, if Germany does come calling, I imagine it would be tough to turn down. I can't help but think he probably feels like a German, and they're my early favorite to win in 2014.
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Just need to get him for one qualifier next June before Germany knocks on his door and he's locked in. He has been asked this question before and been very pro-US. But I'd rather the Germany option be off the table.
 
#1,416
#1,416
Last night was embarrassing for US soccer. Bornstein was getting beat like he stole something. He reminded me of Teddy Gaines trying to keep up with a fast receiver.
You still have to give something to this Mexican team. They are the best I can remember. That Dos Santos goal was just sick.
 
#1,417
#1,417
Panthro said:
Last night was embarrassing for US soccer. Bornstein was getting beat like he stole something. He reminded me of Teddy Gaines trying to keep up with a fast receiver.
You still have to give something to this Mexican team. They are the best I can remember. That Dos Santos goal was just sick.
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Yeah, sickening that our keeper was 40 feet from his own net when the shot was taken. It was well placed, but if Howard wasn't sprawled out on the ground nearly outside the 18, he would have saved it with no problem.
 
#1,418
#1,418
I always take a ton of crap from some of you but it's cool, I never really mind losing to Mexico. I actually pull for them during international play and enjoy their style, along with Brazil. It doesn't sit well with some but it's how I roll.

They simply play "pretty" and I appreciate that style.

Viva Mexico Futbol.
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#1,420
#1,420
TXVOL07 said:
I always take a ton of crap from some of you but it's cool, I never really mind losing to Mexico. I actually pull for them during international play and enjoy their style, along with Brazil. It doesn't sit well with some but it's how I roll.

They simply play "pretty" and I appreciate that style.

Viva Mexico Futbol.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Being a rival trumps being pretty. And preventing us from making the 2013 Confederations Cup trumps being pretty.

So minding wins on at least two levels.
 
#1,423
#1,423
The game went basically how I expected, besides the two early goals.

1. Bornstein simply has no reason to ever be included in the squad EVER again. He was directly at fault for the first two Mexican goals and every goal came from his side.

2. A couple of days ago, I said the clever runs and balls by the Mexicans would give us trouble. That proved to be the case. Our defense just isn't very good positionally and that was the reason for many of their goals and chances.

3. Howard gets way too much praise, IMO. He makes world class saves, but doesn't make plenty of saves that he should. Again, JMO.

4. Adu is exactly what this team needs. His creativity has been sorely lacking for years.
 
#1,424
#1,424
volball625 said:
The game went basically how I expected, besides the two early goals.

1. Bornstein simply has no reason to ever be included in the squad EVER again. He was directly at fault for the first two Mexican goals and every goal came from his side.

2. A couple of days ago, I said the clever runs and balls by the Mexicans would give us trouble. That proved to be the case. Our defense just isn't very good positionally and that was the reason for many of their goals and chances.

3. Howard gets way too much praise, IMO. He makes world class saves, but doesn't make plenty of saves that he should. Again, JMO.

4. Adu is exactly what this team needs. His creativity has been sorely lacking for years.
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Agree with this. The last goal was absolutely embarrassing. If you're going to wander 10 yards out of goal you'd better make damn sure you can get the ball when you do it.
 
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