Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Soccer Futbol Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
USA at CR (WCQ); 6 Sept 13; San Jose, CR
Topic Started: Aug 17 2013, 08:44 AM (1,215 Views)
garbaggio
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Looking forward to the game tonight. I just got around to ordering BeIN Sport and will watch it on about a 90-minute DVR delay after getting home from work. Just gotta avoid one Salvadoran at work to remain unspoiled as to ongoing WCQ results...

Good luck down there, Vince!

AG - pretty sure El Tri is the home team against Honduras tonight.

This is crunch time over the next 4 or 5 days as the Hex teams play their 7th and 8th qualifying games. Obama is supposed to talk to the nation about Syria Tuesday night, don't think that would affect ESPN coverage but its probably good it's not on a network.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Merengue
Administrator
[ *  *  * ]
Gremlin,

It is a Mexico home game. ESPN bought the English language rights for Mexico's home qualifying games and all friendlies whether home or away. Univision has the same rights as ESPN but in Spanish while Telemundo has the away qualifiers in Spanish.
http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
shelsoccer
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Trying to sort through what I just watched ...

Bradley going down in warm-ups was obviously huge. Getting only a cameo out of Jozy didn't help, and he wastes that with a foolish yellow that will keep him out of the Mexico game.

US was absolutely unprepared at the start, and the Ticos came out flying. The US hung on for the rest of the half and pulled one back on a deserved PK by Dempsey that was almost saved.

The US looked like a different team in the second half, with plenty of possession and a Deuce shot off the post that would have tied it. I thought for sure we were going to get at least a point. Then, out of the blue, Costa Rica's Campbell converts a hopeful long ball after out-pacing Besler and going through Howard's legs.

Orozco surprisingly starts at right back and is totally over run, without a lot of help from Zusi or the defensive mids. He settled down, thanks in part to Costa Rica mysteriously deciding to play more centrally in the second half (when they had the ball at all).

In addition to Altidore picking up a second yellow, Cameron and Besler also will miss the Mexico game. Besler's yellow is a mystery, happening off camera. He is not a dirty player. He or, more likely, the linesman got baited by Campbell.

Campbell, btw, is a load.

For all the disappointments, which apparently started upon arrival in San Jose and being given the choice of three crap practice fields, the US still has every reason to believe that it's just a matter of time before it qualifies for Brazil.

Mexico can't say the same. How they react to losing in Azteca to Honduras and possibly a new coach Tuesday in Columbus will be interesting.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
vince stravino
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I just arived back in the hotel and saw Bradley hobbling off the team bus on crutches. That sums it up. Not sure if he turned an ankle in warm-ups or pulled a calf or something else. Not good. Can't imagine he goes Tuesday night in Columbus.

Orozco was definitely targeted in spades early. He cracked or he just does not have it at this level.

Two more goals of headers. At least it looked that way to me. Seems to be a repeating theme and a problem. Brooks will be in the cooker against Mexico. I think Besler got a card for telling a Tico to get up from a dive.

After a ferocious start from CR, the US gained control. I felt like a tying goal was coming with Eddie Johnson, Landon and Dempsey pressing. I didn't happen.

The atmosphere got fairly raucous inside the new Estadio Nacional. It was loud, but the crowd was taken out of it in he second half. Til the third goal...

Altidore's card was had to understand. Was he trying to get it? It looked like Dempsey was miffed getting subbed late. Wonder what Klinsmann was trying to do there?

As previously mentioned, Campbell was just electric for the Ticos. I think he is property of Arsenal (?). He can fly and is smooth with the ball at his feet.

Klinsmann has brought a different mindset, but he has a poor grasp of WCQ in Central America. The squad did no look ready at the opening whistle. Let's see how they bounce back next week.

As far as San Jose, it is progressing. Food and gas are not cheap. The folks, however, are quite gracious and most speak adequate English. I enjoyed Honduras more. CR is a bit too civilized. Almost like the States. Early flight out and a day of sitting in airports...ciao.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
shelsoccer
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Let me add another observation about last night. I didn't like starting Dempsey up front. He's not a target, hold-the-ball forward and his switching constantly with Donovan, who is even less of a target forward, didn't help. I think JK should have started EJ from the get-go.

Now, I do think JK got things sorted out at halftime. I thought his subs were appropriate, though I wasn't enamored with bringing on EJ up front only to quickly shift him to the left when he brought on Jozy.

As for Tuesday, JK faces some decisions. I bet he moves Orozco to central defense along side Gonzalez. Orozco has had success vs. Mexico in the past and knows the Mexican players. Goodson is likely to be called in, but I don't think his height and style offer much vs. Mexico.

Who starts at right back, I have no clue. Will Evans be healthy? If not, maybe it falls to Parkhurst.

If Bradley can't go, I'd start Beckerman. Klejstan is likely to be recalled for insurance.



Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Good observations shelsoccer. I sigend on to discuss the same thing about Dempsey starting up front and switching with Donovan. I think Klinsmann was watching too much of Vicente Del Bosque's and Pep Guardiola's "false nine" attacks. The US needed a center forward and the overall play did imprive as shelsoccer points out, after Johnson was added as a real forward.

Altidore's inclusion was strange and his card was foolish which means the US will be playing short handed against Mexico. Here is a pic of Bradley rolling his ankle last night in warm ups, pretty nasty. I highly doubt we will see him on Tuesday.

Costa Rica came out firing on all cylinders, and the US was lucky to survive those first 30 minutes but then the team regrouped pretty well, even without good midfield play, and did almost tie it up before getting beat on that counter.

I came away with this game with a few additional observations,

-The US really needs Michael Bradley (last loss was vs Belgium, also a game where Bradley DNP)

-Orozco is not a right back

-There is no shame in losing in Costa Rica, hopefully the US got its bad game of the hexagonal out of its system.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rufus T. Firefly
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
New stadium, same result for the US in Costa Rica. We should not really be surprised. Costa Rica looked good with Campbell, Ruiz, Bolanos and Borges all impressing.

They definitely played with a lot of purpose but as others described the US weathered the storm and had their chances but got burned on that late counter with Campbell outrunning the defense.

Not just that play but did anybody else think the US just looked half a step slow in this game?

I thought Orozco was pushing forward way too much for a game away to the team challenging you for first place. A little more stay at home play, like he did in the 2nd half, and the US defense would have been better balanced.

I was disappointed in Jermaine Jones' play, the US needed more from him without Bradley there and Jones runs a lot but misplays too many passes for my liking. And alongside him Cameron, who looked so assured in his previous game at defensive midfield, just never looked comfortable. In a game like this the US missed not only Michael Bradley but also Maurice Edu.

The suspensions and injuries complicate matters for this Tuesday. This will not be an easy game but I'll write more on that game in its own thread.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TonyDE
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
You guys already hit what irritated me about this game-playing Dempsey as a sole forward. The US needed a true forward and improved once one entered the game.

No midfield play from the US. Disppointing from Jones and Cameron, as already discussed, and I would add both Zusi and Fabian Johnson to that list of disappointing players on the night. Cameron tried hitting long balls all game long. That was very disappointing.

Good comments about Orozco pushing forward too much early on.

Wow, the Ticos came to play, no doubt they were fired up for this game. They look pretty good and will be going to Brazil. No disgrace in losing there.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnbuildr
Member Avatar
Advanced member
[ *  *  * ]
Klinnsman needs to start looking harder for another companion midfielder to compliment Bradley instead of acting like Jones is the flat out no brainer answer. He is average at best and totally out manned without Bradley there to covcer for him.

Altidore's dumb ass play probably cost his team big time in Columbus. That was stunningly stupid and uncalled for.

Nothing much has changed in the last year in the back; our back line continues to be shakey and susceptible to headers from about any team on earth. If that doesn't get fixed, don't look for us to get out of group, assuming we make it to Brasil. :(
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
garbaggio
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I only watched the game once and probably don't have the heart to re-watch before the qualifier against Mexico.

Too bad Michael Bradley got hurt but everyone warmed up on the same wet turf. Although he is one of our most important players we seem to have more depth at d-mid than we do at right back where Orozco didn't look adequate.

Very disappointing start for the USMNT but they/we (is it just me who thinks of us after a good performance and them after a poor one!) seemed to improve and get back into the game for the 2nd half.

Joel Campbell's single handed goal decided the game. Quite impressive and praiseworthy for Ticos and a perfect nightmare of everything going wrong for Americans on the play. We often hear coaches and players say that "good things happen when you shoot" but in this case Jozy's blocked shot caromed away and started the counterattack!

Kind of speechless at the dumb challenge by Jozy that earned him the yellow and a suspension against Mexico. If he was in Klinsmann's doghouse earlier this year he may have just earned an extended stay.

I thought Fabian Johnson was a bright spot although I may be basing it mostly on his dangerous shot that forced that great reaction save from Navas.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
libero
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Very disappointing start for the USMNT but they/we (is it just me who thinks of us after a good performance and them after a poor one!)

No garbaggio you are not alone in thinking that way. The same dynamic applies to my conversations my wife and I have about our kids, it is my son/daughter when they do something good but always your son/daughter when they have done something wrong! :D

Klinsmann may be angry with Altidore for his bone headed suspension earning card but I doubt if he stays in his doghouse now. Not with the way Altidore has been scoring for the US lately.

This game was one of those which again remind sus how difficult it is playing away to Costa Rica. The Ticos are not Panama, Guatemala or Jamaica where the US can get away with playing poorly and can at least pull out a draw. Costa Rica came out with fire in their eyes and they made the US pay for some sloppy play. Then while the US fought back, Costa Rica had in Navas a top notch goalie who made a couple of good saves to keep the US from scoring a 2nd (and he nearly saved Dempsey's penalty too.) No shame in losing to this team but the game did raise some defensive concerns for the US.

And like John I too am a little concerned with Jones. he covers a lot of ground, wins balls in midfield but still tends to make too many fouls and is very inconsistent inhis passing. The problem is without Bradley who else is there in central midfield who can pass well? On this roster I'd say Diskerud which is why I hope we will see him on Tuesday.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
alabastergremlin
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
It is an absolute shame that Besler will miss the next match due an out right flop by Campbell.

I hope karma visits him very soon.

There should be some kind of punishment for him from FIFA or CONCACAF.


Hope this link works...should go to the ussoccer.com video of the field level highlights.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Manzanares
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Campbell was the best player on the field that night and he baited Besler into that card. Definitely embellishment by Campbell but also a lesson in playing away qualifiers in CONCACAF for Besler. He'll learn from this.

Don't blame the referee for that card, he only gave it on advisement from the linesman (the one not visible in that video.)

It probably will help the US in the long run that their 12 match unbeaten streak ended. The US learned a lot of things from this loss, most of what ahs been discussed here. As the old saying goes, you learn more from a defeat than a victory.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
americafutbol10
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
alabastergremlin,Sep 9 2013
06:18 PM
It is an absolute shame that Besler will miss the next match due an out right flop by Campbell.

I hope karma visits him very soon.

There should be some kind of punishment for him from FIFA or CONCACAF.


Hope this link works...should go to the ussoccer.com video of the field level highlights.

SHOCKINGLY embarrassing & pathetic on CR's part...have lost what little respect I had for the Ticos! :angry:

Bush-league crap & the stuff that gives the beautiful game a bad name <_<

FWIW, Altidore's yellow was well-deserved & STUPID!!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
autogol
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
After the snow game, Costa Rica felt anything was fair game against the US. Can't really blame then and manzanares is right, Campbell baited Besler and got him carded. Besler will learn from the experience. Meanwhile focus on the fact that Campbell just dominated Besler all match long. He had Besler chasing shadows the whole game and topped it off by beating him to score the game clinching 3rd goal. This was probably the poorest game I have seen from Besler in a US uniform.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · US National Team · Next Topic »
Add Reply