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USA vs Mexico (WCQ); Tuesday, 10 Sept 13; Columbus, OH
Topic Started: Aug 17 2013, 08:46 AM (1,045 Views)
garbaggio
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What a great night! Got home from work already knowing the result but have watched it up to EJ's goal and then fast forwarded up to LD's dos-a-cero addition. I've gotta be back at work in about 5 hours as I'm working a double shift tomorrow (picked up the extra hours a few weeks ago before realizing it was the morning after US-Mexico).

I actually liked the idea of Fabian Johnson playing right back because I thought it showed Klinsmann's attacking desire.

I really want to get tickets for Brazil so will be asking all of you what the best strategy to follow is.

The afterglow will carry me through til Thursday morning when I can watch the rest of the game.
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americafutbol10
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Ok, the first 25-30 minutes had me a bit nervous & was questioning Fabian Johnson at RB and Bedoya, instead of Corona, at RM.

But, oh ye of little faith, to those who didn't think we could do it...and, shame on me, for thinking of replacing Tim Howard with Brad Guzan :rolleyes:

I was ALL FOR Klinsmann being hired & then came the reports of in-team dissent & bickering...now, months later, JK is the man with the "Midas" touch! Of course, he still has to advance the USMNT, at least, into the WC quarters next year in Brazil!

Amazing...JK's subs (Diskerud & Parkhurst) were met with some question, I'm sure, but worked out perfectly! And, how about Dempsey missing that PK and, potentially, screwing up a fourth straight "Dos A Cero"? :P

Looking, more & more, like Mexico might miss the World Cup finals in Brazil...not that I feel sorry for them, of course! :lol:

Thought our backline held up well...albeit, after a shaky start...and Omar & Goodson were, especially solid IMO. Seventh straight WC for the USMNT & now:

WE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL
WE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL
WE ARE GOING
WE ARE GOING
WE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

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

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

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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Roosevelt
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Certainly echo everyone's thoughts, though shel's #1 & 3 especially. I'd be hard-pressed to name any US player I though was poor (if pushed, Donovan's passing seemed a little off, and Dempsey with the 'poetic miss' on the PK [can we stop having him take those, please?] after a somewhat quiet game overall from him). All the guys, once things settled down, were quite solid.

Though really, to me, the story of the night was #3 on his list. I was (am) shocked at the display Mexico offered up. Obviously they'd been struggling in qualifying, but I wasn't expecting that. A team utterly bereft of creativity or ideas or even a real urgency much of the time. Just wow.

I'm still not quite sold on JK as a great coach, but yes, he's pushing the right buttons more often than not, and I do think he has grown as a manager since he took over. Bottom line is that he has the Nats qualified with two to spare, so I can't criticize him too much. The state of the back line still gives me jitters, however.

I have tickets to next month's Jamaica Qualie in KC, but it will be a relaxing, celebratory one to attend, rather than the tension-filled affair I was anticipating. But I don't mind! On to Brasil!
Another day in June, we'll pick eleven for football
We're playing for our lives, the referee gives us f**k-all

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Johnbuildr
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Little faith, eh? Ha, ok, I said I would be ecstatic to be proved wrong and I am!!! Who knew Mexico's troubles ran so deep, almost to pathetic? Not me.

First, will say two things about Mexico: 1. They have never shown less bite and fire since I have been watching them now for some 25 + years. And it is not because they have any less talent. Weird. 2. El Tri will still be in Brasil.

Forget the "bad ol' days" when it comes to CONCACAF officiating, I'll take the present!! Officiating had been such a horrific disgrace for one long stretch that it threatened to completely ruin the joy of the sport for me as a fan.

How Mexico could not take better advantage of our weak midfield play in the first half, I am not sure. But there was no doubt how much we missed Bradley, that much is certain. The team combined to overcome that frailty and it was a total team win if there ever was one. (speaking of MB, did you notice Bradley walking around sans crutches after the match? He didn't seem to be limping too much.)

I plan to try to refrain from being too "reasonable" in analysis prior to big USA matches from now on. Martin and others called it right; US missing arguably 3 or 4 of our top players turned out to be non-issue. WOWSER!

I'll be in KC too, but it will be a total joy ride now. Shel lives there of course, Roosevelt will be there too. Who else?
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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raconteur
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Great stuff last night. It was a pretty even first half but Klinsmann has been very successful in making half time adjustments and taking Fabian Johnson off (nothing against him but he is not a right back) was a wise move but as we are discussing here, Mexico just lost confidence in the 2nd half and even before Eddie Johnson's opening goal you had the feeling the US was going to win this game. Then Diskerud showed why many were calling for him to play with Bradley absent as he made a great individual play to set Donovan up for the 2nd.

As for Dempsey's penalty miss, well we all "know" he missed that on purpose to preserve the "Dos a Cero!" If he did not then he no longer should be the US' designated penalty taker.

On to Brazil now and Klinsmann has time to sharpen this team, namely to find a backline he can rely upon, and an adequate alternative for Michael Bradley. there will be more time to discuss what still needs to be done but for now we should all bask in the glory of this World Cup qualification.
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Roosevelt
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raconteur,Sep 11 2013
11:35 AM
Great stuff last night. It was a pretty even first half but Klinsmann has been very successful in making half time adjustments and taking Fabian Johnson off (nothing against him but he is not a right back) was a wise move

Quibbling I guess, because I don't dispute the 'not a right back' part, but the announcers last night said he was removed due to a tight hamstring. But Parkhurst was fine, whatever the reason.

And I should have said something nice about Howard. There have been (g)rumblings about him, and not just from us messageboard types. :D He was in vintage form last night.

*continues basking*
Another day in June, we'll pick eleven for football
We're playing for our lives, the referee gives us f**k-all

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Johnbuildr
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raconteur,Sep 11 2013
11:35 AM
Great stuff last night. It was a pretty even first half but Klinsmann has been very successful in making half time adjustments and taking Fabian Johnson off (nothing against him but he is not a right back) was a wise move but as we are discussing here, Mexico just lost confidence in the 2nd half and even before Eddie Johnson's opening goal you had the feeling the US was going to win this game. Then Diskerud showed why many were calling for him to play with Bradley absent as he made a great individual play to set Donovan up for the 2nd.

As for Dempsey's penalty miss, well we all "know" he missed that on purpose to preserve the "Dos a Cero!" If he did not then he no longer should be the US' designated penalty taker.

On to Brazil now and Klinsmann has time to sharpen this team, namely to find a backline he can rely upon, and an adequate alternative for Michael Bradley. there will be more time to discuss what still needs to be done but for now we should all bask in the glory of this World Cup qualification.

Forgot to comment on the PK. That miss damn near looked like he did it on purpose, or at least he wasn't too bothered by the miss.

But, either way, note to JK: Landon Donovan should be our pk taker, end of story. He is total money, cool as a cucumber at the penalty spot and there is no reason for anyone else to be considered when he is on the field. It isn't even a close decision for anyone who has been paying attention to LD's pk's over the years.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Winslow
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Boy, that was fun. And whatever shenanigans the USSF dreamed up for the ticket sales, let's keep doing it--by the time the match started, the crowd was more like 90% US supporters. And everyone was standing!

I was standing in the third row behind the goal to the right (defended by Mexico in the first half), so most of the action throughout the 90 minutes was at the other end. But the comments here have summed things up very well. We were baffled to see El Tri taking so many long shots early when they clearly had so much more of the play. We were all expecting a US fightback, which started with two good chances for Dempsey near the end of the first half; both shots happened to hit Mexican defenders before Corona scooped them up.

If there was an American soft spot it was Jones; he has a bad habit of pushing up too far as the play advances, which causes problems when he gives away the ball. Also, I'm still not sure why Bedoya was out there. But Beckerman was solid, and I thought Goodson was just as strong as Omar. Timmy! may have had his best game all year for the US. (By contrast, EJ's goal was made possible by Corona's appalling mistake.)

I'll have to watch the telecast to see how much of the noise came through, but it was loud in there. By the final whistle we were soaking wet from the heat, the beer, and the excitement. A long day and night, well worth the trip.

One other thing: it seemed to me that the stadium lights were unusually dim. It was only as we were leaving that I realized I'd forgotten to take off my sunglasses. B)
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rosarino
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It was very noisy Winslow, an impressive showing by you and your fellow fans in Columbus. Full marks to whomever organized the impressive banner, flag and scarf showing.

On the field, Mexico played without any heart or ideas, while the US gradually imposed themselves on the game and always looked the more dangerous in attack. I have read some here criticizing the US defense in past games but last night it looked solid and Gonzalez and Goodson were each very strong in the heart of the defense. Add Bradley and Cherundolo to this team and it will do well next year.
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TonyDE
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hah, Dempsey just had to miss that penalty. US-Mexico in Columbus cannot end in any other score but 2-0! :D

The pregame pessimism I guess ignored both the US resiliency and the even poorer condition than we thought of Mexico's psyche. Needing some points out of this game, after the first 25 minutes Mexico just did not show any desire. Shocking really.

I know some criticized jones and maybe it helped Winslow to analyze his play even better live in the stadium than by TV but from my viewing of the game I thought Jones played pretty well, the best I have seen him in recent games for the US. And without Bradley and paired with the stay at home Beckerman, the US needed a good game from Jones.

Qualifing is one thing, playing in a World Cup is another. With qualifying now assured I too want Klinsmann to work on the US' weaknesses- developing a reliable centerback partnership and reserves to step in at the position; finding a consistent right back, whether that is a healthy Cherundolo or somebody else; developing another left back option besides Beasley and F. Johnson; finding an alternative to Bradley and finding a way to get Donovan and Dempsey functioning well- I still think they do not completely gel yet.

But these are topics we can expand on in the future, as for now, like Roosevelt and raconteur, I want to bask! :D
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shelsoccer
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I agree with Tony re Jones. Jones was a little shaky early, but I thought he settled down and was a positive factor over all.
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Yogi
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Include me with those thinking Jones played pretty well after a little shaky start. The US needed him last night and he came through. And Johnson was a real threat too. Altidore may be the starter but Johnson has been showing he is a pretty good alternative.

Tony also makes a good point about Donovan and Dempsey, I too think at times they tend to get in one another's way. One of Klinsmann's tasks will be to sort their onfield positioning out.

But what a pleasure watching the US tame Mexico again, 2-0 is not a myth, it is reality when the US plays Mexico!
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Sammy Maudlin
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I am envious Winslow, that game looked like it must have been a blast to attend. A great showing by US supporters and they made their presence felt. Mexico, after that brief opening flurry, just looked out of sorts.

What a great move by Diskerud to set Donovan up for the 2nd goal. He is making a case for himself on this team and I suspect with qualification assured, Klinsmann will give players like Diskerud, Johannsson, Cameron, Corona and Bedoya more opportunities to play in these final two matches.
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libero
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It is obviously a thrill to assure qualification with 2 games remaining and at home versus Mexico. earlier somebody commented on trying to improve the onfield understanding between Donovan and Dempsey and I agree with that. They still do not seem entirely comfortable on the field together as they often like to occupy the same space. Bob Bradley resolved that by having them play on opposite wings but I am not sure that is feasible any longer with them four years older. Plus there is a guy named Fabian Johnson to accommodate too.

Eventually I think we will see one operate behind the central striker, and the other out wide with them sometimes switching positions.
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vince stravino
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Sorry I missed riding shotgun with you on this one, Winslow. I hurt to watch it on the tellie especially after the deflation of being in San Jose. Work and life always interfere...

I could nit-pick, but the lads did well. We have some real depth and many of the starting XI are still up for grabs. In the end, however, we need a strong 23 to make it to the second round in Brazil. Klinsmann was forced to use an expanded roster here and it proved to effective. Bradley never really allowed a full squad to develop for tournament play whereas Arena, especially in 2002, was a master of it.

Dos a zero x quatro. Beautiful stuff.
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