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| USA v Mexico (friendly); Wed Apr 2 2014 Glendale, AZ | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 13 2014, 05:42 PM (960 Views) | |
| americafutbol10 | Apr 1 2014, 06:15 PM Post #31 |
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PSYCHED for tomorrow night's "friendly" & hope to see a solid team performance. Will post my thoughts on the match on Thursday or Friday. Anybody, from this board, heading to Glendale, Arizona? If so, hope to meet you there...will be with the American Outlaws (Los Angeles chapter) group! |
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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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| TonyDE | Apr 1 2014, 08:01 PM Post #32 |
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hahaha, great post John B! Yeah lucky Rafael Marquez Lugo the boyfriend of Marisol Gonzalez. Although I have to say Shanik Aspe, one of two listed WAGS here for Carlos Vela, is my personal favorite. Enjoy the game af10 and stay away from the sake which knocked you out of your last US match!
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| Johnbuildr | Apr 2 2014, 12:10 PM Post #33 |
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...woe is me, somehow I have offended the soccer or DISH gods......our satellite is out until the techie arrives tomorrow morning!!! sheesh, niiice timing. Will be extra-counting on you guy's takes..... |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| Merengue | Apr 2 2014, 04:25 PM Post #34 |
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Gives you an excuse to head to a bar John, even with the late night start! |
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| Yogi | Apr 2 2014, 07:00 PM Post #35 |
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This is a late night start. I'm going bleary eyed tomorrow to work! The US lineup: Rimando; Beltrán, Besler, González, Parkhurst; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Davis; Dempsey, Wondolowski. Donovan and Eddie Johnson get a seat on the bench in order to give bubble players Davis and Wondolowski an opportunity. Mexico's lineup: Muñoz; Chávez, Valenzuela, Márquez, Maza, Layún; Zavala, Peña, Brizuela; Pulido, Fabián. |
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| TonyDE | Apr 2 2014, 08:55 PM Post #36 |
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2-0 US at halftime. One of the best games I have seen the US play in some time. The midfield has been great, especially Bradley but also Beckerman, Zusi and Dempsey. I like how Bradley and Beckerman pair together in midfield, better than how Bradley and Jones work together. |
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| TonyDE | Apr 2 2014, 09:36 PM Post #37 |
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A story of two halves as the game ended 2-2. All US in the first half, all Mexico in the 2nd. But a late US counter led to Eddie Johnson being wrongly called for offside after he finished the chance which would have made it 3-2. no matter though as this is just a friendly. Great ball movement for the US in the first half, sloppy defending, mainly from Omar Gonzalez in the 2nd but Mexico also spread the US defense out well n the 2nd period. Julian Green did come on and played about 30 minutes. He looked nervous and did not get back to help out on Mexico's 2nd goal. Green did settle as the game went on and showed some glimpses of what he will bring in the future. But that should be post 2014, IMO he is not ready for this World Cup. Let the kid grow up so he does not become another Freddy Adu or Juan Agudelo, victims of the hype machine. |
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| Yogi | Apr 2 2014, 09:48 PM Post #38 |
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Definitely a game of two halves, both teams can come away with positives but each have things to work on too. The US defense IMO needs a lot of work, Besler was the only one of the four who I think should start in Brazil. I would pair Cameron with Besler in central defense. Gonzalez has his moments but has too many lapses to be a starter in a World Cup. I'd bring him as a sub to Brazil. I'm in agreement with Tony, Green shows promise but is not yet ready. Wondolowski's opportunism again gives him a good opportunity to make the final 23. You need a guy who knows how to score. Again I think Tony makes a point about Beckerman-Bradley being > Jones-Bradley. But will Klinsmann agree with us? By the way it was Andreas Herzog who was sitting next to Klinsmann now. He's the new second in command. Tony I am going to disagree with you about Johnson's offside goal. not sure what my fellow St Louisan Taylor Twellman was saying he was "clearly" onside. Not to me, he looked slightly offside but offside nonetheless. His upper body was behind the last defender. |
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| Merengue | Apr 2 2014, 10:22 PM Post #39 |
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The precision with which the US played in the first half was very impressive. I am starting to agree with you guys about the Bradley-Beckerman midfield but we know Jones is a Klinsmann favorite and it will be hard to unseat him. But I fear for this US defense going into the World Cup, I cannot recall anytime post 1994 when the US has looked so vulnerable defensively. |
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| robdog | Apr 2 2014, 10:34 PM Post #40 |
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People might hate me typing this, but I am glad El Tri came back. I didn't want to go through anymore Dos y Cero jokes. BTW, the MLS players looked a hella lot better than our European players. Maybe it was cause it was El Tri, but Beckerman & Wondo are making damn good arguments to start over Jermaine & Jozy
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| Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis | |
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| hobbes | Apr 2 2014, 11:14 PM Post #41 |
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I never understood the Julian Green hype to begin with. Surely he looks like a very promising player for the future, but there didn't seem to be any reason to think he would make an impact in time to book a spot for Brazil. In fact I would have taken that as a very bad sign for your chances. I thought Wondolowski and Johnson both helped their chances a little with good finishes and a few nice runs. Still, for me it's still all about Jozy Altidore. If he isn't playing very well the U.S. is in deep trouble. I thought Dempsey played better once Donvan came in and I think they both need to be on the field at the same time. Beckerman played well and Bradley has been great every time I've seen him this year. I don't know if there's room for him to fight his way in, but I thought Mo Edu settled things down and did pretty well in the midfield when he came in. I don't think Beltran has a hope, but I was pleasantly surprised by his game. I also thought Parkhurst looked not bad on the left. I agree that Gonzalez' continued gaffes for club and country make him too unreliable to start right now. They aren't frequent, but they sure are costly and glaring more often than not. FWIW I thought Johnson was level, but it was tight. Regardless the result doesn't really matter and it was a pretty entertaining match from a neutral's perspective. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| raconteur | Apr 3 2014, 04:53 AM Post #42 |
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It was an entertaining game for a non neutral too hobbes! In the first half the US exploited Mexico's lack of midfield pressure and like everybody else I thought Bradley was just spectacular, and the rest of the midfield was pretty good too. Edu did all right, I like when a "stay at home" midfielder like he or Edu is paired with Bradley than when Jones is. I too think Jones and Bradley play too similarly to be effective but I too question whether Klinsmann thinks the same. Defensively there were too many 2nd half breakdowns, there is a lot of work to do in the pre World Cup training camp. Wondolowski, he is the American Inzaghi, he stays around goal and scores, you need a player like he on a 23 man roster. Green, young man you have promise but like John Anthony Brooks, your time will be post Brazil. Anybody else think Landon Donovan looked a little heavy? Welcome to the other side of 30 Landon where it is not as easy to take off the weight! |
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| Johnbuildr | Apr 3 2014, 05:04 AM Post #43 |
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Appreciate all the comments as our TV did not recover in time, and mama wouldn't let me out of the house to go to the bar that late on a school night, Merengue. Did get to see a good set of replays on ESPN this morning. If the US can get off the mark like that in their first WC match and fix the defensive uncertainty, then it would certainly set a nice tone for a successful Cup run. FWIW, my first view of the ESPN replay of the offside call was that it was probably a good call, even while the pundits were all extoling how bad it was. But on second view in slo-mo, I believe he was even and not offside. Yet another example of how instant replay should be used on critical goals, if it were a meaningful game. I steadfastly maintain that someday we will see the replay in soccer. It is inevitable. Just as we doubters thought, Green's time is not the 2014 World Cup. Could possibly still be proved wrong, but that now looks something like 100-1 odds. (I set the odds that high because JK has a pool with decent attacking depth already weighing on his mind.) I don't know if it is a good comparison at different positions on the field but the emergence of Beckerman reminds me quite a bit of the Lalas dawning so many years ago. Both are tall, somewhat gangly guys who many thought may not have the total soccer skills necessary for the international scene, but both steadfastly and continually worked on their game and abilities, and both constantly play to their highest potential, with a lot of emotion and exceptional effort. One has to believe that JK can see what we can and more, so if our German's mindset is as adaptable as one would hope a head coach's should be, Kyle could be playing his way into a starting or even a first sub kind of role. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| shelsoccer | Apr 3 2014, 07:56 AM Post #44 |
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I'll admit I haven't watched the second half yet, but the US was scintillating in the first half. What struck me is how much more fluid and dynamic we are playing a 4-4-2. I think the 4-2-3-1 we've been playing somewhat limits Bradley's ability to get forward and create. He certainly has developed into a true two-way midfielder. That formation also leaves Altidore, or whomever, stranded up front. I'd really like to see JK give the 4-4-2 a run in the three upcoming friendlies. Play Beckerman in a holding role, push Bradley slightly higher, and play Zusi and Donovan on the flanks in midfield. Drop Fabian Johnson to left back, which should improve one whole in the back four. As for what to do about Gonzalez, who's becoming a growing concern, I think I'd keep Cameron at right back where he plays for Stoke and go with Goodson next to Besler. But that's hardly a sure-fire cure. |
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| vince stravino | Apr 3 2014, 04:26 PM Post #45 |
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Donovan did look a bit heavier, yet he still had some nice bursts late. Message sent from Klinsmann when he did not start. Hmmm... Rimondo is a heck of a third keeper. Argument can be made that the US has the best trio in the world. At least we are in the discussion. Gonzalez is a continuing concern. He repeatedly loses his man on set pieces. Yedlin is a curiousity. I love his speed. Have we seen enough of him to even think he has a chance in Brazil. We will need both Beckerman and Jones in the WC. We need a full 23 and everyone has to pull their weight...like in 2002. Beckerman has to be a shoo-in. He has been so steady for the entire last year whenever Klinsmann calls on him. Edu? That is a total wild card. Dang, Bradley is good. I have said it before and will repeat it now. He will end up being the best US player ever (at least the last five decades) if he remains healthy another five years. Beltran has always been solid with the red, white and blue. Still, he is decidedly under the radar. Brad Evans can really add a dimension for us on offense, but he is not the fastest. He would have a really hard time going 90 minutes three matches in 2 weeks at this level. Still.... Green is going to get more looks in the remaining matches...do not count him out yet. Speed does not slump. Recall Beasley in 2002? It was a real worry seeing Mexico turn the momentum by throwing out two forwards in the second half. I always think Jimenez is dangerous, but he really is not comparable to what they will see from Ghana, Portugal and Germany. Fairly fun friendly. Klinsmann has to really think this roster through. He cannot afford to bring anyone who cannot actually help out on the field. |
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11:25 AM Jul 11