Sunday, July 26, 2009

USMNT v Mexico

Here are the line-ups for today's CONCACAF Gold Cup final between the U.S. and Mexico at Giants Stadium. No changes for the home side...

Perkins; Heaps, Marshall, Goodson, Pearce; Holden, Beckerman, Pause, Rogers; Arnaud, Ching (capt.)

Bench: Busch, Evans, Cooper, Quaranta, Clark, Cronin, Parkhurst

Ochoa; J. Castro, Magallón, Pinto, Valenzuela; Juárez, Torrado, I. Castro, Medina; Sabah, Dos Santos


I see the key match-ups being Beckerman v Torrado and Medina v whichever fullback he's turning up against at a given time - he likes to pop up in different places. It will also be important that the USMNT backline does not lose Dos Santos on the weak side. He's small, quick, slippery and easy to knock over in a panic.

My prediction? The Red, White & Blue falls behind, but eventually takes the Cup, 2-1 in extras. Back with more after the final whistle...

UPDATE: Oof. That was unpleasant.

All the lowlights from Mexico's 5-0 Gold Cup final victory to come. Later.

UPDATE UPDATE: Here is the USMNT postgame quote sheet. I can't bring myself to post the match clip - it's just not the kind of wretched thing we like to disseminate. You all saw it, you don't need any more pain. My cold, cold U.S. Player Ratings will be up at S365 near your Monday lunchtime.


- Greg Seltzer
Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

6 comments:

Tee said...

Well, unpleasant is one way to describe it. Of course, I am beside myself about the result, but I had actually thought the U.S. was going to lose. Sorry about that, but I did. I just didn't think it was going to be 5-0. We just didn't play well enough. Any thoughts, Greg, on what this does for some of the hopefuls who were playing for the possibility of WC action? Ching and Perkins look like they still are possibles. Anybody else?

July 26, 2009 5:42 PM
Max Zeger said...

I made the 3 hour trek to the meadowlands from Baltimore today to see what was an exciting and exhilarating game. At the same time, it was embarrassing and humiliating. I was right behind the goal; the penalty was soft, although Dos Santos was hacked down 20 minutes later, and that wasn't a penalty, so all things are equal I guess. At 4-0 all of the US fans left because we were so embarrassed. I hope this galvanizes us and makes us determined to beat Mexico at Azteca, because the Mexican fans were intolerable after the game.

July 26, 2009 8:08 PM
bhamhawker said...

Bright spot: Troy Perkins.

Frankly, I feel he's a better keeper than Guzan.

July 26, 2009 9:08 PM
Max Zeger said...

I genuinely felt bad for Perkins. He mad a number of one v. one saves after the penalty, and the on the second goal he made two fantastic saves and the defense still couldn't recover. He was great, but the defense had an atrocious second half.

July 26, 2009 11:25 PM
petepstl7 said...

I am not sure what game I tuned in to watch yesterday at Giants Stadium. But, I think that USA vs. Mexico game was the biggest bust I have seen this year for US Soccer. With the Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup, USA still provides a major inconsistency in our style of play, tactical decisions and depth. Granted, US Soccer has made many strides since the early 90's, we are still not "the team to beat" in the international circuit.
The Nats style of play is still "unknown." I have tried to break it down as to what we are trying to do as a whole in regards to a particular style. For example, when you play an Italian team, you will play against a team that is defensively strong and attacks fast and furious. If you were to play an English style soccer, you would expect to play a direct game using long balls and hard nose defending. So, what exactly is the style of play that US is trying to form? When we possess the ball in the midfield and attack with numbers, we are effective. When we try the long ball out of the back every time, we are predictable. So, what is the answer to establishing a style?
Tactical decisions remain questionable by the coaching staff and players decions on the field. I have a difficult time visualizing that the players put on the field are the Americans best! There have been questionable decisions made by the head coach Bob Bradley within the last couple of months that make me cringe. However, I feel Bradley has taken this team to the next level after Bruce Arena but, we have peaked under Bradley's reign. It is time to take this team to the next level. I am not saying oust Bradley, but, give him an assistant that can challenge his decision making.
Lack of depth seems to be a huge problem for the US. The "A" team has proved that it can beat some of the worlds best teams but they have also been picked apart and left for dead by some of the worlds best. We seem to have the best results coming from players who play over seas while our player pool is flooded with players who play in the MLS. MLS is like the JV team of professional soccer world wide. It isn't quite up to par yet. Granted, it is a good place for players to begin their carrers it is also a Mecca for players at the tail end of their carreer as well. So, improve the player pool and you will improve your depth.
To conclue, I wanted to express my love of US soccer and would like to see them succeed. However, I cannot reamin silent to the flaws that pollute this national team. I want only the best for my county and I want my countrymen to be the best. But, we have to set a lot of things aside in order to consitently win using a consistent style of play while using our depth to make the best possible tactical decisions. Lets get on board USA!

July 27, 2009 10:04 AM
Michael Walsh said...

There was plenty of time after conceding the PK to equalize and push ahead, but the kids were playing like they were already in stoppage time instead of with a half an hour to find their way through. After conceding the second goal so quickly after the first, Team USA's composure was gone, and the rout was hardly a surprise.

In contrast, while our "A" team's loss to Brazil in the Confed Cup was soul-crushing, it was less a matter of panicking after the early second-half goal than it was turtling and trying to outlast a team that will find goals.

I don't think the USMNT has a depth problem with regard to talent, but it may have one with regard to poise.

July 27, 2009 1:39 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)