USA v. Mexico

[appmaj]

Who will win?

[mebisonII]

Who will win?

Well, I see this is in 'other sports' so I assume we aren't going to war with them. I'm going to guess this is about soccer, then? In that case, my default tends to be to vote against the US.

If it were war, though, I'd vote USA in a heartbeat, but only if the servicemen promise not to get too distracted by Corona and Senoritas.

[TheValleyRaider]

They can't beat us here :D xnodx :D xreadx xnodx

USA! USA! USA!

[dgreco]

usa!

[CrackerRiley]

USA! USA! USA!

...sorry not as colorful as TheValleyRaider's post

[TheValleyRaider]

Bradley shortly before the half!

USA 1-0 Mex
Halftime

[TheValleyRaider]

Rafa Marquez challenges Howard in the box, Red Card!

65th Minute

1-0 USA

[dgreco]

the game has been chippy, and since the red card all the tackles seem a little harder.

[TheValleyRaider]

Bradley again!! In stoppage time to seal the deal!

USA 2-0 Mex
Final

[TheValleyRaider]

Good win

Great game from Bradley. Solid performances also from Howard and Bocanegra. Donovan played well, but I'm left with that same feeling that he could have done more. Probably unfair, he set up both goals. Beasley was alright, Dempsey not as great, and Onyewu looked shakey at moments

Good game from Mexico, very well could have won this game, just lacked a finish or two in some key opportunities

[dgreco]

I thought dempsey had a horrible game. He seemed slow and sloppy out there. I expected him to create more and he wasn't creating anything.

[TheValleyRaider]

Must be the hair ;)

[Hammerhead]

What? The voodoo dolls with "gringo" on the back of the American jerseys didn't help the Mexican team?

[appmaj]

Nice. Loved it!

[bandl]

My impressions:

The U.S. essentially dominated the whole game, especially after Howard’s save in the first 3 or 4 minutes. You could just feel it the entire way. They kept the ball on Mexico’s half for a good portion of the game. Mexico looked like a team that simply didn’t want to play in the cold and knew it was their destiny to lose. But that said, the U.S. has a LONG way to go.

The U.S. just looked plain sloppy overall. Granted, the conditions didn’t help. Of course there were some great plays, but overall I wasn’t impressed. I can’t help comparing the U.S. to the EPL/Series A/La Liga matches that I watch all the time. The passing in those leagues is so crisp and accurate, it looks effortless and second nature to them. And then you have the U.S. players whose passing is almost never on target and is simply a struggle. They lost more than a few passes that simply weren’t sent fast enough or were off aim. But, if there were any loose balls out there the U.S. seemed to pick them all up.

There is absolutely no creativity on the U.S. side when they get within 30 yards of the goal. It seemed like all they do is run down the sidelines and dump it into the middle when you can. If someone is there, great! If not, we’ll just try it again and again and again. Lord knows they can’t pass it into someone in the middle with accuracy or take on a defender one on one to create some space, so dumping it will have to do. That kind of strategy might work against Mexico and other Latin American countries, but it won’t work against the top half of the European countries with their fortified defenses. I can think of two players whose names end in ‘DU’ who could add some creativity up front.

Donovan gives, at most, 75% of his effort. He only gives 100% when there is a really good chance that he will get the score. Or when he’s angry. So why not bench him for 45-60 minutes and get him really riled up and then unleash him for the rest of the match. He’s surely got the talent, but he lacks effort. He’s a conundrum to me…maybe getting his ass kicked in the Bundesliga this season (and next??) will give him a little extra step.

Bradley saved face last night. His offense is marginal at best. He cannot defend to save his life and he is too slow to keep up with the elite players in the world. He will be a liability instead of an asset when the U.S. gets to the World Cup. For now, he will do fine against lesser teams in the CONCACAF. Shame that his father can’t see that.

Ching sucked. Why is he on the team?? Do we have to fill a quota on Hawaiian players?

Beasley looked a bit slow, like he hasn’t fully recovered yet. But he still looked pretty good.

Dempsey looked good, like he’s played on this level before (he has, in the EPL). I like his hussle.

Bocanegra, Onyewu, Hejduk….all have great capability on defense and overall looked decent, not great, on defense. Too many head scratchers that would end in a goal against a better team. They’ve got to get it together consistently.

Howard is the man, the one true bright spot on the team along with Dempsey. He’d be much better known and respected in the U.S. if he played for a better team than Everton, the poor guy. He’ll be the savior in a game or two leading up to and in the World Cup.

With this effort, the U.S. will have no problem advancing to the World Cup. But getting into the World Cup and actually doing well are two different tasks. They played like a top 25 team. But not like a team good enough to advance past the first round of the World Cup.

Oh yeah...should we be worried that Howard has to sit out against El Salvador?

[tribe_pride]

Oh yeah...should we be worried that Howard has to sit out against El Salvador?

Good recap. Have to figure that if Howard has to sit out, it might as well be against El Salvador. We should be fine otherwise against them. Too bad its this early in the qualification before we have already qualified for the World Cup but they shouldn't have more than a few scoring chances.

[LacesOut]

I only saw the second half, but I just have to wonder is the USA pretty decent or is Mexico pretty bad?

Crazy strong wind blowing out there.

And Dempsey stunk from what I saw. Not creative at all with the ball. At least 3-5times in a row when he had possesion he then lost possesion.

And why do they just play around with the ball outside the 18 on the perimeter and get cute and then lose the ball? Hell if you're going to lose possesion then at least do it as your taking a shot or going to the goal in a one on one move or making a cross to a teamate!! Don't just dilly dally with the ball down that close to the goal. Turn those possesions down there into scoring chances.

[blazrdog#1]

are folding up their tents lately. The USA/Cuban game was a massacre and now Mexico ! We ARE much better than in years past if we could just win the big ones when it really matters. Of course there will always be Brazil and Argentina to face off against. Perhaps removing Bruce Arena will be to our long term advantage.xthumbsupxxthumbsupx

[tribe_pride]

are folding up their tents lately. The USA/Cuban game was a massacre and now Mexico ! We ARE much better than in years past if we could just win the big ones when it really matters. Of course there will always be Brazil and Argentina to face off against. Perhaps removing Bruce Arena will be to our long term advantage.xthumbsupxxthumbsupx

True but no matter what, you have to give him credit for helping to get us to the next level. All I can say is I am happy he is no longer an announcer at the games. Couldn't stand his voice.

[TexasTerror]

bandl just does not like Brian Ching...

Ching got a decent review from ESPN...


Brian Ching, 6 -- Provided a good physical presence up top, winning free kicks and connecting with his teammates.

And more importantly, this article is for you!

Time for U.S. fans to appreciate Brian Ching

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/02/10/us.mexico.preview/

[dgreco]

^ I did not see much out of Ching, but I had a completely different outlook on Dempsey

[bandl]

bandl just does not like Brian Ching...

Ching got a decent review from ESPN...



And more importantly, this article is for you!

Time for U.S. fans to appreciate Brian Ching

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/02/10/us.mexico.preview/

Is there something wrong with that? xconfusedx

And oh my god, FSC said something negative about Ching!! xeekx xeekx Those sinners.

"and his target up top, Brian Ching once again went AWOL for much of the match."
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9209874/Another-2-0-score-flatters-the-U.S.,-but-a-win-is-a-win

And I find it funny that you posted an article that was preview of the match before it was played, saying this and that about Ching trying to rally people behind him....but what did he do on the field against Mexico? Suck.

[Grizalltheway]

Gee, I wonder why TT is incapable of commenting on Ching objectively?

xhomerx

xlolx

[appmaj]

^ I did not see much out of Ching, but I had a completely different outlook on Dempsey

I agree...Dempsey looked bad; trying to buy a foul