The Classico - 2/11 7pm EST[r]

[appoo]

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/02/usa-vs-mexico-countdown-tminus-two-days.html#more

That's probably as good of a place to start as any.

For the Mexico side, I think those of us fearing Dos Santos probably have some misplaced fears, as he appears to be struggling both personally and professionally.

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=773575&s=mex&type=column

Less than four years later, things have changed. The latest news concerning him that came from England is not good at all: First, he got extremely drunk during the year celebration of the Tottenham; and then, that he didn´t pass the medical test to become a player in Portsmouth.

[appoo]

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=773971&s=mundial&type=column

Mexico appear to be coming in confident but very respectful of our abilities, and in the I think Omar Bravo gives us high praise.

"Everybody has different views, but I do not think the United States is a defensive team. They are disciplined and well trained; the reality is that they are professionals and know what their game is."

[appoo]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12550148.html

Full Bradley Q&A

[Easy Morning Rebel]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12550148.html

Full Bradley Q&A

On Jose Torres’ qualities and experience against Mexico players:
"Jose is a player who is good with the ball, he sees things quickly. We’ve had him in a couple of camps and we’ve always felt good about the simple way that he connects the game to people around him. We’re excited that he’s a part of our national team and we’ll see him later today and I think that he’s someone who can help us in this game."


Bradley is always one to say as little as possible, so I wonder what the chances are that Torres starts this one. Probably not good, but this makes me wonder.

[Adam Zebrowski]

torres would be very motivated to show his best game, but i don't see him starting ahead of beasley...

off the bench more than likely, and given adu wasn't called in, i'd give torres 95% chance of seeing time

[Easy Morning Rebel]

torres would be very motivated to show his best game, but i don't see him starting ahead of beasley...

off the bench more than likely, and given adu wasn't called in, i'd give torres 95% chance of seeing time

And if he starts, I was assuming it would be centrally.

Maybe Bradley likes the idea of SK as a sub.

[Clint Eastwood]

And if he starts, I was assuming it would be centrally.

Maybe Bradley likes the idea of SK as a sub.

I think you're right about this. Personally, I see Bob starting Michael and Ricardo Clark (who's played in all 4 of our matches against Mexico in the Bob era). He's then got Kljestan and Torres off the bench, whom he can bring in as the game dictates.

I'm not sure the first big game we should start Torres in, should be a WCQ against Mexico. Bob's going to start the experienced guys, by and large. (Dempsey, Beasley, Ching, Donovan, etc.)

[Adam Zebrowski]

agree, you start the defense, then sub the offense..

[appoo]

agree, you start the defense, then sub the offense..

Which is why I think you should start Bornstein. I don't want to waste a sub because Pearce can't go 90 at FB

[MLSNHTOWN]

Fire Bradley!

Oh wait....too early for that one....

:)

[Easy Morning Rebel]

Which is why I think you should start Bornstein. I don't want to waste a sub because Pearce can't go 90 at FB

Are our LB options weak enough that if Cherundolo had been able to go, Hejduk would be starting at LB?

[appoo]

Are our LB options weak enough that if Cherundolo had been able to go, Hejduk would be starting at LB?

Not in my opinion, I prefer Bornstein to Hejduk as I think he's a better 1v1 defender.

[Bigrose30]

"The Classico" is English for "El Classico"

Just a PSA for you all.

[Tigerpunk]

Question: Is there a reason that Mexico's team is made up of foreign-based stars/solid players on defense, domestic-based forwards, and foreign-based forwards that ride the pine for their club? Such an odd mix.

Whereas the US has a mix of foreign-based subs and domestic "stars" at forward, a mix of foreign-based established players, foreign-based pine-riders (Beasley), and domestic -based players at midfield, and foreign-based established players and Pearce at defense.

Two other interesting things:
1) the only field player that the rest of the world would consider world class playing in this game is Rafa Marquez, and he's not going to be one of the better players on the pitch.

2) Both Mexico and the United States have young former youth stars whose careers that have stalled (Adu, GDS, Vela), or have yet to take off (Villaluz, Altidore, JCD, Szetela). Bradley did not call in Adu or Szetela, and likely won't start Altidore. Mexico called in everyone but Vela, and is likely to start GDS. Not sure what this means about the teams, the youth programs, or the managers, but there you go.

[SamsArmySam]

...Ricardo Clark (who's played in all 4 of our matches against Mexico in the Bob era)...
This fact stood out to me just now. I remember his halftime sub in during the Gold Cup final, and it changed the game.

I'll pose a Q for the BS masses: What is it about Clark that matches up so well against Mexico in Bradley's system?

[CyphaPSU]

I hope Ching is not stranded up top by himself. He needs players around him to work with if he is at all to be effective at this level.

[dwsmith1972]

This fact stood out to me just now. I remember his halftime sub in during the Gold Cup final, and it changed the game.

I'll pose a Q for the BS masses: What is it about Clark that matches up so well against Mexico in Bradley's system?

He is athletic, fast, strong and works hard challenging them in the middle of the field, and breaking up plays. However, I think it really matters who he is paried with. Have we seen Clark v. Mexico with Bradley? I know in the gold cup, he came on for Mastro, correct? And for whatever reason he covered more ground or played out of his mind...whatever it was, it enabled Benny to concentrate on linking with the attack. Not sure what was up with Mastro that day. Maybe he was rusty. If youll recall, the only reason Bradley didnt start with Benny was due to the card against Canada.

Earlier that year, Clark and Mastro paired together in the center in Bob's first game and were an ineffective black hole in the middle....where US possession's went to die...

I am nervous about Clark and Bradley, cause neither of them is what I would characterize as good in traffic offensive-provider mids. So could we have the black hole thing again? I know Bradley is more than just a D-mid, but I think we keep waiting for him to develop his possesion game a little more robustly. I think Torres and Clark would be good or maybe Torres Bradley. I like Sacha's imagination and workrate, but he also isnt what I would characterize as calm on the ball and does lose it a good bit. Torres is more like Benny, with a little more defensive bite and hustle.

I don't know. I am all over the map about what id like and what is safest and what makes most sense. I think we can safely assume that Michael Bradley will start.

[PhillyQuakesFan]

Are our LB options weak enough that if Cherundolo had been able to go, Hejduk would be starting at LB?

If it wasn't Mexico I'd say start Frankie at LB anyway and go with Wynne at RB.

TBH, part of me thinks we should do this anyway. Keep them honest with speed.

[hoya]

torres would be very motivated to show his best game, but i don't see him starting ahead of beasley...

off the bench more than likely, and given adu wasn't called in, i'd give torres 95% chance of seeing time

I agree. Because he plays CM not LM.

[futgod]

Question: Is there a reason that Mexico's team is made up of foreign-based stars/solid players on defense, domestic-based forwards, and foreign-based forwards that ride the pine for their club? Such an odd mix.

What do you mean by domestic-based forwards and foreign-based forwards that ride the pine? No domestic-based forwards ride the pine.

Two other interesting things:
1) the only field player that the rest of the world would consider world class playing in this game is Rafa Marquez, and he's not going to be one of the better players on the pitch.

I agree he's the oly world class player but he might be the best player on the field if he plays like he's been playing in Barca.

2) Both Mexico and the United States have young former youth stars whose careers that have stalled (Adu, GDS, Vela), or have yet to take off (Villaluz, Altidore, JCD, Szetela). Bradley did not call in Adu or Szetela, and likely won't start Altidore. Mexico called in everyone but Vela, and is likely to start GDS. Not sure what this means about the teams, the youth programs, or the managers, but there you go.
Vela's career has not stalled by any means. He's loved at Arsenal and is doing pretty good. The only reason he didnt get called up by the national team is he was red carded against Honduras and is serving a two game ban.