US vs. Mexico. the defense (R)

[superdave]

For a shutout, not too great. Hejduk tackled well. Howard came up big when he had to.

[Chicago1871]

Lot of scary moments from the defense. I love the guy, but Boca scared the **** out of me on several occasions. Gooch was pretty good. Pierce looked good moving up, but got beat a few times. Frankie looked good on both sides of the ball as well - making good runs and strong tackles.

The defense needs to shore up a bit more, even with the shutout.

[Barcasox]

Centrebacks were a bit shaky, but Timmay was a beast in goal. We can't thank him enough, and when we see Mexico start a horrible goalie like sanchez, it makes me feel better b/c i know our sometimes shaky defense is backed up by a world-class goalie who won't make a mistake.

[Tertius]

Servicable. I love Frankie, the guy plays his guts out every single time and looks like he is having a ball doing it. Boca and Gooch were OK, but against tougher competition I dunno. Not that Mexico isn't tough but...

I'm not sure Pearce is good enough for this team.

[Maitreya]

This game does open up the debate about Gooch and Boca again, but it's hard to think of anyone who could come in and be better than those two. There's been a lot of talk in the past about how Gooch and Boca didn't fit well together as a pairing, but I don't think that was the problem tonight. The problem, imo, is their individual abilities. Unless there is a clearly better player out there (there isn't), I don't think messing with the pairing is the thing to do.

[Barcasox]

This game does open up the debate about Gooch and Boca again, but it's hard to think of anyone who could come in and be better than those two. There's been a lot of talk in the past about how Gooch and Boca didn't fit well together as a pairing, but I don't think that was the problem tonight. The problem, imo, is their individual abilities. They just aren't quite world-class.

If Gooch was partnered by a fast guy, It'd be perfect. That's why I can't wait for Spector to get healthy

[Asprilla9]

Frankie was the obvious bright spot back there. Heath Pearce? What was that, friend? not impressed.

way too many poor clearances in bad passes in the Mexico half for me. We need Spector back and at top form. Please...


(And Howard obviously is the man, that goes without saying)

[ElRoss425]

If Spector gets healthy and in form I'd like to see him in place of Pearce. That guy blows. Ok, he doesn't blow, but his crossing was awful and cost us a couple chances.

[Barcasox]

If Spector gets healthy and in form I'd like to see him in place of Pearce. That guy blows. Ok, he doesn't blow, but his crossing was awful and cost us a couple chances.

or we could do Boca-Spector-Gooch-Dolo

[Nutmeg]

Pearce was awful. Boca was a train wreck. Gooch was OK. Frankie was great.

[lmorin]

For a shutout, not too great. Hejduk tackled well. Howard came up big when he had to.

Too true, unfortunately. USA lucked out, defensively. The worst showing in a long time. Frankie was Frankie and the most consistent. Perhaps Pearce was consistent, too. I just don't have high expectations for him, and unfortunately, he met them.

Gooch was fair, but clearly a step up from Boca who was poor.

I was not impressed by anyone from Europe except Bradley and Beasley. Cause and effect? Not sure.

[Smithsoccer1721]

I thought Gooch had a above average game. How many times did he read the play and step in to win a long through ball? I thought he played pretty good. We have all seen him play better but I think he had a better game than some posters are giving him credit for. Pearce is punching above his weight class right now.

[FirstStar]

Gooch was very good, but we have no one else to pair him with. Boca is the best we have and he had a sub-par game but is still playing well for his club and gets a pass from me.

Frankie was good, until he got hurt. After that is was utterly stupid of Bob to leave him in.

Pearce was not good. But was still better than anyone else we have playing that position.

[Marko72]

Our clearances sucked. That was the only area of weakness for us tonight. We were pretty good marking and in the tackle, and Howard was great.

[superdave]

This game does open up the debate about Gooch and Boca again, but it's hard to think of anyone who could come in and be better than those two.
I don't KNOW if this would work, but I'd really like to see Spector in the middle with Gooch (who was very good tonight) and Boca out left.

[Bigrose30]

I'll speak in the defense of the centerbacks.

When the fullbacks are flying forward the entire game, and the other team is playing ball after ball over the top, and #9 is constantly trying to draw fouls, the wind is blowing 35 mph and the field is slick and soggy...and you pitch a shutout...

I like it.

Hejduk does what Hejduk does. Runs like hell for 90 minutes. The guy has been surfing since November and trains for two weeks and gives that performance? He'll be in the mix for the next cycle.

There's no way Heath Pearce is an international level player. He is benign going forward. Picks his spot, gets his man isolated, then realizes he can't beat a player or serve an early cross effectively. His one-v-one defending was atrocious. If Mexico had Guardado, they immediately would have moved him over to Pearce's side and things would have gotten ugly. Hansa Rostock ought to inquire about replacing him with Frankie.

[Marko72]

I'll speak in the defense of the centerbacks.

When the fullbacks are flying forward the entire game, and the other team is playing ball after ball over the top, and #9 is constantly trying to draw fouls, the wind is blowing 35 mph and the field is slick and soggy...and you pitch a shutout...

I like it.

Hejduk does what Hejduk does. Runs like hell for 90 minutes. The guy has been surfing since November and trains for two weeks and gives that performance? He'll be in the mix for the next cycle.

There's no way Heath Pearce is an international level player. He is benign going forward. Picks his spot, gets his man isolated, then realizes he can't beat a player or serve an early cross effectively. His one-v-one defending was atrocious. If Mexico had Guardado, they immediately would have moved him over to Pearce's side and things would have gotten ugly. Hansa Rostock ought to inquire about replacing him with Frankie.

Heath did a fair job keeping Gio in check, but not like that's a great achievement at this point.

[Swazicar]

Our clearances sucked. That was the only area of weakness for us tonight. We were pretty good marking and in the tackle, and Howard was great.

This sounds closer to what I saw than what many others apparently saw. While Pearce doesn't seem to be a player one would want to start, I do think that, generally, having Beasley work back and Pearce serve as an outlet was an effective tactic.

[OWN(yewu)ED]

Ironically it seemed the centerbacks to be the shakiest part of our game today, and Pearce. IMO we need to get Spector out and running out there ASAP. But Boca-Gooch, theyve been really, really solid and reliable up until today soill obviously give slack. Not a horrible game but they can both do much better. Heydude.....legend.

[Mr Martin]

Pearce was awful. Boca was a train wreck. Gooch was OK. Frankie was great.

The point is basically correct, but the spread is too wide.

Pearce was weak. Boca was dodgy. Gooch was average. Hejduk was above average. And Howard was very good.

One of the iffyest shutout's you'll see.