Tactics: 1. Spread the field and mix in using the flanks to attack. 2. Switch the point of attack (A and B tuned into everything down the middle) 3. Forget the possession stats, get to the touchline quickly and/or serve balls into the box.
It's not Guatamala or Honduras or T&T or even Cuba. It's ********ing Antigua! I'm not saying we should kill them on the road, but winning in the last minute?
Well, because people are looking at the bigger picture. "We won" with Bob Bradley, With Bruce Arena, with Steve Sampson." The reason you bring in a new manager is not to simply win like you've been doing for 20 years but to win and display improvement. They had tough field conditions but i think the jury is out after that performance as to whether they are displaying improvement. EVERYONE understands that you need a result. But bigger picture you want them to display the signs that point to sustainable success against the high caliber teams on the highest stage. I think most watchers recognize that if you play like that against most high quality teams, you'll lose more often then not. And It's not as though the U.S. has never played games just like that. So i think people are thinking big picture, as in moving the play forward. The jury is out.
Huh? I thought we had to win that game to advance from the semifinal, and we were 30 or so minutes away from being eliminated.. EDIT: Gotcha.
I get your frustration but did you notice how illegally narrow the field was so no one could pass to anyone. All a really bad team needs to do is chalk out a narrow pitch and now it all favors them. No passes on the ground, kick the ball long, hope for a midfield turnover because the field is so compressed and bumpy and hopefully Mother Nature will throw in some rain and wind in your face as you attack in the second half. I don't like excuses but these are just facts. Let's not blame someone who didn't look perfect when they were in a very difficult environment. We just can't ignore these facts can we?
No, a draw means that BOTH Guatemala and Jamaica can get to 11 points on the last day, and the US only has 10 points.
Wouldn't it be better for one of the two to win big? That opens the door to us go through on goal difference even if Guatemala and Jamaica both win on the last day.
I also concur with what you state. I remember EJ being a typical young kid wasting money on unimportant crap like diamond teeth... smh. It seemed his head was screwed on the wrong way back then, like he was too high on himself to get it, only now it seems he's finally getting it. He is putting in the work, he is putting in the hours and the practice, and it is finally paying off. Good for you EJ, keep it up, it will take you farther than you know.
Actually, if Guatemala wins 1-0 tonight, both the USA and Guatemala can play to a scoreless draw and still advance. Jamaica would have to score 3 or more on A&B to equal the USA's and Guatemala's GD.
DAAAAAAAAAAMN brings back memories of high school ball in Puerto Rico... horrid. You can be Messi and it won't matter, the crappy pitch wins the day, players with skill lose.
You're right. They way the US played against lowly Antigua, we might actually lose to Guatamala at home. I was figuring we'd actually win, or tie at worst, at home and most likely make it through.
Look, save your doom scenarios for another time, Antigua is a small nation but they have some players with speed + one super crappy wet rainy field will neutralize even the best intentions.
Guate is 1:0 over Jam after 1st half, if score stays the same, we will see boring scoreless draw in KC
1. the jury is still out on JK .. the men need to win well against the Guats to assuage some of the uneasiness. 2. At least EJ concentrated for 90 plus minutes. He took his chances well. 3. Michael Bradley is the best player for the US right now .... even better than Dempsey and Donovan. There is a very good reason he is playing mid for Roma. 4. The field was an abomination ... I don't know how the refs don't walk on the pitch and DQ A&B. You mean to tell me that A&B cannot put together a pitch better than that for WC qualifying .. if not they need to play it in the US. 5. The US is not good enough to overcome the refs and a horrible field. FWIW Goodson got pulled down from behind (A&B player yanking on his left shoulder to pull him down) on the goal the player scored. That is why he raised his hands in disgust after the goal and glared at the ref. The goal should have been waved off and a free kick given to the US. 6. Why did MB get so ticked off in the second half? ... I don't think I have ever seen him so upset. He kept going after the A&B player. 3 points is 3 points. Very ugly. But I think we need to reserve final judgement till after the Guat game. I just don't know how you can rate the US on the craphole of a field. Every team looks like shiite when playing in conditions like that.
Bunkers are effective, now a bunker plus the crappiest pitch on the face of international football this side of the western hemisphere, its ok we scored and won.
I do think we will beat Guatemala. But a dour 1-1 draw is possible given how anemic our attack is. And any game tied in the final minutes could always turn into a disaster in a heartbeat. I'd rather see Jamaica beat Guatemala, so that even a 1-goal loss by the US on Tuesday would still see us advance. Now, if 1st Place mattered, then a draw between Jam and Guat would be better. But 1st Place is irrellevant. Avoiding 3d Place is all that matters.