--------------Gordon-EJ Corona-Beckerman-Williams-Kljestan Jones-Goodson-Edu-Parkhurst ----------------Rimando I kid! I kid!
That was usually the way it went in my country too. You work on your footwork and passing in a small field that usually was either dirt or concrete then when you turn 13 if you are any good you get playing time in the big grassy fields usually playing for your city's district team.
My initial response in which I made reference to narrow escapes in the Hex was to a poster who claimed they were unwilling to “calm down” and made much of how narrowly we’ve escaped at present from sitting in 3rd place. The hex games from 2010 were the freshest examples of past narrow escapes. Because you and Spurs1 and Dignan argue that the Hex is a different animal and because I think that the freaking out by some other posters demonstrates a lack of historical perspective, I have pointed to some prior cycle history. Also, Dignan goes further in his assertion that “ If we have facing tight margins in the first round, we most likely will fail in the Hex, unless JK gets it together. The Hex is 100% tougher than the games we have been sucking up recently.” I was also pointing out that there does not seem to have historically been much of a correlation between struggles or success in the first round and struggles and success in the Hex. I pointed to Mexico last cycle as an example but such has also been the case for us as well. Further, the narrow margins by which we’ve escaped in both the prior round games and the Hex are versus comparable 2nd tier CONCACAF teams like El Salvador, Guatemala, Trinidad and Jamaica, so I don’t see much qualitative difference between a narrow escape at home versus Jamaica and a narrow escape at home versus Honduras. Nor do I see much of a difference, if any, between a narrow escape on the road versus Trinidad or El Salvador or Honduras or Guatemala, no matter the round. In 2006, but for a 88th minute equalizer from Ching versus Jamaica and a 91st min equalizer by Cobi versus Panama, we may very well have not made the Hex. We then marched through that hex rather comfortably only to go on and have the most disappointing world cup this side of 98 [discounting 90]. In 2002, we won our group by 1 point over Guatemala and CR though holding a superior goal differential due to having beaten up on Barbados. A late goal by McBride saved us from a loss at home versus the Ticos and a sweet Razov goal before half at Guatemala earned a point in a game in which we were under constant pressure. Of course, we went on to a Hex in which we underperformed and just squeaked through in third place only to go on to the world cup and have our best performance to date. So here we sit tied atop our group (a group, in my opinion, slightly tougher than last go around of Cuba, Trinidad and Guatemala) even on goal differential facing our easiest road opponent and second easiest home game. Whilst our rivals for first each have among their toughest road games. Now, by tomorrow, this may be all academic. While in many respects we are an improved soccer nation, it’s primarily been in terms of depth and not overall talent level. I still think we are getting there and will do so over the next 5 to 10 years.
This has also being my experience when coaching at the youth level, lots of good players that parent won't/can't pay fees for private teams, sometimes even if you find them sponsors they won't commit because of feeling outcast. Some minority players that fall in to this group I have found that they just want to play and are not too keen on the training part. You would think these kids would rule at the HS level but they get in to problems with academics and then don't qualify to play.
It should come out right after Klinnsman finishes using his special selection methodology (demo below).
I couldn't possibly add to this post if I wanted to. You just nailed the 2 or 3 biggest issues facing USA soccer.
Most countries rely on clubs paying for young prospects, to the point that they take charge of their education, their well-being, and even their family's. They behave "socialistically" out of self-interest, or course. If one out of ten of those kids becomes a decent player, they'll recoup their investment and more. Most of the soccer world is socialistic at the bottom, purely capitalist at the top. The USA with its capped salaries, weighed 'fair' lottery, USSF direct input in contracts (including advertisement for clubs and players), etc. is the opposite: capitalist at the bottom (to start, you must have $$$) and socialistic at the top. Kinda foolish if you asked me.
It is ironic that you bring up Mexico as a good example. They hired an expensive European coach who was going to revolutionize their game. But, instead got a guy who caused them to struggle and come to points where for the first time ever, Mexico was in danger of not making the WC, twice!! Then they fired Sven and hired Aguirre, and got back on track. Did you see what happened there.
But he had plenty of time to pick up a hot Mexican girlfriend. What is the over/under on Jurgen being gone by June?
I think I was clear about how I was using Mexico as an example in several posts. I also think its clear that your are mischaracterizing that point and those posts to make some other point about Klinsmann without addressing the substance of my argument. You're certainly entitled to do that but I'm not sure it would get us anywhere. In fact, it similarly wouldn't advance the discussion or be fair to you to point out, superficially, that Sven's replacement was an expensive coach brought over from Europe* whose 2010 World Cup tenure is viewed as an abject failure of the highest order by the Mexican press, for both his tactics, his roster decision and his lineups. * I'm well aware of the fact that Aguirre is Mexican having been weaned on Mexican soccer and watched him play for el tri in 86.
Jones got a yellow card correct? So is out, or is my memory wrong? Hopefully Fabian Johnson is healthy.
I thought this was Klinsi's preferred player selection method (also for determining field positions):
Eddie Johnson is now tied with Brian McBride as the 2nd all time leading scorer for the US in qualifying games.
There were two rounds before what you called the "first round." The top countries didn't play in the First Round and Mexico outscored Belize 9-0 on aggregate in the Second Round.