New coach, same results. Now will somebody tell me why Bob Bradley is still our national team's coach when nothing about this team changes? To me it's inexplicable why a coach would leave the largely ineffective Michael Bradley in the game and sub out Ricardo Clark. Oh wait, it's not inexplicable at all... And as great as Donovan is, I get sick of him getting lethargic and sulky whenever he gets pushed around a bit in a game. I think we need a coach who can inspire our players and put a fire under some of their butts and, as tactically sound as Bradley is, he is just not that coach.
Everyone needs to totally chill out. We lost 2-1 in a very difficult venue. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, we played crappy but still managed to score. We will still qualify. Everyone who follows the Nats knows that playing Mexico in Azteca is very difficult just as Mexico in Columbus is for Mexico.
Better team over 90 minutes won. Mexico didn't look unbeatable by any stretch and we had time to steal it, but it never really looked likely. Ref is a douche. Onward to South Africa.
I was really disappointed with the lack of midfield play. I thought we played too flat almost with the midfielder layered right on top of the defenders, it was hard to tell who was who. Give Mexico credit, their probing overlapping offence with the occasional center to a play maker was very good today. I'm not sure what the stats will show but it felt like Mexico had possession 60+% of the game.
Mexico is not as good as Brazil or Spain, but those games were played on neutral ground and this one wasn't.
The empty bucket is the formation that best suits our talent level and style of play. What would have been your solution? I guarantee if we stretch out in this game the result would have been worse.
That ref should be taken out somewhere and executed. Warner is on a mission to qualify Mexico at all costs.
Ref and his crew were absolute garbage, there is NO debating that. Having said that, Bradley was wrong YET AGAIN with his formation and tactics. Also, Carlos Bocanegra proved once more why he has no business near the Starting XI for the USMNT.
Its just that the emotions are running right now. I share your sentiment with the exception of the altitude at Azteca, and the 85,000 more fans. The only intimidating thing about Columbus was the wind, which affected both squads a lot.
US players play too stupidly. Again, risking getting thrown out. People mad at the ref? I say be thankful no one saw red. But then we'd just hear 'poor guys, can't catch a break' Ching does nothing for me, why only Altidore for 15 min because of an injury? Commentators and fans need to stop sounding whiny with excuses, like about time wasting. If it's okay when your team is doing it (at 1-1) then it's okay when the other team does it. Balboa was yelling 'nice job, playing slow, not giving in to their pace', but I disagree, instead you get a lethargic team and you just wait for them to burn you
The U.S. has to get out of the catenaccio mode. They got lucky against Spain, but it's not going to work most of the time. Mexico deserve this win.
I agree completely. We have a bunch of professionals who played very poorly today. That's not coaching that's composure. In regards to the formation, I'd agree. Mexico and now others are going to exploit the 'empty' part of the empty bucket. May be time for a 4-5-1 formation.....
And how is this different than when Arena was coach? This is the same team as it has always been. When are we going to get to that next level?
Exactly, Mexico outplayed the heck out of the US today. They wanted it more than the US and showed it on the field. I'm sure Mexico has heard crap all week of the the GC didn't count because it was against our B team. So they came gunning wanting to prove all the critics wrong. I don't get all the "Fire Bradley" threads or comments. When the US wins, all the praise goes to our players. When the US loses, all the fault is on the coach.
That's what happens when you wander in here after a game. It's irrationality at its utmost. This game was an opportunity to totally ruin Mexico's day with comparatively little downside in losing. Am I disappointed? You betcha. Am I surprised? Nope. It's Mexico at the Azteca. It's not EVER going to be a gimmie. EVER.
When's the next WC qualifier? I need something to look forward to besides the beer I'm going to drink when I get off work.
The ref wasn't great but it's not like the USMNT were robbed. They looked lifeless after the goal. Mexico thoroughly deserved the 3 points. I'm very suprised how bad the US looked to be honest...
What a shit experience all around, first off jumping stream to stream because some obscure channel has the rights. Then to see them play scared for 90 minutes was hard to watch. It's the same mind set that Bradley puts in these players every away game and it shows, they play like a terrified 5th grader at a spelling bee. Midfield had no poise as well the only time we ever managed to get a build up going there was some poor pass or Bocanegra for whatever reason couldn't receive it. And BB's sub choices are mind boggling.
Jozy was only ever going to be a sub in this one. There's no way he's close to top fitness and probably would have been gassed after twenty minutes had he started. It's not some great conspiracy.
So "cave" roughly translates to losing by 1 goal to the 2nd best team in the world? You are absurd, troll.