Sitting here in Las Vegas. As 45% of my fanship brain has always secretly said, for our sake and their sake and CONCACAF's sake, now I say with my espresso in hand: vamos El Tri, beat Brazil, kick their ass.
I think I'm rooting for Mexico against Brazil, I don't even know what the hell is going on. Gotta respect what Mexico is doing lately. Lets HOPE this inspires the people at US Soccer to push that much harder.
There is no shame in this comment. Believe it or not, a strong Mexico team is also good for the US. Your country being the pioneers of capitalism, you should know that healthy competition is what creates the drive for success. I believe the success Mexico is achieving right now is a result of the rise in competition in CONCACAF over the past decade. You cannot expect to improve and be motivated without somebody challenging you.
Pontius never hesitates to take people on 1v1. He is just sometimes plays the smarter ball to DeRosario. He does it with skill and quickness and has an amazing ability to create space for himself. Eddie Johnson is fast and not as skilled. Plus as a pure forward he doesn't really have to worry about giving the ball up. Pontius plays midfield and has defensive responsibilities so can not be stupid with it. I would be OK with him coming in but I take skills over speed every time. Plus, EJ has been given opportunities at the UNMNT and has been less then impressive. IMO Pontius is what we all wanted Shea to be for us and deserves a serious look.
I expect a ton of Mexican based players here. GK: Howard, Hamid, Johnson FW: Beasley, Donovan, Wondo, Dempsey, Gomez, Adu MF: Beckerman, Edu, Corona, Torres, Shea, Zusi, Pontius DF: Castillo, Orozco-Fiscal, Bocanegra, Pearce, De La Garza, Goodson, Gonzales ----------Donovan---------Gomez-----------Dempsey ---------Torres--------------Beckerman------------------Edu ----Castillo--------Bocanegra-----Goodson--------Orozco-Fiscal ---------------------------Howard----------------------------------------
Let me make clear that Pontius is more skilled & I didnt say that before so I obviously take Pontius in terms of possession, shooting, & even if he needs to keep the ball under pressure from multiple people. I should have been clear that what I think EJ is better at is strictly the 1v1 aspect of taking the opponent on. However, I think what I like about EJ rather than Pontius is the confidence in taking someone on & being creative. He hasnt been afraid of making mistakes in MLS lately & tbh thats something the nats need in the final 3rd at times vs concacaf comp. & like weve said, Pontius isnt an all out striker & EJ is so it may not be a matter of 1 or the other. I think the word I was looking for with EJ the whole time was confidence really.
Fair enough and I have not been an avid EJ watcher this season at all. I just know of what I have seen in the past and when I think of EJ I do not think 'ball skills' I think very fast forward with good aerial abilities. Maybe he has improved his game in that aspect...I do not know. He is obviously having a great season regardless. I will make an effort to watch Seattle play now because I am curious. I watch DC United because they have always been my local team so they are always televised. Confidence in the dribble is not something Pontius is lacking. He goes right at defenders on the dribble and is much faster then people give him credit for. Anyhoo to get back on track a bit. I expect both of these guys to be called in, though I could see Ben Olsen not letting Pontius go because of the important games happening right around the Mexico games.
This. The one thing about the US as a whole is that we do not like to lose. It's why the squad gets up for big games, like in the knockout rounds of Confed Cup 09, and why the current ridiculous amount of success that Mexico's youth levels are having will force reform out of the USSF. And the average soccer player that doesn't fully understand the changes will be okay with it because it'll help us beat our rival. Full squad, even the Euro players with questionable club situations like Dos Santos and Chicharito (Dos Santos because he's looking for a new club, Hernandez because he's looking for starts at his current one. For any Mexico fans, in no way am I saying that Chicharito is on his way out)
I will be rooting for Brazil (partly because the Mexitrolls will be insufferable), but to be honest, if Mexico won, I would be kind of glad for them. Only thing missing would be a World Cup title, and they're working real hard towards what seems to be inevitable in the future. Also, I've heard before Olympic qualifying and in the lead up to the Olympics, Tena was often criticized my Mexican fans I know......can someone explain the criticism to me? He's led them to the Gold Medal game, so much of that criticism will be moot win or lose.
I think the general mood from most Mexican fans is, we will win gold despite Tena being our coach. A lot if people believe Chepo, the full national team coach, tells Tena what to do and that is why we are winning. Tena is ultra defensive and his player selections are hurting the team.
Slightly off topic, but addressing recent comments. Hoping Mexico wins for the Confederation, but not sure they have the firepower to hang with this Brazil side, Brazil's poor defense and shaky goalkeeping notwithstanding. Brazil knows they can win, and they handled S. Korea's relentless pressure on the ball beautifully yesterday. With Dimaio, Hulk, and Neymar combining at you from all angles up front, and Pato available off the bench, with plenty of quality service in support, I fear the final result is already in the books.
I disagree. I think EJ's assets are his speed and aerial ability, most of the goals have been headers. While I can tell he's a more confident player taking defenders on I'd still rate Pontius better in that category. But like I said it wouldn't surprise me if EJ's called up given his MLS form and the timing of this friendly.
I really want to be that loving of CONCACAF...but I just can't do it. You are a better person than me. I read other posts here, and they are lovely, but I just can't do it. I feel the rivalry too much. Honestly, I hate that final match up - should be a diving cavalcade. Wish Japan had won. If they trounce us in the friendly and win this final it's just going to be arrogance for days-on-end until the WCQ games. The thought of it makes me want to hurl. Yes, I'm being general. And yes, it's emotional and not rational. That's what rivalry is all about. I do however respect what Mexico has accomplished with their youth teams, and the squad they are building. You feel rivalry with those you respect, not those you are indifferent to. And right now...they deserve respect. Doesn't mean I want them to win, but respect they've got.
I'll be happy with whomever wins gold. It's hard not to like Brazil's NT, for obvious reasons, and Olympic Gold is the only thing missing from their trophy cabinet. On the other hand, Mexico plays beautifully, and if they won, it would be great for CONCACAF. BTW, Honduras also played very well, and if they could have kept XI on the field, I think Brazil goes out to them, heck, they almost did anyway.
I feel the exact opposite way. The only reason I might root for them is because they are playing Mexico, and I'm still undecided. They are a bunch of lazy, arrogant (albeit good) players who go flying every time there is any contact and then cry when they don't get the call they were looking for. They remind me of the Heat from the NBA. Undoubtedly talented, but very hard to root for.
Yeah that's the position. I mean...not even a call up? Is he a youngster? No. Should that matter? Hell no.
EJ just like Cooper shouldn't be called in for Mexico unless Jozy and Herc can't make it in and even then I still wouldn't bring them in. I've seen this story told times before in regards to EJ and I'm not willing to see it again. In regards to Cooper, I just dislike just about everything about him and his game. The timing of this game will make it tough for some MLS players like Pontius and Zusi (if they get called in, which I hope the are). I don't think we'll see a lot of experimenting with this roster. This is the only time that JK can get his regulars in before that important Jamaican double header. To mirror other posters guys with new clubs/unstable situations shouldn't be called in but I think they will. Boca is coming in I feel regardless of his club situation. New faces outside of the "5 game tourney" that I would like to see: Pontius, Zusi, Beitashour, Beasley, Whitbread, Davis, Johnson (Please I don't want to hear camp cupcake in regards to any of them)
According to these articles in the NYT, US Soccer has confirmed the 12th is the date. Worth a read though http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/ //go...2/08/06/u-s-mexico-preview-part-1-the-a-team/ http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/u-s-mexico-preview-part-2-the-north-american-solution/