Ecuador won a game against Haiti. The worse team of the competition. SO? At least we have one Copa America title How many does Ecuador have? None. Zero. I don't think I am the king of the world. Ok? You are the one who started after I posted that the ref did badly for both sides. I didn't start with the offenses. I never had any problems with any Ecuatorians on the forum. And we didn't buy the title.
All of you need to relax. Ecuador aren't a good away team. Has nothing to do with the altitude. In the 2014 qualifiers they didn't win a single game away from home. While the win over Argentina was 100% deserved, that's only 1 game and Argentina was on an off day with Mas and Roncaglia being useless especially against a team with good wingers. I'm not counting the win over Venezuela as Venezuela were awful with Sanvicente. You're all forgetting how easily Colombia beat you in Barranquilla. Ecuador are a very good team and very underrated, but I think we all overestimated them a little bit and forgot about them usually not being a very good away team.
Considering your post originally sounded derogatory towards Ecuador why would I not respond to you? Also Chile played some of the dirtiest football in last years cup , dubious calls in favour of Chile and that's not suspicious? By the way good for you guys man, I bet you'll be saying that when Chile goes back to the bottom of the table like in 2002. I'll leave it at that .
I've never said Ecuador is a top 5 team but they are going through a rough patch right now. 2016 hasn't been a very good year , lots of injuries and other issues. But the criticism launched on Ecuador is always pretty unfair, okay so Ecuador isn't great away how about Paraguay? Or Peru? Why whenever Ecuador loses away everyone makes the point that it's because we suck away from home? Show Paraguay's recent track record or Peru or chile's away and it's even.
Peru couldn't even beat Venezuela in Lima. So what is it you give Ecuador 100% credit or did Argentina having an off day?
Will 3 players out for the next game, will we see some of the young players we've (I've) been waiting to see. Will Pulisic and Nagbe get to touch the grass? And if the Zardes goal was the opposite- IE Zardes tried to slot the ball to Clint, how was into the stands does Zardes send it? Why does Clint look so unhappy all the time?
I don't think Clint was trying to slot the ball to Zardes. He was shooting, and fortunate that an always hustling Gyassi was there to finish it off. And, a pretty nice first touch by Gyassi to get the goal..... As for Tuesday, I'd expect Beckerman in for Jones in a straight swap, although perhaps that keeps Beckerman deeper and pushes Bradley slightly further forward, assuming the team isn't under such constant attack that there are chances to get people forward.... After that, I'd be surprised to see Pulisic to start, and think Zusi, Nagbe, and even Wondo are more likely to get the call. Not my choices, but my guesses. Also, is it possible that Yedlin moves to the midfield and he keeps this back 4 together?
I take him to be somewhat unemotional. When he gets "in the zone", he's like that, I guess. I don't doubt his hunger for a second.
He's been like that since he turned pro in 2004 with the revs, maybe even further back. Dude is a pure competitor which I LOVE as a USMNT fan. God I hope so. Yedlin has pace, but not a whole lot else. He is a younger Kevin Alston who makes tons of mistakes that are covered by his speed and can put in marginally better crosses.
I think he was going for one of those condescending pats on the face that every player hates. The still makes it look way, way worse than the slo-mo replays, which showed him (IIRC) sort of grab (thus the locked arm), then with a semi-open hand, kind of missed. Still, the rule changes are pretty clear.
Great win for the United States of America. And Seattle was one of the reasons as I expected. Great home field environment. Ecuador tried their best to tie it up and send it to penalties. Kudos to them. But the USA was just a little bit better at the end and held on.
I think it's also good for tourney hosts to get this far. Better for tv ratings and overall buzz. But as I mentioned many posts ago, Ecuador doesn't seem to play with the same confidence and discipline that they do at home. They're missing a bit of that element that helps them slow down the game a bit . They transition very quickly to attack but tend to leave very little support for their defenders. But that's all water under the bridge at this point. Ecuador can leave this Copa with their heads up high. They gave it a great go and this prep will all mean that they will be a bit more prepared for 2 tough games in Sept WCQ vs Brazil in Quito and vs Peru in Lima.....
Both were onside with E Valencia alone against the keeper but the linesman seemed intent in stopping Ecuador from scoring.
Dempsey should be considered a legend in American sports. Single handedly wrecked the Ecuadorean defense.
The service form Jones on that first goal was beautiful though. So technically it was not single handedly.
That's true. And only after the double send off did Ecuador really come alive - the US lost more with Jones than Ecuador with the anonymous A Valencia.
I think Ecuador needs to get Paton Bauza to be there coach. He is a legend at Liga de Quito and is married to an Ecuadorian and has many times expressed his love for the country and his desire to coach the team. I don't much like his style, but damn, if Ecuador was just a bit more organized and tactically and emotionally disciplined, they would have won that game last night. That, and if Enner Valencia had actually been able to finish his chances, of course. The USA is definitely a decent team and will give Argentina big problems. However, their strengths are the same as always: physical condition, pressing ability, intensity, and attitude. They have only one player worth fearing individually though. How long will Clint keep this up? Last night was an epic performance. He'll be 35 in Russia 2018, yet I think he'll still be the main guy. Is there anyone else anywhere in the USA capable of scoring goals?
Yes the strengths are the same but the work has been done so that we play the game more than we used too. We don't just run, we combine. We search out advantages. There is more thinking done. However its also true that we aren't producing enough special players at least not as much as we hoped. On the other hand the quality is more even across the field.
It's pretty obvious why. The disparity between Ecuador's performances away vs at home is much more striking than anyone else's. At home, you guys are an absolute juggernaut. Outside? Not so much. We all know the statistics. Peru, Paraguay and everyone are about as shitty as you expect them to be both home and away.
El Patón just started this year a very juicy contract with Sao Paulo, knowing Brazilian soccer he won't be free for another year or so, until they crash out of Libertadores.