Pre-match: US vs Mexico @ Azteca, Tuesday 3/26, 10:30 PM EST

Learn the name. The kid has been getting CR9 comparisons.

 

I don't know how true this is, but Klinsmann told ESPN's Bob Ley that he does not plan to bunker. He wasn't asked the question directly, but he said indirectly that he does not plan to bunker against Mexico.

 

I don't understand why the team is leaving for Mexico today. They should have left the day after the Costa Rica game. I'm a big believer in getting to road matches as soon as possible to adapt.

 

I honestly don't think many modern U.S. teams go into Mexico with the PLAN to bunker...it just happens that way when you get the shit pressured out of you. Its the natural progression of things down in Azteca that game plans many times go right out the window.

 

Were the airports even open? There was a blizzard going on yesterday

 

Yes, he wants aggressive, american, pressure football with 3dmids and no width and one striker.

 

not to mention that basically nothing JK says in the press actually happens on the field. He tells the world we're going to be more attacking, more creative, and he converts us to aide that was about as defensive as a Bob Gansler coached team.

 

Thats a good point, but I think we can expect an attacking formation or at least not an ultra defensive formation on Tuesday.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a formation similar to what we saw on Friday, maybe with a change or two.

 

I am going to do my best Lalas impression...

...Set pieces, Set Pieces, Set Pieces.
We can get a positive result if we focus on set pieces and executing them well. Hopefully Klinsmann has them out there practicing set pieces more than any other thing these next few days.

 

Who is the one? Boyd?

 

No man, you haven't been paying attention: we dont practice football, we dont need set pieces. We practice overcoming problems. Not knowing how to play good football is the biggest of them all so we need to practice overcoming not playing good football, by not playing good football.

I hope this logic lesson is clear.

 

That is not pressure, and it not American. Even going back to the 1994 World Cup, we were not as defensive minded as we are at times under Klinsmann.

Under Bradley and Arena, we used at most a single dedicated D-Mid. Under Bob Bradley, more often than not we did not even have a dedicated defensive midfielder. Both of those coaches believed in high pressure when the environment and opposition allowed for it, and when we couldn't we did our best to keep our shape, and funnel the opposing attack to where we wanted - well that was more of a bob thing - he was far more tactical defensively than Arena was.

When you field so many D-Mids, you are bunkering - because Defensive mids will NOT pressure in the opposing midfields. By their nature, they let the attack come to them, and then they stop it. Also why they're sometimes called stoppers. Pressure defense comes from defending front to back - it's the lynch pin to Barca's and Spain's style of play actually. I also believe that's the key to defeating Mexico, wherever you play them. If their wings are getting the ball fairly deep, we're winning.

 

For as much as I dislike Klinsmann's tactical approach (or lack thereof to be more specific), he's exactly right with the need to change our mindset. If we go into a match thinking we need set pieces to win, then we've half lost. The biggest impediment to us taking the next level is that we can not impose our will onto above average sides. It is something Klinsmann talks about constantly, and he's exactly right. As a program - that should be the aim IMO. How can we impose ourselves on good teams, consistently?

 

...I think he was being sarcastic.

 

The last time we played them, he had zero faith in our ability to defend, and just launched attack after attack on them - even up 2 - 0. He didn't even bother with a defensive strategy, just prayed our creaky backline would hold up against the rush.

 

whoops

 

When I saw the formation I was thinking it looked like a lineup for Mexico. For one thing EJ started on the bench, Gomez and DMB took the left side with their experience in Mexican league, right? The rb was super defensive.

I think the challenge in Azteca, as far as starters go, is the rule stipulating only 3 subs are allowed. We may see Edu instead of Jozy to start. In that case, if Dempsey is up top, he will need to pace himself and the question is where the speed threat will come from on counters. Shea instead of Zusi at right mid? I doubt it.

I am flummoxed given the team JK has (not) built over the past 18 months.

 

I remember reading the last cycle, that scientists or whatever said that there is no point in going early, because your body will not acclimate to the conditions in less than a week. So leaving 48 hours is optimal.

 

I was not aware Shea had already earned such exalted status. What did he do, smear hair product on the sacred door handles of Azteca?

 

You are the second person I have seen talk about Barrera. He hasn't played with Mexico since August 2012.

 

He may be right about our inability to "impose our will", but bunkering, as you described in your previous post, is a pretty ineffective way of going about changing that. In general, I have never seen the US play so timidly as they have under Klinsmann.

 

I highly doubt that Jozy will be taken out.

We aren't going into full bunker mode with our formation.

Maybe we will have to after the game gets started, but there is no way that JK is going to take out Jozy to start an extra DM.

I do think Edu will start though. I think he will start at CB. Against Mexico, you can't start two 6'5 lumbering CB's. Chicarito, Gio, Aquino and Guardado will have a field day if we play two slow CB's.

That is why I expect Edu to start in place of Goodson. If JK starts Gonzalez and Goodson, he will be making a huge mistake. It won't work against Mexico.

 

I really expect the exact same lineup, maybe Edu for Zusi as a dedicated DM. And honestly I have no problem with no changes.

 

It could be that was the schedule. I was wondering that too since they couldn't really have good practices in Denver because of the weather.

 

You have o give up something. We gave them the flanks in the last August friendly. We forced deep crosses and defended those. Mexico sent in 28 crosses (11 successful) in that friendly. I still believe that is the right tactical plan.

You do not want Mexico attacking down the middle at speed. Our tactical scheme is defend narrow and attack wide. That will be in full force at Azteca.