We aren't as good as some people thought, but we aren't as bad either. Away to Costa Rica was going to be a tall order. We lost. Not totally unexpected. Most important is keeping guys like Bradley and Altidore healthy in the long term and simply taking care of business down the stretch. Qualifying is HARD. It will NEVER be easy. And at least we're not Mexico.
Seriously, will Mexico have a new coach tomorrow? Or a team that has zero confidence in the guy running the show. Mexico is in a world of hurt
I don't see the hate for Howard. He had a few nice saves and you really can't blame him for any of the goals. I'm not saying he was great, but he didn't lose the match for us.
Preface: I watched the match in a bar, far from the screen so I'm not 100% sure on rating individual players. That said, if Jermain Jones was from Kentucky, he would not be on this team much longer. We learned just how valuable Bradley is, even in one of our deepest positions, as others have pointed out. Jozy's card is on both JK and Jozy. Why not try AJ first and let him get a run in. We are already losing and there is less downside to it. When Jozy came on I was wondering why because of his injury, then he goes and picks up a weak yellow. Yes it was weak, but the effect is the same. LD played okay, and that is about it. Everyone else gets a failing grade as far as I could see (which wasn't very far because I forgot my glasses). We were embarrassed out there. The first goal was a slap in the face from their weak hand and our knees buckled.
This. CR has 3 matches left, two away (Jamaica and Honduras) and Mexico at home. So they can be sucking each others Popsicles now, but still have work to do. And Mexico has a hex over CR like CR does over us. CR might only get 1-3 more points from the hex.
Even with Bradley there, I think this would have been a loss. Pinto has done us a great service: he unraveled our defense and showed us how weak, slow, and dumb it is. Better now than in Brazil. The question is, how can it be fixed? There is no personnel, beyond Fabian Johnson, and perhaps Camerons (as RB) and Brad Evans, who can do a decent job at defending. The CB situation is very, very bad. We have to pray that JAB comes true.
Well I'd imagine Jones and Beckerman will play if Bradley can't go. Especially with Besler out, I'd expect Klinsmann to want someone to just sit in front of the back line. Yeah no need to panic, we already put ourselves in a pretty safe position for one of the 3 spots with a draw in Mexico and those 3 wins in a row. I'm still going to call it how it is though, this game was painfully pathetic.
Hate to post some look on the bright side stuff but..... We have three games left, and they are against the 3 lowest teams in the HEX. Two at home. That is a good position to be in. We do not even need a win against MexicLOL. A tie would suit us fine. Anything that keeps 4th place 5 points behind us is fine with 2 left. A tie pretty much books the trip to Brazil. We have never won in Costa Rica, and we did not tonight. Oh well, at best we were a 20% to win tonight, and we didnt. It is what it is. Onward!
Costa Rica at home: 4-0-0 Costa Rica on the road: 0-1-2 Credit to CR, they have played their hex table almost perfectly so far.
I am amazed at how little our veterans brought to this game. Dempsey, Howard, Beasley, etc. were all MIA and completely mediocre. Even Donovan was pretty quiet. And I am completely aghast at how poor our first touch was to a man. It's embarrassing when our guys can't even trap the ball down to their feet. Jurgen needs to integrate guys like Mixx and AJ as soon as possible, because in games where we need possession and composure they would have been invaluable.
If they played well they would not be in such a desperate situation. Why are we afraid of them? Sure we should be careful but we totally could do it.
Do you really think JK is going to bench Dempsey or Howard? Don't you remember what THEYCALLMEBRUCE said, history and reputation supersedes current form.
Not surprised Dempsey looked poor at all - he's been that way with the Sounders so far this season and a US Soccer source from and NBC article said Dempsey's at 60% this USMNT camp....why Klinsmann started him? IDK...I could care less if he's captain, has experience, or its his 100th cap...at this moment, Dempsey should not be starting and tonight showed why. He's extremely lucky that PK went in.