2/6: US vs. Mexico Post Game Analysis - The Defense [R]

Our outside defenders were outclassed today. Both Corrales and Moor looked outmatched. That led to the two goals. Tim had a good game, wish he would have been more agresive off the line on the goals other than that they looked fine. Again our outside backs were the big weakness today.

 

Moor and Corales are both very poor outside backs. Can we please end this experiment?

 

Look at the bright side. Howard didn't kill anybody - anybody on our side I mean. It would have been justifiable homicide.

 

Corrales was never good in the first place. Moor unfortunately seems to be a Bradley favorite but that was the worst performance from a USMNT defender that I can ever remember.

I can think of a few MLS players better than that guy who can play that positon.

Bocanegra and Onyewu both played well, putting out fires created by the fullbacks.

 

Both Mexico goals were scored as a result of botched calls by the referee.

I only put that in bold because it pisses me off so much. The first set piece goal was not a foul on Corrales. The second goal off the corner kick shouldn't have been a corner kick to begin with. Nice. Fooking. Job. Ref.

Having said that...

Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks
Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks Corrales Sucks Moor Sucks

Hope Bob Bradley catches that subtle message.

 

Central defenders were great, including Onyewu for a change. Moor did great for a third stringer. I hope for a lot of improvement, however. Corrales was of the same level. They may be good for spot Nats work. Maybe Moor can improve to a point of challenging realistically for a position. Howard had a real workout and did rather well.

 

Can anyone tell me why Moor kept on playing so centrally? Besides not knowing how to play at this level? Everytime the ball came down his side, it seemed he was close to goal, not marking the Mexican on the flank. Some kind of tactical direction?

 

Absolutely. Gooch and Carlos did a good job of covering, Tim was solid in the nets, and I'd add that Clark and Bradley were also ineffective defensively in the midfield in terms of controlling runs and the pace, which caused the backs to get exposed. Neither Moor nor Corrales should be anywhere near a 3-deep in Bradley's planning. This level of play is beyond their abilities.......

 

I cringed when I saw Moor and Corrales as our outside backs and they showed me why. They were both horrible.

Getting beat once on a set peice, not ok but it happens. Getting beat by the same guy twice on the exact same situation, completely unacceptable. The only thng he did right was the cross to Jozy. On the blocked shot he was lucky to get into position.

I can't even remember anything that Corrales did that was positive at all.

Gooch and Boca played well in my opinion.

Howard played a great game in goal, though he may need to get better control of his defenders.

 

Corrales was bad today. Moor was exposed on 2 goals, but his support of the attack and especially his assist to Jozy, was our best service of the night from any player at any position.

On goal #1, I think the keeper should have been out to clear. There were 3 Mexican players open anyway.

On goal #2...since when did we stop using a defender on the back post?! Why in heck was he running towards the goal?!

 

Howard played good, and gets some bonus for taking down that striker, lol. Moor and Corrales are horrible, has Moor heard of staying with his man on set pieces? Damn, i wish we had Dolo and Bornstein there. Boca played well, and had to help out as did Onyewu, who had a really good game. Scored a goal, was solid, had to help out on some mistakes, and dominated in the air.

 

If he played tight on his mark ,he would been left for dead on the touchline.Playing infield actually kinda worked and Corrales should've done the same.

I have no idea how he allowed the same guy in behind him twice to score -with a shot,no less, as opposed to a header.I mean,that's dreadful marking.

 

Boca does so much better with the controlled atmosphere of an international game. Much better than the frenetic pace he sees in the EPL.

 

I'm a little more lenient on the Moor selection today. He's a younger player, and perhaps Bob wanted to see him tested. That's what friendlies are for. So he failed the test. I would think that if we had a WCQ tomorrow he'd be way down on the selection sheet. Cherundolo, Simek, and Spector would all be picked ahead of him. Maybe even guys like Wynne. I don't know. In other words I'm unhappy that he sucked, but am OK with testing him. I thought he did a decent job at Copa America. In fact I thought he played better than Wynne in that tournament which might be why he was in this camp and not Wynne.

The Corrales selection I'll never understand. He's old and slow. We've learned all we needed to learn about Corrales quite a while ago. My only guess as to why he played is that Heath Pearce got himself slightly injured in training, and therefore didn't go.

Boca and Gooch had very good games. After a couple of average games together, this one was good. Mexico threw the kitchen sink at them and the two of them maintained their composure in the nonsense. Howard was also good in goal. He saved everything I'd expect him to save. No chance on the goals.

Somebody please tell me why Cherundolo and Spector weren't called up. Simek I believe is recovering from injury.

 

No more Corrales. No more Moor.

Good job Tim Howard (I thought Mexico might get another goal along the way).

Good job Gooch and Boca for the most part.



Can we get Cherundolo and Bornstein (or anyone besides Corrales/Moor) por favor?

 

Agreed that our outside backs were not good enough tonight but our defensive mids were extremely poor as well. If anyone watches this game a second time look at how much room we gave the Mexican midfielders. Anytime you give a passing team that many yards of respect you are bound to get beat. We are somewhat lucky to come away with a tie after such a poor second half.

 

Where to start...

Moor was 18 kinds of horrible. He literally provided no pressure. You cannot apply team pressure if your opponent ALWAYS has an outlet. And they did. He played way off his man, and still was gotten behind. Its also a rare thing to let your man score twice off of set pieces. Nice cross though.

Corrales was a bit better, but thats damning with faint praise. Hes a good player, but cannot play the appropriate defense.

Oneywu and Bocanegra did not impress me. Neither made life difficult for the Mexican forwards. They made some nice recovery plays, but that misses the point. It was kind of like the shortstop who makes diving stop after diving stop, but only because they have no fricking range.

Howard was great.

Seriously, horrible defensive performance from the back line. They simply must get better and/or be replaced.

 

A few years ago [SIZE=-1]David Regis played himself out of the national team in one friendly (I can't remember against whom). Moor should receive the same fate.
[/SIZE]

 

Moor and Corrales made me want to gouge my eyes out. Gooch and Boca were OK, I guess they did what they were supposed to do, the goal was nice. Howard was great, all four defenders owe him

 

I think both Moor and Corrales have there place but it isn't against the big time teams.

They were both out classed and the only thing that saved Corrales was his experience.

Looks like DeMerit was supposed to be here but he was injured.

Not having Robinson also hurt us.

I can't wait to see our A team!

 

Timmy was outstanding tonight, even choking that little kid that played as the lone forward for Mexico, Arce insulted his skills by trying some cheap shots but Timmy was up to the task.

Gooch had 5-star performance Bocanegra did very well too, overall an excellent performance by both centerbacks. After the last two games last year and this one is safe to say Gooch gotten rid of the EPL ordor he carried most of the summer, he was tackling, bitchslapping, starring down everyone who got near him..Great way to secured his spot, plus that goal was great.

Corrales was decent, got beaten a few times but he's not used Mex-US games and probably won't either.

Moor, alright for anyone who's wondering what the depth chart for right-back looks like:

1. Cherundolo
2. Spector
3. Simmek
4. Wynne
5. Freeman
6. Moor

Best man at defense was Gooch no doubt, good time to start performing well again.

 

W-O-R-D

I liked the Gooch and Boca two man backline though, gives me hope if we have a compotent defender we might be able to make a three man work.

Cherundolo is my starting right back, Spector my starting left. Bornstein looks like an AMAZING choice after today.

 

How is Ramiro Corrales beating out Heath Pearce and Jonathan Bornstein? He's not fast. He's in his 30s. He has feet of stone. At least we know the other two guys have the speed and the youth. Corrales wasn't a total disaster, but I didn't think the guys playing him were very good, either.

It's good to see Onyewu play with confidence again. We can argue all day and night about his ultimate quality. But it would be nice to see him maximizing it once again.

Carlos did a lot of work tonight.

 

Yeah, I saw that too. It was kind of shocking how far in from the touchline the left wing could get a pass and have an acre of space.

Alot of what I would say about the backline really goes better in the "coaching thread." But here goes.

The central defenders looked worse than they were because they were put in a bad situation by their coach. Gooch and Boca have the same strengths and weaknesses, and no way in hell would a smart coach put them out there together. My opinion is that, yes, they're each better than Parkhurst...but I'd still take Parkhurst and either of them over what we had.

Corrales isn't good enough.

Moor isn't either, but let's face it, he's #3 at best on the depth chart. His play didn't disturb me.