Jeez louise. Can ESPN have someone do halftime highlights who actually knows a lick about soccer? Who is Steven Garrard?
I'm head scratching at why its not 4-1. Marquez apparently is allergic to Altidore because he collapsed as soon as Altidore came close to him. But really, Dempsey's goal was 100% legit. Corrales sucks. MBradley is great but needs to learn when to foul and when to not foul.
First half thoughts: Drew Moor! Great cross! Almost makes me forget the horrific defense. Somehow you manage to cmobine giving your man tons of space, and still letting him get behind you. Oguchi Oneywu! Great goal! It would be nice if either your or Bocanegra would actually win a ball cleanly and execute a pass out of the back. The Mexican forwards lives are entirely too easy, last minute tackling is not terribly impressive. Bobby Convey, nice transfer to Reading, and starting in the premiership. I have no fricking clue how you pulled that off. Landon, you had a nice couple minutes in there. More please. Clint, its a hard life. First Fulham, now having this. I feel for you. Jozy, not a bad half for a kid. Tim Howard, you are very very good. Filthy good. You have my permission to crack open the skulls of your defenders and feast on the insides.
Re: 2/6 USA v. Mexico In Game and Pbp Thread 1st Half [R] Quick points: Howard: gotta love 'em, gotta have 'em to be successful Corrales: nervous, very nervous, resulting in poor play Altidore: confidence grew in the latter part of the half--outstanding finish Donovan: how does he stay invisible yet contibute? Respected. That's why. Dempsey: After he simplified his game eliminated the tricks he stood out Moor: outstand delivery for Jozy, nervous defending on the wings, too much space given Boca: solid, strong at times, needs to close down quicker Gooch: same as Boca Convey: doesn't look confortable, a step slow, be active dammit!!! Clark: has to show a more up and down game, stayed too deep, asert himself in the attack Bradley: solid defensively, needs to get into the flow of the attack by making runs into area Overall a C+ We settled down after starting nervously, noise was a huge factor, finished on a high note. Oh yeah, what a complete bullshit call on the Demps goal called back. WTF was that? Beyond idiotic call!
No more Corrales please, Could be 3-2 Mex easily if Howard wasn't so good. Actually make that 4-2 US if the dive and non offsides are called right. Convey looks overmatched here. Dempsey is looking great though.
I seriously am about 5 minutes from wanting to kick John Harkes' @$$. If he calls Dempsey the hometown boy one more time. Nacadoches is nowhere near Houston!! Sorry, the Texan in me couldn't take it anymore. Now, the team needs to hold the ball a little more and be a little more offensive minded in the second half. I think it is Adu time...
Looked like an initial offside there on the good replay at half. But thats a long time to go without blowing the whistle.
It really annoys me that of all the people to do analysis, we have julie foudy. would you ever see this in any other country?
Clint's arm was past the defender, so it's not technically offside. That said, it's not the worst offside call I've seen, which is a bit sad.
Dempsey has been sheer class so far. Despite being called back, that was one of the best individual moves and finishes by a U.S. player that I can remember. Bring in Adu and anyone for Convey and our attack will make mincemeat out of a surprisingly suspect Mexico defense.
Not reading a million pages but a couple quick halftime thoughts: -The Dempsey no-goal call was atrocious and the foul call that led to Mexico's free kick goal was almost as bad. Who the hell is this ref, that Canadian?? -Timmy Howard is getting a 10 so far. Some great saves. Boca and Gooch have also been great. Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore really turned it on in the last 15 minutes of the half. Convey needs to do more. Bradley and Clark are rock solid in central MF, that is our clear cut first-choice pairing IMO. Moor and Corrales are in completely over their heads, I haven't really been following the run-up to this game between college hoops/hockey and the run-up to signing day in football, where the hell are Dolo/Spector/Bornstein/Simek??? -Mexico controlled possession but you can tell the US is in their heads. They're great at kicking the ball around their back line but aren't doing much in our third of the field (and what they are, Timmay is shutting down) -Corrales, STOP GIVING UP THAT F**KING FREE KICK IN THE SAME DAMN SPOT
The camera angle of the "offsides" wasn't impressive to me although it did look like the right call but I am still unsure
let me explain my "worst half since WC, not deserving of the lead" comment btw. By that, I mean this is the worst we've looked trying to pas and posses the ball.We're extremely scrappy and very resilient, and both are great qualities, but we're also struggling to create and posses. I alos though Mexico did a great job of taking advantage of our poor passing, and that Howard saved our butts. But that's soccer for you.