Alejandro is on the bench for tonight's Copa MX game against 2nd tier Merida. Greg Garza is in the starting lineup and appears to be the only other YA in the Tijuana squad tonight. Two YAs do get the start for Merida: Sonny Guadarrama and Isaac Acuna. The game will streamed on ESPN3 starting at 10 eastern.
Was checking for Guido today against Pachuca. Anyone know if Stevie Rodriguez is also with the reserves, like Guido is? Also, any of you Southern California guys been down to a game in Tijuana? Would make for a great adventure and the easiest opportunity to see a yank abroad!
I'm getting two Copa Mexico matches (and a couple of CCL games, including one with Chivas) on my TV package...but no Tijuana match, so any updates would be appreciated. I think Guido has a bright future, particularly if he can adjust to a quicke pace of play.
Honestly it took me a good couple minutes before I could pick him out. He seems to have aged overnight. edit: Just subbed out.
It definitely was tough to pick out which one was Alejandro...stream isn't the best quality, numbers are tough to read, I don't understand spanish that well, and the announcers aren't doing a great job of calling out which player has the ball at any given moment. For some reason, Garza seems to be the only one I could consistently spot.
http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/28353/Xolos-Guido-making-best-of-homecoming/ Good story on how he ended up at Xolos over Holland.
Its ultimately Guido's decision what he does with his professional career, but if he wants to be a key member of the USMNT eventually will have to go to Europe. Donovan is the only real consistent member of the USMNT that plays has played in North America for his whole career. Certain guys are in and out of the National Team, but those aren't our top players. The only real guys being called in from the Mexican League and MLS are young MLS players and fringe National Team members(Torres, Beckerman, Wondo, Gomez, Castillo, Orozco Fiscal, Beasley). I don't think the Mexican League is bad by any stretch, but the Dutch league is A LOT better for a young attackers development than the Mexican League. Look, its his decision. I am happy for him that he is no longer home sick, but many players deal with the home sickness to get the better training and development over in Europe. Its still early in Guido's career, but I think that he will eventually have to move aboard if he wants to become a member of the USMNT.
I didn't interpret any of his actual quotes as him being negative about Europe at all. He said that he had a teammate who spoke Spanish and made it easier for him to adjust and he said everything over there was "an amazing experience". Seems like the author of the article might have played up the homesick part a bit, judging from the actual quotes.
Yup...and playing in the Mexican league for the next 3-6 years isn't going to hurt him one bit in terms of the USMNT.
This.... Key word is 'playing'. I'd reckon he'd get more appearances in the next 2 to 3 years than if he left for Europe.
If there is one positive to be taken from Mexico's recent youth surge, it's that some of our guys are down there and will benefit from the changes implemented. The Copa Mexico is a perfect example, essentially a cup where teams are going to play all their young and reserve players.