A "friendly" at a time that many of our players should be more focused on their club form? I usually get edgy for a few days before we play Mexico in competitive matches but this one just seems like a fund raiser for the respective confederations. The guys are pros so they will play hard but I think guys like Dempsey, Bradley, et. al. have valid reasons not to leave it all on the field. To be honest, I think this Fifa date at this time of the year is just stupid. With that said, another win, however we get it, would be good for WC qualifying.
i cant wait for this game. it would be great to get another win, sit back, and listen to the excuses this time. the mexicans are gonna run out of weak-a$$ excuses if they lose too many more times!
I suspect those FIFA dates are more for the benefit of European Championship "dress-rehearsals" than anything else. I've just started following American players in Europe in earnest and have for the first time considered taking the 4 hour drive to Houston to catch the "friendly" (?). Certainly I'll be watching this game. The Americans are getting better (e.g Bradley Jr. has been a beast in Holland) and the Mexicans are bringing some exciting young blood. For a while i thought it was going to be an MLS-based squad but I guess Bradley Sr. decided to bring in the European big guns just like the Mexicans did. I doubt this match will be very "friendly" whatever FIFA calls it.
I agree. But as our players become more experienced and sophisticated you can expect they may take games like this less seriously in the grand scheme of things (50+ competitive matches a year). I do love it when we beat Mexico. Don't get me wrong. I think the simple reason it happens is they don't adjust to us. They are still too arrogant. With their skill, if they played more direct we would be in trouble. My only fear is that more and more Mexicans go to Europe and understand that. The location in Houston is a dead giveaway as to why the game is taking place. You won't be seeing 58,000 at many Euro friendlies at this time of year.
Ha ha. Nice picsha Over the top..good word choice. I'm pretty excited myself. First off, Bradley seems like the type of guy that goes all out for any game, let alone one his dad is coaching...for the national team...against their biggest rival. If any of the players think about not going all out before the game starts, I think once all the boys get in the locker room and start to feel the energy of being together at full force, they'll want to leave it all on the field. Is it Wednesday night yet?
Just looking at the clip of Sanchez trying to injure GAM gets me as pumped up as I ever get for a friendly. Also, in my soccer managerial league I'm playing a Mexican side in our big tournament on Wednesday. Hopefully there's a USA sweep over Mexico this week.
USA-Mexico is always an event, regardless of the stakes. I could give a rat's ass about Europe club players form. Other players in the world manage to play for their country at this time, we can too. Also if any US player dogs it vs. Mexico like you suggest i would personallt support their removal from the squad permentantly. No Quarter for those without the heart to win. I am as excited for this game as I was for the last time they met, and the time before that, etc.
They better not. If they don't want to bring it versus our biggest rival - then they don't belong on the field. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ro-donovan020408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
GO. Seriously, last year in PHX was incredible, and Houston will be just as nuts. You won't regret it. GO.
Yes, but you should care a great deal about limits on performance caused by jet lag. These limits are very, very real, particularly for guys (Dempsey, Bocanegra) who played on Sunday. It takes 4-8 days to re-adjust to local time. Those guys simply cannot be at their best. I'd much prefer to have games played in Europe on these midweek dates.
I'm excited about the game because both teams are well matched and bringing most of their top players. While I do tend to think we play Mexico a bit much, the players always seem up for it and it makes for a good, competitive game. In many ways, I think the fact that we play often makes it more intense for the players. Familiar faces out there can stir up old emotions. Playing another strong team could, depending on the opponent, mean facing off against a bunch of strangers. Besides, logistically, it just makes sense that we would play them frequently. Compared to the other teams nearby enough to play regularly, Mexico is the obvious best choice.
One "woodshed" friendly every year we don't face them in a competitive match is absolutely ok for me. It builds the rivalry and makes both teams want to improve faster. It makes very good money for both FAs. It tests our tactical mettle in a way most friendlies just don't. And it bloods the young into hard nosed Concacaf football. Well, that and its always fun to watch two teams that hate one another go at it. There are few rivalries in the world hotter than ours.
Get carried away much? I understand you are geeked up for the match. All of us US soccer fans are. That being said I can think off the top of my head dozens and dozens and dozens of much more heated rivalries than US vs. Mexico. Heck most of the United States population don't give a crap about the game.
But those that do, care a lot. For US and Mexican fans, it's very heated. For US and Mexican players... well, have you seen the last few games? It's pretty much war out there. Which other countries' fans and players have the focused dislike for one another like that?
it's a game that counts for nothing.... other than bragging rights...and if you're into that enjoy it... wake me when the wcq begins...
Then I trust you won't be making any comments in the numerous threads that will be launched after this game.....since you'll be sleeping and all.
I'm looking forward to it. I like to see the newer players. I want to see Jozy up against world class competition. I want to see Adu in there and all the other fresh faces. I'm disappointed that some of Mexico's better players won't be there. I just hope the US plays a little more wide open style. I could care less about "a result" from this one. I'd like to see us try to be possessive of the ball and attack minded. Why not? I'm not much into the whole Us/Mexico rivalry--gasp, sorry. I went to IU and I didn't hate Purdue (Just Gene Keady) or Kentucky. The only sports team I ALWAYS want to see lose is the Duke men's b-ball team, and really, that's just latent disgust for Christain Laettner and a certain NCAA final in which the referring was abjectly unfair!
Celtic v Rangers? Yankees v Red Sox? England v Germany? These are a few I can name, but just a few. So perhaps your point is valid.
Off the top of my head... Brazil vs. Argentina England vs. Scotland England vs. Ireland France vs. Italy Spain vs Portugal Bosnia Herzegovina vs. Serbia Bulgaria vs Romania Croatia vs. Serbia Netherlands vs. Germany Israel vs Iran Czech Republic vs. Russia Hungary vs. Austria Germany vs England Korea vs. Japan Slovenia vs. Serbia Lithuania vs Russia China vs Japan Poland vs Germany Iraq vs. Iran New Zealand vs Australia Nigeria vs Cameroon I could go on and on...