Anyone else a little bit nervous about Klinnsman's navigation abilities? This round has seen close calls in 2002 WCQ for the US and 2010 WCQ for Mexico. One bad result in this result and the team can be behind the eight ball. I think the US will lose at Guatemala and find themselves in 3rd place for a period of time (since Guatemala will have 2 of their first 4 games against Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica has the US and Gua at home and only 1 away game at ATG in their first three games). For whatever reason, the US gets results in Kinigston and I think they will salvage a draw in Jamaica - perhaps it won't be pretty. I envision their home games vs Jamaica and Guatemala will both be hard fought with the opponents trying to bunker. It will not be in style, but I think the US will take the top of the group but not without stressing us out first. One interesting factor is if Antigua can nick a result off of someone. In the US's 2002 group with Barbados, I believe Barbados defeated Costa Rica which was quite a surprise. Sometimes the middle tier CONCACAF nations will inexplicably lose a game like that. So that's something to watch out for. My guess is Antigua will lose all of their games, but they will keep the scorelines close in most of them. 6/8 - USA v ATG (2:0) 6/8 - JAM v GUA (2:1) 6/12 - ATG v JAM (0:2) 6/12 - GUA v USA (2:1) 9/7 - JAM v USA (1:1) 9/7 - GUA v ATG (2:1) 9/11 - ATG v GUA (0:3) 9/11 - USA v JAM (2:0) 10/12 - GUA v JAM (1:1) 10/12 - ATG v USA (0:4) 10/16 - USA v GUA (2:1) 10/16 - JAM v ATG (3:1) USA - 4W - 1D - 1L - 13 pts (12 GF, +8) JAM - 3W - 2D - 1L - 11 pts (9 GF, +3) GUA - 3W - 1D - 2L - 10 pts (10 GF, +3) ATG - 0W - 0D - 6L - 0 pts (2 GF, -14)
A loss to Guatemala and a draw to Jamaica ...You're serious? I know Klinsmann hasn't played against Guatemala, Antigua or Jamaica but seriously?
Id be pretty mad if we lost to guatemala...I honestly don't care what our past record is with them, if we want to convince ourselves that we are trying to take the next step we need to take care of business against teams like that
Absolutely. If we have an off game maybe a tie against Jamaica, but I can't think of an excuse not to dominate this group.
Honestly, if we lose or draw any of these matches then it should be considered a disaster. We should clean up shop even at Guatemala. 6/8 - USA v ATG (5:0) 6/8 - JAM v GUA (1:1) 6/12 - ATG v JAM (0:1) 6/12 - GUA v USA (1:2) 9/7 - JAM v USA (0:1) 9/7 - GUA v ATG (3:0) 9/11 - ATG v GUA (0:1) 9/11 - USA v JAM (2:1) 10/12 - GUA v JAM (1:1) 10/12 - ATG v USA (0:3) 10/16 - USA v GUA (1:0) 10/16 - JAM v ATG (2:0)
Fortunately, I expect that the players and coaching staff don't share your hubris. Jamaica and Guatemala can easily take points from this US team. A couple of injuries, a few lapses in concentration, or a badly timed red card could make things even worse. I think the US wins the group with 14 or 15 points.
while i agree with what you're saying... i'm trying to get at that it is not acceptable for us to have these "few lapses in concentration" any more. I want to hold us to a higher standard.
fortunately wouldn't be the word i'd neccesarily use... The fact is we should beat these teams and we should beat them consistently. It's up to the players and the coach to keep focus, but part of the reason we brought klinsmann in was to not play down to these team's levels like we had been notorious for doing under the previous regime. Now could they take points from us?? absolutely. Will they take points from us?? possibly. Is it acceptable?? Not at all, at least not in my opinion
Just a bit of historical background... Guatemala has never ever advanced out of a WCQ group that's included the US... Jamaica has never beaten us. Ever. Anywhere on this planet OR Brad Friedel's home on Mars... Antigua and Barbuda??? Please. 14 points.
True, but then again, we had never lost to Panama nor have we ever lost a group stage game at home in the Gold Cup before, but once again, look how that turned out
I'm curious, why do you have Antigua keeping it close for all of their away games and being blown out in all of their home games? lol
Our defense may botch us into 1 loss this round but the real hand wringing starts when we compete against Mexico, Honduras, Canada & Costa Rica for one of the regional WC births. IMO CONCACAF has never had as many international caliber players as it has right now.
The US (and all others) will thrash A&B. They are close to as bad as Barbados was last cycle. Jamaica is tough to beat at the Office. Guatemala is a Central American team which automatically puts us at risk of something totally bizarre happening during that road game. We'll have to see if Guate calls in the human circus (Carlos Ruiz) to make things exciting. Outside of our group I'm really curious who emerges from the 3 contenders in group A (Honduras, Panama or Canada) In group B I'd love to see El Salvador knock out Costa Rica since we can't seem to win in CR to save our lives. 6/8 - USA v ATG (6:0) 6/8 - JAM v GUA (2:0) 6/12 - ATG v JAM (0:3) 6/12 - GUA v USA (1:1) 9/7 - JAM v USA (1:1) 9/7 - GUA v ATG (3:0) 9/11 - ATG v GUA (1:3) 9/11 - USA v JAM (1:0) 10/12 - GUA v JAM (1:1) 10/12 - ATG v USA (0:4) 10/16 - USA v GUA (1:0) 10/16 - JAM v ATG (5:0) USA - 4W - 2D - 0L - 13 pts (14 GF, +12) JAM - 3W - 2D - 1L - 11 pts (12 GF, +9) GUA - 2W - 2D - 2L - 8 pts (8 GF, +2) ATG - 0W - 0D - 6L - 0 pts (1 GF, -23)
and the coach of that US team got fired at the end of that tournament... and was anybody okay with us losing to panama?? no from what i could tell a lot of people were very unhappy. They could beat us, but they shouldn't beat us if we play up to the level we need to be playing
6/8 - USA v ATG (6:0) 6/8 - JAM v GUA (2:1) 6/12 - ATG v JAM (0:2) 6/12 - GUA v USA (1:3) 9/7 - JAM v USA (1:2) 9/7 - GUA v ATG (1:0) 9/11 - ATG v GUA (0:1) 9/11 - USA v JAM (3:1) 10/12 - GUA v JAM (1:1) 10/12 - ATG v USA (0:3) 10/16 - USA v GUA (120) 10/16 - JAM v ATG (3:0)
I'd be happy with sweeping wins at home and a victory at Antigua. Draws at Jamaica and Guatemala. I know those results won't appease everyone on BS but they would make me very happy.
We are going to beat everyone home and away but it won't be pretty. Expect Klinsmann to have no idea what he is doing this cycle.
Last night's display was very nice, but I am worried about JK's squad if Dempsey is not 100%. I think if he'd played last night against that Scottish team the final score would be 9 or 10-1. I hope Donovan and Altidore remain healthy because the trio they make with Dempsey could be very awesome. It will get ugly away in CONCACAF if those three are not on the field.
Well, my first two match predictions don't look so ridiculous now I'd say. After watching them tonight, I don't think it's out of the realm for A&B to nick a result off of Guatemala or Jamaica. The inconsistent middle tier CONCACAF teams will inexplicably lose games to minnows on occasion, like when Costa Rica lost to Barbados. The Antiguans did beat Haiti to get to this round after all.
As I said a long time ago. I would be very happy with wins at home and ties on the road for the most part.
Amtigua and barbuda are MUCH better than barbados. We have been saying it for weeks now that they are and people keep thinking they are not. when the majority of your team trains together on a single squad it can help so much. they were WELL organized and almost NEVER tried high pressure on us or got despearate. when we went down to 10 they made the mistake of pressuring us and we got a penalty out of it. if teams try to give it a go against us we will make them pay.