Meltdown In Mexico Piece in 90:00 Magazine

Based on the response, it appears that no, no one did.

 

Is there anymore to the article than that?It does sound interesting.

I should point out that the fact this question is even being asked and can only be responded to by VS with Rivalries-style smack is a clear indication that we must be the dominant country in CONCACAF.

Teams that aren't strong enough don't have to ask why they lose.

 

Yes I'm outraged as well. I mean I just sat straight up in bed this morning, two months after the match and said, "God.damn it, the United States U-23 lost to Mexico U-23 two months ago I now I'm really pissed about it!" And then I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Ok, the US full nat team is 5-1-1 vs. Mexico since the beginning of 2000. Overall the US has outscored Mexico 10-1 in those seven matches. I think US soccer has come a heck of a long way when a loss by a youth team IN MEXICO meant as much as it did to both US and Mexican supporters. It shows that US soccer has reached a level where we (US fans) always expect to beat Mexico and not just hope to beat Mexico. However, they are still just that, "overreactions and exaggerations", especially when it's a) one game, b) one youth level game, and c) one youth level game IN MEXICO vs. Mexico.

 

Actually... not qualifying could be a blessing in disguise. The situation is a mess in Athens: stadiums will barely be ready, and that means infrastructure -- roads, plumbing, electricity -- will be dicey, and security is a real issue. The UK even wants to bring in their own, armed security, which Greece rightly rejects. Athens would turn into Dodge City, if not Beirut (talking about the bad, old days, of course).

But memories of Munich, 1972, remain vivid, and American athletes and citizens will be prime targets this summer.

I say pull out now. Express regrets, but in the interest of general safety, it is best if the prime targets of the terrorists that thrive in Europe simply avoid the scene. We will give them nothing to shoot at, and ya'll have a good day.

 

Let me get this straight.You're suggesting that we walk away from the Athens Games citing fear for our athletes' safety?
NOW this thread might get really interesting.

 

Not opposed.


I don't care either way, though.

 

Thread split, with the trash talk moved to World Rivalries. To talk trash, do so there, please.

Let's keep the talk focused on the article, folks. The article first, and the USA v Mexico friendly second.

By the way, is that article available online anywhere?

 

Whether you agree with it or not, the article itself is basically a glorified big soccer rant, but the issue has plenty of good stuff in it, so check it out.

 

The Mexico game was just the capper on a thuroughly uninspired, completely disorganized effort by that team. I have to question the men in charge of that trip, and how such a poor effort was allowed to be put forth.

 

Hi I'm from Mexico and I've got nothing against you guys in fact I think US-soccer has improved big time... I even think you guys might be a good contender for the next world cup.. but I'll have to disagree about what you say about our youngsters going to the Olympics..... I think that the Mexican sub-23 actually did a great job in that tournament and I also think they deserve to go to the Olympics... not that the US don't... but it just isn't the right time.... I hope that the rivallery between the US and MX becomes something like what's lived in Argentina and Uruguay......(pretty exciting)

 

I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with regarding our opinion of our youngsters going to the Olympics, but welcome to the boards romperedes15.

I think the opinion of most US fans is that the loss was caused by a combination poor coaching decisions and poor play in the semi-final, winner take all game. But, the US environment generally means that coaching screw ups are little scrutinized and rarely punished.

 

Subscription is on the way! I do miss out on post. The return leg will salivate fangs.

 

Thanks for the link, Unckaos.

And Gettysburg, yeah, it was just one game. But it was the one game that REALLY mattered. And it means U.S. Soccer will not be represented at the Olympics.

While I do think it's an exaggeration to say the loss was a "major setback" for international soccer in this country, it was definitely more than just "one youth game."

 

does anyone have a list of the other top 20 full mens national teams whose U23 teams did not qualify for the Olympics in 2004?

I know Brasil is on that list, who else is?

 

I watched the Rapids quite a few times last year... I watched the U-23 game against Guatamala I think (last group game)... and I just finished watching SJ-Col.. and I have to think, how on God's green earth can Mooch be so stupid as not to start Beckerman in midfield against Mexico in that game? The kid has great vision and touch, and can do it while playing a defensive or central midfield role. He is so far above Carrol and Pause it boggles my mind.

What an idiot, and its outrageous that Mooch still has a job as anything but an advance scout.

 

Spain is the one of them.

 

Who's the Lincir guy who wrote it, and what qualifies him to be a critic?

 

Thanks for the link. As for the thesis of the article -- that the coach needs to step up and take responsibility for the loss because someone has to -- I find it interesting that the author doesn't even suggest any resposibility might be leveled on the players. After all, the game is ultimatly played by the players on the field. Given that some of those players had significant professional and international experince, even World Cup experience, I think they should shoulder the blame for not stepping up and when it mattered. That is not to excuse the lame excuses given by the coaches or any of their poor personnel decissions.

 

I have to disagree. The players answer to the coach. Hes the one that selects them, and plays them in the positions he wants to have them play. He has no excuses if he could not get the players to play up anywhere near their potential, If they werent doing it, he has to find a way to get more out of them, or find other guys who will put the effort into it, thats his job. The players on the otherhand were saddled by an incompetant coach, and couldnt really do a damn thing about that.

 

As I indicated in my original post, I agree with you as far the coaches taking responsibility for selecting the players on the field (as well as tactics). But keep in mind that with Beasley, Donovan and Convey playing the full 90 minutes, this was not a defensive posture team such as the one that Arena went with in Saprisa last time. In big games one would hope that attacking players with the kind of experience that those three have at the senior level would be able to step up and put thier stamp on the game rather than not producing hardly any attacks (shots were something like 18 to 4 if I remember correctly). Given the number of big games that these players will likely play for our senior team in the future, let's just hope that history proves their performance (or non-performance) in this game to be the execption, rather than the norm.

 

We mustn't overlook U-23's. This is were. They rapidly get notice. Player's advancement ( I want to use call-up but dictionary.com states otherwise not too.) seniorize finalization upon country. They needily promote here at Under 23's instead of assumption. At least, we are not alone in this. We also mustn't overlook 1990's. Decade seemingly tough against United States of America (U.S.A.). Mexico lengthily owned streak before U.S.A. We kneadingly tend fit for some of streak but a requirement x 2 must apply. We do have fine craftmanship upon goalies. Striker don't possess unreachability. Midfield misfiled and defense questioned. I still like Agoos and his streak.

 

So one writer wants to fire Mooch and we are supposed to care!! Sorry but it was not all that important and we got our butts kicked. it will happen again and it will happen in mor eimprotant games than this. We are not going to start firing our coaches every time they lose. By winning our group we had to play Mexico in Mexico in the semis. We lost and we are out of the Olympics. Big deal.