Ok- way too much negativity....about Klinsmann, his selection, this game.... I'm not selling here, I'm buying this stock. And its also our patriotic duty to support our boys as they head into the Mexican battle... So, here goes: US gets the big monkey off our backs and finally wins 2-0 in Mexico! SUMMARIES - Orozco plays the game of his life in the center....Klinsmann faith is rewarded. - So too, Cameron- coming off the 'I finally made it to Stoke and now I'm a PLAY-UH' high is awesome in tackle and leading the ball out of the back - Beitashour is a revelation at right back (Stevie C who?), using his speed and smarts to cut off attacks and win 1-v-1 duels.....and Fabian is fabulous as usual - Landon and Beas turn back the clock back ('one for old times sake) with a performance for the ages...lots of nice combos and creating some good chances, especially in the 1st half. - JJ and Edu hold down the fort admirably, with JJ putting in his best shift ever for US, all over the place CHRONOLOGICAL - early minutes....US struggles to find its legs, but nothing too too dangerous from Mexico, One half-chance - mid 1st half......US comes into flow of game and then BAM! a classic Donovan/Beasley combination from a decade ago (space cleared out by a heady Gomez run) and US is up 1-0 on Mexico surprisingly after only 22 minutes - Mexico presses and creates a couple good chances, but US giving as good as it gets...with some clever attacks down the flank from Beitashour and Fabian - Halftime 1-0 - 2nd half, Mexico comes out with double barrels......hits the woodwork on one chance....we bend but we don't break - mid-way through...US player is taken down in the box....NO CALL....wah??? - lull period from 65-80 minute where there is real restlessness in Mexican crowd..they can't believe score, but keep expecting Mexico to come back - JK puts on lots of subs, lots of fresh legs..this adds to less fluidity in the game - In the 83 minutes, Terrance Boyd hits a shot from the 2nd row (called a Sunday shot in German) that catch the Mexican keeper offguard and rockets into the upper corner...2-0 for US! - US sees out the game with Mexico suprisingly impotent in the end. In retrospect, Mexico was too confident going into this game (post Olympic high lasted too long) and JK gets the mix exactly right between veterans leadership and young players with plenty to prove. US leaves the egos aside and play for the shirt. OK, that's how I see it. Chip in your most positive scenarios and let's keep the positive energy flowing!
Just like last August's match. A back 4 protected by the Super-Klinsmann-Bunker of 4 DMs is definitely capable of stopping the goals from both sides. Throw on 4-5 attacking players in the last 30 minutes and who knows what happens.
I'm tellin' you guys....Beasley and Donovan on the pitch together for the first time in years...this is Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park stuff.....magic is coming, I can feel it....
I just heard that Klinsmann is also calling up Lenhart now as well.. Additionally, US Soccer is going to spring for 100,000 yellow wigs to be handed out for free at Azteca, and the Mexican fans by wearing them- unbeknownst to them, will be massively supporting late game sub Steve. This all will lead to an additional 2 goals for the USA in a late sub appearance for Lenhart. Now 4-0 scoreline for US and Lenhart's 2nd goal celebration with break the crossbar and the game will end in the 90th minute with no extra time (since the Mexicans don't keep an extra crossbar around)
OK, OK, OK . . . JK is kidnapped by the Mexican drug lord mafia . . Sunil (wisely) refuses to pay, er, negotiate. The match is called off and the USMNT avoids a huge embarassment. A Mysterious, Darkhorse candidate is hired and SFS leads the USA team to world cup glory. Freddy Adu becomes the player everyone thought he could be (and invents a robot). Three years from now a coach with a name only a few recognize, Jay Goppingen, shows up at Monaco. There are constant rumors that Michael Orozco-Fiscal, Edgar Castillo, Brek Shea and Robbie Rogers will be transferred in.
On a serious note, Landon is in GREAT FORM now.....4 assists tonight....(could have been a couple goals and 5 assists easily)........this is good news heading into a clash that Landon usually gets up for anyway.
Slam on Gordo all you want.......if it is late, and we lob a ball in the box...he's got just as good a shot as anyone to get his noggin' on it. Don't underestimate Gordo!
In all seriousness, I think I might pay money to see that. Shall we take bets on how long it takes him to get a Mexican player sent off? God, the day that we see him in a USMNT uniform I'll start stocking up on water and dry food.
I see plenty of positives that can come out of this match. This is a friendly. And we havent beaten Mexico on their turf since ?never?, often with our A team represented. A good learning experience for some of the younger players. Even if the result is poor it will give them a little adversity to overcome in the matches that count next month with Jamaica. The introduction of fresh blood to compete at need positions: Beitashour, Beslar, Corona. Young players who we are integrating into the NT setup get more field time and an invaluable experience playing at Azteca: Cameron, F. Johnson, Williams, Boyd. Yes, its US-Mexico. You always hope for a result and play your hardest, but a loss will not be that demoralizing and an unexpected draw or win would be euphoric with this group.
this is pretty good. I mean I dont think we would win with our best XI but I think this will be a good experience fo ra lot of players.
I posted this in another thread but my bit of positive thinking is that if Klinsmann starts Fiscal and Cameron we will have the fastest and most mobile central defense pairing we've fielded in years.
The Mexican federation jacks up the prices of tickets to the game, so only the quietest most polite tea-sipping fans can attend. A massive strike engulfs Mexico City, so there is no auto traffic or manufacturing emissions in the days leading up to the game. A new yet-to-be named wind blows all the city's pollution out into the Gulf of Mexico. An earthquake hits Mexico, causing no damage, but dropping Mexico City to an altitude of 800 ft. The US players, some earning their first caps, hear none of the blood-curdling legends of the Azteca and are able to play well. The Mexicans, content with their recent wins in several competitions, eat a huge meal before the game and play very lethargically. US wins 2-0!
The problem with Alan Gordon is that his vision and composure is at MLS in 1999 level. The positive is that even if a guy is marking him, he can still jump over his mark and score. The solution is to never pass to him unless said pass is meant as an assist. Then, he can be an asset, maybe.
I want to to watch exciting, fast break soccer not bunker city. The game will disappoint me no matter what happens. Bunkering does not work against Mexico anymore, anyway. You can't really play that way in the Azteca.
Yeah, I don't have a problem with our backline being called up. Everyone complains about our last back line, now everyone complains that we have a totally new backline. Beitashour had a extremely rare un-notable game against Seattle, but he did look good against Chelsea, that's saying something. Boyd is a good player. Castillo is lambasted but has more Mexican experience than most or all of the other players. Beasley is also good. Cameron is good. The bottom line is, Mexico has better players and this game will serve its purpose, and we'll probably lose but we all know it's possible we can win it. If Canada could almost get the win against us last game, we can beat Mexico.
Then why are you posting in this thread? My prediction: the US will win 1-0 to make it look close. After the game when all the Mexican fans cry about how it's just a friendly and it doesn't mean anything, we'll explain in Spanish as best we can that we can't hear them over our gold medals and that rover we just landed on Mars.