Re: Re: Re: Re: US v. ES in RFK? From what I remember, the Honduran fans were great. There was even the guy who kept running into the Sam's Army section with a Honduran flag(and sho we refrained from decking) who I talked to and exchanged hugs with after the game. Good folks--at least in the area I was in. And a great atmosphere, once I got over the overwhelming numbers of Hondurans and the fact we lost.
Re: Re: Re: US v. ES in RFK? Bruce Arena is adopting the long-term view for this fixture. Advocating the current doctrine in the White House, il Bruce was quoted as saying "we need fixtures like this one. Without fixtures of this type, we will never properly develop our Strategery". We've got to have our Strategery. Ronald Wilson Reagan: Insane Anglo Warlord George Herbert Walker Bush: Huge Berserk Rebel Warthog -bs
PAYBACK WILL BE SWEET At first reaction, you may be considering avoiding this game. Before you make that decision, think PAYBACK. The 'States should simply sumptuously slaughter the Sallies. This is a wonderful opportunity for DC Utd fans to (metaphorically) shove a soccerball down the throats of the anti-DCU Sallies. Our MLS players should have a field day against this undersized opponent. Think Twellman, McBride, Razov, Ralston, Mathis, Jones, Mastroenni, Pope, Llamosa, Bocanegra, Garcia, Prideaux, Rimando, Howard, and some other players that I am no doubt overlooking. Playmaking midfield will be our biggest weakness but Mathis just might feel an incentive to prove something to doubting fans and coaches. Our defense is imposingly tall and big, yet quick enough in the back and in midfield. Our offense should be a delightful expression of scoring from CKs, set pieces and from the run of play. There will be early and loud support for the boyz in blue, but I expect to be hearing USA chants in an otherwise silent stadium within a half hour. We should beat these guys 4 nil, which should mean an early exit for the fair-weather Sallies. Your post-game walk to your car should be unmolested. The biggest uncertainty is a familiar one: will there be competent security? Most likely, they will bungle the security arrangements, but observe the buddy system and tailgate and root with US fans to mitigate the threat. GM
According to today's Washington Post, the all-time series record is: US - 10 wins ES - 1 win Draws - 2 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24689-2002Sep30.html
Yeah, for sure I can imagine there will be some fisticuffs at this game. The Salvadoran community has not shown it can behave graciously at games in DC and there are plenty of people who are pretty ticked off about it. Myself included. I will not take any kids to this game.
Re: PAYBACK WILL BE SWEET You tell 'em GM. I'll be there. Maybe I can convince the skin head son to come along and look menacing.
Re-read what you wrote and then look at the smiley face. And, yes, I have seen some of the pictures VS has posted around here and, yes, I know what his inclinations are.
My thoughts exactly!! At least Honduras would be a challenge. But then again whichever tean it would be, the us fans attending woyuld be outnumbered 60-40 like in the past.
Because the El Salvadoran community in the DC area is much larger than the Honduran community and it's been eons since their national team has been in the area.
I know you said "could have been", but the El Salvador, just like most of CONCACAF is a minnow to the U.S. Since 1988 - when the U.S. Soccer Federation decided to get serious - the U.S. has only lost to 7 sides...Bermuda (yes, Bermuda), Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and T&T. The U.S. has only lost to 10 CONCACAF sides total, with the others being Canada (last loss in 1985), Cuba (1947), and Haiti (1973). Here is the U.S. record vs. CONCACAF sides since 1998 (W-D-L GS-GA Last Loss)... Code: Barbados 2-0-0 11-0 Never Bermuda 2-0-1 3-2 1991 Canada 4-3-0 12-2 1985 Costa Rica 9-3-7 20-19 2001 Cuba 2-0-0 4-0 Never El Salvador 6-2-1 24-8 1992 Guatemala 7-3-1 18-6 1988 Haiti 1-0-0 3-0 1973 Honduras 3-2-2 11-9 2001 Jamaica 8-4-0 21-5 Never Mexico 8-6-6 25-18 2001 Panama 1-0-0 2-1 Never Trinidad 7-3-1 15-5 1994 In the last two World Cup cycles the U.S. has only lost to Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico. The U.S. owns a winning record against all CONCACAF sides since 1988, with Bermuda, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico the only sides being close to the U.S. Note: the U.S. hasn't played Bermuda since 1991. Bermuda has "scoreboard" on the U.S., but it would be interesting to see how they would fare now. Since 1988 the U.S. is a combined 61-26-19 (scoring 177 goals and allowing 76) vs. CONCACAF. Pre-1988 they were 16-18-39 (scoring 110 and allowing 156). Over the past 15 years the U.S. has developed into one of the top three sides in CONCACAF. If Mexico playing El Salvador or Guatemala is a mismatch (which it is), then the U.S. playing them as well should be considered a mismatch. I still rate Mexico the best in CONCACAF, with the U.S. and Costa Rica closing very fast - if they have not done so already - and Honduras the fourth best. I would say the likes of Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, and T&T are 2nd tier and it would be an upset if (and when) they knock off the U.S. (or Mexico and Costa Rica). The U.S. should defeat El Salvador every time they play them. If they don't the minnow would have bitten the shark in the rear. As you pointed out, El Salvador can only hope to draw, much less win.
Re: Re: US v. ES in RFK? YOU WHAAAAAT? EL tri has a losing record against he US in the last four or five years. They find it very difficult to score goals on us. Just remember the ditty: Aye, aye, aye-aye. We're making el tri look silly. They'll be mowing our lawns When the World Cup is on. So piss off and go eat some chili. GM
US v El Salvador: Nov 17, 3:30pm on ESPN at RFK http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24689-2002Sep30.html
Re: Re: Re: US v. ES in RFK? Let's not forget that most of those games have taken place on US soil. Right now, Mexico is second to the US, but the US does not dominate as much as you make it sound.
Re: Re: Re: Re: US v. ES in RFK? Well, you've got your opinion and I've got mine. We'll just have to disagree. Mexico is our bytch. Can you say 2 - nil baybee? Try it twice. GM