I think we can all agree this is suppossed to be the most adverse match in this Hexagonal, no? Mexico played okay... not the worst case scenario we thought might be possible based on the run-up to the match. Someone on the PBP said we didn't need two destroyers... and I think the fact Mexico moved the ball well after Marquez got ejected means the poster was right... take out the destroyer put in Zinha and let Gio stay higher up. Regarding Marquez... in another thread I suggested he should ride the bench for his mamadas... anybody agree with me now? The goal... we all agree Jagger Martinez screwed up badly on the play... yes its a personal error... but I wonder how many similar Corner Kicks he has defended with the NT? Probably none other... how can we expect a noob to be coordinated on these set pieces? This is why its important to have a base of players that camp together before bringing the possibly exciting, unproven quantities. Ericksson... not yet impressive. Sure Jagger made the mistake but wouldn't Zinha have been the better sub for Nery? Speaking of Jagger (pobre hijo)... once Guardado plugs in to this squad we are going to be a pretty good team. Back to Leandro... I thought we lacked intensity in midfield... Leandro waited too much for the other players... if the ball is in midfield I think we should have been sliding in on divided balls... even if the other player has a slightly better position... we let their plays develop longer than we had to. In other words we need to apply pressure in midfield. Overall, considering it was a road game... the team played well on the run of play... in reality we shout down all their suppossed offensive threats... Donovan didn't do much, Ching & Dempsey... did they even play? Back to Corner Kicks... Mexico generally defended them well outside of the goal... but we could still benefit from taller, heavier players. We need to learn to clear the ball with determination instead of trying to just touch out to our midfielders. Gio played well... the Futbol Picante pen dejetes are unfairly doggin him. I though Carlos Ochoa played fairly well... he battled with Oguchi and beat him several times The referees didn't impress me... that was a PK against Gio, they stole two good attacks with offside call Pardo was NOT offside, and Ochoa was through legitimately twice. In conclusion... Mexico's "funcionamiento" is adecuate enought to qualify for South Africa... I think we will improve quite a bit as the Hexagonal goes on. What do you guys think?
Ok, but What in gods name are we going to do when we are in a group of Brazil, Serbia, and South Africa.
You get the point, If we can't even beat Jamaica, Honduras, or even Canada, what will we expect against European, and Africa countries(Both which Mexico has trouble against). Against South America and Asia, Mexico has fared well.
i agree with most of your review man, i too think that Mexico qualify. and yes we do have many things that need correction, but overall they played ok. i also did not get why he subbed in jagger instead of sinha. i might have missed the news or something but where the fack was Vuoso? and damn Nery keeps on failing in key moments, i know he got injured but it seemed he didn't really put balls into it. but thats just me.
Of course Mexico will qualify, they are in a shit region. If there were 1 or 2 more teams that were legit, Mexico would not make it. I don't see how Carlos Ochoa played well, he did NOTHING to impress me in the slightest bit.
also about mexico vs bigger teams, there is still much time to correct and improve our game, and besides Mexico always tends to play better against the bigger teams with the exception of fackin argentina who always get a lucky ace gol near the very end of the match.
ochoa did play pretty good, and like it has been said he did manage to beat oneywu in most of the plays, i just think he isn't as fast and skilled as some of the other strikers, i would have loved to see vuoso play instead.
i think mexico will qualify, second or third... i doubt they will be first. if mexico doesn't step up their game i wouldn't be surprise them fighting for the 4th spot or not qualifying at all.
Once (if?) we qualify, I don't think there is as much to worry about from the Euro teams as in other World Cups. They will be out of their element playing in such a different climate in the summer, and besides I may be wrong but I don't think a European team has ever won a world cup outside of Europe. That said, if Mexico doesn't get its act together, I fear this will have been another wasted 4 years (futbolistically speaking).
we will qualify no doubt but once in South Africa, then what? the way the team has been playing no way in hell we'll make it out of the group stage
2009 ----------------------------------------2005 USA (away) - loss ----------------------- USA (away) - loss Costa Rica (home) ----------------------- Costa Rica (home) - won Honduras (away) ------------------------ Panama (away) - tie El Salvador (away) ----------------------- Guatemala (away) - won T & T (home) ------------------------------- T & T (home) - won USA (home) ------------------------------- USA (home) - won Costa Rica (away) ----------------------- Costa Rica (away) - won Honduras (home) ------------------------- Panama (home) - won El Salvador (home) ----------------------- Guatemala (home) - won T & T (away) ------------------------------- T & T (away) - loss ?_______________________________________________ 22 pts Other than Costa Rica at Saprissa I see no reason why they can't match the record from 05. Even if they don't match it and lose that still gives them 19pts add to that maybe losing at Honduras that gives them 18pts, they still get through. But the Meza era is close if the results don't go our way the next matchdays then O O.
This qualifier is going to be really tough. Costa Rica has looked very good. Honduras will not go down without a fight. El Salvador looks like its playing good ball. T&T aren't just going to give you a game either. Mexico needs to win outside of Azteca if they want to be playing in 2010. We haven't won a game outside of Mexico under Sven. Tonight's match was very disappointing, our "leaders" Pardo and Marquez failed the team tonight. Even though Marquez apologized, i still don't understand why he loses his head when he knows he has the teams responsibility on his shoulders. Its a shame, Marquez (One of my favorite players ever) let me down and the national team. How long can this be an issue.... And then you wonder why the Mexican players mentality cracks under pressure. Our leaders cant even hold in their emotions.
I'll comment to you # 14 I think the reason we lost was Nery's injury and Marquez red card and last but not least that same ref screwed us over he and other central american refs love doing this too Mexico for them it's politics and they should not be reffing our qualifiers
I don't think we can blame the ref with the gol that Gio let go in the first half and the gol that Oswango gave away in the second half.
So we get back Torrado, Arce, Guardado, and hopefully Arrellano can contribute... But we lost, Marquez, Salcido for the next game. Its a good thing we have depth on Defense. If i'm not mistaken Costa Rica hasnt lost? Its going to be a good game at Azteca.
One more thing... Ericksson should have brought Ramon Morales... with Guardado & Nery injured he would be the next natural replacement on the left wing (that I can think of). The more I thought about... the more I realized the poster LMcVP was right... Bofo should be part of Ericksson's squad.. even if he doesn't consider him a starter. In this match with Nery out, and with Leandro just getting in the way in midfield... I think the game would have gone MUCH BETTER with Ramon instead of Jagger Martinez on the left... and Bofo at the top of a diamond formation behind Ochoa & Venado / Omar. Wait... now I am pissed... if Ochoa & Venado are the current starting FWs on a very good Chivas team.. and they have cohesion with each other... why the hell would Ericksson choose to pair somebodyelse with Ochoa?