Its been said a lot that the USMNT is one of the friendlier environments in international soccer. Maybe thats because our players look at the game a little less seriously than other countries who view it as strictly business.
I see it more as there is less pressure to win. Less pressure from fans. Less pressure from the media. Less Pressure from the Federation. Which I will admit has its advantages and disadvantages. We could be like Mexico where their media has everything under a magnifying glass, they seem to be in crises with every losing streak, and they run through managers like they are toilet paper.
As soon as he took the field, I felt more comfortable. I was just waiting for NR to dump another clearance right to the Swiss all night long. While he might not be ready for the #1 role ahead of BG, I would feel very comfortable with him as our backup. Looked composed, quick off his line and athletic. Nothing he could do on the goal from 2 feet out.
Well I don't really know for sure what the answer is, but I know that one of the key values that we have in the US is being a good teammate. The team is emphasized over the individual from day one and even shows up on t-shirts. How this compares with other countries, I don't know. I don't think that this eliminates, or reduces the competition, but it does force it to take on a different tone. I don't think that our players, especially professionals, look at it less seriously than in other countries. I would agree, however, that the professional environment is probably significantly different than the amateur level (as you may guess, I have never played professionally) and because our players generally get into a professional environment later than in other countries, that could have something to do with it as well.
I liked some stuff, but he has room to grow. It looked like he was a little off on his "starting position" when some balls were struck. As a for instance, I think it was a short corner or free kick that he stepped forward on, then quickly realized to was over his head and he dived backward. The Swiss player on the backpost had a free header BEHIND him that should have been a goal.
http://m.espn.go.com/deportes/nota?storyId=2336380&src=desktop&cc=3888&wjb (in Spanish) Paraphrased by someone at Reddit: Basically Yarborough is quoted saying that it would be a lack of respect if he changed from the US to Mexico if Mexico were to call him up for a friendly, however that still remains a very possible option. And if he was too accept a call up from Herrera, he would be fully committed to Mexico from then on. Also the Mexico national team coach is reportedly still looking at him.
It should be noted that Rimando is also a Mexican-American His mother is Mexican and his father is Filipino.
American society does not regard soccer as a sport to be taken seriously, so there is little pressure for the US Men's team, if it gets any coverage at all. To most Americans, especially the Baby Boomers who control the American sports media, Soccer is the sport of the following groups: 1) Hipsters 2) Homosexuals 3) Children and effeminate boys who weren't good enough for red-blooded American sports like Baseball or American Football 4) Illegal Immigrants, especially Hispanics 5) Communists The above attitude takes generations to change, but you can still see it in the way the sport is portrayed here.
I completely agree, and thats not because I think Yarbrough is good enough yet. I just think Rimando is terrible at the international level. This is probably my biggest criticism of him. His positioning and overaggressive is a big problem. I think it needs to be corrected before I'd be comfortable with him playing an important match for us, but even then, I still prefer Johnson and Hamid to Yarbrough.
so what does that have to do with my comment? There are many a Mexican midget, such as most of the Mexican NT, however the GK positions tend to support taller players. Now since there is no filipino NT and Rimando was never even a blip on any Mexico NT radar, no other recourse for this guy. I remember back in the DCU days he used to get burned plenty of times, so its sortof a wonder he ever got a callup .
It doesn't have anything to do with it. Just pointing out that Rimando is also Mexican, in case you weren't aware. Nick isn't a top international keeper, but he's a fine MLS keeper. He's never been MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, though. A good, solid veteran presence as the 3rd goalkeeper at the moment. Nothing more than that.
I remember seeing him a few months ago on TV playing with his club. He was having a fantastic game. I was in a Mexican restaurant that I always go to and asked some of the Mexicans I know about him. They said he's Mexican and were very insisting that he's not American, so I thought he was just a light-skinned Mexican. I guess he isn't and the guys were worried that we'd steal him from Mexico. He's got talent from what I saw of him with his Mexican club.
You were right the 1st time, he is a light-skinned Mexican. The Mexicans you were chilling with were speaking the truth. Even if they were afraid of JK poaching, lying wouldn't stop him.
He apparently isn't. He's not of any Mexican ethnicity. He's a gringo who was born and raised in Mexico from American missionaries who stayed there after their honeymoon.
He's Mexican by nationality. Some will argue that Mexican ethnicity doesn't have to be solely for those of indigenous stock, so he can be ethnically Mexican depending on who you ask. He's definitely not a gringo, he'd have had to be born and raised up here to be that. Being white doesn't automatically make you one. His parents are, but not him.
Or a Spanish-speaking American! lol. I love claiming. It's always fun. (I mean, how much "truth" can they be speaking if the cat's got a blue book?)
Not when they said "he's not American..." but I'm just messing anyway. My kids have 3 passports so I understand the dilemma more than some.