OT: USA vs Mexico

[Jerry27]

Honduras Panama draw on another lucky Panama goal in stoppage 2-2

Honduras draw or win...we're in!

 

[RioDog]

Honduras draw or win...we're in!

Congrats to the USMNT! USA! USA! USA! USA!

 

[SAMCRO]

I'll be in Rio for 8 days during the WC. Anyone else making the trek?

 

[RioDog]

ANY 'Yarder who is in Rio for WC and not at a game is cordially invited to my house for churrasco and game viewing on my 42" TV.

 

[Jerry27]

I'll be in Rio for 8 days during the WC. Anyone else making the trek?

I wish I could afford it, I would do it in a second! C'mon powerball!!

 

[UConnDan97]

We're going to Brazil!!!

Solid performance by the entire squad. I liked Klinsmann's decision to move Fabian Johnson to a wing back. It allowed space for Donovan, Dempsey, and Johnson to all co-exist. I also liked Beckerman's performance filling in for an injured Bradley, especially after Cameron made an absolute mess of it against Costa Rica. I don't like Jones, but he certainly redeemed himself tonight after a brutal game against Costa Rica. He made a few critical tackles tonight, especially when it was still a 0-0 game.

Bottom line; we've washed away any previous belief that Mexico is a stronger team than are. Nobody watching that game tonight could argue that point. Chicharito? Dos Santos? Enjoy that game against New Zealand, and say hello to Peter Jackson and the Hobbits for me...

 

[progrocks]

Green eyes played? Huh, would not have known by watching the game.

I bet they get Carlos Vela back for the next two, that should help a LOT.

What happened to Gio's fire? Two years ago, no one scared me more. Today, meh. He has never been injured as far as I remember.

 

[upstater]

I was trying to tell a couple Mexicans I came across tonight that soccer evolved from rugby. But they had no idea what rugby is. Nor did they speak too much English. At least one will be doing research as soon as he gets his hands on the internet.

Rugby evolved from soccer, so it's the other way around.

 

[Waquoit]

When P gets fired ... is Klinsmann a candidate??? Because the depth the US has now is unprecedented! Missing 4 starters? No problem ... just re-load, re-adjust, and win.

Klinsmann is the best. He's build a team and changed the culture. I thought Keller and Lalas sounded like a bunch of old fogeys after the game. They make it sould like the US is the only team that plays with "heart".

 

[RioDog]

Question: is early qualifying (2 games left I guess) a good thing, like extra practices for a bowl game? The coach gets to experiment a little more with lineups and younger players get more gametime. Or is it a chance for the team to lose focus because they don't have the pressure of winning?

 

[Adios]

Rugby evolved from soccer, so it's the other way around.

I know you like to think you are always correct but after the rules of association football were codified in 1862, the first game was played by two rugby clubs. Who ended up going back to rugby after the game.

 

[RioDog]

Klinsmann is the best. He's build a team and changed the culture. I thought Keller and Lalas sounded like a bunch of old fogeys after the game. They make it sould like the US is the only team that plays with "heart".

Agree. When Klinsmann took the job I believed that good things would happen for the USMNT. Parabens para o alemao!

 

[ZooCougar]

Baseball came from a a British school girls game called rounders.

 

[upstater]

I know you like to think you are always correct but after the rules of association football were codified in 1862, the first game was played by two rugby clubs. Who ended up going back to rugby after the game.

Being correct is better than being wrong. The rugby world cup trophy is named for the guy who decided to pick up the ball during a football game and run with it in his arms. The kids on my rugby team who actually attended the Rugby school knew this history like the back of their hand, and when I looked it up, the history was all there. It happened in the early 1800s at the Ruby school. They were playing the sport we call soccer today, and they simply picked up the ball and started running with it, tackling.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

upstater's on target, and evolved is one way of describing the cheater who picked up and ran with a school yard football in Rugby, England. Indeed, the Rugby World Cup trophy was named after a cheater.

Long before a more modern football/soccer sport developed in England, much earlier versions of a kicking and competing with a ball game originated way back when in modern day China's 2nd or 3rd century and later in modern day Italy. The English refined football/soccer a bit for over a century, and may have even codified rules after rugby rules were documented. Of course, football in England has also regressed to today's all-too-English version of long-ball kick and run.

 

[SubbaBub]

Question: is early qualifying (2 games left I guess) a good thing, like extra practices for a bowl game? The coach gets to experiment a little more with lineups and younger players get more gametime. Or is it a chance for the team to lose focus because they don't have the pressure of winning?

All but 5-6 players are still fighting for a spot on the roster or the starting XI. The results won't matter much but the games do.

Jk can go one of two ways. He can either test his first choice team for Brazil as a unit or he can put those on either fringe into the most competitive environment available to him before Brazil.

I think he goes with #2. He will release players to their clubs that he has a good feel for if it will help then earn club playing time or if they are nicked up. If so you won't see guys like Dempsey or Bradley playing a full 90 against Jamaica if at all.

 

[Adios]

Being correct is better than being wrong. The rugby world cup trophy is named for the guy who decided to pick up the ball during a football game and run with it in his arms. The kids on my rugby team who actually attended the Rugby school knew this history like the back of their hand, and when I looked it up, the history was all there. It happened in the early 1800s at the Ruby school. They were playing the sport we call soccer today, and they simply picked up the ball and started running with it, tackling.

That story has been declared a myth. Otherwise, there was mob football (in which there was kicking AND carrying) and after that, different rules of football around England. But association football was not codified until 1862. After rugby football.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Question: is early qualifying (2 games left I guess) a good thing, like extra practices for a bowl game? The coach gets to experiment a little more with lineups and younger players get more gametime. Or is it a chance for the team to lose focus because they don't have the pressure of winning?

For a motivated, competitive, no idea whether qualifying makes too much of a difference. However, the US has tentatively scheduled matches in the works with Spain, Scotland (at Hampden Park), and, if Bosnia-Herzogovinia qualifies for Brazil they'll be a pre-WC match in St. Louis.

 

[upstater]

That story has been declared a myth. Otherwise, there was mob football (in which there was kicking AND carrying) and after that, different rules of football around England. But association football was not codified until 1862. After rugby football.

I know all about the myth but was isn't a myth is the first descriptions of the game in print came much later than the descriptions of soccer. And, games can exist before any sort of organization. Besides, neither sport much resembles those initial codifications. For a century, rugby union ruled, and that came after association football. So whatever was written down before was quickly forgotten and displaced.

 

[upstater]

upstater's on target, and evolved is one way of describing the cheater who picked up and ran with a school yard football in Rugby, England. Indeed, the Rugby World Cup trophy was named after a cheater.

Long before a more modern football/soccer sport developed in England, much earlier versions of a kicking and competing with a ball game originated way back when in modern day China's 2nd or 3rd century and later in modern day Italy. The English refined football/soccer a bit for over a century, and may have even codified rules after rugby rules were documented. Of course, football in England has also regressed to today's all-too-English version of long-ball kick and run.

Good point about Italy, but a little known fact actually backs up Butch. When I lived in Italy, some of the guys I met sometimes call Rugby Fiorentino. Because the same story of Ellis picking up the ball is repeated by Italians who say that during the Renaissance someone picked up the ball and ran with it, and a Florentian form of soccer developed much like Rugby. Unless we know what the heck they were doing in this period with soccer and rugby, it really is hard to determine who is right. But, my bias leans on the soccer side of things since earlier descriptions clearly indicate a player kicking a ball on the ground.

 

[SubbaBub]

So the hijack OT thread has now been hijacked?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Dos a Cero seemed very likely, then not, and yet, thanks to Clint butchering the 94:00 penalty kick it was ...

Folks are wondering if he missed it on purpose to preserve the growing legend, Deuce a Cero.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Question: is early qualifying (2 games left I guess) a good thing, like extra practices for a bowl game? The coach gets to experiment a little more with lineups and younger players get more gametime. Or is it a chance for the team to lose focus because they don't have the pressure of winning?

I would say it’s a good thing. It will allow the US to get younger players like Bedoya (who seems to be the only other on-ball midfield playmaker besides Bradley the US has) to get some serious experience in before the WC. Especially as the US (and everyone else) usually suffers at least 1 major injury leading up to the WC.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Any chance the Rent gets a pre-WC warm-up match for the US next spring? If not, I am hoping Red Bull area gets one as live 30 minutes from it and would love to bring my son to a match.

 

[BlueMAB]

So the hijack OT thread has now been hijacked?

Butch has a well developed talent for posting inane and irrelevant "facts"

We can't celebrate winning anything on this board without an argument about a topic that has nothing to do with the discussion.

 

[Waquoit]

Question: is early qualifying (2 games left I guess) a good thing, like extra practices for a bowl game? The coach gets to experiment a little more with lineups and younger players get more gametime. Or is it a chance for the team to lose focus because they don't have the pressure of winning?

This was game was experimental in a way. The US was without their two best players.

 

[SubbaBub]

While I'm glad none of the subs gacked up their lunch, Mexico played so badly it's hard to make any projection to how they'd play in Brazil. As of now, Mexico wouldn't make it. Panama would play NZ for the last spot.

Bedoya helped himself, so did Beckerman and Goodson and Parkhurst. EJ was already safely in the 23.

Mix will get another look as I suspect will Corona and Torres.

Fairly comfortable to land a spot.

GK: Howard (Guzan) (3rd GK)
RB: TBD
CB: (Gonzo, Besler, Cameron, Goodson)
LB: Beasley
DM: Bradley, Jones, Beckerman
AM: Dempsey, Donovan, Zusi
ST: Altidore, EJ

I'd say 16 spots are still locked plus F. Johnson for # 17 and of the last 6 spots 2 will need to play RB (Didn't like FJ on that side)

The pool is:
Evans
Parkhurst (I think both make it short of Cherundolo making a miracle comeback)
Mix
Bedoya
Corona
Torres
Johansson
Gomez
Wondo
Klijestan
D. Williams
Chandler
Brooks


Of that group, top 3 fill vacant spots on the depth chart. The last three will be a fight between the next 5. The last 5 I think are out for good barring injuries.

As much as I think Beckerman can't play, I can no longer ignore the fact that JK keeps putting him in there and the lack of options beyond Bradley, Jones, and Cameron for the Deep Center Mid. Mix is an attacking player, not someone you want in front of the back four.

The next 9 months will be spent determining who is in the best form and finding the starting defenders. Unfortunately our best 4 are all center backs and only can play at a time.

Only Bradley doesn't have someone pushing him. Anyone else is replaceable if they slack off which is how JK likes it.

 

[Kgun7]

This was game was experimental in a way. The US was without their two best players.

US Soccer has finally arrived when: One of the suspended players is hardly even mentioned in most published reports describing how under-manned the US was last night ... even though he STARTS AND PLAYS REGULARLY FOR AN EPL TEAM!!!

 

[ZooCougar]

This team just seems to have a better mentality under JK. I think he will have this squad ready to go in Brazil. I really hope he has a nice long tenure with us.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm hoping for the three-peat. For the last two cycles, the last friendly before the WC for the USMNT has been at The Rent. The team then spends the next day in Bristol taping promos and doing interviews. I'm sure they'll love the new ribbon board.