Soccer Gold Cup - USA vs Mexico

[Cythim]

losing to Mexico in CONCACAF is never something about which you should be ashamed.

Def not now. This mexican team isnt even in its prime right now. The core players are between 22-25 years old right now. By the time the next World cup gets here if the team keep chucking ahead will be primed for a run.

For most American fans I believe the result was expected. The shame and disgrace is from how the result came about. The U.S. had a two goal lead 30 minutes into the game but absolutely gave it away with extremely poor defense. We should be able to hold a two goal lead against almost any other national team in the world. Mexico is a really good team, but they are not Spain and they are not Brazil... not yet at least.

 

[CATCH17]

Can't believe we blew that 2-0 lead.

I was happy to see Adu play so well though.

 

[casmith07]

Team USA is pathetic.

 

[casmith07]

Can't believe we blew that 2-0 lead.

I was happy to see Adu play so well though.

It only took them forever to let him see the field. Ridiculous.

 

[DFWJC]

Team USA is pathetic.

Really?
Pathetic?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

mexico are easily the strongest team in the competition, was also supporting them as they have a celtic player in the squad whereas the US have a rangers player.
regarding howard he's not world class, for me that term is for the top 5 or so in their position, but he is a very good keeper.
that goal from dos santos was spectacular and from a mexican point of view was stunning. from an american point of view though how in the blue bad place was he allowed so much time on the ball in the penalty box without anyone putting a challenge in on him?

I thought the defense was horrible. I also thought the goal keeping for the U.S. was horrible. Howard was badly out of position on multiple shots, including the two goals. He allowed himself to be drawn out of net and essentially put himself in no mans land. There is no question that Howard has talent but it takes more then talent to be a world class keeper. Was a very disappointing performance by the U.S. team.

 

[Cythim]

I thought the defense was horrible. I also thought the goal keeping for the U.S. was horrible. Howard was badly out of position on multiple shots, including the two goals. He allowed himself to be drawn out of net and essentially put himself in no mans land. There is no question that Howard has talent but it takes more then talent to be a world class keeper. Was a very disappointing performance by the U.S. team.

I don't see where he was out of position. The first and third were Howard coming forward to cut off the angle like every keeper will do. He was beat to the left and right by great shots. The second goal was a mess from the defense, a poor clearance and Bradley giving up on the play while his mark ran past him to knock the loose ball in. No keeper will be in a good position when the ball is crossed left to right then cleared back to the center of the box. The final goal Howard went out to the edge of the six yard box but got beat by the patience of dos Santos. He tried to get back in goal but no one else stepped up to challenge dos Santos before the shot. If Howard didn't go out to make the initial challenge the goal would've been much easier from a closer range.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't see where he was out of position. The first and third were Howard coming forward to cut off the angle like every keeper will do. He was beat to the left and right by great shots. The second goal was a mess from the defense, a poor clearance and Bradley giving up on the play while his mark ran past him to knock the loose ball in. No keeper will be in a good position when the ball is crossed left to right then cleared back to the center of the box. The final goal Howard went out to the edge of the six yard box but got beat by the patience of dos Santos. He tried to get back in goal but no one else stepped up to challenge dos Santos before the shot. If Howard didn't go out to make the initial challenge the goal would've been much easier from a closer range.

As a keeper, you make a decision to either challenge or play the ball. However, if you challenge, you better understand the angle of the shot and the pass. There is no question that the defense around the box was poor. Not nearly physical enough. There is no way that anybody on the Mexican team should have been able to stay on the ball for as long as they did in scoring position. I don't know where his fullbacks were but if you go after the ball, you know that you better get there or you're done. He didn't get there and we were done. Besides, you know that any good goalie is going to instruct his defense to play and what he needs from them. None of that happened against Mexico. Technically, you maybe right. I just fell as if the goalie makes the decision to go after the ball, you know it's do or die. If you don't make the play, you are done. I thought they all played poorly.

 

[joseephuss]

As a keeper, you make a decision to either challenge or play the ball. However, if you challenge, you better understand the angle of the shot and the pass. There is no question that the defense around the box was poor. Not nearly physical enough. There is no way that anybody on the Mexican team should have been able to stay on the ball for as long as they did in scoring position. I don't know where his fullbacks were but if you go after the ball, you know that you better get there or you're done. He didn't get there and we were done. Besides, you know that any good goalie is going to instruct his defense to play and what he needs from them. None of that happened against Mexico. Technically, you maybe right. I just fell as if the goalie makes the decision to go after the ball, you know it's do or die. If you don't make the play, you are done. I thought they all played poorly.

If you don't go after the ball you leave a bigger target to hit. Howard did what every goalie would do by coming out and most would struggle to stop shots in those situations. Howard tried his best to cut down the angles, but you have to give Barrera some credit, he hit two great shots.

I am not a big Howard fan. I do think he is very good, but somewhat overrated. Such as when he is referred to as world class. I think he is a notch below world class, which is pretty good. Still I can't blame those goals on him. The defense was poor. The defense was not that good even before Cherundolo got hurt. Mexico was putting up good pressure before the injury and were able to finish off the opportunities after the injury.

The US does not have any speed on the back line. They also to get out of position back there and don't have the speed to make up for those mistakes. You see it happen quite often when they face the better teams.

 

[CATCH17]

Really?
Pathetic?

Yeah we're not pathetic.

We are a very oportunistic team.


Our defense on the other hand is pathetic.


I love our guys though. I just wish they had more talent .


Every time I see Mexico play that Dos Santos guy is ballin. He is a heck of a player for them.

 

[The30YardSlant]

It really bothers me that so many Mexican-Americans choose to not only root for Mexico, but actively root against and trash the US in public like they do. This country is the only reason they have anything to live for. If you love Mexico so damn much then go back to that hell hole. I'm sure you'll live a great and properous life selling charro beans and scraping the rust off the toilets of a drug lord's private bathhouse.

Crap like that just pisses me off

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If you don't go after the ball you leave a bigger target to hit. Howard did what every goalie would do by coming out and most would struggle to stop shots in those situations. Howard tried his best to cut down the angles, but you have to give Barrera some credit, he hit two great shots.

I am not a big Howard fan. I do think he is very good, but somewhat overrated. Such as when he is referred to as world class. I think he is a notch below world class, which is pretty good. Still I can't blame those goals on him. The defense was poor. The defense was not that good even before Cherundolo got hurt. Mexico was putting up good pressure before the injury and were able to finish off the opportunities after the injury.

The US does not have any speed on the back line. They also to get out of position back there and don't have the speed to make up for those mistakes. You see it happen quite often when they face the better teams.

Coming out to decrease the angle and going for the ball are two different things. Once the goalie comes off the back line and goes for the ball, there is nobody else who can play in goal. Every goalie knows that. You can say that it gives you a better shot but the best shot you can have is when you have the goalie out of the net and your wide open.

That's why it's a real hard decision to make if you are a goalie. I was not impressed with the defense or the goal keeping on the U.S. squad.

 

[LatinMind]

Yeah we're not pathetic.

We are a very oportunistic team.


Our defense on the other hand is pathetic.


I love our guys though. I just wish they had more talent .


Every time I see Mexico play that Dos Santos guy is ballin. He is a heck of a player for them.

US players admitted they played poorly on defense. But Donovan actually spoke the truth in saying that Mexico just had too much talent. Like i said this mexican team is probably the best Mexican team ever assembled and looks like will be this good for a time to come. Because these players are really young. And only getting better

 

[MC KAos]

i agree this mexican team is special and quite possibly the best mexican team ever. however, i just dont think they have enough depth to win a world cup. They can beat any team in the world on any give day, but they cant beat the best teams in the world 3 or 4 straight games like you would have to in order to win it all. i can see them getting to the semifinals in brazil, but not past that

 

[Cythim]

Coming out to decrease the angle and going for the ball are two different things. Once the goalie comes off the back line and goes for the ball, there is nobody else who can play in goal. Every goalie knows that. You can say that it gives you a better shot but the best shot you can have is when you have the goalie out of the net and your wide open.

That's why it's a real hard decision to make if you are a goalie. I was not impressed with the defense or the goal keeping on the U.S. squad.

I probably don't put enough on Howard, but it is hard for me to do so when the defense was so poor. The only goal that I think can be attributed to him is the final one where he is off his line and dos Santos chipped it into the corner. If he stays home I think he still gets beat but coming out and not getting the ball absolutely gave it away.

 

[Cythim]

i agree this mexican team is special and quite possibly the best mexican team ever. however, i just dont think they have enough depth to win a world cup. They can beat any team in the world on any give day, but they cant beat the best teams in the world 3 or 4 straight games like you would have to in order to win it all. i can see them getting to the semifinals in brazil, but not past that

I would've liked to see Mexico put their senior team in the Copa America instead of fielding a u22 roster. Their group stage matches against Chile, Peru and Uruguay should be exciting. I'll be pulling for them to make some noise down there.

 

[Cythim]

It really bothers me that so many Mexican-Americans choose to not only root for Mexico, but actively root against and trash the US in public like they do. This country is the only reason they have anything to live for. If you love Mexico so damn much then go back to that hell hole. I'm sure you'll live a great and properous life selling charro beans and scraping the rust off the toilets of a drug lord's private bathhouse.

Crap like that just pisses me off

I moved to Portland but I cheer Aggies and against the Ducks/Beavers because of hometown pride. I don't see this as being any different.

 

[ethiostar]

[youtube]6Roc2lf6Zek[/youtube]

That was a thing of beauty...WOW.

 

[CATCH17]

That was a thing of beauty...WOW.

Sure was...


I just wish our US team could get better @ soccer.

There is no excuse for it anymore.

 

[ethiostar]

Sure was...


I just wish our US team could get better @ soccer.

There is no excuse for it anymore.

I believe they are getting better, perhaps not as fast as people like them to. It is also not fair to compare the US with other countries in most cases. The rest of the world (at least most of it) lives, eats and breathes soccer and has been for many decades. The pool of potential future soccer players/stars are far greater outside of the US. If soccer in the US continues to gain momentum and more kids start playing it and more importantly stick with it as they get older we will gradually see an increase in the number of quality players.