All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

I'm going to side with Webster on Bradley. I thought he was really good. I'd like to see him as definitive when he's on the offensive side of midfield as he is when distributing from the back, but the things Pastor is describing are what I thought afflicted him in earlier GC games and were solved this time.
I'm not giving up on EJ yet. But why would Bradley put him out there in such a huge game after giving him almost no PT the entire tournament? The guy was red hot coming in, then he barely plays for a month? Huh? So Taylor Twellmen can knock a few more shots off the bar?

 

Ladies and gentlemen . . . . the B team:

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_950276.html

Herculez gets his first shot, Twellman goes where he belongs - in a tourney we're not seeking to win - Eddie Johnson continues to get chances. Keller continues his victory lap.

This will be a nice opportunity for a lot of guys who haven't had a lot of callups. I seek for the team to be competitive and not embarrass us. Any actual results will be gravy.

 

Man, that's a letdown. Why agree to play tournaments like this if we're going to send the babies and left-overs (Olsen, WTF)? Damn it, I had looked forward to the Copa America since it was announced. Thought I heard Donovan said he was playing, and Dempsey and others hinted at it. What happened? With those two we at least had a fighting chance to score a goal. ... I'm seeing a 0-2-1 record at best, and a humilating beat down in the opener against Argentina. Depressing.

But on the plus side, I am interested to see Davies, Gaven and Wynne in this kind of atmosphere. Should tell us a lot about the pecking order for 2010.

 

SHOCK! HORROR!!!

Bob Bradley chooses developing the USMNT talent pool rather than validate SoccerFan's inferiority complex -- inconceivable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

does it really matter...We all know that a beatdown was and is inevitable

 

Suck it Mexico.[/guystuckinofficeonsundaywhocanonlywatchviagametracker]

 

You can always count on Mexico to exude class. When Batres blew the final whistle, did they:

A) shake hands? No.
B) Trade shirts? Only one out of 23 (Salcido and Donovan).
C) Charge the ref and complain how they were -- once again -- cheated out of their rightful victory? You better believe it.

 

A few details from the match for the telecast challenged? They would be greatly appreciated.

 

To answer a previous question, that Mexican running in alone is the right back's responsibility. The PK was typical CONCACAF quality, and Feilhaber's golazo was a fitting winner for a tournament that was entertaining, if not exceedingly well-played.

Andres Guardado, who cracked heads with Johnny Spector in the second half, just got stretchered off the field. Hopefully just a precaution.

Del, gimme just a minute.

 

Well played game and very entertaining. That Mexico team played much different than its predecessors (perhaps Hugo Sanchez has something to do with it?). They didn't dive much, they didn't hack the shit out of our players. They didn't bitch and moan much after PK (right call. Unintentional foul and clumsy but a foul) but after Donovan scored, the game was all USA.

Beasley played one of his best games in a while, but no excuse to miss that empty net.

Defense was suspect again but in the second half was at least organized.

Donovan had to have been the MVP. Solid, solid play all tournament long.

Both goalkeepers were fabulous in what could have easily been a 5-3 game.

Winning goal by Feilhaber was bee-you-tee-ful. Just a sizzling volley that Sanchez had no chance to save.

Fun game to watch. Glad to see Mexico play the right way against us for a change.

 

The US bossed much of the first half before Andres Guardado scored in the last minute of the first half. Nery Castillo cut a ball back against the grain and Guardado was running in unmarked. That was the first time Mexico scored on American soil since 1999.

Borgetti got subbed off in the first half after getting shaken up on a tackle by Bocanegra. Rico Clark was a halftime sub for Pablo Mastroeni, which was one of Bob's better moves.

Donovan tied it on a PK in the 62nd minute after Jonny Magallon took Ching down in the box. Wasn't a great deal of contact, but PKs have been given for less. That goal tied Donovan with Eric "I'm Dutch!" Wynalda for the US all-time lead. Feilhaber (75') scored on a one-timed volley from outside the box after Mexico cleared a Donovan corner kick.

Ching and Beasley could've made the last minutes much more bearable, but each put an empty-netter off the woodwork.