Gold Cup

[Zeno]

Yeah how can FSC not have the games. I doubt the mexicans would play our games. Ill be pissed if I cant get them on tv.

You'd be surprised at how good the coverage is for US soccer on the Spanish language stations. I am sure they will show the Copa America games, at worst they'll be tape delayed.

As for GolTV, my cable provider doesn't have it...not sure who else has it besides Direct TV. I may have to find a local soccer friendly bar for the Copa matches.

 

[Compa]

So far, this has been a pretty exciting competition. Canada beats Costa Rica and then loses to Guadaloupe, Mexico loses, and all the low- to mid-tier teams are trading wins. There have been some nice goals, too.

There are a few negatives, though, like the fact that so many teams will advance, and the officiating has been bad/harsh on some occasions (especially with some of the PKs).

 

[Zeno]

So far, this has been a pretty exciting competition. Canada beats Costa Rica and then loses to Guadaloupe, Mexico loses, and all the low- to mid-tier teams are trading wins. There have been some nice goals, too.

There are a few negatives, though, like the fact that so many teams will advance, and the officiating has been bad/harsh on some occasions (especially with some of the PKs).

Yeah with 8 out of 12 teams advancing it really isn't too tough to get out of your group. The officiating has left a lot to be desired, that linesman in the US game versus T&T was terrible.

I do agree though, its been a lot better competition than I gave it credit for. Either the "minnows" of CONCACAF are getting better or the giants of the region (Mexico & US) really aren't that special.

 

[Zeno]

Tonights lineup...

--------------- Dempsey ----------------
--- Beasley ----------------- Donovan ---
---- Feilhaber -- Mastroeni -- Bradley ---
Bornstein -- Parkhurst -- Onyewu -- Spector
------------- Howard --------------------

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Ouch, I didn't realize the game was early tonight. Looks like its already 2-0 US.

 

[CaptTurbo]

4-0 no better way to advance...

 

[Zeno]

I didn't get to see the third and fourth goals but its nice for them to get all those goals.

We'll know tomorrow evening who we will be matched up with in the quarterfinals. It could be Mexico if they finish third in their group or it could be Guadeloupe...it might come down to goal differential. Either way its Saturday at 4 ET at Gillette Stadium.

The US has never lost a group match in the Gold Cup and only has 1 Quarterfinal loss (to Colombia on PKs) so we always do well in this tournament right up to the Semi's. I expect more of the same, we'll see what they do when the pressure is on.

 

[Compa]

Maybe my expectations are too high, or maybe I'm underestimating the competition, but I'm disappointed in the poor finishing from the US. Although they got 4 goals tonight, it seems that they waste way too many opportunities. It seems that they have only been converting easy opportunities. The Mapp to Ching goal in the T&T game is a good example of what I'm talking about. It was a great play by Mapp, but the way things have been going, I would think Ching would have missed that chance if the pass didn't hit him.

With all that said, I liked the Beasley^Dempsey^Donovan formation up front. I wonder if this could work as part of our best XI. It would open up some room for our midfield, which seems to be much deeper and more talented/promising than our forwards.

 

[Zeno]

I'm not exactly happy with the US inconsistency when it comes to finishing. They had better turn it on at some point. Beasley could have had at least 2 other goals and Dempsey should have had 1 tonight--and thats just what I saw--I missed the last 35 minutes or so.

The defense is solid but Parkhurst and Bornstein give the ball away entirely too much...luckily it hasn't been in a dangerous area so far.

The good news is they are winning and they aren't playing as well as they can. Hopefully they turn it on during the knockout rounds.

 

[Zeno]

Full quarterfinals:

Canada v. Guatemala
USA v. Panama

Mexico v. Costa Rica
Honduras v. Guadaloupe

Only way we play Mexico is in the final. Too bad, would have been nice to eliminate them in the quarters.

Panama had 2 players red carded tonight so they will be a little short handed for our match. They outplayed Mexico but couldn't get a goal, should still be our toughest test so far.

 

[Gorilla]

I too would've loved seeing mexico end up in 3rd and then being eliminated by the US in quarterfinals. I don't think the US is going to have any trouble beating Panama in the next match. Panama has looked good in previous matches but I don't think any team is playing at the level the US is in now. Mexico is playing like crap and still managed to pull a victory agains them. I would like to think will see you guys in the semis, but is a longshot. I think Guatemala is going to play a typical "Bolillo Gomez" game and end up loosing in a very close 1 - 0 or in penalty kicks.

Good Luck to you all!!

 

[azsouthendzone]

is it just me or is Michael Bradley playing terrible? He played good against ecuador and has stunk it up ever since the China friendly. I am having flashbacks of little league baseball when the coach's son would always start and make all-Stars even though he sucked. I know he is young and maybe he'll get better, but watching him on the same field next to Pablo really showed how bad he is and how far he needs to go to get better to consistently play midfield on this team. I'm just sick of the bad passes and turnovers. I would like to see him sit just to see what difference it makes and if I'm just delusional.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Full quarterfinals:

Canada v. Guatemala
USA v. Panama

Mexico v. Costa Rica
Honduras v. Guadaloupe

Only way we play Mexico is in the final. Too bad, would have been nice to eliminate them in the quarters.

Panama had 2 players red carded tonight so they will be a little short handed for our match. They outplayed Mexico but couldn't get a goal, should still be our toughest test so far.

Zeno I really look forward to your soccer posts and you have forgotten more soccer knowledge than I know thus far but man I certainly thought Panama was no threat to Mexico. And Mexico looked about 20% of what they normally look like. We should crush Panama 4-0 imo

 

[Zeno]

is it just me or is Michael Bradley playing terrible? He played good against ecuador and has stunk it up ever since the China friendly. I am having flashbacks of little league baseball when the coach's son would always start and make all-Stars even though he sucked. I know he is young and maybe he'll get better, but watching him on the same field next to Pablo really showed how bad he is and how far he needs to go to get better to consistently play midfield on this team. I'm just sick of the bad passes and turnovers. I would like to see him sit just to see what difference it makes and if I'm just delusional.

Michael Bradley has been terribly inconsistent, but we see flashes of real talent there. He is young though and inconsistency is to be expected, he'll learn and I am sure this experience will only help inthe future. At this point though I'd rather see Mapp, Mastroeni, Beasley & Feilhaber start in the MF (especially since they are playing Dempsey & Donovan more up top). I'd actually rather see Dempsey withdrawn in to the MF and start a true striker up front with Donovan.

Bradley won't be on the Copa America roster because he will be in the U20 WC (the US U20 team is super talented--might be our best ever). We'll see then if our midefield improves without him.

Speaking of bad passes, Bornstein was awful in he last game. He played well defensively but his passes were just terrible. Eventually that is going to catch up with the team and he'll cost us a goal.

 

[Zeno]

Zeno I really look forward to your soccer posts and you have forgotten more soccer knowledge than I know thus far but man I certainly thought Panama was no threat to Mexico. And Mexico looked about 20% of what they normally look like. We should crush Panama 4-0 imo

Panama had more shots on goal and really had the best chances, they fell apart the last 10 minutes of the game. Mexico was lucky to come away with a win.

Panama will be missing 3 starters--2 to red cards and 1 to accumulated yellows. We should beat them easily--but last time we played them in the Gold Cup it was 0-0 after 120 minutes and wasn't decided until PKs. We should have beat them easily then too(we had beaten them not too long before like 6-0 in WC qualifying).

Right now IMO the second best team behind us is Honduras. I'm glad they are on Mexico's side of the bracket.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Canada made Guatemala look pretty ridiculous, Canada will face the winner of the US/Panama game which is just about to start.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Does Twellman have even an ounce of finishing ability? Yeesh. Oh, and that yellow on ***** was a ridiculous call.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Does Twellman have even an ounce of finishing ability?

No. The biggest problem for this team is the same problem it has always had; nobody can finish. Lando has had flashes but beyond that many good opportunites go to waste with these sub-par strikers.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Twellman over Ching is criminal. If Ching starts its 3-0 US

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Donovan taken down in the box, makes the penalty shot.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

US survives, 2-1 on possibly their worst game played this year. They won't beat Canada if they give that same lackluster effort.

 

[Compa]

I wonder if the scouting reports for these Central American teams is to try to beat up the US. Guatemala and Panama were both extremely physical against the US, but ref was a lot more strict in today's game.

The lack of finishing was the thing that stood out to me today.

Does anyone else think that most of the US players don't play hard and/or aren't focused? Is this a symptom of playing weak competition, always on US soil, over the last year?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I wonder if the scouting reports for these Central American teams is to try to beat up the US. Guatemala and Panama were both extremely physical against the US, but ref was a lot more strict in today's game.

The lack of finishing was the thing that stood out to me today.

Does anyone else think that most of the US players don't play hard and/or aren't focused? Is this a symptom of playing weak competition, always on US soil, over the last year?

I don't think that the issue is not working hard enough. Hejduk and Twellman stuck out the most in this game (and I definitely do not mean that in a good way) but they both worked really hard out there today. Their issue is that they simply aren't very good.

 

[azsouthendzone]

That game was a disgrace. Bradley is really starting to piss me off as coach, and his son is terrible. That lineup was a joke, the subs were rediculous, and Bradley better pull his head out by Thursday or we are going down.

 

[Stout]

I don't think that the issue is not working hard enough. Hejduk and Twellman stuck out the most in this game (and I definitely do not mean that in a good way) but they both worked really hard out there today. Their issue is that they simply aren't very good.

Yeah, why they're even on the roster is a ???