Gold Cup: USMNT vs. Honduras, 8:30pm CDT, FS1
Now the men's turn for some trophy action. The first of three group games for the US is tonight versus Honduras. US then play Haiti and Panama.
If the US wins this tournament, they will be the CONCACAF representative at the Confederations Cup (a sort of warm-up tournament a year before the World Cup at the WC host's venues) in 2017. If the US does not win this Gold Cup, they will face the winner in a two-leg play-off to determine the CONCACAF representative at the Confederations Cup.
Given the recent form of the USMNT (and that this is the A-squad), I expect them to waltz through this group and then crush Costa Rica and Mexico. GO USA!!!!
My God.
On cue, opening up.
Sigh. D still our weakest point by far.
Tomorrow I should go buy a Chevy. Thanks FOX.
Personally, I think it was just as effective as most TV spots. Which is to say not at all.
Wish we'd stop fucking around.
Yedlin needs to send someone earlier... could have went either way with a pass into space but decided to do a dribble-thon.
WOW. That was it.
How can you climb up a mans back and prevent him from jumping and there be no foul?
Dunno about that third sub. Obviously a holder/d-oriented/possession guy would be good, but looking through the roster, with who's out there now and how they're playing, I don't see anything obvious.
WOW we got lucky there. This game could easily be 2-2.
Could move Bradley back alongside Beckerman and bring on an outlet player
True.
Now it looks like Zusi's warming up.
On second look, when defending, Bradley was already back there anyways. I would've said Gonzalez but Honduras is not throwing in crosses. Zusi is an ok sub because he does have fresh legs and we can play it to him and he can run with it.
We were lucky there.
Beckerman is starting to look slow. At that age where it can get away from you fast (33). Esp when you are chasing 22 yr olds.
Hopefully just a bad game but he has not been his normal rock self.
double
. . . .and lucky again.
Push up on this free kick. We need some breathing room.
Because how many times can a player with initials GZ sub for another GZ? Duh. Gotta seize that opportunity.
Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe just because Zusi's a solid, dependable-type guy who doesn't make too many mistakes.
How many times are they going to get behind our back line?
Ha. Bradley not happy with Zusi after that.
Shoulda probably gone to the corner instead of trying to hit Wondo
Was that pass too hot from Zusi? Or did Yedlin just botch it?
Impressed with Honduras effort and speed and shape. They deserved a tie if not win. Well coached. Will be curious how they do in the next 2 games.
Agreed. I'm glad they're somebody else's problem now.
Absurd to foul there. Yedlin. Come on, young man.
Phew
Well, that'll do it. Yeah, impressed by Honduras, but not surprised. They're solid.
I feel like if the US could just come up with a decent defense we'd be pretty close to elite (well, top 10) in terms of national sides.
A decent D and that long-elusive special play-maker-in-traffic up front that we've always lacked.
hot, humid game and Honduras playing far more physical than normally allowed. US still looked really sloppy and giving the ball away a ton - I am hoping that has to do with regular lineup changes and familiarity with teammates. Hopefully a game or two with the same squad playing together will sort a lot of that out.
I don't watch a ton of soccer, but probably above average for an American. Was it just my lack of experience or was that an incredibly physical game?
Yes it was physical, but I'm Ok with it because the ref was very consistent from match beginning to end . . . he was going to let them play (American) football.
Don't agree with how loose it was, but you certainly knew what to expect.
Gotcha, I had a similar impression, that it was at least consistent
It's the style of play in this region.
Linkage through the middle was terrible for the USA and even worse down the flanks. Usually when Bradley and Beckerman are together along with Brooks behind they can dictate pace (against CONCACAF teams) at the back, but it didn't seem to work last night. Honduras did a great job pressing to distrupt the diamond and Jurgen didn't make the right adjustments. Pinto is very smart and IMHO out-coached Jurgen last night.
Yedlin isn't ready. He was playing out of control was not disciplined. He faded into other players space too much which distrupted the play down his flank. He's much better at a back and as a sub, for now at least. He hasn't played very much lately so maybe he was amped to be on the pitch.
USMNT has been playing better because of patience, ball control and Bradley. This game reminded me of last summer when they were making too many careless passes and tried too many times to break a player loose when it wasn't available.