Huge home match tonight against Jamaica. Not quite a "do or die" but the US really needs to collect all 3 points from this home match.
The back line remains unsettled and there's some suggestion that Omar Gonzalez (the darling of the Mexico draw at Azteca) will sit. Brad Evans may be starting at RB.
If you told me one year ago that are starting back line in a critical WCQ match would be Beasley/Besler/Cameron/Evans I don't know if I would have laughed or puked.
Hopefully we'll score some goals tonight as I don't see our backline keeping a clean sheet.
(This post was last modified: 06-07-2013 09:45 AM by Rice93.)
Especially important since Mexico (5) pulled out a win this week. The other two games are Honduras(4) vs Costa Rice(4) and Mexico (6) vs Panama (5) [Points in the group are shown in parentheses). Jamaica is last with 2 points.
Mexico and Panama need to draw and take a single point apiece.
(06-07-2013 09:44 AM)Rice93 Wrote: Huge home match tonight against Jamaica. Not quite a "do or die" but the US really needs to collect all 3 points from this home match.
The back line remains unsettled and there's some suggestion that Omar Gonzalez (the darling of the Mexico draw at Azteca) will sit. Brad Evans may be starting at RB.
If you told me one year ago that are starting back line in a critical WCQ match would be Beasley/Besler/Cameron/Evans I don't know if I would have laughed or puked.
Hopefully we'll score some goals tonight as I don't see our backline keeping a clean sheet.
The game tonight is in Kingston, Jamaica.
Any time other teams drop points via draws, it's good for the USA, although I argue it's better for Mexico to win against the other CONCACAF teams. Mexico is going to qualify. Period. It's better that other teams not pick up a point here or there from them.
(06-07-2013 09:44 AM)Rice93 Wrote: Huge home match tonight against Jamaica. Not quite a "do or die" but the US really needs to collect all 3 points from this home match.
The back line remains unsettled and there's some suggestion that Omar Gonzalez (the darling of the Mexico draw at Azteca) will sit. Brad Evans may be starting at RB.
If you told me one year ago that are starting back line in a critical WCQ match would be Beasley/Besler/Cameron/Evans I don't know if I would have laughed or puked.
Hopefully we'll score some goals tonight as I don't see our backline keeping a clean sheet.
The game tonight is in Kingston, Jamaica.
Any time other teams drop points via draws, it's good for the USA, although I argue it's better for Mexico to win against the other CONCACAF teams. Mexico is going to qualify. Period. It's better that other teams not pick up a point here or there from them.
Curious - why are you so certain? They haven't looked good at all.
(This post was last modified: 06-07-2013 10:46 AM by Antarius.)
(06-07-2013 10:43 AM)Antarius Wrote: Curious - why are you so certain? They haven't looked good at all.
Top to bottom they are the most talented team out there. True, they aren't clicking on all cylinders right now, but when they are they will take any team in the confederation. With basically 4 out of 6 advancing, and it being a long slog, they are going to get their points to advance. If it were a two week tournament, I could see them having trouble. But with it being 10 games overall, they'll get their points.
To put another way... would you have rather had Jamaica beat them earlier this week, or keep Jamaica with only 2 point (and really starting to put them on the outside looking in) via the Mexico victory?
(06-07-2013 10:43 AM)Antarius Wrote: Curious - why are you so certain? They haven't looked good at all.
Top to bottom they are the most talented team out there. True, they aren't clicking on all cylinders right now, but when they are they will take any team in the confederation. With basically 4 out of 6 advancing, and it being a long slog, they are going to get their points to advance. If it were a two week tournament, I could see them having trouble. But with it being 10 games overall, they'll get their points.
To put another way... would you have rather had Jamaica beat them earlier this week, or keep Jamaica with only 2 point (and really starting to put them on the outside looking in) via the Mexico victory?
I totally agree with this. While I like nothing better than watching Mexico struggle it is better for us for them to take 3 points from every non-US opponent.
I don't know why I said it's a home match. I've been watching clips of our guys training in Jamaica.
(06-07-2013 11:02 PM)Antarius Wrote: Mexico 0 - Panama 0. Final
Costa Rica 1 - Honduras 0. Final
Standings
Costa Rica - 7 (+3)
USA - 7 (+1)
Mexico - 7 (+1)
Panama - 6 (+2)
Honduras - 4 (-2)
Jamaica - 2 (-4)
Both Mexico and Jamaica have played 5 games/ 1 more than everyone else.
Using the win at home, draw on the road +/- points that you "should" have, standings look like this:
United States (+2)
Costa Rica (-1)
Mexico (-2)
Panama (-4)
Honduras (-4)
Jamaica (-9)
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2013 02:57 PM by ricecloudnine.)
So, the US is away at Costa Rica and Panama, and has nearly all of its home games yet to play. The US hosts Panama next Tuesday and Honduras the following Tuesday. Win both of those and that virtually puts the US through. Honduras still face Jamaica twice though, so things are probably more jammed up than they look. Mexico is certainly screwing things up by tying everyone in the hexagonal except Costa Rica.
Note that Tuesday marks the 1/2 point through the hexagonal for everyone but Mexico-Jamaica, who've played twice already.
(06-08-2013 12:58 AM)I45owl Wrote: So, the US is away at Costa Rica and Panama, and has nearly all of its home games yet to play. The US hosts Panama next Tuesday and Honduras the following Tuesday.
Gosh, what is this sport we are talking about? Competing against the likes of Travis and Bexar counties? Wow! Oops, Honduras is much bigger than each by maybe 50-60 %!
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2013 01:52 AM by RiceDad.)
(06-08-2013 12:58 AM)I45owl Wrote: So, the US is away at Costa Rica and Panama, and has nearly all of its home games yet to play. The US hosts Panama next Tuesday and Honduras the following Tuesday.
Gosh, what is this sport we are talking about? Competing against the likes of Travis and Bexar counties? Wow! Oops, Honduras is much bigger than each by maybe 50-60 %!
*Sigh*
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2013 08:31 AM by Rice93.)
(06-07-2013 11:02 PM)Antarius Wrote: Mexico 0 - Panama 0. Final
Costa Rica 1 - Honduras 0. Final
Standings
Costa Rica - 7 (+3)
USA - 7 (+1)
Mexico - 7 (+1)
Panama - 6 (+2)
Honduras - 4 (-2)
Jamaica - 2 (-4)
Both Mexico and Jamaica have played 5 games/ 1 more than everyone else.
Using the win at home, draw on the road +/- points that you "should" have, standings look like this:
United States (+1)
Costa Rica (-1)
Mexico (-2)
Panama (-4)
Honduras (-4)
Jamaica (-9)
Should have according to who? Costa Rica is ahead of us, not behind. See I45's post.
