The Swamp

one goal lead don't mean shit right now. need to close it out, authoritatively.

cerrano wrote:one goal lead don't mean shit right now. need to close it out, authoritatively.

That would be nice.

cerrano wrote:one goal lead don't mean shit right now. need to close it out, authoritatively.

Agreed, and I'm pleased to see the US going for the second goal.

"We are going to Brazil! We are going, we are going, we are going to Brazilllll!!!!!!" Yeah, fuck you Banana Republics and Mexico!

That was a classic case of let's just take the win and move on. It would've been nice to have another Panama-esque performance, but that would've required some semblance of rhythm from Honduras in the first half. Someone already mentioned it, but it there is a pretty big impact on the flow of the game when one of the teams can't connect a pass... the reason for that, typically, is they are so focused on bunkering and countering that they try to transition into offense and it's too herky jerky. Nice to see someone other than a US squad struggle in that regard.

Thank you, quite much, for the heads up on the TV broadcast, degen, good sir. Caught it, watched every minute.

Nonlinear FC pretty much nailed it in his post above. (Excellent stuff, NFC)

What struck me was the difference in the crowd between Seattle and Utah. Seattle was very much like an English Premiership crowd at high times whereas Utah sounded more like a library. Granted there is a huge difference between being in a crowd and watching a match on television but, fuck me, that was pedestrian compared to the beautiful lunacy of Seattle.

Anyway, we won. That's all that really matters.

A few odder bounces and USMNT wins that 3-0 or so.

Love the midfield so much more with Bradley/Cameron because Cameron defers more to Bradley and works off of him, which is a win for the US.

Don't like the Jones/Bradley combo because Jones thinks he's the man and Bradley defers. And Jones ain't the man.

tennbengal wrote:Love the midfield so much more with Bradley/Cameron because Cameron defers more to Bradley and works off of him, which is a win for the US.

Don't like the Jones/Bradley combo because Jones thinks he's the man and Bradley defers. And Jones ain't the man.

I agree so much with this comment. Plus, Jones is always a threat to commit stupid fouls in dangerous areas, and accumulates yellow cards like a machine. I have been saying for years Bradley needs to take more of an offensive approach, and his forays forward directly created at least 2 goals in the last 3 games.

I agree with both of you. But I will say Jones impressed me when I saw him play in Cleveland. He was all over the field. Sometimes his pressing causes him to get out of position, and that's when he gets into trouble and commits the dumb fouls that lead to yellow cards. But I don't think he would be as useful if he didn't press so much and be the physical presence in the midfield.

Putting Jones in as a defensive midfielder behind Bradley and/or Cameron might be the best formation, but then you'll lose a wide player or the withdrawn forward position occupied by Clint Dempsey. And that ain't happening any time soon. Plus, we've only seen Cameron in the midfield role for one game, so who knows if that's really the best place for him. Gonzalez hasn't impressed the last few games at CB, so it's possible Cameron could go back there to pair up with Besler.

Bradley's dribble up the gut of the Hondurans early in the first half is something I could stand to see much more of.

Sabo wrote:I agree with both of you. But I will say Jones impressed me when I saw him play in Cleveland. He was all over the field. Sometimes his pressing causes him to get out of position, and that's when he gets into trouble and commits the dumb fouls that lead to yellow cards. But I don't think he would be as useful if he didn't press so much and be the physical presence in the midfield.

Putting Jones in as a defensive midfielder behind Bradley and/or Cameron might be the best formation, but then you'll lose a wide player or the withdrawn forward position occupied by Clint Dempsey. And that ain't happening any time soon. Plus, we've only seen Cameron in the midfield role for one game, so who knows if that's really the best place for him. Gonzalez hasn't impressed the last few games at CB, so it's possible Cameron could go back there to pair up with Besler.

I think Jones brings a lot to the team, I just think Bradley isn't able to run forward enough with him in there. I wouldn't say Cameron is a better player, but I think the team may be stronger with Bradley paired with Cameron. In addition to being a tough destroyer type player, Jones delivers an extremely accurate long ball. Cameron played well in Jones' absence, but I don't know if he could play CM against a top flight team. I'm just glad we don't have to resort to a player like Ricardo Clarke anymore. I'd even be comfortable with Beckerman in the role.

For those interested, you can enter a lottery for the US vs. Mexico game in Columbus starting at 10 a.m. Friday. I was able to enter it today since I'd bought tickets from US Soccer before (thank goodness for that US vs. Belgium game in Cleveland last month).

Tickets aren't cheap ... they were about $112 each for upper and lower midfield seats and $88 for the corners. Fortunately the Ticketmaster fees weren't horrible, as it was only $4 per ticket. I'm trying to get four seats in the corners. If I have tickets available, I'll make them available to Swampers first.

Here's a link with info about buying tickets:

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2013/07/us- ... 0-clash-cr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They had no way to know that it was hot in Qatar.

US-Costa Rica will have Mexican Marco Rodriguez as the Ref. Marco apparently is quick with the cards (Tim Cahill in 2010 WC). Between August 2012 and August 2013, Rodriguez showed a card 157 times in 33 games in all competitions, an average of nearly five cards per game. 10 Americans have a card going into this game and would have to miss the Mexico game if they pick up another (Jermaine Jones, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis, Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans, Tim Howard and Fabian Johnson).

Yes, Marco likes to show his cards. And he's been known to go double fisted:

Irish fan living in Australia purchases the Australian TV rights to the Ireland WC qualifier against Sweden to make sure he is able to watch the game.

And wlu_lax will DP this story in 3...2...1...

rass wrote:Irish fan living in Australia purchases the Australian TV rights to the Ireland WC qualifier against Sweden to make sure he is able to watch the game.

And wlu_lax will DP this story in 3...2...1...

Yeah, because this doesn't belong in The HEX! thread. Hasn't this guy heard of internet streaming?

"and other World Cup Qualifiers"

rass wrote:"and other World Cup Qualifiers"

Sorry, didn't read past the exclamation point. To make it worse, I titled the damn thread.

The Sybian wrote:

rass wrote:"and other World Cup Qualifiers"

Sorry, didn't read past the exclamation point. To make it worse, I titled the damn thread.

Oh, I know.

Via Wapo Soccer Insider--
US can clinch a trip to Brazil on Friday with
Win @ Costa Rica AND Mexico ties Hondurans AND Jamaica ties/wins v. Panama

Not likely, but cascading set of effects means could clinch in Columbus v. Mexico.

wlu_lax6 wrote:Via Wapo Soccer Insider--
US can clinch a trip to Brazil on Friday with
Win @ Costa Rica AND Mexico ties Hondurans AND Jamaica ties/wins v. Panama

Not likely, but cascading set of effects means could clinch in Columbus v. Mexico.

....For the second time in the last three World Cup cycles. So that could be sweet. Officially punching a ticket vs. El Tri again.

Well, those little Tico's are playing quite well. And USMNT is sleepwalking. Hopefully they wake up and give CR a game. 2-0, eleventh minute.

Fabian Johnson fouled in the box by the Tico keeper. Clint converts the PK, deflected by keeper but finds net anyway. 2-1 CR, 43rd minute.

ETA: Fabian, not Eddie. Habit.

howard wrote:Eddie Johnson fouled in the box by the Tico keeper. Clint converts the PK, deflected by keeper but finds net anyway. 2-1 CR, 43rd minute.

Fabian Johnson. Horribly taken penalty by Dempsey, got extremely lucky with that bounce. Very curious why Donovan didn't take the PK. I guess its captain's call, but I give the kick to Donovan.

Mexico lost!
At home!

I would love to see Mexico have to go to New Zealand.

Well ... shit. Guess we'll have to rely on the magic in Columbus. That's going to be a HUGE game for both teams. Will be interesting to see if Mexico has a new manager before then.

Panama needs to score in the last 5 minutes against 10 men Jamaica to put Mexico in 5th.

Chepo fired by Mexican FA this morning.

brian wrote:Good piece on how Columbus came to be the host of four straight US-El Tri games.

I will remember the 2005 game as long as I live. That was a fantastic day.

Sabo wrote:

brian wrote:Good piece on how Columbus came to be the host of four straight US-El Tri games.

I will remember the 2005 game as long as I live. That was a fantastic day.

Even though Nonlinear stood us up!

It turna out im in columbus but have no tickets. Odd chance happening.

Holy cow. Luxembourg beat Northern Ireland today, 3-2.

That's it. I'm out on Grant Wahl. 100% done with him until further notice. This post isn't horrible, just the straw that broke the camel's back.

govmentchedda wrote:That's it. I'm out on Grant Wahl. 100% done with him until further notice. This post isn't horrible, just the straw that broke the camel's back.

For me it was when I heard his voice on TV.

Heck of a goal here (Kolarov):

http://www.footytube.com/video/kolarovs ... p_newsvids" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That FootyTube is a nice site. (Is there still any word out there that hasn't had "tube" added to it to create a video site?)

The Sybian wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:That's it. I'm out on Grant Wahl. 100% done with him until further notice. This post isn't horrible, just the straw that broke the camel's back.

For me it was when I heard his voice on TV.

Or when he started wearing that hat during his TV coverage of the Gold Cup. I like to think so stupid TV producer told him to wear it instead of it being a fashion decision he made on his own.