Posted on 07/19/2015 9:50:18 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
One of the joys of watching US soccer as it rises in prominence is to see Clint Dempsey in his prime. There are days, like Saturday, when he seems to run effortlessly down the field, diving and sprawling and scoring from almost any angle.
In a 6-0 Gold Cup quarter-final vanquishing of Cuba that could easily have been 10, Dempsey scored three goals in three completely different ways. It was his first hat-trick for USA, and he probably could have scored at least three more – that’s how dominant he was in victory that seemed far too easy for a match of such importance.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
If Landon was there, Demp would have a double hatrick.
Thanks for the link. Great match.
What a shocker for the US to lose to Jamaica which really was an exciting game. Sounds like Panama Mexico’s game ran amuck. Feel bad for Panama.
Cuban players defected from the team, that must have some to do with their poor play.
Let’s hope Jamaica beats Mexico in the final. I’d still rather play them in the playoff for the Confed. Cup.
Klinsi is starting to piss me off. That was atrocious against Jamaica.
Jamaica has to beat Mexico, and the Refs. El Chapo has paid off the refs.
Very disappointing outcome. US needs work on the back line...and help for Bradley in directing things forward. He was being smothered.
Bradley is a turnover machine.
I agree. At the same time, if Johanson doesn't head that horrible rebound from the Jamaican 'keeper over the goal from 5 yards out, I still think we win.
Said it before and will say it again - Bradley is playing out of position when he plays either top of the diamond in the 4-4-2 or as the center attacking middie in the 4-2-3-1 (the formation I prefer due to our leaky defense).
Bradley is a strong (for the US) holding mid that has some decent, not great, attacking abilities. I actually thought Bradley and Beckerman as the two holding mids. in the 4-2-3-1 was the perfect place for both. Unfortunately, we currently don't have anyone to play the attacking mid role in any formation - it's NOT DEMPSEY. If time machines existed, it would be a Landon Donavon/Tab Ramos type of player, but of course, they don't exist.
So we'll continue to score most of our goals from set pieces, crosses and goalkeeper errors and will continue to be ripe for an upset against a team like Jamaica whenever we give up two goals or more.
I’m more concerned about how terrible they looked in the Group Stage. Haiti Outshot them 21-6! HAITI!!!!!!!
And I don’t care if they beat a few disinterested “C” teams from Germany and Holland, the product just flat out does not look good on the field.
And Klinsi needs to make it clear that jobs are on the line in this upcoming third-place game against Panama.
And I don’t care if they beat a few disinterested “C” teams from Germany and Holland, the product just flat out does not look good on the field."
100% agree with both points.
So FIFA rankings , USA will take a tumble, it was what? 5 or 6 years ago, USA and Mexico sat up around 5th and 6th for awhile? That wasn't right though we were good.
So, basically, this shows us to be as troubled as England is and as bad as people say England has been (disappointing is more like it), this loss is a bit of the dimension of Luxembourg defeating Switzerland. This was on the big stage, Northern Ireland defeating England under Sven was not good, I think it was a qualifier but did not hurt England much.
Yes, I know FIFA rankings are not much in themselves to a lot of people, but still of interest, Wales up at #10, good for them. Jamaica went into the game #76, still, we know they have produced a number of good players and have gone to the World Cup.
Okay, mini-rant over.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1855588/posts?page=60 Linke to old thread.
Coach of Mexico sacked, allegedly punched a reporter (who) in the neck 2 days after the final. The incident occurred in Philadelphia.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33698125
The reason I said (who), you wonder, Mexican reporter? American reporter? Reporter who egged on the coach? What?
Now Mexico’s ex-coach is under-fire for political tweets. Well, if he was critical of their crappy government, I can go along with his views.
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/08/01/fired-mexican-soccer-coach-probed-for-political-tweets/
“On election day, Herrera tweeted ‘’Don’t forget to vote, let’s go with the Greens’’ and ‘’The Greens fulfill (promises)’’ - apparent references to Mexico’s small Green Party.”
I’m not for the Greens but obviously, the ruling government is rather terrible, criminal, colludes with organized crime.
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