US @ Mexico Match Thread - 7:30pm PDT

[GriLtCheeZ]

mobi fehr played on a youth team too

Harrington, Evans, and Jean-Baptiste too. Jewsbury got called to a senior team camp a couple times. A lot of people like Mobi Fehr, but I doubt he gets on the field at all this season. I left him out cause when I checked his bio he only played on a under 17 concacaf tourney. Big whoop!

 

[ehizzy3]

Harrington, Evans, and Jean-Baptiste too. Jewsbury got called to a senior team camp a couple times. A lot of people like Mobi Fehr, but I doubt he gets on the field at all this season. I left him out cause when I checked his bio he only played on a under 17 concacaf tourney. Big whoop!

Lol I just saw him tweet his USA jersey last night

 

[The_Lillard_King]

All valid points, but I don't think the gap is all that wide. The biggest revelation of this game (even if we had lost) is that we may have found our CB pairing for the future. Gonzalez was immense (I think he got caught out once, but that was out wide) and Besler was really impressive given it was his 2nd or 3rd cap. Add Fabian on the left and Chandler on the right, our back line looks solid in defense and dangerous going forward.

In the middle, replace Edu with Jones and we have a strong CM pairing. Danny Williams is another good option as a defensive center mid (but hopefully never out wide). On the wings we have some good options in addition to those who played last night. Brek Shea, Donovan (if he ever comes back), Beasely (maybe), Josh Gatt and Diskerud.

Up top we have Altidore (I think having better Fullbacks and wingers will lead to better service which he hasn't had in over a year), Boyd, EJ (though I don't rate him) plus some I'm forgetting.

In addition to all of that, we have some younger and injured players who could turn out as important pieces in the next year or two. Holden is just getting back to playing after 1.5 years off, Pelosi at Liverpool was showing progress w/ their youth team and was on the Europa League roster before breaking his leg, some guy name Gyau is supposed to be a good winger prospect and then everyone's favorite Adu may finally have found a club in Brazil. I still have my hopes that he can be our Dos Santos (brilliant for the Nats, but a horribly disappointing club career).

With all that said, Mexico has one of the best youth teams (U17 and U21 I think) in the world right now so we'll probably be 2nd best in Concacaf for some time.

I hope you are right. I don't follow soccer closely, so good to hear all the things you are talking about . . . because based just on that one game, it sure looked like Mexico dominated the game.

I do like the US goalie. It was the kind of game where he got tested, and I thought he was the best player for the US as opposed to those two center defenders the announcers were praising. But announcers and you know more than what I can get watching one game.

Glad US got that win in the snow . . . seems like US is getting some breaks during the qualifying rounds. Which is a good thing and a weird feeling being a Blazer fan.

 

[porkchopexpress]

I hope you are right. I don't follow soccer closely, so good to hear all the things you are talking about . . . because based just on that one game, it sure looked like Mexico dominated the game.

I do like the US goalie. It was the kind of game where he got tested, and I thought he was the best player for the US as opposed to those two center defenders the announcers were praising. But announcers and you know more than what I can get watching one game.

Glad US got that win in the snow . . . seems like US is getting some breaks during the qualifying rounds. Which is a good thing and a weird feeling being a Blazer fan.

Well, I hope I'm right too . Until we get on the level of a Spain or Brazil (so...never), playing in Azteca will always make us look worse than we really are. Add to that having at least 6 regular players out (at least 5 would have started the game), and it was never likely that we were going to look good. When you play as defensively as we were there is going to be a lot of pressure on the CBs, which is why I think the consensus is that they did great (but more opportunities to have missteps, which might be why you didn't think they did that well). Finding new CB pair is our biggest need prior to the world cup. We may have done that last night, which is why I'm optimistic.

And I agree, getting breaks go your way if a weird feeling as a Blazers fan.

 

[Wheels]

Yawn. Why is ESPN wasting air space with Sucker.

ps... you might wanna get used to Soccer being around for a long time

 

[porkchopexpress]

http://futbol.univision.com/seleccion-nacional/videos/video/2013-03-27/mexico-vs-estados-unidos-otro

Not sure how to embed this video, but about 30 seconds there is a great replay of the non penalty. I think Edu still could have been called for coming through the player, but I think the ref saw 2 things:

First, the Mexican player clearly kicks the ground, which is what caused him to start to go down. Second, the player then acts like he got shot. Put those 2 things together and you get a non call (or even a yellow for diving). What he may not have seen was Edu coming through the player after he is already on his way down, which still could have been called. Regardless, it was dumb of Edu.

Oh, and apparently on the Mexican broadcast (or maybe just a Spanish language one for the US, I'm not sure), they quickly realized the 'shove' on Chicharito was a dive. Not sure why the ESPN feed was debating it the whole game.


When are the next qualifiers? I know we play Germany in a few months. I assume the next qualifier is sometime after that. Oh, and will Portland (or Seattle) ever get a qualifier? Is there anything, aside from laying down real grass, stopping it from happening?

 

[Wheels]

Not sure why the ESPN feed was debating it the whole game.

Twellman and that one dude annoyed the ever loving crap for that off and on 5 minute exchange. Neither one of those two really called much down the middle.

When are the next qualifiers? I know we play Germany in a few months. I assume the next qualifier is sometime after that. Oh, and will Portland (or Seattle) ever get a qualifier? Is there anything, aside from laying down real grass, stopping it from happening?

Seattle gets a WCQ cause they are willing to lay some temporary grass over their turf, the stuff supposedly can damage your turf though(not sure when)

Merrity Paulson wont budge on the grass. He doesnt want to risk damaging the (Fifa approved) turf so we only get a Gold Cup match against Belize sometime this summer. You know the D team is gonna get trotted out v Belize lol

 

[porkchopexpress]

Twellman and that one dude annoyed the ever loving crap for that off and on 5 minute exchange. Neither one of those two really called much down the middle.



Seattle gets a WCQ cause they are willing to lay some temporary grass over their turf, the stuff supposedly can damage your turf though(not sure when)

Merrity Paulson wont budge on the grass. He doesnt want to risk damaging the (Fifa approved) turf so we only get a Gold Cup match against Belize sometime this summer. You know the D team is gonna get trotted out v Belize lol

What is the reasoning behind playing on turf in Portland? I get it for Seattle, since the Seahawks would demolish the field. But Portland should be able to keep a grass field in good shape for just the Timbers. Is it just money for upkeep?

 

[porkchopexpress]

The game Tuesday night was watched by 2.385 million people on ESPN. The company said Wednesday that the previous high was 1.191 million viewers for a 2009 U.S.-Mexico match on ESPN2.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1...e-nets-record-tv-rating-for-qualifier?cc=5901

According to this they DOUBLED the previous high for a WCQ game. That is insane.

And according to this, Unimas, who broadcast the game in spanish, drew 4.8M viewers!

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/ratings-qualifier-records.html

 

[11Footy]

Tough on Fehr.. I'm one of his fans since I saw him play in the U17 world Cup in Mexico! I don't know where you got your info. on Mobi's International status but you seem to have the wrong info. on him! Here's what I picked up: Has been a member of U.S. youth national teams at the U-17, U-18 and U-20 levels … Was called into camp with the U.S. U-20 National Team in Clermont, Fla., from Feb. 20-March 1, 2012 … Represented the U.S. U-18 National Team at the annual Lisbon Tournament in Portugal in May 2012 … Started two matches during the tournament, contributing to a shutout in a scoreless draw against Slovakia on May 24 … Was a key figure for the U.S. U-17 National Team in 2011, helping guide the team to the CONCACAF U-17 championship and to the Round of 16 in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico … Started the first four matches of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Jamaica and came off the bench in the tournament final, contributing to a 3-0 overtime win … Finished second on the team in minutes played during the tournament … Started all three group stage matches in the U-17 World Cup, aiding in shutout against the Czech Republic in 3-0 win June 19, 2011, and a 0-0 draw against New Zealand on June 25, 2011 … Played all 90 minutes in a loss to Germany on June 30, 2011, in the Round of 16 … Scored a goal in the 20th minute of a friendly Feb. 5, 2011, contributing to a 6-0 win … In total, made 14 appearances for the U-17s in 2011

Harrington, Evans, and Jean-Baptiste too. Jewsbury got called to a senior team camp a couple times. A lot of people like Mobi Fehr, but I doubt he gets on the field at all this season. I left him out cause when I checked his bio he only played on a under 17 concacaf tourney. Big whoop!

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Tough on Fehr.. I'm one of his fans since I saw him play in the U17 world Cup in Mexico! I don't know where you got your info. on Mobi's International status but you seem to have the wrong info. on him! Here's what I picked up: Has been a member of U.S. youth national teams at the U-17, U-18 and U-20 levels … Was called into camp with the U.S. U-20 National Team in Clermont, Fla., from Feb. 20-March 1, 2012 … Represented the U.S. U-18 National Team at the annual Lisbon Tournament in Portugal in May 2012 … Started two matches during the tournament, contributing to a shutout in a scoreless draw against Slovakia on May 24 … Was a key figure for the U.S. U-17 National Team in 2011, helping guide the team to the CONCACAF U-17 championship and to the Round of 16 in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico … Started the first four matches of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Jamaica and came off the bench in the tournament final, contributing to a 3-0 overtime win … Finished second on the team in minutes played during the tournament … Started all three group stage matches in the U-17 World Cup, aiding in shutout against the Czech Republic in 3-0 win June 19, 2011, and a 0-0 draw against New Zealand on June 25, 2011 … Played all 90 minutes in a loss to Germany on June 30, 2011, in the Round of 16 … Scored a goal in the 20th minute of a friendly Feb. 5, 2011, contributing to a 6-0 win … In total, made 14 appearances for the U-17s in 2011

I just quickly scanned his bio at the Timbers website. Thanks for the correction. Welcome to the board.

A lot of people like him but I doubt he'll play much for the Timbers this year.

 

[Wheels]

What is the reasoning behind playing on turf in Portland? I get it for Seattle, since the Seahawks would demolish the field. But Portland should be able to keep a grass field in good shape for just the Timbers. Is it just money for upkeep?

Jeld Wen is below street level. That part alone would make the proper maintenance, and drainage a nightmare on a modest MLS budget. But I think it also has to do with the Sun. In this Pic

The Left side of the stadium is the east, and is blocked with the sunken grade, and partial roof. Right side roof also blocks the sun from that side for a good portion of the day. It would get some sun mid day though from the South, although the mac club blocks a portion of that too.

 

[Wheels]

just for Comparison's sake The top of the wall on the left outfield wall(where the East Stands are now located) shows just how far below street level the pitch is.

 

[porkchopexpress]

Thanks for the pics Wheels. Makes having artificial turf make more sense.

 

[Wheels]

although Merrit Paulson has said himself that grass is preferencial. Who knows how long it will be or if it will even happen though.

 

[porkchopexpress]

although Merrit Paulson has said himself that grass is preferencial. Who knows how long it will be or if it will even happen though.

Hopefully they can figure out how to lay some down that'll get enough sun and be able to stay in good shape through Oct/Nov (I always forget that the MLS season goes that late into the year). I just haven't gotten used to seeing how the ball reacts to the turf. It rolls too fast and bounces too high. That said, playing at Grant, the turf field at Delta park (which I'm sure is nothing compared to what the Timbers play on) was like playing on a World Cup quality pitch.