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What happened to the days that we were supposed to lose to Mexico routinely. I'm not saying I am not thrilled that US soccer keeps getting better. But honestly, I can't recall the last time we lost to out neighbors down South.

Odd, really.

Despite the win, I'm not terribly happy with our performance. Our defense was about as aggressive as Switzerland (the country, not the soccer team).

That being said, nice showing by Bradley. That second goal was not a well-placed shot and should have been saved, but at least he took that shot. So often you see a player who is too timid to take that shot late in the game, and they choose to pass it off rather than attempt to ice the game.

CalallenStang wrote:That being said, nice showing by Bradley. That second goal was not a well-placed shot and should have been saved, but at least he took that shot. So often you see a player who is too timid to take that shot late in the game, and they choose to pass it off rather than attempt to ice the game.

Too true, I saw that one. I get to watch more hockey these days than soccer, and I think of so many times when people give up a shot opportunity to pass it off - but in hockey - it's so quick that even a soft shot when the goalie is thinking pass could be good. I too was at least happy he took the shot.



I must note, though, now that we can seemingly play badly and beat our top CONCACF rival, isn't it time that we started to expect more from our National side?

ThadFilms wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:That being said, nice showing by Bradley. That second goal was not a well-placed shot and should have been saved, but at least he took that shot. So often you see a player who is too timid to take that shot late in the game, and they choose to pass it off rather than attempt to ice the game.

Too true, I saw that one. I get to watch more hockey these days than soccer, and I think of so many times when people give up a shot opportunity to pass it off - but in hockey - it's so quick that even a soft shot when the goalie is thinking pass could be good. I too was at least happy he took the shot.



I must note, though, now that we can seemingly play badly and beat our top CONCACF rival, isn't it time that we started to expect more from our National side?

We have a good national side until we get to the World Cup.

CalallenStang wrote:

ThadFilms wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:That being said, nice showing by Bradley. That second goal was not a well-placed shot and should have been saved, but at least he took that shot. So often you see a player who is too timid to take that shot late in the game, and they choose to pass it off rather than attempt to ice the game.

Too true, I saw that one. I get to watch more hockey these days than soccer, and I think of so many times when people give up a shot opportunity to pass it off - but in hockey - it's so quick that even a soft shot when the goalie is thinking pass could be good. I too was at least happy he took the shot.



I must note, though, now that we can seemingly play badly and beat our top CONCACF rival, isn't it time that we started to expect more from our National side?

We have a good national side until we get to the World Cup.

The what?

Seriously, though, I remember back in -- what? '98 -- when, seriously we were so frickin' snake bitten. That should have been the year for USA's soccer coming out party. But, I mean, we hit more woodwork than a damned carpenter.

So many great chances/shots just off the post/crossbar. Sickening.





But yes, for some reason we have now developed a paper champion squad. Pretty darn good until it actually matters.

One thing that really gets me - a US Mexico game is played in the US, and a sizable minority, if not the majority, of fans are decked in Mexico red and green.

I understand supporting the side from your country of origin, but not when it's playing the country you currently live in, the side representing the society you are a part of.

ThadFilms wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:One thing that really gets me - a US Mexico game is played in the US, and a sizable minority, if not the majority, of fans are decked in Mexico red and green.

I understand supporting the side from your country of origin, but not when it's playing the country you currently live in, the side representing the society you are a part of.

Depends on (which is sad) where you are in the country. Mexican fans ALWAYS outnumber US fans in the southern part of the country.

I get your beef. I have a similar one, and it might sound ethno-centrist but I do not mean it to. I learn languages because I want to go to places. I was angered in junior high that we only had one foreign language option and we had to take a foreign language. Spanish.

I get why you are upset. They came here for better jobs. Which is why out ancestors came here. We can't fault them for that.

And I cannot and will not fault them for cheering on the country of their birth. I want the people to that come to this country to have pride in their homeland, it's their kids who need to be conflicted, born of two worlds.

What I don't like is anyone who comes her hoping for a better life and then does not use our language. That is all. I have learned many languages to visit other places. I should have to learn a language to stay here.

Wow.

That sounded mean. I am not that at all.



I honestly think it's ridiculous to close our borders to those who wan to come here. Ridiculous. Unamerican, and not what our country was built upon.




Thanks Calallen, you got me off on a rant that now some people will take me as being anti-hispanic. Which couldn't be farther from the case. Sigh.







Anyhow, great win by our boys tonight!

Well, if people someone take you as being anti-Hispanic, those same people will probably take me as being anti-Hispanic...which is ridiculous, considering I have a bit of Hispanic blood in me (though you wouldn't know it from looking at me).

I agree with you on the language point you brought up, but I, like you, learn languages to travel places. However, there are so many Americans who complain about people not learning English, then when those same Americans go to, say, France, they refuse to learn French.

When I was in Italy, a waiter at a restaurant gave me a huge discount on a bottle of Coca-Cola (I really would have preferred water, but it tasted absolutely AWFUL) because I was the first American he had served in over a year who had ordered in Italian.

And if it were JUST the immigrants who cheered for Mexico over the US, I wouldn't have AS MUCH of a problem with it (I know that if I lived in, say, Germany, I'd probably still have a hard time cheering on Germany against the USA). However, the people that are born here...I do have a bit of a problem with that.

One last thing...stopping illegal immigration is totally cool with me, so long as we make legal immigration easier to accomplish. Most people who cross the border illegally do so because of a lack of education about the legal way and/or the legal way would take too long. We need to continue to invite everyone in the world who wants to come here and make America a better place.

CalallenStang wrote:

ThadFilms wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:One thing that really gets me - a US Mexico game is played in the US, and a sizable minority, if not the majority, of fans are decked in Mexico red and green.

I understand supporting the side from your country of origin, but not when it's playing the country you currently live in, the side representing the society you are a part of.

Depends on (which is sad) where you are in the country. Mexican fans ALWAYS outnumber US fans in the southern part of the country.

I get your beef. I have a similar one, and it might sound ethno-centrist but I do not mean it to. I learn languages because I want to go to places. I was angered in junior high that we only had one foreign language option and we had to take a foreign language. Spanish.

I get why you are upset. They came here for better jobs. Which is why out ancestors came here. We can't fault them for that.

And I cannot and will not fault them for cheering on the country of their birth. I want the people to that come to this country to have pride in their homeland, it's their kids who need to be conflicted, born of two worlds.

What I don't like is anyone who comes her hoping for a better life and then does not use our language. That is all. I have learned many languages to visit other places. I should have to learn a language to stay here.

Wow.

That sounded mean. I am not that at all.



I honestly think it's ridiculous to close our borders to those who wan to come here. Ridiculous. Unamerican, and not what our country was built upon.




Thanks Calallen, you got me off on a rant that now some people will take me as being anti-hispanic. Which couldn't be farther from the case. Sigh.







Anyhow, great win by our boys tonight!

Well, if people someone take you as being anti-Hispanic, those same people will probably take me as being anti-Hispanic...which is ridiculous, considering I have a bit of Hispanic blood in me (though you wouldn't know it from looking at me).

I agree with you on the language point you brought up, but I, like you, learn languages to travel places. However, there are so many Americans who complain about people not learning English, then when those same Americans go to, say, France, they refuse to learn French.

When I was in Italy, a waiter at a restaurant gave me a huge discount on a bottle of Coca-Cola (I really would have preferred water, but it tasted absolutely AWFUL) because I was the first American he had served in over a year who had ordered in Italian.

And if it were JUST the immigrants who cheered for Mexico over the US, I wouldn't have AS MUCH of a problem with it (I know that if I lived in, say, Germany, I'd probably still have a hard time cheering on Germany against the USA). However, the people that are born here...I do have a bit of a problem with that.

One last thing...stopping illegal immigration is totally cool with me, so long as we make legal immigration easier to accomplish. Most people who cross the border illegally do so because of a lack of education about the legal way and/or the legal way would take too long. We need to continue to invite everyone in the world who wants to come here and make America a better place.

Guess I didn't need to delete my post then.

Guess not...I was in the midst of responding when you sent the message, I guess.

CalallenStang wrote:Guess not...I was in the midst of responding when you sent the message, I guess.

Haha. Yeah. I just didn't want to look anti-hispanic .. my only thought is that a person can and should root for their country of birth. If it conflicts with their parents, then they have a choice.

But I don't like the idea of someone emigrating to another country and not learning the language. That's my beef.






Oh and I speak French... or at lest enough to get by. Danish, because I lived there (and wanted to learn), and I can understand some German. And now, finally, I wish to learn Spanish because I want to live in Barcelona or Madrid.... or Buenos Aires.

ThadFilms wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:Guess not...I was in the midst of responding when you sent the message, I guess.

Haha. Yeah. I just didn't want to look anti-hispanic .. my only thought is that a person can and should root for their country of birth. If it conflicts with their parents, then they have a choice.

But I don't like the idea of someone emigrating to another country and not learning the language. That's my beef.






Oh and I speak French... or at lest enough to get by. Danish, because I lived there (and wanted to learn), and I can understand some German. And now, finally, I wish to learn Spanish because I want to live in Barcelona or Madrid.... or Buenos Aires.

My French and Italian are enough to get by...my Spanish is pretty decent, decent enough that I had a good conversation with the Spanish server in the diner car on a train from Paris to Barcelona.

Be warned, Thad - Knowledge of Spanish will get you by in Barcelona, but it's not the language of the locals. They speak Catalan...they will understand Castilian, though.

I've always wanted to visit Buenos Aires. And Montevideo. I might just have to make a trip to South America sometime.

CalallenStang wrote:Be warned, Thad - Knowledge of Spanish will get you by in Barcelona, but it's not the language of the locals. They speak Catalan.

Haha.



I hope this warning, for me was meant for others. I am not, in fact, dumb. I chose not to go into the fact that Spanish might not do me a lick of good in Barcelona. That's why I added the other two cities.

However, Barcelona is my number one target of the three. SO I've done my research..... or more rightly have known what they speak there since I was, maybe 10.

I'm not trying to give you crap here Calallen... I think you know we have a good relationship, but c'mon? You had to know that I knew what was spoken in cities I might want to move to!

Pax, homey.

US Soccer is slowly on the rise and I think 10 years from now, we could be a threat to actually beat some good Euro teams. I was a little dissapointed with some of the hustle tonight but kudos for beating Mexico. That win all but guarantees a World Cup birth for the US since the have to finish in the top 3 of a group consisting of them, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Trindad....I mean come on, if they can't win all of those, they don't deserve it. I think they play Mexico in Mexico this august, so that will be the biggest test for them. They haven't won there in 10 years, just like Mexico hasn't won on US soil in roughly the same amount of time.

Just think how much better this team is (they have the depth), if they practiced together more. Many of the players were with their club teams and only had a couple days to fly back and practice to get ready for this game.