Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Earth Crisis

Today's rightfully an occasion for somber reflection. It's also a chance to celebrate America in a more enthusiastic manner.

The U.S. Men's National Team takes on Jamaica in Cleveland tonight in the back end of a home and home series that has major implications on our qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The Reggae Boyz slotted a pair of free kicks against the run of play on Friday in Kingston to knock off the U.S. for the first time in history, 2-1. The win gives Jamaica the lead in the four-team CONCACAF semifinal group, with the U.S. tied with Guatemala for second and Antigua & Barbuda bringing up the rear. The top two teams in the group advance to final qualifying.

A loss this evening would give the U.S. absolutely no margin for error over the remainder of this stage. Jurgen Klinsmann's team has had very good results this year in friendly matches, beating Mexico on the road, and topping Italy, but the loss to Jamaica and a desultory tie against Guatemala are decidedly subpar outcomes. The USMNT faces a great deal of pressure tonight at a venue in which they've never lost, and will be without and injured Landon Donovan (big loss) and a card-suspended Clarence Goodson (less big).

ESPN2's got the match at 8:00 this evening. I expect you to be glued to your televisions.

UPDATE:

Because we care about what our fans think, a little equal opportunity.



38 comments:

rob said...

mo and theo

Professor G. Truck said...

is barbuda located right in between barbados and bermuda?

Squeaky said...

I think between the left and right thighs.

Also great interview with Patterson Hood (DBT fame) and Will Johnson (Centro-matic nonfame but good band) for you DBT fans.

Jerry said...

I think there's a pretty high likelihood that Klinsmann is massively incompetent and a complete fraud. Certainly there's an enormous disconnect between what he says and what he does. He came in talking about possession and attacking soccer, yet almost all of his lineups feature 3 or 4 defensive midfielders with almost no offensive skills.

Almost every USA game since he took over has been dreadfully boring with extremely few scoring opportunities or goals. In our "good" games, we have some possession, but it's meandering, pointless possession, just knocking the ball around low threat areas. No creativity, no threat, no flair. Nothing.

He's been ridiculously stubborn in his player selection, not even looking at several guys who would suit his alleged style (and would fill a huge need in the team). Not that any of these guys are world-beaters, but rolling out 3 DMs every game is just brutal.

Right now we're in a struggle to finish in the top 2 of a 4 team group that includes Jamaica, Guatemala, and Antigua and Barbuda. And we're looking miserable in the process. We'll probably win tonight and we'll probably qualify, but what we've seen from Klinsmann has been crap and lies.

zman said...

Think I'ma change up my style just to fit in?!

T.J. said...

Deceit, lies and chicanery?

zman said...

It's a style!

rob said...

in klinsmann's defense, jerry is a noted kraut-baiter

zman said...

I was recently criticized for using "chicanery" and "weakly-thrown Hail Mary" in the same paragraph.

rob said...

clarence can be such a pedantic dick

T.J. said...

shallow...and pedantic

http://mysp.ac/TGYQHZ

rob said...

danimal, advice: whatever towson is giving to w&m this weekend, give it freely.

Danimal said...

there won't be a line on that game but i bet you guys win it. admittedly i know absolutely nothing about either team other than your 1-point loss to a d1 school, albeit a bad one.

Jerry said...

They had 1-aa lines on 5dimes.com back when I was in the numbers game.

zman said...

Jerry pulled a Wallace and said "I don't want to play no more," thereby exiting the game.

rob said...

danimal, we're getting smoked in this game. take it to the bank. we'll be playing our third-string quarterback, towson is the defending caa champs and return 17 starters (with a couple of 1-a transfers added to the mix), and the game is at towson.

Jerry said...

The Feds took me out of the game. Shut down my site and took my cash.

Shlara said...

the photos for this post...seriously, Rob?

zman said...

According to Gregg (don't call me Frank) Easterbrook:

For a decade the Bills have been the league's worst-managed, worst-coached and worst-drafting franchise. There's no sign of any change -- and no sign anyone at the top of the Bills' organization cares.

rob said...

she looks like a fan to me, shlara. i don't understand the issue.

Mark said...

So who gets to shoot Jerry for turning his back on the game?

Danimal said...

rob - can't argue with those facts. gentlemen's bet that they keep it within 6.

hang in there, hoops is right around the corner.

have you guys seen eric decker's girlfriend? hubba hubba.

T.J. said...

who is the extra from L.A. Ink that you added to this post?

Danimal said...

http://tinyurl.com/9b9pqgp

T.J. said...

hey, what a shock, Bleacher Report has a slideshow of an attractive WAG. never seen that before.

Danimal said...

aaah...surly boy.

T.J. said...

that's every day, danimal

Jerry said...

"The Game Chose Me"

- Thabo Sefolosha's Shoulder

rob said...

bocanegra is in la liga now? that's pretty cool.

rob said...

our post-striking skills are sublime

Dave said...

first day of double soccer practice-- 8th grade try-outs and then U-8 travel. threatened my son with severe bodily harm. definitely going to end up on youtube before the fall is over. thank god for beer.

T.J. said...

Dave, change the password on your twitter account. It has been hacked...unless you actually willingly tweet this nonsense:

Sweeet! I earned $125.66 so far from surveys! Waiting for more! LOOK > http://facebook.com/419974111399304

rob said...

are you kidding me? i've made like a grand following dave's links.

T.J. said...

goal, America. this game over yet?

rob said...

posed this on twitter, too, but is has there ever been a better american backliner than cherundolo?

TR said...

US is winning, but they look very bad. Just not a lot of talent.

rob said...

no donovan, no bradley didn't help, nor did the fact that we went into a shell after we scored.

zman said...

I hear that TR goes into a shell when he scores.