Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
One day remains until the United States kicks off its CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign.
Bob Bradley and his charges have put a large emphasis on this tournament, with the hopes of winning it for a fifth time and clinching a spot at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Saturday's 4-0 loss to Spain put a bit of a damper on the U.S. momentum heading into the Gold Cup, even though Landon Donovan didn't play and the likes of Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Steve Cherundolo were used as substitutes.
The tournament hosts are still considered to be among the favorites to win the regional crown, though. Defending champion Mexico is the other favorite and only reinforced its status after putting five goals on El Salvador in its tournament opener Sunday night. Should the brackets hold to form, the two regional powers would do battle in the final later this month for the third consecutive Gold Cup, but there's plenty of CONCACAF soccer to be played before then, starting with the United States game against a capable and motivated Canada side Tuesday night.
How do you see the USMNT faring at the Gold Cup? Cast your vote after the jump:
How did you vote? Do you see the loss to Spain hampering the United States' chances at the Gold Cup? Think the USMNT will win it all? Who are your darkhorses to win the tournament?
Share your thoughts below.
O.k..O.K. Some with has some knowledge here.Good point. But the U.S. gets the Duke.
“Can’t score.” Isn’t that was your friends say to you when you go out on a date.
Yeah, maybe the Ref knows what a choke is too. USA vs Mexico en the piss smelling Azteca.
I have to disagree..
I think Donovan and Dempsey are both better players than Dos Santos..
I’ll give you Marquez being a better player than any other US defender, but to say twice as good, that just seems silly.
And I would definitely argue that Bradley, Jones and Edu are all equal or better players then Torrado, Guarado or Barrera..
W-1 L-1 T-1
and out.
If you are scared, have your mother put you to bed. PSSSS What a p*ssy!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eric, you need a lobotomy. Dos Santos looks like a transvestite , Salcido? PSSSSSSS. Hernandez is very good at running around.
And who would you recommend that we call in?
I just love these people that say “dump everyone” but don’t provide anyone that would be better..
I know Bradley jr has a bad rap on these boards, but he is a motor in midfield and clearly (watch the WC and Confed Cup) has the talent to play on the international level. In addition, Jones was one of the better midfielders in the Bundesliga and slotted right in and started for his Premier League team, helping them avoid relegation in the process..
Who would you rather see in midfield for the Stars and Stripes? I’ve seen Beckermen play at the international level and while he’s a great MLS player, he just doesn’t hack it at the highest level..
Also, I think plenty of teams would line up at the opportunity to have their core be Dempsey, Donovan, and Howard.
Matt,
I see how much hype the kid has on these boards already, the same as Johnson and Altidore. US fans are so desperate for a good striker they will latch on to anyone and everyone.
He probably shouldn’t even by on the team that’s how low I rate the kid right now. But to some he is the second, third or even forth coming.
How about this for giggles – play Dempsey in the hole behind Altidore and hope for the best out of your other weak options on the wings. Someone who can score should be as close to goal as possible and that’s not Agudelo or Altidore.
Word!!!!!!!!!!!! I like dos a cero better.
Beating El Salvador 5-0 doen’t mean anything eaither.I rather have the U.S win 2-0 3-1 3-2… and 2-0 vs Mexico in the final.
Damn! How *DOES* one get to be soooooo original?
Well, then get that good feeling.
I think you are wrong too. And you will be glad your were: 2-0 USA Final
Good, keep the homer in you.
because he is one of our best players
Have faith in our team. The US always beats mexico when it counts. Bob Bradley is not going to F*** around with new formations and switching players around when it counts
USA all the way
insightful analysis
This is a critical tournament. Not only for the team itself, but for individual players in regard to their club futures as well. I’m most interested to see how Altidore and Bradley perform. I am hoping that Adu sees more playing time than what one might think.
I agree that the Gold Cup shouldn’t always be hosted in the USA, though given the state of other CONCACAF countries, it’s difficult for them to organize an event of this size.
Mexico could, in theory, though to be frank, the security issues there are too great with the current cartel wars.
I’m going to be optimistic, because it’s more fun. Look Mexico has always been the more “talented” team. They’ve got more players playing at higher levels that the US. That said, the US is more than the sum of it’s parts. At least we have been. This team CAN beat anybody on any given day, but realistically they aren’t the best players in the world and so they’ll lose from time to time. That’s hardly Bradley’s fault.
I’m going with the US winning the final. I’ll always root for them to win and be frustrated when they don’t. Looking on the bright side is so much more fun.
+ 2
Would a thrashing in the final against Mexico, or a loss before the final, mean the end of Bradley’s tenure? And am I evil to suspect that that might not be a totally bad thing, *if* Gulati hires someone who can bring a bit more tactical sense to this group?
thats supposed to read donavan is greater than dos santos and dempsey is gretaer than torrado.
after tomorrow, you will be adding Josh Simpson and Simeon Jackson (should he play the right wing) to this list…old man Cherendolo and Bocanegra won’t be able to keep pace with them
This is some excellent perspective.
I don’t know why so many US fans think we should expect to beat the ghanas and mid-tier european sides comfortably and consistently.
At present, we’re like the stoke of international football. And mexico are probably the west brom: prettier play, similar effectiveness.
+1
I think it will be tough to beat this Mexican team, which looks to be coming together very well, whereas our group is a bit more experimental.
Also, the recent track record of the USA in friendlies doesn’t bode to well: only 2 wins since the start of the World Cup vs. Algeria and South Africa if I’m not mistaken is starting to make me lose some faith in BB, though to his credit, he’s always met his objectives in tournament play.
Just to play Devils Advocate…. I heard the same thing about Mexico two years ago… They got a new coach and now look to be the class of this region.
Did you watch the Spain game?
Maybe Bradley is part of the problem, but the reality is that the bigger US issue is simply an issue of talent right now.
Wrong – Dos Santos Torrado
Jones > Barrera
Guardado is playing out of position as dos Santos is on the wing so since he is playing centrally, Bradley > Guardado
Noob
Michael Bradley needs to be kicked off the team he sucks. I mean if he is not good enough to play most of the season for Aston Villa why does that make him good enough for our national team
They lost to Ghana because they are better than us. It’s a hard to pill to swallow but its true. Two consecutives losses in two consecutive World Cups prove that – not because of Rico Clark (even though it was a bad decision).
My reason for generally defending Bradley is whom to we REALISTICALLY bring in who is better? What are your realistic expectations for this player pool? And is this supposed coach who is miles better than Bradley Sr going to meet those expectations. We have guys who play on mid-table sides and in second and third rate leagues, and one player at the moment who is on a Champions League side. What kind of results are you expecting exactly with that type of team?? We have some nice players, but not any world-beaters, and on their day can beat any team in the world, but not consistently. Could Bradley do better, sure, he falls into traps that most international coaches do, falling in love with certain players and is slow to replace them – on the other hand think of all the other “flavors of the month” that have come and gone that Bradley was criticized for not calling up and playing more often, guys like Parkhurst, Cooper and Castillo.
My opinion is USMNT fans who dump on Bradley have unrealistic expectations of this team as it relates to the actual quality of this squad.
My question is outside of McBride who was great, but his run if play goals weren’t not near his aereal goals when have we had great strikers?we’ve always won our games in the midfield and had solid defensive teams. Forget goal scorers we need goal stoppers. This does not include Tummy H but he could be better lately.
I thinkwhomever wins the previous gold cup gets to host the tournament, so this one should be in mexico. Bet we would have played starters two years ago if it meant something too. That whole tourney was just a friendly.
Yes because that 2009 gold cup squad, with exactly two players who overlap in the current squad, one of whom (rogers) likely won’t make a matchday roster, is a relevant barometer for this year’s success.
I know critical thinking isn’t required to be a fan, but let’s try not to embarrass the more reasonable supporters out here. Thanks.
lose in the QF. The Defense is crap, no striker, and heavy reliance on midfielders to score is going to doom the USMNT. Playing from behind is not a successful strategy
I was so glad to see Jozy Altidore pulled out at half-time. Finally BB gave someone else a chance. Jozy was doing his same routine: jogging around, not pressuring their defense, not fighting for 50/50 balls. Juan Agudelo at least made his presence felt.
Having said that, I wish we had Herculez Gomez or even Edson Buddle to call upon to provide some experience. I mean they both played at the highest level at the World Cup. What more experience is he looking for?
Agree Jeff, Goodson will step up because Gooch is way off his game from before the injury (he needs to sit). Holden would have been a big time addition if he could have played. He can play the center-mid position with Donovan and Clint out wide or on of them up front with Agudelo? Bocanegra may need to play outside some as Spector can run with Mexico or Honduras
Being a chicago fire fan, at this point im assuming any team I like will lose or tie all their games.
Seriously though, I haven’t seen the usmnt play well since before the world cup. Maybe beating up on some minnows will give us some confidence. Just the same, I worry about the group canada game, I think that’s the games we’ll see just how far the us will go in the tourny. I expect the usmnt to get to to the final, which will be anyones game. I would be dissappointed but not suprised to see us losing at the semis if we don’t get some good results in the group play.
re: sandtrout… exactly, 100% agree. I’m of two minds on this Gold Cup. There’s a lot on the line, with Confed Cup qual… so ya gotta want a good result for that additional experience.
But, the bigger picture may be more important. In fact, it probably is more important. Unless there’s a major blemmish (like a poor result in the Gold Cup – Semi or less), there won’t be enough change at the top. U.S. soccer has proved quite slow on change – on the men’s side (e.g. Bradley).
We need a coach with a vision. One more than defense and status quo. A change is necessary NOW as it would take even more time to impact the player pool.
In turn, all of those changes need time to “settle” to positively impact the U.S. performance at the 2014 WC. Unless that happens, we’re a “group stage” team at the WC in 2014 and that’s it.
We have the best stadiums in the world and people from every country well represented throughout all of our major cities. How does it not make perfect sense? And from a business standpoint, it also raises by far the most money for CONCACAF. Where do you want to have it next time? El Salvador?
First off, the grouping and bracketing is in our favor. Even with a slow start, finishing third in a bracket with Panama Guadeloupe and Canada would take a meltdown of epic proportions. We have the talent to make it out the group no question.
It’s afterwards that it gets interesting:
This is a tournament where Lichaj, Bedoya, Adu Ream and Agudelo could go a long way toward breaking out and establishing themselves as the core of 2014.
It’s also a great chance for players like Altidore and Kljestan to get some mojo back and for Gooch to possibly play his way back into better form.
We could even see Spector reinvent himself as a viable midfield option.
But that’s a lot of “ifs” for a player pool though. And doesn’t even take into consderation the big “if” of will Senior Bradley make the changes or take teh chances on “unproven” elements?
I’m rooting for our boys but they are far from being a complete squad right now.
I do think that anything less than bringing home the cup will be seen as a major disappointment and could possible cost someone their job. It will be a very interesting month!
You’re dealing with a bunch of people that glean their soccer knowledge from this very website. Don’t expect anything extreme.
Look at it this way guys: at least our women can beat Mexico.
Mexico is far ahead of us in terms of skill set, and even as a US fan, I don’t see how people can’t see how dangerous Mexico is:
June 2010 beat Italy 2-1
World cup June 2010 beat France 2-0
August 11 2010 ties Spain 1-1 (Hernandez scores in the 12th min!!!)*
March 2011 beat Paraguay 3-1 (hernandez scores in the 7th and 34th min)*
Then they demolish El Salvador in their first Gold Cup game……
They have a record that the US, despite having a better standing in the FIFA RANKINGS, cannot match. We have a problem on our hands and Mexico is the monster
Uh….
No.
Dos Santos is better than any midfield/forward player on the US squad. Marquez is twice as good as any USMNT defender.
Torrado, Guarado, Barrera are all equal or better than USMNT midfield players skillwise.
Last Gold Cup game, we lost 5-0. Last game before this Gold Cup, we lost 4-0. Hmmm?
I think we will NOT win the the Gold Cup this year.
I think Bob Bradley will continue as out coach.
I think Sunil Gulati and the USSf will run business as usual.
At least we’re consistent.