Comments

1. CJ Sapong probably having a better year then Jozy

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2. Which headline is more likely:

   Johnson struggles to find place with new manager at Mochengladbach
   or
   Bradley leaves Staebak for life in the Bundesliga

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3. If Darlington Nagbe is the savior of the USMNT we are in trouble.

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   • Yeah I honestly don’t understand that hype. Mike Grella even has better numbers. I know there’s more then just goals and assists but sometimes you just have to make it happen. More then 2 goals, 3 assists worth anyway.

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   • I don’t think anyone believes that Nagbe is a “Savior”. However his is more technical than either Yedlin or Zardes on the wing and can provide the US with another option other than Bradley & Dempsey at the top of a diamond midfield.
     So while he may not be a savior he could be a solid contributor to the US for the next 3-6 years while some of the younger players finish their development.

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     • Although I know it is unfair to judge based on one game, Nagbe was no where to be found in this game, I watched for 15 minutes before he even touched the ball and it wasn’t the fault of his teammates either. Seemed very disinterested in a game against one of the best in the East on national tv. And yes several were claiming he should be starting against Mexico.

       Jack- not exactly fair to compare with Grella either as NYRB is clearly a better team and Mike gets a lot better service from his teammates, although Mike does seem to find spots to receive that service thanNagbe

4. Luis Robles is a god. Don’t even bother having a SOTW vote this week, MLS. Red Bulls in the lead for the Shield!

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5. Why do so few Mexican players play in Europe compared to in the MX league? Do they pay so well that fee mexicans wanna risk playing overseas? Are they not physical enough for Europe?

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   • Why do so few Americans play in Europe compared to MLS? Why do so few Englishman play in N. America compared to the EPL? You aren’t being serious with that question right?

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   • Liga MX pays pretty well. They are second to only the Brazilian Campeonato in the Americans in terms of salary, and pay better than a lot of lower level Brazilian teams. The only leagues that pay more are the Top 6 (league of their own), Brazil, English Championship, Portugal and Turkey. They have a lot or revenue and pay their players fairly well if you are a regular. For instance, Garza makes close to a million/year and he is not a star down there (I watch Liga MX on Univision Deportes). He makes more than any defender except OG and VAST majority of MLS players. The deal is if you are a super star (top 10 players or so), Liga MX doesn’t really pay more than 3/4 million. As such, the MLS pays more. Outside that, Liga MX pays more and to more players (more depth).

     Even though, Mexico produces much better technical players than US (unfortunately), there isn’t as much pressure to go abroad because Liga MX pays well, and is very well supported. Moreover, they have excellent revenues streams. In the US alone, Liga MX averages 1 million a game – that is nearly 4 times MLS numbers and this is their secondary market. That also doesn’t take into account all their merchandising sales. Liga MX is a destination league in the Americas. There are A LOT of quality Latin American players playing there.

     That being said, I think it’s only a matter of time (by 2022/25) until MLS overtakes them because we have a richer base, larger population, and faster growth rate (US soccer market is FAR from maturity). It’s not like Mexico is poor (they have one of the largest economies in the world – bigger than Spain). However, on a per capita basis, which is more important in terms of purchasing power (and potential advertising dollars), Mexico is very low.

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   • last legion,

     If you look at the countries that play soccer you will find that, all things being equal, most of their players would prefer to stay at home if:

     1. The money is good
     2. The competition is off sufficient standard.

     The biggest money and the best competition are found at the top level clubs in Europe.

     In Mexico’s case the money and the competition has been good enough so that the majority of their players are good with staying at home.

     However, as with all countries, a very small percentage feel they are good enough to try their luck at the big money and elite competition at the top level.

     The majority fail but a few succeed. This is true for all countries.

     The reason you see so many Brazilians and Argentinians at the top levels in Europe is because there are more of them trying to get there in the first place and they started the process well before most everyone else.

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6. Fernando Torres scored and had an assist yesterday for Atletico.

   El Nino is Back

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7. Wenger shoulda opened his wallet and gone after that Martial kid

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   • What is crazy is that he was offered to Arsenal last season for Eur 5 million.

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8. Graziano Pelle

   Geoff Cameron

   separated at birth

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9. Tottenham CP on USA network

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10. Barcelona, 3 more points.

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11. Wow, there are so many Mexicans playing in top European teams, Chicharito at Leverkusen, four Mexicans in FC Porto and three play regularly, two in PSV and they also play Champions League. Wow again, if USMNT beats Mexico at the CONCACAF Cup, it will really be a heroic miracle. Our players instead are relegated to playing MLS and second division teams in Europe. Wow, we have moved forwards by leaps and bounds with Klinsi at the helm.

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    • You sure you’re not really Klinsmann in disguise here? Play in Europe (ride the bench) and express yourselves. Thats the key

      If we lose to Mexico, it will because of the team KLINSMANN picks and nothing more. And yes, he is not moving us forward. We agree on that

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    • EC,

      Bradley’s results vs Mexico

      US Mexico

      2007 2 0
      2007 2 1
      2008 2 2
      2009 2 0
      2009 0 5
      2009 1 2
      2011 2 4

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      • And to be fair the 2009 0-5 was with a bunch of guys most of whom never played for the USMNT again. Why are you feeding this El Tri troll – El Commandante/aka Rob?

      • “a bunch of guys most of whom never played for the USMNT again.”

        Which means what?

      • Which means simply stating results doesn’t provide context, such as the fact that the 5-0 loss occured in a Gold Cup played one month after tge USMNT finished second in the ConFed Cup in South Africa and the team that went to the final was b or c level at best against Mexico’s A team

      • midwestref,

        Listing Bradley’s results points out that the USMNT was trending downward in terms of results vs. Mexico towards the end of his reign.

        JK has arrested that trend.

        You can whine,moan, dissect ,make excuses and micro analyze that trend all you want but results are results.

        EC’s point was Mexican players are currently doing better in a more competitive environment at their clubs than USMNT players at their clubs. He then hints that this means Mexico is doing better than the US under JK.

        The two are not related.

        Mexico has long had an advantage in terms of their players playing at higher level clubs but that has not necessarily helped them beat the US as history will tell you.

        Both teams are about equal in their WC results.

        Mexico did better in this Gold Cup and the US did better last Gold Cup, which is why there is playoff.

        Mexico will be favored by the odds makers but both teams will go into the playoff not having played a game for more than a month.

        Which means that there is no real “momentum” advantage and the game is probably more of a tossup than anything.

        However, all is not lost for El C. as there is still plenty of time for an important US player to get hurt either on the field or off it a la Charlie Davies. I’m sure he is rooting for that to happen.

      • +1

      • Nonsense, the fact that the 0-5 loss was with a C team means that result is meaningless. The 2011 Gold Cup final against Mexico was poor but JK couldn’t even get to the final I’m not sure that helps your argument.

      • slowleftarm,

        “Nonsense, the fact that the 0-5 loss was with a C team means that result is meaningless.”

        In Bob’s 3 Gold Cups he won one and got knocked out in 2 of them. JK is 1-1.

        However one chooses to value the Gold Cup those are the bare facts.

        I agree with you that the 2009 Gold Cup was meaningless because it was a B or C level tournament that was not tied to Confederations Cup. The 2013 Gold Cup was another JV tourney. However, that had meaning because winning it gave the US a spot in this playoff.

        You, on the other hand, have consistently claimed that such distinctions were irrelevant and that, as the de facto CONCACAF championship, the Gold Cup, whether it was an A, B or C tournament was vital to the US.

        So according to the value system that you have displayed on SBI not winning ANY Gold Cup, ABCD or E , could never be meaningless.

        To reverse yourself and now also claim it was meaningless is hypocritical.

        “The 2011 Gold Cup final against Mexico was poor but JK couldn’t even get to the final I’m not sure that helps your argument.”

        My only “argument “ is that JK stopped that negative trend.of losing to Mexico

        The US lost 2011 Gold Cup final. It was the third loss in row to Mexico by Bradley-led teams.
        Since it probably helped get Bob fired please don’t tell me it was meaningless.

        And this argument is related to answering El Comandante‘s basic claim that JK has had no positive effect on the US team specifically as it relates to Mexico..

      • Gw – simply listing results does not provide context. Especially when reviewing – what 6 games over 4 years (from memory as I can’t go back and see your post while typing mine).

        There are WC qualifiers in your list (yes?), GCup games and possibly an friendly in Mexico or Houston. I’m nit really sure of the point you are trying to make. Are you supporting El Com? Are you saying Jk should go (as his results are now trailing off? Are you sayingthe US has a chAnce. Are you saying all of this?

      • midwestref

        “Gw – simply listing results does not provide context. Especially when reviewing – what 6 games over 4 years (from memory as I can’t go back and see your post while typing mine).”

        Most people on SBI wouldn’t know or care what context. was if it came up and bit them on the a++..

        BB, as US manager lost the last three games he played versus Mexico. When JK took over he reversed that trend. He has never lost to Mexico. Regardless of the context, those are the facts.

        EC is wrong when he implies that JK has not had a positive effect on the USMNT especially as it relates to games with Mexico.

        “There are WC qualifiers in your list (yes?), GCup games and possibly an friendly in Mexico or Houston.”

        Look them up, I did.

        “I’m nit really sure of the point you are trying to make. Are you supporting El Com?”

        No.

        “ Are you saying Jk should go (as his results are now trailing off?”

        No

        ” Are you sayingthe US has a chAnce.”

        Of course they have a chance. Have you even bothered to watch Mexico play a game? Mexico can beat anyone in the world but they can also lose to anyone in the world.

        “Are you saying all of this?”

        No, you are. What I said is in writing.

        You can make of that what you want. .

        Most neutrals would probably tell you that , as I already wrote, Mexico will probably be favored but that the game was in reality a tossup.

        It is too early to tell about this game. It is a fact that both teams will go into that playoff not having played a game in a month. The Brazil loss was an embarrassment but these guys are pros, not high school players. Losses happen. If they can’t get over it and move on then they deserve whatever happens.

        And with almost a month to go injuries, form and fitness of key players for both sides just might be very different when October 10 rolls around.

        Go ahead and bet your mortgage money on this game right now if you want but if I were you I’d wait a while yet. and see who shows up to play and what shape they are in.

    • That’s right. All on those guys in Europe with the Mexican national team can’t get one win in Copa America, tie against T&T twice and was gifted a place in the Finals of the Gold Cup. Yes, I am sure the U.S. MNT in shaking right now.

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      • ……..was gifted a place in the Finals of the Gold Cup where they easily defeated the team that eliminated us from the competition.

      • Who cares? Mexico still stinks. They couldn’t even win their group in the Gold Cup and were in a ridiculously easy group. They not only were gifted in the Panama game but also in the Costa Rica match. After the October 10, they will fire their coach …. again…again and then again. They will have had 20 coached by 2016 and in 4th place in another playoff in which the U.S. will save their butts again.

    • Us has 14 European based players on its Prelim roster 7 who regularly start on teams in the first divisions in France, England, Germany. Mexico has 10 (11 with Guardado) 7 of whom start in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany (8 with Guardado). So yes Mexico has more playing in CL and EL this year, but overall European contingents pretty similar on both sides.

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      • 14 u.s players in europe? Can’t be a threat when nobody has ever heard of them.