Mexico vs. USA March 27 on ESPN2 [R]

bordelais7 · 03-28-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

From his highly offensive-minded substitutions, I can't believe he was playing for a tie...

They were down 2-0 and 2-1 in the second half. I'm sure if they would have equalized, Bruce would have shifted the formation and bunkered down.

Aero · 03-28-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusII

From his highly offensive-minded substitutions, I can't believe he was playing for a tie...

If you are down by 2, don't you have to score 2 to play for a tie? 😉

Rover · 03-29-2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusII

However, in spite of your cool and calm analysis, it was obvious in the second half that Arena desperately wanted to win the match.

From his highly offensive-minded substitutions, I can't believe he was playing for a tie...

What I meant was that he didn't put a winning team on the field to start the game. He was playing for a tie. Going down 2-0 messes that up a bit. He gambled on a bunker-style 4-5-1 and lost by the end of the first half. His second half substitutions were an attempt to salvage a bad situation, especially since goal differential is a factor in breaking ties on points.

I still think he made tactical decisions based on the premise that the Mexico game was not the more important of the two games this month. In the end, he lost his bid for a point out of Mexico but if we win on Wednesday with rested and motivated players in front of a pro-American crowd in Birmingham, it will be worth it.

SoccerPrime · 03-29-2005, 05:52 AM

Lets be honest, for all our chest thumping, no one has won in Azteca in 40 years. Its not that big of deal that we didn't win this year.
Lets just hope that we smoke Mexico in Columbus later this year, then we will be on even par with them.

Now, on to Alabama!
GO USA!

Jim Umber · 03-29-2005, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Lets be honest, for all our chest thumping, no one has won in Azteca in 40 years. Its not that big of deal that we didn't win this year.
Lets just hope that we smoke Mexico in Columbus later this year, then we will be on even par with them.

Now, on to Alabama!
GO USA!

Very true! And now, on to Alabama! Go USA! And just WAIT 'til we play'em on OUR turf!