I believe

US vs Mexico World Cup Qualifier.
President Elect Donald Trump.

Dear American Outlaws, these things should not mix tonight.
A few months ago AO took a stand against the "puto" chant. I'd never been prouder to be a US supporter. I wish to see that same standard to the code of conduct tonight.

I'm sure there are Trump supporters in the group. Don't make the chants against Mexico about him. Frankly, I hope to not hear anything negative against Mexico tonight. The stakes are now higher than the game.

Have fun, stay safe, and hug it out after the game no matter the score.

Let's keep the rivalry about the game.

ETA: I found all these links after the game, and although we lost, I couldn't be prouder of the statements before and during the game.

After Trump's election, USA, Mexico players display unity with pregame photo

Before U.S. and Mexico Play, Fans Push for Respect in a Charged Atmosphere

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more

This Friday I will be attending the US Men's vs Colombia Copa América Centenario opener at Levi's Stadium.

It's the first time I will be in a supporter's section for a US game in about 10 years. I'm curious as to how the culture has changed since I was so deeply involved in it. I'm hoping that it's not become too bro-tastic, but to be honest I'm afraid that ship has sailed as soccer has gotten more popular in this country.

I will be making a visual protest regarding the current dispute with the women's team by not only wearing my women's jersey (3 stars!), but having "#equalplayequalpay" on the jersey front and back. I'm hoping to have other supporters join me in this.

This will be the last time I give U.S. Soccer money until this is resolved.

I believe that SHE will win!

#equalplayequalpay

DO

WE

REALLY

NEED

TO

DEBATE

THIS???

SHOW THEM THE MONEY!!!

(I've included the Forbes article because of his strawman argument of taking into account the lack of attendance at the club level. This ain't about the NWSL.)

Donovan

I'm just gonna put this here.

Great piece by Wayne Drehs for ESPN as Landon closes out his career.

Yeah, I'll go there

Perhaps y'all have noticed that all the German-American players on the US roster have one black parent.

It makes me wonder if the appeal of joining the US was the lack of color on the Die Mannschaft.

Come to a team with players that look like you. You'll fit in a lot easier here than there.

Happy Pills?

Is it me, or do the US Men look miserable out on the field? I don't mean the way they're playing, but their lack of joy at playing. Donovan hinted at his occasional lack of passion recently, but it feels like no one on that team is having fun.

Taylor Twellman mentioned during yesterday's broadcast that the boys might be tired. They're definitely playing like it now. The mood of the team just seemed dour. It's a sharp contrast to their smiling, positive coach.

I makes me wonder if Jürgen turns into Mr. Hyde during practice. Grinding them down behind the scenes.

Okay, enough German S/M Nazi fantasies. :)

I gotta agree with Twellman. They look like they need a day or two off. It wouldn't surprise me if Guatemala pulls off the upset on Tuesday.

Oh, San Jose.

Today is the "I hope both teams get food poisoning and shit all over the field" Cup.
Of course I will watch because I'm not just a soccer fan, but an American soccer fan.

If you put a gun to the head of one of my daughters to make me pick a team, before I beat you to a bloody pulp, I'd pick the Dynamo. I will say however that every time I see those two stars over that Houston badge it takes me back to the bitterness of the move. I put in a lot of work to try and keep the team here, and the pain and disappointment of not being able to do that still bugs me to this day.

The current version of the Quakes ain't helping to ease that pain.

I ran into David Alioto before the first regular season game before the Dynamo and Quakes. I'd mentioned the conflicted feelings I had because I personally knew those players now on Houston. I had no problem cheering for the new Quakes to beat the Dynamo, but at the time I had no ill will towards the individual players and coaches on Houston. Alioto looked at me like I'd grown a second head. He mumbled something about "they've moved on" and "they're just players" and other shit that most sports execs say about players that makes them into units of business rather than actual humans (a pet peeve of mine, btw). In that moment, I felt like he didn't get it. He hadn't spent the time we had as fans helping grow this league, and in that moment it showed, badly.

Fast forward to this season:

"I think for a long time, we didn't embrace our history and heritage as a club."

That was said by David Kaval, current president of the San Jose Earthquakes, during the broadcast of the last regular season game. WTF? If you're talking about this new Lew Wolff owned team, then yeah, I agree with you, if you mean longer than that, then I gotta ask where the fuck have you been? The team got renamed from the Clash as a fucking tribute to the history of the club. Johnny Moore? Remember him? Throwback jerseys? NASL Team reunions? Bringing back Krazy George? All this happened before this current version. I'm beginning to wonder if anyone has a clue in the front office. Please do something that shows me you've got a grasp of what's going on here.

I'll be honest, a lack of money has been the main thing that has kept me away from watching live games, but even if I had the extra income to go, I'd pause in giving the current regime my money. Personally, I don't plan on going to another game until I see construction start on the new stadium.

BTW, Lew, David, why haven't we had a US Men's game in the Bay Area in several years? I get that Buck Shaw is too small, but we've got other places here. I remember a kick-ass friendly with Japan at a packed Phone Company park. That was that last one I attended here in the Bay Area. If I knew now what I didn't know then, I'd have sucked up my pride and gone the the friendly at Spartan back in 2007. We haven't had one since then. What's up with that?

Bradley out, Jürgen in

Thank god for Macs. Typing umlauts is much easier than in Windows. :)

I wanted a change, and I'm happy to see it, but I reserve judgment until I see what Jürgen does. First up, nothing less than Mexico.

Where da white women at?

All over the USWNT, that's where. Not taking away from the talented individuals who make up the current team, but there seems to be a lack of diversity, racial and otherwise, on the USWNT.  Considering the way the team plays, it's overdue for an infusion of new talent and different styles of play. Somewhere out there is an American Marta, one who would have coolly buried all those chances Abby missed today against Colombia. I think of a Sissi controlling the midfield, slotting passes where needed.

I found it amusing that Mexican-American players were found to play for Mexico. The assumption being that they weren't good enough to play for the US.  However, I have a hard time believing that one or two of those players aren't even worth a call up for a friendly or two.

I blame several factors. The reliance on colleges to find players for the pool will always filter a group to upper and upper middle class citizens. Nepotism plays a role as well. It's easiest to stick with what's familiar. I also blame US Soccer for not going out and doing the work to find these players. It effects both the women and the men. The whole organization needs to be more creative. It's gonna end up keeping soccer stagnant in this country. Time to evolve.

(sigh)

It felt like a carbon copy of the Brazil Confed Final.
I groaned when I saw Bornstein come in for 'Dolo. I knew the Mexicans would go straight after him. We're definitely at a transition stage for the US men, especially in the back. Ike Opara please don't be injury prone, your country needs you.

On the plus side, both US goals were well worked pretty goals that took advantage of Mexico not defending well.

Bob, you proved that you actually can adapt game to game, but the US needs someone better. Thanks for what you've accomplished. I won't be surprised if he stays on, but the US needs a change.

Everyone settle in for a Mexican reign for a few years.

Now take a deep breath, and settle in again. It's WWC time.
Just win, baby. :)

Time to represent

Just win, baby.
This is a damn good Mexican team that's shown kinks in the armor the last two games. The US started great against Canada, struggled, and now seem to be finally gelling. We'll see if Bob plays it straight, or if he continues to change things up. I think Landon will start this time around (not that hard to fathom). 


Army and Outlaws be careful, don't do anything too stoopid, and give them hell. I wish I could be down there in person.

We've missed ya.

Welcome back, Freddy. You've earned it.

Well done, Bob

The game against Jamaica showed that Bob Bradley can change things up when needed. I wish he had done this sort of thing sooner, but I won't harp because the results showed.

I'm still concerned about the finishing, but the team completely put Jamaica on their heels all game.

BTW, Mr. Jones? Shame on you for that dive. You're lucky it worked. You should be missing the semifinal.

Prediction

Big, strong, fast teams have given the US hell lately. If Jamaica's on their game, and the US still hasn't figured out how to score in bunches, they're gonna blow out the US.

If the US can finish, it's gonna be a shootout, but the US will lose.

I hope I'm wrong either way.

Y KANT JOHNNY/JANE SCORE?

After watching the women take on Mexico in their WWC send off friendly, and last night's USMNT debacle against Panama, I've fucking had it with these teams not being able to put away their opponents.

Let's start with the women, they did everything but score until Cheney saved them with a blast from the goddesses. They're not ready for the World Cup, and they need to be a lot cooler in front of the net if they're going make their way through the knockout rounds. If they expect Abby to provide the goals, they're in trouble. She's a holding forward now. She's good for heading set pieces, and for laying the ball off to speedy, clinical forwards to slot the ball home. She's not fast enough or good enough with the ball at her feet to do anything else. Let's hope someone steps up for the women to be that stone cold finisher. Can someone tell me what happened to Sydney Leroux, and why she isn't on this team?

The men...fuck...the men are in piss poor shape. I wasn't happy with Bob Bradley's re-up after South Africa, but I was willing to give him a chance. His teams don't come to tournaments ready to play. This learning as you go shit has to end, and that's Bob's fault. I'm tired of the US figuring out how to attack after they've put themselves in a hole. It's gotten stale, and it's time for a change. Short of a miracle win against an on fire, in form Mexico (+13 goal differential in 3 games!!! Are you fucking kidding me?) in the final. I think Bob's gone after this tournament. They need new blood. The forwards aren't getting shit for service. The midfield is too unsettled, and the defense is just too green. Do it now before World Cup qualifying. Please.

Wow.

Yup. Spain took 'em out behind the woodshed and they ran away with their pants down.

I know it was a makeshift crew to start the game, but daaaamn. Have some organization boys.

That said...

I've had my doubts about Michael Bradley lately. He redeemed himself well this game, he brought some much needed stability and calmness to the midfield when he came in second half. Deuce did his part too, but I still think he should be a target forward. Props to Cherundolo for holding up his side of the defense.

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Speaking of Whoop-Ass. Costa Rica's put five past Cuba thus far. I'm liking the Cuban's generic adidas jerseys.

Mr. Tim Howard - boxer

Saw this Gatorade commercial for the first time this morning. I found it strange that there were no markers showing Tim Howard is a soccer player.
It made me wonder if U.S. Soccer had an agreement with Powerade or something.
Nike didn't seem to have a problem since Serena Williams swoosh is visible in the ad (and I recall Tim and Landon appearing in Nike's World Cup ad).

Have him in a U.S. Soccer hoodie or something. It was weird.

The definition of bittersweet

Being a US fan and a Manchester United fan, then watching Chicharito head in the winning goal for the Red Devils against Tim Howard.

Yeah, that one was a little hard to swallow.

Quick shots

Well done, Quakes. You went much further than I thought you would. A few more offensive tweaks, don't overdo it, could bring greater results for San Jose.
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It was so nice to see the US ping the ball around instead of route 1 over the midfield. Breathtaking goal too. The youngsters have got some game. I've got some hope. Bradley, make the vets compete against the young'uns. They need that inspiration...including your boy.
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C'MON YOU ZIPS!!! BRING HOME THE CUP!!!
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Congrats to Mexico beating the USWNT. It's a good wake-up call for that team. Italy's gonna get stomped, though.
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Sporting KC? C'mon, man! At least Athletico KC or (the) Kansas City Athletic(s) would've had a nod to past history. Wiz and Wizards wasn't great, but it doesn't drip of pretentiousness like "Sporting" for an American team. Kinda like Real Salt Lake.
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R.I.P. FC Gold Pride. Possibly the best women's soccer team on the planet. I long for the day when people get over their bias about women's soccer and women's sports in general. Look for something to love in those games instead of something to criticize. Thanks for for bringing another soccer title to the Bay Area.

They're just friendlies!

So I keep telling myself...

Gooch. Jozy. Please find teams that'll play you. You're both rusty.
Germany Jones (snort, I like the nickname), well done. Need to be a bit sharper, but right now he's the offensive cog in midfield that the Yanks have needed since Reyna retired.
Eric Lichaj, welcome aboard, please stay awhile.
Bob, can we please shitcan the 4-3-3? The defense just sucked.