OT-We Are Going To Brazil

[warriorfan4life]

The U.S. is going to their seventh straight World Cup after another 2-0 win over Mexico in Columbus (the ritual dos a cero result). After a rocky start (which was honestly to be expected), the Klinsmann era has been very entertaining and successful.

[The Reptile]

The USMNT has really done well since the coaching change. Plus, we are deeper than we were in a successful 2010 World Cup. With 10 months to prepare we should be in very good shape going down to Brazil.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

A year ago, Klinsmann needed a result over Jamaica at Columbus just to get into the Hexagonal. I know I wasn't the only one that was worried we not only wouldn't qualify, but wouldn't even get to the final stage of qualification. Since then, Klinsy has really turned it around. The Costa Rica loss was predictable (we've never won there) but this has been an incredibly successful qualifying campaign. We have a good chance of equaling our 20-point haul from the last Hex and could still overtake that total (though @ Panama will be tough). We still don't have a LB and we're starting the wrong keeper, but as a team we never looked this consistently good and dangerous under Bradley. I'm usually against 2-term coaches, but I could easily see keeping Klinsy around for 2018 as well, provided we get some decent results in Brazil.

[MUBasketball]

Who in the blue hell cares about soccer?!

*Ducks behind sturdy furniture to not get trampled from the riot*

[DCwarrior]

BrewCity - Starting the wrong keeper? Howard is one the five best goalies in the world. He had three great saves last night.

Agree on the left back issue - Beasley is horrible.

I don't think Klinsman will be back regardless of how the US does in Brazil - I don't think he wants to coach after the Cup.

Bradley may not have been the best coach in the world (although he's doing great for Egypt), but I'm happy he had a son. Michael Bradley is the best soccer player we have in this country.

[ge1974]

When I first saw this headline, I thought you meant MU bakstball team was going on a foreign trip to Brazil prior to next season.

This brings back memories of the MU trip there prior to the 1976 season. When MU arrived in Brazil to play a 6 game exhibition tour, the Brazillians painted MU as "USA" and imposed the USA name over the uniforms of the pictures of the players in advertisements. Brazil was fired up, the crowds were rowdy and MU was lucky to leave the country with their "lives". I remember MU hatchet man, Bill Neary getting attacked. Anyone else recall this trip?

[CaribouJim]

I don't recall that trip at all. Do you mean prior to the '75-'76 season.

[MUMac]

When I first saw this headline, I thought you meant MU bakstball team was going on a foreign trip to Brazil prior to next season.

This brings back memories of the MU trip there prior to the 1976 season. When MU arrived in Brazil to play a 6 game exhibition tour, the Brazillians painted MU as "USA" and imposed the USA name over the uniforms of the pictures of the players in advertisements. Brazil was fired up, the crowds were rowdy and MU was lucky to leave the country with their "lives". I remember MU hatchet man, Bill Neary getting attacked. Anyone else recall this trip?

Yes. I recall near riots during and after games. There was an incident when Al took the team off the floor, and I believe out of the gym, as he was concerned for their safery.

[Gato78]

Neary got into a fight. Something about a water cooler getting smashed. Neary escorted off the court by members of the Brazilian Army with machine guns and Al insisting he goes with him. Just another day in the life of Al.

[MUMac]

Neary got into a fight. Something about a water cooler getting smashed. Neary escorted off the court by members of the Brazilian Army with machine guns and All insisting he goes with him. Just another day in the life of Al.

Didn't Al take the whole team off as well?

[TheSultan]

BrewCity - Starting the wrong keeper? Howard is one the five best goalies in the world. He had three great saves last night.


But played terribly in Costa Rica.

Guzan is just as good.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

BrewCity - Starting the wrong keeper? Howard is one the five best goalies in the world. He had three great saves last night.

No, he's not. He flirted with being world class a few years ago, but has fallen off. He was directly responsible for the second and third goals against Costa Rica. On the second, he should have come off his line to claim the cross, instead he let it drift over the defense to three virtually unmarked players. That should have been an easy and harmless claim. On the third goal, same thing. Rodriguez got behind the defense, but Howard never came out. Made it too easy and left Rodriguez too large a target. Quite simply, Howard isn't what he was. He made some nice saves last night, but only 1 was really anything special.

Guzan is killing it at Villa. He is arguably the main reason they weren't relegated last year and has played just as well when given the chance with the USMNT. I love Howard. I love how much he has overcome both personally and professionally. I love his tenacity. But he's not the guy he used to be. He isn't aging like Cech or Buffon. My only fear is that Klinsmann won't make the change before next summer.

[MayorBeluga]

My only fear is that Klinsmann won't make the change before next summer.

Good news is that Klinsmann has been willing to make changes, even with the name players. Whether Howard loses out? Only time will tell but at least Klinsmann will consider it (especially after Brad likely plays the final 2 qualifiers).

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Klinsmann has been very willing to make changes, which is why his refusal to even consider making the keeper spot a competition even more surprising. He has asserted time and time again how highly he rates Howard, but I just don't understand how he can't see that Howard has become his own worst enemy at times recently, especially when he has to come off his line and doesn't. Maybe he's afraid that if he makes Guzan the starter, Howard won't take the call-up to be the backup (decent chance that's true). But right now I'd rather have Guzan starting with Hamid and Sean Johnson as the backups than Howard and Guzan. I just think it gives us a better shot at making a deep run in Brazil.