Gold Cup 2015

[BKH70041]

Starts Tuesday, 6/7. Who's gonna watch?

Looking at the US team, the offense and midfield is as good as any in CONCACAF, but the defense is still lacking, especially in goal. Brad Guzan is a horrible keeper (Can't Aston Villa do better than that?) and his backup, Nick Rimando is even worse. At least with Tim Howard in goal there was someone who could cover for all the defensive mistakes. Not anymore.

But it is CONCACAF, and most the countries aren't that strong. And 8 of the 12 teams go through to the final round play. So the U.S. will go through.

The top teams IMO are US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Jamaica could have a run.

I'll have to go with Costa Rica to win it all in a final over the US. In CONCACAF, Costa Rica has the full package.

[shenmue]

1. I will watch

[VWolf]

2. I'll watch and/or DVR every minute

I bleed red, white and blue, but I've always enjoyed Costa Rica's style of play. Would make for a cracker of a final. Wouldn't mind seeing Mexico go out in the group stage, but that's not gonna happen.

And I agree - Guzan scares the hell out of me.
When your keeper is poor, your defenders play nervous.
When your defenders play nervous, bad things happen.

[BKH70041]

3. USA - 2, Honduras - 1

Not really a solid performance, but it got the job done. Dempsey worked his magic.

The defense was porous and, at times, was an open door, and Guzan just watched the ball come into his space when he should have taken control and owned the keepers area, but somehow he got lucky enough the opponents only scored once.

The next 2 games should be W's, and if the USA wins their group even their next game after group stage will be against a 3rd place opponent from another group, so the team has time to regroup and get it together. We'll see.

[BKH70041]

4. Altidore needs to go.

I've watched this guy long enough. He's either hot or cold, and the overwhelming majority of the time he's cold. Very cold. He's hardly ever hot. Hardly ever. He has no clue when to pull the trigger, always wanting to go one more touch or turn hoping for a slightly better angle.

Don't know what Klinsmann is thinking keeping him around. Kick Altidore off the team!!!!

USA - 1
Haiti - 0

Dempsey comes through again.

[BlueCollar]

5. haven't. watched so far

Never could get excited about this tournament.

[BKH70041]

6. Draw with Panama

Defense looked like crap..

[BKH70041]

7. USA out!!

Look, if you can't even beat Jamaica, then you need to re-evaluate your whole team from top to bottom. That's just pitiful.

And what does that say about the weakness of CONCACAF that Jamaica is in the final?

CONCACAF as a whole has just taken about 100 steps backwards.

[cyberswede]

8. Are you watching Panama/Mexico?

Nutty!

[BKH70041]

9. The refs have handed Mexico their last two games via PK's.

This is a black-eye for CONCACAF.

[cyberswede]

10. Yeah - I didn't agree with that handball call on Torres

I thought Panama played great (outplayed Mexico, in fact) and should have won.

Lots of great saves by both keepers, though (my kid is a keeper, so I'm partial).

[BKH70041]

11. And a loss to Panama in PK's.

Klinsmann has a lot to answer for in this competition. Problem is the US Soccer Federation view him as the best they're going to get, so he'll skate. Maybe he has enough within himself to not be satisfied and will step up.

I'll watch the final, but not looking to comment unless it's worth doing so.