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History for Big Pete 65

The Road To Brazil 2014 via Wellington feat. Mexico

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Posted November 11, 2013 01:47 · last edited November 11, 2013 01:50

Mainland FC wrote:
Nathan wrote:
Big Pete 65 wrote:
Mainland FC wrote:

A number of people talk up the lack of foreign-based players in the Mexico team selected. I only have two points to offer to this:

1) Mexican foreign based players are crap this time around and nearly cost them the WC entry so far; their local league team is well-drilled, cohesive and coached by the current national team coach;

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.


 Just some food for thought.

Couldn't find the original post from Big Pete, so I am quoting via Nathan instead:

With all respect, Big Pete, you are comparing apples with apples. I am suggesting comparing apples with oranges.

The point is not whether Club America is crap by their local standards, but if they are crap by international standards in comparison to the All Whites. They are definitely no world beaters, but I expect them to do better at the Azteca Stadium than the team Ricki is putting on the park there (and that's not counting travel time, jetlag, and altitude). Our team is a combination of The Nix with a few Europe based players and a sprinkling of New Zealand based lower grade players.

I would argue instead that if you sent Brisbane Roar or the Central Coast Mariners they would be more likely to pull off a result, but the Nix are still a work in progress and sit low on the table, although there are others in the mix to make it more competitive but that's not enough. I am happy to see McGlinchey fit and able to play. Hopefully Rojas, Barbarouses and Smeltz may do something (?). But the defence is just not that limber and may have a horrid time as time wears on.

My original post # 4355. I'm making the point that Club America have in fact been shown recently to be "crap by international standards" by losing at home and away to the side currently third in the Costa Rican league. With all respect to Costa Rica, not a significant league. Would it really be better than the A-League? Also Herrera's Mexican team apparently wasn't greatly impressive vs. the Finland "B" team.


I realise any All Whites team would normally be expected to struggle against Mexico as we have two out of three times in the past. Reid not being present certainly makes our defence more ordinary. Add Tommy Smith and Storm Roux into the mix though and they improve it significantly. Vicelich's ability to raise his game at defensive midfield is always a bonus too. Henderson could add a lot in midfield. And McGlinchey, as you say...Moss looks sharp currently. Question is, how many Nix players will start at the Azteca? There are only four outfield Phoenix players in the squad (Durante, Sigmund, Bertos, Brockie) so you can't really say the team is based on the Nix. Seven of the squad play for UEFA clubs. Add in four of the best A-League players, Smeltz, Barbarouses, McGlinchey, Roux. To my  mind, a stronger squad than any A-League team.


Still, I agree with you overall -  Mexico have the pedigree and resources and we're rank outsiders. I'm just saying there is some hope based on Mexican performances this year and the instability of four managers in two months...


MY ORIGINAL POST:

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

All I can say is there are three Major League Soccer teams into the next round of eight and Arabe Unido (no, I'd never heard of them either) - but Club America weren't good enough to make it.

So, if the team currently third on the Costa Rican league table can beat Club America home and away, surely there is some hope that the All Whites can get a result vs. a Mexico team based on them & sharing the same coach !!!

The wonderful Club America go down in flames at the Azteca October 22:

http://www.concacaf.com/video/club-america-vs-alajuelense-highlights

They lost the first tie away in Costa Rica in August too: 

http://www.concacaf.com/video/alajuelense-vs-club-america-highlights

Also check out this report on Mexico v Finland last week highlighting Mexico's defensive frailties v Finland "B" (Finland League eleven):

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/30/soccer-mexico-qualcomm-stadium-finland/

Highlights Mexico v Finland 30 October: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu7MAePGKk

We can get a good idea of how Mexico will play by watching previous Club America games: 

For what it's worth, you can see various highlights and full matches of Club America here:

http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/america

http://www.matchhighlight.com/index.php?s=Club+America

Mexico team World Cup qualifying - highlights & full matches (full matches at bottom): http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/mexico

v Costa Rica (full game): one video for each half of game:

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/costa-rica-v-mexico/

v Panama (full game):

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/mexico-v-panama/


Previous versions

2 versions
Big Pete 65 edited November 11, 2013 01:50
Mainland FC wrote:
Nathan wrote:
Big Pete 65 wrote:
Mainland FC wrote:

A number of people talk up the lack of foreign-based players in the Mexico team selected. I only have two points to offer to this:

1) Mexican foreign based players are crap this time around and nearly cost them the WC entry so far; their local league team is well-drilled, cohesive and coached by the current national team coach;

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.


 Just some food for thought.

Couldn't find the original post from Big Pete, so I am quoting via Nathan instead:

With all respect, Big Pete, you are comparing apples with apples. I am suggesting comparing apples with oranges.

The point is not whether Club America is crap by their local standards, but if they are crap by international standards in comparison to the All Whites. They are definitely no world beaters, but I expect them to do better at the Azteca Stadium than the team Ricki is putting on the park there (and that's not counting travel time, jetlag, and altitude). Our team is a combination of The Nix with a few Europe based players and a sprinkling of New Zealand based lower grade players.

I would argue instead that if you sent Brisbane Roar or the Central Coast Mariners they would be more likely to pull off a result, but the Nix are still a work in progress and sit low on the table, although there are others in the mix to make it more competitive but that's not enough. I am happy to see McGlinchey fit and able to play. Hopefully Rojas, Barbarouses and Smeltz may do something (?). But the defence is just not that limber and may have a horrid time as time wears on.

My original post # 4355. I'm making the point that Club America have in fact been shown recently to be "crap by international standards" by losing at home and away to the side currently third in the Costa Rican league. With all respect to Costa Rica, not a significant league. Would it really be better than the A-League? Also Herrera's Mexican team apparently wasn't greatly impressive vs. the Finland "B" team.
I realise any All Whites team would normally be expected to struggle against Mexico as we have two out of three times in the past. Reid not being present certainly makes our defence more ordinary. Add Tommy Smith and Storm Roux into the mix though and they improve it significantly. Vicelich's ability to raise his game at defensive midfield is always a bonus too. Henderson could add a lot in midfield. And McGlinchey, as you say...Moss looks sharp currently. Question is, how many Nix players will start at the Azteca? There are only four outfield Phoenix players in the squad (Durante, Sigmund, Bertos, Brockie) so you can't really say the team is based on the Nix. Seven of the squad play for UEFA clubs. Add in four of the best A-League players, Smeltz, Barbarouses, McGlinchey, Roux. To my  mind, a stronger squad than any A-League team.
Still, I agree with you overall -  Mexico have the pedigree and resources and we're rank outsiders. I'm just saying there is some hope based on Mexican performances this year and the instability of four managers in two months...
MY ORIGINAL POST:

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

All I can say is there are three Major League Soccer teams into the next round of eight and Arabe Unido (no, I'd never heard of them either) - but Club America weren't good enough to make it.

So, if the team currently third on the Costa Rican league table can beat Club America home and away, surely there is some hope that the All Whites can get a result vs. a Mexico team based on them & sharing the same coach !!!

The wonderful Club America go down in flames at the Azteca October 22:

http://www.concacaf.com/video/club-america-vs-alajuelense-highlights

They lost the first tie away in Costa Rica in August too: 

http://www.concacaf.com/video/alajuelense-vs-club-america-highlights

Also check out this report on Mexico v Finland last week highlighting Mexico's defensive frailties v Finland "B" (Finland League eleven):

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/30/soccer-mexico-qualcomm-stadium-finland/

Highlights Mexico v Finland 30 October: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu7MAePGKk

We can get a good idea of how Mexico will play by watching previous Club America games: 

For what it's worth, you can see various highlights and full matches of Club America here:

http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/america

http://www.matchhighlight.com/index.php?s=Club+America

Mexico team World Cup qualifying - highlights & full matches (full matches at bottom): http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/mexico

v Costa Rica (full game): one video for each half of game:

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/costa-rica-v-mexico/

v Panama (full game):

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/mexico-v-panama/


Big Pete 65 edited November 11, 2013 01:48
Mainland FC wrote:
Nathan wrote:
Big Pete 65 wrote:
Mainland FC wrote:

A number of people talk up the lack of foreign-based players in the Mexico team selected. I only have two points to offer to this:

1) Mexican foreign based players are crap this time around and nearly cost them the WC entry so far; their local league team is well-drilled, cohesive and coached by the current national team coach;

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.


 Just some food for thought.

Couldn't find the original post from Big Pete, so I am quoting via Nathan instead:

With all respect, Big Pete, you are comparing apples with apples. I am suggesting comparing apples with oranges.

The point is not whether Club America is crap by their local standards, but if they are crap by international standards in comparison to the All Whites. They are definitely no world beaters, but I expect them to do better at the Azteca Stadium than the team Ricki is putting on the park there (and that's not counting travel time, jetlag, and altitude). Our team is a combination of The Nix with a few Europe based players and a sprinkling of New Zealand based lower grade players.

I would argue instead that if you sent Brisbane Roar or the Central Coast Mariners they would be more likely to pull off a result, but the Nix are still a work in progress and sit low on the table, although there are others in the mix to make it more competitive but that's not enough. I am happy to see McGlinchey fit and able to play. Hopefully Rojas, Barbarouses and Smeltz may do something (?). But the defence is just not that limber and may have a horrid time as time wears on.

My original post # 4355. I'm making the point that Club America have in fact been shown recently to be "crap by international standards" by losing at home and away to the side currently third in the Costa Rican league. With all respect to Costa Rica, not a significant league. Would it really be better than the A-League? Also Herrera's Mexican team apparently wasn't greatly impressive vs. the Finland "B" team.
I realise any All Whites team would normally be expected to struggle against Mexico as we have two out of three times in the past. Reid not being present certainly makes our defence more ordinary. Add Tommy Smith and Storm Roux into the mix though and they improve it significantly. Vicelich's ability to raise his game at defensive midfield is always a bonus too. Henderson could add a lot in midfield. And McGlinchey, as you say...Moss looks sharp currently. Question is, how many Nix players will start at the Azteca? There are only four outfield Phoenix players in the squad (Durante, Sigmund, Bertos, Brockie) so you can't really say the team is based on the Nix. Seven of the squad play for UEFA clubs. Add in four of the best A-League players, Smeltz, Barbarouses, McGlinchey, Roux. To my  mind, a stronger squad than any A-League team.
Still, I agree with you overall -  Mexico have the pedigree and resources and we're rank outsiders. I'm just saying there is some hope based on Mexican performances this year and the instability of four managers in two months...
MY ORIGINAL POST:

Except their "local league team" Club America which provide ten players to El Tri have also been crap recently - they lost at the Azteca to Costa Rican club Alajuelense (yes, "who?") last month which eliminated them at the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

All I can say is there are three Major League Soccer teams into the next round of eight and Arabe Unido (no, I'd never heard of them either) - but Club America weren't good enough to make it.

So, if the team currently third on the Costa Rican league table can beat Club America home and away, surely there is some hope that the All Whites can get a result vs. a Mexico team based on them & sharing the same coach !!!

The wonderful Club America go down in flames at the Azteca October 22:

http://www.concacaf.com/video/club-america-vs-alajuelense-highlights

They lost the first tie away in Costa Rica in August too: 

http://www.concacaf.com/video/alajuelense-vs-club-america-highlights

Also check out this report on Mexico v Finland last week highlighting Mexico's defensive frailties v Finland "B" (Finland League eleven):

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/30/soccer-mexico-qualcomm-stadium-finland/

Highlights Mexico v Finland 30 October: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu7MAePGKk

We can get a good idea of how Mexico will play by watching previous Club America games: 

For what it's worth, you can see various highlights and full matches of Club America here:

http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/america

http://www.matchhighlight.com/index.php?s=Club+America

Mexico team World Cup qualifying - highlights & full matches (full matches at bottom): http://livefootballvideo.com/teams/mexico

v Costa Rica (full game): one video for each half of game:

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/costa-rica-v-mexico/

v Panama (full game):

http://www.matchhighlight.com/full-match-game/fifa-full-match-game/mexico-v-panama/