1. We deserved to lose. Mexico is easily the better team. In truth, on paper they have always been a better team. We have just found ways to win over the last 10 years. The difference of last night is that they didn't get flustered the way previous Mexican teams have done. They have more talent and we have less depth to cope with the difference in the quality of players. This is their Golden Generation. This is hopefully not ours.
2. I am not as upset that we lost as much as how we lost. To go 2 goals up and then give 4 unanswered goals is pretty bad. Too many similarities to the Confederations Cup final. Knowing that we were not the better team doesn't mean that we should still go up 2 goals so early and still find a way to lose.
3. Bornstein was horrendous and always has been. This picture pretty much sums it up. I will concede that he did okay in the WC, but he just doesn't have the talent for this level. Heck, he didn't even play that much with Tigres this year. Thus, we have the pitfall of the 8 year coach. Faith in players that don't have any more (if they ever had anything) to offer.
4. Bob Bradley should have done better. I am not one calling for his head, as I don't see any good alternatives. However, it was a poor performance. A great gutsy decision to start Freddy but Bornstein was a disaster and I think everyone knew it was going to be one except for Bob. In all honesty, I think we still lose without Bornstein in but our chances greatly improve with a different change. Edu or Ream at centerback and move BlackMouth out left. No? Bring in Spector for 'Dolo. Would he have contained dos Santos? Of course not, but he would ave given us a fighting chance seeing as we were 2 goals up. Aside from Bornstein, Bob did nothing to change tactics when we went down a goal and even worse when we went down 2. A coach has to be ready to make those changes given different scenarios. Why didn't he go to a back 3 immediately following the 4th goal? What else do you have to lose? Bob simply had a horrific night. Should it cost him the job? Maybe, but again I ask, what is the alternative? Will Sunil concede to Jurgens demands this time around? I have read this several places, and I agree that a coach doesn't change your talent pool (see #6).
5. Howard needed to come up big but didn't. 2002 was the result of Friedel being unbelievable. The reality is we are still a midlevel team who punches above it's weight class at times. All of those times were the result of fantastic goalkeeping and gutsy defending. Both were lacking last night. Our goalkeepers are our best asset and they must make at least 2-3 miraculous saves to give us a chance.
6. The talent pool is way too shallow. A complete squad has a much better chance of hanging with Mexico. Holden, Feilhaber and Chandler being gone was brutal. The fact that we can't cope with that is a testament to how badly we struggle in the depth charts. We just aren't producing enough quality players. Looks like Claudio Reyna has his work cut out for him.
7. Maybe it was good that we lost in the fashion that we did. I think our results against Mexico in the past, beating teams like Spain, winning our WC group are often deceiving. It makes us look like we have made it or are on the verge of making it when in fact we are still so far away. Now, we have made ridiculous strides in the past 2 decades, but we still have so much further to go. US Soccer needs to see that Bradenton is not the solution, but rather, it is the MLS youth system that needs the resources in order to produce a generation of players worthy of being called our Golden Generation.
8. For all of our issues with our left back, Goodson is not the answer at centerback. He has grown a lot in the time I have seen him play with the Nats. However, I just don't feel comfortable with our squad if he is running our defense at a World Cup. Who is the answer for that? Gonzalez? Not sure but it is a worrying question for me.
9. Lastly, I think it was a lost opportunity to "convert" some Mexican-American fans. The second team phenomenon that Sunil refers to (that they will cheer for us as long as we are not playing them -- their favorite second team) is very true. I have a lot of Latino friends who are like that. I think the more that the US beats Mexico, the more of the younger Mexican-American fans you will get to side with the US. Nobody likes to cheer for a loser. Beating their beloved team led by Chicharito would have helped to do that. I am tired of playing in a sea of green in our country.
I could keep going and complaining a bit, but hopefully this was a little bit more of a realistic opinion rather than a Miller Lite induced blame game. What can I say? I hate losing. I am American after all, and even though I don't consider myself a truly patriotic person, I bleed red when it comes to this team. I know that this is part of the journey and I am glad I can see this country grow as a soccer nation. I want to be able to watch the US compete with the best when I am old. I just don't want to wait until I am in a retirement home to see it. The loss was important for us and hopefully is a good lesson of what needs to change.
