Big 3: Questions Heading Into USA vs. Jamaica
The scene two years ago at RFK
On a day in September that continues to weigh heavily on minds in this country. the United States will face Jamaica in mid-Ohio this evening. Rather than hash over the previous disappointment, here are what I feel are the looming questions entering tonight’s match where three points are nearly a must:
1) Can the United States solve the issue with service to the forward line without Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley in the mix?
2) Will Clint Dempsey have enough left in the tank to be of any use to the Americans this evening?
3) Can the US improve their discipline in the danger area (25 yards in front of Tim Howard’s goal) against Jamaica, or will they continue to be drawn into numerous cheap fouls within range of goal?
If you want to comment on any of these questions, or pose your own, use the comment section below. It’s going to be a nervous-yet-fun night in Columbus.
Please listen in to Daniel Feuerstein’s show this evening, as we will have full coverage pre- and post-match for this pivotal match in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Group A. The prematch begins at 7:30 PM, and the aftershow will start at 10 PM. Follow those links to get in on the action, as there should be a chat room and phone-in number to get in on the discussion.
And for those who listen to the MLSTalk Podcast, we will be delaying production until Wednesday night in order to incorporate this evening’s result into our analysis. Expect a new episode of the MLSTalk pod for your drive into work!
4 Responses to Big 3: Questions Heading Into USA vs. Jamaica
It will be nervous-yet-fun night. After looking at the standings
though, it is not a must win, or even a must-not-loose game. US and
Guatemala are both on 4 points. If the US looses and Guat wins away
Antiqua, and both win their following games (Guat at home to
Jamiaca, US away to Antiqua), we are still within 3 points of
Guatamala at home in the final game. Tie breaker is goal average,
currently both are the same.______________ Certainly, if they don’t
win this game, the last two games are must win; but should be
winnable.
The biggest question isn’t whether we are in trouble now. Probably
no, but it could make it more nerve wracking. It is, if there is an
injury to a key guy, are we ok. Last Friday the answer looked like
no, we are terrible. We will see if we can move that to maybe not
after tonight.
Was wondering why the USMNT keeps playing qualifying games in
Columbus? Is it because they think not too many foreigners will
travel to the area and that they can pretty much guarantee a pro US
crowd or is it because the stadium can only hold 20k and it has a
better chance of selling out and look better on TV? There is ONE
stadium in the northeast that has a grass pitch Rentschler Field
and it stays grass so soccer can be played on it and there has been
five soccer games played there one was USWNT vs China for a
Olympics warm up in 2003, Celtic vs Liverpool in 2004, USMNT vs
Trinidad and Tobago in 2005, USWNT vs Norway in a 2007 WWC warm up,
and USMNT vs Czech Republic in 2010 WC warm up. Today would have
been a perfect night for a WC qualifying game at The Rent, chilly
tempertures for this time of year, Uconn is on the road this coming
weekend so the field could have been converted fully to soccer, and
it holds 40k and the last time the USMNT came the place sold out.
The last two games that were to played there were Jamacia vs
Liberia then Jamacia vs Kenya, but both were canceled because
enough tickets weren’t sold, hmm I wonder why. If you want a
Jamacia friendly without the US played in the US play the game in
NYC or NJ.
I like how USA looked prior to getting the goal but after that we
looked poor again. That’s when the USA should have picked Jamaica
apart.