The Daily Dirt, November 12: Changes

This stat is what jumped out to me as I started researching the Hex:

Only one team has come back from losing their first two games: Trinidad and Tobago’s historic qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany is the only time in Hex history that a team has bounced back from two losses to start the campaign to qualify. The Soca Warriors were able to win four of their last eight to get to a playoff against Bahrain.

With a very tough road trip to Costa Rica looming, this added to the importance of the Mexico game. Now, it is entirely possible that the U.S. starts the Hex with zero points from their first two matches. To say that their backs are against the wall is an understatement.

This marks the fifth edition of the Hex format for CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. With seventeen points being the mark that has always guaranteed safe qualification, the U.S. is looking at a shrinking margin for error. They will still have a trip to Mexico (where they have never earned more than a point). Panama looks like they could be a more challenging competitor this time around after narrowly missing out on the continental playoff in 2014.

What are your big questions after last night? What do you think needs to change?

U.S. vs. Mexico

Michael Bradley and Jurgen Klinsmann don’t seem to be on the same page (SB Nation)

Dissecting the loss on the morning after (NBC Sports)

Disastrous start dooms the U.S. (ESPN)

Tactics put U.S. behind from the start (ESPN)

Jurgen Klinsmann’s tinkering cost the USMNT against Mexico (MLS)

Tinkered too much (FourFourTwo)

Klinsmann not concerned by defeat (FourFourTwo)

Rafa Marquez hopes that last night’s win boosts pride after election (USA Today)

Domestic

Montreal has sold over 50,000 tickets for first leg of Eastern Conference final at Olympic Stadium (Impact)

Chicago Fire chasing Bastian Schweinsteiger (ESPN)

Updates on San Jose’s search for a GM (Mercury News)

Sacramento stadium deal gets approval, path to MLS becoming clearer (Sacramento Bee)

International

What did we learn from England’s win over Scotland? (SB Nation)

Griezmann being monitored for foot injury (FourFourTwo)

Local

Georgia soccer hopes to improve in 2017 (Red & Black)

Dalton State fell 1-0 in the SSAC championship game to William Carey College.