Mexico National Football Team and Their Problems

I have watched almost all the World Cup Qualifying games and pretty much every important tournament the national team of Mexico has participated in the last five years. Heck, I've even seen most of their friendly matches just for the hell of it. I grew up watching this team since World Cup 94. I remember the old days and I became excited for what was now supposed to be the golden age of the Mexican selection. You can say that my passion for "the beautiful game" first sprouted from the Mexican national team and the World Cup fever that the team participated in. So for that reason I have developed my own ideas of why they have performed so poorly this whole year. For the first time in my life Mexico might not make it to the World Cup. This has me worried therefore I have developed concerns and an ideal blueprint to success. This is of course my opinion so don't take it so seriously and please most of all don't try to sarcastically belittle me with "I'm sure you know more than real coaches" because that argument could shut down anyone's opinion to just about anything. So those open minded individuals who are willing to hear a different approach to a failing team then go ahead and read on.

First I will address five biggest problems.

Problem 1.

Long Ball Strategy 

Because it doesn't work with short player teams, especially with the Mexican selection. In the last couple of games Mexico struggled tremendously because of their offensive strategy. The offense sits so far into the box that the defense and midfielders cannot get a descent play going. Instead they get trapped and are forced to deliver these countless long balls straight into the opposing side's defense. The opposition is all too content to sit back and wait for these long balls. It allows them to stand and wait rather than force them to come out and run back, hence a good strategy to tire them out. Instead the opposing defense gets to sit back and wait for long balls all day. I've seen it numerous times where Mexico wants to get a quick counter-attack but the forwards are so far down that the defensive midfielders have to literally launch a ball far straight into the hands of the opposing team. This faulty strategy has not been fixed, even recently with the change of coach de La Torre to Tena. The same strategy was used vs the US in Ohio, therefore the same results. We need the offense to drop back and help the midfield get some ball movement. This will draw out the famous "parking the bus" blueprint that so many teams are now using to beat Mexico. 

Problem 2.
Carlos Salcido

Now listen I know this guys "was" once really good. I remember him from the World Cup 2006 in Germany. That was seven years ago and he's still on the team. I remember him playing with the likes of Omar Bravo and Nery Castillo and those guys are now a distant memory. The point is that he's ways past his prime and it shows. Not only does it show but the whole team suffers for it. In the recent Confederations Cup  I had Salcido as the flop of the match two games in a row. Why you ask? He's a turnover machine, a momentum killer and he lost practically most of his ability to deliver a descent long ball. Torrado struggles too and has become ineffective. However I have actually seen Torrado sit out some important matches. Salcido on the other hand has unlimited immunity and for some reason plays in all the important matches even after performing miserably time and time again.

Problems 3.
The Defensive Line Keeps Changing
 We need a settled defensive line. Sure we have Moreno and now Reyes as permanent starters. But why keep changing the left back and the right back all the time? We suffered because of this many times including the World Cup 2010 where Osorio all the sudden took the centre back position. This erratic change of position lead to one of the turnover goals against Argentina. In my opinion Jorge Torres Nilo should be the lead left back and Miguel Layun should be the lead right back. We only saw one game with them playing together and that was a victory over the Ivory Coast. They were explosive on the crosses and are consistent on defense.













Problem 4. 
The Midfield is Relatively Mediocre
 I find it mind boggling why Marco Fabian (who is one of the best offensive players) has not cracked the first team lineup. Even more so, I don't understand why he's not being used as a creative midfielder; a position not filled in a long time. Pavel Pardo was our last real playmaker and his moment was sort of short lived. Fabian has the ability to exceed Pardo's style of playmaking and really crack the midfield problem. Instead we have guys shifting back and forth from the midfield to the bench. Guys like Arce, Herrera, Salcido, Zavala and Reyna are taking turns being confused on their actual role in the team. Having that many confused players makes for a terrible midfield and the whole team suffers. In my opinion Hector Herrera and Hiram Mier should be the two defensive midfielders because they're young and relentless. I know having Mier go into the midfield is experimental but just think of it this way, with Layun and Nilo going up to help with crosses we need a guy to drop back and cover that right and center back position. Mier is very well-rounded in those positions. Plus we need somebody of good size to help cover those corner balls.

Problem 5. 
Why is an all-star team never assembled?
 Now I know that Vela doesn't want to play for reasons being that he's a chicken and wuss. But there are other players who have done really well for the team who have gotten unjustly overlooked. Exhibit 1, Aldo De Nigris. A lot of people remember the Gold Cup 2011 for it's final 4-2 victory over the US, but nobody bothers recounting their dominant road to the final game. De Nigris made four goals in the tournament including one game winning goal against Honduras that got Mexico into the final. Last game Mexico won in the hexagonal was vs Jamaica and because of a De Nigris goal. He is also the most consistent aerial striker as of recent because he is the tallest one Mexico has. Well besides Jimenez (6 '4") who has only scored once so far. But none the less why is De Nigris not playing? Another question is why is Ochoa constantly overlooked. I remember the 2009 Gold Cup where Mexico was dominant and they destroyed the USA 5-0. It was Ochoa's stunning blocks in the semi final versus Costa Rica that got Mexico to the final. What did Ochoa do wrong to be replaced by the mediocre Corona all year? Why is Fabian not a starter? The questions are still not answered.

Remember what this felt like? It's called winning three points.

So this is what my starting lineup would look like. There are two different versions.

Standard Formation 
                       
                           Ochoa
Layun    Reyes or (Masa)   Moreno   Nilo

                 Mier              Herrera
                           Fabian
    Dos Santos                         Guardado
                           Chicharito

Double Striker Formation 

                           Ochoa
Layun     Reyes or (Masa)  Moreno   Nilo

                   Mier               Herrera
Dos Santos                              Guardado
         
             Chicharito    Vela or (De Nigris or whoever can make goals)



There are other variations of a solid lineup but the possibilities are endless considering who can actually play or not. I would like to see these two formations tested with these players first and foremost. Let me know what you think.