PBP: 2019 CONCACAF U17 Championship Final: USA vs Mexico 5/16 7 PM (ET)

Leyva and Busio are on the field for as long as they can move, the drop is to steep.

 

Canada beat Costa Rica. So there's that.

 

I think the goal was to use subs for Leyva, Busio, and Reyna but when Kayo went down and Tolkien was getting toasted on 2 successive plays by their new sub the speedy winger when we were only up 1-0, that wasted 2 subs and the third was going to be for Pepi, Reyna, or Leyva.

 

Trust the process.

 

I'm very impressed with Wicky's half time adjustments. Very refreshing to see it for one of our NTs.

 

Wicky deserves alot of credit. He barely knew the team and its players.
He had a overall approach that has worked. Then showed a nice way to play and held them to that standard of play. He plays players in positions they feel comfortable. Instead of moving players around he just rotates the lineup to play players where they are familiar. They move the ball, US youth version of ticki taka. Led the tournament in passes and passes completed by a large margin. Not alot of wasteful dribbling. Moving the ball shifting the defense to then hit the penetrating ball before defense shifts back. Players very close to each other to allow easy linked play not like a few cycles ago where our defense would drop so deep on offense and defense we weren't spaced properly to pass the ball effectively. Good coach proving he deserves promotion within US soccer or as a MLS Youth Academy Director.

 

So they expect to lose.

 

I like both players. AOC is pretty versatile and with his physical profile could very well be pushed out there professionally. He has the feet and creativity to do it.

Pepi is a 9 and a 9 only. He’s also one of the side’s best players. I know you rate him.

Reyna-Pepi-AOC makes sense. Most national teams ask their players- even their best- to play out of position because they cannot buy their players.

 

I’m still the campaign manager of “Pepi for President,” but it makes sense to start AOC in this game. AOC has had a better tournament, even though Pepi came alive last game and looked like the player we were expecting (a lot of that had to do with Busio finally looking like a 10). But AOC is rested and Yow is rested. Busio, Reyna, and probably Leyva are all going to be playing on tired legs and you need to limit how many of those you have.

 

Way too early post of the year coming from me, but if Tab does finally move on after Poland to an MLS-gig, Wicky as our new U-20 coach and YNT GM/TD seems like a great fit.

 

Indeed Pepi and Munoz were FCD El Paso teammates.

The 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship will feature 2 of Our FC Dallas El Paso Alumni players. Rîçârdô Pêpî representing USA and Santiago Munoz representing Mexico . Teammates on our 2002 team. Game will be Thursday at 5 pm. Super proud of them. May the best Team win! pic.twitter.com/dyPq3xKSc1

— Mike Lopez (@915soccer) May 15, 2019

 

No real surprises in the U.S. U17 MNT XI in the championship game against Mexico. Wicky goes back to the same group from the quarterfinal game. Efra Alvarez is starting for Mexico. Kick off at 4 pm (PT) pic.twitter.com/5XdGTScvrI

— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) May 16, 2019

 

No surprises, except for Gay

 

Excluding Pepi in favor of Yow is a big misstep for me. Not only is Pepi a standout for this side now that he's gotten going, but his pressing could have been a real problem for Mexico.

Also somewhat concerned how Scally is going to handle the quickness of Alvarez or whatever shorter, quicker Mexican is on his Joe's side. I think either Scally should have been moved inside or in spite of a big name he's someone Wicky could have actually justified keeping on the bench.

I like the cm mix. Just hope they're not gassed.

 

Why is Yow an auto starter? Doesn't seem to do anything the few times I've seen him in this tournament. I didn't see the game he had a goal or two but that was a drubbing I think?

 

Pepi as a super-sub

 

4-0 win is my guess. 2 late goals

 

2-1 loss just because.

 

Galavision gets more viewers than Univision Sports Network, so it looks like they expect another Mexico victory.

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1395642393908998

Game is also on Galavision

 

All I can figure is they like his pressing and work rate. He does those things very well

 

Wow was watching univison almost missed the start

 

Don’t all Mexicans also expect a victory?

 

Yes.

 

LEETTSS ********ING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO