Pre-match: 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: USA vs Trinidad and Tobago

I'd be interested to see that.

Not gonna happen, obviously.

 

I do believe the US will have it easy against T&T this time around. Panama mopped the floor with them, so the US should come up with an easy win.

 

That's what was said in Couva.

 

This is no Couva. Now there's a history behind it.

 

Here's another sample of a recent game Trinidad & Tobago played behind closed doors on June 10th against Canada.

The USMNT should easily get the win

🎥 HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

Captain @scottyarf twice provided the finish on two impressive team goals as Canada defeated Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 in a closed-door training match in Fullerton, CA today. #CANMNT #GoldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/zKCOY7vIWr

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 11, 2019

 

People will focus on the attacking third, but I'm not overly worried about that. The biggest thing I will be watching for is if we can control the middle of the field, and, most importantly, if we can force any turnovers.

I'd like to see a real press, even if in spurts, at some point in this tourney.

 

Agreed. I'm interested in seeing if they can press well and handle being pressed well. I thought they were very poor in their own pressing against Venezuela and allowed Venezuela to move the ball too easily out of their defensive third, and I thought the US struggled a little against Guyana when they pressed us higher up the field, though that improved in the 2nd half.

 

I am expecting a 2-0 or 3-0 for the US.

 

And we're playing at home, correct? I'm standing behind the 3-1 prediction.

 

My predictions for tomorrow:

Prediction: 3-0 for the USA.

Somewhat likely prediction: Omar Gonzalez starts and goes full ninety.

Less likely prediction: Goal-scorers will be Pulisic, Altidore, and, let's say, Roldan.

Crazy prediction: Trinidad & Tobago nearly nab a goal with long-distance shots, twice - but they're parried or just over the bar.

Totally insane prediction: We screw up the national anthems, either T&T's or ours.

 

I'm watching Bailey (Jamaica) v. ElSalvador at the moment and Bailey is getting kicked and abused when he gets near the goal. We need to grow up a little and realize that Pulisic will be getting attention from every young whippersnapper gun in the west looking for that Euro 70m bounty.

Pulisic is doing fine. Wait til the competition heats up and we need a game breaker against Germany. It wont be Boyd, trust me.

 

Trinidad doesn't really have anybody who can do damage at the moment when it comes to scoring goals. Not from what I've seen anyway. Jamaica will be tough.

 

US Soccer has this complex about the loss at Couva. I sense that we'll see Omar, Arriola, Pulisic, Bradley, Altidore. Trinidad will put on a lame performance and we'll have to endure long cliché orations post game from players, coaches and media.

 

And in the commentary box, special guest announcer Bruce Arena!!

 

Assuming they win, I doubt players will say much other than getting to the finals is their goal.

 

Berhalter talks to FS1. Berhalter says that the high press needs to be better against T&T and sidesteps a question about the 2018 WCQ failure.

Edu picks his starting XI, with the only change being Altidore for Zardes. Fiore and Cobi Jones agree, with Jones emphasizing that the US needs to get Pulisic more involved in the action.

 

FS1 are doing the highlights ... of the Couva game versus Trinidad & Tobago.

They're really hard-selling that redemption storyline.

(edit)
It gets temporarily derailed by Fernando Fiore interrupting with a rambling tangent about watching a game with Argentina. There is an awkward and very forced shift back on topic.

 

They're already setting up Egg as the Great Avenger of the Couva Humiliation.

 

-If we're going to high press it would be foolish of Berhalter to start Altidore. Altidore has never had the stamina for a high press, and certainly doesn't now coming off injury. The only thing it would accomplish is to tire out our other attackers.

-The thought of Bradley starting again for this team makes me nauseous. I thought his performance against Guyana was significantly worse than either of Trapp's performances against Jamaica and Venezuela(and Trapp was bad in both). The only difference was that Guyana is a USL-level team and he wasn't punished for his mistakes.

-US soccer is breaking me. I'm going to record this game and maybe I'll watch it later, maybe I won't. The product we're putting on the field is crap and has been for a while. It feels like nothing has been changed since last time we played Trinidad. Our starting 11 will be arguably be WORSE.

 

Pulisic is young and maybe we should accept that he isn't a super finisher at this point.

He took an extra touch on the Gyasi missed shot that he could have first timed into the net. He had the header into the dirt, completely unmarked in the 6 yard box. If we are being fair, we would kill another player for that level of finishing.

 

Toronto game and US are on at the same time tomorrow. Not sure which one will compel me to watch more. Bradley's replacement at Toronto had a good game last outing. He's Liam Fraser, homegrown, born in Toronto, and better at this stage imo than Johnson who played v. Mexico for Canucks - (based on last outing only). Obviously needs seasoning but who doesn't. He's only 21.

I'll probably watch Toronto live and record the USA/Trinidad game. Toronto will be playing @ FC Dallas so get to see Pomykal (I hope) with Cerillo, Servania, Nelsen, Hedges,H/head, Hayes(?).

 

His header was actually quality.

 

Yes, Liam Fraser has looked good for TFC. I would certainly take him over Johnson but he is in a good situation to get playing time now at TFC during GC.

 

But just think of the huge downgrade that will happen to the back third of the formation when Bradley and Omar return from the Gold Cup.

Maybe you will have an extended luck period and the US will get all the way to the finals keeping Toronto strong for a longer time. Of course there are not enough games between now and the end of the Gold Cup to really save Toronto's season.

 

T&T is ranked 92 by FIFA. I expect an easy W3-0.

For me the tournament starts with the v Panama (FIFA 75) match and the first real test will be in the QFs or SF when we face Jamaica.