LA Galaxy Flavored USMNT in 2019

Discussion in 'LA Galaxy' started by Berks, Jan 24, 2019.

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  1. hav77

    hav77 Member+

    May 31, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    #301 hav77, Jul 7, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2019
    Thought Pulisic would have used the 2nd half as a moment to show he's the future of the US team by taking control a bit more in trying to break the press Mexico was putting on. However, aside for that one run he had in which he should have laid off to Arriola, he largely disappeared.

    Antuna was okay, but played how he plays with the Gs, i.e., when he's not running down a ball that's been passed into space, and is facing a defender that is squared up on him, he doesn't have the ability to break down a defender or create a good chance.
     
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  2. mbar

    mbar Member+

    Apr 30, 1999
    Los Angeles, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We were ridiculously out coached in second half. No way around it.

    Oh well, I feel better about the team then I did before the gold cup.
     
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  3. Ghosting

    Ghosting Member+

    Aug 20, 2004
    Pendleton, OR
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Can you explain what you mean here? Not disagreeing... just curious
     
  4. Skevin

    Skevin Member+

    Aug 9, 2009
    Colorado
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    The out coached part?

    First half we were great. Came out fast and aggressive. Mexico was really struggling. We just didn't finish our chances.

    Second half...Mexico came out the much better team. We could barely get out of our half, and Mexico was getting chance after chance. By the 75th minutes, Pulisic only had 7 touches on the ball. That is insane.

    Berhalter responds by bringing on a DM, and playing him at right wing. Meanwhile Dos Santos is running rings around Bradley, and it's so clear that if Mexico is targeting him. It works.

    Then Berhalter takes off our only outlet (Jozy) for Zardes who only works well in a team that has position. At that time, we had no possession, and Zardes was essentially useless up top.

    Finally when needing a goal, Berhalter makes a like for like sub with Ream for Lovitz. Yea...

    Midfield ran out of juice in the 2nd half, but Berhalter didn't chance that up at all. He put a DM at right wing which just let Mexico keep the pressure on in our half since we didn't have Morris' pace as an outlet.
     
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  5. mbar

    mbar Member+

    Apr 30, 1999
    Los Angeles, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm guessing you mean the "feel better about the team part..."

    I guess I'm just thinking that with a pretty subpar roster we played some decent soccer against Jamaica and in the first half against Mexico. The team seemed to have a plan and I thought the execution of it was strong. It was held back by weak coaching adjustments (not sure if this will get any better with Gregg) and a subpar roster (again Gregg's fault to some degree). I think with Adams in the fold (hopefully in Bradley's spot) and some integration of guys like Weah, Sargent and Paxton and others than our overall team will get stronger.

    So, I don't know, it just felt more cohesive then anything we've seen in a while and I happen to think the player pool will improve and we can build off of the foundation established here. I think the defense was solid all tournament and I think that is the first foundation that has to be built.

    So...I'm a little hopeful.
     
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  6. Bilgediver

    Bilgediver Member+

    LA Galaxy
    Oct 16, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I thought the overall tournament went well. We have no reports yet but I honestly think something happened to Boyd. There is no reason Morris should have started over Boyd, and that reduces the number of players who can be put in the top spot.

    This seems like a roster that wasn't very deep. Zardes for Altidore was the only sub that made sense (Zardes can be good on the counter, I distinctly remember a few goals he and Gio scored together on the same counter)

    I just think the final went as well as it could considering the roster selection. That is all on GB and the coaching staff (and an unlucky knock to Seb Lletget). If you look at the bench, seriously who else could get in the game that scores any goals or provides skill in the midfield, which is clearly what we needed?

    As his first tournament, Gregg did well enough in game management. He was just hampered by the roster selection in the first place.
     
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  7. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, in prior years the Gold Cup loss put me into a funk. Coming out of the dark years, this still felt like a victory because it felt like the games that we had pre 2013...where the team had camaraderie and spirit.

    I like a lot of what I see, but most of all, the team feels like "our" team again, I'm so thankful for that.

    I also really liked the way we started the game. Tata adjusted...Gregg didn't/couldn't.

    For the first time in a long time these games coming up are fun, interesting and loaded with decisions.

    Also, I was happy for JDS (but NOT happy for Mexico, to be very, very clear). He's been stellar for us, and I hope he brings that stellar back home.

    I'm going to miss watching US soccer for awhile! Looking forward to September. I know the CONCACAF Nations Cup isn't much of anything, but hell, it's better than the sludge we had.
     
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  8. Geneva

    Geneva LA for Life

    Feb 5, 2003
    Southern Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for some of the optimism, and I feel better about the team, too. Heck, I watched the games and that’s an improvement. Can’t help but feel Landon would have found a way to score a goal in that game; we had our opportunities. Pulisic has a way to go.
     
  9. FlapJack

    FlapJack Member+

    Mar 3, 2006
    Los Angeles
    I would have liked to see that US free kick at the end of the final (clear foul and then handball ignored). It would have added a little excitement at the end to what was a competitive game. But beside that I thought the game was entertaining- great energy in the first half and some dominate stretches in the first half fir the US. I would have liked a yellow card or two (to both sides) to cleanup the game and I didn’t like US subs - but at least I watched and enjoyed some of it. which is an improvement. (As Geneva said)
     
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  10. napper

    napper Member+

    Jan 14, 2014
    Fullerton
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At halftime, Tata switched Pizarro to the right (our left) and targeted Ream. Tata also ran 1-2s around Bradley. Berhalter never adjusted for this. His subs did nothing to change this problem.

    I did enjoy the spirit that grew within the team throughout this tournament.

    But, I am concerned about GB’s coaching abilities. Hopefully, he learned something.
     
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  11. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They play so similar it's hard to not compare, but one thing to note is that LD was less selfish than CP. I don't mean that in a bad way at all. There were those times that Landon passed (you know them) instead of shot which would drive everyone nuts. Christian takes the shot more often...but it means his misses are at the forefront.

    Still don't know if I can apply the same, "As Landon Donovan goes, the USMNT goes." to CP... In terms of form for the team yes, but not in terms of assists just yet...though he should climb the ranks of assists as well as goals just like LD.
     
  12. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    #312 skydog, Jul 8, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2019
    Interesting comparing the two. As you say Landon would often pass up shooting opportunities in favor of looking for an assist. Plus he had the best vision of any soccer player I've ever seen. He knew exactly where everyone was at all times and would see runners I failed to notice even with my overhead birds-eye TV view.

    Pulisic is mainly a goal scorer and much more willing to take a lower probability shot than Landon was. But he doesn't seem psychologically selfish, not like a lot of top forwards are. He seems to enjoy an assist almost as much as a goal and he seems like a team-first type of guy. But he just doesn't see the field nor anticipate play the way that well, and nothing like Landon did. He tends to make his decision after he receives the ball and then often dribbles with his head down. When he does go for an assist he often has to slow down to look up and find his target, often getting stripped in the process. And even after said target is found his passes are sometimes over- or under-hit or intercepted because he doesn't Landon's sublime passing skills. But then who does?

    There is also a contrast in their physical speed. Pulisic is quicker but Landon was faster. In a race I'll take Pulisic for the first 5 yards but after that I'll take a 25yo Landon. From his teens through his mid-twenties Landon's breakaway speed was phenomenal and a big part of why his games were so exciting to watch. We could be getting dominated and pinned in our own half but you always knew.... if Landon got a breakaway it was all over for the opponent. So we always had a chance.

    Pulisic otoh has quicker acceleration and much better 1v1 moves in the box. He embarrasses defenders in a way that Landon never did. But on longer breakaways I don't get that excited because he usually gets caught from behind. So the "Pulisic excitement quotient" is more limited to when we have the ball in our opponents end of the field and Pulisic gets the ball in or around the box. Not so much hope when we are stuck in our own half.

    I'm sure Pulisic's passing and finishing will improve. He's still awfully young. And he may well end up setting the US scoring record. But there was only one Donovan.

    * Speaking of vision - here's a name few would think of: Maradona. Obviously he's mostly known for his dribbling and scoring abilities. But he also had Landon-like vision and Landon-like perfect-touch passing skills. I saw a few games where I swear that he had to have eyes in the back of his head. Probably hidden under that massive hair.
     
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  13. mbar

    mbar Member+

    Apr 30, 1999
    Los Angeles, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  14. napper

    napper Member+

    Jan 14, 2014
    Fullerton
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree, if Beerholder learns from this, that’s the most important takeaway.

    Yes, that Mexico goal was on McKennie.

    And, yes, we should have finished in first half and possibly could have won the game.

    Obviously, integration of new, younger players is necessary.
     
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  15. MPNumber9

    MPNumber9 Member+

    Oct 10, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good observations. I said elsewhere that Pulisic may have a higher ceiling than Landon but, at least right now, he doesn't have anything in his arsenal that equates to Landon's speed, which was a hack that could make him a factor against any team in the world at any moment. This is especially important at the international level, IMO.

    For instance, Pulisic is definitely a more technical dribbler, but he's not so much better that he's more effective or even as effective at beating guys than Landon was using his pure pace and movement. He's not a Sancho, Sterling or even an Almiron -- a guy who can literally just glide through defenses. Pulisic can be stopped; particularly Mexico bottle him pretty effectively. Mexico did not know how to stop Landon because any through ball could launch him.
     
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  16. Bilgediver

    Bilgediver Member+

    LA Galaxy
    Oct 16, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pulisic seems a cross between Clint and Landon. Landon was the unselfish speedy visionary. He was amazing on breakaways. Clint was the technical dribbler with the killer instinct to "try sh*t".

    However, Landon at that age had more of a selfish bent, I think all youngsters do. You can tell because Landon got more of his goals at a young age.
     
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  17. hav77

    hav77 Member+

    May 31, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    All this tall about Landon makes it even more curious as to why he couldn't hack it in Europe early on. Seems like he's a very cerebral and self reflective person and if he's not completely happy with his decisions or content with why he decided the way he decided, that it affected him in his play. When he was at Everton, seems like he was more mature and knew who he was, and it showed on the field. "You must stay!!!". Being a toffees fan, a part of me really had hoped that LD made the loan permenent, even if it meant the Gs woupd lose him. It'd was nice to see him have success at the highest level and nice to see some of his critics be quiet.

    Anyway, at this point in time, Landon>Pulisic as an overall player based on his mix of speed, vision, scoring touch, passing ability, and savviness. Hoping Pulisic will get there.
     
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  18. Skevin

    Skevin Member+

    Aug 9, 2009
    Colorado
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Pulisic's dribbling ability is already getting close to world class levels. That is the main difference between him and Landon. Pulisic is able to hold onto the ball and dribble around defenders even in tight situations. Very similar to how Hazard was when he was at Lille.
     
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  19. Geneva

    Geneva LA for Life

    Feb 5, 2003
    Southern Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Everton, I think Donovan would have liked to stay there. We never got anything publicly, but I think behind the scenes that MLS would not let him go, and he was too professional to complain about it. Maybe someday we'll get the full story (probably after no one cares anymore!!)

    He certainly had great success on the field at Everton and it was awesome to see.
     
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  20. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    I agree he really seemed to enjoy his experience there but I also think that deep down he may have had mixed feelings about staying. A key issue to understanding Landon (and I know you all know this, I'm just musing) is that he grew up in a liberal family (thinking mom and sister) who viewed sports more as entertainment and not an important endeavor in the bigger picture. In such a value system being an unheralded social worker (for example) is more honorable than being a sports star. I think Landon has shown repeatedly that he shares his family's world view. But of course he found out in his teens that he was soooooo gifted -- and, in fact, world class. He discovered he was in the 99.999% of this thing called soccer and could earn millions at it. So it never really made sense for him to just quit the profession. It was more a case of being sucked up by the profession than pursuing a life long dream.

    But the philosophical conundrum never disappeared for him and he always psychologically struggled with his role as a "soccer (super-)star." That's why we see the year off to Cambodia to search for meaning. That's why we see his first "retirement" coming when he could still had value on the field. He didn't seem interested in continuing to play to make many of his all time records even more unreachable.
    In this context playing in Europe to "prove" his stature in the soccer world would always be less important than being close to his family and his beloved Southern California. That he pushed MLS to make that happen isn't a surprise at all. His soccer/sports obsessed fans didn't approve, but pleasing them wasn't what he was about.
     
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  21. napper

    napper Member+

    Jan 14, 2014
    Fullerton
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It seemed like he wanted to stay at Everton. He was having success and a good time. I thought Everton couldn’t afford him?
     
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  22. 73Bruin

    73Bruin Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Torrance, California
    Agreed. He was the only bankable American superstar left in MLS. A sizeable portion of the USMNT roster was in Europe. Clint Dempsey had been sold to Fulham for $4mm at the end of 2006. At the time, Landon was a much bigger star. I seem to recall that MLS wanted upward of $10mm for Landon.
     
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  23. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    It was. I used to get so frustrated at Phil Neville who got the ball a lot but his preferred style was boomball. So often Landon would be open at right wing just needing a simple ground pass to space but nooo.... Phil would just hit a long high ball aimed at the opponent centerbacks. Phil seemed to like Landon's play but "finesse" and "Phil Neville" shouldn't be used in any sentence that isn't contrasting the two.
     
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  24. Geneva

    Geneva LA for Life

    Feb 5, 2003
    Southern Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Story of Landon's soccer life. How many countless times I begged Reyna and then Bradley to get the ball to him quicker. Actually, I thought Neville worked pretty well with him, but my memories are sketchy on that score.
     
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  25. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Back pass Reyna - I remember him well. So skilled with the ball at his feet, so reluctant to make a forward pass.
     
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