Halftime thoughts: I almost posted before the game that I didn't have a good feeling about Booth starting given his physical limitations against an athletic team. Will watch to see how his body develops in the future as he's relatively good technically/tactically by our standards. England is a much better team to project how Carleton's game translates to higher levels. He's been decent enough thus far, but not the difference maker many hope he'll ultimately be. Assuming no injuries, I agree with others that wrote that Dest should be starting over Watts. Lastly, we have to get better at all levels at playing with some composure when pressured. Starts with better youth coaching and an emphasis on ideal spacing, shielding the ball and better first touch. Perhaps have kids play up in age or against adults, or focus on practicing more against high pressure. Something's got to change as we are too soft and panicky across the board.
He's a whipping boy for a reason (although I doubt I have commented on him more than twice this tourney) he is selfish around the 18 and poor to middling everywhere else. As for the play, you may be right. I saw it differently and commented in jest.
Yeah, he's really good. Only '01 on the field on a field with many very good 00's, and he's been one of the standouts, IMO. The first goal he actually took the ball away from Foden, but England got a little lucky that he poked it to a place where we had no defender, so Foden was able to retrieve the ball. That was in general a very poor sequence by Gloster who should've been there to retrieve the ball, and then got beat by Foden. I get that we could use a more physical presence in there like Durkin, but Booth is far from a problem, he's actually one of the team's best players. Would've liked to see Durkin in there with Booth with another CB, but Hackworth doesn't trust Shaver to play him, and left the other good CB's at home.
My alarm got me up 5 minutes into the match and I went directly from bed to computer#1 so my mood has improved significantly since then and perspective is oozing in. I'm not even upset anymore. Oatmeal is boiling and the coffee is warming. This has actually been a nice display of attacking under a press. The finishing has been poor but everyone looks capable at least on the attack. Ferri has been a big problem. Maybe Hackworth is waiting until dead legs before bringing on Acosta but he will unlock the England defense. Question is what to do about the fullbacks and defensive midfield. We could use Dest but it seems like he would be hurt if he's not starting here. Entertaining game win or loss and I am still pretty stoked about the attacking talent that is growing at this age level.
Acosta instead of Ferri would be the same problem. Maybe a little smarter with better decision making, but he'd get overrun. England's players are almost all good athletes, Ferri is a mediocre player as is. Put him against a team that can really take advantage of his biggest weaknesses, he'll really struggle.
Yeah, I don't know if it was nerves or what, but in the first 10 minutes he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, and was running out of position and was leaving passing lanes in the middle 3rd wide open. After that he calmed down or something, and has been a lot smarter with his positioning and off the ball movement and along with Carleton has been one of the big reasons the build up play for the US has been so successful in the first half.
Of course Acosta would add nothing defensively but he would unlock the defense. We are missing a little touch of class in the area. I just don't see what Ferri is adding defensively so might as well go all out in the right moment and we do have an extra day's rest.
Taking all the outside shots in the first half can work to the team's advantage. England will step up sooner now and faking shots can lead to getting inside and maybe even cause defenders to pull down the US players.
Hudson Oduy is fun. He looks like Pulisic in form. Looks like he is moving at a normal speed and everything around him is moving in slow motion.
Whatever Hackworth says to these kids in the locker room puts them to sleep for the first 15 minutes of the half.
Wow..Hackworth is a tool. He could have started arguably our best defender in this tournament, but decides against? What a fool.
NO one can complain about biased officiating in this one. He might not be 90 minutes fit. Maybe he can only go 60.