I, for one, haven't seen what all the fuss is about with Robinson in any of the games he's played for the US. In fact, he was terrible yesterday. Was Yedlin even on the field, or did he take up a seat in the stands next to a Colombian hottie? JAB's lack of urgency to close down players, repeatedly, was shocking. Miazga at least looked like he gave a shit.
Put yourself in their shoes for a second. You travel hours to train with a dolt using tactics that were dated a decade ago to play in a stadium with far more away fans than home fans. What is there to be excited about?
The horrible thing about this is that they had a record crowd last night for Tampa. The USSF made a shiite ton of money last night. As a business, they are a thriving concern. Now you tell me how likely things are to change. Why would they do anything different. Money is rolling in. The Peruvians will be out in force when we play them. Again, the USSF will make a mint. So, they make a ton of money despite not having a reasonable number of fans of their team. Let's say we staged a boycott, and 100% of the US fans stayed home. They still would have made huge money last night. This is not an organization that gives a rat's ass about the fans of the USMNT, nor would anyone with real business sense advise them that they should. As long as soccer is the most popular game worldwide, they can schedule friendlies here in the US and the visiting supporters will pay for four tickets, show up, buy hot dogs and beer, celebrate like its a World Cup final, and go home happy. I can't stomach paying $300 for 4 tickets, food and parking and watch that sorry shiite surrounded by the other country's supporters.
It seemed like we turned back the clock in a lot of ways last night. Is it just me or did last night seem like another low point?
Robinson was completely lost defensively on several occasions. We sorely missed McKennie and Adams' work rate and willingness to cover for fullbacks. Due to this, Yedlin wasn't able to push forward as much as he'd like and Robinson continued to do so leaving acres of space on Colombia's right side. First goal, there wasn't a whole lot that could be done - it was just a great strike from a difficult angle. Second goal, Miazga needed to stay tighter to Bacca but Robinson also didn't do enough to deny the cross. Third goal was absolutely pathetic. Bradley was trotting back letting the counter develop, Robinson should not have gotten beaten for the ball by Bacca, and Delgado (with fresh legs, mind you) got completely outhustled by Falcao. Fourth goal, Ben Sweat was completely out of position, Brooks let James get onto his left foot, and Yedlin should have been able to block Borja's shot. Bradley wasn't bad tonight. His passing was less penetrating than I'd like but he was generally clean in possession but just lacks the mobility to create the chaos in midfield that Adams and McKennie do. Acosta wasted several set pieces but was decent breaking up play and providing mobility in the midfield. His run into the box and subsequent finish were fantastic. Saeif looked like a guy who has some ability but also hasn't played regularly for the better part of a year. Weah was one of the few US players who looked threatening when he received the ball and pressed hard. His assist on the second goal was very well done. Green linked up play well when he was able to find the ball in the space. I was happy to see how much stronger on the ball he looked and that tackle he made to start the counter that led to the second goal is not something we would have seen from him a few years ago. Wood was starved for touches most of the game but did well to finish his one half chance. Brooks' passing was good but he was shaky defensively, although better than Miazga. Congrats to Ben Sweat on what is hopefully his first and last cap. A full time coach, identity, and a style of play that allows us to create chances from run of play is needed ASAP. It's embarrassing how frequently our team is the "away" side on US soil.
Concerning Robinson, the majority of blame for me goes to the coach who against some really world-class players from Brazil and Columbia played naïve soccer leaving his young/raw leftback out to dry. Maybe the point isn't to necessarily win in these friendlies and the goal was to learn what we needed to about where he is in his development, but I think we would have had much more success with an extra centerback allowing Robinson and Yedlin to play as true wingbacks since they are where all the width was coming from anyway.
It is long past the time for Sarachan to go. Ernie HAS to announce something on Nov 1 as promised. We have basically wasted a year. I suspect we will have another game with captain backpass jogging around, doing little to nothing. I am also pissed at the very few minutes Sargent got. Sure Wood got a goal but other than that, invisible. I counted two touches for Sargent. The first, he drove right past his man and drove on goal. Dumped it in the slot and nothing came of it. The point is though he actually beat his mark and drove on net. More than Wood did the whole game. Sarachan gives him 10 minutes. I expect to see a lot more against Peru and hopefully no Captain backpass. This Peru game could be even worse. I was very impressed with them at the WC and they are very, very good. If they bring an A team. They could tear us apart. Hopefully the last time I'll see Sarachan and company
It's a Bob Beamon leap to blame Sarachan and not Robinson himself and his club coaches. That was Sarachan's fault. Just to be clear I do NOT agree with calling him up. However, part of the thought process for Sarachan had to be a) I need a couple of veterans in camp and then b) which veterans won't hurt their club careers by coming in? I'm less offended by the callup than I would be if TFC was in the playoff picture, because if they were, the selection of Bradley would be more of an affirmative selection than a winnowing through of options. (Not sure I made sense here. It sounds better in my head than it looks on the page.)
I dunno, I paid $45 for a lower bowl ticket to see my country play against a great team and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. I'm upset we didn't make the WC too .. but it's just a friendly. I appreciate the federation spreading the games around the country a bit because I know Tampa will never get a meaningful WCQ besides playing a Caribbean minnow in the early rounds when we're trying to make travel easy on everyone.
He might fill a roster spot. It's just my opinion that he'll never be really GOOD for us. We'll see. BTW...23 isn't young for an attacker, and "loads of experience" and "his game is improving" work against each other. Great point. We all have our internet opinions. Colombia obviously had a very strong belief about AR's ability.
I understand the logic here. In your opinion, did it appear that the USMNT benefited on the field from having his veteran experience as a captain and playing 90 minutes? I would think that having veteran leadership would mean the team played relatively calmly under pressure and there were limited chicken-with-his-head-cut-off moments. I didn't see the game so I don't have an opinion but rather questions.
We’ve graduated from an agricultural to mechanical culture and style. I’d rather go back to agricultural- at least there’s life and grit in it.
Do not know how I missed this last night, but it is on point ... right down to the Yedlin point. We oversell his overseas development. The best Yedlin we ever saw was 2014 MLS Yedlin, playing at the World Cup. Our defense is WIDE OPEN for the taking by someone who steps up to the mark.
What's particularly Super, Dave, is how he spelled it very efficiently as "Spuku". Bradley is so good at husbanding his energies! Not even variants of hari-kari can exhaust him. It is what makes Bradley of the Last Three Years so darn endearing. Beyond endearing, straight to downright adorable, was this nice follow up to his Spukulations....."I have seen the Future, and it is Me!". Mikey is no mere Visionary, for truly he is the Prophet of Our Age. It is just not humanly possible to have too much Mikey on the USMNT, and I for one am ecstatic!
Thanks. Given the lack of on-the-field leadership that was touted by the USSF, it's hard to justify his place on the squad, particularly given both his club form and all the associated baggage. If veteran leadership is so important, bring in Bedoya who has always been a hard-working team player willing to do anything (including playing DM for the first time in his career against Brazil.....) I do think that some of the BS critique goes way too far into character assassination but the gist of everyone should be "move on" from MB. In other words, their main point is correct and everything else is caterwauling that should be set aside.
Colombia is a top team who brought their A team. Colombia are at the level of World Cup semi-finalists, losing on penalties to England, and would have been an overwhelming favorite to beat Sweden. Let's keep that in mind. The good: USA scored 2 good goals against Colombia. The bad: USA gave up 4 goals to Colombia, who outshot them 17-5 (7-2 on target). The ugly: Colombia controlled 62% of the possession to USA's 38%. This was a fantastic learning experience for the young players. Keep in mind that USA was without Pulisic, McKennie, and Tyler Adams -- the core of the American midfield. Insert those 3 into the lineup and we can easily see a more even game and potential USA victory.
Which one is it? He undoubtedly looks like a player that is past his prime. If anyone, as a young player, want to see what he was, go to youtube. I would rather give experience to the #2 or #3 at the position, considering #1 was not there, than to waste the time on someone who is done. If he was still killing it at his club, maybe, but this is about expanding the pool.
Did you see Brazil? They just stopped after two goals. Did you see Mexico? It was Lichaj and they couldn't finish. There is a problem with the way Sarachan sets up the team that exposes the fullbacks. They will attack the side with the Championship/MLS fullback until you make them stop. We've only made them stop once, that was when Tyler Adams played the left DM starting in the 38th minute of the Mexico game. Saief was of no help. Bradley was marking space nobody cared about. Trapp has never been of any help. If we are going to play Robinson, and he has been integral to our offense, then Adams has to be over there with him. Which is where Adams should be anyway.
Yedlin didn't play defense at the 2014 WC. He was a sub winger. I do agree he has been terrible offensively against Brazil and Colombia. Antonee Robinson has been much more effective offensively than Yedlin by far. AR is a problem defensively that needs to be solved by a real coach. He has started just 4 games for us and got one sub appearance. In those 5 games, he played Brazil, Colombia, and France plus Mexico B and Bolivia. He has been a key figure in three goals, including 2 of the last 3. He should have had another assist as he put it right on Zardes's head against Brazil but it clanked off over the bar. Maybe the defensive rotation to cover for the 21 yr old Robinson is too much to get him on the field for the offense. That is a question for the new coach. The good thing is that defense is mostly learned. Speed, touch, and crossing is rarely developed later. I think Adams in Bradley's role could solve the problem. But we shouldn't be exposed to Dave-ball much longer.