LA Galaxy Flavored USMNT in 2017

Omar on Bruce v. JK, and a nice video of Bruce being Bruce:

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1616...ifferent-environment-gonzalez-hails-arenas-us

 

I wasnt able to catch the game live so when I saw the game I couldnt help but chuckle that the US Journalists were calling this a 3-4-3. We bunkered ( i have no problem with that) the whole game it was a 5-4-1.

I like the way Arena did this camp. He immediately told all the players that they may all be used. That there were going to be many changes to the lineup and formation. They practiced and looked well organized. We didnt even have 30% possession but still were able to get 7 shots vs Mexico 10 and our expected goals were fairly close. Deserved ti

4 points collected. Well done

 

It's hilarious reading the comments on the ESPN article about the game. Some are lamenting the loss of JK since now we have returned to playing "ugly soccer." It's like they never actually watched the team under JK but only listened to his platitudes. The JK coached "attacking, creative" US team is an urban myth. Or maybe it existed in closed practices only.

 

We all know what Bruce would say about stats. I thought it was a good result and a great performance by the US, frankly. Everyone's talking about how poorly Mexico played, but that was due to a well-executed US gameplan that, among other things, allowed the US to score in the first 10 minutes. I think it's disappointing that the one lapse the team had in an otherwise mostly flawless performance ended up costing us a goal and a win, but a tie is an extremely respectable result given the way we managed it. We earned lots of corners and had a few good chances, including Wood's whiff and Omar's missed header.

 

BTW, how hard is Bruce trolling? JK lost to Mexico at home with 3 in the back; Bruce gets a tie in Azteca with 3 in the back.

 

Anyone else think Guzan was caught horribly flat-footed and both Howard and Rimando may have saved that Mexico goal?

 

Near post and he wasn't ready. Told my wife at the moment that Tommy would have stopped it.

 

I don't think so. It was a great finish. Low driven shot back across where the keeper was coming from. Also Guzan has 3-4 US bodies in front of him.

Guzan had himself an ok game. He luckily didn't have to make any great saves, but he came out when he needed to and distributed well which is surprising coming from Brad.

 

Well, looks like its 2 against 1 in the battle of opinions. Therefore I guess we can conclude that Guzan did indeed mess up and cost us the game.

Look again. Ball went in about 3 feet inside the post. Shot from 20-22 yard away, not screened at all. Guzan just needs to lay flat and stretch out his arm to get to it. He actually didn't move hardly at all, just sort of fell back slowly.

I think I could have made that save at least 50% of the time.

 

Great results for US last night with Panama tying Honduras in the 90th minute. Now we just need to win our home games and we are through. Of course home wins aren't guaranteed, especially not against CR. But we play CR first so if somehow we don't get those 3 points we will know what we have to do in our last 3 games.

 

He made a couple of physical plays but still very hesitant with decision making, his mojo still gone. Looks like he mainly goes through the motions and shows no anticipation of play. I can't but help wonder if he is still not 100% back physically. He was so much more dynamic in all of his previous seasons. Just kind of weird for this sluggishness to continue for so long.

I liked the new guy from Florida/Israel/Belgium - very nice skills and composure. Not surprised - that's the way the Israel national team plays. Liked his play around the box.

And BOO to ESPN - another low def broadcast for soccer. Not the way to present the product. It's like ESPN has given up on US soccer as a major growth sport.

 

When did Dwyer become an American? Was it through his marriage to Leroux?

 

He became a citizen a few months ago. He's been in the country for multiple years (believe he came over for college). I believe Leroux is actually Canadian.

 

Well, she's definitely American, but I believe would also have qualified for the Canadian national team.

 

Zardes had one play where he received the ball with his back to goal and a man on him and laid it off to Morris with one touch who was able to get behind and get off a dangerous cross requiring a great save to deny Bedoya.

It's a small thing but...his touch and vision have been (fairly) criticized, so putting together one small play like this that amounts to something is something to build on for confidence. He also drew a foul a few minutes before. Hopefully he can put those moments together more consistently.

 

Leroux was born in Canada with a Canadian mom and American dad, moved to the US before college, filed the one-time switch to the US team at the U20 level, went to UCLA, and then to the USWNT

ETA: if her & Dwyer's kid gets the run fast gene from both parents... look out. she's faster than Dwyer, comparatively speaking

 

Big sigh of relief....

 

Defense has been awful basically all match. If Guzan doesn't make a couple ridiculous saves, we are losing.