Despite this FIFA window..........there are still MLS games this week!! Oh, and there's some USA friendly being played........does the USMNT have a coach yet? Does that really matter in the MLS N&A game thread? Oh well, here we go! As always all times are eastern, national TV games are noted. All other games can be seen on ESPN+. Remember to keep it neutral here in the N&A game thread. Save your hostilities for the USA threads . Thursday October 11 USA vs. COL 7:30PM FS1 Friday October 12 LAX vs. HOU 10:00PM Saturday October 13 MNU vs. COL 2:00PM DCU vs. FCD 4:55PM Univision NER vs. ORL 7:30PM Tuesday October 14 CAN vs. DOM 7:00PM USA vs. PER 7:30PM ESPN2
How will Minnesota drive me Loony this week? I suppose that depends on who shows up Saturday...Colorado or Colombia?
LAFC vs HOU 10:00pm on Fri? Busy week for US soccer: MLS, USL teams playing for playoff spots, International Friendly for MNT, qualifiers for WC for US women...
As the US game starts, I'm reminded that a pessimist is never disappointed. I expect Colombia to thrash the US.
USA defense might consider guarding Falcao instead of leaving him wide open in the box, but then what do I know?
Watching Brooks wander 30-40 yards from goal, I'm having PTSD flashbacks to Onyewu getting baited into the midfield against the Czechs in 2006 where Pavel Nedved worked him into a yellow card (Note to Onyewu -> you should never get your feet anywhere near Nedved), forcing us to switch the much small and older Eddie Pope onto 6'8" Jan Koller who promptly scored the first goal.
I really don't understand why everyone takes the pass back to Bradley. He isn't asking for the ball, he is a safety valve and sometimes he has a defender right next to him when they pass it to him. He literally pointed out a wide open Yedlin and Green still passed it 5 yards back to him. TFC does this as well. Good god, he isn't Pirlo.
At some point you would think the US players (especially defenders) would become used to some physical play from Colombia. Yes, Colombian forwards are getting away with some pushes that the officials aren't seeing/calling, but defenders should be ready for it and be able to play through it.
It happened twice again. The difference in this game between Colombia and the US is that Colombia has 3-4 players crashing the box on a cross, the US has Bobby Wood up there with Green hanging out outside the box and Weah/Saeif chilling on the other wing.
I think that was Acosta, not Green. Though saying that, it's entirely possible you are referring to a different, but very similar instance.