Pre-match: WCQ: USA @ T&T (10/10/17)

T&T Federation doing whatever they can to give T&T a home advantage -- unlike our federation who tries to help the opposing teams.

 

This seems like T&T is trying to cut expenses, since they probably figure that they'll be eliminated by matchday #10.

 

Yeah, mine was a bit of sarcasm. T&T are on 3 points, and essentially eliminated.

 

On top of all that

With T&T out of contention and unpaid top players perhaps skipping last 2 matches, small crowd expected on a Tuesday night

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) September 15, 2017

 

Good news, especially given that they don't pay Honduras or Panama

 

I beg to differ.

If their better players don't show up, the chances increase of a hack fest and injuries. Can get ugly. And in those types of matches anything can happen.

 

I see your point, but if they're missing top players I like our chances. Heck, play Pulisic as a super sub off the bench in this game. If we are already up 2-0, don't bring him in

 

Hell no, That's a must win game. You play your best XI

 

Run up that goal differential I say.

 

Im past guessing what could happen this cycle. If they bring a B team, we could win 6-0 or lose 2-1 and neither would surprise me in the slightest.

 

2-goal win is enough to where a draw in T&T would be all but certain to book our ticket. Win by 1 and we need 3 at T&T to be safe

 

Lawrence: I’m 100 percent sure of myself! T&T coach on axed players, Stern, Sol and Qatar 2022 https://t.co/N14t6kH96h via @wired868

— Lasana Liburd (@lasanaliburd) September 28, 2017

Good article on TNT. They are essentially planning for 2022 and are focusing these games on giving young players international experience.

 

That’s not true at all. You don’t want their best players to show up. Makes it easier for USA to ge 3 points. That logic is horrible. Trinidad sucks. Then bringing even worse players in means they suck more. No excuses. Get 3 points. A tie would be embarrassing. We need to play our best players both games. We should win both by 2 plus goals.

 

That sounds fantastic.

 

They already know that they're the worst team in the Hexagonal. Will losing 6-0 hurt them mentally more than losing 1-0?

 

Honduras isn't getting 6 points from its final 2 games.

Win or draw and we're in, Panama doesn't beat CR plus Honduras doesn't get 4 points and we're in even if we lose.

 

1 point and we'll guarantee third place/automatic qualification. Can't envision Honduras winning at Costa Rica when their ticket isn't punched officially themselves.

Play a 433/451 to be solid up the middle and drop back when we need to. T&T won't break us down much, and we should dictate possession against them. Hopefully Pulisic is ok to help create out there.

--------------Jozy------
----Pulisic---------Arriola
------------Benny-----
Jorge---Dax---Bradley--Dre
----------Besler-Cameron----
--------------Guzan--------------

subs - Wood, Bedoya, Dempsey

 

Pulisic has 8 goals in 19 caps. Outstanding

 

You only control what you can control. It is one of the beautiful things about how Bruce Arena approaches the game. Very pragmatic, very simple. And BTW I am not a big Arena fan. BUT he doesn't worry about all the other shi**t that goes on and he helps his team focus on the task at hand. That is a great thing. Don't worry about anything else than WINNING in Trinidad and Tobago. You NEVER EVER as a team shoot for a tie, until the last couple minutes of a game where that result matters. Before the game, the mindset is to win.

 

On fs1 during Mexico Trinidad announcers mentioned kenwyne jknesnwill join TNT for the last game.

 

******** this draw bullshit. This is T&T. Stomp them, and then drop half the roster and start prepping for the WC.

 

So this awful, no good, lousy team that we're supposed to be stomping all over on Tuesday is currently winning at Mexico.