The game I watched when he didn’t make the clearance on the goal and missed the pass from Robinson which should have been buried by Bryan Ruiz... plus some other mistakes. I like the kid. I thought he was light years better than McKenzie... but he was not without fault.
I was as upset as anybody about the Panama game, but Canada playing them at home makes a huge difference. Just look at how Canada drew with the Jamaican team that we handled comfortably. for me, the most frustrating aspect of the Panama game is that it has them 3 points closer to us. With a draw in that game, we would be 6 points clear of 4th place right now. Instead, we’re only 3 points clear.
We are solid with Dest, ARob, and Adams playing. In theory, you add in Pulisic and Reyna and we are dangerous going forward too.
In all fairness....completely difference set of circumstances.....Canada's playing at home....we were playing in Panama. Like comparing apples and oranges.
I understand where you are coming from. My sense, from watching the flow of the game, was that we were on the front foot. Against Mexico? Agreed. I would not recommend subbing Busio in that same situation.
I expected the result, a one-goal win. I didn't expect the game to be good. It was. The Ticos came to play. O/T: Edmonton is going to be fun in January.
And now the 2 teams get into a pushing and shouting match well after the final whistle. CONCACAF. LOL.
He was completely passive on the first goal. He didn't seem ready for Robinson's admittedly poor pass on Ruiz's breakaway (how do you whiff there? It looked like a pub league play. At least foul the player). I thought his positioning generally was poor. The few times he tried to break lines passing it didn't come off. I guess with all the hype I expected more. I don't evaluate players on 1-3 plays, good or bad. Maybe he was better than I recall.
Another interest tidbit..... The oldest player who started tonight (Steffen) was younger than the youngest player for Costa Rica. Our average age was 22, theirs was 31.
Busio coming in with a one goal lead was EXACTLY the right sub. He made a huge difference in us keeping possession in those final minutes. Consistently was the player making himself available for the short pass and then kept it moving to the next guy. Involved in a couple of chances as well including some great vision shown on a long diagonal to Hoppe that took a stellar play from a CR defender to thwart. There's no defense like keeping the ball and Busio was outstanding tonight in that regard.
We still look too much like a pickup team: slow passes to no-one; too many turnovers; guys trying to pass through an opposing player like they don't realize they're there. I understand being unfamiliar with your teammates, but constantly passing to CR players is inexcusable.
Busio was the right choice in that situation. He has dependable passing technique, unlike Acosta. The knock on Busio is his lack of strength, difficulty in winning battles. Acosta is more physical, more athletic, but his passing and ball comfort is undependable. What Busio is learning is anticipation and understanding space. If he can continue to improve in those areas he'll offset his lack of physicality.
I like Miles, but that pass was all on him. Richards was not really involved in the build up to the goal, you can go see a highlight of that. While the entire play was a mess, Richards lost the initial 50/50 which was more a 70/30 and then everything went to hell
How was taht a fluke goal? It was a garden variety run to the endline with a cross the the onrushing forward crashing into the box toward the far post. Bread and butter. Dest didn't cover the cross and NO ONE covered the runner and Steffan didn't even try to stop it. It was garden variety horror show defending.
Just night and day between Lletget and Busio. it’s amazing how much better we look when we play our best players. Arriola, Lletget, Acosta, Zardes, bello. Are solid bench guys, they shouldn’t be playing more that 7-10 minutes to close a game out.
What? It was definitely the other way around. Miles made up for his own TO, making a recovery and tackle on the cut-back maybe 1% of cb's playing legit pro fb make. And Richards was partially culpable for the TO due to his hesitation. Meanwhile, I don't know what game-saving tackle by Richards you're talking about. The one where he missed the ball and came thru the man for what should have been a pk? He also later took a bad angle to an easy ball and committed what should have been a hard yellow on a tackle behind, but he was fortunate again. He was hesitant most of the night and was bossed on headers. That was how the goal against started. Then he didn't react to the bouncing ball, along w/ Steffen. The primary objective of a central defender is to not make major errors that could have led to a goal for what you can control. Miles didn't do that (I don't think he ever has for the US when the outcome was in doubt), Richards did multiple times. Miles made some smaller mistakes, late, and that's what people can overreact to. But still on balance he managed to be pretty good (outstanding 1st half & was solid in the 2nd, until the shaky finish). Not to mention he's proven to build up trust. Whereas w/ Richards he didn't build up enough to start v. Mexico or at Jamaica next window. W/ this one out of the way, I could opt for him at home vs. non Mexicos or Canadas, but outside that I'm probably just reverting back to Brooks and Zimmerman. Brooks for the home match, Zimmerman road. Richards definitely beat out McKenzie, though. If everyone is healthy, I probably just bring Sands as 5th cb, 3-man back option, and 6.
I really don't have a problem with Turner's distribution, especially when Steffen isn't that much of an upgrade. Turner looks more awkward I guess but the results are similar.
We're supposed to beat this CR team at home that's old as hell and missing several key players by at least a goal and probably 2, aren't we? Bad decision to start out of form keeper that nearly cost us big. C- for meets expectations I guess but looks terrible doing it.
The group of players in Panama probably don't go down 1-0. But that team also wouldn't have been able to come back. I thought we were really fluid today, just in ball movement. Need to do better in the final third.
who said it was a fluke? The ball was an inch from the attacking players crotch basically and had he touched it, Steffan is diving away from the goal as the Costa Rica player walks in with it. Go watch it again. No one covered themselves in glory on the play, but it is not a howler
Still a very important player tonight for us. Yes he gave the ball away too many times in the 1st half, but I thought it was another solid outing from him.
is it by design? i think it is thats how the crew played ...cross to zardes for re-direct goals. relying on crosses for goals is not the recipe.....def need to work the middle of the field...need less piano carriers in midfield even though they play at big clubs.