The US has qualified for the World Cup and that is cause for celebration, but make no mistake about it this qualification cycle we only got there doing the bare MINIMUM, many won't care but it should definitely be a topic of discussion. Buzz kill of a match. Onto the WC draw on friday.
I really don't care about any overreactionary doomsaying tonight. US qualified for the World Cup with an almost completely fresh player pool and has more upside from here if players (chiefly McKennie and Turner) can return. As someone who watched every minute of their failure to qualify last cycle, I'm gonna allow myself to be happy about qualifying.
well, that was certainly uninspiring Zimmerman with a gaffe on the first goal, but thats his first mistake in like, 12 games. MRob wasnt the sturdiest either. Kelyn Acosta gives us no offensive capabilities. None. And finally, Steffen....... Jesus, if that guys our keeper for the World Cup, we are eliminated in game 2 of the qualifying rounds. He is BAD. Like, rich man's Bill Hamid bad. If thats a hockey game, the coach would have pulled him. This should be the Turner vs Horvath show right now. We got some pieces of the puzzle to solve. There's probably 8-9 roster spots that are free-for-alls right now. Some of these guys who were "old reliables" during qualifying need to be phased out. Now. They did their job, but its absolutely time to go out with the old and in with the new in the WC buildup.
First goal wasn’t on Zimmerman, it was on Acosta and ARob for watching with mild interest and not even attempting to pick up the runner. Zimmerman at least tried to and jumped to contest the cross.
We trot that 4-3-3 out with two of the three in midfield unable to link up and we’re never going to be very good.
Also, nobody should give even the slightest damn about finishing 3rd on goal difference. We don’t get like a bonus sub or free PK I’m a game of our choice for winning the Ocho. Qualified is qualified, and what happened today will have zero bearing on what happens in the group stage.
2nd goal on Zimmerman or Robinson? Either Robinson was lazy or Zimmerman was just standing there keeping the player onside.
We need to shuffle roster spots.......there should realistically be 9-10 spots up for grabs right now. Some of the "try hards" we rode in to qualifying need to be phased out. Not Zimmerman or MRob's finest game Acosta gives us absolutely no offense. None. Frankly, with our depth, I feel he does more harm than good. Hes a game-closer. Nothing else. Shouldnt be used as a starter unless its against Mexico. and Steffen, oh my oh my, what do we have to do to hurl him down the depth chart? Hes a rich ma's Bill Hamid. This WCQ series, any coach that doesnt have irrational favoritism, hurls him down the depth chart. Hes #3 at best right now........at best.
Steffen for flapping at a catchable/punchable ball and them ambling back with his back turned to the play.
Not sure which postgame thread we're going with but x-posting from the other: I really don't care about any overreactionary doomsaying tonight. US qualified for the World Cup with an almost completely fresh player pool and has more upside from here if players (chiefly McKennie and Turner) can return. As someone who watched every minute of their failure to qualify last cycle, I'm gonna allow myself to be happy about qualifying.
The style of play and awful reffing really take away from the fan experience. It’s so annoying when our best player gets hacked down every time he touches it, and the ref rarely thinks about giving a yellow. I really hope that we can start getting into Copa America with regularity to get away from this nonsense at least a little bit.
It's like looking into a funhouse mirror from twenty years ago to the Friedel and Keller days. It's so weird this time being the team that's better at everything except keeper and losing because of that. We should be celebrating, so I apologize for the sour note, but we are going to get shredded France '98 style with this level of keeper play. The good news is that Turner is better than this. The bad news is so is Horvath, and that didn't get him on the field.
Blech. Not a fun qualification. Pulisic just summed it up. Weird feeling. Hate to lose but yeah, proud to go to world cup. we squeaked in..with the talent we have, we squeaked in. Berhalter sucks. A win here or there does not cut it. He is a hack with his selections and tactics. happy for the boys, though!! but man…think of how close we just squeaked in. Crazy
Well... The Costa Rica game plan was to not let Pulisic get going. Their number 14 must have fouled him 10 times, not an exaggeration. It's good that this won't occur in the WC b/c a) Opponents won't feel the need and, b) if they did, the refs will give cards for persistent infringement, unlike this ref who did nothing.
Feel Adams gets a bit of a pass on here sometimes. We need more distribution out of him. Obviously Acosta for Mckennie doesn’t help going forward, but still.