I don’t trust USSF and would not be surprised they stay with Berhalter until 2026 although he was outcoached in both the Wales match and today.
True, but that's largely a function of UEFA's Nations League. There's nothing we can do about that. Lots of other good sides outside of UEFA and CONMEBOL bemoan the same issue. The best we can do is enter ourselves as a guest in as many other tournaments as will have us, and do the best we can with the players that we can get released.
Not playing well didn't just materialize out of nothingness. So, there is a discussion as why the team didn't play well. Players tend to do that, rather than blame tactics or personnel You limit yourself to GGG's vision. But the team didn't have to be put together that way.
I love this team. We did not play well today, and they will be kicking themselves for four years. But they are talented, hardworking and likeable. They will get better. And we will add more talent. We aren't anywhere near in overall skill to a Brazil or a Spain and we don't have as much talent as the Netherlands. We can play with them, and we CAN beat them. But I do think we need to be realistic where our strengths lie. I'm an enjoy the ride guy. I thought we had a good shot at the Dutch and today, we didn't get it done. Now it's back to work, which is going to be fun as well.
If they’re two goals better than the team they’re playing they’ll do just fine. Lady Luck was not a factor. Fatigue, yes. Ideas, yes.
Thought it was a FIFA sanctioned event actually, though maybe a guest nation it wouldn't count. We sent a crap squad before because we prioritized the Gold Cup. Unless they make us qualify for the WC, we have to really try to get our best together every chance the next 4 years.
Looking how the players performed that came in, and the alternatives on the bench, I really don't think there was anything alternative from a personnel standpoint in this game that could have been done to change the outcome. The reality was either: A. we just didn't have the personnel in our pool to beat the Dutch on the day as sharp as they were OR B. to make this a coin toss like many believed it would be going in we needed better integration throughout the cycle and/or to take more chances in rotation in a group stage. That could have reduced our chances to advance, but improved our shot had we made it thru. Then we'd have gotten more from the MMA midfield, fb's, had more quality to bring off the bench, and possibly a starting 9 that looks like belongs. Otherwise, from a tactical standpoint, not many would have liked it, but we maybe could have played old school football, given them the ball, stayed in an organized shape, and then tried to break with speed. Who knows if it would have worked. But in retrospect, seeing how tired these players were with lack of rotation, it probably would have given us a better shot at a result, albeit an ugly one.
It doesn't count as a guest nation, but the Gold Cup does count as a sanctioned event. That is THE REASON that we prioritize the Gold Cup. It really isn't much of a discretionary choice.
Heck. We could form a good competition with Asia and Africa. Group A: USA Australia Nigeria Ghana Group B: Mexico Iran Cameroon Senegal Group C: Canada South Korea Tunisia Ivory Coast Group D: Costa Rica Japan Morocco Egypt ....That would still be a good competition.
If we have our ---- together, and supposedly Canada already picked themselves up quick enough to do this, we need to lock in Copa America '24 because that's our only chance w/this group for legit competition before the next Cup. We book that, we have the Copa America and the Olympics 18 months from now following the U20 World Cup this coming May. That's legit. We have nothing else unless they reopen discussions for a Nations League Champions League Competition like was rumored and never spoke of against five years ago. Agree on all your points. Maybe Robinson and Richards are healthy and lock down CB for '26. A couple of interesting prospects. A majority want us to can the coach, but I'd put it at 65-35 he's retained.
I think the vast majority of people here like Wes. There is one very vocal troll whose girlfriend Wes stole in high school. One of our biggest problems this tournament is that it really hurt us that he wasn't fit to go 90 minutes, but that's due to injury. He can play on my team any time...
Wait….what!? Qatar took part in UEFA qualifying!?!? How does that even work? How does FIFA justify a non European country taking part in European qualifying? Or was it like a Copa America tournament, so a country not part of that region can be an invited guest?
If the CONMEBOL/UEFA thing happens, we'd have to arrange this, and by arrange I mean pay for it. Start sending in the USSF donations, guys.
Yep. There was a play late where Aaronson had the ball on the break still in our half. He had a guy right in front of him and instead of passing, he dribbled him. He did, and the dude fouled him for a yellow ... but everyone in my room was like, so? That's exactly what he wanted. Dribbling is not a useless skill, but it has limited use in a lot of situations, especially in the midfield or in early transition. I don't want to call it selfish -- it's part of our instinct. It's Pulisic not passing to Sargent in minute 2' of the Iran game; it's Aaronson here in the 88' minute not making the smart pass. He absolutely can beat that guy, but the foul was predictable. Everyone knew our break was done. Yeah, we're a technical team for a US team, maybe even for a CONCACAF team. Compared to most UEFA teams or the top CONMEBOL. Nope. Dest, Pulisic and Reyna are by far the most technical here. But you need more. And some of our guys are either inconsistent or lacking in certain areas. Like said, we're not a strong passing team. People focus on the gameplan, and that has value. But most decisions are made by the players, and I would say our tactical awareness is definitely a gap for the US player. We've improve first touch and dribbling immensely. We need to improve finishing and passing. But the biggest gap is the sort of tactical awareness of where your teammates are going to be, where you should pass, where your opponent will move. We have it in places, but we clearly struggle compared to countries with a stronger culture. All part of the journey.
If this team can replace the Roldan’s, Morris’, etc. on this team with the next Musah and company. In other words, we don’t have a dip in quality production and we keep producing young players at the rate we produced them this cycle. You have to feel better about our chances.
I mean Pulisic is constantly attacking from central positions. With Jedi staying high and wide. Been that way for a while now.
I think Jedi == Odonker if you remember him from Germany in 2006. He's a good 2nd half sub to come in and run at tired legs. The future is Scally (IMHO) Also: I thought Yedlin looked pretty sharp in his limited minutes. Made me wish we had seen more of him.
We're not going to agree on this. There are things that are gameplan related. But the individual errors we made are not those. You can make a good argument about fatigue and rotation for sure, sometimes missed execution is just that. This is just missed marking. Lastly, there's nothing about Berhalter's vision that affects my view of our team's skillsets. I would love van Gaal to become our coach because I think fans would suddenly see and hear a very pragmatic view of our team and where our skills are.
I don’t watch the NBA or any other basketball but I feel it’s hockey which provides a US sport with the most competitive international competition. In international hockey, there are legit 5 countries which can win it all, and on their day, the second tier can do damage. Of course, the countries I’m talking about are all either in North America or Europe. Maybe basketball has elite competition across more continents…?
Coming in late to this party. Just had to go walk around the neighborhood. Probably most of this has been said: 1) good job gentlemen. You all played a great WC. Young team, first WC for all but Yedlin. That is no joke. They are a team and will become a lot to handle in the coking years. 2) coaching: Gregg is a good tactician but a bad coach and game manager. He would be a great addition to a solid coaches staff. Not enough rotation, not enough flexibility, not enough belief and trust outside of his 4 game starting 10. It was bound to fail playing like that. Guys were beat. 3) Pulisic: what a player, he needs to learn to run as hard as you can to first even if you “know” you are out. Arm flapping, pouty, calling own fouls. This really is the difference between good and great. Great players hunt and push knowing they need to count in themselves and their team not a ref or “fairness”. Fortunately, this is something you can fix with reflection. 4) Dest is a wingback not a full back 5) Van Dam targeted our strength and neutralized it: Adams. I was telling my friends to watch them bait Afams to a spot and switch play. They did that in spades. 6) Fierra starting: first sniff at the WC comes at the most difficult game in the knockouts. Gregg put him in a place to fail. Gonna take that kid awhile to shake that off. Had no business out there save one or two good touches. After CP’s assumed offsides half hearted strike Fierra was the albatros that hurt our team. Poor kid, come back stronger. Otherwise…. Status quo run. Nothing special but a lot of great experience for our amazing team. Go USA!
Scally is a right back. If the future is not ARob, it's Kevin Paredes, John Tolkin, Jonathan Gomez, or Caleb Wiley. We definitely have the future options at that position. We don't have to think so narrowly, to someone who will play narrowly, because he's right-footed. I'm open to playing a right-footer on the left, if you have lefty options higher up to provide the width. The only lefty I can think of that might play further up is the aforementioned Paredes. And his utility would probably be best at fb. So why not just elevate one of the natural guys.