How things could stand after Tuesday, using a bad series of outcomes (but not the worst case, because IMO a Panama win over Mexico would be the worst case for the US now) Mexico - 9 points Canada - 5 Honduras - 5 Panama - 4 Costa Rica - 4 USA - 2 El Salvador - 2 Jamaica - 0 Even a draw likely leaves the U.S. in 4th or 5th. In other words, there's no pressure on the US!
If there's a silver lining... I think Canada and El Salvador are better than they have been in the past. Costa Rica and Honduras are probably worse. The Ticos have gotten a lot older, and the prospect of taking points off them looks a lot better than in 2018 and 2014, when we had to drag them into the snow in Colorado to nick a 1-0 result. In 2018 they beat us twice, right? I don't see that happening this time around. Other than Mexico away, there's not really a game where the opponents should be CLEAR favorites, so if this team can play to its potential then a quick turnaround is certainly doable. The margin for error obviously drops with each bad result.
who cares? Half this board will blame JK and say that BB and Arena will ride in and lead the team to qualification because reasons.
Honestly, this match should be a must win for Berhalter to keep his job. There has to be some standards, and 2 or 3 points in 3 games... when all we’re playing is Canada, El Salvador, and Honduras is not good enough. I don’t want to hear all this crap about how hard CONCACAF is and what not... it’s crap. We’re going to face a lot harder teams this in the World Cup if we can qualify... which at this point, I don’t think we can do. Not on this track. We’re a collection of talented individuals who don’t know how to play as a team. Nonetheless, Berhalter needs to pull some magic out of his ass because if he loses or even draws.... he must be fired and replaced. Brian Schmertzer... you’re up. Anyone else?
I agree. But there is more margin for error than in a Hex. If you have followed South American qualifying, you know that teams start out fast, or slowly, lose or win a couple of games in a row, and everything changes. That is with 10 teams, but I expect that to happen with CONCACAF this time.
One thing that really pisses me off is that we said 9 points is impossible for this round. Well, Mexico is about to grab 9 points from this round. ...I thought we were on that level? This whole win at home, draw on the road, be happy with what you can get is how we got into this mess. A lack of hunger and discipline and confidence to say, this is the standard, anything less is a failure. Again, 9 points was the standard. Any decent coach could have accomplished that. It honestly takes work to have done as bad of a job as Berhalter has screwed things up.
@Honduras Win: Keep GGG for 5 more games, with 10 points required Draw: Keep GGG for 3 more games, with 7 points required Lose: GGG out!
Yeam I’m counting on it, hence my certainty I’m gonna lose my shit. It would be great to have Scally come through. From the bit I’ve seen in the Bundesliga so far, he could genuinely be the defensively superior FB everyone deludes themselves that Cannon and Yedlin are.
Might I remind you where we stood after the first qualifying window when one Jürgen Klinsmann last managed this team? I swear, who needs Mexicans?
things we know (or dont) - mrob and adams have played full minutes, and neither should start. - aaronson and yedlin have each played at least 3 halves, and as the roster stands both will have to/are very likely to start again. - steffen and reyna are out, mckennie is probably out/questionable? and we just put 90 minutes on pulisic. until we know if there are going to be additions its really hard to say what we could do. not that thats gonna stop me ____________turner____________ ___mckenzie__sands___brooks___ yedlin_____________________arob _______acosta____lletget________ roldan___________________konrad __________who cares?__________ zim or ream could replace brooks, cb isnt a problem. we have no backup rb. bello is fine, but i dont think going away from arob after last night makes a ton of sense (though breaking bello in late does). we have adams for the midfield if youre into overworking guys for no reason, but no other options. theres no real alternative to playing roldan on the right and i think this is a good situation to use him there so that fine. i go with konrad because i think one point is better than none, and i have no clue why you would reasonably think 3 is an option (hope yes, expect? cmon). it doesnt make me quite as furious as starting an injured dike twice, but leaving pulisic in the full 90 was just an asshole move. we have aaronson to bring on if we do somehow have a chance to go for full points late (ish- im talking after 60 minutes not 83). thats also the only scenario id use pulisic- if we are actually putting things together to any degree, if honduras are looking wiped or just bad. as much as i dont want to start either sarge or p-funk i think this is absolutely the wrong time to throw pepi in (as a starter). i lean sarge just for covering ground and helping clean things up, not anything silly like the remotest possibility of scoring. but that could probably get us a draw. warm bodies at rb, cm and a 2 sided winger (arriola is the exact right fit if he is...well, fit) are honestly not really negotiable. i get the instinct to go with a ferreira but i think its a little late in the game to bring guys in expecting them to contribute. we should have made these changes after the idiotic lineup gregg sent out vs es. and i do think it will be limited to mls guys, so duncan, pomykal (i know it would be yueill) and arriola would be fine. just go out and fight, keep the clean sheet. if there are cracks, if it looks possible then we can bring on aaronson, by all means bring on pepi, pulisic. arriola would honestly be a better choice than duncan to take over for yedlin if needed. roldans got the legs and motor to move central if either acosta or lletget are dragging. i dont know why im doing this to myself, trying to find ways this could go ok in spite of berhalter. im not going to be surprised at all if we dont add anyone. as much as people try to paint me as super negative i just believe in our players. the talent- however young and inexperienced- that were on the roster for this window that (most likely) wont even play in this one is more than entire teams ive watched qualify. its crazy to say theyre not good enough. i hate that gregg simply isnt up to the this, but im not going to stop pulling for this team. i think they do have heart, and grit, and fight. they deserve better, though i know our handicap isnt going anywhere. but neither am i.
Yep. The "physical" CONCACAF play has bothered these players. Musah doesn't shy away from contact in La Liga. He could do well in CONCACAF.
theres all kinds of problems with the coach, but mckennie has to be accountable. im not comfortable tying the two together without knowing much of anything.
I don't know whose being called in, I imagine Gregg/USSF had contact with a group of backup players. Doubtful any come from Europe unless they are leaving now. With that said I'll guess using what's on the roster now ----------------------Pepi --Konrad-----------------------------Aaronson -------McKinnie-------Roldan ---------------------Sands --Robinson---McKenzie---Brooks--Acosta Pulisic comes on for Aaronson after 60. Doubtful either player has more than that but I think they need to play. Sands should do the job against a bunker as Adams is probably not able to go 90 again effectively. Miles is gassed. Pepi needs to see what he has. Sargent is a good sub trying to break lines. Lletget needs a rest. Wouldn't be surprised to see Ream. Regardless this team needs more direct players. Gooch is a player I'd be interested in seeing as I feel his direct running would be a big help on the wings for a team that lacks it. Weah would be great too but doubt either can get there quick enough. Gotta be better.
We're in desperate need of players who can combine. Yunus (teamed with Adams and Wes) would be ideal, but that isn't happening. Sorry, Pefok. Bring in Green, stick with Sargent. I'd love to see Hoppe added. Does anyone genuinely think Berhalter is coaching for his job on Wednesday?
During his Crew days, Berhalter used a cam. He attacked up the flanks. The base formation was a 4231. That makes for a departure from the slow build up, camless, centrally focused 433.