Pre-match: USA vs Honduras WCQ 9/8/21

That is probably the best team from this roster. But several of those guys might be really tired right now.

 

Gregg said in his press conference that he's not afraid to play Pepi, but the time wasn't right. Play Pepi or we riot.

 

Pefok had enough problems finding the game when we dominated possession. Imagine how bad he could be on the counter.

That lineup is pretty light in physical targets, when we're likely going to get 50-50 possession or worse, as aforementioned.

You said yourself Acosta plays in front of a 3 in Colorado. Why would you think he'd struggle comparatively to in front of 2? I'd be worried more about that Adams-Acosta combo who didn't get it done in build-up in Nashville. Not to mention you're testing Adams' muscles.

What's the data on the notion that CP has performed best at CAM for the US? I remember a noteworthy performance at home v. Honduras (much different dynamic), but that's all I can recall. I have him there on offense (wide in press) to account for lack of options, but I don't know there's efficacy to it.

 

Will this be live?

 

My parents strategic weapon of choice was the flyswatter! It was particularly effective in the car!

 

-Pefok vs Sargent vs Pepi is a really tough call for me. I'm mostly basing my call on his historical goal scoring record with club. Sargent just doesn't really bag many goals... obviously you can argue he does the other parts of the game well, but this forum has gone back and forth on that too many a time. Pepi really intrigues me, but it's too much of a dice roll for me right now. I basically feel like Pefok is the best aerial threat, which might come in handy vs Honduras, and also feel he has the best chance at finishing given chances out of the options right now.

-I don't think the lineup is light in physical targets. M.Robinson, Brooks, and Pefok are enough for me. I expect that we'll win the possession battle with this lineup as well.

-Acosta's worst game in recent memory was against Jamaica where we played a 3-4-3. I think the 4-2-3-1 gives him more coverage because of the split coverage on the wings between the winger, the fullback, and himself. Essentially I think a 3-4-3 puts a crazy amount of physical responsibility on the CMs. This relates to your point on Adams. I think the 4-2-3-1 actually gives him more coverage.

-And to your last point, here's this https://www.transfermarkt.us/christ...016-03-30/ende/2021-09-08/nurEinsatz/0/plus/1

 

Steve Goff is reporting ...

Pulisic: "There is no doubt within this team. We are a confident bunch of guys. We know we are good enough to get three points. That’s it. That’s our mindset. We’re going in to win the game, and we’re going to have to fight, though. We have no excuses."

 

Yeah, I'm a bit worried about that. To some degree, Berhalter has to trust the players if they say they're ready to go. My philosophy is go out guns a blazin with our best lineup possible and let the boys show what they're made of. Go for the win, and make defensive adjustments later if needed. At least that's how I hope it'll go.

 

I don’t care where guys play. I do understand how air flights work. If you can get the Euros released in time to be at peak performance then great I’ll take Green,
Hoppe, LDT, Miazga etc.

Maybe you think this Is video game and you can just toggle off fatigue.

Sending the guys with familiarity from a month at Gold Cup would have allowed the better players to get a week of training together so they didn’t look like strangers.

 

Three field guys haven’t played a minute (four of you count Jackson although maybe the quakes played Friday or something?).

Knowing what he knows, Arena would start all three. Is he wrong? I’d start Pepi for sure. I’d start sands too. I might start Zimmerman too, but likely not.

 

is Tim Ream more reliable than John Brooks?

 

We should play empty bucket with two forwards. That's what this roster screams for.

 

That is what I was thinking. Even the full roster might call for it, with Adams and Musah in the Bradley and Jones roles, and Pulisic and Reyna in the Donovan and Dempsey roles.

 

Very easy to say, but clearly a lot harder to do in practice.

 

We have already wasted too much time on players outside the 23 and not gotten enough time with the actual 23. It shows!!! You and Berhaoter seem more interested in looking for depth than getting the actual team playing well. So odd.

 

Not a chance.

 

Why don't you actually watch the guy play before guessing how bad he would be? He looked pretty good in transition on the goal against Canada. How you knock Pefok and still stan for Dike is nuts based on how the two have played for the usmnt.

 

Measured over the last two games? Yes.

 

Even if Pefok wins the initial header, in spite of his immobility, that will prevent him from getting back to the box in time. So we'd need more passes for the attack not to break down along the way. It's an issue for us. And we don't want to allow the d to recover.

Pepi is a better fit for this game in theory, with his ability to make diagonals to get in behind. And he can rejoin the attack quicker if he's the target man.

I think both Siebatcheu & Sargent have proven insufficient as strikers. Pepi's the only other striker on the roster. It's time to gamble. Just wish Gregg had played him off the bench to set him up for this. I do get having qualms in lieu of that. I do think Gregg will be too scared w/ his back against the wall.

I mean physical targets up higher to receive balls from in deeper. Brooks and Robinson can't receive balls from themselves. Well, that was part of the problem on Sunday. We could use Josh's physical ability for a winger to complement two of the other small guys. 3 small across the attacking mid line in Pulisic, KDLF, Aaronson (heavy-legged to boot).

Well, he was pretty bad last game in a similar 433 formation. And 1 game ain't going to break my stride, ain't ever going to slow me down.

He can have split coverage on the wings from the wing-back and outside cb. We'll likely sit a little deeper for the wing-back to be there outside being countered. I would worry more about giving him build-up duties as one of 2 between him and Adams. But I have a 352 in possession and Sands next to him anyway.

There's some good production there, but none of the games where he's listed at "a-mid" are near as tough as at Honduras. There's no production in a game of around that difficulty, though that's true too at winger, unless you count a penalty kick goal v. Mexico. And he hasn't played well centrally for his clubs. So I'm nihilistic about his position for us when it matters.

 

Load management will be important. Aaronson and Adams should be rotated. Brooks can also be rotated for an away game in Central America. Pulisic and Konrad should sold the midfield creativity issues.

--------------------Pepi------------
-------Konrad---Pulisic--Sargent
----------Acosta------Sands-------
Jedi----Miles---Zimmerman----Yedlin
------------------Turner--------------

 

I don’t know if others agree, but all his interviews this window have a different vibe to them than his interviews as a player for Chelsea. He’s never been one to give away much, and the pat (non)answers are sort of SOP, but there’s a hint of irritation or tiresomeness lately that isnt always there.

 

There is no way Captain Berhalter goes down with this sinking ship without Lletget on deck playing some somber tunes on the violin.

 

My grandma from Appalachia was lethal with a tree twig (a switch, she called it).

LETHAL. My legs hurt 40+ years later, thinking of it.