Post-match: USA @Honduras, 9/9/21

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by tomásbernal, Sep 9, 2021.

  1. The Clientele

    The Clientele Member+

    Portland Timbers
    Jun 25, 2005
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can think of so many examples of his elite play… That goal against Brazil in the Confederations Cup in 2009, for example.

    I have yet to really see one of the new young guys pull something like that off in a USA jersey…
     
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  2. The Clientele

    The Clientele Member+

    Portland Timbers
    Jun 25, 2005
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fair point!
     
  3. Calling BS

    Calling BS Member+

    Orlando City
    United States
    Jan 25, 2020
    Yep. Looking at the first window, you can see Every CONCACAF team has players who can dribble around and fall down. Pulisic, Dest and others don’t look like anything special if you watch all the games and teams playing in the Ocho. If you don’t have the heart to battle and the toughness to fight through those battles, you are useless to the cause of WCQ. This window has exposed several “paper tigers” on this roster that have shown they can’t be counted upon.
     
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  4. Calling BS

    Calling BS Member+

    Orlando City
    United States
    Jan 25, 2020
    Yep. Looking at the first window, you can see Every CONCACAF team has players who can dribble around and fall down. Pulisic, Dest and others don’t look like anything special if you watch all the games and teams playing in the Ocho. If you don’t have the heart to battle and the toughness to fight through those battles, you are useless to the cause of WCQ. This window has exposed several “paper tigers” on this roster that have shown they can’t be counted upon.
     
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  5. grandinquisitor28

    Feb 11, 2002
    Nevada
    Agreed on Adams. Adams and Pulisic have been neck and neck for best USMNT for a player now, and Adams injuries are probably the reason why Pulisic has the advantage. McKennie snuck into the lead a year ago but has had a horror show 2021 other than the Nations League. Yikes. I've never seen a player fly so high up the charts as he did August to December, and then tumble as badly through the winter, spring, and current window (w/the exception of Nations League).

    In terms of the attack, I wish it was that simple. I just haven't seen it. Other than being forced into playing more creative, intuitive soccer, no matter how many elite guys are piled into our midfield pool, I can't see it changing. His teams just don't score, no matter the talent. I'm not buying.

    Donovan just had an interesting comment on his podcast. He said when he saw window 3, he said "thank god we got the roadie to Honduras last, that way, they'll be a bit tired. He pointed out that our players would have more user friendly travel with charters, and better treatment in general compared to Honduras, which don't have the same funding to handle 3 games in 6 days w/o fatigue setting in. He felt they looked exhaused in the 2nd half. I wondered if this would play out because other than a huge 10,000 mile flight to open the window, they'd be playing close to home for the matches at San Salvador, and at home in San Pedro Sula, so I assumed, the lack of heavy travel after last weeks game would mean they'd be fresh, especially with having rotated. It sure didn't look like it though, and maybe one of the core problems is our HUGE amount of depth, even with not calling in enough players, a litany of injuries and a suspension, we still could roll out relatively fresh guys late on...I don't know.

    Back to you:

    I disagree about the '17 Hex btw. I didn't think our problem was the defense in that cycle, I felt our problem was a million things including the defense AND the attack. The attack piled in goals in two games (hosting Panama and Honduras) and struggled everywhere else. That is kinda, what generally happens (just like any team, we grab a bigger share of goals at home and against the weaker sides than in the rest of the games) but what was really telling is that we scored 2 goals total in four games against Mexico and Costa Rica. Typically we score 4-6 goals in those 4 games, we scored half to 1/3 of that. Against T&T we scored 3 total goals, normally wed bag 4-6 in that head to head, especially considering we got them at the halfway and finale, when they were largely already done. The offense was largely putrid in the hex, it had two quality games and that was it. Even against Honduras they were essentially shut out on the road, getting a late equalizer on a poachers miracle late on. We scored 4 this time on the road, 1 or 2 in '13, 3 in '09, and 2 in '01. The attack was trash in '17. It didn't show up in basically 8 of the 10 games.
     
  6. mfw13

    mfw13 Member+

    Jul 19, 2003
    Seattle
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Because putting Yedlin in at RB allowed Adams to move back to his natural spot at the heart of midfield.

    Konrad is a winger/AM, not a DM.
     
  7. Union4Lyfe

    Union4Lyfe Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Oct 12, 2017
    Everyone on here is the hipsters of soccer. The obvious stars are frauds and their obscure pet player that they have been following through yanks abroad academy is actually way better than anyone knows. When Pulisic has 3 goals and a couple assists next window there will be another fraud euro player in the crosshairs - probably dest.
     
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  8. Pisco Sour

    Pisco Sour Member

    Chelsea
    United States
    Jul 13, 2021
    I think this is bullshit. Pulisic, as a 17 year old, was the only one who gave a shit in 2017 when we lost to T+T away from home when the rest of the team were laughing at the waterlogged field and underestimating the opponent. I think Jozy is still out there, trying to get out of his own way.

    This is a young group who just started major seasons with major clubs. It'll take awhile, but you can see the talent there. Do I think several players are overhyped? Absolutely.
     
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  9. 70runner

    70runner Member

    Jun 21, 2007
    The image I'm left with...in the middle of the player celebration after the go ahead goal is a shirtless, hobbling Pulisic, supporting his teammates. The kid is 100% committed to this team.
     
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  10. mfw13

    mfw13 Member+

    Jul 19, 2003
    Seattle
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Musah needs to be playing regularly for him to get the start over Acosta.

    And I'd take Dest at RB for the home Jamaica match, but give Yedlin the away match in Panama. Whomever has the better game gets the home match against Costa Rica.
     
  11. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What are the injury statuses of Pulisic and Reyna?
     
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  12. Marius Tresor

    Marius Tresor Member+

    Aug 1, 2014
    Hey, I was at all those games too, except for the China matches, I only saw Brazil-China. And we went to all FIVE USA matches! I think we went to about 25 games total, because we got there for the opening game and then, after USA-Germany, we went to Japan for the Brazil semifinal and the Final. It was really easy to travel around Korea and Japan, and they are relatively small, so you could go to matches every day in the group phase. Qatar should be the same, or even easier to do that.
     
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  13. Marius Tresor

    Marius Tresor Member+

    Aug 1, 2014
    I think you mean Brazil 1982?
     
  14. mfw13

    mfw13 Member+

    Jul 19, 2003
    Seattle
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    I'm pretty sure that was Pulisic wanting to give it another go in a 1-1 must-win game, not Berhalter refusing to take him off.
     
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  15. Calling BS

    Calling BS Member+

    Orlando City
    United States
    Jan 25, 2020
    Yedlin crosses in the ball for Pepi
     
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  16. mfw13

    mfw13 Member+

    Jul 19, 2003
    Seattle
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    I think people forget that what players see at ground level is not the same thing that we see on TV from a high-up angle.

    Players that we can see are open on TV may not be visible to the player(s) on the pitch at ground level.
     
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  17. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    Just not sure how you portray Yedlin as a MLSer when he spent most of his career in the EPL.
     
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  18. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Point taken on right back. The issue I have with Acosta at the third midfielder spot is that we saw how important Lletget was as a shuttler last night. If you have Adams and Reyna as two of your mids, I think you need someone with that shuttler skillset and mindset.

    I never thought I'd ever say this, but I wouldn't be against Lletget being in that role for the Panama match away.
     
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  19. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    That's inevitable.

    Pulisic has played too much hero ball with the USMNT -- he was more effective when he played his role in the 2018 cycle next to some of the vets like Dempsey and others I won't mention because it starts a shitshow. He's best as lightning in a bottle, not the complete focus of the defense (who isn't?).

    I think he was good versus Honduras. People expect him to do too much which leads to him trying to do too much. Just play. We have a lot of good players; play with everyone.
     
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  20. nirwin

    nirwin Member

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Aug 20, 2007
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fair enough. I just think he played well in Honduras and I had him as co-MOTM against Canada (with Aaronson maybe winning the tiebreaker because he scored). Maybe he's trying to do a bit too much at times, but his performances haven't been remotely close to a problem.
     
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  21. mfw13

    mfw13 Member+

    Jul 19, 2003
    Seattle
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Pepi seemed to be a very physical player, whereas Sargent seems to be too thin and therefore gets pushed around a lot.
     
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  22. grandinquisitor28

    Feb 11, 2002
    Nevada
    The only argument I've come across that made any sense was that he was nervous about piling everyone into camp and then having covid breakout (which is sorta did, but we were lucky that the person it hit was home with an injury so likely didn't expose others, plus plays in the smallest position group) which could cause us to lose essentially all of our A and B teams. He kept enough guys away that we could build a kind of halfway decent B/C team if things went totally sideways.

    I don't know why he did it, but yeah, in the next window, especially after what happened with McKennie, I get the sense players are gonna be much smarter in general about covid protocols after seeing how things went with him. Once bitten twice shy kinda scenario. Regardless, I expect Egg to be much, much smarter about brining a broader collection of talent. How much of the injuries was the compacted schedule? Not sure, but 3 games in seven days is insane. No tournament plays matches at that rate. We need to have a good group of forwards, midfielders and defenders called in, yes, yes, bring in as many versatile types as possible, we badly need guys like Sands and Acosta and Weah et all because they can play a wide variety of positions, but we need depth too.
     
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  23. Three and Three

    Three and Three Member+

    Sep 13, 2015
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    I couldn't believe that he wasn't carded. Sands, by the way, over his head, nervous, struggling, did manage to lay it out a few times, too.
     
  24. SteelyTom

    SteelyTom Member

    Mar 21, 2007
    Boston, MA USA
    Club:
    Pumas UNAM
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's hard not to have very mixed emotions after this window. On the one hand, five points is... okay. Several guys really showed out, among them Pepi, Turner, Jedi, Miles. No Wes, Reyna, or Dest, then Pulisic gets subbed off? No problem. Well. almost.

    On the other hand, for all of his major contributions in player recruitment, Berhalter cannot be relied on to put our players in the best position to win. Whether it's forcing guys to play out of position (Adams, Dest, Acosta), or contriving formations that suggest control-freaky panic, Berhalter inspires no faith that he'll be up to it if we're lucky enough someday to play meaningful matches against the likes of France or Italy. Berhalter, more than the talent on the field, may define our ceiling.
     
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  25. grandinquisitor28

    Feb 11, 2002
    Nevada
    I'll glady take that barb as well. They acquitted themselves exceptionally well (of course i love most of the players that were on the field, for me it's more of a talent thing, I expect Pepi to be in Europe this time next year, and Miles Robinson should already be there for instance), I'm happy taking a hit there.
     
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  26. grandinquisitor28

    Feb 11, 2002
    Nevada
    Very good point. Amazing how hard he was able to play in the window compared to what we saw from NBA and NFL players last year that tried to come back from it even a month later.
     
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  27. Strikerdad10

    Strikerdad10 Member

    Jul 22, 2005
    Maybe someone has already pointed this out but in the huddle prior to the start of the second half it seems that Pulisic is maybe addressing the team and he’s patting Pepi on the back the whole time. Just struck me as veteran leadership moment letting the new guy know let’s go do this. Have no idea what was said or if Pulisic was even talking. But I’m going to think the best because it made me smile. Then we went out and kicked ass
     

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