Pre-match: USA-Costa Rica, 2021-10-13, Columbus

I am confused. Right now, US Soccer says the CR game is today (Tuesday 10/12):

https://www.ussoccer.com/competitio.../matches/united-states-vs-costa-rica-10-13-21

But the link itself and the broadcasters have it for tomorrow (10/13). I guess the ussoccer site is wrong?

 

Yeah I'm also confused... these are Qatar times so Thursday 2am is Weds night your time, but is our game tonight or tomorrow?



Note: Also, we can't upload images anymore? Thanks suck....

 

That was fixed. The site now says Oct 13.

 

The lineup most likely will be

Yeah it should be a combination of those 16 players, not Acosta starting though.

 

I wouldnt be shocked. Egg is like the embodiment of the the Churchill quote "Americans will always do the right thing, after they've tried everything else"

 

I have ESPN through sling and I watch ESPN+ content through the ESPN app. If I try to watch content airing on the ESPN TV channels through the app it requires me to re-login using my sling credentials. So, long story short, I think you need both, but there may be a work around that I’m not aware of.

 

I watched the Jamaica game on espn+ and haven't had cable service in 7+ years to answer your question.

 

What's the deal with multiple posters constantly mis-spelling McKennie's name? It's not a hard name to spell, and he's not an obscure player. He's been a fixture in our starting 11 when healthy and plays for a champions league club.

Anyways, yes he should play if he's healthy. This is an absolute must win and our midfield was horrendous last game. Pull him out at halftime if we're up. If he gets a yellow card, Berhalter has a month to figure out a solution that doesn't require Acosta to be an 8.

 

After Canada, putting Lleget and Acosta as the 8s again is malpractice. For you lawyers, it’s pretty much negligence per se.

 

Lose this game GB and I want your head on a pike. No more excuses for your bumbling. And give Zardes and Lletget a bus ticket home today

 

Ok, so since you have all the answers.. what is your starting lineup and formation for tomorrow?

 

If that happened I suspect GGG would just roll with Acosta as an 8 again. If he hasn’t been able to identify the problems with his midfield selections up to this point, I’m not expecting him to figure it out now.

 

Giving the XI some more thought...
———————Pepi————————
Aaronson——————————Hoppe
————McKennie—Musah—————
———————Adams———————
Jedi—————————————Dest
—————Miles——Zimmerman——
———————Turner———————

Subs:

1. De la Torre (Musah) 65
2. Weah (Hoppe) 65
3. Richards (Jedi / Miles / Walker / Dest) 75
4. Acosta (Adams) 75
5. Busio (McKennie) 75

Notes:
1. We need continuity and leadership on the backline. Therefore, I advocate we push to see Miles-Zimmerman again...with Dest and Jedi on the flanks.

2. I really wanted to see Richards start one game. But I think the game plan against Panama and Jamaica screwed that up...as we need some continuity. Therefore, I would sub him in somewhere on the backline against Costa Rica. That way, there should be no excuse that he should be ready to go as one of the main dudes in the next window.

3. We need to be very careful that Adams doesn’t get a yellow in this match. I would have swapped this with Adams starting against Panama, and Acosta starting against Costa Rica. But now, we cannot afford to play Adams.

4. We should McKennie and Jedi return to the fold. Also, Musah shouldn’t be caste aside. He’s young. We have to have patience with him. And I expect him to have another big game against Costa Rica.

5. Pepi needs to return up top. Aaronson too. And I’ll be furious if Hoppe isn’t starting. Arriola looks toast. Weah looks better as a sub. And Hoppe is too dynamic and energetic to never play.

5. Busio and De la Torre need to come into this match at some point.

6. The overall message is clear: keep it simple. Win your duels. Move the ball. Stretch the field. And Press. Do not get slogged into over-dribbling, and losing concentration and physical battles.

7. No thanks: McKenzie, Arriola, Lletget, Roldan, Zardes, Bello, and Moore.

 

This seems pretty well thought out. If Zimmerman isn't 100% though, I'd go ahead and ride with Richards. He should be fine. And really want to see Hoppe get an actual chance - I would have started him in Panama. He plays with as much urgency as anyone in the USMNT setup, and I think that's called for. I really have no problem having Musah start a third straight match when no one else did - he's super young and doesn't rack up excessive minutes at Valencia. He should be OK.

 

I'd love that lineup!

 

Me too but I'd bet money that Lletget and/or Acosta will be starting. My God I hope not both.

 

I am baffled by the complete non-use of Richards and Hoppe. I can’t really see how all the alternatives selected were preferable.

 

Doubt Hoppe starts but GGG is random so who knows. Please God no Arriola starting is all I ask.

 

Yeah it seems off to me

 

Richards is not surprising. The only thing surprising is this attitude that he is van Dijk and is going to ping 3 assists for us in his first game. The best he can be right now is as good as Miles and Zimmerman have been. I understand not playing him.

Hoppe? We need someone with his attitude on the field.

 

Ok. There is hope. Thank you.

Now can you have the team deliver a better performance?

 

Oph. Killed that straw man dead.
Here is the lineup:

coach: Lopetegui
Players: whatever Julen says


I am not a professional soccer coach, but I can recognize when a team is not functioning well.

 

Zardes wasn't in form and I don't believe he has regained his pre-injury form yet. Maybe somebody who watches Crew could corroborate. That bothers me because I hate watching us constantly suffering from self inflicted wounds for sentimental reasons - vide, Howard after groin surgery at Couva when he was already playing badly for Colorado. Now watch Steffen play v. CR.......

Zardes probably looked at that ball coming in on the corner kick and thought "ah, no prob, I've handled these balls tons of time" and he probably had but "had" is the operative word. Timing is a part of form that has to be regained.

I remember in the old days that NFL players were graded on how they "played hurt". In a 16 games season packed into 3+ months that could make sense. It makes no sense at all in international soccer.

 

We'll see how Zimmerman is.
The forwards that CR is bringing are the type that Zimmerman eats for lunch.

You're confused that Berhalter hasn't used a CB in a WCQer that's never started a game with the USMNT? I think if Richards' hadn't been injured all summer and missed the Gold Cup/Nations League................we'd be using him here. Its one thing using an untested forward like Pepi. Its another to use an untested CB.

The CBs really haven't been the issue in the first two games anyway.
I thought our combo was excellent against Jamaica.

 

Just an aside here but I remember Busio being Captain of the u15's and he was the tallest/fastest player in the group (to my eyes anyway); now he seems like a short, slow stubby guy best used as a Pirlo.