Yes, because I'm not "MLS or you suck". Which I've said, and my posting history supports. Again, you see here with my detailed analysis of each player's game that my opinion is based on what I see, not what you think. As it always is.
On Mexican TV (Televisa), they just had a lengthy preview of the USA-Mexico game, at halftime of El Salvador-Mexico. It included a clip from a Berhalter press conference, except that the graphic said USA Head Coach, Michael Bradley. LOL. I hope that is not a prediction for the future. Or maybe all Gringos look alike. Also, they had a promo for a friendly game: Mexico-Ecuador on October 27. Really?
What's up with Weston's passing and overall touch tonight? I liked his movement forward, though, and it's unfortunate that he was missed in space a few times by teammates. We have to do a better job at seeing the cutback passes that are available in the final third.
Just so much enjoyable watching this midfield vs the crap of Lletget and Acosta when playing the 8. Turnovers are always going to be a thing, at the end of the day you get a shot or eventually turn it over. Difference is when you aren’t starting LAG bench players like Lletget the turnovers are in the opposition 3rd and not in midfield. Aside from that, today stressed how important our wide backs are. The drop off from Dest and Robinson is DRASTIC. After Adams, not sure anyone is more important than Jedi/Dest. Hopefully Scally keeps improving.
Interestingly, in this game against El Salvador, Mexico made 8 changes from their last starting lineup. And El Salvador just got a red card for a play very similar to what Jamaica did against Arriola.
Is it tonight or is it maybe just who he is? He has been bouncing around the Juventus squad in terms of position and starting status. He has had as many meh games as good games recently for the NT. Maybe that just who he is? Personally the more I watch him the more I think he is just a stereotypical old school all-hustle, some-skill American player who a light coat of European paint. I just don't see much tbh. Rough first touch, rough passing ability, and top it off with some real questionable decision making. He still has a role to play in our midfield, but eventually other players are going to start coming for his spot if this is all he is.
Yet, Pep sees something in him while Turner plays in a fourth tier league. I would like to see Steffen play more but being a backup at a huge club isn't the worst thing. Ask Navas or Donnarumma.
Game ratings Steffen 4, really soft goal. Did well on other occasions, sloppy delivery in first half. Didnt have much to do otherwise. Dest 8, played well all night giving loads of energy. Well taken shot. Out of position as a defender but thats more on GGGs system. Robinson 4, worst night of his career as a USMNT starter. Turners communication style may help him. No excuse on that soft pass to Ruiz. Richards, 5 fine enough. Recovered well on the musah slide touch, won a lot of headers and seemed confident enough. Shaky passing. ARob 6, steady presence that was needed. Crossing was horrible, needs work there but is a lock LB. Adams 6, didn't need to do much other than put a few balls in a better spot. Did what he normally does. McKennie 5, was really fighting Robinson for WOTM until he calmed a bit. Needs to do better if he is asked to create. Musah 6, played hard and well. Asked to do more than he currently is capable of. Aaronson 6, pressing at times but decent. More good than bad. Pepi 5, nonexistent for much of the match but again service was so very poor. Stayed high and occupied CR. Weah 5, had a few good runs but a few bad passes. Tough angle to beat the keeper but put it on frame. Subs Hoppe 5, not much time to make an impact kept a yedlin cross in that gave Pepi a chance. Looked to be trying stuff, regardless of if it works or not(need that sometimes). Zardes 4, didn't do a lot but body checked a ball into a dangerous area off a corner for CR. Busio 6, looked calm on the ball provided a better balance to the midfield creating play starter plays. Yedlin 5, average, bad crossing but that's the norm now. Zimmerman, NR didn't do much. Gregg-4. Team didn't have a good performance, planned on starting Arriola again which was insane. Got the 3 points so its not lower, but not a great start to his WCQ career as a coach performance wise in the easier windows.
Navas has a career of elite seasons… Not comparable in any way with a promising talent that just stopped getting matches
It's partly what has gotten him into trouble at Juve (especially recently), but I've seen better from him.
He was playing injured and while definitely had some bad touches, in the final 3rd, he also made about 6 diagonal passes to spring people that the normal GGGs refuse to try, and instead turn around and pass it backwards
I actually only got to the pub right after the Dest goal, so I can't comment on the one we conceded, but I don't think Wes was that bad at all. The way I see it, people complained a lot about our old midfield and static players like Bradley who would play the conservative ball instead of "trying shit". Wes tonight was almost the polar opposite of that. Every time he got the ball he was driving forward, trying to get past people, trying to make a useful pass. When you play a risky style like that, the lows are going to be more obvious than when you just sit deep and pass back to the CB. I do think his touch was off tonight, but overall the performance that I saw (26th minute to the end) was fine.
I thought he looked rusty. Only playing 3 times a year isn’t good enough. Too bad we don’t have other GKers pushing him more.
I'm thinking we insert a playmaker in that role like Aaronson or Reyna (in a different window). 3G doesn't understand how teams progress the ball from midfield.
Married with a couple of dogs? Dogs? And you don’t have an hour or two on Saturday morning to watch yanks?
I wish our whole 23 was "bouncing around the Juventus squad". Not bad to be drawing paychecks from the same place where Zidane, Nedved, Baggio, and Laudrup played. Not many nations can turn away players who are good enough to break into a club of that stature, and we aren't one of them. I think Wes was like 95% of his usual self tonight. There'd be a loose touch or bad pass here and there, but overall you could see the intent and quality. As I said in my other post, when your role is to be the more active and daring CM, you are going to have more yikes moments by virtue of taking more ambitious chances. This wasn't the best version of McKennie, but the idea of his spot being at risk is a non-starter for me. He's a top 3-4 player in the pool right now.
Thats not true at all. All that you do is praise mls players and criticize Euro players. Its literally all that you do on here.