The Ocho

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Patrick167, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. nycfc919

    nycfc919 Member+

    Aug 17, 2015
    I’ll also believe that Antonio and others are there when the game actually kicks off. Both teams really need 3 points out of the El Salvador match at Cuscatlan.
     
  2. Athlone

    Athlone Member+

    Feb 2, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    Jamaica
    You mean to refer to the Jamaica-Panama game (Antonio didn't play against Costa Rica).

    As for the midfield, it's never going to be a strength. Watson has no business in this side. That said, Ravel and Grant are substantial upgrades in the center of the pitch (neither was available to face the USMNT last window), and Grant's presence means there's at least a decent chance Watson doesn't start and we see some combination of Williams, Ravel and Grant in the central midfield. That'll be significantly more potent than what we fielded last window.
     
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  3. CANPRO

    CANPRO Member+

    Dec 23, 2002
    If all the best players report for Jamaica, great. But where’s the chemistry, the familiarity with each other? What’s the team culture?

    Those are big issues.
     
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  4. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Yup. It just reminds of the Nations League game the USMNT played against Canada. They started the trio of Davies, David, and Cavallini up top. Quite an imposing trio. The USMNT central midfield trio just won their battles, choked off service to the Canadian attackers, and we won the game pretty convincingly 4-1.

    The question is what the American central midfield looks like. We'll undoubtedly go with our "best" group against Mexico. If we use some backups against Jamaica, then we could be in trouble. Cuz the dropoff from Tyler Adams to our 2nd best #6 is substantial. And of course Jamaica's first game in this window against El Salvador is a "must win." Who knows what they'll do?
     
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  5. deejay

    deejay Member+

    Feb 14, 2000
    Tarpon Springs, FL
    Club:
    Jorge Wilstermann
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    Twain never touched the book it was entirely hand written by Grant. Grant honed his writing skills during the war because he wanted to communicate his orders with clarity.

    https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/ho...lysses-s-grant-write-his-personal-memoirs.htm
     
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  6. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    #1781 Bruce S, Nov 2, 2021
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2021
    Grant was always good with words. His memoir explains that he didn't like military subjects at West Point so he often read the novels of the day instead of studying military tactics. Since the Napoleonic tactics they were taught were soon to be made VERY outmoded and even dangerous by the wide-spread use of rifling in muskets and artillery, it might have also helped Grant on the battlefield.
     
  7. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
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  8. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You guys have really started it with the Canadians! Now we'll REALLY get into trouble.

     
  9. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Actually it was a duo (Cavallini & David). Davies was moved to LB - a controversial decision by Herdman
     
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  10. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Ochoa has actually been pretty poor since he chose to switch to Mexico. He's not worthy of a callup. Slonina outplayed him by a good margin in a recent RSL-Chicago matchup.

    Can I make a prediction? From here on out Araujo, Ochoa, Alvarez, and Jonathan Gonzalez acquire less than 5 additional combined career caps.
     
  12. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I feel like of the 4 Araujo is by far the most likely to have any sort of extensive national team career. He's also the only one we would have been likely to be calling up for qualifying (since we know Berhalter tried to in previous windows).
     
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  13. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    I think Araujo carves a slot. The other three ... I think competitive caps will be at a minimum.
     
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  14. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    I'm not convinced Araujo has played all that well recently either. Maybe that's just me, though.
     
  15. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    He was fantastic in the Seattle / LAG game. Absolutely shut down his side. He's not a great offensive player and I don't think he ever will be -- good at the MLS level, but he's not Dest or anything.

    But he's a shutdown RB right now.
     
  16. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    We just added attacking depth with the Genk striker Iké Ugbo who has 18 goals in 41 Belgian Pro League matches and a product of Chelsea. Just in time against Mexico and Costa Rica
     
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  17. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Lainez is out I can see why Miazga didn't get called in.
     
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  18. theboogeyman

    theboogeyman Member+

    Jun 21, 2010
    I think it’s also important to remember that playing style and coach preferences matter a lot for guys who are not major standouts. Araujo clearly had Berhalter’s attention, but it seems like Tata has very limited interest in giving young players a chance. If Araujo transfers to a top league and does well, he will probably work his way in (under Tata or the next coach). As things stand, though, it’s easy enough for Martino or any other manager to prefer a guy who’s viewed as being better offensively, or more experienced, and who plays in the Mexican league.

    it’s a long term decision, and maybe berhalter would’ve liked others more long term, but for the rest of this cycle, it seems like Araujo might be shut out with Mexico.
     
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  19. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Going to be interesting to see how Costa Rica responds to the cold





    My prediction is that it won't go well with Costa Rica, with their older team and Canada's speed. I sort of expect Canada to win comfortably.
     
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  20. papermache16

    papermache16 Member+

    Jan 30, 2009
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have been waiting for cycles for Canada to introduce their own brand of Concacafness to proceedings.
     
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  21. dlokteff

    dlokteff Member+

    Jan 22, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    looks nice compared to...

    [​IMG]
     
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  22. Ghost

    Ghost Member+

    Sep 5, 2001
    Around 20 degrees Fahrenheit at game time in Edmonton Tuesday.

    [​IMG]
     
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  23. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hope we have a repeat of that first game in Columbus where Mexico wouldn’t even come out for warmups.
     
  24. Ghost

    Ghost Member+

    Sep 5, 2001
    It seems like 1 of Mexico, USMNT or Canada will have to have a bad window. Panama has an easy one, though. It probably won't matter in the long run.
     
  25. CANPRO

    CANPRO Member+

    Dec 23, 2002
    Costa Rica's preparations for the game vs Canada in Edmonton tomorrow seem really inadequate.

    https://leaderpost.com/sports/soccer/jones-edmonton-weather-may-prove-an-issue-for-costa-rica

    Strangely, Los Ticos flew commercial to Houston and chartered a flight from there and arrived at 2 a.m., Thursday with a plan to spend the day recovering from the travel prior to taking a quick look at Commonwealth Stadium to kick the ball around a bit at 5 p.m., 24 hours before the match as mandated by FIFA. But that was it.

    “They did not prepare for this. The team has been trained for two weeks in the mornings with those temperatures at 30 degrees,” said Chavez.
    But there’s a bigger worry than the Canadian weather for Los Ticos, he said.
     
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