He was pretty awful besides that miss as well. Didn't win a single header and the ball was bouncing off him all the time.
We should all be quite thankful that Mexico holds MLS in such low regard that they refuse to call up Chicharito. I’d fear him much more than anyone they had out there tonight. You would never know Jimenez has been excellent in the EPL.
He shot straight at the keeper from about 3 yards. Might as well have been a miss. At least Pefok slipped on his shank.
OK Just read though the thread. I get high expectations, but the draw is exceeding expectations on its face, and the flow was even more so in the US favor. It's a good night, yet the tone is still negative. Smile a little. Jeez.
Yeah, this game had me thinking if Jimenez can play in the EPL, surely Zimmerman can as well. He had him in his pocket.
He falls afterward, in trying to guide the shot. That's not a slip. It would be clumsy either way. The only caveat I'll give him are it was a half volley. Tougher to handle. And puts you between minds of an aerial and ground shot. Also it was to his weak foot. Still should have finished most times. But I think a Gio shot attempt is even more straight-forward. Easier to dink that inside the far post, after taking that out of the air, not coming at speed, fully expecting it. He shouldn't pass the buck there as a man of his stature or pretty much anyone. So I think he deserves a little flack (not as much as Pefok) for that abdication of responsibility of a pressure chance. Some may say it's selfish if he takes it and misses. Has nothing to do with it. It's about reducing margin of error by not adding another step, and if you're a star taking on more duty, within reason. Don't take on everyone. Take on 1 guy then move it along. And if you have a clear look at goal, take it and make it w/out hesitation. We need that mindset and ability more from most of our attackers. Not to imply that Gio played poorly btw. He had more chutzpah and effectiveness than pretty much everyone else. But why stop on the doorstep?
he was fine outside the miss. He played within the system, and had some nice passing (he was a part of the build up on the Pefok sitter), worked well off the ball (people are going to rightfully remember the miss, but that was a perfect perfect run to get into position to that into a sitter), and remember we only had 40% possession and he had the passing challenged Acosta and Jedi on his side. I actually prefer him playing through the middle or on the right in Berhalter’s 4-3-3 because it gets him away from Antonee Robinsons passing, and when McKennie isn’t there, with Yunus. I’d much rather see Arriola start on the left when we play Jedi. He tracks back, doesn’t need the ball to be effective, and Antonee can play off him as selfishly as he wants.
This is right ^. And watch it again. Pefok tried to plant and volley it first time. But he slipped right when he planted. I remember Zidane, of all people, doing something very similar for France once, in a friendly though. Sheesh, it seems like many posters here have never actually tried to play the game.
Dude was surprised by the pass, he couldn't react. He wasn't prepared, that's his failure to me. I don't see the slip affecting his shot as much as not being a cool head in the moment did. To each their own. The putdown at the end is weak, you don't need that. I'd bet 99% of us have played the game, so it comes off as lame.
I am sorry. But you are going to say Pulisic had some nice passing and that he contributed in the buildup to the Pefolk sitter and talk shit about Acosta's passing in the same sentence when it was Acosta who put the sweet ball to Reyna on that play and Acosta also had a very nice pass in the 49th minute he slipped into Pulisic who got a shot off. Acosta was also involved in the build up of give and goes that led to Pulisic's shot into Ochoa's chest.
The "putdown"? People here are saying Pefok is a horrible forward because of one bad missed volley where he slipped. Come on, so these same people have never had anything like that happen during their playing careers? I can only conclude that they have not played the sport (or another sport). Or maybe they are just being dishonest.
We see you Gio Reyna 🔥 pic.twitter.com/F49wJUzd07— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 25, 2022
I don't think Tata holds MLS in low regard. I understand if he holds Chicharito in low regard. Mexico could have done with Vela putting down his bottle of Corona and coming on for the last ten minutes.
Heroic result tonight -- I'll take a point at Azteca any time. We should feel proud. Yes, the win was there for the taking, but we were also on the ropes the last 10 minutes of the match and the backline held. Also gotta hand it to Gregg Berhalter -- took real balls to start the A-team tonight and he went for three points. The man is a patriot through and through. I hope it doesn't bite us on Sunday against Panama.
Dear Eric Palmer-Brown, Please accept my sincere thanks/apologies for playing right back for the first time in your life in a WCQ at the Azteca with WCQ on the line. I ********ed up and didn't have any other alternatives, and you scared the shit out of me, but got the job done. Well done. Love, Coach
TBF to GGG he called in three RBs and somehow a week later two of them are unavailable that's not really on him. Plus Yedlin was not playing well and needed to come off IMO.
FWIW, I think Palmer-Brown has played RB in a pinch before for the youth national team. And to @Boomf181818 's point, some really improbable luck that tested our depth chart with Dest's injury, Cannon's COVID diagnosis and Yedlin fatiguing out in the second half.
We take a point from Mexico while missing McKennie, Dest and Aaronson and the majority of comments are complaints. Bizarre. Anyone have any ideas how this team can get more out of Pulisic? Or why we can’t get goals from virtually any #9 we put out there? I mean ideas beyond ‘Pefok sux’ and ‘Gregg is satanic’. There seems to be a systemic issue with offensive production relative to chances created.
Agreed. RE: Pulisic, Matt Doyle has suggested playing him on the right wing to simplify his role and prevent him from over-dribbling into traffic so much. I'm not an expert, but I think two things that would help Pulisic's productivity with the national team are: 1) pass the ball earlier / less dribbling, 2) make better off-ball runs. He's too lazy trailing plays and I don't see him making enough runs.
He hasn't been good in the Premier League since his skull fracture (understandable). But even before that, he's always been kind of mediocre for Mexico. You'd expect a way better return in Concacaf from a guy who scored 17 goals in a Premier League season. 27 goals in 92 Mexico appearances with 0 goals against the US is pretty disappointing.