Pre-match: 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League: USA vs Grenada

Not every roster, every game should be a referendum on the coach's selections and tactics. There is a long. long process that Berhalter has been working through. In some ways, last summer was just the beginning of that process.

Those victories weren't about deflecting accountability or a final verdict of success on Berhalter. They were simply a fun and encouraging start to the meaningful part of the cycle.

The haters ignore the fact (or just simply can't grasp the perspective) that there has been a process unfolding and harp on every single negative detail, no matter how minute or insignificant, in a bid to appear as the smartest guy in the room.

 

Yep, case closed on someone's negative assumption that Scally would probably play < 60 minutes over these four games.

 

Back in the day, to see the World Cup, my friends and I would drive to another city and buy tickets to a closed-circuit presentation in an arena or large theater. So I try to appreciate what we have available today.

But it seems ridiculous that finding a game on tv today can still be such a convoluted mess.

 

On a totally unrelated note:

 

I get the sentiment and am even a tad nostalgic for the PPV days, but on the other hand it’s also very simple and accessible to watch these games if you live in antenna range. I love their TV deal. While I know not everyone can handle a Spanish broadcast, I get every USMNT game for free and in HD with an antenna (living several miles outside of DC), almost always Univision or UniMas and if not there then Telemundo.

On the topic of the actual game, Grenada’s players looked absolutely gassed at the final whistle last night. Hands on their heads, several fell straight to the ground. Have to think our fresh guys who didn’t play much in the friendlies will be able to run laps around them.

 

I hear you on the Spanish language over-the-air stations. Sadly I’m in what must be one of the largest markets left in the US without Spanish language TV.

 

So No English TV for this one?

 

ESPN+, Unimás and TUDN

 

Where are you based, Bajoro? Which state?

 

Last cycle we failed to qualify out of CONCACAF, finished third this time around only by goal difference from fourth and people already think we should give CONMEBOL a try? Sorry, but I prefer the best chance at actually getting to the World Cup. I think sometimes we'd make it out of CONMEBOL, but I'd say we're a 50/50 proposition at best to qualify if we were thrown into that group. I'll pass.

 

He must be in Anchorage.

 

If you’re looking at box scores and rankings, yes. But look how different we look when we’re playing teams that didn’t bunker on us (Mexico, Honduras, Morocco, Uruguay). Not to mention the difference in game management where maybe a card comes out when your opponent has his hand around your neck a foot in front on the Center Referee. Or the fact that logistically we probably bring an extra qualifier spot from CONCACAF to CONMEBOL along with us.

I’d need to think more on a lot of other factors before actually wanting to (travel, TV, etc.) but on the surface I don’t think we’d have a tougher time qualifying out of there than we do here.

 

Personally, I understood this discussion to be about nations league, gold cup, and competitions other than World Cup qualifying.

 

Well, if you join a new confederation, I would assume it means you have to qualify there. I can't imagine we could be part of two confederations and qualify from the easier of the two while playing the competitions we want of the other.

And wow, CONMEBOL no harder for us to get out of than CONCACAF, not even sure what t say about that.

 

Your premise is that it is never possible to hold a tournament with another federation. You either join fully or not at all. That is not my premise. I may be wrong, but I don't yet know that I am.

 

Not my premise at all actually though. I was responding to multiple posts saying we should join CONMEBOL. That's what I think would be foolish. I loved the joint Copa and we've played as a guest in the Copa many times and have invited guest teams to Gold Cup. I think that is great. I think the concept of fully trying to change federations would be foolish, different things.

 

I'm guessing he means once you combine all of the slots together. US should be competitive against S America 6-10.

 

We already hosted one. The problems seems some sort of money dispute. Two corrupt organizations trying to out crook each other.

 

And 50% is realistic, maybe optimistic!

 

Jesus Ferreira's participation in the USMNT's matchday-1 media avail is generally a strong hint that he'll be in the starting XI.

Something of a surprise that he'd start a third straight match.

— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) June 9, 2022

makes sense, keep that starting false nine spot warm for Reyna

 

One can hope. I am for one am really starting to warm to that idea.

 

That is one explanation. Or maybe Gregg just has a game plan for Grenada that calls for a mobile #9 (though why not Morris?). Or Gregg just doesn't have a lot of hope that Wright can be the answer. Still, since he is so new to squad, I'd like to see Wright get a start and have a chance to get into the flow along with the rest of the starters.

 

We'll find out a lot based on whether Wright starts vs El Salvador or not... and it should be noted that the US was held scoreless @ ElSal in qualifying.

 

With Ferreira struggling to score, this may be a way to get him in the groove and get his mentality straight. Knock in a couple easy ones and hope the confidence continues into more difficult games.

 

Berhalter from the Washington Post:

"I still don’t think there’s enough of a sample size for Haji. We’ll continue to work with them, and [with] two Nations League games, we’ll see if Jesús and Haji can hit the back of the net."
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