I think we would have problems in Qatar if we try and run out a back 6 of Turner, Jedi, Zim, Long, Cannon/Yedlin, and Adams. None of those players are particularly skilled with the ball at their feet or adept at advancing it. There was again a lot of unproductive cycling of the ball back and forth in our half of the field last night. Very often it would end when there was a turnover or somebody went route one. Things got quite a bit better when GGG went to essentially what seemed like a two man back line late in the game. So yes, the additions of Dest and probably Richards to the back 4 would clearly help IMO. My feeling on Dest is that he is at minimum adequate defensively, and probably even a bit under rated. He is also sorely missed in possession and the attack. If your going to have Tyler in there guarding the CB's then you need dynamic outside backs IMO. Dest is that in spades. The problem so far with him has been that he is often injured and we have nobody remotely on his level as the backup.
youve posted this multiple times/places- who exactly are you glad got put in their place? bs posters who want to leave concacaf? cause there was nothing, no sign whatsoever of any players acting in any way "above" the weather, officiating, whatever. no one was carried over puddles. no one was walking to the corner flag. seriously, what are you even talking about? is it really that- youre glad a tv announcer is trolling fans?
none of weah, pulisic or aaronson are suited to play in that sort of slog. by definition they are less than themselves when dribbling, pace, quick turns, combining on the ground are impaired. he should have started arriola, morris and probably acosta. just like you cant evaluate a match like this very well you cant go into as if it isnt what it is. to the guys credit everyone fought and gave it their all but its not like it was a linear effort that resulted in the breakthrough we all knew was coming- luca latched onto a loose ball and floated a cross into morris mud-wrestling in the box. that was always what was there to be had- not the things our top players bring. playing it around the back, attacking with speed, quick combos didnt get us a point- the most basic ass knock it in and win one in the air did. it was both hubris and naivety to approach this as if quality trumps physics.
Conditions were so bad it is really hard to mine useful information. Except maybe some of our guys aren’t great mud wrestlers ♂️
IMO, it looked very saveable. I don't think it was as much of a rocket as the shot that got by Steffan in Jamaica. But of course it's very subjective. I think what's more damning is he has a few of these now and, fair or not, that is not going to instill confidence in anyone lined up in front of him.
The implication is that if the US and Mexico move, they bring 2 qualification spots with them. As for the fields, Jamaica was in a rainstorm against Mexico and that field wasn't torn up. And they're not exactly swimming in money either. So I fail to see why el Salvador can't do what Jamaica does with regards to their grass. My guess is that they know that the field going to crap is to their benefit.
The referee established a threshold for files that was absurdly high, and did so early in the first half. I think in almost any other game that is a straight red. That game it looks like just a tactical yellow.
On some of the commentary on "why didn't we put in crosses", Weah had several crosses cut out on the night, which is a little surprising. So it's not that we weren't trying per se.
As far as Cannon/ Horvath goes, typically you want the defender blocking the path towards goal. But from that angle and that far out, the greater threat is a good cross, not a shot. So I don't take issue with Cannon's positioning as much as others do. I think the goalscorer even acknowledged he was trying to cross it. It was a one in a hundred cross where Horvath wasn't keeping an eye on his near post. As a result, a fluke goal. As with Cannon, I don't want to tear into Horvath too much, but I still don't come out of the window saying "yeah, he should be the man ahead of Turner, or even Steffen or Johnson."
I agree. I was rewatching Uruguay and there is a play where Scally using his right foot from the left side sends the ball towards the area in front of the far post when there isn't a teammate there but the Uruguayan defender goes for a headed clearance to play it safe and we keep possession near the box. Sometimes the keeper takes a chance and gets caught out. Some good things can happen. Fullbacks get those chances because the defenders are worried about getting beat from wide and cede the area in midfield where the inverted lfb, say, can take a dribble to the indisde, keeping the ball away from defenders with his favored right foot while looking for a target and put a cross in to the area in front of the far post. How many goals does Muller have for Bayern on just that play.......
Guy just hit it dead flat when he tried to curl it. Horvath couldn’t process quickly enough what was happening. Maybe only a good goalkeeper can react and keep that out, but that’s what the US needs, a good keeper.
hmmmm.... Tidy average positions from the #USMNT last night, even on a muddy pitch, but the pass map shows the lack of service to Haji Wright 🇺🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/PFaVbibxNm— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 15, 2022
I think everyone is being a little to kind with the US performance and Musah's strong second half. Yes, it's great the team doesn't give up and has fight and grit, but that only take you so far. El Salvador started the game with more energy, was more dynamic, and pressured the whole field. They also adjusted far better to the field conditions. This cried for a far more direct game rather knocking the ball around. Keeping the ball at your feet for too long (see Pulisic) cries for strong tackles/fouls and turnovers. The US was too slow to adjust, and against more talented teams, they are going to have a harder time coming back in WC (along with more pressure). While Musah effort and will in the second half was impressive, I will get fully onto the bandwagon when he starts to do something in the final third. Loved the run and collaboration with his teammates, but he has to put the ball away on the shot at the goalkeeper. You are just not going to have that many chances. Not sure who was I more frustrated with than Near Post Horvath or Cannon Flubbed It Again. My frustration was with their decision making. Not good enough. So, great from a team spirt perspective and not walking away with a loss, but overall, it gave a blue print to how teams can play us (be physical with our midfield, sitback and counterattack).
El Salvador is clearly not your last week's Morocco. There is a huge difference in teams that come to be competitive and teams that come to pick up a paycheck. The result and individual player assessment is very instructive in the former, not so much in the latter. A "mudder" in Central American climes against a stodgy, stingy but far from spectacular opponent, is always going to provide a better litmus test. Musah showed again he's going to play a big role in WC 2022. Stay healthy young man!
I've seen that ref call a game like before. Does seem the team should have scouting reports on all refs and their style. See you got this guy be prepared to give a foul every time you get fouled. McKennie channeled his inner Jones and immediately laid down the law. He was missed in the first half as the main enforcer. Like Jones he knows how far he can go. Apparently Morris is a mudder. Said he enjoyed rain games as they reminded him of youth games in Seattle growing up.
There were some good lessons and points from last night. Yes the pitch was atrocious and the officiating was specious (missed that clear hand ball in the box) but the end result of the mudbath was that the team came together in the second half under some adversity. That is never a bad result to reinforce the "team construct", and particularly as the last match before the next 3 months. Keep in mind that the goal was assisted by LDLTs right foot and scored by Morris's header. Not by any of our designated "starters". Everyone was happy with that goal as could be seen by the celebration. Haji Wright got no service but he also did not move to receive the ball. Don't think he helped himself last night a bit. Horvath screwed the pooch - his positioning on the goal was just off - even if one assumes he was trying to find a halfway acceptable patch of mud to place himself on. He should have at least dove to try and deflect the ball. We are back to the problem of having keepers that don't play regularly and what do we do. Berhalter has his work cut out for him. Musah is a beast and a specimen. Wow - just turn the kid loose. That display last night was simply amazing. Put him and Wes in the midfield with Tyler behind them and I feel very comfortable. Musah is going to be a star. Maybe even eclipse Wes, CP and Reyna. Yes El Salvador was just like always - a bunch of sallies that want to turn the game into a half of a street fight. As Lalas said - suck it up butter cup. I loved seeing Adams throw the midfielder to the turf for the yellow - that was priceless. And Wes motioning to the Sallie to keep talking .... awesome. Did anyone think ES was going to try to play the US even up? No way - they were going to bunker in the mud - try to provoke us for cards - get inside our heads - and beat us on a counter ... that has never changed. One criticism I do have for CP is he should have fed Jedi more down the wings for low hard crosses but too many times he insisted on taking the ball himself down the left and pulling it back rather than feeding Jedi. A game in the mud like that is just crying out for a hard cross across the goal mouth in those conditions. I thought last night was great all in all.