Well, that was quite the freaking mess. Mud city, but at least no one is hurt. First half goal from El Sal on a stunning shot from the left distance at a sharp angle that Ethan Horvath never thought would be attempted (or maybe it was an accident). US scrapped back with everything and bombarded the El Salvador defense similar to New Zealand versus Costa Rica, but with a better result. Arriola red card after a bad tackle in the US box, Costa Rica red card after throwing down Mussa in the mud for a textbook DOGSO. You want to see the replay and Mussa spitting the mud out like a kindergartener- pretty humorous. Then a 90th minute goal from Jordan Morris on a nice cross from De la Torre, the Galaxy prospect. Two subs combined to tie the game. Probably good for team bonding. John Strong's call for the whole game was great.
Awful conditions. The US Nats picture in general just as muddy looking through these latest games. Only two more games before the US hits Qatar. I hope it all comes together in the end.
I think Jordan Morris’s toughness, physicality and competitive grit are under-appreciated by many Nats fans and coaches. That bulldozing “just want it more than the other guy” goal he scored was typical of many in his career.
I also watch Jordan Morris have an absolute stinker against Grenada. I'm happy he managed to find that late goal, but Morris isn't good enough for the national team. He is incredibly quick, but his end product is so inconsistent. Against better nations when you get only a few chances to create a goal, I don't want Morris being the one creating or finishing them.
I agree with @skydog and disagree with @Skevin - I think Morris has a place on this team, which is lacking forwards. I think he and Arriola can create and finish, and Morris still has most of his explosiveness that can get behind a defense fast.
While Morris may not be starter material he does bring that grit and experience and maybe some leadership to this bunch. I would take him.
I agree he isn’t technically always up to snuff but the guy does the most important thing a forward can do: He produces goals. In a total of 2,018 minutes (= 22.4 90 minute games) Morris has 19 goals+assists (11g, 8 assists). That is 0.85g+a /90 min, an incredible production rate at the international level. I’m too lazy to do the math now but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the highest goal creation rate of any US player ever. If not it is close. Maybe Donovan beat it. I will check later.
While Morris is not a starter, I'm fine with him on the extended team. We all know the extended team is important in the World Cup due to rotation. He's exactly that type of player listed above. Also, now that he's far away from "eau de Jurgen" I appreciate him more. He just seems like he's matured after some crappy crappy crappy situations in his career (read: injuries). I'd take him too. Also impressed with de la Torre. Love his aggression and movement. Musah was a man on fire these matches, loved watching him play. Zimmerman also has surprised me. He's Mr. Consistent. Long looks to be his partner. Turner should be starting. Honestly, I don't know if Steffen should see game time. He's just missed too much soccer. With Horvath's howler and also lack of play, I'd be fine with Johnson going to the big show (Doyle has written about this, I agree with him). Hope Antonee Robinson stays healthy. McKennie looks like he's working his way back to health. Most importantly, it looks like Christian has let go of hero ball. THANK GOD. The amount of times he would dribble into nothingness was PAINFUL. He quit doing that this camp, which has made the team better (and him better). Jesus Ferreira starts for me. I'm excited to see what this team has got. Also, stoked on the 2026 World Cup cities. The minute work has tickets I will be all over that like white on rice. Taking my nieces and my kid. Assuming I'm still with Visa in 3.5 years....
Neal and Ferkranus starting together in the US U20 Round of 16 match against Nicaragua U.S U-20 XI starting XI vs Nicaragua (8:30pm EST kickoff)BradyAllenNealFerkranusHallidayEdelman (C)McGlynnLunaSullivanWolffCowell- CONCACAF Round of 16.- Winner faces Costa Rica for a berth in the 2023 U-20 World Cup— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 25, 2022 I'm sure Doyle has value for his veteran/coach on the field leadership next to Neal (or Ferkranus), but I would like to see more of them in a lineup together for the Galaxy IIs. My guess is that the U20s are doing it tonight in part because they likely have some chemistry together and they're hoping that will improve things over what the CBs have been doing individually in recent games (in part it's because of normal squad rotation).
Neal scores a goal to make it 5-0 85' - GOAL USA! 🇺🇸Jalen Neal scores his first career goal for the #U20MYNT❗🇺🇸 USA 5 - 0 NCA 🇳🇮 pic.twitter.com/c2PB084iYp— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) June 26, 2022
Congrats to the US under 20 team, which includes current Galaxy players Jalen Neal and Marcus Ferkranus and former Los Dos player Mauricio Cuevas, who qualified for the U-20 Championships and today qualified the US for the Olympics for the first time in 16 years. Well done!!
congrats to the US team, 16 years is a long time I looked up Cuevas and I'm curious as to why the Galaxy released him, he sure looks like a guy that could help the Galaxy. and two of the goal scorers are Union players and seem to be getting a lot of playing time with the senior squad which brings the question as to why aren't Neal and Ferkranus getting playing time with the Galaxy and I'm not going to buy the "they need to develop" line of BS. I'd rather watch the two kids learn on the fly, then watch Cabral and Costas of the world stinking up the team and not earning their paychecks, I would enjoy the games more watching players grow and try to reach their potential and if they fail, just put them along side all the other promising players the Galaxy failed to develop
16 years! Almost two decades. Funny how we delvelop players. U-20 final is Sunday and they'll probably take that. Republica Dominicana (dominicans also qualified for both olympics and world cup) has had a surprising run but they barely made it past Guatemala by Pks. So they'll most likely take the trophy also. Glad somebody is winning some damn thing other than Seattle. Oh yeah, if anybody is wondering where Canada and Mexico are in all this? They were both eliminated by Guatemala which is impressive for Guatemala it also showcases the level of talent across the Sub-20 Conca board.
I wish this organization could do both develop players from within at a faster clip and also be able to scout and sign productive pros be it role players or DPs. Not be this warm mess we have now.
Not sure why Cuevas didn't find himself with the first team - seemed to have a lot of promise-- maybe they "released" him because he refused to sign with the first team and wanted to try his luck abroad - doesn't he play in Belgium now or something?
I heartily second your review of this superb little movie. My only criticism of the film was that it didn't just keep going. I really wish it had been a series.
Neal named to the Best XI for the CONCACAF U20 tournament U-20 @Concacaf Best XI ✅You're a star, @JalenNeal03 👏 pic.twitter.com/oeu8FnOQmx— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 5, 2022
So happy for Jalen Neal and the whole team. They put on great performances against Honduras and Dominican Republic. Actually felt sorry for the Dominican goalkeeper.
What was up with that keeper - was he stoned? I only saw a few minutes of the game but in that short time he let in one of the worst howlers you could imagine.
Half time vs Saudi Arabia. Pulisic has had some good flashes. Other than that? Even for a friendly, absolutely boring. Edit: I forgot to mention that Gio Reyna came off injured.
If the objective in these 2 warmup matches was to make England, Wales and Iran fans feel good about their chances, then -- mission accomplished.