I never listen to these TV pundits. It's their jobs to talk, regardless if what they say mean anything.
I hate to go down this road, but ....... it's not like we need the Mahomes and Curry's to play soccer. It would be great if all the 5'11" guys that think they're going to be point guards in the NBA, all the little guys that are still playing football, if those guys would stick with soccer. But, really, imo, it's all about high level training. Doesn't matter how many people choose soccer, it's about how much high level coaching there is. Academies are multiplying in the US. We'll be fine.
I usually agree with you, but I'm dead opposite on this one. Players should do what's best for their professional career. Usually, that will be compatible with their NT career. But, if it's not, go with the pro career. Imo, they shouldn't be asking the NT manager where they should go to get NT minutes. They should go where they can get first team minutes and money. A soccer career is short. Go get the money.
Look again. There was someone else on the same man as Musah. He wouldn't have been leaving someone unmarked if he had moved to the middle sooner (and he did move to try to defend Depay, just a little too late).
It’s annoying that we got easily worked for goals (or penalties) twice in this tournament off of throw ins. Even without the killer mistakes on those plays by Zimmerman and Dest, it was just too easy for the opponents to get us scrambling and play a simple pass into a dangerous area.
I'm totally enjoying your posts. But, gotta disagree with you on this one. MLS teams play 2 or 3 US-eligible players per match. The top ones probably play less than that. And, the good young players are sold on pretty quickly these days. Having MLS play in Conmebol comps would not have much if any effect on the NT. Again, I'm really appreciating your posts.
Yep, we have to do that. Even if it means sending 2nd or 3d tier sides to Gold Cup. The Gold Cup, in the big scheme, is meaningless. We need competition vs. real, competitive sides.
Sure. But what about the bazillion minnows in each of our confederations who will scream foul because we aren't using those windows to play in their Nations League? Caribbean nations don't care that we aren't using our valuable time together to get better. That's fine with them. They want us to use our valuable time to make THEM better and to make money for THEM.
I'm sad it's over. Was pumped after Iran and didn't wan to go to bed. Now, don't want o go to bed because I don't want it to be over. Love this game. This team. This competition. A lot to hate on if you wan to, you haters. I'm kinda just tearing up.
Getting knocked out of the World Cup sucks. But if we'd finished better and they'd have finished worse, getting knocked out next week by Argentina would've sucked pretty much as badly... That said, I definitely see this as just the first act in a two-act play. The next one is the critical one. We're at a critical juncture here where we ("we" being Earnie Stewart, Brian McBride, Cindy Parlow, and Gregg Berhalter) have to make the right decisions.
How amazing is it to ponder the different takes one gets in this game. Gotta love soccer. Naive USA exposed by desire to play in nothing but top gear (msn.com)
Just read 31 pages and I wanted to chime in. 1. Adams and Dest didn't "lose their marks" on the first two goals. Those were the same goals, another opportunity was missed in that same style, and Van Gaal saw something. He said "take it down the right flank and cut it back to a late runner. He will be open for an easy finish." Or words to that effect. In this game we needed another DM. Bob Bradley's empty bucket. It wasn't Adams and Dest being lazy. 2. Jedi, Dest, all three midfielders, Pulisic, Weah were all run into the ground. You must sub in the group stages. Leaving Reyna on the bench was not good. 3. Matt Turner was good. Very good. So was CP. So was Adams. Weah is one of those guys who are so rare you have to find a way to get him on the field. 4. Berhalter did some really good things. He identified and created a very good defense. He changed a disastrous culture. But he is absolute shit at game management, and cannot react to changing circumstances. And he has no (0) idea about attacking. Putting Jesus on today, running out Jordan, ignoring Reyna, and the rest. Berhalter trying to engineer a goal is a blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn't there. 5. Reyna, Aaronsen, all the strikers he left behind, and Scally were not dealt with correctly. This is a good team, that was an average result. Maybe less than average if you factor in how Van Gaal took us apart. It is time to expect round of 16 minimally.
Read all 31? Nice On... #1 - I wouldn't call it "lazy" but Adams on the 1st goal is kinda inexplicable given what we know of Adams. Dest on the 2nd, more of switching off, than lazy, but also, not great. Good Dutch plays, and credit to LVG for sure, but blameless Adams/Dest, No. No. No. #2 - Agree, but alternatives were....??? #3 - 100%. Adams not in this game, but for the tournament, yeah. #4 - Pretty much #5 - ?????????? Last comment - Average, pretty much, yep.
Right decision: I'm going to be philosophical here. The right decision will be to hire a FLEXIBLE manager. What do I mean by "flexible"? Let me give an example of something I said some time ago which became relevant in today's game. The US Soccer culture should not fixate on one formation like the 433 they were fixated on because US is an inventive country that leads the globe in innovation and we should be looking for a system that can move seamlessly between 2 or 3 cb back lines, for example. One of the things that made the Dutch so good was the ability of Ake to move seamlessly between cb and left fullback play. When he is combined with Blind on the left side, it makes for a potent combination. Next point: Notice the different roles Davvy Klaasen played. On the first goal he makes a perfect back pass that switches the field through a "V" maneouver, then moves timely into the 9 position to occupy both of our CB's while blocking Turner's view of Memphis' shot. He takes 3 of our guys out of the play. On the second goal he takes a simple touch that puts Dumfries into space for the cross to Blind for the goal. He wasnt in on the 3rd goal because V.Gaal had benched him at half time to save him for Argentina ! While V.Gaal had noticed the lack of creativity in game 1 and added Klaasen, Berhalter was fixated on some idea about a physical 9, orating to the press about not considering anybody but Wright or Sargent or Ferreira in the 9 position as if he had found the 3rd tablet Moses had lost on his way down from the mount. Let's get that ol Yankee ingenuity working on an American style of "total" soccer instead of admiring limitations and vague generalities like "vibe" guys.
That is what I mean. If Wright is not your finisher, who is? We need a guy who puts that ball away regularly. CP's was a bit tougher, though he could have cut left and hit a right foot shot, but he is also not a finisher. We too often try to dribble the ball into the next, and we don't have a consistent top-level scoring threat on the level of Demps or LD (yet, anyway) and have never really produced a true, consistent top-caliber CF. And without one, every other aspect of your game as to be very, very, veeery good.
It wasn't an anti-McKinnie Post . Just general good take on flexibilty. edit, actually McKennie was kind ass today, Crdit to @Excellency for not going all in.
Gave it a day and now am caught up and can post… As often is/has been the case, there’s been a lot of “black or white” thinking, when the reality is more nuanced. 1. Belgium, Germany, Uruguay all went out in the group stages. Qualifying to the round of 16 isn’t a given. We should celebrate that. 2. We were the only team in the group stage not to concede a goal from open play. Our defense was excellent, largely due to a dominant midfield. 3. For the first time I can remember we looked like we belonged as a equal competitor against a great football nation, not just some country hanging on with pluck and opportunistic countering. 4. The culture has been transformed. All signs indicate that the cohesiveness and unity in this group has been amazing. Those things shouldn’t be passed over. GB deserves *some* credit. With all of that said: LVG was spot on in his postgame assessment. The Dutch came out with a brilliant tactical plan for our team, which basically said “we don’t think you can break us down in the final third, so we’ll give you possession—and let you attack wide down the flank while protecting the middle—because we don’t think you can make anything out of the possession and can’t cross well.” It was genius. We attack down the flanks but can’t cross well, and we have the ball but didn’t have anyone who could break the bunker. All of that said…GB should have adjusted sooner, but didn’t. And unfortunately that’s one of the big stories of his USMNT managerial career it seems. He also should have utilized better squad rotation. Our guys were gassed. *And* this was a match screaming for Reyna and Aaronson to start. It also should be said that having Sargent out exposed his weak we were at the 9. Jesus is out of season, unfortunately, and Haji never looked the part. Pepi would have been clutch to have. Lastly, it is worth noting that if some very simple breaks go a different way—ie Pulisic scores early, and/or Tyler, Dest, and Jedi stay with their markers—this conversation could be very different. So I think the criticism of GB has been too harsh, as usual—he’s helped get our culture to a great place, and he crafted a midfield/defense that was exceptional at the WC (minus some switching off in key moments today was due to tired legs). so major credit to him. Bur you can tip your hat to him and still say “there weren’t enough tactical adjustments or smart rotation in this match, which is a somewhat regular and concerning problem.” Still, credit to our guys. They showed up ready to play with one of the best teams in the world. We just weren’t clinical enough at all, and we switched off in a few critical moments.
1. We have more possession than the Dutch, so GGG will declare the moral victory as he did in the 0:2 lost game against Canada. 2. A Dutch powerhouse had to do a counter attack on us, which is another moral victory. 3. Many fans don’t like GGG will get their wishes for a new era, another moral victory. Now back to the normal.
Question: Do we watch same game? Dutch’s game plan is using Memphis to block the ball from Zimmerman to Dest because they consider Dest is most dangerous going forward. They also use Gakpo to block the path from Ream to Jedi. When our two center backs have to pass to the middle, then Dutch’s three will be man-mark our three midfielders. When Ferreira pulls back to help, Van Djik comes up. Then we just need the center back do long pass so Pulisic and Weah can run into the space left behind. In the attack, Dutch viewed Jedi pushing up as the potential weakness, so Dumfres is their main weapon for cut back. Of course, if Pulisic finished his 2 min chance, then that will force Dutch to come out the shell.