Two days ago I made the comment that Ferreira had average speed. I kept a close eye on him in this game and, yes, he is faster than my previous eye test.
I would except I can't tolerate his stupid and excessive goal calls. When I am forced to watch a match with him I use the mute on ever goal no matter what. I swear his goal calls can go on for five or more minutes. And it contributes nothing.
Probably the best summary moment of Hoppe as a player: Brings down Tolkin’s long ball beautifully then chooses to try a hopeless flick over two players and appeals for a foul. Can’t think of a better situation that really defines him as a player.
He was getting manhandled, but he is not afraid to mix it up. You have to give the kid props for that. I do think he is quicker than his brother.
Overall both team had chances but Colombia was more consistently dangerous. Aaronson was noticeably physically overmatched but on closer view I noticed that all the Colombians have a good sense of how to use their physicality. The U.S. players are not used to that.
That was framed as a good thing during the GC because he was trying things. You don't need to be good at the things you try, just try them. The more you know. Unsurprisingly, the objective metrics weren't as friendly toward his performances. They actually punish you for failing. In that case, it's not like he didn't have an option. There was a runner streaking down the middle, but Hoppe called his own #. Earlier when he laid off to Aaronson, he should have shot instead. So there is some general bad decision making here.
Well, I'm repeating myself I guess, but he did? I mean the only consistent playing time he's had in his career was in the German top flight, and he looked good against some of the best in the world, and not just on the goals he scored. And yet, they didn't try hard to keep him, and he's been benched, disappeared, sent to the reserves, sent to the bench of the reserves, at every team since then. Pretty clear to me it's not his ability to play soccer that's scuttling his career.
Colombia also has more variety in attack. Willing to play on the counter, willing to play direct, and can do a little build up. They aren’t super cleaned or refined though so the direct or counter seems most dangerous to me.
Aaronson: lacks the physicality needed to play central midfield. Acosta: does not need to be on all the dead balls. Ferreira: it's time to play him in a different position. Hoppe: had some nice touches. Too bad he blew the 1v1. This group wasn't as dynamic as the starters against Serbia. But the score could've been 3-0 1. the very clear hand ball that wasn't called 2. Aaronson backpass to the Colombia keeper 3. The Hoppe 1v1 Credit to Hudson. This team has been generating legit chances. Big improvement over last cycle.
Tough to know is this because he’s not playing regularly or whether it’s him as a player. Might be him as a player since his club situation has not been great.
Paxten sorta seems like what Carleton could have been if he was a complete professional. I still worry about the physicality, and this isn't against that high of a level. I think he's slightly more technical than his brother, but his brother is more physically capable, and an outlier in terms of how effective his pressing is. Paxten isn't. And I apologize to Hoppe, he's better than I remembered. He seems to lack confidence at the moment, but he's still making good runs and occasionally does something nice.
Colombia significantly but not dramatically out-played the US. They certainly had more fluidity in their moves. Our fb's could probably add to the attack, but we can't string together more than a few passes before losing it, so they're not getting up the field. We're mostly a counter team today, because of CB's that can't play out of the back, and a CM that isn't much more functional offensively & less on d. I think the halftime solutions should be to bring on Vazquez immediately. He made Cincy function instantly when they were losing midfields and had cb's who weren't good playing out of the back either. Then put Ferreira underneath. Ferreira's showing good facilitation. But he often doesn't have much to pass to & he's not a target. I'd bring on Morris and/or Pomykal in midfield. We'd probably win the ball more to counter up higher. I don't know if it helps our build-up. But it couldn't be much worse. And we need the experiment. At the back we simply need to try a different partner for Zimmerman to be able to play out. Rogers hasn't had his shot yet, so why not him. But the roster may just be structured poorly in this regard. Poor domestic options, but at least the cb's could complement. In goal I'd bring in Celentano. Not that Johnson has done anything wrong, but Roman hasn't had his shot yet, and he's the best near-term prospect on the roster.
Perhaps. And I agree on the announcers. But viewers don't want to have to hit the mute button; they don't want to find their fans embarrassing. Can other fans in the stadium hit the mute button? Or should they put on headphones and zone out? Dude, we're carrying ourselves in an amateurish fashion. People will point that out. Buddy Holly and The Beach Boys? With you all day long on that. All day long. Anyway, the Roy Orbison special had too many interruptions, and I found Sandra's chops compromised by the formulaic romantic-comedy dialogue. So back to the footy I went.
I'm liking Hoppe much, much more as a wide player than a CF. He might not be in the top 3 choices on my depth chart, but you can't completely sleep on a guy with such instincts, first touch, ability to win 1v1s. Even if he's not a particuarly heady player, frustratingly. Paxton's having himself an active match, but he's losing more of his battles than he's winning. I'd like to get Morris on there in his stead to try to cut down on all the Colombian counterattacks coming at us at 100mph. Cade for Hoppe around the 60th or 70th. Ditto Vazquez for Ferreira (who has been good). Our fullbacks are ok, but haven't been able to really assert themselves. Jones has been a bit better on the right than Tolkin on the left, despite the fact that I would really like to back Tolkin. He's holding his own but he hasn't been a "plus," and I was hoping he would be. And I'd leave Arriola out there for all 90 minutes if he can hack it, which I think he can. I want to see Soñora but I just don't think this is a game for him. Williamson has his hands full, and if the other day is any indication, I fear Soñora might be overrun. Then again... maybe the trial by fire would be a good thing. I doubt it, though. Oddly enough I feel like we are more skilled and composed around the box than the Colombians, hence the better quality chances we've had, but they're making more clever decisions around the box almost to a man, but are scuffing their chances and final balls badly.
good intensity for a friendly. Aaronson is frail. Hoppe with his typical moments of really good followed by moments of 'what's he thinking' Tolkin looks solid Long is still bad Not a fan of Acosta Jones seems like he's got some potential Williamson probably not gonna get a lot of looks a lot of slow feet through the middle of the field before you get to Jesus. The entire team keeps thinking they're gonna get possession and Colombia beats them to the ball.
I like Williamson as a player since he has some tools but he was flat footed an awful lot and that’s a big no no at this level.
That's a weird change. We just got even softer and less mobile in midfield. Paxten-Sonora combo. Dysfunctional on paper. Let's see how it plays out.