Pre-match: 2024 Friendlies v Panama {Oct 12th} & Mexico {Oct 15th} (Poch's 1st Window)

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by TimB4Last, Sep 11, 2024.

  1. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    I don't really think we need to concede all that much of the ball to get Haji into those situations. We don't need full field counters to break him out -- we will get plenty of good situations forcing turnovers in the middle of the field and with those quick breaks off breaking lines.

    The question is really can we actually dictate that -- can we create space and can we get the ball back?

    I think sitting back against Mexico in Mexico with our defense and keeping is just waiting to get beat, personally.

    I don't think we'll see a consistent high press under Pochettino much, if at all. What will be interesting is how much of a counterpress we see, which generally does require playing up the CBs some, though they can quickly drop.

    In general, post counterpress, I don't mind/actually like a lower line of confrontation. Constant high pressing is probably a bad idea if we're starting guys like Haji and maybe Tillman -- they don't have the motors anyway.

    Bigger question will be if Josh triggers, will Haji follow?

    The defense became such a disaster on Saturday once the backups came in that if a lot of them start, you almost have to go passive. Which will result in just a LOT of shots for Mexico. I don't know that we have the precision on defense to get it done.

    To that end, I kind of hope that we don't see big turnover. Even if you do come out with a result getting peppered for 90 minutes ... I really don't want to watch that. And I don't think it's particularly sustainable for this crew.

    I would like to see a new CB pairing. I'm not as anti-Ream, but I do think getting someone else reps is a good idea.
     
  2. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm good w/ it so long as it's potentially sacrificing a result because you have an eye to the future.

    I'd posit a big reason for downturns for the bigger comps is because in the smaller ones - GC & UNL - they invested too much in trying to win them.

    Ideally you'd achieve both goals - like the US managed to do for the '21 GC. But normally you can do one or the other. If you manage neither it's an unmitigated failure.

    As for the double standards, you already see it from the usual suspects. When Poch relayed he'd play a 433/4231 I saw him being hailed for his flexibility, as if it's much different than Berhalter. Neither was morphing between formations on o/d & the performance against Panama.
     
  3. Yowza

    Yowza Member+

    DC United
    United States
    Oct 23, 2019
    Arlington
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think we’ll see Musah get another run at RM, and that side will play similar to Panama. I think we’ll see Johnny in for Busio or Morris. I expect Wright to play for Pulisic, but he’ll stay higher like a target wing.
    My wild card is Zendejas for Aaronson, he’ll lean towards the left side half spaces to connect. Can he at least resemble what Aaronson does when the US doesn’t have the ball? I doubt it, but I’d like to be surprised.
    With Pepi and Pulisic out, Sargent has to get another start I would think. Another option is Wright up top and Zendejas in Puli’s spot. I don’t think we’ll see this to start, though.
    I expect some experimentation. Poch looking at the data points from the Panama match and testing out other options, maybe even a tactical change like Shulte sweeper keeper between the cb’s and Busio at right back.
    I expect to be surprised, basically.
     
  4. Yowza

    Yowza Member+

    DC United
    United States
    Oct 23, 2019
    Arlington
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I forgot about Vazquez, I can see him getting the start tomorrow night.
     
  5. grandinquisitor28

    Feb 11, 2002
    Nevada
    I doubt it. The saturday game day roster featured 2-3 total first XI guys, this will feature what, 1? Back in '19 they rolled out what appeared to be what was the healthy XI by and large. It's not really analogous. This isn't close to that.

    I get that in both cases, they weren't fully committed to the result, but I think an extra layer of it is simply that we are missing a huge chunk of first choice guys, period, and then sent guys back on top of it. What bothers me, if anything does, is that its a rare friendly IN MEXICO, which makes it annoying that we're wasting this opportunity, but honestly, w/so many players unavailable. So be it.
     
  6. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Juve reporting McKennie may be out for a while with a muscular issue.
     
    Winoman and TimB4Last repped this.
  7. Kirium

    Kirium Member+

    Jun 18, 2007
    Edmond, OK

    I think there's more to it. Poch has mentioned a few times how he'd like to help the guys on the rosters get more time at their clubs and if they aren't playing maybe he can help them find a landing spot. I think with his contacts, he might be able to do just that.

    Perhaps this is throwing a bone to the clubs as a role of goodwill?
     
    Winoman repped this.
  8. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    I think we may be overthinking it.

    Pulisic looked tired, and he's playing constantly. Poch knows what he's got there.
    McKennie and Fossey are clearly hurt enough to not play.

    So that leaves Pepi and Steffen. I think there's the very real chance that Steffen simply wasn't worth flying a fourth keeper down to Mexico and perhaps he has a knock. But he's not playing so is it really worth two flights in four days for him?

    Pepi ... maybe Pepi is a favor to him or PSV. Or maybe he really has a knock.
     
    gomichigan24 and Kirium repped this.
  9. Dervos

    Dervos Member+

    Mar 13, 2002
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Pepi did take a nasty blow to the head vs Panama. He was pretty shook up.
     
    xbhaskarx and gogorath repped this.
  10. TimB4Last

    TimB4Last Member+

    May 5, 2006
    Dystopia
    @dark knight I don’t know if you want to fold @RalleeMonkey’s pregame thread into this one, but if not maybe you could add some info to his thread title, the match date at least. Thanks!
     
    Bob Morocco repped this.
  11. TimB4Last

    TimB4Last Member+

    May 5, 2006
    Dystopia
    #737 TimB4Last, Oct 15, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2024
    In Concacaf Nations League action last night, League A, Group B selected its quarterfinalists: Jamaica - 1st, Honduras 2nd (on goal difference).

    8 (+3) Jamaica
    7 (+4) Honduras

    7 (-0-) Nicaragua
    5 (-2) Trinidad & Tobago
    3 (-2) Cuba
    1 (-3) French Guiana

    League A, Group A will be settled tonight. Still a wide variety of possible finishes there, and we still don't know if we can improve our seeding with a win at Mexico tonight.
     
    Excellency and Winoman repped this.
  12. USOutlaw16

    USOutlaw16 Member+

    Green Bay Voyageurs
    United States
    Jan 22, 2011
    On the Gringo Wall of Shame
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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