I guess it won't kill me to comment in here after watching my recording after going out to dinner: Nice to see some intensity and pressure. Nice to see some dead balls hit with pace. Nice to see us occasionally move the ball quicker, paid off on the 2nd goal, the best of the night. Need more this. Nice to see a bit of an edge from Lletget (who might've been our best player tonight), Brooks, and others. Nice to see Brooks healthy. Nice to see a really good young player in Dest. Not so nice to see us turn over the ball a number times playing out of the back. Not so nice to see a lop-sided formation again going forward, but Gregg is going to Gregg. Not so nice to see a nondefensive defensive midfielder, although Yueill was pesky and did some good things on the ball. Not so nice to see our intensity fall off in the 2nd half, but probably not unexpected. Not so nice to see a dead tired Morris not be subbed off earlier, come on coaching staff, watch the game.
12 goals and 9 primary assists in 38 games worth of minutes is a good return for a winger/striker at international level. His numbers include a goal and an assist in the Copa.
A big key, imho-- Under Berhalther the team has only twice started with a true CAM. The results-- USA 1-1 Uruguay USA 4-1 Canada Lletget was the 10 in each match, though I'd have preferred Holmes. What's important was having someone who could get on the ball, hold the ball, direct traffic, and work hard on defense. This is an important player to have, given the pattern of formations and player selections the coach has used.
Dest also was first man in the goal chain on Zardes' winning goal. Ola was rangy. Liked open space and connecting on balls coming from wide areas. when he had to play the 2 man game with Ibra at LA he was finished.
Ii don't. I'd worry about Ream having to play against Sala but that would be up to the manager. As far as winning a game in Couva, I think Ream would do just fine.
I follow what I see with my eyes, not what the statistics (that can easily be cherry picked) say, nor what the media (who can easily be bought) say, nor what other people who don't even watch think. I say stuff as I see it. If that means the pro-MLS crowd considers me a traitor or the Eurosnobs think of me as with a pro-Garber agenda, I don't give a toss. I'm not here to make friends.
Some responses: 1. At least we aren't taking on water. 3. Morales was a bit out of mistake. 5. Because Boyd is the sub. 8. One thing at a time.
This needs to be printed on banners and flown in front of Stewart and Berhalters love shack in Chi town. We won possesion last time and got punked, and got crushed here and won by 3. It's what you do with DANGEROUS possesion that matters.
5. Because Boyd is the sub. - I do not really understand. Morris was pretty obviously tired and we had the match mostly sewed up by the time for a sub. Sargent was available and it will now be hard for him to be fully recovered for Cuba. Of course he may not be in the plans for Cuba. 8. One thing at a time - True. I was just pointing out the, probably, obvious that we still have a LONG way to go before where teams like Mexico have to have any real fear of us, either home or away.
Good informational post. But what LoN has replaced is pre-Hex WCQ matches against even weaker minnows. Also, Cuba will be relegated & replaced with a stronger team next time. LoN qualifying was pretty luck of the draw. Also, Cuba would not be thisbad without all those defections.
When we lost to Canada last game, how many of your posts aged well? Not many I'd bet. Sucks I had to miss this one cause of work. I'm sure everything is fine now that we've beaten the 6th best team in CONCACAF at home. Berhalter is a genius, how could I have not seen that before????
Dest looks good. Really good. Its going to be a lot of fun pulling for this guy. He handled the dual national thing with nothing but dignity and class and he really plays well for the team. I think he’s already a top 5-7 player in the pool.
Duane has played most of this season in the hole behind the strikers as a CAM. In 772' he has one assist. Julian Green has better numbers playing a similar position (4 goals in 1159').
For being slight build, he did ok, but, we are talking about Canada. The player I like for the 6 is Hassani Datson, the kid is a beast.
As far as I can tell that is specific to dead balls like a goal kick but it is hard to tell. Certainly more nuanced then I thought before. https://www.givemesport.com/1493101-benfica-exploited-the-new-goal-kick-rule-against-ac-milan No one appears to do a 'trick' in that play where as the Canadian player lifted the ball to himself.
2 of the 3 were instrumental. can we please lay off both Yuiell and Zardes? Zardes is what he is, but he works hard, puts himself about and is often in scoring position. At least at this level. Yuiell, lik eit or not, is the closest thing we have had to an actual regista since Reyna. he is young, gets better each time I see him and I think he can grow into that role as long as we have an enforcer in the MF along with him. This team without old man Bradley slowing everything up played fast, forward and direct. Were they sloppy at times? Sure, but the speed on the field drove Canada crazy. The only real problem I have is Ream. We need to switch Cannon or someone over to the left and play Dest with Yedlin in front of him on the right.
I think he would do better in a two-strike system, but that's rare these days. It takes a while to both learn to play hold up well as Dotson was bad in the U23 game against Brazil. Play didn't improve until he was subbed at halftime. Hopefully it can be written of as a one-game hiccup (against a pretty strong opponent) but he didn't rise to the occassion. Hopefully he doesn't turn into one of those guys that kills it in MLS but can't cut it in national team games.
I think Holmes showed enough in limited minutes to be called up to camp over guys like Roldan and Trapp, but I don't understand the hype machine around putting him in the starting XI or giving him the keys in the #10 spot. I think he had 2 goals and 1 assist all of last year in the Championship and that's a 46-game league. He has also pretty much hit his ceiling at 25 - there are no magic bullets that turn us into Brazil overnight. At best, he's a hustle guy with some ball skills that could work as an energy guy off the bench. Announcers mentioned games in March against European opposition. I would like to see Holmes and Green both called in so we can see whether they can contribute. As I said, I don't doubt that they would do better than dead wood like Trapp and Roldan but I don't see much space for them on the roster after the U23 guys are integrated by the start of the qualifiers.
It seems like I have been saying this for a couple years now but good things happen when Morris is on the field and he is healthy. He is a must starter for me. The guy just has the "it" factor. It is looking like Orlando is becoming our fortress. Undefeated there and pounded a few CONCACAF teams in official matches in that venue. We should continue to play big official matches there. That is all I am going to say about this match. I am just glad we won.