The lineup is reported as - Steffen; Robinson, Brooks, McKenzie, Dest; Yueill, McKennie, Lletget; Reyna, Sargent, Pulisic ONE WIN AWAY FROM PLAYING FOR A 🏆!Here’s the #USMNT Starting XI for tonight’s @CNationsLeague Semifinal vs. 🇭🇳.#HONvUSA— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 3, 2021
Kudos to berhalter for realizing that his starting left back was a no brainer and giving Dest a few hundred minutes on the left in games that don’t matter to see if he’s a viable backup at that position. now if we can just talk about his midfield selections.....
I would've preferred Musah there, but I do think Robinson will be better on the left than Dest was. He can also make some judgement mistakes but the dude has insane recovery speed and a high work rate so he will be better protecting Brooks than Dest was. Glad to see McKenzie back out there.
Glad to see McKenzie back and glad to see the fullback changes. Should be more than enough up front to win this. Will still need to be careful on the left side, but hopefully Robinson will track back. I also like that the move balances Dest and Pulisic with your dribblers on opposite sides. I'll be curious how that right side works together. I expect the left to mostly be Pulisic getting hacked down every time we attack. I hope we have some set pieces ready to go because in CONCACAF he will get fouled in dangerous places every game out. I need to see this team get some goals tonight.
I don't think there's a case to not start Lletget in a game where you prioritize winning. Thinking it's wild he's starting as a 10 over Musah, especially against a worse team..is wild.
"Vote for your Insiders Man of the Match in the 75th minute, directly in the app!" {Okay, but I always choose my MOTM at halftime.}
I am good with that lineup but worry about Yuell in the back. We need McKennie to bust up counters and defend. And I really want to see Weah get on the pitch before 70’.
I’m not comfortable with both of them starting, either. However, I’m going to state an unpopular opinion here, but I was not impressed with the what Musah showed against Switzerland. He’s a young kid who’s got a high ceiling, but right now he may just be having a run of poor form—especially so when viewed in context of diminished minutes later in the season at Valencia. However, he also may need this summer to play his way out of it... so he’d be my first sub on if we see a lack of productivity out of those starters in the midfield.
Let me add to my comment about this being the first game of this generation. Since 2017, this has been a team that’s been on the rebuild ever since it’s been a real team since 2014. So, what you’re watching is the first test of who we are in 7 years! That’s how big this game is. Everything before this game has either been an example of the lost generation (2014-2017) and the incubation years (2017-2021). Now it’s time to put up or shut up.
Agree. It’s a great backup plan when you have a good left back, a great right back who can also be a good left back, and two adequate backups at right back.
ESPN and MLS reporting a 4-2-3-1? Certainly makes better sense with Yueill and McKennie in the -2- line and Lletget playing attacking mid. Honduras in a 4-4-2 contain and counter with Ellis as a striker?
im generally supportive of Lletget and think he has shown well in the USMNT... but I think if you gave every single currently eligible USMNT midfielder an equal chance to play for the team...I dont think Lletget would make the top 23 at this moment. Based on past performance and what has been "proven" yeah he should be in there..... but there are a bunch of players who havent really had a chance who are probably better than him now and especially moving forward.
I don't even think Musah's ever played in front of a real crowd. He's not a 10 against a worse opponent. He's never played 6 before to my knowledge. I might gamble, thinking Yueill at the 6 is also a gamble, but clearly you can see the logic. These weak backup 6 options are generated by a combo of our pool & Gregg's choices at the position the last couple of years.
I started watching Chinatown cuz I was waiting for the game to start and I had a hard time tearing myself away cuz Nicholson's jokes were so funny. I had forgotten how easy it is to watch over and over again as long as you wait a little between each time. I would not be starting Pulisic vs. Honduras in this particular game. I would have given his muscles the extra reserve he needs to face Mexico (if we beat Honduras).