Sorry, it's going to take a lot more than a 5-0 when against T & T to make me forget those Friendlies, and that game was not really worth analysis. How bad a game is it when the T & T coach is the best player on the field? My only other comment is actually about the broadcast, do you think that if Fox's Sports broadcasts soccer for another 30 years, they'll be able to get the audio and video to sync?
I think the odd impression left on me today about the free kicks, was I wasn’t shaking my head and thinking they were shit all game long like I usually do when watching the US.
I was at the game...T&T were really slack, not up for it at all...so it was a nice feel good comfortable game, Luna's work rate is unbelievable...he's dropping into pockets all over the place...creating problems with his movement. Tillman was very good...need to see him against SA...both are stating their cases The other players I want to focus on through the tourney are Freeman, Arfsten, McGlynn and Big Pat. I think Freeman has a real chance to make the WC...he just needs international experience to clean up his game and adjust to the speed of play...imo, he's a diamond in the rough. Arfsten has really good feet, really smooth and surprisingly quick... an ankle breaking dribbler..., he needs to clean up his defensive game.... He got torched defending in acres of space against Switzerland, but that was his first go at high level international pace. I think he can improve his defensive technique enough to be in the conversation... McGlynn is so smooth on the ball...a great combo player with vision...the left boot is golden...need to see if he can get separation against higher quality teams. Big Pat's game is really frustrating. we don't have anybody like him in the mix. He can hold his own physically...crazy strength and determination and speed... on a lot of the balls that came to him, he did all the hard work powering and shielding his defender only to have the ball carom off and get cleaned up...it's a big if, but if he can improve, just that one aspect of his game, he can be a contributor....as with the others, the international experience gained against the better teams at the GC...will hopefully sharpen their games. Some other thoughts. Berhalter defensively gets spun almost every time...he was grabbing hanging on for dear life... Luca had a quiet game, but we were dominant with Luna and Tillman getting it done up field, so it was a walk in the park for him. I agree with others, Richards is coming on, more consistent and steady...I actually like the pairing with Ream for the GC...Richards can clean up for Ream and Ream can sprayed it around and break lines. he still has the experience and guile to hang at the GC level. We'll see how we hold up against SA...especially our flank defending.
I'm considering 3 CBs as well. The reason why I don't like it is the crappy pool of center backs. I hate to cut into our pool of midfielders to make room for another center back, except as a necessary tactical adjustment. That said, if we have 26 men to work with, we're probably bringing a spare center back for exactly that purpose. And he's going to try it in the Sept-March FIFA windows once or twice, I can almost guarantee. It's becoming much too successful a tactic at this time for us to completely ignore.
I have the funny feeling that this (Saudi Arabia) is the match in which we trot out 3 in the back from the opening whistle for the first time under Poch.
I'd like to see it...Arfsten is playing LB practically as a wingback. For me I'd like to see Richards, Ream and Robinson...I'm not as excited by McKenzie.
Brendan, for all his energy and running, rarely seems to have anything to show for it. I love the hustle, but the production is mediocre. Luna seems to just have deeper soccer smarts and end-product. It will be interesting to see who makes the final squad.
Tillman has been the best player for either team in all of his appearances in this camp. He’s everywhere doing everything well, with aplomb. His passing game is fantastic all around the field. He plays physically, he beats guys with the ball, and he can score in a myriad of ways. He does the same at PSV to the degree that many think he’s the league’s top player on the league’s top team. I think that we may be witnessing the opening chapter of a US player becoming a World Class performer. Pochettino challenged him, talking about him publicly like he was just a bit more effort away from being a Champions League legend that he used to coach, then Tillman responded with three demonstrative performances and has a look about him…he looks hungry. It looks like he’s been bit by the greatness bug. With TIllman playing like this, he’s the top player in this tournament. If he does some semblance of this in every game, the US will win the tournament.
At this point, I think that Luna is on the roster in Brendan's place, though Brendan has a Premier League season in between now and the World Cup to stake his claim. If he starts and plays solidly at Leeds, he'll keep getting called up, and he'll have plenty of chances to take Luna's spot. Both are looking at bench spots when everyone is available.
Was at the game. You get an appreciation for Luna's intensity and work rate seeing him in person. Sometimes it seems like he's knocking himself out for no reason (trying for unlikely stuff on D), but his intensity is contagious. I think a few other people have mentioned similar things. I don't think Arfsten should be a wing back and certainly not a fullback. He works as a wing back for Columbus. But Columbus is Columbus. He's an attacking player - and a pretty good one. He is equally comfortable shooting and passing with either foot - that's why he's tough to defend. Guys can't guess which way he's gonna go. Just play him as a winger. He's not a defender. We gave T&T too many chances in the 2nd half. They could have had a couple of goals, and we could have been looking at 3-2, getting a little tight in the throat. Tough to make many conclusions about players from a game like this. It's lopsided enough that everyone looks pretty good. But also it's a game you have to dominate or you're gonna get ripped. So it was a "holding serve" kind of game, but they did in fact hold serve, which is good(!), and the real tests are down the line.
Tillman was terrific. One of the better performances by a USMNT player in recent years, even though the opposition was poor. Poch seems to be starting to get the best out of him, which could be a big deal when he has Balogun/Pulisic/Weah alongside/in front of him.
Tillman wasn’t just out there being an anonymous passenger, somehow lucking out with two goals. Sometimes we exaggerate a player when they have those types of performances. This was not that. He dictated play all over the field.The last guy we had who did that was named Landon Donovan. I think that he and Balogun in particular should form a nice combination. Both have a bit of unpredictability about their games and both will try ambitious play.
Well he did have that one moment... Alex freeman today 3/6 tackles won(most in match) 💪🏻 10/13 duels won(most in match) 🤺 54/57 passing 🪄⚽️➡️2 fouls drawn 😈1 chance created👨🏾🎨Future RB of the national team? 🔐 ✅ pic.twitter.com/h9OLpWvHQz— Ghxst (@smokeyflarez) June 16, 2025
These decisions seem brave to us, but they are commonplace abroad. The same goes for the “Thanks, Pulisic…don’t call us, we’ll call you.” thing. What happens abroad when a guy ducks out of important games to vacation? Adios. Its absurd. Pochettino has the cajones to say “You don’t have to understand my decision. Stay home.” It’s rough right now, but it must be done. That’s how you get air in the wound and clean it so that it can heal. Now Pulisic and everyone else has to meet a standard. That includes the keepers. Freese has emerged and he looks motivated. Freese is giving Pochettino what he wants from the position, so it is unlikely that Turner will take the spot during the tournament, in my opinion. Remember, Turner played in the “everyone is going to get minutes” game (and played very poorly). It looks like Freese was the selection from day one. Freese will likely continue to play the #1 minutes in this tournament. What an opportunity.
When you play an inferior team, the best outcome is that you score a ton of goals and limit them to few or no chances. Check and check. No, it doesn’t assuage the disappointments of the past year or even close. But it’s a good outcome and a good way to start off the tournament. Nor is it a given that you’ll get these outcomes. We’ve struggled to beat similar teams in the GC, scraping one-goal wins v Guadelope, Martinique, and Curacao. And would you rather we got this result or the ones that Mexico and CR got in their first games. Moreover, with this result if we beat Saudi we effectively if not officially win the group (not sure if head to head is the first tiebreaker, but even if GD we’d basically have it locked up), and that would set us up to rest and rotate players v Haiti.
Game doesn't mean much. The opponent was really weak. But the guys did what they were supposed to do and won handily. Good to build confidence with some good performances.
Having something to eat and drink while (hopefully) enjoying things literally describes the experience of being a fan for healthy people.
He looks like he can be bodied off the ball pretty easily.I dont know how you find that out except using him in a game where the score won't be 5-0.
Right. If you have two great CBs, you don't need 3. If you have ifff/crappy ones, you do. We are in the latter category. In terms of sacrificing a spot, if you play 352, the CM shape is the same as 4231, no sacrifice there. The sacrifice is in the wide areas and fullback. At FB, we don't have much beyond Jedi & Dest, who are almost midfielders anyway, and better going forward than defending. Weah has speed, but does not produce goals like a winger, but does defend willingly and well. To me, he's a better WB than a winger. And Pulisic wants to cheat centrally and be closer to goal. 2nd forward/supporting striker seems perfect for him. For me, 352 takes 3 spots that are weak (winger, FB, CF) and stregthens them into two with better depth (WB, F). And, hopefully, solidifies the D. Aa a bonus,,I believe Palace (Richards) play a lot of 3 back. Now, if you go 343/3421 then you are sacrificing a CM player, as you say. One of the two behind the CF (if not both) has to be able to drop into CM to balance out the numbers. If one of those 2 is more a CM type than a winger (McGlynn, Luna, Tillman, Reyna, McKennie), then we are back to sacrificing winger/FB spots for WB ones. The other has to be Pulisic (when he is available). Now, against CONCACAF minnows, we certainly do not need 3 CBs. But against better teams, I think we might.