Post-match: USA v. Australia [R] - October 14, 2025 - International Friendly

So...just for fun, because the three WC host nations just played Rotating Opponents this window...

USA
4 points, 3 goals scored, GD +1

CAN
1 point, 0 goals scored, GD -1

MEX
1 point, 1 goal scored, GD -4

 

Glad that Tessmann had a good window and is definitely on the roster now.

 

Good luck with Sands who never been close to Roldan in MLS. You can pick 20 best Sands' games and on average they will be below the worst of Roldan's seasons.
Wright lacks explossivness of elite strikers. But he's smart, fast, reasonably good finisher, and seems confident like for the first time in 10 years.

 

My goodness, Wright. What a performance.

Likewise, Roldan. We knew he could be solid but his big game mentality had until now only been reserved for Seattle. Poch wants players that create important moments.

Massive props for both players.

Sands does not look like he fits this lineup. He didn't progress the ball well and had very few touches.

Morris is a little better but he did not create the opportunities that Tessmann or Roldan did.

The CBs made Ream look really good. A decline in distribution and yet no improvement in defense.

 

I don't even need to go this far. It's clear he's a very good teammate; I have no idea how much that spills over so I'm not even going to give him credit for that beyond the very basic.

What I know is that he's performed well for the US, and he's well suited to this role that he's found himself in. I think he plays it exactly like Poch wants it played, and it's pretty clear that the role is somewhat necessary for the team to function. Great.

The other guys, I'm sure, will have a chance to prove out over him. They may end up better. I don't know if they will.

 

It was not a great game but it was his first game of Poch and first game in a while. I personally would not write him off, but stylistically, these last couple of games have not been his bag, either.

 

I'm surprised they had that much.

 

Agree. Perfectly serviceable; we just went to the left most of the game.

 

Poch has been playing Tillman & McKennie as AMs in this 3421 amd Malik more as an attacker before the switch. I am not sure I'd count either as a CM, though they both could play there, certainly.

How many spots for CM only types? Three? Four?

For me:
1. Adams
--------Tillman & McKennie--------
2. Tessman
3. Roldan
4. Morris
5. Cardoso
6. LDLT

Sands and Zawadzki can also enter the chat as CB/CM types.

Edit: I forgot Musah. Which says something.

Is it for sure 26 on the roster?

 

I though we didn't play as good as we did vs. Ecuador.
We didn't control the midfield like we did before.
Perhaps it was because we changed 6 players.
Richards did not have a good game; I would give him a generous 7-
Aaron did well with his minutes. 7+
Wright had an excellent game. 8+
I was expecting more from Freeman, but he went back to playing it safe.
Tessman didn't play at the level of his previous game.

 

I only watched the highlights, but on both goals I believe Wright asked for the ball first and Roldan just immediately responded with the passes.

Obviously Roldan was watching him but the reaction was instant.

That is pretty impressive to have that connection right away.

Do you guys think the quick play off a foul was something worked on in camp?

One player sets the ball down while the other is looking for an immediate run?

It felt so well executed.

 

I consider Tillman a midfielder. He's a midfielder whether you put him in an "attacking" role, or further back, and he can play any of the midfield roles, from 10 to a style of 6. Pulisic was slotted into on paper the same role today, but he's a forward/winger, not a midfielder.

A major theme amongst our midfielders is the versatility that several of them have, not only between the various midfield roles, but potentially the wings/WBs as well. Think Musah or McKennie, though they might only play those roles as emergency back-up. I would probably consider bringing 7 midfielders or perhaps even 8 because of that versatility.

 

The majority of them are in Florida though.

 

I think it was clear one of the instructions was to attack/counter quickly before Australia could get set. We tried to go at them hard whenever we got a turnover and generally didn't pull back to set up until we ran out of space in the attacking 1/3 - whether that was specifically trained on in camp is beyond my ken, but that was for sure a tactical goal.

 

Love him and he’s one of my favorites…but he had too many loose touches.

I commented somewhere tonight that his off the ball movement is elite. So if you’re actually there and can see the whole field, I can see how that part of his game stood out.

But yeah, the passes, too many were off.

I wouldn’t rate him as bad, but mid or mid- seems fair.

 

I noticed that too.

Those are my favorite kinds of goals.

 

3 keepers (where we gonna find them?)
4 strikers (where we gonna find them?)
4 CBs (where we gonna find them?)
5 FBs + wingers
9 CMs + AMs
-------------------------------------------------------
Total 25

Sounds so.
I doubt we will see Zavadsky or Sands any time soon, skeptical about LDLT.
Would reserve #26 for Albert.

 

This was one of those games where most people's MOTM (maybe even mine) was the guy that was frustrating me the most. Full credit for the two goals- especially the second one, which I thought was more classy (the first one looked odd for both the decision to step to his left to get it on his right foot; and the toe-poke, but a goal is a goal). But Wright kept failing to show for the ball around the halfway line when we were transitioning into a few crisp looking attacks. There were at least three times where he failed to be in front of his defender when he had great opportunities to receive passes (which got intercepted) as a target. It's that same casual attitude about positioning that allowed him to get caught offside too easily. Like I used to see Eddie Johnson do all the time... the lollygagging behind the opponents' defenders. Haji's movement and anticipation were generally too slow for me (unlike the way Balo plays the game), except for the two goal sequences. And of course, those two scoring sequences really went a long way toward softening my frustration with his playing style. So, just some mixed feelings about him tonight.

 

Was there too. Luna was focused and pushing the pace of the team. Constantly pressing and moving and calling out open lanes. All the late efforts started with his movements.

To my eye Roldan was good in possession but could not close space fast enough when necessary.

Ref killed any rhythm for the majority of the match. Was really bad live.

 

This was a choppier performance than Ecuador - probably because Poch was trying out some things (Weah on the left) and giving time to second stringers. Still encouraging to see the team overcome a bad start. The growing confidence of the group is clear to see.

I think also it’s becoming evident that a winning team is not necessarily the team with all my favourites on it. I really like what Musah and Johnny REPRESENT, but if I’m being honest with myself, those guys are being left behind by the better performers, which includes Roldan at this point. Fans can be sentimental, coaches can’t. After a period of real despair over Poch, I’m coming around to the evidence.

 

I still have to believe Johnny Soccer will find a way into the squad. I think a wonderfully pragmatic lineup that includes Cardoso and Tyler Adams, might just be the kind of thing that’s called for at times next summer.

The tricky thing is who to partner with him, he’s a different sort of 8, but he’s not a 6. I think Poch will get him integrated before we really kick off.

 

One more comment and then I’ll sign off from the thread. The first USA match I attended was in Denver, in 1991 at the old Mile High Stadium. I grew up here. It was Bora’s first match, and Peter Vermes scored. We beat Uruguay 1-0.

It’s a school night in Colorado tonight. Everybody is working tomorrow. The Rapids are nothing special. But there were 18,000 people there tonight, and about 750 Australians. The fans there tonight knew exactly what they were watching, and appreciated it for what it was. And supported our squad.

It’s mundane to see it now. But that type of intelligence in a purely average American crowd was just a pipe dream not very long ago.

 

Beers tasted really cold tonight USA fans! This generation is actually linking up and becoming a unit!!!

First time under Poch that our boys came back from behind to find victory!

VAMOS USA!!! RUNNING EAGLES!!!

 

Brother, I have no idea what you saw that I didn’t. He was clean as a whistle. He’s a subtle player.