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​⚽ OFFICIAL GOLD CUP THREAD: United States Beats Mexico. Again. ⚽ (1 Viewer)

3 man subs AND switching to press high with 3 up top. A previously composed Qatar fell to pieces giving the ball away over and over.

Qatar is not great. And obviously not deep- the tourney play exposed them as they looked gassed end of ElS. Game as well as here. They are organized and have good familiarity that shows on the field when they counter. But moving the ball quickly and having even one guy with skills to beat their man off the dribble routinely opened them up. Back line pretty decent though.


Also, even if he was kind of gassed, it was insane taking off Afif, who had been the best player on the pitch by a wide, wide margin (OK, maybe Turner).

 
Not the biggest Lalas fan, but seeing the joy on his face during those highlights reminds me he really wants the best for the team. 

 
Never would have thought Roldan would be so good on the wing.


He is one of my least favorite players and he has done very well every chance he has received this tournament.

I hope I am not stretching here but seeing non traditional wide players like Hoppe, Gioacchini, and Roldan get some work done on the wing has to make you wonder how Pulisic, Aaronson and Reyna could have run wild through this Gold Cup...

 
Like others, there is something about Williamson's game that seems to speak more to the fans than to GGG.  He is both a bull and calm on the ball, which is fairly rare.   I thought the quality difference over Busio was evident immediately, although Williamson did enter the game at a point where his skill set was maximized due to the US being on the front foot.
And I thought Busio did auch better job today. But the shape on defense in the defensive third was not good...and I think he was responsible

 
He is one of my least favorite players and he has done very well every chance he has received this tournament.

I hope I am not stretching here but seeing non traditional wide players like Hoppe, Gioacchini, and Roldan get some work done on the wing has to make you wonder how Pulisic, Aaronson and Reyna could have run wild through this Gold Cup...
Seriously.

Add Swag, Musah and Adams...Qatar would have had to sit and bunker and look much different. 

 
I mean, its not far fetched to say it will be absolute all hands on deck against Mexico if they take care of business tonight.  

We almost need to revert to the age old formula of letting Mexico blow chance after chance after chance and then have a killer counter or two.

Of course the big issue here is that GGG has never employed a counter attacking scheme.  Hopefully the players can take to it if that is what he decides.

 
Like others, there is something about Williamson's game that seems to speak more to the fans than to GGG.  He is both a bull and calm on the ball, which is fairly rare.   I thought the quality difference over Busio was evident immediately, although Williamson did enter the game at a point where his skill set was maximized due to the US being on the front foot.
I think part of the reason we were on the front foot was because Williamson(and Roldan) helped us maintain better shape than we were in the first 60 minutes.  Qatar was still getting turnovers, but their attempts to counter were much more quickly shut down and Williamson was a big reason for that.  Given that we've thought of this tourney as a show me exhibition for WCQ I absolutely want Williamson to start the final and see what he does under pressure.  He deserves that chance IMO.

 
Like others, there is something about Williamson's game that seems to speak more to the fans than to GGG.  He is both a bull and calm on the ball, which is fairly rare.   I thought the quality difference over Busio was evident immediately, although Williamson did enter the game at a point where his skill set was maximized due to the US being on the front foot.


He's everything Busio is on the ball, and looks much stronger defensively.  Especially given that there's a 4th #8 spot available I'm hoping he forces his way into consideration during WCQ.

 
btw... we are ONE upset away from winning both these summer tournaments.  Can you imagine the crisis in Mexico if we beat them twice for titles?!  We're free-rolling this next one too -- the US really shouldn't be in the game.

 
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btw... we are ONE upset away from winning both these summer tournaments.  Can you imagine the crisis in Mexico if we beat them twice for titles?!  We're free-rolling this next one too -- the US really shouldn't be in the game.


I agree they probably out punched their weight a little here in the tournament.  Although every one should kind of be prepared for the worst.  The last time we did this (scraped our way into a final with a B side), Mexico trounced us like 5-0.

 
While not his best, full credit to Sands for sticking with it today.

Fortunately they didn't get punished on all their mistakes.

Another decent game for Robinson and Shaq. Vines a bit off.

While Busio, Lletget and Acosta were all decent, their shape sucked. Will get pulverized vs Mex...so I'm happy for something different. 

Roldan came on for Busio in the middle, but switched to the wing when Williamson came on?

 
I’ve been beating the Zardes drum for a year now and getting abused in here. Has the guy had a bad touch this tourney?  Has anyone out worked him?  Dude is constantly in the right place at the right time. You get him on the field with Pulisic and Gio and the dude will make it rain goals. 

 
Maybe - honestly I thought they played really poor in the last 45 minutes and had no 2nd gear or subs to change the game.  I think they get run off the pitch by some of the top sides and probably our A team. 
You're not wrong, but they were still more impressive than I was expecting.  I had very low expectations.

 
I’ve been beating the Zardes drum for a year now and getting abused in here. Has the guy had a bad touch this tourney?  Has anyone out worked him?  Dude is constantly in the right place at the right time. You get him on the field with Pulisic and Gio and the dude will make it rain goals. 
Lol. I love the false victim thing.

Who has abused you about Zardes? 

 
Where the FS1 announcers as in love with Matt Turner as TUDN? Those saves were great and they just couldn't stop talking about him.


I warned everyone at the beginning of the tournament that Turner was a lovable guy (I knew him will from being a Revs fan). 

He has that gym rat look, and a fantastic underdog story that speaks to people. 

Anyone who previously did not think he belonged on the final 23 has certainly had their eyes opened.   IMO he has been the most consistent US player in the tournament.

 
I agree they probably out punched their weight a little here in the tournament.  Although every one should kind of be prepared for the worst.  The last time we did this (scraped our way into a final with a B side), Mexico trounced us like 5-0.
I was there live for that. Me and the other 43 US fans in the Meadowlands.

Suuuuucked. 

 
I warned everyone at the beginning of the tournament that Turner was a lovable guy (I knew him will from being a Revs fan). 

He has that gym rat look, and a fantastic underdog story that speaks to people. 

Anyone who previously did not think he belonged on the final 23 has certainly had their eyes opened.   IMO he has been the most consistent US player in the tournament.
Shot stopping extraordinaire. I expressed concern about his distribution early on...but I haven't seen any issues lately.

I'm in.

 
:lol:

Otb reading the tea leaves, past the open Qatar chance after chance...


sure, they had a few very great chances in the first half ... but i made that post right prior to halftime.

point was, USA took Qatar's best shots (literally), and were still in a scoreless affair - lucky or not, scoreboard don't lie. 

i may not be a veteran of watching this sport for decades, like most of you lot in here - but i do wager on it ... and you learn an awful lot by attrition, if not necessity. 

i like to play over/under ... it's my bread and butter - what i have learned is that primo scoring chances, vs a favored opponent who has not been yielding much, are gonna get fewer and much more far between as the game tightens - if you don't cash early, when you kinda have said favorite on their heels, well - odds really start to stack against you, and that's what i felt coming in the 2nd half ... bupkis. 

Qatar botched a pk, but had zero shots on net/zero goal attempts for the entire second half ... so roughly 53 minutes of nada/nil/nyet/the big avacado. 

and 1-nil it finished. 

don't think the condescending tone was called for, but - hey ... que sera, amirite?

 
btw... we are ONE upset away from winning both these summer tournaments.  Can you imagine the crisis in Mexico if we beat them twice for titles?!  We're free-rolling this next one too -- the US really shouldn't be in the game.
I will settle...if it's Mex..for just hanging tough and not getting embarrassed. Obviously I want the win, which would be all kinds of delicious soul crushing to Mex.

 
sure, they had a few very great chances in the first half ... but i made that post right prior to halftime.

point was, USA took Qatar's best shots (literally), and were still in a scoreless affair - lucky or not, scoreboard don't lie. 

i may not be a veteran of watching this sport for decades, like most of you lot in here - but i do wager on it ... and you learn an awful lot by attrition, if not necessity. 

i like to play over/under ... it's my bread and butter - what i have learned is that primo scoring chances, vs a favored opponent who has not been yielding much, are gonna get fewer and much more far between as the game tightens - if you don't cash early, when you kinda have said favorite on their heels, well - odds really start to stack against you, and that's what i felt coming in the 2nd half ... bupkis. 

Qatar botched a pk, but had zero shots on net/zero goal attempts for the entire second half ... so roughly 53 minutes of nada/nil/nyet/the big avacado. 

and 1-nil it finished. 

don't think the condescending tone was called for, but - hey ... que sera, amirite?
Sheesh dude. Condescending? Ok.

 
it be what it be. 

btw, feel free to inbox anytime to do this in person ... i've asked a few times, but you haven't taken me up. 

we'll catch a match ... or something. 

🤘
Wait...where are you again?

I'm a terrible bar watching partner...I get angry and whiney. Never a good look.

And still not clear on the condescension..but it's seems like something you want to stick with, so you got it... I don’t want to talk to you anymore, you empty-headed animal food trough whopper.

 
Lol. I love the false victim thing.

Who has abused you about Zardes? 


More abuse of Zardes than me.  Sarge...Sarge...Sarge...Dike....Dike...Dike...some random guy in a lower division European team...etc.  Guy scores a couple of lucky goals being in the right place instead of being in the middle of nowhere acting like a statue picking his nose.  The last two games we aren't sniffing goals and once Zardes appears we are winning within minutes.  Everyone claims his touch is horrible yet I'd be hard pressed to find a miscue this tourney.

The other thing people are overlooking is the press we'll be able to implement with him, Politic, and Gio.

 
I mention it every game but it can't hurt to do again.

We all agree this version of the US team is lacking in certain levels of quality but GGG seems to get his players to play hard for him, which to me is the real reason we keep winning these close games.

Eventually the quality difference will be too great for heart to make up for, but if we can combine the level of compete we have seen all summer with the strong players we have all over the field when every one is available, we should show very well in qualifying.

 
PA guy had to make an announcement to Mexican fans on their "uh hem" chants. 

I believe 2nd time match is stopped 

If chatting keeps up match is abandon and I believe Canada wins by Forfeit 3-0  

 
More abuse of Zardes than me.  Sarge...Sarge...Sarge...Dike....Dike...Dike...some random guy in a lower division European team...etc.  Guy scores a couple of lucky goals being in the right place instead of being in the middle of nowhere acting like a statue picking his nose.  The last two games we aren't sniffing goals and once Zardes appears we are winning within minutes.  Everyone claims his touch is horrible yet I'd be hard pressed to find a miscue this tourney.

The other thing people are overlooking is the press we'll be able to implement with him, Politic, and Gio.
I honestly think this has been played perfectly.Dike starts in this heat and just runs the defense ragged for 60 minutes.

Zardes comes in and has all the room and the legs to run. I’m starting to believe this is Haltertops strategy.

If it was reversed and Dike had to come in late it would be nowhere close to being as effective.

Dike is doing a ton of hard work here and the second half subs are reaping the benefits.

 
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