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US Men's National Team (17 Viewers)
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
No, we went back 4 the entire game against ELS. We only had Miles and Ream as CB's in that game.
I don't want to repeat myself too much since I have already posted a couple of different line ups I want to see.
I would love to see us try a traditional two striker setup, with Pulisic underneath them in the old fashioned number 10 role. He feels too isolated and unconnected on the wing right now.
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Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Co-signed.
But it is really hard to know when to pull the trigger when the season is only 14 games long.
FWIW, just saw that the US has surrendered 3 open play goals in our last 10 games. And one of those was a Bayern Munich to Lille super-connection that included a glaring defensive error and a bad judgement call.
Maybe the football isn't sexy, but you just aren't going to lose many games if you're that hard to break down. It's not like we're getting nothing in exchange for our trouble scoring.
TripItUp
Footballguy
The style just doesn't maximize our talent and leaves us open to results like a draw at home vs Canada.
B Maverick
Footballguy
Sure and if Canada puts away their 3 other golden chances (2 gifted by Brooks, one by Dest) then the US is on 1 point and the outlook is worse.
Side note, I do not want to hear how disappointed LD is with McKinnie. LD not only left the team and disappeared during WC qualifying. but came back like it was nothing and expected to make the team AND start.
encaitar
Footballguy
Listen, I'm as upset as anyone and I've never been the biggest GGG fan, but I think overreactions are stupid and I also think we are locked into GGG this cycle.
What's the plan if he's fired? There is none. We'd be left with a caretaker coach with no REAL authority and we'd be going through the motions without a cohesive outline for the team. That wouldn't make any sense to me. IF.... and that's a big if.... there was a coach waiting in the wings that was willing to take over and would be a guaranteed upgrade over Berhalter, then maybe I'd be ok with him getting the sack. That's not the case currently and so I'm not on board with the idea. A week ago, GGG was the winningest USMNT coach of all time, percentage wise. Even as a Berhalter hater I say he deserves more time.
What's the plan if he's fired? There is none. We'd be left with a caretaker coach with no REAL authority and we'd be going through the motions without a cohesive outline for the team. That wouldn't make any sense to me. IF.... and that's a big if.... there was a coach waiting in the wings that was willing to take over and would be a guaranteed upgrade over Berhalter, then maybe I'd be ok with him getting the sack. That's not the case currently and so I'm not on board with the idea. A week ago, GGG was the winningest USMNT coach of all time, percentage wise. Even as a Berhalter hater I say he deserves more time.
TripItUp
Footballguy
SwampDawg
Footballguy
encaitar
Footballguy
Also, let's not forget that this thread (and CONCACAF fans in general) have been saying all summer that Canada is a scary team to face right now with their collection of attacking talent. They're easily the third most talented CONCACAF team right now IMO. If we had drawn at home against Costa Rica in 2017, we'd have been disappointed, but we wouldn't have acted like the sky is falling. Canada is a solid team. We need to play better, but this wasn't losing to Trinidad and Tobago with a WC trip on the line bad.
Also, where do we actually sit right now? In the past, on average, 15 points would get you through and 13 points would get you to the playoff in the HEX. With the Octo that would translate to 21 points getting through and 18.5(so essentially 19) getting into the playoff.
If we took the formula that all home games are "expected" wins and away games are projected losses, then that projects to 21 points. We're 1 point off that pace after the Canada game. I know we can and will make that up in one of the away games, however, our margin for wins/losses is much smaller.
Also, where do we actually sit right now? In the past, on average, 15 points would get you through and 13 points would get you to the playoff in the HEX. With the Octo that would translate to 21 points getting through and 18.5(so essentially 19) getting into the playoff.
If we took the formula that all home games are "expected" wins and away games are projected losses, then that projects to 21 points. We're 1 point off that pace after the Canada game. I know we can and will make that up in one of the away games, however, our margin for wins/losses is much smaller.
TripItUp
Footballguy
encaitar
Footballguy
I know it'll be a slapped together plan at best given the time table. I can guarantee that Earnie doesn't have someone waiting in the wings with a wink wink agreement yet. Look what happened last time. We got a retread that tried to limp into the WC using old, tired players. I don't anticipate this time being much different if we make a move.TripItUp said:
TripItUp
Footballguy
Who's to say we haven't had an backup plan all along? Stewart didn't hire GGG so I'm not sure he's getting any benefit of the doubt.
Sammy3469
Footballguy
Frankly this is more an indictment of the USSF than anything, but that retread is still the best manager in MLS and in 2018 the USSF basically decided the second best MLS manager was GGG over Tata.
To your point, I'd argue there are at least 5 or 6 MLS managers (granted 2 of them are "retreads") that would at least have some new ideas.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
this is true
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Derek Rae
@RaeComm
Not saying this is right or wrong, just an observation. Had a Scottish, English or German national team player breached COVID rules as Weston McKennie did, the nature of the breach would have been reported by one media source or another by now. Battle to be first.
===============
Derek Rae
@RaeComm
Not saying this is right or wrong, just an observation. Had a Scottish, English or German national team player breached COVID rules as Weston McKennie did, the nature of the breach would have been reported by one media source or another by now. Battle to be first.
encaitar
Footballguy
I would bet a lot of money that they didn't have a backup plan for this cycle given that our current coach has one loss in his last 20 games. Rumors before WCQ began was that the USSF was working on a "major" upgrade of GGG's contract.
Two games. I love how fickle soccer fans are.
August 5... US fans... "I love Berhalter. His tactics might not be the best, but he's got the team playing with fire. Two wins over Mexico in a summer? Sign me up!"
Mexican fans.... "Tata has to go. He can't even beat a US team that doesn't bring its best players. What an embarrassment!"
Sept. 5.... US fans.... "Berhalter has to go! If we don't make a move now, then we're ####ed. I think I'm done watching this team until we get a competent manager."
Mexican fans.... "God I'm glad we didn't fire Tata. He just know how to get the job done! I mean... I honestly might stop chanting puta if he asked me to."
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SwampDawg
Footballguy
If it was the NFL or NBA it would have been by now as well but TMZ probably wasn't even aware that their was a soccer game in Nashville.
encaitar
Footballguy
It's stupid too. I think they're adding fuel to the fire by not getting the facts out there. People's imaginations are almost always worse than the truth. Get the truth out there, let everyone deal with it so we can move on.
Dr_Zaius
Footballguy
While I agree that objectively the US is still not in a terrible position given all the ties, the thing that has all of my alarm bells ringing is that two things seem clear to me with this current setup:
- The team cannot create consistent chances against a defense that is set
- The team is vulnerable on the counter, particularly if you have speed
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
If this turns out to be "I banged a groupie" I do agree that not allowing the truth out is a mistake. You aren't protecting anyone in that case. Weston is 23, most fans are just going to call him dumb and forget it about it the next time he plays.
That leads me to think this is more than a simple "I screwed up"
That leads me to think this is more than a simple "I screwed up"
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This crap puts Juventus in a terrible spot too. They have been interested in selling him but you have to think his value has dropped based on this mess.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
light humor helps in dark times 
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chris russell
@watke_
Becoming nation's favorite sport will require getting good and having soap opera storylines so lets celebrate progress and stop fretting over the order
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chris russell
@watke_
Becoming nation's favorite sport will require getting good and having soap opera storylines so lets celebrate progress and stop fretting over the order
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
So what are the odds the US does the "I quit" performance to get GGG fired?
The whole team quit in a similar situation last time but it should not go with out mentioning that Brooks by himself was enough to get JK fired with the negative performance of a life time.
Could Brooks be up for that level of incompetence again if he is upset at GGG?
My heart says less than 1% chance this happens as it did last cycle. I do wish it was 0% though...
The whole team quit in a similar situation last time but it should not go with out mentioning that Brooks by himself was enough to get JK fired with the negative performance of a life time.
Could Brooks be up for that level of incompetence again if he is upset at GGG?
My heart says less than 1% chance this happens as it did last cycle. I do wish it was 0% though...
TripItUp
Footballguy
I like the follow up question which is, are we better off if the team does give up? Better in the long run to get rid of GGG now?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
If you give me the choice of 5 points and GGG stays on, or 2 points and he is fired with a completely unknown solution behind that, I will take the 5 points with out question.
In the modern era, the US has only not qualified for the WC once. That was also the only cycle in the modern era where we fired the coach and replaced him.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This is obviously due to his liking a post that seemed to indicate he was in support of the idea that GGG was going to kill the Golden Generation
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Jesse Marsch
@jessemarsch
Clearly not the most adept with this whole Twitter thing. Total support for Gregg and the boys in Honduras!!! Go USA!!
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Jesse Marsch
@jessemarsch
Clearly not the most adept with this whole Twitter thing. Total support for Gregg and the boys in Honduras!!! Go USA!!
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic
@AlexGangueRuzic
Reports out of Germany now suggesting that Alphonso Davies is on the way back to Munich, where he’ll have an MRI on his knee
@AlexGangueRuzic
Reports out of Germany now suggesting that Alphonso Davies is on the way back to Munich, where he’ll have an MRI on his knee
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
NewlyRetired said:
How easy is it to do a major formation change like this after 2 games, especially with players coming and going? I'm asking because I don't know. I assume its much harder to have a good, game-ready plan B when you're a young national team that's hardly played together. Maybe one of the downsides to having essentially 2 different teams play in the two tournaments this summer.
B Maverick
Footballguy
Moe.
Footballguy
I agree with all of the “calm down” takes but I agree with this post as well. 2 points is obviously not the end of the world right now, but the “how” is just really troubling, there is no way around that. Anxious to see how we line up tomorrow that is for sure. I will be disappointed if CP is out wide again.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
How about we try CP and Konrad on the field in some formation together. Two guys that can break down a defense 1 on 1 and maybe it keeps 3 guys from collapsing on CP if he can get the ball off to Konrad and he beats someone. Have to think Honduras is going to sit back and then try to counter because we can break down a defense that sits back and we suck against the counter attack.
B Maverick
Footballguy
For you guys that watch a lot more of these players then I do, when everyone is healthy would we be against a 4-3-3 with CP, Reyna, Adams as the 3 midfielders? I know they mostly play wider in Europe but for the USMNT we need to get them involved in the game and let them attack the defense. Weston (if he works back into the team then is a game changer off the bench or can rotate with CP/Reyna)
I feel like Aaronson and Hoppe wide (or weah, Konrad or another), Pefok or Sargent up top. Gets our top creative players on the ball, allows for high motor and pace getting down the wings. Might also get the best of Sarge interchanging and one twos with CP/Reyna.....
I feel like Aaronson and Hoppe wide (or weah, Konrad or another), Pefok or Sargent up top. Gets our top creative players on the ball, allows for high motor and pace getting down the wings. Might also get the best of Sarge interchanging and one twos with CP/Reyna.....
Sammy3469
Footballguy
To you're point if we are going to make the 4-3-3 work in its current iteration, two of the three MFs need to be more attacking.
El Floppo
Footballguy
So is Swag is a bench guy now? and Musah?
I want to see Adams with Musah and Swag in front of him (the three of them can and should be fairly fluid). They are the best the US have in the MF going forward or defending.
CP and Gio are on the field, in front of or wide of those three. That's 5.
a GK (honestly don't care which of those three) is 6.
Miles and Dest are auto starts for me... but only if Dest on the right. Probably Brooks too. That's 9 I want on the field if I want to win games.
I don't have answers for the other two between Aaronson (likely), Konrad, Weah, Hoppe, Sarge, Antonee, etc etc. and don't have answers about formation.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
A few more details are coming out
=================
Jeff Carlisle
@JeffreyCarlisle
Sources: Weston McKennie was sent home for multiple violations of the #usmnt #COVID19 protocol, including bringing in an unauthorized person inside the team's bubble. Also spent night outside the bubble. (TUDN first on the unauthorized person violation).
=================
Jeff Carlisle
@JeffreyCarlisle
Sources: Weston McKennie was sent home for multiple violations of the #usmnt #COVID19 protocol, including bringing in an unauthorized person inside the team's bubble. Also spent night outside the bubble. (TUDN first on the unauthorized person violation).
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Remember when GGG tried Pulisic as a “dual 8”? It didn’t work. The guy doesn’t play as a 10 for his club. And I doubt the USMNT have trained CP anywhere but as a left wing for the last few camps. He’s not a central player. Maybe a club team could experiment with him as a second striker, but I don’t see how the Nats could right now.
El Floppo
Footballguy
to be fair, Chelsea used him occasionally somewhat successfully in the middle behind a target forward (always looked best behind Giroud... but who doesn't
) where he had room to combine and/or go at guys. I like that spot for him... a false 9 or 10 behind a true 9... definitely not a CMF.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
maybe another piece of the puzzle here. Maybe they only knew about the first violation on Sunday but then found out about the second violation the next day which compounded his suspension.
People who are blaming GGG for Weston being suspended are simply beyond nuts. This is all on Weston.
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Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
encaitar
Footballguy
Agreed. Also, in Tuchel's strategy, even when he's played as a winger, it's not a true winger position, but more of an inside forward position since the wing backs in Chelsea's formation push up so high.to be fair, Chelsea used him occasionally somewhat successfully in the middle behind a target forward (always looked best behind Giroud... but who doesn't
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
So this gets us 99% of the way to he brought some one home to bang. Now the soap opera question remains about who the said individual was.
My Spidey sense is starting to tingle. If this was just some no name groupie, I don't think they would be keeping this so quiet. It almost feels like the person he banged needs to protected (ie a teammates sister as the rumor mill is churning out).
My Spidey sense is starting to tingle. If this was just some no name groupie, I don't think they would be keeping this so quiet. It almost feels like the person he banged needs to protected (ie a teammates sister as the rumor mill is churning out).
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This is surreal..........
Of all the problems I expected to have happen, this would have been number 2000 on the list.
Of all the problems I expected to have happen, this would have been number 2000 on the list.
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B Maverick
Footballguy
Both of these are why I was asking. Just trying to get something going against these well organized teams. CP was the only guy driving at people. And often Lleget is asked to be a playmaker and he shouldn't be (at best he should be a winger coming on late to run). To me our biggest issues are creativity in the attack and finding a goal scorer.
I also still don't see why Brooks deserves the love he gets. He may be good in the air, but he is a liability in the middle of the park and on counter attacks with pace.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Gotta say. If he spent all night with this chick then brought her back to the hotel, then the ***** must have been electric.
Earnie Stewart should be sounding out potential replacements this week, right?
How much rope do you give Berhalter? A loss, and its easy. A draw, and I think its also fairly easy - if you have someone lined up. But, a 1-0 win? Where we struggle to generate an attack? I think even that warrants a serious internal debate at USSoccer.
How much rope do you give Berhalter? A loss, and its easy. A draw, and I think its also fairly easy - if you have someone lined up. But, a 1-0 win? Where we struggle to generate an attack? I think even that warrants a serious internal debate at USSoccer.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
That would be ludicrous. We’d be in second or third. The only possible candidates would be MLS retreads or MAYBE Marsch (who would be killing his reputation by leaving Leipzig so soon after the Red Bull’s organization has invested so much in him). So if your best shot is luring Bib Bradley back or maybe Brian Schmatzer, who would make that move if you’re in the qualifying positions?
No - I think you have to have a legit manager lined-up - even if US loses.
But, this is not the time to be all sentimental, given the failure to qualify last cycle. A "poor" win should still be examined by Earnie, and if he feels like the team is not playing up to its capabilities, I think you have to consider a move. If there is an issue within the squad - one more International window could be too late.
Hopefully, we get a strong performance and a win, and everyone re-groups until October.
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