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US Men's National Team (14 Viewers)

Lalas calling for a WC starting XI front 3 of Pulisic, Weah, and Aaronson. No true #9, no false #9, just let them play. Get the best players out there.

Says he doesn't like it that we don't have a #9 but doesn't think we will find one by the time we start the WC.

100% agree with him. 

 
gianmarco said:
Lalas calling for a WC starting XI front 3 of Pulisic, Weah, and Aaronson. No true #9, no false #9, just let them play. Get the best players out there.

Says he doesn't like it that we don't have a #9 but doesn't think we will find one by the time we start the WC.

100% agree with him. 
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I also agree with Lalas.

Ick, I need a shower now. 

 
gianmarco said:
Lalas calling for a WC starting XI front 3 of Pulisic, Weah, and Aaronson. No true #9, no false #9, just let them play. Get the best players out there.

Says he doesn't like it that we don't have a #9 but doesn't think we will find one by the time we start the WC.

100% agree with him. 
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Yes. I also want Reyna in there right behind those three.

 
Uruguay obviously scouted. Just a simple switch with such a narrow formation. I can't tell the intent here as it appears a flat back four but no width at all. 

 
Weah continues to look like our most dangerous player.  He seems to have a lot of confidence at the moment.

 
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This is the most dangerous we've looked in the final 3rd in a long time. I think a lot of this is Jesus. His movement opens things up for these guys on the wings. Weah looks ridiculously good as well. 

 
Desert_Power said:
Is Dest still hurt?
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I believe so.  And it was more just weird positioning a couple of times.  Scally got pulled out once and got beat once.  He’s done decent man up but he’s had a couple plays in the midfield where it’s gotten past him.  Also, seems he doesn’t have a lot of foot speed.  

 
Good game so far.  Lots of pressure on both sides, but I thought the US really grew into the game there and was the better team for the last 20 of that half.  So close on a couple of chances.  Really should have a goal on the board already.  Still... nice work.  
 

 
not a bad half at all.  The first 10 minutes were a mess but the US was on the front foot after that.

If Yedlin takes ~25 miles an hour off of that rocket of a cross, Jesus can just nod it in.

 
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Pretty good first half.  After the first 10 minutes we were the better side the rest of the way.  Just need a goal.

Long continues to really do nothing wrong but something about him doesn’t instill confidence.  Would have been nice if Scally had gotten time much sooner as right now he still seems to be figuring out what they want him to do.

 
I thought Zimm again looked comfortable passing.  If can make a few line breaking passes each half, that is really going to round off his game nicely.

I wish Pulisic would drive his corner kicks more.

 
AAABatteries said:
Pretty good first half.  After the first 10 minutes we were the better side the rest of the way.  Just need a goal.

Long continues to really do nothing wrong but something about him doesn’t instill confidence.  Would have been nice if Scally had gotten time much sooner as right now he still seems to be figuring out what they want him to do.
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They also switched how Scally was playing at that 10 minute mark.  They had Jedi playing so high against Morocco and they tried it again today but Uruguay quickly saw that space and attacked it.   Once they put Scally more back as a traditional LB would be, the game changed for the better for the US.

 
Jesus probably getting a little stick on the socials, but I'm way more interested in a guy who can get these chances, and maybe set some of them up, than I am a #9 who can finish chances that will never ever be there against good teams.  Broken record alert, but I really like his game.  I'd stick with some combo of Weah, Reyna, CP, Aaronson and Fereirra up front and leave the rest of them home.

Scally was caught out quite a few times.  Pressing into situations unnecessarily and then not winning the ball or fouling, and getting beat.  And he's losing a BUNCH of the 50/50s that he should be contesting.

At the same time he looked worse than he was because the US has had a consistent problem going back a bunch of games now where a switch of play, especially thru the midfield, sees an opponent on the wing with no one anywhere near him and a clear path to the end line.  Not sure why that keeps happening, but it's a theme.

OTOH, every time the camera pans back the US looks organized, so maybe it's just something we're willing to give up tactically.  Not sure.  Felt a lot better about it with Robinson back there mopping up the 1v1s though.

Will be interesting to see where Reyna fits into this team.  He's not a natural winger like Weah, CP and Aaronson, and he's a totally different player than Musah.  He's so so good that there's no way you keep him off the field regardless, but it's an interesting question given how well the wingers are playing.  Maybe you just give up a little bit of defensive bite and throw Reyna out there with McKennie as an eight.

It's very weird to see a US team that's better in attack than defense.  Antonee is underrated in defense IMO, but add him and Dest to this lineup and the attacking options are bonkers.

Long hasn't been noticeable -- which is probably a good thing.

CP seems totally back into the team flow again, which is nice to see.  Not trying to do to much.

If our GK and CBs can hold up in Qatar (very much TBD for me) this team could make some noise. 

Overall they gave better than they got against a solid team in the first half IMO.

 
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Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Well, Jesus is still proving that he's the best choice as a striker who doesn't score goals.  
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I think the question they need to answer is can they afford to play a 9 that won’t get goals.  I think they can if it’s the Jesus performance of the last 2 matches but not some of what we saw from Pefok and Pepi.  Still want to see Weah there myself.

 
AAABatteries said:
I think the question they need to answer is can they afford to play a 9 that won’t get goals.  I think they can if it’s the Jesus performance of the last 2 matches but not some of what we saw from Pefok and Pepi.  Still want to see Weah there myself.
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The joke is that they only have strikers that don't score goals.

 
HalfSpaces@blharreld

I have a theory that I’m going to need to think out more but…

Those big switches into open space the US gives up feel like mid-range jumpers in bball. 

You don’t WANT to leave it open but if you have to leave something that’s the “best” option.
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Half Spaces is wondering if those wide open switches are a tactical thing too.

 
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I've really seen enough of Yedlin. I get he may be our best option as a backup at RB but he just is what he is. So glad to see him come off and Scally moved to right back. 

 
prefontaine said:
I've really seen enough of Yedlin. I get he may be our best option as a backup at RB but he just is what he is. So glad to see him come off and Scally moved to right back. 
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I'm the exact opposite.  I don't know anyone who's been as down on Yedlin for his entire career as I have, but I like late-stage DeAndre because he knows what he is.  He'll bomb forward when the situation is right for it, but he's mostly decided to be a combative, defensive RB.  I was hoping Scally would show better at his natural RB position, but he immediately made two mistakes with a giveaway and getting cooked.  

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I was hoping Scally would show better at his natural RB position, but he immediately made two mistakes with a giveaway and getting cooked.  
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Agreed 100%. But to me that's the point.

Maybe I just want something different from these games but there aren't going to be further opportunities for these guys against good opposition. This is pretty much it because we shouldn't experiment in the September window and the next two games in this window lack quality. 

 
Not the most glamorous game, but the US looked good again.  Morocco and Uruguay are better than Wales and Iran, so if the US plays like this in November they should make the Round of 16.

 
I feel like we lost 25% of that game in the second half as the subs overwhelmed the flow of the game.

So what did we learn, if anything

1) Scally did not take his opportunity.   

2) Long did not win or lose the LCB role

3) We want our best players on the field.  That means one of Pulisic, Aaronson, Weah, and Reyna may have to play the 9 because neither Jesus nor Haji are grabbing the spot.

4) Zimmerman again was rock steady.  Maybe even Man of the Match for the US

5) Musah showed that he continues to be a leveled up version of Nagbe in the "he is good every where but the final 3rd" category.

 
NewlyRetired said:
I feel like we lost 25% of that game in the second half as the subs overwhelmed the flow of the game.

So what did we learn, if anything

1) Scally did not take his opportunity.   

2) Long did not win or lose the LCB role

3) We want our best players on the field.  That means one of Pulisic, Aaronson, Weah, and Reyna may have to play the 9 because neither Jesus nor Haji are grabbing the spot.

4) Zimmerman again was rock steady.  Maybe even Man of the Match for the US

5) Musah showed that he continues to be a leveled up version of Nagbe in the "he is good every where but the final 3rd" category.
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Agree with all this.  Pleased with a clean sheet with the back 5 changes we made.  Probably a little lucky to not give up a goal and a little unlucky not to score one.

The guy that stood out a little to me was Weah - I think he’s now a must start with CP and Weston in attack. 

 
AAABatteries said:
Agree with all this.  Pleased with a clean sheet with the back 5 changes we made.  Probably a little lucky to not give up a goal and a little unlucky not to score one.

The guy that stood out a little to me was Weah - I think he’s now a must start with CP and Weston in attack. 
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Weah is playing with confidence and urgency. I hope this continues into his club season. 

 
The Kansas Comet said:
How did Uruguay mess that up?
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One lucky save by Johnson (he knew nothing about it, it hit him) and then one teeny tiny touch by EPB that slightly messed up Cavani's timing.

But the US could've scored too.

Very surprised how down people are on Fereirra.  Even knowing that people would be down on him.

 
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NewlyRetired said:
5) Musah showed that he continues to be a leveled up version of Nagbe in the "he is good every where but the final 3rd" category.
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Yeah - I don't see him as a starter in the WC.  Runs with the ball until dispossessed and continuously misses pass opportunities.  Bring on Gio.

This was a good test and shows we need to significantly improve to compete at a high level.  Uruguay was a significantly better squad today.

 
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