NewlyRetired
Footballguy
He had a nice ball to Paredes for the own goal
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US Men's National Team (4 Viewers)
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El Floppo
Footballguy
Says who
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Yeah - after that and the Mexico result tonight I’m reevaluating this 2 game run. Right now it would be 7 goals scored without conceding. Got lots of guys time and got 2 goals from our strikers tonight (Pepi b2b games). Weah, CP and Aaronson also scoring. Tons of possession.
If I had laid it out like that ahead of the matches I imagine we all would have been thrilled. Sure there was negative in the Uzbekistan match but overall I think it was a success. Really hoping Gio gets healthy and playing, Balogun keeps progressing and Adams gets healthy.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Very solid 90 minute performance in all phases of the game. Sure Oman were clearly not up to it but that matters not, the US were better in every way tonight. While the scoreline was nearly identical to the Uzb game, the flow of the game could not have been more different.
Nice way to end the camp.
Nice way to end the camp.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Pepi is solidly our backup 9 now, right?
El Floppo
Footballguy
Tonight was a good road map of how it use him better. Not static, moving around and getting on the ball.
El Floppo
Footballguy
If he keeps playing like that... absolutely. That goal was class.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
He now has 9 goals in 18 appearances - I’ll take it for our backup if he continues it.
BassNBrew
IBL Representative
No, the Sarge fans are like herpes. This debate will flare up frequently
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
And he is not just padding stats in blow outs like Jesus has done, he just consistently scores when given a chance.
He has all the traits of a classic #9. Not only was it a nice goal, he made the sweet pass to that Weston should have buried and also worked his tail off on defense.
Him and Balogun both being young is also promising.
We need one more striker to emerge because we know form/injuries/etc are going to pop up from time to time but having these two at the start of this cycle feels better than at any time at the 9 during the last cycle.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Here are the highlights for those that missed the game
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Anyone see Kyle Martinos look on the postgame? Unbelievable. Fantastic. I guess that’s what happens when an old jock gets divorced from his actress socialite wife.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I agree with this below. They not only refused to let Oman do anything through the middle, as Floppo noted in game, they move the ball quickly with out having to make any hard line breaking passes and as such their turn over count was extremely low.
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Gregg Berhalter says he gave two match balls to center backs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards after the USMNT's 4-0 win over Oman.
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Gregg Berhalter says he gave two match balls to center backs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards after the USMNT's 4-0 win over Oman.
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The Z Machine
Footballguy
Oh man that team was bad
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Pepi is now tied for the all time lead for goals by a sub in a calendar year for the US. He is tied with Bobby Wood from 2015. He will have a chance to break the record next month. The US has 4 games left this year.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
A
He divorced Susan Sarandan's daughter? It's like his hair is the wilderness reclaiming him.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
He was kind of quiet otherwise, but that was another game where Musah's ability to just effortlessly progress the ball from the defensive third to the offensive third was on full display. Guy really is Nagbe on steroids.
gianmarco
Footballguy
Yep.
The question is, do we really need that? Is it useful for this squad? Or are we better off with someone else? I think a healthy Adams along with McKennie has to be out there, but maybe we otherwise abandon MMA?
LDLT looked REALLY good the other day. Gio needs to be in consideration out there if healthy as well.
And I think Pulisic/Flo/Weah is locked in as the front 3 at this point.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Maybe we ask him to shoot more? Maybe we ask Weston to shoot more? Maybe we try and get our front 3 into more dangerous positions through better movement and passing in the offensive 3rd.
gianmarco
Footballguy
But it's not just for us. Since the 2019/2020 season at the club level, he's played 132 games and almost 7000 minutes. He has a total of 6 goals and 3 assists in all of that time. That's just really poor for an "offensive" midfielder. I know there are things that don't show up on the stat sheet that he's doing, but he simply isn't a threat at goal himself. I'd rather have someone in his spot that can realistically be a threat to put the ball in the net.
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
Honestly I've never been a big Musah guy. To me he always seemed like the obvious choice as the odd man out in the midfield when everyone is healthy, but he's the one guy (along with Adams I guess) that people never even mentioned as an option to be that odd man out, so I always figured I was missing something.
He has one of those great runs every game or two where he makes an awesome run with the ball, but those are few and far between and he often seems invisible other than that. Granted I had stuff going on while watching the game last night but I remember him getting the ball around the 70th minute and thinking "oh wow, I didn't even realize he was playing tonight".
He has one of those great runs every game or two where he makes an awesome run with the ball, but those are few and far between and he often seems invisible other than that. Granted I had stuff going on while watching the game last night but I remember him getting the ball around the 70th minute and thinking "oh wow, I didn't even realize he was playing tonight".
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I took it as his way of warning off the potential high-society suiters who are no doubt swarming around his ex. The Lion-like huge beard + massive hair combo will compensate for his lower earnings and sleight frame.
B Maverick
Footballguy
Musah's strengths are useful and I think he can be good cover for both Adams and McKinnie but shouldn't be the main starter if everyone (read: Adams and Gio) are healthy. He doesn't have the creativity to unlock in the final third like Gio. This is where the US falls down, they get through the park, but cant unlock that final ball. Musah is part of that issue.
To me the answer is the RAM MF
(Reyna, Adams, McKinnie MFers!)
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I do think it's a very valuable skill. Do I think that an "MMA" midfield should be etched in stone for every game? No. I think ideally we'll start rotating a bit because we have a lot more diverse midfield talent now.
I think the way to look at the midfield is to divide the pool into guys who are "6/8s" and guys who are 8/10s". Musah is a 6/8. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a guy we would want to rely on a sale defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3, but he's capable of playing in a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1 and as a shuttling 8 in a 4-3-3. Adams can be a lone 6 or part of a double-pivot. McKennie can be part of the double-pivot or a goal dangerous 8. Gio can be a goal dangerous 8 or a straight up 10. I think Tillman is kind of in that mold too. Luca strikes me as a slightly less consistent Musa. The point being, to me, is that very few three-man midfields are going to have multiple goal or assist dangerous players in them. In the modern game, your "attacking players are your front three and the most attacking midfielder. And I think we have a lot of players to choose from to be able to execute our plan of play. If we play McKennie in a double-pivot, we should be playing Gio or Tillman as a 10. If we play Adams as a lone 6, then maybe we play Musah and McKennie and just try to dominate the midfield. And we can always take one off for Gio or Tillman and go more attacking as a change.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
The bolded would require actual substitutions prior to the 80th minute though.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
With matches getting 8+ minutes of stoppage time now, 80th minute is the new 60th minute.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I jus finished reading US Soccer's write up of the game. At the very end they list the Budweiser Man of the Match.
In a game where Weston, Miles and Richards excelled, with Weah, Pepi and Dest all also having strong games, they some how picked Balogun as Man of the Match....
In a game where Weston, Miles and Richards excelled, with Weah, Pepi and Dest all also having strong games, they some how picked Balogun as Man of the Match....
El Floppo
Footballguy
I saw that too. I mean... he was ok and all- but huh?
El Floppo
Footballguy
I think you all are grossly underselling Musah and what he brings to the team because he's not showing up on the stat sheet and yes, isn't an attack minded dude around the box.
His organization on both sides of the ball, ability to read the game and space, ability to possess/hold the ball, ability to find the quick easy ball or hold if needed, knock a guy on his *** defensively, or get knocked on his *** to draw the foul, and super-duper steady and consistent at a very high level. the MF hums and is organized when he's in there (especially with Swag) which allows the US to attack and defend in ways that it's set up to do.
it would be great if he could bring some more ruthlessness in the attacking third- definitely would help the team ratchet up to another level. maybe at 20yo he has some room for growth in him. but even as is, he's still a huge cog in everything the US does well- and way more on the defensive and linkup side than Nagbe, who to me was more of a gadget 8/10 than a 6/8.
His organization on both sides of the ball, ability to read the game and space, ability to possess/hold the ball, ability to find the quick easy ball or hold if needed, knock a guy on his *** defensively, or get knocked on his *** to draw the foul, and super-duper steady and consistent at a very high level. the MF hums and is organized when he's in there (especially with Swag) which allows the US to attack and defend in ways that it's set up to do.
it would be great if he could bring some more ruthlessness in the attacking third- definitely would help the team ratchet up to another level. maybe at 20yo he has some room for growth in him. but even as is, he's still a huge cog in everything the US does well- and way more on the defensive and linkup side than Nagbe, who to me was more of a gadget 8/10 than a 6/8.
El Floppo
Footballguy
ok... no discussion about CP?
2 games in a row where he had his happy feet, but twinkle-toed his way into defender after defender by seemingly trying to do too much every time he was on the ball. back to back pedestrian performances from our talisman. his only highlight moment last night was falling down at the top of the box during the build up to the first goal.
I've seen a bit of this in his play for Milan too (albeit, plus a couple goals).
I feel like UZ was set up to double him as soon as he was near the ball- and he kept dribbling into the 1st and 2nd defender. I don't think OM was defending him as tightly, but there was definitely help... and he was typically driven back or into losing possession.
somebody here commented that he's trying to do too much... and I agree. I think he'd be well served to play more quick passes off interspersed with taking guys on- like a play-action. looks like every time he gets the ball he feels like he open the game. hopefully he'll settle into more of a rhythm with his new team and teammates so he can maximize those opportunities.
2 games in a row where he had his happy feet, but twinkle-toed his way into defender after defender by seemingly trying to do too much every time he was on the ball. back to back pedestrian performances from our talisman. his only highlight moment last night was falling down at the top of the box during the build up to the first goal.
I've seen a bit of this in his play for Milan too (albeit, plus a couple goals).
I feel like UZ was set up to double him as soon as he was near the ball- and he kept dribbling into the 1st and 2nd defender. I don't think OM was defending him as tightly, but there was definitely help... and he was typically driven back or into losing possession.
somebody here commented that he's trying to do too much... and I agree. I think he'd be well served to play more quick passes off interspersed with taking guys on- like a play-action. looks like every time he gets the ball he feels like he open the game. hopefully he'll settle into more of a rhythm with his new team and teammates so he can maximize those opportunities.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
That's a fan vote.
El Floppo
Footballguy
fan is an idiot.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Even the most ignorant fans (and US Soccer has plenty) would never pick Balogun in that game where his biggest contribution was a tap in.
I think Budweiser decides who they want to win each time based on various things. They likely call it a "fan" vote and the fan votes are mostly ignored. Most times they may line up but clearly this was not one of them IMO.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Musah is much better than Nagbe ever was defensively and has a higher work rate but I would not undersell Nagbe, who was considered a strong problem solver for his teams in his prime. He was more than a gadget player for me.
You could give Nagbe the ball in the worst situation in either defensive or middle 3rd and he would almost always make the right decision. The only other US player I would put on his level for that very specific skill was Pappa Reyna.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I am/was a huge Nagbe fan and wasn't trying to undersell him.
his comparison/example was one of uselessness in the attacking third. and while some of that may be apt compared to Musah, his overall spatial awareness wasn't what Musah has shown in terms of understanding team shape on the fly. Nagbe was wonders on the ball- and yeah, amazing decision making. but he wasn't in Musah's class for everything else, especially team shape.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I too prefer Musah but I am very partial to players who can power advance the ball on the dribble.
He is like"this" close to becoming a fabulous player. He is too talented to not be involved more offensively (specifically when he is playing the 8, not the 6)
gianmarco
Footballguy
Don't get me wrong, I've been a big Musah fan. And I'm not saying he's useless and has no place on the team. Far from it.
But we've been high on MMA as our midfield for a long time and it may be time to rethink that. Of course having Adams healthy would help as well, but I'm wondering if Musah should continue to be a locked in starter at this point, especially as other options emerge/get healthy.
But we've been high on MMA as our midfield for a long time and it may be time to rethink that. Of course having Adams healthy would help as well, but I'm wondering if Musah should continue to be a locked in starter at this point, especially as other options emerge/get healthy.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Musah may just need some luck his way too just so he can get his name on the score sheet. A guy who can strike a ball this well and still not get on the score sheet could feel cursed and may effect his confidence
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The other difficult part of the problem is Weston himself. His highs are better than Musah, his lows are worse. Musah is extremely steady in his performances, where Weston has wide variations in quality.
GGG gets paid good money to figure this out and if Gio gets healthy, he will earn every penny if he can find the right combinations (which could even change based on opponent and game state)
El Floppo
Footballguy
I think the answer is a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2, getting MMAR going. in the latter, maybe Weah plays a FB role.
speaking of... Weah has also been steady- at a very high level- for the US. his growth has been fantastic, and consistent. really hoping his time at Juve keeps the trajectory up and up.
