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US Men's National Team (18 Viewers)
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Berhalter said yesterday to not read anything in to who is captain tonight as it is not a long term thing.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
cool moment for these guys who have been friends since 14 years old back at Bradenton
https://twitter.com/USMNT/status/1108871538995064832
https://twitter.com/USMNT/status/1108871538995064832
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I wonder if I will live long enough to not have to chuckle at lb every other game....
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Who do you guys think will take the free kicks that are shooting chances tonight? I don't see anyone who jumps out at me. Last cycle was Dempsey, Jozy and Acosta and none of the three are on the team tonight.
I was coming here to post the same thing - very good ball, and player movement - quick passes.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Pretty good half. US clearly had the better chances and forced many corners. Would have been nice to see one go in but over all I am happy.
Trapp's passing has been very good, especially his long balls to Arriola (who looks sharper than Morris on the other side).
Trapp's passing has been very good, especially his long balls to Arriola (who looks sharper than Morris on the other side).
I think it has to be the expectation that Berhalter has set for club.
Eventually they will have to work on some of the accuracy - but it seems clear that one-touch passing is expected.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
good points.
And to be fair, while Ecuador is not a top ten team, they are no minnow either. Outside of Mexico, they would probably be one of the best teams in Concacaf each cycle.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I am surprised Ecuador is sitting back as much as they are but this is actually good practice for the US as this is how many games will look in our region this cycle.
I do kind of wish the announcers would stop worrying about how things will look against the top countries, we are no where near worrying about that yet. Lets just get something in place that can see the US back where they belong in the region.
I do kind of wish the announcers would stop worrying about how things will look against the top countries, we are no where near worrying about that yet. Lets just get something in place that can see the US back where they belong in the region.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
We've had some one-touch nice-passing teams before, what's different now is that they're flat pinging it at each other some of the time -- and they're still able to control it and then move it on. It's new to have 5-6 guys out there that can do that.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I guess the good news is that Sargent and Weah should eventually slot in both those spots sometime early in qualifying this cycle.
Even Jozy I think will be an upgrade over Zardes once he is healthy.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
That one play where Darke and Taylor highlighted Adams almost on the far touch line was a bit concerting. He has to make sure he does not allow his normal side line to side line play as a central midfielder in Germany effect him here. He has to stay at least on his half of the field vertically.
gianmarco
Footballguy
That was the next thing I was going to say.
Not just controlling it, but knowing what to do with it before it arrives. It was always more of receiving the ball and then figuring out what to do with it with the exception of a couple guys. And it doesn't work when that the case.
Everyone out there looks competent passing and receiving and having purpose out there. Considering they haven't really played/practiced together, it HAS to be club experience coming into play.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
In games this crowded where the US is carrying the play, I do wonder if Pulisic would be more effective outside where he can try to get in one on one spots..
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Another place where Jozy could help because he can drop into midfield to get on the ball and have CP run in behind.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Ecuador has gone almost full bunker. Makes no sense in a friendly like this.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
oh ####, that looks really bad :(
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Meh.
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Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
In the replay it looked like he rolled his ankle. He's one of my favorites but I thought that was a pretty dumb play on his part that time.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Zardes planned it!!!!!!!!!! 
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
JFC Ream
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I am absolutely dumbfounded by these tactics by Ecuador.
Why treat this game like you are playing away to Brazil instead of thinking you are playing Bolivia, Venezuela or even a Paraguay where you may have a chance to grab a crucial away win?
I have to expect Chile is going to give a much different look on Tuesday.
Why treat this game like you are playing away to Brazil instead of thinking you are playing Bolivia, Venezuela or even a Paraguay where you may have a chance to grab a crucial away win?
I have to expect Chile is going to give a much different look on Tuesday.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
If Qatar goes to 48 teams, the US needs to make sure it gets into as many Copa America's as possible. Qualifying will not provide enough good games.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Really liked the shape and spacing...especially in the middle. Trap and swag were great with that- also helped that brooks and long were attacking space with ball, drawing defenders and then giving it to their mfs. Trapp was close to MoM for me with his understanding of exactly where to be, and also for being the only mf to try passes into space. Tidy on the ball too...granted, with lots of time. Swag didn’t impress me going forward, and the team needs that from him...sloppy on the ball. Not great that it was those four with probably the most touches on the team, and mostly around the center circle...but I still liked the spacing.
thought brooks was a monster on both sides of the ball. Loved how quickly he was moving the ball. Long was solid too. Ream... I like, but too slow too much on the pass, and too slow of foot.
nips was great. Loved how he stayed wide and found his moments to cut in. Wish Morris was...better. I didn’t love the Adams rb experiment. Caught out a bit, and not getting a chance to close down space.
####### zardoz.
cp looked like he does for Dortmund at times... kind of a dribbling black hole, and a bit sloppy too. But had some nice combination with nips and needs another player to combine with. Also not on the ball enough for me...need to figure out how to get him more involved.
would much rather see jozy or sarge instead of zardoz. Weah, lletget or saief instead of Morris.
thought brooks was a monster on both sides of the ball. Loved how quickly he was moving the ball. Long was solid too. Ream... I like, but too slow too much on the pass, and too slow of foot.
nips was great. Loved how he stayed wide and found his moments to cut in. Wish Morris was...better. I didn’t love the Adams rb experiment. Caught out a bit, and not getting a chance to close down space.
####### zardoz.
cp looked like he does for Dortmund at times... kind of a dribbling black hole, and a bit sloppy too. But had some nice combination with nips and needs another player to combine with. Also not on the ball enough for me...need to figure out how to get him more involved.
would much rather see jozy or sarge instead of zardoz. Weah, lletget or saief instead of Morris.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
these 5 words make it really hard to gauge the game. Ecuador literally did nothing. There were times when they had all 11 players within 30 yards of their own goal.
The only interesting thing they did all game was when they put 3 players on the midfield stripe while defending a corner.
Hopefully Chile attacks and or presses so we can make a much better assessment.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Ecuador's coach praised the US, but I think it is more cover up on what in gods name the tactics were for his team.
========================================
Gomez:
"This is the best #USMNT I have ever faced. They mark hard. They play one touch. They are difficult to mark."
"Defensively, the team played well in the backline. We played a team that is high quality. My team acted very well defensively."
"I see that many of you were simply watching the bench. Later on in the match, I thought that the match was going to be 0-0. I sent (Panzer) Carvajal to push the team while I watched the team."
"I had no interest in making subs. I wanted to value the players that were on the pitch. Every coach in the world wants to finish with the 11 on the pitch that they started with. (USMNT) is very strong and they didn't allow us to play."
========================================
Gomez:
"This is the best #USMNT I have ever faced. They mark hard. They play one touch. They are difficult to mark."
"Defensively, the team played well in the backline. We played a team that is high quality. My team acted very well defensively."
"I see that many of you were simply watching the bench. Later on in the match, I thought that the match was going to be 0-0. I sent (Panzer) Carvajal to push the team while I watched the team."
"I had no interest in making subs. I wanted to value the players that were on the pitch. Every coach in the world wants to finish with the 11 on the pitch that they started with. (USMNT) is very strong and they didn't allow us to play."
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
* Berhalter had any one who did not play tonight out training after the game. His goal is to make sure all players get a work out so that he can look at the level of recovery.
* Swag is getting both an MRI and an xray. The hope is just a sprain but need to wait out the tests
* Berhalter expects to make changes in the lineup beyond the injuries for Tuesday.
* Swag is getting both an MRI and an xray. The hope is just a sprain but need to wait out the tests
* Berhalter expects to make changes in the lineup beyond the injuries for Tuesday.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Yeah...best case it's a sprain. Even then though, with the new coach, now isn't the time to give him the easy choice and lose your spot because of it...and you could see that frustration on swags face.
I spent the better part of two years in HS playing on sprained ankles...if it's best case, he'll be ready in a week or two, but with a weakened ankle that's on the edge of going again... If he hasn't lost his spot.
I will say- I like his motor, althleticism and understanding of the game..but I keep expecting/wanting him to be better on the ball and going forward.
I wanted more of the US attacking players to be better on the ball and going forward, tbh. That game needed a player to beat their man on a run or more likely with the ball given how deep and compact ecu was. Most of the guys didn't even try. I want more.
Ned
Footballguy
It was pretty clear Adams didn't have enough time to adapt to the new job he was being asked to do. First 15mins he was playing as a normal RB, then all of a sudden he was floating inside more. I'm sure GB was in his hear. Then it was like he was a CM who had to cover RB and he was allllllll over the place. He's got the motor, but eeeesh.
Swag was disappointing to me. He looked clumsy on the ball.
Nips - jesus christ he looked good.
Swag was disappointing to me. He looked clumsy on the ball.
Nips - jesus christ he looked good.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Yeah...it was a really strange way to approach a friendly. Especially against a middling team like the US.
To be fair, the US played a high press for most of the night. And because of their good shape/spacing, it worked well- forcing ecu to eventually punt the ball downfield rather than play what and where they wanted. Granted, the way ecu was set up, it's hard to say waht they wanted other than to defend and break.
After the half, it seemed like they figured out to attack Adams mostly empty side by keeping somebody wide there and playing it there more quickly. Combo of Adams pace and longs (and swag) solid cover covered up what could/should have been a scary problem for the us. Took their coach 45 minutes to figure that out. Regional opposition already know what to do.
Ned
Footballguy
Watching the small one-touch play in and around the 18 reminded me of how good CP/Jozy hooked up at times. I think any combination of CP + striker not named Zardoz will be a better attack.
What's with CP tripping all the time? I've seen it a lot with Dort and now last night. It's like he's a teenager learning how to play with his new found longer legs.
What's with CP tripping all the time? I've seen it a lot with Dort and now last night. It's like he's a teenager learning how to play with his new found longer legs.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Seems to me the international game needs faster ball movement and ability to switch the field of play quickly. Because nips held his flank well (
) and because trapp and Brooks were doing a good job spraying the ball quickly out to him, he had a lot of opportunities in space or 1v1. Yeah..and he mostly did well with them.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I thought it took about 15 minutes for Adams to figure out when to get inside, but that he was outstanding afterwords. The spacing issues on JMo’s side were mostly Morris not being comfortable getting wide enough.
Not a surprise that Trapp looked good considering all the time he’s spent with these concepts. The system needs a guy with that long diagonal ball in his bag. So instead of being kissed at seeing Trapp and Bradley we should probably feel lucky that they’re pretty much interchangeable.
Hard to believe that Aaron Long was almost a washout MF. Think his pace will always give him a bit of an edge in a system that relies on a mobile back three in transition.
Wish Ecudor tried more, but they did look to counter in the first half and I thought the Nats transition defense was excellent.
Not a surprise that Trapp looked good considering all the time he’s spent with these concepts. The system needs a guy with that long diagonal ball in his bag. So instead of being kissed at seeing Trapp and Bradley we should probably feel lucky that they’re pretty much interchangeable.
Hard to believe that Aaron Long was almost a washout MF. Think his pace will always give him a bit of an edge in a system that relies on a mobile back three in transition.
Wish Ecudor tried more, but they did look to counter in the first half and I thought the Nats transition defense was excellent.
Ned
Footballguy
Even from the simple standpoint of how he brought down the long balls impressed me. Much more natural/smooth than Morris.Seems to me the international game needs faster ball movement and ability to switch the field of play quickly. Because nips held his flank well (
We just need him to stop spending so much time on his friggin' hair.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
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