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US Men's National Team (10 Viewers)

NewlyRetired said:
it is a cup game though so it is a jumbled lineup.

The good news is that he has been involved in both goals, scoring 1 and assisting the other, in a now late 2-1 lead.
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Game ended up 3-2 after extra time.  Pulisic won a penalty at the 120 minute mark that Reus scored for the game winner.

 
The MLS awards nominations are a microcosm of the entire league.

The MVP candidates (all offensive players) include 0% Americans.

The best Defensive and Goalkeeper candidates include 100% Americans.

 
NewlyRetired said:
====================

Do not be surprised of Philadelphia Union left back Matt Real is the U-20 captain for World Cup qualifying. The Pennsylvania native has impressed the coaching staff this cycle with his professionalism and leadership. It’s not completely certain that he will be the captain but it is a strong possibility. 
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good call from whom ever on twitter said that

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CHICAGO (Oct. 31, 2018) – U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos named defender Matt Real as the team’s captain for the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship, to be played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. from Nov. 1-21.

“Matt’s a veteran in this group, a player with a lot of experience who’s going to help a lot on and off the field,” Ramos said on the decision to name Real the captain. “That’s something that’s really important for our group, especially when you’re together for a period of three to four weeks.”

Real (reh-al) is one of three players from the Philadelphia Union on the 20-man roster that is seeking to repeat as confederation champion and secure a berth in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The USA captured its first title at the U-20 level in March 2017, defeating Honduras via penalty kicks in the final. 

“I’m really blessed that Tab sees me as one of the leaders of the group,” Real said. “I’m going to do my best to lead the group forward through this tournament – we know we have a big responsibility on our hands, because we’re the defending champions. We’re going to do our best to come away with the same title. We feel confident going into this tournament that we have the right guys to get the job done.”

The 19-year old has risen through the Philadelphia Union’s ranks, first joining the Union Juniors, then the Development Academy’s U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams before joining the Philadelphia USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel in 2017. He signed as a Homegrown Player with the Union in January 2018 and made his MLS debut on March 31 of this year. 

“We’re going to go through a very difficult process over the next few weeks, where there’s going to be some ups and downs,” Ramos added. “I think its important to always keep the group up in terms of their spirit and having a good captain makes a difference.”

 
With Philly losing tonight, I assume McKenzie will be able to join the U20's and be available to play in at least the last couple of games of the group stage.

With games coming every other day, I assume Tab is going to have to use almost the entire team in constant lineup changes throughout the 5 game group stage.

 
All touch video for Pulisic.  Lots to look at here as he had a ton of touches. 

From a US perspective I love that almost every mistake he made was because he was being aggressive as compared to the last US game where every mistake came from being too timid.

https://streamable.com/82x9a

 
NewlyRetired said:
This will obviously effect qualifying if it comes to pass

=====================

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday that football's governing body is looking into the possibility of increasing the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup and sharing the hosting rights of an expanded tournament with other nations in the region.
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Damn. So that's how they going to get out of this. I knew they'd have to pull out of Qatar. I juts thought they'd have to pull all the way out. 

 
Sebowski said:
Damn. So that's how they going to get out of this. I knew they'd have to pull out of Qatar. I juts thought they'd have to pull all the way out. 
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I wouldn’t advise pulling out just part way. 

 
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US won 7-1.  They sit in second place in the group a solid 5 GD behind Suriname who hammered the US Virgin Islands 13-2 today.

The US plays the Virgin Islands next and I guess will be forced to run up the score to keep pace.  

 
NewlyRetired said:
US won 7-1.  They sit in second place in the group a solid 5 GD behind Suriname who hammered the US Virgin Islands 13-2 today.

The US plays the Virgin Islands next and I guess will be forced to run up the score to keep pace.  
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Sounds like there is a chance my 12 year old might have a chance at the USVI team in 5 or 6 years...lol...he is adopted and his birth mother was from the USVI so I assume he would be eligible.

 
stars and stripes article on potential lineup/call-ups for the next international break...

GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Bono (Toronto FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge)

Arguably the two best goalkeepers on the depth chart, Zack Steffen and Bill Hamid, played against each other last night in the playoffs. Hamid and D.C. United lost, so he gets the call and will likely be the one that starts against England. Ethan Horvath just had a clean sheet for Club Brugge the other day, and Alex Bono will round out the goalkeeping trio.

DEFENDERS (9): John Brooks (Wolfsburg), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City), Matt Miazga (Nantes), Erik Palmer-Brown (NAC Breda), Tim Ream(Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic), Eric Lichaj (Hull City), DeAndre Yedlin(Newcastle)

For the most part, we have the same set of defenders that have been on the rosters for the previous 4-5 matches. Erik Palmer-Brown returns to the roster, and while I considered Auston Trusty, who had a pretty solid season and might be the lone new guy that gets a look on defense, in the end Sarachan probably does not call him in.

MIDFIELDERS (11): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Jonathan Amon (FC Nordsjælland), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Romain Gall (Malmö FF), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Julian Green (Gruether Fürth), Weston McKennie (Schalke 04), Christian Pulisic(Borussia Dortmund), Kenny Saief (RSC Anderlecht), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain)

Once again, between Paul Arriola and Wil Trapp, Arriola gets the nod since he is no longer in the playoffs. He did sub off due to injury in the 2nd half of their match, so if for some reason he doesn’t get the call, expect Sarachan to go with the rest of the midfielders in the group. 11 midfielders get the call because of Sarachan’s tendency to play 5 in the middle, and because in a pinch, players like Tim Weah or even Christian Pulisic could move further up to help out the forwards. Romain Gall finally sees his name on a USMNT roster, as he’s been tearing it up in Sweden. We’ll get to see what he can do on the international stage. Alfredo Morales has been playing regularly for Fortuna Düsseldorf, but with only 1 goal in all competitions this year and with his age (28), don’t expect to see Sarachan bring him in to compete with the other defensive midfielders.

FORWARDS (3): Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen), Bobby Wood (Hannover)

With Jozy Altidore injured and no other forwards playing well enough to earn a call-up that’s already in the system, it’s most likely we see Andrija Novakovich, Josh Sargent and Bobby Wood once again the three men up top.
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Steffen has a massive presence during pk's visually and must get inside of players heads.  If he guesses right you pretty much need to hit the perfect shot like Zoltan did last night with the rocket into the corner and even then Steffen almost got it

=============

German Sferra‏ @Germanjs

.@zackstef_23 has faced 11 PKs in MLS Cup Playoff games. Only 4 were converted. He's saved PKs from players from Argentina (2), Germany, Spain, and England

 
NewlyRetired said:
Steffen has a massive presence during pk's visually and must get inside of players heads.  If he guesses right you pretty much need to hit the perfect shot like Zoltan did last night with the rocket into the corner and even then Steffen almost got it

=============

German Sferra‏ @Germanjs

.@zackstef_23 has faced 11 PKs in MLS Cup Playoff games. Only 4 were converted. He's saved PKs from players from Argentina (2), Germany, Spain, and England
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btw, love how non-plussed he is after saving them. I turned away when rooney hit his and saw steffen's reaction... figured it had gone in.

 
NewlyRetired said:
interesting list in that the author obviously thinks Tab is not going to call up Sargent, Amon and Weah for U20 qualifying.
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maybe I'm just snake-bit and a too-long suffering us fan... but seeing suriname put +11 up there already- makes me nervous. now, the yutes should crush suriname... but if it's coming to that game and suriname knows they just have to control GD and put 11 players back... nervous.

 
PSA: Mr. Christian (he's the only one) just subbed in for the last 12mins for Dortmund. Watching on Fox Sports Deportes. I think it's on FS2. It isn't on FS1.

 
Us 2-0 +19

Suriname 2-0 +12

T&T 2-0 +5

And I'm going to assume the US will have an edge in fitness going forward...that a team like Suriname is going to struggle.

 
El Floppo said:
have we mentioned corey baird in here? I don't remember seeing his name before this. at 22, I assume he's a college grad rookie? nice finish too.
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Steven Goff‏Verified account @SoccerInsider 13m13 minutes ago

RSL homegrown forward Corey Baird wins MLS rookie of the year award in a landslide Top five in voting: 1. Corey Baird (RSL) 44% 2. Chris Mueller (ORL) 19 3. Mark McKenzie (PHI) 15 4. Joao Moutinho (LAFC) 6 5. Alex Roldan (SEA) 3

 
Some random notes

* Sargent scored again for Werder B yesterday.  He has missed a bunch of games because he appears to be in limbo between the first team and the second team.  Even with missing games he is still one of the top scorers in the league

* The first real game for the U20's is tonight at 7:45pm ET against T&T.  I should be able to watch a good chunk of this I think

* Roster for US friendlies will be released tomorrow at ~noon ET.  With both Adams and Trapp likely out, that should open up a spot for a new name (Cannouse?)

* Soto continues to kill it at the Hamburg U19's.  Here is his 9th goal of the season https://twitter.com/zlebmada/status/1059494257248088064   He is tied for 3rd in scoring in the league (42 teams)

 
El Floppo said:
Us 2-0 +19

Suriname 2-0 +12

T&T 2-0 +5

And I'm going to assume the US will have an edge in fitness going forward...that a team like Suriname is going to struggle.
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good call!

Puerto Rico scored in the 94th minute to beat Suriname 2-1 today.

If the US can win tonight, they take over first place all alone with a 3 point lead and a massive GD difference on second place.

 
NewlyRetired said:
good call!

Puerto Rico scored in the 94th minute to beat Suriname 2-1 today.

If the US can win tonight, they take over first place all alone with a 3 point lead and a massive GD difference on second place.
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I had the hardest time finding the link for the live games... is it concacaf's youtube channel? 

 
El Floppo said:
I had the hardest time finding the link for the live games... is it concacaf's youtube channel? 
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 I found the games on their web site, they are streaming directly from there. (instead of using youtube like in the past).

I will post the US link when it is close to starting.  The stream was solid for the last game I saw (clear, had announcers, decent cameras etc)

 
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Brian Sciaretta‏ @BrianSciaretta

US U-20 head coach Tab Ramos names his starting XI for tonight’s big World Cup qualifier vs T&T: Scott; Araujo, Mckenzie, Real, Gloster; Servania, Mendez, Pomykal; Akinola, Rennicks, Llanez

 
NewlyRetired said:
 I found the games on their web site, they are streaming directly from there. (instead of using youtube like in the past).

I will post the US link when it is close to starting.  The stream was solid for the last game I saw (clear, had announcers, decent cameras etc)
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according to US Soccer, it looks like the game may only be streaming from Concacafgo.com, which is a pay service but you can sign up for a free trial this month.

 
I missed the first two goals.... but given the sloppy play from both sides over the next 30 minutes, it made sense the US would score the 3rd on a mis-trap by the T&T defender.

honestly nothing showing from the US to make me think- yeah, there's the future right there. the kid who scored the third- pomokol? has looked decent, not great. akinola too. but neither make me think they'd fit any time soon. it's decently skilled, organized and fit advantage over less skilled, organized and fit.

 
also- the defenders have done well, I guess, with not much to deal with. but very lackadaisical with the ball- including a couple of dum-dum turnovers trying to dribble or taking too many touches for too long. T&T doesn't seem capable of making that hurt- but other teams in the region absolutely will.

 
and we're off... 2nd half.

T&T taking a defender off, putting another attacker on.

the US should open things up here...

 
El Floppo said:
honestly nothing showing from the US to make me think- yeah, there's the future right there. the kid who scored the third- pomokol? has looked decent, not great. akinola too. but neither make me think they'd fit any time soon. it's decently skilled, organized and fit advantage over less skilled, organized and fit.
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it is a decidedly meh group of players I agree.   But that also shows just how far behind the minnows are that this group of basic players is so dominant.

The only positive is that to almost a man, these are likely not going to be the U20 starters come the WC  (assuming they qualify) when every one is available.

Obviously the team would look much different if all the pros were playing (Durkin, Bello, Sargent, Weah,  Amon,  Adams, Carleton, Lindsey etc etc).

Ramos has an interesting choice should they get out of the group (which looks a very good chance now).   The level of difficulty should sky rocket pretty quickly and the US players (the defenders specifically) will finally be challenged.  Ramos is going to have to think long and hard about whether to bring in 6 new players.

They will go from a group where they are the clear favorites of a group of minnows (with T&T) to a group of only 3 teams where the other two should be Honduras and Costa Rica.   

 
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