US Men's National Team (24 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

There was something Tab said this week that has been eating at me.

To paraphrase, he said that he had to pull both Pomykal and Mendez aside and tell them he knows they can keep possession by passing backwards and sideways and instead he wanted them to think attack first.  He wanted them to understand that the way they can best help the team win was to be difference makers, not possession players.

Why is a national team coach at the U20 level having to tell this to our two most talented (feet wise) young players?  Shouldn't this have been identified almost immediately at the academy level where kids of this rare level are encouraged to attack?   If it is obvious on a national level it should have been a super nova amount of brightness at a local academy level.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Two former US Nats have also called it quits.  Sal Zizzo and Chad Marshall have both announced their immediate retirements and as such have played their last games.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Aruajo on his way to Poland to replace what looks like Akinola.  Probably should have been like this from the start. 

US Soccer finally confirmed it was Akinola that was replaced.

Akinola injured his ankle.

I obviously don't want to see anyone get hurt but now that it is done, I like the change.  Akinola was superfluous on this roster and the team was lacking depth at the back, of which Aruajo can play two different spots (RB and RCB).

It also can't hurt to keep Aruajo as close as possible before Mexico jumps on him.  The kid is too talented to be lost in transition just because he is an tweener age wise (I think he is the youngest on the squad now, but just slightly too old for the U17's).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Well at least this horrendous idea has been put off for at least one more cycle and we can look forward to a competitive qualification this cycle.

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

Rob Harris‏Verified account @RobHarris

Breaking: 2022 World Cup in Qatar will only be 32 teams - FIFA has abandoned plans for 48 teams and expansion in the Gulf

 

[NewlyRetired]

This player is a solid young pro.  He should make Jamaica a more formidable opponent this cycle now that he looks committed.  The US could play Jamaica in the quarter finals of the Gold Cup.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxcuqYIqy7/?igshid=15xnyeg4rzn6i

 

[El Floppo]

There was something Tab said this week that has been eating at me.

To paraphrase, he said that he had to pull both Pomykal and Mendez aside and tell them he knows they can keep possession by passing backwards and sideways and instead he wanted them to think attack first.  He wanted them to understand that the way they can best help the team win was to be difference makers, not possession players.

Why is a national team coach at the U20 level having to tell this to our two most talented (feet wise) young players?  Shouldn't this have been identified almost immediately at the academy level where kids of this rare level are encouraged to attack?   If it is obvious on a national level it should have been a super nova amount of brightness at a local academy level.

huh- interesting to hear.

conversely, somebody might need to have the speech with Gio, but in reverse.

 

[El Floppo]

Well at least this horrendous idea has been put off for at least one more cycle and we can look forward to a competitive qualification this cycle.

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

Rob Harris‏Verified account @RobHarris

Breaking: 2022 World Cup in Qatar will only be 32 teams - FIFA has abandoned plans for 48 teams and expansion in the Gulf

was really hoping it was "fifa has abandoned plans for the 2022 WC to be played in Qatar".

but yeah- 48 is horrible.

 

[NewlyRetired]

huh- interesting to hear.

conversely, somebody might need to have the speech with Gio, but in reverse.

lots of people think the same about Gio.  This is Doyle's description

======

And then there's the star of the U17s, Gio Reyna, the son of USMNT legend Claudio Reyna. Like his dad, Gio is off to Germany to start his professional career (he's signed with Borussia Dortmund, and is eligible to go over before the age of 18 because he was born in Scotland).

Reyna is spectacular in every eye-catching way. His feet are soft and he has the whole bag of on-the-ball tricks, both when receiving a pass with the defender on his back, and when running at a defense. He produced both goals and assists in this latest tournament, and did so from open play and set pieces. He is big and strong, quick and fast, tricky and elusive. He plays with his chest puffed out, an arrogant and dominant alpha. His upside is "Clint Dempsey, but a much better athlete."

He is also a good, old-fashioned ball-hog who always prefers to take five touches when one would do. He wants the ball so much that I'm not sure he'd be fun to play with, and there are definitely times where he doesn't make his teammates better. The US U-17s improved by leaps and bounds when they moved him to the wing and out of the middle, because the ball moved better when he wasn't in the engine room.

I very much have a love/hate relationship with him. He is my favorite US prospect, and he is my least favorite US prospect. Dortmund will either break his spirit and turn him into a role player, or they will refine his instincts and turn him into a Pulisic-level star.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

"Clint Dempsey, but a much better athlete."

Isn't this like... I dunno... Thierry Henry or something?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Isn't this like... I dunno... Thierry Henry or something?

yeah, I agree, that upside is way too high imo. 

Dempsey all by himself is more than a lofty enough goal for Reyna imo.

I think too often our media wants to shoot for being better than anything that has come before, as it is a sexier sell, where as I think we should just be shooting for more Donovan/Dempsey type players at the same time.

 

[encaitar]

Isn't this like... I dunno... Thierry Henry or something?

God I hope so.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I think too often our media wants to shoot for being better than anything that has come before, as it is a sexier sell, where as I think we should just be shooting for more Donovan/Dempsey type players at the same time.

I'd love a whole team of Donovan/Dempseys with some Pulisic, Adams, McKennie  thrown in.  The spread is still too great in our actual player pool.

 

[encaitar]

yeah, I agree, that upside is way too high imo. 

Dempsey all by himself is more than a lofty enough goal for Reyna imo.

I think too often our media wants to shoot for being better than anything that has come before, as it is a sexier sell, where as I think we should just be shooting for more Donovan/Dempsey type players at the same time.

Part of the problem is trying to shoehorn someone into a comparable player.  I'd love for Gio to become a Clint Dempsey clone, however that just won't happen.  Reyna has way to much athletic ability to be Dempsey, who would've been a soccer superstar if he had Reyna's athletic skill.  If he develops the Dempsey/Donovan nose for the goal, he'll be a world class player.  If he doesn't become nearly that good of a finisher, then he can still be a great player with his athletic ability.  If he doesn't develop any nose for the goal, he becomes another great athletic "what could've been".

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'd love a whole team of Donovan/Dempseys with some Pulisic, Adams, McKennie  thrown in.  The spread is still too great in our actual player pool.

In the senior pool, it a massive gap, especially offensively.

The gap between Pulisic and the next best attacker is frighteningly large.  

The hope we have is that there appears to be so very good attacking talent (finally) in the youth teams.  Now we just need to wait it out to see if any of them can make the leap from strong prospect to strong pro.  This group includes Sargent, Weah, Pomykal, Mendez, De La Fuente, Llanez and Soto (with Pepi and Reyna coming up fast behind them). 

 

[El Floppo]

Part of the problem is trying to shoehorn someone into a comparable player.  I'd love for Gio to become a Clint Dempsey clone, however that just won't happen.  Reyna has way to much athletic ability to be Dempsey, who would've been a soccer superstar if he had Reyna's athletic skill.  If he develops the Dempsey/Donovan nose for the goal, he'll be a world class player.  If he doesn't become nearly that good of a finisher, then he can still be a great player with his athletic ability.  If he doesn't develop any nose for the goal, he becomes another great athletic "what could've been".

deuce's ability to combine- especially later- is something I haven't necessarily seen from Gio yet (granted, in limited viewing). He's got great vision for the longer ball or cross- but I haven't seen that same vision for the tiki-taka combinations where he seems to opt for dribbling instead. 

but if the kid can knock in goals- he can stand up front picking daisies and doing twirly-birds.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Part of the problem is trying to shoehorn someone into a comparable player.  I'd love for Gio to become a Clint Dempsey clone, however that just won't happen.  Reyna has way to much athletic ability to be Dempsey, who would've been a soccer superstar if he had Reyna's athletic skill.  If he develops the Dempsey/Donovan nose for the goal, he'll be a world class player.  If he doesn't become nearly that good of a finisher, then he can still be a great player with his athletic ability.  If he doesn't develop any nose for the goal, he becomes another great athletic "what could've been".

Just to be clear, when I said that I hope Reyna can get to Dempsey's level, I mean in term of his effect on the National Team, not that Reyna would become a clone of Dempsey.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Just for the sake of pedantry ... I think McKennie is more along the lines of Donovan and Dempsey.  Pulisic and Adams would be 1-2 in terms of the best USMNT players I've seen, maybe not in that order.

 

[El Floppo]

Just for the sake of pedantry ... I think McKennie is more along the lines of Donovan and Dempsey.  Pulisic and Adams would be 1-2 in terms of the best USMNT players I've seen, maybe not in that order.

I see Swag as more of a Harkes, tbh. 

best US players for me... CP &gteta- ... forgot LD) > Tab> deuce... big group of guys including: Caillou, Reyna (daddy), Jozy, Dolo, wynalda... and more that will come to me eventually.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I see Swag as more of a Harkes, tbh. 

best US players for me... CP &gteta- ... forgot LD) > Tab> deuce... big group of guys including: Caillou, Reyna (daddy), Jozy, Dolo, wynalda... and more that will come to me eventually.

Adams appears to be a vital starting cog in a Big-4 CL-level team.  No one else has ever been able to say that.  It's so early to say anything about careers, but in terms of talent I'd have him right with CP.

 

[El Floppo]

Adams appears to be a vital starting cog in a Big-4 CL-level team.  No one else has ever been able to say that.  It's so early to say anything about careers, but in terms of talent I'd have him right with CP.

I think he's dreamy and I wouldn't argue his quality- but he hasn't done enough yet to get there for me. a good Gold Cup and/or WCQ cycle and given what he's shown capable of- sure. but Obi was the bee's knees too.. 

 

[encaitar]

deuce's ability to combine- especially later- is something I haven't necessarily seen from Gio yet (granted, in limited viewing). He's got great vision for the longer ball or cross- but I haven't seen that same vision for the tiki-taka combinations where he seems to opt for dribbling instead. 

but if the kid can knock in goals- he can stand up front picking daisies and doing twirly-birds.

That will really be the rub at Dortmund.  3 years ago Dortmund had 3 super talented young guys that hogged the ball and liked to dribble.  One of them(Ousmane Dembele) was sold for the second highest ever fee at the time because he'd learned to be an all around winger.  Another(Pulisic) became the highest fee ever paid for an American because he'd learned to be a team player and refined his skill.  The other(Emre Mor) was arguably the most talented of the 3.  He never learned to pass and play with the team and was sold for less than he was signed for.  He still can't get first team minutes at Celta.

Hopefully Reyna can be like the 1st two and take instruction and we spend the next 15 years laughing in joy.

 

[encaitar]

I think he's dreamy and I wouldn't argue his quality- but he hasn't done enough yet to get there for me. a good Gold Cup and/or WCQ cycle and given what he's shown capable of- sure. but Obi was the bee's knees too.. 

I agree with this.  Pulisic almost single handily put us in the last WC.  He was literally the only attacking player capable of doing anything in that cycle.  Adams may be as talented at his position as CP is at his, but until he performs similarly for the USMNT I can't put him on the same level.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Paul Tenorio‏Verified account @PaulTenorio

From me and @samstejskal: Multiple sources say the #Rapids96 spoke with #USMNT assistant Josh Wolff regarding the coaching job, but Wolff unlikely to take it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I agree with this.  Pulisic almost single handily put us in the last WC.  He was literally the only attacking player capable of doing anything in that cycle..

Dempsey was very good too.  It was telling of the talent generational gap that it was only our oldest and youngest players doing anything.

 

[TripItUp]

No question we had a talent issue last cycle...hopefully just a blip on the radar...as far as I can tell the aarow has been pointing up.

 

[El Floppo]

Dempsey was very good too.  It was telling of the talent generational gap that it was only our oldest and youngest players doing anything.

Jozy was pretty g... oops... the sound of my keyboard clacking just did his hammy.

 

[El Floppo]

huh. I thought the talent was there. 

after that abysmal start- I thought the US put in a good run of games. 1-1 at azteca was a highlight. and in retrospect- even though it was 1-1 draw away at Panama, the US played fantastically well and should have won that game. A win there instead of the draw (which looks ok on paper in the abstract) as well as a win at HON, where they also deserved more, and wet and bumpy is out of the equation. but ####. ### ####ed wet and bumpy. those ####### guys.

 

[NewlyRetired]

huh. I thought the talent was there. 

after that abysmal start- I thought the US put in a good run of games. 1-1 at azteca was a highlight. and in retrospect- even though it was 1-1 draw away at Panama, the US played fantastically well and should have won that game. A win there instead of the draw (which looks ok on paper in the abstract) as well as a win at HON, where they also deserved more, and wet and bumpy is out of the equation. but ####. ### ####ed wet and bumpy. those ####### guys.

Wet and bumpy gets all the attention because it was the last game but the 2-0 loss to CR at home is what caused that scenario to play out.  That was the true low point of the cycle.  We had never dropped even a point to CR at home in any hex in history.  And then to drop all 3 was the quiet killer blow.

In terms of your "as well"(see bold above), it was not needed to qualify.    Just to be specific, the US dropped 18 points during the hex.   Had they only dropped 17, they would have qualified.   One friggan more point over all those games was all they needed.   

Hell, forget wet and bumpy, you can go all the way back to the first game of the hex where Mexico scored in the last couple of minutes.  If they don't fall asleep and leave Marquez alone, they qualify.   

This still hurts to think about :(

 

[TLEF316]

Last cycle was my fault. I was at the Mexico and Costa Rica games. I take full responsibility

 

[NewlyRetired]

Last cycle was my fault. I was at the Mexico and Costa Rica games. I take full responsibility

oh wow, 0 for 6 points?  That is terrible.

On the historical side, I bet you are just one of a handful of fans who saw the team lose twice at home live, during the hex in WCQing history.....so you have that going for you..

 

[NewlyRetired]

Speaking of the future, fresh off his good performance at U17 qualifying, Griffin Yow just scored against Real Betis for DC United in a friendly.

 

[TLEF316]

oh wow, 0 for 6 points?  That is terrible.

On the historical side, I bet you are just one of a handful of fans who saw the team lose twice at home live, during the hex in WCQing history.....so you have that going for you..

Yeah, it was rough. The 9 hour drive home from Columbus was not great.

Nor was the half-drunk 2 mile run through Newark to try and catch the last train after the CR game 

 

[El Floppo]

Yeah, it was rough. The 9 hour drive home from Columbus was not great.

Nor was the half-drunk 2 mile run through Newark to try and catch the last train after the CR game 

Run through Newark? 

 

[TLEF316]

Run through Newark? 

From red bull stadium to Newark Penn.  And I am NOT a runner

 

[El Floppo]

From red bull stadium to Newark Penn.  And I am NOT a runner

I took the path that night from Harrison...any reason you didn't?

 

[TLEF316]

I took the path that night from Harrison...any reason you didn't?

Not that I can remember. Most direct way back to Morristown

i also remember there being a sea of people trying to get into the path station. 

 

[El Floppo]

But whatever commute....that night was just miserable.

 

[Ned]

But whatever commute....that night was just miserable.

I had a front row seat to Cameron's cheap giveaways over and over again that night.    :X    

 

[SwampDawg]

The CR game was our first USMNT game so I was going to take the blame but I'm willing to let TLEF316 shoulder it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am really excited for the U20 World Cup.   I am nervous to see if the US players can match up.

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

USMNT Only‏ @usmntonly

“My goal is to grow with the United States national team. Playing in the U-20 World Cup is the first step, and then I hope to earn a place in the senior side. Of course, I see myself playing in a World Cup one day.” - Konrad de la Fuente

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here are the games today.  I might check out Italy vs Mexico

Thursday, May 23

Mexico vs. Italy, Noon, FS2, Telemundo, Sling Blue, PlayStation Vue, Hulu Live and fuboTV(free trial)

Tahiti vs. Senegal, Noon, FOX Soccer Plus and fuboTV (free trial)

Poland vs. Colombia, 2:30pm, FS2, Universo, Sling Blue, PlayStation Vue, Hulu Live and fuboTV (free trial)

Japan vs. Ecuador, 2:30pm, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo app

 

[NewlyRetired]

utdreport‏ @utdreport

#mufc will release the following players this summer - James Wilson, Regan Poole, Matty Willock, DJ Buffonge, Zak Dearnley, Callum Whelan, Tom Sang, Tyrrell Warren, Millen Baars and Matty Olosunde

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is my guess at the US starting lineup today.

............................Scott

Dest..........McKenzie......Richards.......Gloster

..........................Durkin

...............Mendez..........Pomykal

De La Fuente................................Weah

........................Soto

 

[Ned]

This is my guess at the US starting lineup today.

............................Scott

Dest..........McKenzie......Richards.......Gloster

..........................Durkin

...............Mendez..........Pomykal

De La Fuente................................Weah

........................Soto

Hot damn that's a strong lineup.  

 

[NewlyRetired]

Hot damn that's a strong lineup.  

It does look nice.

And the quality on the bench in Llanez, Ledezma, Servania, and Araju is strong as well.   

I am not certain Durkin will start.  The rest I feel pretty good about.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is similar to my guess, only starting Rennicks instead of Soto

=========

Brian Sciaretta‏ @BrianSciaretta

My predicted U.S. U-20 starting XI today vs. Ukraine Scott; Dest, McKenzie, Richards, Gloster; Durkin; Mendez, Pomykal; Weah, Rennicks, de la Fuente

 

[NewlyRetired]

this is a good primer for today

https://www.flipsnack.com/ussoccer/u-20-mnt-digital-guide-2019-fifa-u-20-world-cup.html

 

[Ned]

This is similar to my guess, only starting Rennicks instead of Soto

=========

Brian Sciaretta‏ @BrianSciaretta

My predicted U.S. U-20 starting XI today vs. Ukraine Scott; Dest, McKenzie, Richards, Gloster; Durkin; Mendez, Pomykal; Weah, Rennicks, de la Fuente

What do we know about Ukraine?

 

[NewlyRetired]

What do we know about Ukraine?

They had an odd qualification.  They won their group which included beating France (the WC favorite) and advanced to the semi finals of the Euro U19 Championship but then got blitzed by Portugal 5-0

One of their best players has been dropped for the game today (I don't know why).   Vitaliy Mykolenko is a starter on the senior national team at lb.

I am expecting a very hard game for the US today.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Brian Sciaretta‏ @BrianSciaretta 4m4 minutes ago

More

U.S. U-20 starting XI vs. Ukraine Scott Dest Keita Richards Gloster Durkin Servania Mendez Pomykal (c) Weah de la Fuente