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US Men's National Team (15 Viewers)
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
What did you guys think of the field condition last night? I have seen much worse in Concacaf but a lot of players and media guys on site said it was very poor.
I wonder if that added to the feeling that they could not play it out of the back cleanly and instead constantly played long balls?
I wonder if that added to the feeling that they could not play it out of the back cleanly and instead constantly played long balls?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
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Eric Wynalda
@EricWynalda
Before I go to bed I wanted to make one last comment -to El Salvador and Hugo Perez - a gentleman and beautiful soul that deserves a lot more credit than he is getting - his love for the game so clear and his team played brave once again-I would love to see them qualify
ChiefD
Footballguy
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I'm going to be the contrarian to say I enjoyed the odd camera angles for the most part. I don't know the team well enough to always know who is where. It wasn't the polished 4k views we're used to, but I was able to see the formations better with the all 22 view and the other angles from distance.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
Believe it or not, I've been lurking in this thread specifically since yesterday morning. Most of the things I would have said have been said, but I had a few thoughts I wanted to put out anyway...
1. Given the heavy rain on the field the day of the game, and that it's CONCACAF, this game could easily have been 'Wet and Bumpy II'. Yedlin losing his footing and nearly a hamstring on a ball he lost near the sideline and the corner that Turner gave up are the two examples I remember most from last night, so I'm happy getting out of that crap hole with a point and with relatively little damage (Swag's yellow may be a problem and nobody got too banged up in the game).
2. The lineup GGG had in at the end of the game seemed pretty lively and I would have liked to see them out there a little earlier; I just don't think they were out there long enough to really change the direction the game was headed. I think by the time they came in, both sides were looking for the tie.
3. I'm still waiting to see a lineup that doesn't have an obvious glaring weakness begging to be exploited, and the fact that ELS didn't abuse Ream is probably the biggest sign to me that ELS, while plucky, is more limited that what we saw last night, so we'll hopefully cruise against them in the rematch.
4. I seem to recall posts here hoping or being content if Turner just blasted the ball away and not do anything cutesy/minimize errors building from the back. That seems to be what he did many times, and to my still learning eyes, it seemed the right call in most if not all the times he did it, so I'm happy with that.
1. Given the heavy rain on the field the day of the game, and that it's CONCACAF, this game could easily have been 'Wet and Bumpy II'. Yedlin losing his footing and nearly a hamstring on a ball he lost near the sideline and the corner that Turner gave up are the two examples I remember most from last night, so I'm happy getting out of that crap hole with a point and with relatively little damage (Swag's yellow may be a problem and nobody got too banged up in the game).
2. The lineup GGG had in at the end of the game seemed pretty lively and I would have liked to see them out there a little earlier; I just don't think they were out there long enough to really change the direction the game was headed. I think by the time they came in, both sides were looking for the tie.
3. I'm still waiting to see a lineup that doesn't have an obvious glaring weakness begging to be exploited, and the fact that ELS didn't abuse Ream is probably the biggest sign to me that ELS, while plucky, is more limited that what we saw last night, so we'll hopefully cruise against them in the rematch.
4. I seem to recall posts here hoping or being content if Turner just blasted the ball away and not do anything cutesy/minimize errors building from the back. That seems to be what he did many times, and to my still learning eyes, it seemed the right call in most if not all the times he did it, so I'm happy with that.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
12 US players made their WCQing debut ever. That is the most in the modern era.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
given Turner's low skill level with his feet I also think this was fine.Charlie Steiner said:
However, I did not expect all the defenders to do the same. They needed to have more balance in how they played it out of the back IMO.
NewlyRetired said:
Go back and watch the beginning of our national anthem. An explosion when off right as they were on Gio and I think he #### his britches by the way he jumped.
NewlyRetired said:
The Cup games where the top division team is playing their "B" team. I'm sorry but sometimes a crappy performance is just a crappy performance. This should have been closer to Alabama traveling to North Dakota State than what we saw.
Also game was clean and well officiated IMO...much better than your average EPL game. Tired of the "it's CONCACAF" excuses.
And to think all these guys have had "build out of the back" beat into their heads for the last decade. Kids all over the country saying WTF this morning, this isn't how soccer is supposed to be played.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
Actually, I expected Ream and to a lesser extent Yedlin to do that; to me, I chalk it up to ELS' pressure and my recollection that the pre-Swag/Adams/Pulisic group seemed to avoid pressure/1v1 at all costs, which is something else I wasn't expecting to see as much as I did from. They made it look like ELS was playing the 'ol 'Total Football' strategy the Netherlands used almost 50 years ago. It's already been mentioned that it seemed like ELS always had 2-3 guys on our guys when we had possession, and I think only Konrad and Dest gave them much of a go, maybe Aaronsen as well.
Sammy3469
Footballguy
We were effectively one short on each side for the first 60 minutes. Gio/Weston/Yedlin tried on the right (it was tough to see, but it looked like Swag had to pinch in too close to Gio and Yedlin since Gio and Yedlin weren't on the same wavelength), but for whatever reason it broke down and Aaronson wasn't showing correctly as the MF on the left to support Dest/Konrad. That support is usually who recycles the ball if needed.
gianmarco
Footballguy
I hated him in the lineup but have to say he did fine. A couple times he got isolated and looked slow AF but someone else recovered to help out.
He was a monster in the air and generally was in good positions to not get taken advantage of.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Doyle boils the problems down to Dest
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Ned
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
To me this is similar to the fans who say "Look, Germany was able to beat Lichtenstein on the road, so the US should have no problem doing the same in ELS"
The situations could not be more polar opposites. Those games for the big teams in Europe are vacations where they are treated like gods and what few fans are in the stadium root for them as much as the home side and the pitches are usually very nice.
People can ignore entirely what the players are saying but to me Adams is one of the most mature players I have heard speak and when he says this is entirely different, I take him at his word.
That all being said, I really wanted 3 points last night :(
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TripItUp
Footballguy
Interesting that Dest was singled out by GGG...Dest may not see the pitch again this cycle.
TripItUp
Footballguy
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
I hope he doesn't play again on the left. Let's give him a go on the right before we bench him.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
I thought he was fine, but I wonder if some of our 'kick it long out of the back' was also trying to over protect his position. Nothing we can do about it now, but hope we don't see him again this window.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
As poor as he was on the day, that seems harsh with 13 games to go.
If Yedlin is hurt, GGG may not have much choice.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
I mentioned it last night- US had glaring problems with their first touch (And subsequent touches) a lot of the night...looked like a hard patchy field. But if so, why didn't the ELS players have similar problems?NewlyRetired said:
the first 10 or so minutes, I thought this was going to be US blowout. they were working the ball easily short and then opening up els with a switched ball into acres of space crossfield. spacing and shape looked good and useful.
then, as els tried to flood the ball with defenders, the US inexplicably lost their shape and pinched all their players towards the ball. it honestly felt like watching youth players mash up around the ball. not space no shape guys right on top of each other so nowhere to go with the ball.
gianmarco
Footballguy
When Landon played the talent gap was never this large. Mexico has won their last two in El Salvador.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
JaxBill said:
They seriously need to get that fixed by the next match - that was freaking horrible.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I thought ELS completely outplayed Mexico this summer in the Gold Cup. The took it to Mexico in that second half like we have never seen the US do against Mexico.
ELS was relatively toothless attacking last night for what ever reason. They are going to struggle if they play that poorly offensively, especially at home.
I think when all is said and done, the US will realize they should have done better in ELS, but lets all hope the 3 points home and grab a few points here and there on the road will work out.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It is very interesting how opportunities come to some players and not others.
We are all really happy that Reynolds, McKenzie, Busio, Tessman, Vines, Cannon and others have found their way to Europe.
But none of them IMO, come close to the quality we see in Miles Robinson. Maybe his age at 24 is working against him but he has all the looks of a guy who has figured things out. And being a CB, 24 is not really that old that some Euro team would not give him a shot.
I feel like he is good enough to start for any mid tier level team in one of the top 5 leagues right now. I think if some one gives him a shot, he is going to end up being the best player to ever come out of my part of the country (of which would be Geoff Cameron at this point I think. We don't produce many pro level soccer players at all here in Mass.).
We are all really happy that Reynolds, McKenzie, Busio, Tessman, Vines, Cannon and others have found their way to Europe.
But none of them IMO, come close to the quality we see in Miles Robinson. Maybe his age at 24 is working against him but he has all the looks of a guy who has figured things out. And being a CB, 24 is not really that old that some Euro team would not give him a shot.
I feel like he is good enough to start for any mid tier level team in one of the top 5 leagues right now. I think if some one gives him a shot, he is going to end up being the best player to ever come out of my part of the country (of which would be Geoff Cameron at this point I think. We don't produce many pro level soccer players at all here in Mass.).
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AAABatteries
Footballguy
I've been so happy for Miles and impressed - I think he's been more impressive in the USMNT side than for Atlanta. I thought he was one of 2-3 options for MOTM from us. If he could have just put that header away I think our discussion about the game is totally different today.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
I'm not sure what the holdup is, but he's a goner IMO. Good CBs aren't easy to find and his athleticism sets him apart. Someone will force a sale soon I'd think.
TripItUp
Footballguy
I misspoke...meant the remainder of these 3 games. I'm not calling for it, but GGG unusually displeased reading between the lines.
El Floppo
Footballguy
JB Breakfast Club
Footballguy
Games in Honduras, Panama, Jamaica, and Costa Rica will probably have similar field conditions.
El Floppo
Footballguy
JB Breakfast Club
Footballguy
Oh...coverage will be somewhat similar too. Isn't CONCACAF weird about only using home team cameras, etc?
El Floppo
Footballguy
yes. local coverage. and since we won't be back in El Salvador again, we don't have to worry about that crew.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
My favorite was the second half kick off where the camera stayed on Weston even after he played a through ball.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
I remember Jamaica and T&T being goat farms, but IIRC Costa Rica and Panama have nice fields. All I can remember about Honduras is watching our players slowly melt into stationary puddles -- like candles.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Costa Rica has one of the few modern stadiums in all of Central America. I don't know what the relationship was but it was China who entirely funded and built the stadium about 10 years ago.
It is a SIGNIFIANTLY less frightening place to play than the hell hole of Saprissa, where they used to play, but that still has not helped the US win there yet.
Saprissa's stands are close enough for the fans to spit on the players (which happened often). They erected enormous fences to keep the animals at bay. The new stadium is multi purpose and has a huge track and loses plenty of atmosphere because of it as the fans are way off the pitch.
ChiefD
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I still remember Chandler. He absolutely could not believe it. He said the bottom of his cleats turned to liquid (as did the rest of him considering how badly he played).
It is hard enough for US based players to get used to the conditions in Concacaf, the Euro raised dual nats have no hope. It was no coincidence that they made sure Brooks did not play in both away games this window. Sadly, many of will remember Brooks's worst day as a professional player during the debacle that ended up getting JK fired last cycle.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I think part of the deal they made with China is to use the stadium for all National team games.
If you remember the iconic snow game in Colorado against CR, the CR officials were so upset after the game, that they screamed up and down that they were going to use Saprissa for the home game against the US, as punishment. But even then they still ended up using the new stadium.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
with our luck, we would do that and Pulisic would get hurt during practice. And even then there is nothing that you can really do to learn in a couple of days playing on a cow pasture and will never be able to match players who have played on those type of fields all their life.
I still remember the original Boston Garden and the old parquet floor. The floor had dead spots in it. Opposing players complained all the time about it but the Celtics players knew every inch of the floor and knew where not to dribble.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
they should always bring him in to talk to the team at the start of each cycle to give the low down on how a seasoned pro can evaporate down there in WCQ. he was awful from the giddyup. trying to remember if Fab did any better...
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I can't remember if this was also around the time where JK had to give Fab the time out and send him home for being a crappy team mate. I don't remember the exact reasons.
