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US Men's National Team (14 Viewers)

AAABatteries said:
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.
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While I agree with you entirely, the last sentence bugs me as a fan.

That was one play over an entire game.  Maybe one inch lower on his head and its a goal.

And yet if that one inch change does happen and he scores, the entire commentary on the game changes (even if every other play happened exactly as we saw it).  It does not seem right that a single play, in the matter of a few seconds and inches, can so dramatically change a perspective on a game.

I have read numerous people on twitter saying GGG should be fired immediately, which never could have happened had the one play changed by 1 inch.

It is an oddity of this sport, mostly I think because the low scoring nature of it can put so much focus on a single goal.

 
The Z Machine said:
I don't disagree.  For a guy that starts for Barça, I expect way more out of the guy on both sides of the ball. 
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Like Scooby said, when this guy is off, he barely looks like a pro, much less an international starter.   We can't afford the enormous swings in quality he has on the international stage. 

I don't get to see Barca play much but I have to assume he does not do this in La Liga else he would lose his spot.

 
So of the 8 teams, am I correct in assuming Canada is likely feeling the worst right now?

I know Jamaica is likely really stinging from giving up the late goal but realistically no one expected a result especially with how many players they were missing.

The US's result was disappointing but not too awful since a point on the road is SIGNIFIANTLY better than the point Canada got at home.

I wonder how this might effect Canada's approach against the US....?  I know there was talk that Canada was likely to rest their big guns for the 3rd game but that must have been predicated on expecting three points for the first game.

It sets up an interesting early game since the US needs a win, knowing that a tough trip to San Pedro Sula awaits and Canada can't really afford to just toss the game away given their result in the first game.

 
NewlyRetired said:
So of the 8 teams, am I correct in assuming Canada is likely feeling the worst right now?

I know Jamaica is likely really stinging from giving up the late goal but realistically no one expected a result especially with how many players they were missing.

The US's result was disappointing but not too awful since a point on the road is SIGNIFIANTLY better than the point Canada got at home.

I wonder how this might effect Canada's approach against the US....?  I know there was talk that Canada was likely to rest their big guns for the 3rd game but that must have been predicated on expecting three points for the first game.

It sets up an interesting early game since the US needs a win, knowing that a tough trip to San Pedro Sula awaits and Canada can't really afford to just toss the game away given their result in the first game.
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Canada is in a tight spot.  I don't think they can play their main guys 90 against the USA.  If they do, then there's zero chance they can go at home against an El Salvador team that just took points off the US.  

I mean.... they aren't as good as the US and they wouldn't expect to win against us at home with both teams at full strength.  So lets say they play their studs and still lose....  Then to go half strength against ELS?!  As ugly as they'd think 4 points this window is, 2 or 1 is exponentially worse.  

I expect their main guys to sit to start the US game.  If they're tied or maybe only a goal down late, then they bring on Davies, Buchanen, and David etc. to try and chase the point, but they just can't afford to put those miles on and risk still getting nothing out of it.

 
That's actually what really sucks about this 3 game qualifying windows.  If there were only 2, then Canada would have zero issues going full bore against us, but because they have a MUST WIN game 3 days later, it makes things murkier.

The US could very well have this problem too.  In October they start with a home game against Jamaica.  That team is good enough to push a draw on us IMO.  IF that happened, then we'd have to decide whether to try and "make up" those points by chasing a win with our best players in Panama, or saving those guys for the then MUST WIN against a tough Costa Rica squad.

 
I mentioned this earlier but I will be more direct this time, trying to get some feedback.

What do we think of Pefok?  He confounds me at times, in both directions.

 
NewlyRetired said:
I mentioned this earlier but I will be more direct this time, trying to get some feedback.

What do we think of Pefok?  He confounds me at times, in both directions.
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I always get the feeling he's on the edge of scoring and is looking to do do, but he seems to lack some of the skill to pull it off.  Pefok doesn't look to pass first, he looks to put the ball on frame.  I think he's got the right size and strength for hold up play, but lacks some ball control and first touch.  I think he could be successful if we can get balls crossed to him while he's facing goal. 

In contrast, Sargent just rarely looks like he's going to score and doesn't seem to have a killer instinct.  He holds the ball fairly well and does a lot of other things but doesn't look dangerous.  Like a good CB can mark him out of a game. 

 
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NewlyRetired said:
I mentioned this earlier but I will be more direct this time, trying to get some feedback.

What do we think of Pefok?  He confounds me at times, in both directions.
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Initial impressions are that he's not the immediate answer.   I need to see him play more as it seems premature to come to a conclusion on him at this point.

 
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Give Pefok the start against Canada and if he doesn't look goal dangerous, let's give the next guy up a shot.  Pepi, a false #9 (Weah), etc.  Can't have that position be a toothless threat.

 
After a couple of days of non-alcohol induced processing I srill can't figure out what happened against ELS.

It looked like at first the US would come away with 3 pts but after 10 or 15 minutes it became hard to watch.  No connecting, no build up.  It really did just look like trying to survive with a point.  Never thought we might lose but it became apparent we were just looking for 1 goal and get out.  It also ft like we were never going to get that 1 goal.

Inexperience? Maybe.  But that feels like an excuse.  If pulisic had been there, I feel like we would have just forced him the ball.  Maybe he gets that 1 and Mayne he doesn't. It felt like the whole strategy was to just not lose.  It looked high school-ish imo. 

I could definitely see GGG playing away games tight and defensive and letting loose at home.  I guess we will see tomorrow.

 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Give Pefok the start against Canada and if he doesn't look goal dangerous, let's give the next guy up a shot.  Pepi, a false #9 (Weah), etc.  Can't have that position be a toothless threat.
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The Z Machine said:
I'm down with this.  Keep rotating them until someone starts producing. 
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for me, it's about which 9 gives the US their best shape up top to allow the more quality players (and I'm including Aaronson here despite that els game) opportunities to finish. 

So far, that's Zardes.

To answer the question...Prefok doesn't play as tall as he is, doesn't seem to have game changing speed, and doesn't seem to have any better skills- ball, pass or tactical- than the rest.

So for me, unless he's providing that shape or goals, he's just another not horrible option. I wish we had a good option.

 
NewlyRetired said:
I mentioned this earlier but I will be more direct this time, trying to get some feedback.

What do we think of Pefok?  He confounds me at times, in both directions.
Click to expand...
He seems like a less athletic but taller Zardes to me.  He needs service to score and doesn’t seem to destabilize a defense (he seems very mechanical).  I frankly don’t think he’s much of an upgrade (if any) over Sargent.  
 

Fwiw…I’d give 30 minutes to Pepi at this point to see if the MLS ability to find space translates at all at this level (I also wouldn’t have been adverse to trying Weah up top either).  If Pepi is going to be integrated at all this cycle it almost has to start against Canada.  

 
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Sammy3469 said:
He seems like a less athletic but taller Zardes to me.  He needs service to score and doesn’t seem to destabilize a defense (he seems very mechanical).  I frankly don’t think he’s much of an upgrade (if any) over Sargent.  
 

Fwiw…I’d give 30 minutes to Pepi at this point to see if the MLS ability to find space translates at all at this level (I also wouldn’t have been adverse to trying Weah up top either).  If Pepi is going to be integrated at all this cycle it almost has to start against Canada.  
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based on highlights we're seeing of Pepi lately, I'm with this 100%. he seems to have that Chachi ability to find space in dangerous spots in front of goal that our other guys haven't been showing.

Sarge has looked bright and frosty with Norwich so far...what he showed the other night vs els was so disappointing in light of that recent play.

 
NewlyRetired said:
unless GGG is playing some games with Canada, that sounds like a sub appearance at best.

They are handling this like Pulisic is coming back from an injury.........
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I've stated from the beginning there is something fishy going on.  The "not fit" narrative is obviously BS.

 
Imo, it makes no sense in the world to tell Canada if Pulisic is fit or not fit. 

Let them find out one hour before the game.  The way Canada will have to defend the US will differ based on Pulisic's availability.  Making them sweat it out even if GGG knows for sure right now, is the only way to play this imo.

 
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NewlyRetired said:
Imo, it makes no sense in the world to tell Canada if Pulisic is fit or not fit. 

Let them find out one hour before the game.  The way Canada will have to defend the US will differ based on Pulisic's availability.  Making them sweat it out even if GGG knows for sure right now, is the only way to play this imo.
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Yup…no reason to say anything…I wouldn’t have said anything about Steffen either, but maybe he wasn’t practicing and every knew anyway.

 
I don’t how much you put into something like this, but this graph (I don’t think its pure numbers and not put into rate terms) is effectively saying Pepi is the best off the ball striker in MLS (he’s played 450 minutes less than Castellenos) and is essentially the second best striker in MLS off these two metrics.  
 

FWIW, NYC wanted $10million from Feyernord for Castellenos this pst window.  
 

https://twitter.com/kevin_n_nelson/status/1434260741721362432?s=21

 
Well so much for keeping things quiet :)

Practice must be open to the media because people are posting videos of training just getting underway in Nashville with most cameras pointed at Pulisic who is there from the start.

 
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Media has been tossed

========

Jeff Carlisle

@JeffreyCarlisle

Christian Pulisic jogged, ran, even sprinted a bit. And that’s all we were allowed to see before getting kicked out. #

 
Getting ready to board the flight to Nashville.  Never been nervous about flying, so not sure if the unsettled feeling is due to COVID fears heading into bachelorette central or lingering memories of the last qualifier I attended in person (CR in north Jersey). 

 
scorchy said:
Getting ready to board the flight to Nashville.  Never been nervous about flying, so not sure if the unsettled feeling is due to COVID fears heading into bachelorette central or lingering memories of the last qualifier I attended in person (CR in north Jersey). 
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Little did we know during that disappointing game that it would only get worse from there. 

I remember multiple passes through our own box while under pressure from CR. 

Who are you traveling with @scorchy?

 
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I am nervous.  

Gio not being at practice and the uncertainty over Pulisic has me wondering how we are going to generate chances in the run of play....

 
NewlyRetired said:
While I agree with you entirely, the last sentence bugs me as a fan.

That was one play over an entire game.  Maybe one inch lower on his head and its a goal.

And yet if that one inch change does happen and he scores, the entire commentary on the game changes (even if every other play happened exactly as we saw it).  It does not seem right that a single play, in the matter of a few seconds and inches, can so dramatically change a perspective on a game.

I have read numerous people on twitter saying GGG should be fired immediately, which never could have happened had the one play changed by 1 inch.

It is an oddity of this sport, mostly I think because the low scoring nature of it can put so much focus on a single goal.
Click to expand...


I think you nailed it with the last sentence.

It's also why I think questionable calls by the ref have the largest impact of any sport.  A bad foul call in the NBA affects 1-2 points in a game with 200+ points.  A bad call in the NFL might affect 3-7 points (that might have been scored on the next play anyway) in a game with 60+ points.  A bad call in a soccer match might be the only scoring play of the entire game.

Thank goodness VAR has fixed a lot of the hard-line stuff, but a subjective penalty or red card decision can, in one second, completely change the course of a game almost every time it happens.

 
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