US Men's National Team (14 Viewers)

[El Floppo]

Who won the ball back just before the third goal? Can’t tell from the highlight. 

thought it was Aaronson.

once again.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Who won the ball back just before the third goal? Can’t tell from the highlight. 

Roldan played the pass to Pepi I think.  If you mean the Aaronson goal?

 

[El Floppo]

thought it was Aaronson.

once again.

That was the Roldan dig I mentioned before.  

I stand corrected.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wow it is SOOOO nice to stay up late because I am having fun instead of staying up late muttering to myself about lost chances...

 

[NewlyRetired]

I stand corrected.

no problem, not a very good close up.  Aaronson moved to the left when Roldan subbed in which is how he ended up on the left of Pepi for the goal.

 

[BassNBrew]

This is tired shtick man. 

The Sarge shtick was tired until it proved out accurate.

Honduras ran outta gas i think.  They didn't do jack after the US subs came on.  Not sure if it was a change in formation or mentality or what, but HON looked like a beaten dog after the US went up. 

Depth and talent will win out over time (not every time) vs "Concacaf" and not just for the US.  The riot police aren't an extra opposing defender.  When the talent level is close then the other Concacaf factors will come into play.  

I'm more concerned about our Euro players having to fight for PT everyday in practice and having to start each window with a long flight back to the US.  A lot of these Concacaf teams are featuring a majority of players who play in a similar time zone on a regular basis.  Sloppy and inconsistent play could be a regular occurrence in these shorter windows and that will show itself both home and away.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

So what was the 4-3-3 at the end of the game?  I lost track of it during the match.

 

[Moe.]

That was the Roldan dig I mentioned before.  

That’s what I thought, but wasn’t sure if it was him or Lletget. That was a fantastic play. He makes stuff happen.

 

[Moe.]

Guys it is Kate’s birthday today. This studio crew is so good

 

[NewlyRetired]

Mexico is dying for a striker.  Funes Mori is not it.  Thankfully Pepi chose the US.

 

[El Floppo]

ok...for Pepi's great game (second half), I still would love to see him develop more of a hold up play in his game. He did some nice things with his back to goal- especially winning and laying off that ball for CP- but the US could really use even more. and hopefully his defensive work is good enough...it wasmt something I was focusing on during the debacle segment of tonight. still, his Chachi-esque movement and awareness in the attacking third is fantastic- love it.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

So what was the 4-3-3 at the end of the game?  I lost track of it during the match.

• Turner
  
• Yedlin Miles McKenzie Antonee
  
• Lletget Adams Acosta
  
• Roldan Pepi Aaronson
  

That it?

 

[El Floppo]

Mexico is dying for a striker.  Funes Mori is not it.  Thankfully Pepi chose the US.

by the time the US play Mex, they'll have Jiminez and Chucky back.

 

[NewlyRetired]

ok...for Pepi's great game (second half), I still would love to see him develop more of a hold up play in his game. He did some nice things with his back to goal- especially winning and laying off that ball for CP- but the US could really use even more. and hopefully his defensive work is good enough...it wasmt something I was focusing on during the debacle segment of tonight. still, his Chachi-esque movement and awareness in the attacking third is fantastic- love it.

even with that all said, first cap in a qualifier in a high pressure game the team knew it needed a result from, at just 18 and never having played a game out of MLS.  I think many other players would have melted from the occasion but he hung in there until things opened up.

It is no surprise that things opened up when he got a proper wing next to him instead of Sargent.

 

[El Floppo]

• Turner
  
• Yedlin Miles McKenzie Antonee
  
• Lletget Adams Acosta
  
• Roldan Pepi Aaronson
  

That it?

I think flip Roldan and Lletget...maybe.

 

[NewlyRetired]

by the time the US play Mex, they'll have Jiminez and Chucky back.

Chucky is a traditional winger I think...

Jiminez is a stud though.   I still have not had a chance to see him play post that horrific injury he had.

 

[El Floppo]

even with that all said, first cap in a qualifier in a high pressure game the team knew it needed a result from, at just 18 and never having played a game out of MLS.  I think many other players would have melted from the occasion but he hung in there until things opened up.

It is no surprise that things opened up when he got a proper wing next to him instead of Sargent.

I genuinely wanted him off at 1-1, to bring fresh legs in. he seemed like he had disappeared.

I couldn't have been more wrong, obviously.

 

[El Floppo]

Chucky is a traditional winger I think...

Jiminez is a stud though.   I still have not had a chance to see him play post that horrific injury he had.

he's back getting minutes for Wolves. looks really good, but naturally a bit rusty. once he finds his rhythm, he and Odama are going to be fire.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think flip Roldan and Lletget...maybe.

they were interchanging a lot so it was hard to tell.

I did not mention it but I really liked Lletget's energy and positive play tonight.  I have been complaining this window and in the Gold Cup that he constantly goes backward but he had more urgency tonight.  I hope he can carry that confidence forward because GGG is going to find room for him.

 

[El Floppo]

Chucky is a traditional winger I think...

Jiminez is a stud though.   I still have not had a chance to see him play post that horrific injury he had.

and it's funny...Funny Mori gets more great looks per game every time I see him than anybody else out there. and he finishes some of them...just not enough relative to how many platters he's been set.

 

[Sammy3469]

ok...for Pepi's great game (second half), I still would love to see him develop more of a hold up play in his game. He did some nice things with his back to goal- especially winning and laying off that ball for CP- but the US could really use even more. and hopefully his defensive work is good enough...it wasmt something I was focusing on during the debacle segment of tonight. still, his Chachi-esque movement and awareness in the attacking third is fantastic- love it.

It’s all good enough and made doubly so since the entire backline has to continually account for him which opens space for others (I don’t think it’s a coincidence CP could find the ball so much).  Purely on the press, I don’t think he’s fantastic at the point of attack, but he seems to have fantastic anticipation of where the pass is going from the wing.  

Maybe teams adjust to that, but it hasn’t happened in MLS yet.

Even the way he opened himself up and gave himself space to receive the Adams pass for the 4th goal isn’t something you see that often in MLS. He just knows how to move and when and where the ball should be going. 

 

[NewlyRetired]

I will look this up shortly but maybe some one knows off the top of their head.

Have the US ever scored this many goals away in the last round of qualifying?

 

[El Floppo]

instead of Sargent.

Sarge has looked good at Norwich (their fans seem to want him to replace Puki already). his performance this window was hugely disappointing, especially given his play in the EPL.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sarge has looked good at Norwich (their fans seem to want him to replace Puki already). his performance this window was hugely disappointing, especially given his play in the EPL.

maybe he needs a goal but his confidence level looks in the toilet right now for the US.

 

[El Floppo]

It’s all good enough and made doubly so since the entire backline has to continually account for him which opens space for others.  Purely on the press, I don’t think he’s fantastic at the point of attack, but he seems to have fantastic anticipation of where the pass is going from the wing.  

Maybe teams adjust to that, but it hasn’t happened in MLS yet.

Even the way he opened himself up and gave himself space to receive the Adams pass for the 4th goal isn’t something you see that often in MLS. He just knows how to move and when and where the ball should be going. 

I agree. I just want even more...and the kids still a kid, so I can dream.

and that header!

 

[El Floppo]

maybe he needs a goal but his confidence level looks in the toilet right now for the US.

I loved that headed put back for Pepi, who kind of scuffed it.

but honestly...other than that one play- I don't think I saw him do anything else tonight. and it's not like he hasn't played on the wing before.

 

[El Floppo]

So this cycle 4th place isn’t locked into a specific confederation for the playoff, they’ll take four teams from Asia, Oceania, CNCCF, and CNMBL and draw them together. Interesting. 

wait....what?

is it a round robin or playoff type thing?

 

[NewlyRetired]

I will look this up shortly but maybe some one knows off the top of their head.

Have the US ever scored this many goals away in the last round of qualifying?

The US has scored 3 goals, 4 different times away in the final round but never more than that.

So what odds would have you taken at halftime for the US to set their all time away scoring record in the final round? 

 

[El Floppo]

oh dammit. 

have a lot of work in the am....nice to go to sleep without weltschmurtz

 

[NewlyRetired]

Adams and Miles were the only 2 players I think to log 270 minutes this window.

 

[El Floppo]

The US has scored 3 goals, 4 different times away in the final round but never more than that.

So what odds would have you taken at halftime for the US to set their all time away scoring record in the final round? 

none. none odds.

 

[El Floppo]

Adams and Miles were the only 2 players I think to log 270 minutes this window.

Yes. and Turner.

 

[Moe.]

wait....what?

is it a round robin or playoff type thing?

Two completely separate home and home playoffs for two spots.  Who plays who isn’t set in advance like previous cycles, once those four teams are set they’ll draw to see who plays who

 

[El Floppo]

Two completely separate home and home playoffs for two spots.  Who plays who isn’t set in advance like previous cycles, once those four teams are set they’ll draw to see who plays who

I think I prefer that. Oceana always got screwed in the old set up.

 

[BassNBrew]

ok...for Pepi's great game (second half), I still would love to see him develop more of a hold up play in his game. He did some nice things with his back to goal- especially winning and laying off that ball for CP- but the US could really use even more. and hopefully his defensive work is good enough...it wasmt something I was focusing on during the debacle segment of tonight. still, his Chachi-esque movement and awareness in the attacking third is fantastic- love it.

In the nicest way possible...who cares?

I understand your point in theory, but do we really connect enough passes or have supporting players in the right place that hold up play matters much?  If we end up being very good at set pieces, converting crosses, and breaks wouldn't that be enough?

Yeah the cherry on top would be nice, but I'm fine without it if we aren't eating donuts.  Maybe he develops that skill as we figure out how to get the rest of the guys to function as a team rather than pieces.  

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yes. and Turner.

right!  I was thinking only field players.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Brian Sciaretta

@BrianSciaretta

Berhalter says Christian Pulisic has a slight ankle injury and they'll know more once he gets back to London

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think @Dinsy Ejotuzasked if this was planned or if he just made it up and GGG just said the injuries caused them to rethink everything and they were changing things late and they did not plan for any of this tonight.

GGG was afraid Yedlin could not go 90 which is why he started Adams at RB.

 

[NewlyRetired]

GGG thinks they are in second but they are actually in 3rd based on a deep tie breaker

 

[NewlyRetired]

Interesting point that the 5 points and place in the standings look good, and yet arguably 5 of the 6 half's the US played were poor.

 

[NewlyRetired]

GGG hammering home the point that this team is 3-4 years younger than they should be for qualifying and that is going to lead to lots of learning for many players.

16 total players this window had their first qualifier cap

The US started their youngest team in history tonight in a qualifier

 

[NewlyRetired]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E-0cmJKWUAIyFz-?format=jpg&name=large

 

[NewlyRetired]

GGG says they are disappointed with the 5 points but they will live with it as long as they keep learning

 

[NewlyRetired]

Pepi is up next for the press conference.  The kid has to be on cloud 9

 

[NewlyRetired]

Pepi was told on the plane ride to Honduras that he was going to start.

 

[TripItUp]

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a US forward win that kind of header.

McBride?

 

[NewlyRetired]

This kid is going to be a marketing dream if he slows his speech down just a touch.  He is answering questions in both English and Spanish fluently.

We talked about this earlier how no young Mexican American's have any one to look up to on the USMNT.  I really hope Pepi can be that player going forward.

 

[TripItUp]

GGG says they are disappointed with the 5 points but they will live with it as long as they keep learning

Glad he is admitting that.

 

[TripItUp]

GGG owes his future paychecks to Pepi...saved his ###.

 

[TripItUp]

I wholeheartedly agree. Really not liking some of the play and attitude and lack of effort we saw this window from some of the supposed world-class talent. Hopefully it's a wake-up call for them.

And give GGG credit for putting Pepi on the team. That wasn't a slam dunk necessarily.

GGG absolutely should get credit for all things Pepi...and I'm no GGG lover.