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US Men's National Team (13 Viewers)

The US GK (#12) hasn't had to anything other than field back passes, but he's looked really comfortable with the ball at his feet and with his distribution.

 
Just a few years ago Matt Turner was struggling in the USL wondering how he was going to pay his bills. Tomorrow he plays his last game for the Revs before heading to Arsenal.

This is probably the second best rags to riches soccer story in US soccer history behind only Jay Demerit (and even saying that, I am sure Turner is making money at Arsenal that Demerit never got close to even taking into account inflation in salaries).

 
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In our never ending search for #9’s, I have to say I was impressed with Brandon Vazquez last night for Cincinnati.  Only 23 with 8 goals in the season so far and I liked the angles he took on some of his runs.  Was giving the Union defense fits.  Not saying he’s the next Haaland or anything but I liked what I saw

 
NewlyRetired said:
USMNT 

@USMNTTAKES

Hull City have made an official offer to USMNT international Haji Wright and his club SønderjyskE.
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genuine question... do we consider this a step up for him in terms of on-field play?

I'm sure things are more consistent and less insane off-field than what I've heard of players in Turkey...plus English language. All of which are likely net-positives for him. just wondering if the quality of play will be higher.

 
El Floppo said:
genuine question... do we consider this a step up for him in terms of on-field play?

I'm sure things are more consistent and less insane off-field than what I've heard of players in Turkey...plus English language. All of which are likely net-positives for him. just wondering if the quality of play will be higher.
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I can't say I am fluent in Turkish league play quality but I would guess it is fairly similar.  The Championship pays good money so they have a surprising amount of international players for a second division league which keeps their quality high.

Also, the Championship offers the ability to promote to the EPL which is obviously a huge carrot.   To make a similar jump from Turkey, you have to be already one of the top players on one of the top teams in the league to hope for a transfer, of which SønderjyskE is not and of which Haji is not.

 
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Shaq Moore starts for Tenerife in one hour on ESPN+. As a reminder, this is leg two of the promotion playoff. First leg at Girona ended 0-0 so CD Tenerife win at home and they’re in. If that happens, it’d be the third straight season Girona lost in the final.

 
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McBokonon said:
Shaq Moore starts for Tenerife in one hour on ESPN+. As a reminder, this is leg two of the promotion playoff. First leg at Girona ended 0-0 so CD Tenerife win at home and they’re in. If that happens, it’d be the third straight season Girona lost in the final.
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Losing 0-1 in the 60th. Shaq got the start and still in there.

 
NewlyRetired said:
fairly big shock today as Cuba beat Canada 1-0.  US plays Canada next. 

These youth tournaments can swing on a dime though game to game.
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Cuba beat St Kitts 6-0.

US v Canada tonight at 8:30, TUDN or concacaf youtube live

fwiw, Mex beat Suriname 8-0. but Suriname appears to have had a few very clear cut scoring chances that they blew- like could have had 3 goals, given the quality of the chances. I don't think St Kitts had any clear cut scoring chances.

 
El Floppo said:
Cuba beat St Kitts 6-0.

US v Canada tonight at 8:30, TUDN or concacaf youtube live

fwiw, Mex beat Suriname 8-0. but Suriname appears to have had a few very clear cut scoring chances that they blew- like could have had 3 goals, given the quality of the chances. I don't think St Kitts had any clear cut scoring chances.
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I saw CR was still 0-0 in second half against Antigua and Barbuda so I turned it on and my god the field is a disaster.  Looks like just the US ELS game.

The US Canada game thankfully appears to be in a different location. That field would have been totally unplayable with another game tonight.

CR just scored to go up 1-0. CR tied Jamaica in the first game 1-1.

 
I'm on delay...just finished the first half.

The most lopsided 0-1 games I can remember. US just all over Canada...and outside of the final ball (and a bunch of shots taken right at the Can GK), look really really good. Can scored on a broken, but ultimately well done staying with it goal after it knocked around a couple of US defenders, by their #9 who is a handful in terms of strength and decent skills. US squandered a lot of great play in and around the Can box.

Luna looks particularly filthy...I thought it was a PK when he was shown the yellow for embellishment. And Paxton is legit.

Love how comfortable so many US players are receiving the ball in tight spaces, turning in tight spaces, and dribbling/holding the ball in tight spaces...and even opening themselves up for a shot in tight spaces..

 
Full time. Again...as lopsided a non-result as I can remember. Canada trying to kill time from the first half on. And shameless in the second...5 minutes on the dot ET was limp by the red. Can clearly understood they were thankful and lucky to be getting away with any points here.

I really enjoyed watching these guys play, from back to front. The LB made too many errors for me though...amidst some really nice plays as well. But ball watching, out of position, hitting too many balls long to nobody.

McGlynn, Luna and Cade were standouts...but again, they were all really good (outside of the final ball in the box).

Looking forward to seeing them play Cuba.

 
El Floppo said:
Full time. Again...as lopsided a non-result as I can remember. Canada trying to kill time from the first half on. And shameless in the second...5 minutes on the dot ET was limp by the red. Can clearly understood they were thankful and lucky to be getting away with any points here.

I really enjoyed watching these guys play, from back to front. The LB made too many errors for me though...amidst some really nice plays as well. But ball watching, out of position, hitting too many balls long to nobody.

McGlynn, Luna and Cade were standouts...but again, they were all really good (outside of the final ball in the box).

Looking forward to seeing them play Cuba.
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I mistakenly left Paxton off that list of standouts... he's on another level- looked insanely dangerous. I have no doubt we'll be seeing the Aaronson brothers on the field together in the next cycle.

did anybody else watch the game? 

I'm genuinely impressed by this group of kids. Canada had some quality- particularly down the spine (I liked their holding MF a lot, who was very clean on the ball and reading the play)- but the US were just dominant top to bottom, including the subs where nothing seemed lost quality-wise. the LB, was way too mistake prone (and again- also had moments where he showed a lot of class)... I read that he also misplayed the clearance that led to CAN's first goal.. but otherwise, these guys were all playing at a level I expect the senior team to play at in terms of foot and tactical skills and awareness. sadly, their final ball seems at senior (terrible) levels already- otherwise this should have been 5 or 6-2.

 
El Floppo said:
samurai blue = the Japanese national team? great friendly, if so.
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yes.  And Saudi Arabia too.   Both games will be played in Germany it looks like.

I was hoping for common opponent but neither Japan nor Saudi played Iran in qualifying as they were in different groups.

 
El Floppo said:
I mistakenly left Paxton off that list of standouts... he's on another level- looked insanely dangerous. I have no doubt we'll be seeing the Aaronson brothers on the field together in the next cycle.

did anybody else watch the game? 

I'm genuinely impressed by this group of kids. Canada had some quality- particularly down the spine (I liked their holding MF a lot, who was very clean on the ball and reading the play)- but the US were just dominant top to bottom, including the subs where nothing seemed lost quality-wise. the LB, was way too mistake prone (and again- also had moments where he showed a lot of class)... I read that he also misplayed the clearance that led to CAN's first goal.. but otherwise, these guys were all playing at a level I expect the senior team to play at in terms of foot and tactical skills and awareness. sadly, their final ball seems at senior (terrible) levels already- otherwise this should have been 5 or 6-2.
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I watched and came away with the same opinions.  Complete domination by the US.  I think Canada scored on its only two chances while the US missed on probably 15-20 similar chances.

Coming in it was said the US CB's were the big question mark and they did not help themselves out at all in changing that opinion yesterday.

Considering a bunch of players who would be starters were not released, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality in many areas.   

They will win the group if they beat Cuba and then deal with the knock out rounds.  I think we have to make the semi finals to qualify for the U20 WC and the finals to qualify for the Olympics so a lot of work to go.

If we win the group, we should have an easy round of 16 game against Nicaragua.

 
NewlyRetired said:
I watched and came away with the same opinions.  Complete domination by the US.  I think Canada scored on its only two chances while the US missed on probably 15-20 similar chances.

Coming in it was said the US CB's were the big question mark and they did not help themselves out at all in changing that opinion yesterday.

Considering a bunch of players who would be starters were not released, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality in many areas.   

They will win the group if they beat Cuba and then deal with the knock out rounds.  I think we have to make the semi finals to qualify for the U20 WC and the finals to qualify for the Olympics so a lot of work to go.

If we win the group, we should have an easy round of 16 game against Nicaragua.
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thanks. I wanted to make sure it wasn't just me pipe-dreaming it.

the CBs didn't concern me too much. what did you see with them? that first goal was a bunch of stuff going just right for the Canadian player to bounce with the ball through that scrum,  but well taken to finish. the own goal was unfortunate, but otherwise I thought they handled things pretty well in the air and ground, and were tidy with their distribution (and very clean with the ball on their feet). third time I've mentioned him, but the LB was my problem with the team- routinely making mistakes with his positioning and on the ball.

I'm excited to keep watching this group. 

that Luna kid... I assume is dual? I know nothing about him- but definitely want to now... super filthy.

 
El Floppo said:
that Luna kid... I assume is dual? I know nothing about him- but definitely want to now... super filthy.
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yes he is a dual but has only played for the US to date. 

I highlighted him a while back n the thread.  He is the kid that hopefully will be starting a trend of young players who are doing well in USL, being transferred to MLS.  He was sold to RSL a couple of weeks ago.

 
El Floppo said:
. third time I've mentioned him, but the LB was my problem with the team- routinely making mistakes with his positioning and on the ball.
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from what I understand, the two best LB's at this general age group are Caleb Wiley and Kevin Paredes. Neither were released for the tournament.  Paredes is already preparing for the next Bundesliga season and Caleb is getting decent minutes with Atlanta including some starts.

Caleb is particularly interesting because he is only 17 and to be getting game time at 17 in MLS is pretty good.

 
NewlyRetired said:
yes he is a dual but has only played for the US to date. 

I highlighted him a while back n the thread.  He is the kid that hopefully will be starting a trend of young players who are doing well in USL, being transferred to MLS.  He was sold to RSL a couple of weeks ago.
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ah thanks- I remember that info, but didn't put the name to the kid or make a connection to this team.

still some decision making stuff to sort out, but damn this kid is filthy on the ball. reminds me of Tecatito, tbh, but a stockier, lower to the ground version. 

I think that he was the one that fed Cade for the 2nd goal too (it was a beauty of a ball through- perfectly weighted and placed)

NewlyRetired said:
from what I understand, the two best LB's at this general age group are Caleb Wiley and Kevin Paredes. Neither were released for the tournament.  Paredes is already preparing for the next Bundesliga season and Caleb is getting decent minutes with Atlanta including some starts.

Caleb is particularly interesting because he is only 17 and to be getting game time at 17 in MLS is pretty good.
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huh- thanks. Paredes I know, but I'll keep an eye out for Wiley... 17!? so young to break in at such a tricky spot as FB. did Tolkin age out? I keep hoping to see him in the set up too.

again, this kid (#2) had moments that looked great on and off the ball, but often found himself on the wrong side and unaware of runners making diagonal runs off the CBs into his area. it happened enough that I started watching just him the few times CAN go the ball in US defensive third- and noticed he had a tendency to ball watch and lose his man. nice with the ball at his feet and good with the short balls, but his longer balls were often really misplayed. and more than a couple times misplaying a ball that led directly to CAN attack in dangerous areas.

 
El Floppo said:
sadly, their final ball seems at senior (terrible) levels already- otherwise this should have been 5 or 6-2.
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I didn't watch closely but had it on in the background. I felt like the tactics were fairly similar to the senior team setup and like the senior team, an awful lot of possession, particularly in the corners, with very few real chances. Mostly just aimless crosses. 

 
El Floppo said:
yeah... so what's going on with Gomez? he's getting set up with a new club in europe?

eta: and is he one of the guys who might cleared for later use? 
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He is with Real Sociedad. He started for their B team the 2nd half of the season which sounds awful but they were in La Liga 2, so not a bad level at 18. 

They got relegated though so my guess is he's either with the Seniors next year or gets a loan. 

ETA - I guess you meant for this tourney. I don't know why he's not there. Maybe he declined? There's no real news about him that I can find. 

 
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prefontaine said:
I didn't watch closely but had it on in the background. I felt like the tactics were fairly similar to the senior team setup and like the senior team, an awful lot of possession, particularly in the corners, with very few real chances. Mostly just aimless crosses. 
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I do agree there was a similarity of tactics with the senior team in terms of contolling out of the back, building the ball wide and vertical, along with a fair bit of play straight down the gut of the CAN defense.

there was a combo of missed/aimless crosses from the corners along with a lot of quality slicing through the middle off a dribble or combination passes where they just hit poor shots- either right at the keeper or sailing high/wide. but they definitely created a lot of quality chances- so, you must not have been paying close attention, as you say. CAN GK made a few really good saves to go with the US just not hitting it right. 5-7 goals were there... even before playing the "what if they actually made a quality final ball from the wing" game. it was an outright domination.

22 shots/10 on target (6/3 for CAN)

72% possession

615-252 passes (US v CAN)

89% pass accuracy (the 11% feels like it was mostly in and around the final third, plus the LB).

6-1 corners (US v CAN)

 
prefontaine said:
He is with Real Sociedad. He started for their B team the 2nd half of the season which sounds awful but they were in La Liga 2, so not a bad level at 18. 

They got relegated though so my guess is he's either with the Seniors next year or gets a loan. 

ETA - I guess you meant for this tourney. I don't know why he's not there. Maybe he declined? There's no real news about him that I can find. 
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andy probably knows more (and probably already posted about it).

google shows some articles saying he was selected by both US and MEX, and accepted the MEX call-up, but is out injured. no idea how true that is.

 
:(

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

Brian Sciaretta

@BrianSciaretta

Such a bummer as Aron Johannsson comes off injured in the 20th minute for Valur today. Injuries have robbed of most of his career and he returned home to Iceland just to play - and it's still a struggle. Hope this one isn't serious. He had a ton of talent as a young player

 
NewlyRetired said:
maybe I should have said "best LB's who have not already accepted a call up to the Senior Mexican National Team and received his first senior Mexican cap"

:)
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Fair. He also has a senior US cap. 

I don't pretend to understand the cap rules but apparently he's still a complete free agent which makes zero sense to me. 

 
prefontaine said:
Fair. He also has a senior US cap. 

I don't pretend to understand the cap rules but apparently he's still a complete free agent which makes zero sense to me. 
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It used to be more simple.  It used to be as soon as you played a real game for any country, you were cap tied.   But even with the older simpler rules, Gomez has not played a real game for either country yet as both games were just friendlies.

Now with the new rules, if you are U21, even playing in a real game does not cap tie you for life (but it does cap tie you for at least 3 years).

 
El Floppo said:
But does it seem like he's leaning Mex, given accepting the recent call-ups?
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I think these kids know to accept any call up that comes their way most of the time to keep all doors open.  He is not making either WC squad so he is no rush to have to make a decision.

This typical behavior is what made Gaga's decision appear to be out of left field especially when it came after GGG told him he was not ready yet for the senior team.

 
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Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Bryan Reynolds (remember him?) out on loan to... a newly promoted/likely bottom table team in Belgium's top flight.  Equivalent of a bad or very bad MLS team, more or less.
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Made official yesterday

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

Fabrizio Romano

@FabrizioRomano

Official, confirmed. Bryan Reynolds leaves Roma to join KWC Westerlo on loan, staying in Belgium. Buy option clause worth €7m will be included in the deal

 
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