US Men's National Team (10 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

please excuse any mistakes I made, I did that quickly but I think it is mostly correct

Good list. I think it's normal for 1-2 or more top sides to have backups. Argentina did for years with Romero. England have at times too but mostly because they lose form and thus their jobs (a bit like Mendy at Chelsea). Goalkeepers are strange animals as sometimes they just suddenly suck. I guess just very mental.

I noticed this the other day but Alison has been starting for Brasil in World Cup which surprised me because I too thought Ederson was their guy. Either one is starter for club so doesn't really matter.

oh ****, how did I screw up Ederson? I didn't even look him up I was so sure

And I even just watched Brazil although I am not sure the keeper touched the ball twice.

Let me fix that. I am watching too many games and everything is becoming a blur

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am not sure where best to put this so I will dump it here. This is a fabulous break down of Mexico by Doyle. Give it a read

============================
Matthew Doyle
https://twitter.com/MattDoyle76
@MattDoyle76

I don't think people have fully grasped what an inflection point this tournament is for Mexican soccer. They were a legit top 15 team for half a century, knocking on the door of the top 10. Infrastructure, culture, talent... they had it all & it seemed like a matter of time.

But this month's failure laid bare the bigger, structural failures in Mexico, and those bigger, structural failures have already been felt further down the ranks into the youth national teams. After decades of dominance at the U20 & U23 levels, that has started to dry up...

..and the Mexican U17s aren't considered, collectively, to be as talented as the US & Canadian cohorts. What's gone wrong? We tried to address it on Club & Country and from where I and
@empiregass sit, we see three main issues:

1. Mexican youth teams (clubs) are dominated by kids born in the first 3 months of the year, which is a dead giveaway that the folks making the choices are choosing kids who are physically dominant rather than looking for kids who are good soccer players w/ potential to scale.

This was an issue for years in the US until the USSDA (now MLS Next) was founded 15 years ago. It was never really an issue for Mexico, but for whatever reason -- maybe the glory of chasing another Olympic gold? -- youth emphasis became on winning instead of developing.

2. Mexican coaches aren't developed and given a clear path, and that's happening at all levels (Chivas, who only employ Mexican players, just hired a European coach who washed out of MLS three years ago). This obviously has the most long-lasting, negative impact at the youth levels, because if you're not developing elite coaches then you're not going to develop elite players. The river of institutional knowhow that had served Mexico so well for so long has started to dry up. And because of that, it becomes a crisis if someone like Diego Lainez doesn't hit, because there's not five more of them coming. There's maybe only two more... or maybe none. And they're not showing up and developing later because...

3. Liga MX sides have a brutally bad recent track record of playing and developing young players. A few do it well (Pachuca), but most have little interest in it, and so it's becoming harder and harder to create the next generation of stars (why is there no elite replacement for Guardado or Herrera???). The path isn't totally gone, but it's narrower than it ever was before.

Even with all of the above handicaps I can't imagine Mexico falling out of the top 25 teams in the world -- 30 at worst -- and they'll never be in danger of actually missing the World Cup. With the expanded field, those days are gone. But this is the furthest they've been in my lifetime from ascending into the true world elite, and it's to me it's obvious that this performance over the past week is not just a blip brought about by bad luck, but rather an indication of where that program is pointed.

And so, this is the inflection point. I'm genuinely curious to see if the FMF and Liga MX address this in any substantive way. Also... if you thought they were recruiting dual-nationals hard as hell before, just wait. Every single kid is going to get the full-court press.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Brazil - Alisson - Starter Liverpool
Belgium - Courtois - Starter Real Madrid
Argentina - Martinez - Starter Aston Villa
France - Lloris - Starter Spurs
England - Pickford - Starter Everton
Italy - Donnarumma - Starter PSG
Spain - Simon - Starter Bilbao
Netherlands - Noppert - Starter Herenveen
Portugal - Patrico - Starter Roma
Denmark - Schmeichel - Stater Nice
Germany - Neuer - Starter Bayern Munich
Croatia - Livakovic - Starter Dynamo Zagreb
Mexico - Ochoa - Starter Starter Club America
Uruguay - Rocket - Starter Nacional
Switzerland - Sommer - Starter Munchengladbach
USA - Turner - Backup Arsenal
Colombia - Ospina* - rotation Al Nassr
Senegal - Mendy - rotation Chelsea
Wales - Hennesey - backup Nottingham Forrest
Iran - Beiranvand - starter Persepolis


* I am unsure Ospina will be the starter any more for Colombia going forward

​

Wales start Hennessy, a backup at Nottingham Forrest, over Danny Ward who starts every game for Leicester city.

 

[El Floppo]

I am not sure where best to put this so I will dump it here. This is a fabulous break down of Mexico by Doyle. Give it a read

============================
Matthew Doyle
https://twitter.com/MattDoyle76
@MattDoyle76

I don't think people have fully grasped what an inflection point this tournament is for Mexican soccer. They were a legit top 15 team for half a century, knocking on the door of the top 10. Infrastructure, culture, talent... they had it all & it seemed like a matter of time.

But this month's failure laid bare the bigger, structural failures in Mexico, and those bigger, structural failures have already been felt further down the ranks into the youth national teams. After decades of dominance at the U20 & U23 levels, that has started to dry up...

..and the Mexican U17s aren't considered, collectively, to be as talented as the US & Canadian cohorts. What's gone wrong? We tried to address it on Club & Country and from where I and
@empiregass sit, we see three main issues:

1. Mexican youth teams (clubs) are dominated by kids born in the first 3 months of the year, which is a dead giveaway that the folks making the choices are choosing kids who are physically dominant rather than looking for kids who are good soccer players w/ potential to scale.

This was an issue for years in the US until the USSDA (now MLS Next) was founded 15 years ago. It was never really an issue for Mexico, but for whatever reason -- maybe the glory of chasing another Olympic gold? -- youth emphasis became on winning instead of developing.

2. Mexican coaches aren't developed and given a clear path, and that's happening at all levels (Chivas, who only employ Mexican players, just hired a European coach who washed out of MLS three years ago). This obviously has the most long-lasting, negative impact at the youth levels, because if you're not developing elite coaches then you're not going to develop elite players. The river of institutional knowhow that had served Mexico so well for so long has started to dry up. And because of that, it becomes a crisis if someone like Diego Lainez doesn't hit, because there's not five more of them coming. There's maybe only two more... or maybe none. And they're not showing up and developing later because...

3. Liga MX sides have a brutally bad recent track record of playing and developing young players. A few do it well (Pachuca), but most have little interest in it, and so it's becoming harder and harder to create the next generation of stars (why is there no elite replacement for Guardado or Herrera???). The path isn't totally gone, but it's narrower than it ever was before.

Even with all of the above handicaps I can't imagine Mexico falling out of the top 25 teams in the world -- 30 at worst -- and they'll never be in danger of actually missing the World Cup. With the expanded field, those days are gone. But this is the furthest they've been in my lifetime from ascending into the true world elite, and it's to me it's obvious that this performance over the past week is not just a blip brought about by bad luck, but rather an indication of where that program is pointed.

And so, this is the inflection point. I'm genuinely curious to see if the FMF and Liga MX address this in any substantive way. Also... if you thought they were recruiting dual-nationals hard as hell before, just wait. Every single kid is going to get the full-court press.

Felt like they had some unfortunate injuries this year too...Corona...feel like there are other quality mwx players who didn't make the trip.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am not sure where best to put this so I will dump it here. This is a fabulous break down of Mexico by Doyle. Give it a read

============================
Matthew Doyle
https://twitter.com/MattDoyle76
@MattDoyle76

I don't think people have fully grasped what an inflection point this tournament is for Mexican soccer. They were a legit top 15 team for half a century, knocking on the door of the top 10. Infrastructure, culture, talent... they had it all & it seemed like a matter of time.

But this month's failure laid bare the bigger, structural failures in Mexico, and those bigger, structural failures have already been felt further down the ranks into the youth national teams. After decades of dominance at the U20 & U23 levels, that has started to dry up...

..and the Mexican U17s aren't considered, collectively, to be as talented as the US & Canadian cohorts. What's gone wrong? We tried to address it on Club & Country and from where I and
@empiregass sit, we see three main issues:

1. Mexican youth teams (clubs) are dominated by kids born in the first 3 months of the year, which is a dead giveaway that the folks making the choices are choosing kids who are physically dominant rather than looking for kids who are good soccer players w/ potential to scale.

This was an issue for years in the US until the USSDA (now MLS Next) was founded 15 years ago. It was never really an issue for Mexico, but for whatever reason -- maybe the glory of chasing another Olympic gold? -- youth emphasis became on winning instead of developing.

2. Mexican coaches aren't developed and given a clear path, and that's happening at all levels (Chivas, who only employ Mexican players, just hired a European coach who washed out of MLS three years ago). This obviously has the most long-lasting, negative impact at the youth levels, because if you're not developing elite coaches then you're not going to develop elite players. The river of institutional knowhow that had served Mexico so well for so long has started to dry up. And because of that, it becomes a crisis if someone like Diego Lainez doesn't hit, because there's not five more of them coming. There's maybe only two more... or maybe none. And they're not showing up and developing later because...

3. Liga MX sides have a brutally bad recent track record of playing and developing young players. A few do it well (Pachuca), but most have little interest in it, and so it's becoming harder and harder to create the next generation of stars (why is there no elite replacement for Guardado or Herrera???). The path isn't totally gone, but it's narrower than it ever was before.

Even with all of the above handicaps I can't imagine Mexico falling out of the top 25 teams in the world -- 30 at worst -- and they'll never be in danger of actually missing the World Cup. With the expanded field, those days are gone. But this is the furthest they've been in my lifetime from ascending into the true world elite, and it's to me it's obvious that this performance over the past week is not just a blip brought about by bad luck, but rather an indication of where that program is pointed.

And so, this is the inflection point. I'm genuinely curious to see if the FMF and Liga MX address this in any substantive way. Also... if you thought they were recruiting dual-nationals hard as hell before, just wait. Every single kid is going to get the full-court press.

Felt like they had some unfortunate injuries this year too...Corona...feel like there are other quality mwx players who didn't make the trip.

they also got old fairly fast. Lainez being a bust did not help. Tecatito has been fairly average IMO. He is not a game changer for them.

Chucky remains the one high quality offensive player they have and he is already 27.5 years old. He might not even be on the 2026 team as a starter.

 

[The Z Machine]

Chucky remains the one high quality offensive player they have and he is already 27.5 years old. He might not even be on the 2026 team as a starter.

I dunno. The guy looked hella frosty yesterday. 31 years old is slightly past the peak but not much. I think he'll still be a starter especially because their youth teams aren't producing much.

 

[prefontaine]

I am not sure where best to put this so I will dump it here. This is a fabulous break down of Mexico by Doyle. Give it a read

============================
Matthew Doyle
https://twitter.com/MattDoyle76
@MattDoyle76

I don't think people have fully grasped what an inflection point this tournament is for Mexican soccer. They were a legit top 15 team for half a century, knocking on the door of the top 10. Infrastructure, culture, talent... they had it all & it seemed like a matter of time.

But this month's failure laid bare the bigger, structural failures in Mexico, and those bigger, structural failures have already been felt further down the ranks into the youth national teams. After decades of dominance at the U20 & U23 levels, that has started to dry up...

..and the Mexican U17s aren't considered, collectively, to be as talented as the US & Canadian cohorts. What's gone wrong? We tried to address it on Club & Country and from where I and
@empiregass sit, we see three main issues:

1. Mexican youth teams (clubs) are dominated by kids born in the first 3 months of the year, which is a dead giveaway that the folks making the choices are choosing kids who are physically dominant rather than looking for kids who are good soccer players w/ potential to scale.

This was an issue for years in the US until the USSDA (now MLS Next) was founded 15 years ago. It was never really an issue for Mexico, but for whatever reason -- maybe the glory of chasing another Olympic gold? -- youth emphasis became on winning instead of developing.

2. Mexican coaches aren't developed and given a clear path, and that's happening at all levels (Chivas, who only employ Mexican players, just hired a European coach who washed out of MLS three years ago). This obviously has the most long-lasting, negative impact at the youth levels, because if you're not developing elite coaches then you're not going to develop elite players. The river of institutional knowhow that had served Mexico so well for so long has started to dry up. And because of that, it becomes a crisis if someone like Diego Lainez doesn't hit, because there's not five more of them coming. There's maybe only two more... or maybe none. And they're not showing up and developing later because...

3. Liga MX sides have a brutally bad recent track record of playing and developing young players. A few do it well (Pachuca), but most have little interest in it, and so it's becoming harder and harder to create the next generation of stars (why is there no elite replacement for Guardado or Herrera???). The path isn't totally gone, but it's narrower than it ever was before.

Even with all of the above handicaps I can't imagine Mexico falling out of the top 25 teams in the world -- 30 at worst -- and they'll never be in danger of actually missing the World Cup. With the expanded field, those days are gone. But this is the furthest they've been in my lifetime from ascending into the true world elite, and it's to me it's obvious that this performance over the past week is not just a blip brought about by bad luck, but rather an indication of where that program is pointed.

And so, this is the inflection point. I'm genuinely curious to see if the FMF and Liga MX address this in any substantive way. Also... if you thought they were recruiting dual-nationals hard as hell before, just wait. Every single kid is going to get the full-court press.

Felt like they had some unfortunate injuries this year too...Corona...feel like there are other quality mwx players who didn't make the trip.

The part I disagree with is this is an inflection point. They are well past the inflection point and everyone that has been paying attention knows that. Thank goodness Canada has stared rising because CONCACAF needs some depth.

One fear heading into this World Cup was that Mexico is so down that everyone else seems better. They've so long been the measuring stick. I think it's true to a certain extent. Is Canada really that good (World Cup suggests not)? Costa Rica looked awful at times in qualifying. The one saving grace in my mind is our players at club level are doing it at the highest level. But it can be hard to judge the USMNT in a world without inter-confederation games when Mexico is clearly descending.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Chucky remains the one high quality offensive player they have and he is already 27.5 years old. He might not even be on the 2026 team as a starter.

I dunno. The guy looked hella frosty yesterday. 31 years old is slightly past the peak but not much. I think he'll still be a starter especially because their youth teams aren't producing much.

I wrote that wrong. What I was trying to imply is that a 31 year old wide attacking player is not typically a starter at international level and is usually replaced by younger players.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Doug McIntyre

@ByDougMcIntyre
Christian Pulisic answers the question many people want to know: “I didn’t get hit in the balls.”

 

[NewlyRetired]

Good answer

=====

Ives Galarcep

@SoccerByIves

Asked what it was like to have his 'World Cup moment' with his goal vs. Iran, Christian Pulisic said he's hoping he hasn't had his signature World Cup moment yet.

 

[RCon]

Asked what it was like to have his 'World Cup moment' with his goal vs. Iran, Christian Pulisic said he's hoping he hasn't had his signature World Cup moment yet.

After watching that from certain angles, one could make an argument that regardless of what happens in the future, his signature World Cup moment is getting up from that collision.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Reading between the lines, it is no sure thing Pulisic is playing on Saturday.

He slightly altered his stance from "I will definitely play" to "I will do everything in my power to be ready"

Sounds like he will train lightly today and be evaluated.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is great. I have heard many good things about this kid. Having that much experience already in USL is so perfect

=======

Tom Bogert

@tombogert

Source: New York Red Bulls sign US youth international left back Curtis Ofori to a homegrown deal.
@KristianRDyer first reported. Ofori just turned 17 in November. Already has 41 appearances in the USL Championship, highly-rated

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

please excuse any mistakes I made, I did that quickly but I think it is mostly correct

Good list. I think it's normal for 1-2 or more top sides to have backups. Argentina did for years with Romero. England have at times too but mostly because they lose form and thus their jobs (a bit like Mendy at Chelsea). Goalkeepers are strange animals as sometimes they just suddenly suck. I guess just very mental.

I noticed this the other day but Alison has been starting for Brasil in World Cup which surprised me because I too thought Ederson was their guy. Either one is starter for club so doesn't really matter.

oh ****, how did I screw up Ederson? I didn't even look him up I was so sure

And I even just watched Brazil although I am not sure the keeper touched the ball twice.

Let me fix that. I am watching too many games and everything is becoming a blur

Patricio is also no longer the Portugal #1. It's Diogo Costa, who starts for Porto.

 

[NewlyRetired]

please excuse any mistakes I made, I did that quickly but I think it is mostly correct

Good list. I think it's normal for 1-2 or more top sides to have backups. Argentina did for years with Romero. England have at times too but mostly because they lose form and thus their jobs (a bit like Mendy at Chelsea). Goalkeepers are strange animals as sometimes they just suddenly suck. I guess just very mental.

I noticed this the other day but Alison has been starting for Brasil in World Cup which surprised me because I too thought Ederson was their guy. Either one is starter for club so doesn't really matter.

oh ****, how did I screw up Ederson? I didn't even look him up I was so sure

And I even just watched Brazil although I am not sure the keeper touched the ball twice.

Let me fix that. I am watching too many games and everything is becoming a blur

Patricio is also no longer the Portugal #1. It's Diogo Costa, who starts for Porto.

Thanks, I fixed that as well.

 

[Poke_4_Life]

Aidan Morris (‘01): Like Tolkin, he made the USMNT pre WC camp, as one of the two non U-20 Olympic eligibles. That indicates they wanted him in camp with USMNT staff and senior call up not far. Rebounded from long-term injury with a good season in MLS. Plays a position of need.

What position does he play? A quick google search says 'midfielder'.

 

[encaitar]

Aidan Morris (‘01): Like Tolkin, he made the USMNT pre WC camp, as one of the two non U-20 Olympic eligibles. That indicates they wanted him in camp with USMNT staff and senior call up not far. Rebounded from long-term injury with a good season in MLS. Plays a position of need.

What position does he play? A quick google search says 'midfielder'.

He plays either 6 or 8. Probably gonna be best as a holding midfielder, so he'd be a perfect backup to Adams.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The Dutch are having fun with this old photo. The two circled players are Pulisic and Gakpo

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fi5CEduXwAE1TTF?format=jpg&name=small

 

[zoobird]

I'm guessing that I missed this being posted before, but just in case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec4TNK2laeg&t=3s

Some of the comments about Turner from 2013 are amazing.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Reading between the lines, it is no sure thing Pulisic is playing on Saturday.

I think I'd bet against him for Saturday TBH. Sargent too.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'm guessing that I missed this being posted before, but just in case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec4TNK2laeg&t=3s

Some of the comments about Turner from 2013 are amazing.

US Soccer made this a part of his story in the 26 Stories series. Turner said he considered quitting the sport after this happened as there was so much negativity around it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fi5qBTYXwAQUJYN?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

 

[TripleThreat]

Match officials designations @FIFAWorldCup - Round of 16 - 3 December - Khalifa International Stadium

NEDUSA

Referee: Wilton SAMPAIO
AR 1: Bruno BOSCHILIA
AR 2: Bruno PIRES
4th: Andres Matias MATONTE CABRERA

1/2

https://twitter.com/fifamedia/status/1598397449072148481?s=61&t=zy7t3iJASzXanUFAPG0sow

 

[bagger]

he has not had to do anything

To be fair we need to consider how many keepers in the WC have screwed up their distribution and given scoring chances to opponent. Turner has been so good with both his feet and throws that he has not caused any bad give aways.

He did basically dribble up to midfield inexplicably once which likely took 5 years off my life, but he has been great.

I was paranoid that we would not go with him. I was baffled that there was a goalie competition when it was pretty clear he was the clear #1.

 

[NewlyRetired]

he has not had to do anything

To be fair we need to consider how many keepers in the WC have screwed up their distribution and given scoring chances to opponent. Turner has been so good with both his feet and throws that he has not caused any bad give aways.

He did basically dribble up to midfield inexplicably once which likely took 5 years off my life, but he has been great.

I took a full half grade off his group stage evaluation in my earlier post for that one play.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I was baffled that there was a goalie competition when it was pretty clear he was the clear #1.

I give Berhalter more credit for this than just about anything except converting Dest and Musah. There's often an inertia with this kind of decision and Berhalter cut through all of that, made the right call, and didn't even bring Steffan. He didn't deserve to make the trip based on performances and he'd have just been a distraction. It's kind of obvious, but I really don't think most coaches would have done it.

 

[TLEF316]

I always thought the chances of turner winning a game with his superior shot stopping were SIGNIFICANTLY higher than the chances of his poor footwork/distribution costing us a game.

And now he doesn't even appear to be bad at that anymore. Kinda think being the backup at arsenal might not even be his ceiling anymore. If he plays well against the freaky deaky Dutch I wonder if a mid table big league club makes a move to try and get him as their #1

 

[NewlyRetired]

MMA impressed through out the group stage.

This is incredibly exciting when you consider Musah is not even close to ending his development curve and that Weston is not fully fit. I think we can expect really big things next cycle from the three if it all comes together.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Match officials designations @FIFAWorldCup - Round of 16 - 3 December - Khalifa International Stadium

NEDUSA

Referee: Wilton SAMPAIO
AR 1: Bruno BOSCHILIA
AR 2: Bruno PIRES
4th: Andres Matias MATONTE CABRERA

1/2

https://twitter.com/fifamedia/status/1598397449072148481?s=61&t=zy7t3iJASzXanUFAPG0sow

My initial reaction is to feel good about this from a standpoint of reffing internationals played at a high caliber.

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

Though that Twitter thread disagrees. What little I could pick up says he is a swallow the whistle type.

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am beyond happy we got out of the group.

However, I am not happy because I think it is any great accomplishment, I don't think it is. I am mostly happy because it finally helps create some positive momentum for the team in the fan base. We all know the team played well but had that ball that slipped through Turner's legs very late against Iran rolled into the net, it would have been a blood bath in negativity (one tiny play amongst 3 full games would have changed the entire outlook of the fan base)

Similar to how I don't think getting into the 16 is a great accomplishment, I also don't think if Iran managed the late draw that the group stage would have been a huge disappointment. Being right on the edge of the second round is roughly where we belonged coming into the tournament. And that is what we got.

Getting to the second round while also playing very well across all 3 games is certainly something I did not expect. Even though I hoped to advance, I figured we would have one clunker like we always do in the group stage. We were closer to 9 points than we were to having a clunker or two and that feels really good as a long time fan.

For I think the first time, I am not believing that we need to play better in the knock out round to advance. I think if we put up a similar quality game (both effort and technique), that we exhibited in the group stage, that things just may fall our way against the Dutchalands.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here are all the FIFA "ground covered" stats through the first two games.

Adams, Musah, Pulisic and Jedi show up in the various categories you would expect given how much work they have put in.

https://i.redd.it/acuh7jx8f43a1.jpg

 

[The Z Machine]

Here are all the FIFA "ground covered" stats through the first two games.

Adams, Musah, Pulisic and Jedi show up in the various categories you would expect given how much work they have put in.

https://i.redd.it/acuh7jx8f43a1.jpg

And we know Adams and Musah covered a TON of ground in Game 3. Lord knows that Jedi loves to bust a sprint up the sideline.

 

[encaitar]

Here are all the FIFA "ground covered" stats through the first two games.

Adams, Musah, Pulisic and Jedi show up in the various categories you would expect given how much work they have put in.

https://i.redd.it/acuh7jx8f43a1.jpg

Honestly shocked that Pulisic is on the ground covered leaderboard. That's not what I'd consider his normal game. Shows how much he was helping in defensive cover in those two games.

 

[TripleThreat]

Though that Twitter thread disagrees. What little I could pick up says he is a swallow the whistle type.

-QG

thats kinda what the Iran ref did.
this squad plays better when they aren’t looking for a whistle… something I’ve felt they’ve been too quick to do (in the past) and have been unsettled by when they don’t get it. CP included.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Hard to judge him playing in the Eredivisie, but at least you'll be able to pick Taylor Booth out of a lineup now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Hard to judge him playing in the Eredivisie, but at least you'll be able to pick Taylor Booth out of a lineup now.

a fair amount of the team that is favored to beat us is either in or was developed in the Eredivisie so its probably a decent comparison.

 

[prefontaine]

Hard to judge him playing in the Eredivisie, but at least you'll be able to pick Taylor Booth out of a lineup now.

a fair amount of the team that is favored to beat us is either in or was developed in the Eredivisie so its probably a decent comparison.

He a different kind of mid than we have but he has special talent. I think he got buried at Bayern but he'll be back in a big five league in short order. He definitely passes the eye test and Utrecht are surging since he entered the starting lineup. He's garnering attention (to whit, player of the month) and Utrecht are the kind of club that will cash in.

If he'd have had one more month playing at this level he's likely on the World Cup roster and, given the falloff from MMA so far, I wish he was. IMO he's already been better than LDT ever was in Holland (and I'm a big LDT fan) and has a much higher ceiling as well.

Our starters are well balanced and good at every position but the 9. But IMO, we're not quite deep enough to go far in the World Cup as we are still playing through the lost generation. But we're like the anti-Mexico. We have so many lottery balls that they get forgotten about til they suddenly emerge. Guys like Booth, Trusty, Tolkin, and Mihailovic are going to fill out our roster shortly. And in 2 years Gianluca Busio or Konrad de la Fuente or Matthew Hoppe - guys that have completely fallen off the radar but are still quite young - are going to emerge after they've been left for dead.

 

[encaitar]

Hard to judge him playing in the Eredivisie, but at least you'll be able to pick Taylor Booth out of a lineup now.

a fair amount of the team that is favored to beat us is either in or was developed in the Eredivisie so its probably a decent comparison.

He a different kind of mid than we have but he has special talent. I think he got buried at Bayern but he'll be back in a big five league in short order. He definitely passes the eye test and Utrecht are surging since he entered the starting lineup. He's garnering attention (to whit, player of the month) and Utrecht are the kind of club that will cash in.

If he'd have had one more month playing at this level he's likely on the World Cup roster and, given the falloff from MMA so far, I wish he was. IMO he's already been better than LDT ever was in Holland (and I'm a big LDT fan) and has a much higher ceiling as well.

Our starters are well balanced and good at every position but the 9. But IMO, we're not quite deep enough to go far in the World Cup as we are still playing through the lost generation. But we're like the anti-Mexico. We have so many lottery balls that they get forgotten about til they suddenly emerge. Guys like Booth, Trusty, Tolkin, and Mihailovic are going to fill out our roster shortly. And in 2 years Gianluca Busio or Konrad de la Fuente or Matthew Hoppe - guys that have completely fallen off the radar but are still quite young - are going to emerge after they've been left for dead.

It's not just depth. We are missing those 1 or 2 truly world class players that all of the top 5 teams have. We have a couple potentials in that area(specifically Adams, Reyna, and Musah IMO), but we need a few guys to develop to their potential. Booth has world class potential if he can reach his ceiling, so I love seeing him start to kick on.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Per Goff...

US Coach Gregg Berhalter says Christian Pulisic will train today and it “looks good” for him to play Saturday. #usmnt   

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Louis van Gaal on Berhalter: “What I observe is a vision, what I see is a team that is keen to execute that vision, which is of the utmost importance. And I see the conviction, especially the conviction of the players. So that for a coach must be fantastic.”

 

[prefontaine]

Hard to judge him playing in the Eredivisie, but at least you'll be able to pick Taylor Booth out of a lineup now.

a fair amount of the team that is favored to beat us is either in or was developed in the Eredivisie so its probably a decent comparison.

He a different kind of mid than we have but he has special talent. I think he got buried at Bayern but he'll be back in a big five league in short order. He definitely passes the eye test and Utrecht are surging since he entered the starting lineup. He's garnering attention (to whit, player of the month) and Utrecht are the kind of club that will cash in.

If he'd have had one more month playing at this level he's likely on the World Cup roster and, given the falloff from MMA so far, I wish he was. IMO he's already been better than LDT ever was in Holland (and I'm a big LDT fan) and has a much higher ceiling as well.

Our starters are well balanced and good at every position but the 9. But IMO, we're not quite deep enough to go far in the World Cup as we are still playing through the lost generation. But we're like the anti-Mexico. We have so many lottery balls that they get forgotten about til they suddenly emerge. Guys like Booth, Trusty, Tolkin, and Mihailovic are going to fill out our roster shortly. And in 2 years Gianluca Busio or Konrad de la Fuente or Matthew Hoppe - guys that have completely fallen off the radar but are still quite young - are going to emerge after they've been left for dead.

It's not just depth. We are missing those 1 or 2 truly world class players that all of the top 5 teams have. We have a couple potentials in that area(specifically Adams, Reyna, and Musah IMO), but we need a few guys to develop to their potential. Booth has world class potential if he can reach his ceiling, so I love seeing him start to kick on.

That's a good point but I think we have more than you think that could. Sometimes when guys have been around a bit or are already at big clubs we forget they can still grow significantly.

CCV is 24 and playing well at Celtic. At 24, Vincent Van Dijk was 24 and playing at Celtic. He joined Liverpool midyear at 26 for $85m and was considered the best defender in the world. But in between he went to Southampton for $16m.

Christian Pulisic is 24 and has been relegated to squad player for Chelsea. Mo Salah washed out at Chelsea at 24 without playing for them and spending a few years out on loan.

KDB, Gakpo, Mane, Raphina, etc. There are plenty of world class players that don't break out until 21-25. I don't know what the development looks like for some of our guys but we definitely have a lot of lotto balls that still have time to kick on from here (from McKennie to Dest to Pepi to even dare I say, Turner).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Per Goff...

US Coach Gregg Berhalter says Christian Pulisic will train today and it “looks good” for him to play Saturday. #usmnt   

Doug McIntyre
https://twitter.com/ByDougMcIntyre
@ByDougMcIntyre

Berhalter says he’s less hopeful that Josh Sargent (ankle) will be able to go.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Team is less optimistic about Sargent.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ives Galarcep

@SoccerByIves

Van Gaal had a good chuckle when I noted that Berhalter gets his share of criticism despite good results, he gave the “Yeah, I know what that’s like” face

 

[NewlyRetired]

Obviously the positive Pulisic news is more important than the negative Sargent news but I don't want to see Haji lightly jogging again on Saturday.

Do we have any hope that GGG might out of the blue try something different with Weah at the 9 or with Gio as a false 9?

 

[ChiefD]

Obviously the positive Pulisic news is more important than the negative Sargent news but I don't want to see Haji lightly jogging again on Saturday.

Do we have any hope that GGG might out of the blue try something different with Weah at the 9 or with Gio as a false 9?

If there was ever a time to deploy it it's now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Jeff Carlisle
@JeffreyCarlisle

Berhalter about flu-like symptoms hitting Dutch team. "We had it also, I don't know the players, you guys didn't have it right?" Adams: "I'm good." Berhalter: "Almost every staff member had it. It was the 1st week or 2, really, really bad, but now...things are good"

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Very good article on the difference between the "Score Tied US" and the "We're Winning US" teams.

Also, note the tactical switch of McKennie to the left side vs Iran. Meant CP didn't have as much space or reason to drop into the midfield -- pushing him higher -- and with the more defensive Musah on the right Dest was freed up to bomb forward more often. Given how balanced and dangerous the team looked (while the game was tied, read the whole thing) I can't see any reason not to stick with that.

 

[BassNBrew]

Here are all the FIFA "ground covered" stats through the first two games.

Adams, Musah, Pulisic and Jedi show up in the various categories you would expect given how much work they have put in.

https://i.redd.it/acuh7jx8f43a1.jpg

I joked about lazy Messi because he’s always walking but dang that’s a lot of k’s to rack up walking.

So what does CP have to do to get respect across the board? Dude sure is leaving it all out on the field