US Men's National Team (7 Viewers)

[gianmarco]

As I recall, Weah had to track back a bunch to provide some defense on that side. Likely because Canada was trying to key on it and beat Scally and Aaronson with Davies.

Most national teams struggle to get their players to perform at their equivalent club levels.

We are in such a unique spot right now because so many of our players are out performing their club levels.

Weah is just one example of many.

This speaks more to how rough things have been at the clubs than anything else.

hoping this next season brings more consistency from our bigger players at the club level. they need to play.

but I do think Weah is a guy who was one of the best players over these two games- and some of that defensive work he's been forced into for club seems to have helped his game in that regard. he really was all over providing cover while still getting forward. that kind of work could really open up some tactical formations... if GGG goes that route.

oh! btw- don't remember anybody commenting. but after Taj shoved Aaronson on his way off the field getting subbed... I loved CP giving him a shoulder on a subsequent play. not a stupid Dest card level thing, but enough to send a message not to **** with our players.

And how is that not a card for Taj?

Time wasting is a bigger transgression than a shove in the back?

unless it's the GK holding the ball for 30 seconds after flopping on it for another 15. (actually liked Turner's game management in the 2nd half doing this).

I hate when a keeper catches a ball with no one around then lies down to waste time. They want to speed up the game or get more actual game play then stop letting them do this (among other things)

Honestly, they don't need to stop it at all. They just need to start the 6 second (or what ever it is) clock instantly when he catches the ball. if he wants to waste the time on the ground that is his choice. But refs allow like ten seconds to run off while the keeper lounges on the ground, and gets back up before they seem to start the imaginary timer.

The refs have almost all the tools needed to prevent time wasting but they are never enforced. I thought the sport took a huge step forward when the WC used accurate timing for injury time but all the leagues ignored it and we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

I think the issue is 6 seconds is so quick. I wish they'd:

1. Change it to 10 or 12 seconds, so that they
2. Actually enforce the time a GK has to get rid of the ball.
3. Card any opposing player that runs with the keeper in an attempt to block when he's holding the ball

 

[NewlyRetired]

A good troll

========

USMNT Only

@usmntonly


Folarin Balogun already has won more international trophies (1) than England's whole team (0).

 

[B Maverick]

Honestly, they don't need to stop it at all. They just need to start the 6 second (or what ever it is) clock instantly when he catches the ball. if he wants to waste the time on the ground that is his choice. But refs allow like ten seconds to run off while the keeper lounges on the ground, and gets back up before they seem to start the imaginary timer.

The refs have almost all the tools needed to prevent time wasting but they are never enforced. I thought the sport took a huge step forward when the WC used accurate timing for injury time but all the leagues ignored it and we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To me that would be stopping it. Semantics aside, I agree with you. Enforce the time a keeper is allowed. Enforce the time you have to throw in or take a goal kick.
Stop letting the players walk up 20 yards before throwing it.

So many things they can do to add action time. (And yes this is a rant about not moving to a 60 min stopping clock).

 

[The Z Machine]

we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To be fair, the refs in the MEX-USA game added 12 minutes, but the main guy called it after the puto-birds came out again.

 

[El Floppo]

Honestly, they don't need to stop it at all. They just need to start the 6 second (or what ever it is) clock instantly when he catches the ball. if he wants to waste the time on the ground that is his choice. But refs allow like ten seconds to run off while the keeper lounges on the ground, and gets back up before they seem to start the imaginary timer.

The refs have almost all the tools needed to prevent time wasting but they are never enforced. I thought the sport took a huge step forward when the WC used accurate timing for injury time but all the leagues ignored it and we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To me that would be stopping it. Semantics aside, I agree with you. Enforce the time a keeper is allowed. Enforce the time you have to throw in or take a goal kick.
Stop letting the players walk up 20 yards before throwing it.

So many things they can do to add action time. (And yes this is a rant about not moving to a 60 min stopping clock).

yeah, this does sound the same to me.

just enforce what's already in the books. it's easy. the ref should do an obvious countdown like in basketball to progress the ball over midcourt or for when a boxer gets knocked down... starting from when the GK gets control of the ball. they catch it... 6 or 10 or whatever seconds starts, whether they lay down, have a cocktail or otherwise- until the release the ball. just enforce the damn rule.

oh... now I'm forgetting which US GK got concacaffed (Guzan, IIRC) on a freaking handball call because he punted it just outside the box. that's become egregious as well- with GKs very clearly taking the ball a good yard plus out of the box. but I've only seen that one play punished (and it led to a goal for the opposition iirc).

 

[El Floppo]

we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To be fair, the refs in the MEX-USA game added 12 minutes, but the main guy called it after the puto-birds came out again.

there were brawls and Gio's mysterious non-foul head bleeding injury time... really should've been more than 12 minutes. but in a 3-0 game like that?

 

[B Maverick]

oh... now I'm forgetting which US GK got concacaffed (Guzan, IIRC) on a freaking handball call because he punted it just outside the box. that's become egregious as well- with GKs very clearly taking the ball a good yard plus out of the box. but I've only seen that one play punished (and it led to a goal for the opposition iirc).

That made me laugh when it happened, because things like that just happen to Guzan. But yeah they are really pushing that line when they go for a punt or a kick.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Honestly, they don't need to stop it at all. They just need to start the 6 second (or what ever it is) clock instantly when he catches the ball. if he wants to waste the time on the ground that is his choice. But refs allow like ten seconds to run off while the keeper lounges on the ground, and gets back up before they seem to start the imaginary timer.

The refs have almost all the tools needed to prevent time wasting but they are never enforced. I thought the sport took a huge step forward when the WC used accurate timing for injury time but all the leagues ignored it and we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To me that would be stopping it. Semantics aside, I agree with you. Enforce the time a keeper is allowed. Enforce the time you have to throw in or take a goal kick.
Stop letting the players walk up 20 yards before throwing it.

So many things they can do to add action time. (And yes this is a rant about not moving to a 60 min stopping clock).

yeah, this does sound the same to me.

just enforce what's already in the books. it's easy. the ref should do an obvious countdown like in basketball to progress the ball over midcourt or for when a boxer gets knocked down... starting from when the GK gets control of the ball. they catch it... 6 or 10 or whatever seconds starts, whether they lay down, have a cocktail or otherwise- until the release the ball. just enforce the damn rule.

oh... now I'm forgetting which US GK got concacaffed (Guzan, IIRC) on a freaking handball call because he punted it just outside the box. that's become egregious as well- with GKs very clearly taking the ball a good yard plus out of the box. but I've only seen that one play punished (and it led to a goal for the opposition iirc).

Sometimes I sit around and daydream about being a FIFA ref and over enforcing the rules to punish the douchey floppy time wasters. Like oh you fell on the ball in the box after saving it and then on a stoppage kicked the ball away and passed the ball back and forth 4 times before throwing it in? 45 MINUTES OF EXTRA TIME THIS HALF!!

Oh you flopped in the box for a foul but the guy didn't actually touch you? STRAIGHT RED CARD FOR SIMULATION. GET OFF MY FIELD FLOPPER!

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

The other one is throwing, bouncing, kicking, rolling the ball away after a foul or it goes out of play to the other team.

There was a youth tournament awhile back (5 years? 25 years? no idea) where once the whistle was blown the refs handed out yellow cards if the team now on defense touched the ball. It was glorious. And by the end of the tournament everyone just left it alone.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have been reading a bunch about Mexico this week.

Knowledgeable Mexican fans say the problems at the senior squad are not the biggest issue. It is appears the once solid Mexican development system has stopped producing players and that is why they are looking to Mexican Americans at all age levels to help. Teams at almost every youth age group are struggling when in years past, they not only easily ruled Concacaf, they were amongst the best in the world at multiple age groups.

The Mexican federation appears to be in an even worse state of mess as the US is/was

========

In the past 11 months, and related to just the men's side, Mexico has made the following changes: the firing of general sporting director Gerardo Torrado and sporting director of national teams Ignacio Hierro; the hiring and eventual exit of Jaime Ordiales as sporting director for men's national teams; the exit of men's coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino; the hiring and firing of Ares de Parga as the executive director of national teams; the hiring of Duilio Davino as sporting director of men's national teams; the hiring and firing of Cocca as the new men's coach; the exit of former FMF president Yon de Luisa; and the election of Rodriguez as the new FMF president

 

[El Floppo]

Honestly, they don't need to stop it at all. They just need to start the 6 second (or what ever it is) clock instantly when he catches the ball. if he wants to waste the time on the ground that is his choice. But refs allow like ten seconds to run off while the keeper lounges on the ground, and gets back up before they seem to start the imaginary timer.

The refs have almost all the tools needed to prevent time wasting but they are never enforced. I thought the sport took a huge step forward when the WC used accurate timing for injury time but all the leagues ignored it and we are back to refs tacking on less than half of what has been really wasted.

To me that would be stopping it. Semantics aside, I agree with you. Enforce the time a keeper is allowed. Enforce the time you have to throw in or take a goal kick.
Stop letting the players walk up 20 yards before throwing it.

So many things they can do to add action time. (And yes this is a rant about not moving to a 60 min stopping clock).

yeah, this does sound the same to me.

just enforce what's already in the books. it's easy. the ref should do an obvious countdown like in basketball to progress the ball over midcourt or for when a boxer gets knocked down... starting from when the GK gets control of the ball. they catch it... 6 or 10 or whatever seconds starts, whether they lay down, have a cocktail or otherwise- until the release the ball. just enforce the damn rule.

oh... now I'm forgetting which US GK got concacaffed (Guzan, IIRC) on a freaking handball call because he punted it just outside the box. that's become egregious as well- with GKs very clearly taking the ball a good yard plus out of the box. but I've only seen that one play punished (and it led to a goal for the opposition iirc).

Sometimes I sit around and daydream about being a FIFA ref and over enforcing the rules to punish the douchey floppy time wasters. Like oh you fell on the ball in the box after saving it and then on a stoppage kicked the ball away and passed the ball back and forth 4 times before throwing it in? 45 MINUTES OF EXTRA TIME THIS HALF!!

Oh you flopped in the box for a foul but the guy didn't actually touch you? STRAIGHT RED CARD FOR SIMULATION. GET OFF MY FIELD FLOPPER!

why are you being so mean

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Ouch.

Paul Arriola@PaulArriola
I remember fans tweeting “thank God you got injured.” Man what a great feeling.. you guys are awesome.

MLS Buzz@MLS_Buzz
Remember when Tim Weah only became a USMNT starter when Paul Arriola had to pull out of a starting XI because he injured himself in warmups?

 

[prefontaine]

I have never been a Roldan hater but he has had 32 caps and at his age he is not going to get any better. He does not solve any problems we have in the roster. It feels like a wasted spot and any minutes he get will be wasted as well in terms of learning for the main squad.

Who's not in the squad that would help us win the Gold Cup in his place?

Well I guess that is where I differ in thought process. I don’t think we should be rostering a B team with a focus entirely on winning. I would focus more on players who might not yet have received a chance.

Yes Roldan may very well be the best choice to help win a Gold Cup but I don’t understand how that helps the future of the main squad.

We know GGG wants players to get a feel for the team before he plays them. Rostering a player who might be for the future helps get through that process for GGG.

I actually think Roldan is NOT the guy you should be looking at replacing, especially in the midfield. I don't care that much one way or another about him because I do think you need a veteran presence and by all accounts he's a great teammate.

If we had enough prospects, I'd push him out too but the most glaring inclusion to me is Busio. Guy lost his starting job in Serie B. I think several others are bad choices but Busio getting called is fairly ridiculous.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Guy lost his starting job in Serie B. I think several others are bad choices but Busio getting called is fairly ridiculous.

Kind of the same Q though -- who else is out there in the midfield not called up for either comp? You probably have a good handle on it, but I'm struggling to think of anyone. Holmes? Some young kid?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ouch.

Paul Arriola@PaulArriola
I remember fans tweeting “thank God you got injured.” Man what a great feeling.. you guys are awesome.

MLS Buzz@MLS_Buzz
Remember when Tim Weah only became a USMNT starter when Paul Arriola had to pull out of a starting XI because he injured himself in warmups?

I think I have told this story before. I was watching Tactical Managers watch along on youtube for the critical game against Panama in Orlando when Nips scored that awesome header. He was visually upset at the US scoring in an absolute must win game because it was Nips who scored.

The whole bunch of these USMNT twitter and youtube guys looking for clicks are frauds and are the absolute worst kind of "fans" (at least ones that are not violent). They pander to the most ignorant of the fan base because those are the ones they can fool.

 

[prefontaine]

Guy lost his starting job in Serie B. I think several others are bad choices but Busio getting called is fairly ridiculous.

Kind of the same Q though -- who else is out there in the midfield not called up for either comp? You probably have a good handle on it, but I'm struggling to think of anyone. Holmes? Some young kid?

Tessmann isn't there because he is getting married. I think both Tillmans may be hurt. Acosta and Pomykol too. So we can rule them out.

DM - Edelman, Buck. I'm not that high on Edelman but he does a job surprisingly well. Buck is someone that plays incredibly maturely. He's really good and I want to see how that projects.

Mid - Pukstas, McGlynn, Wolff - Pukstas is an athlete that may be on par with MMAR. He'll have to continue to grow but we really need to check his progress because it's hard to tell in Croatia. McGlynn I'm not that high on but I like him better than some called. Wolff is pretty good in a dual pivot for Austin. For some reason he played wing for the U20s and looked lost.

AM - Ledezma, Gutierrez, Tsakiris. Ledezma hasn't sparkled but he shows flashes. I think Guti is going to be in our 2026 roster, I watched Tsakiris play before the U20 WC and thought he was abysmal. Made me wonder why I liked him so much. Pretty average in WC. I watched last weekend and he was electric. I think he just needed to round into form after the long layoff.

There are other players that I think have very high upsides that I wouldn't call just yet -- Cremaschi, Vargas, Perez come to mind.

But this is a list of players that could be in the 2026 reckoning. Only 2-3 at most will be. But I would guess our midfield is filled out from this list (plus Morris and Mahailovic) after MMAR

 

[El Floppo]

Ouch.

Paul Arriola@PaulArriola
I remember fans tweeting “thank God you got injured.” Man what a great feeling.. you guys are awesome.

MLS Buzz@MLS_Buzz
Remember when Tim Weah only became a USMNT starter when Paul Arriola had to pull out of a starting XI because he injured himself in warmups?

I think I have told this story before. I was watching Tactical Managers watch along on youtube for the critical game against Panama in Orlando when Nips scored that awesome header. He was visually upset at the US scoring in an absolute must win game because it was Nips who scored.

The whole bunch of these USMNT twitter and youtube guys looking for clicks are frauds and are the absolute worst kind of "fans" (at least ones that are not violent). They pander to the most ignorant of the fan base because those are the ones they can fool.

I'm so glad I don't bother with any of that stuff.

I just watch the games, and occasionally read a report on ESPN or some other MSM

 

[El Floppo]

Guy lost his starting job in Serie B. I think several others are bad choices but Busio getting called is fairly ridiculous.

Kind of the same Q though -- who else is out there in the midfield not called up for either comp? You probably have a good handle on it, but I'm struggling to think of anyone. Holmes? Some young kid?

Tessmann isn't there because he is getting married. I think both Tillmans may be hurt. Acosta and Pomykol too. So we can rule them out.

DM - Edelman, Buck. I'm not that high on Edelman but he does a job surprisingly well. Buck is someone that plays incredibly maturely. He's really good and I want to see how that projects.

Mid - Pukstas, McGlynn, Wolff - Pukstas is an athlete that may be on par with MMAR. He'll have to continue to grow but we really need to check his progress because it's hard to tell in Croatia. McGlynn I'm not that high on but I like him better than some called. Wolff is pretty good in a dual pivot for Austin. For some reason he played wing for the U20s and looked lost.

AM - Ledezma, Gutierrez, Tsakiris. Ledezma hasn't sparkled but he shows flashes. I think Guti is going to be in our 2026 roster, I watched Tsakiris play before the U20 WC and thought he was abysmal. Made me wonder why I liked him so much. Pretty average in WC. I watched last weekend and he was electric. I think he just needed to round into form after the long layoff.

There are other players that I think have very high upsides that I wouldn't call just yet -- Cremaschi, Vargas, Perez come to mind.

But this is a list of players that could be in the 2026 reckoning. Only 2-3 at most will be. But I would guess our midfield is filled out from this list (plus Morris and Mahailovic) after MMAR

MMAR?... we've added Reyna to MMA? just making sure there isn't some kid with 4 names I'm missing.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This Jamaican Gold Cup team is no joke, in fact it may be the best team Jamaica has assembled in a long time

For example, they could start a forward line consisting of Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray

Looking at their roster, on paper they are going to be easily favored over the US in the group stage. I think they are bringing 7 or 8 EPL level players (the 8th would be a player from Luton who was just promoted). The rest of the roster is solid MLS and Championship type players with others sprinkled in.

 

[The Z Machine]

Looking at their roster, on paper they are going to be easily favored over the US in the group stage. I think they are bringing 7 or 8 EPL level players (the 8th would be a player from Luton who was just promoted). The rest of the roster is solid MLS and Championship type players with others sprinkled in.

Interesting. Worth keeping an eye on them. Let's see if they can pull it together for WCQ, which will be interesting for the non CAN-USA-MEX teams in CONCACAF. This Gold Cup will be a good test for JAM.

 

[NewlyRetired]

=====

Moments after Folarin Balogun emerged from it Sunday night, he was asked whether anything about his first two weeks with the USMNT had surprised him. After a pause to ponder and reflect, the answer came: “The thing that surprised me the most was just the actual talent on this group.”

He’d already connected with players on a recruiting visit to Orlando in March; so to some extent, after committing to the U.S. over England, he knew what he was walking into. But he was still blown away by the team’s collective youth.

“Sometimes, when I'm asking the boys, and they tell me they're 20, I can't believe it,” Balogun said Sunday. “I think there's so many players who will go on to have top careers.”

 

[NewlyRetired]

Looks like Luca may be getting a new coach this season. Rafa Benitez is said to be close to becoming Celta's head coach.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I didn't know I needed to see Weston McKennie fill the Nation's League trophy with Cane's sauce and dunk a chicken strip, but here we are. Take notes Chiellini,

 

[The Z Machine]

I just looked up futures bets for 2023 Gold Cup and I didn't see any listed on the Caesars Sportsbook app.

 

[McBokonon]

Bayern paid $1M to Rangers and will give them 10% of any future deal as compensation to cancel their option to buy Tillman. I guess they either want to keep him or he’s in demand and they think they can get a lot more for him then whatever they would have received from Rangers.

 

[El Floppo]

Bayern paid $1M to Rangers and will give them 10% of any future deal as compensation to cancel their option to buy Tillman. I guess they either want to keep him or he’s in demand and they think they can get a lot more for him then whatever they would have received from Rangers.

add him to the ever growing list of players without a team.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

All of the out of contract players go play for Wrexham IMO.

 

[NewlyRetired]

All of the out of contract players go play for Wrexham IMO.

I think every player who needs to move is actually under contract already. I don't think any of Pepi, Balogun, Pulisic, Adams, Tillman, Weston, Dest etc etc are free agents this summer, all will need to be sold (or released out right, but I doubt that since all have decent value on the market).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Bayern paid $1M to Rangers and will give them 10% of any future deal as compensation to cancel their option to buy Tillman. I guess they either want to keep him or he’s in demand and they think they can get a lot more for him then whatever they would have received from Rangers.

add him to the ever growing list of players without a team.

Lets hope it is mid tableish Bundie team....that would be a nice building block for him.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I was just checking in with how JK is doing as coach of South Korea. It appears to be a rough start.

He has coached in 4 games, all at home. 0 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

After the 1-1 draw vs ELS today, he said he is likely to move Son to a #8 role... (that seems odd)

 

[NewlyRetired]

With the Tilman loan/buy deal, I assume that was for a set price that Rangers could buy at (I assume set at the time of the initial loan) ??

 

[Charlie Steiner]

I was just checking in with how JK is doing as coach of South Korea. It appears to be a rough start.

He has coached in 4 games, all at home. 0 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

After the 1-1 draw vs ELS today, he said he is likely to move Son to a #8 role... (that seems odd)

Wasn't putting players in positions they don't normally play one of the complaints against him when he was here?

 

[McBokonon]

With the Tilman loan/buy deal, I assume that was for a set price that Rangers could buy at (I assume set at the time of the initial loan) ??

Yep. I think I read that it was $5M but Bayern activated the cancellation clause.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I just looked up futures bets for 2023 Gold Cup and I didn't see any listed on the Caesars Sportsbook app.

Fanduel has:

Moneyline: USA: (-160) | JAM: (+370) | Draw (+280)
Spread: USA: -1 (+210) | JAM: +1 (+105)
Total: 2.5 – Over: (-116) | Under: (-122)
Team to Score the First Goal: USA: (-185) | JAM: (+175) I NO GOALS: (+1000)

Draftkings has

USA: (-145) | JAM: (+350) | Draw (+320)

Lots of variance. Could be an opportunity here for you degenerates.

One site I saw had Mexico favored to win outright, US second

 

[NewlyRetired]

I was just checking in with how JK is doing as coach of South Korea. It appears to be a rough start.

He has coached in 4 games, all at home. 0 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

After the 1-1 draw vs ELS today, he said he is likely to move Son to a #8 role... (that seems odd)

Wasn't putting players in positions they don't normally play one of the complaints against him when he was here?

The biggest complaint he has had at every stop is that he does not really understand any of the tactical side of the game as a coach. He usually has to hire some one who understands that side of the game, and unfortunately, that person is usually the first scape goat when things go bad. I have no idea how things are set up in SK though.

He is a good speaker and a strong motivator. His motivation style is the classic German style of pitting teammates against each other in the hopes to foster strong competition for spots. You may have often heard him say things like "kick the guy in front of you out"

You have probably heard about some of our players who went to Germany early talk about how cut throat every thing is and having a friend as a teammate is very difficult when you are trying to break through. This caused Donovan to give up and come home and when Pulisic wanted to do the same, the Pulisic family made the massive sacrifice to split up so that the dad could live with Christian in Germany when he was young to give him some support.

Germany has been a long time success so it is hard to complain with how that works for them but looking at our current core of players and how they interact with each other, it would have been an interesting sociological experiment to see what would have happened if they were pitted against one another instead of bonding as teammates.

 

[NewlyRetired]

With the Tilman loan/buy deal, I assume that was for a set price that Rangers could buy at (I assume set at the time of the initial loan) ??

Yep. I think I read that it was $5M but Bayern activated the cancellation clause.

so we can do some basic math here with this info....

Bayern was guaranteed $5m if they wanted it. Instead they gave $1m plus 10%.

That means they think they can sell for at least $6.7m, which is where they will start to make some money on the deal.

 

[NewlyRetired]

does anyone know what happened to Sam Vines? I know he broke his leg which caused him to miss the WC.

When googling I found an article from February that said he was coming back to training but I can't find any evidenced that he ever played in a game after that...

 

[SwampDawg]

I'm late to the review party but those are the best two back to back games I have seen the USMNT play since I started following them in 2016. By far we were the better team in both games technically and talent wise and controlled the games completely. Outside a short spell in the second half against Canada I never even felt like we were threatened to be scored upon. For what it is worth Canada reminds me of us 5 or 6 years ago. Davies like Pulisic is a world class talent and they have some other very good players but the lack the depth and maybe the experience to win the big game.

Players that stood out:

Balo - wow what a debut, from finding out what the US vs Mexico is all about to a true striker goal against Canada. If this is a sign of things to come we have found our #9. Opened up so much space for CP.

Musah - I thought he did an excellent job filling in at the #6 with Adams out. It's not a like for like switch but I'd probably rather have him at the #6 and McKennie and Reyna upfront then slotting someone else there.

Reyna - Totally dynamic on the ball when he was on the pitch. Looked very engaged both on offense and when needed on defense. Can only hope he is ready to move on beyond the Berhalter stuff because if we have this Gio in important games we are so much more dangerous.

Pulisic - looked like a man revitalized out there. Balo created some space for him and he took advantage. Totally schooled the Mexican RB over and over and over. If that weekend didn't help his transfer chances I'm not sure what will. Captain America is back.

Jedi - On Thursday I thought he was ok but had a few shaky moments but against Canada I thought he was excellent, Came flying in to help clear dangerous balls more then a few times.

Dest/Scally - Our RB's put in some great performances. Against Mexico Dest was another guy playing like he needed to improve his transfer chances and other then the stupid red card he did. Great getting forward, great dribble and touches and did what he needed to defensively. Sunday while Scally may not have been perfect and needed some help he also had the toughest assignment against Davies and for the most part they kept him in check and hey we shut them out so you can't ask for much more defensively.

And honestly I'm not sure there is anyone who played substantial, meaningful minutes that I would say didn't play well. Just thrilled at the overall effort.

 

[The Z Machine]

I just looked up futures bets for 2023 Gold Cup and I didn't see any listed on the Caesars Sportsbook app.

Fanduel has:

Moneyline: USA: (-160) | JAM: (+370) | Draw (+280)
Spread: USA: -1 (+210) | JAM: +1 (+105)
Total: 2.5 – Over: (-116) | Under: (-122)
Team to Score the First Goal: USA: (-185) | JAM: (+175) I NO GOALS: (+1000)

Draftkings has

USA: (-145) | JAM: (+350) | Draw (+320)

Lots of variance. Could be an opportunity here for you degenerates.

One site I saw had Mexico favored to win outright, US second

I'm kinda digging the future bet on JAM to win it all.

 

[ChiefD]

BetMGM has for Saturday

US win: -145
Draw: +280
Jam win: +350

I might be all over that Jamaica to win number.

 

[gianmarco]

I'm late to the review party but those are the best two back to back games I have seen the USMNT play since I started following them in 2016. By far we were the better team in both games technically and talent wise and controlled the games completely. Outside a short spell in the second half against Canada I never even felt like we were threatened to be scored upon. For what it is worth Canada reminds me of us 5 or 6 years ago. Davies like Pulisic is a world class talent and they have some other very good players but the lack the depth and maybe the experience to win the big game.

Players that stood out:

Balo - wow what a debut, from finding out what the US vs Mexico is all about to a true striker goal against Canada. If this is a sign of things to come we have found our #9. Opened up so much space for CP.

Musah - I thought he did an excellent job filling in at the #6 with Adams out. It's not a like for like switch but I'd probably rather have him at the #6 and McKennie and Reyna upfront then slotting someone else there.

Reyna - Totally dynamic on the ball when he was on the pitch. Looked very engaged both on offense and when needed on defense. Can only hope he is ready to move on beyond the Berhalter stuff because if we have this Gio in important games we are so much more dangerous.

Pulisic - looked like a man revitalized out there. Balo created some space for him and he took advantage. Totally schooled the Mexican RB over and over and over. If that weekend didn't help his transfer chances I'm not sure what will. Captain America is back.

Jedi - On Thursday I thought he was ok but had a few shaky moments but against Canada I thought he was excellent, Came flying in to help clear dangerous balls more then a few times.

Dest/Scally - Our RB's put in some great performances. Against Mexico Dest was another guy playing like he needed to improve his transfer chances and other then the stupid red card he did. Great getting forward, great dribble and touches and did what he needed to defensively. Sunday while Scally may not have been perfect and needed some help he also had the toughest assignment against Davies and for the most part they kept him in check and hey we shut them out so you can't ask for much more defensively.

And honestly I'm not sure there is anyone who played substantial, meaningful minutes that I would say didn't play well. Just thrilled at the overall effort.

I could have written this myself. Agree with all of it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The first two US group stage games will be on FS1 and the 3rd game will be on Fox.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

The first two US group stage games will be on FS1 and the 3rd game will be on Fox.

Yay, not Paramount Plus!

 

[TripItUp]

The first two US group stage games will be on FS1 and the 3rd game will be on Fox.

Weird we have to celebrate this, but here we are.

 

[TripItUp]

I'm late to the review party but those are the best two back to back games I have seen the USMNT play since I started following them in 2016.

Best part is Berhalter gets zero credit

If it wasn't already blatantly clear, the talent has been carrying Berhalter.

It was hard listening to the "CONCACAF is hard" BS when we were the superior side in qualifying.(even with Berhalter blowing player evaluation and rostering the wrong players)

The USMNT is winning despite Berhalter, not because of him.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Best part is Berhalter gets zero credit

“If you can see, today is a testament of the work that Berhalter’s put into this team. And B.J. Callaghan picked up right where he left off, and it’s a testament to Berhalter and testament to this team the way that we just continued and put on performances like that. So if that’s not enough evidence, then that’s all right. People are gonna hate no matter what,” Pulisic said.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

The US was 6-1-0 at home in WCQ.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The first two US group stage games will be on FS1 and the 3rd game will be on Fox.

Yay, not Paramount Plus!

I like Stone and Strong but can do without Stu Holden in the booth and Alexi in the studio. I've come to enjoy Abdo, Duece, Mo and Charlie Davies, especially when they bring in guests like Tenario and some players. Honestly I think Paramount + is the best coverage out there for USMNT.

 

[B Maverick]

The first two US group stage games will be on FS1 and the 3rd game will be on Fox.

Yay, not Paramount Plus!

I like Stone and Strong but can do without Stu Holden in the booth and Alexi in the studio. I've come to enjoy Abdo, Duece, Mo and Charlie Davies, especially when they bring in guests like Tenario and some players. Honestly I think Paramount + is the best coverage out there for USMNT.

Stu, Like Twellman, are decent analysts for call in shows and that nature. Neither should really be part of the in game broadcast.

And the last two games really soured me on Davies. Kate Abdo is great, Deuce wasn't bad. Love their CL studio show with Abdo, Henry, Carragher and Micah Richards (although he just seems to be there to be made fun of). Carragher is not bad when he isn't talking Liverpool or United. The bias comes out when he is.

 

[gianmarco]

Best part is Berhalter gets zero credit

“If you can see, today is a testament of the work that Berhalter’s put into this team. And B.J. Callaghan picked up right where he left off, and it’s a testament to Berhalter and testament to this team the way that we just continued and put on performances like that. So if that’s not enough evidence, then that’s all right. People are gonna hate no matter what,” Pulisic said.

The US was 6-1-0 at home in WCQ.

And the addition of Balogun had nothing to do with it either I suppose.