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US Men's National Team (34 Viewers)
- Thread starter Premier
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Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Can’t follow the offside runner to give Jonathan ****ing David space in the box. Cmon McKenzie.
El Floppo
Footballguy
She let a few heavy challenges go relatively unscathed early... Johnston shoulder/elbow barging through Ag, Ag barging through Davies (who was hurt on the play), and another I've forgotten. But settled into the game, so no worries
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
Poch has lost the team…
El Floppo
Footballguy
Still in halftime here..
It's just not good. I really don't know what it is the US is trying to do here in either side of the ball. No CP. The CBs look outmatched. The spacing between them and the MF is off. I guess they look a little more committed.. just not clear to what
It's just not good. I really don't know what it is the US is trying to do here in either side of the ball. No CP. The CBs look outmatched. The spacing between them and the MF is off. I guess they look a little more committed.. just not clear to what
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
If the US became the 11th Canadian Province, how many of the current USMNT roster would make the squad?
Side note - I think Luna has looked good tonight.
ETA - Weah too
Side note - I think Luna has looked good tonight.
ETA - Weah too
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
To be fair it was a weak free kick…
BlackCrowes
Footballguy
Terrible performance
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
Widely expected to be a two-team finals, and the US finishes 4th…
Not a good look for Poch and the players.
Not a good look for Poch and the players.
togo
Footballguy
Losing to the #31 and #36 world ranked teams the way they played was a disgrace and pathetic and is taking huge steps backwards.
Where does the US go from here??
And losing on home turf.
And playing boring and unimaginative soccer.
Someone help make some sense to all this.
Where does the US go from here??
And losing on home turf.
And playing boring and unimaginative soccer.
Someone help make some sense to all this.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
I don't mind them losing to lower ranked teams... I do mind them not looking like they had any ideas how to win either of these games.
And the team shape has looked really disjointed. No cohesion between the lines on either side of the ball. Very few seconds balls won. And still sloppy and slow.
It's been a really bad 2 game stretch here for what's supposed to be the WC squad in preparation for the WC.
The other 3 teams have looked like they have a clear identity and sense of what their game plans are. The US look clearer with the B/C side.
Where to go from here? Maybe pay a bunch of people to show up for your games. Then hope somebody produces some magic to get a goal.
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Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Berhalter is available to pick up the pieces, so the team can resume its overacheivment.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
No trolling or schtick... the team absolutely fell apart when Berhalter left. It's shocking how bad the team is. It's like the Dest and Weah red cards opened up an alternate universe where 1990-2022 never happened.
There's not a single topic title with Poch's name in it on the front USMNT page at Reddit. He's foreign, so you just know he's good.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
I've just seen that the cheapest ticket for the game today was $110. Idiots.
encaitar
Footballguy
Ugh. That's about what I feel about the game.
I did think Arfsten did well at LB and deserves some more looks, at least as a Jedi backup.
I liked Luna when he got the ball in space. Didn't think we did a good enough job getting it to him in dangerous areas. Great assist.
Pulisic doesn't work centrally with this team. We need Puli left, Weah right, and either Gio or Luna in the center with their playmaking ability. I don't know why Poch is overthinking this.
Ag had a nice goal and was decent in the air, but his hold up play needs work. I don't think he'll be taking a striker spot when everyone is healthy.
McKenzie was very poor. Both goals were well taken by Canada, but I felt he could've done better on both. I don't know where we look defensively right now... just not liking any of the pairings lately.
Everyone else was meh... Felt like Canada had the better chances and felt like we lacked a little passion at times again today. Not enjoying seeing that.
I did think Arfsten did well at LB and deserves some more looks, at least as a Jedi backup.
I liked Luna when he got the ball in space. Didn't think we did a good enough job getting it to him in dangerous areas. Great assist.
Pulisic doesn't work centrally with this team. We need Puli left, Weah right, and either Gio or Luna in the center with their playmaking ability. I don't know why Poch is overthinking this.
Ag had a nice goal and was decent in the air, but his hold up play needs work. I don't think he'll be taking a striker spot when everyone is healthy.
McKenzie was very poor. Both goals were well taken by Canada, but I felt he could've done better on both. I don't know where we look defensively right now... just not liking any of the pairings lately.
Everyone else was meh... Felt like Canada had the better chances and felt like we lacked a little passion at times again today. Not enjoying seeing that.
encaitar
Footballguy
"It's a beautiful sunny 70 degree afternoon here in LA.... you know what, I'll go take out a second mortgage to sit inside and watch an uninspired USMNT try to win a bronze medal." said no one. Ever.
Thanks @TripItUp If you hadn't run off GGG we might be able to win an occasional game. If Poch had done this in Mexico he would be fired tomorrow.
3 years where we at least maintained possession and looked look a soccer team at least int he back 2/3's of the field. Anyone think this team plays England to a draw? Remember win we used to win titles of Mexico? Or at least used to lose to Mexico in title games?
3 years where we at least maintained possession and looked look a soccer team at least int he back 2/3's of the field. Anyone think this team plays England to a draw? Remember win we used to win titles of Mexico? Or at least used to lose to Mexico in title games?
encaitar
Footballguy
Two poor games where we are missing 3 starters and are playing our 4th and 5th strikers(at best) while trying to figure out how to handle an aging defense isn't the time to start this IMO.
You can pretend GGG was some amazing tactician if you want, but that's revisionist history. We barely beat Iraq, who would also get beaten by either of these two teams(hell, Canada would rail them IMO), barely tied Wales, who aren't any better than the two teams we just lost to, and hold onto tying a completely uninspired English team that tried to attack all of what... 3 times all game?
GGG wasn't as bad as many said he was, but he also wasn't going to bring the USMNT to any huge tourney wins either. Poch may have been the wrong choice, but evaluating him after he's had two poor weeks without ever having the US's full arsenal is a bit early. I hope he's up for this challenge though, because changing coaches a year out doesn't inspire confidence in me.
El Floppo
Footballguy
After about 6 of them, they went into phase 1... Ignore it.
Now a 90th min PK on clear handball by PAN.
Raul converts to wrap this up.
At least one concacaf star showed up this cup.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Do you have a sense of what Poch is trying to do with this team if he can't get an inverted FB in play?
I mean- the US had a great game with him in charge, Jedi all over the place. But in these two games I have no idea what they were trying to do. I don't know that GGGs system was set up to get the US too many goals, but there was a system.
His tactics sucked but at least the players passed the ball around the back 2/3's like they had some skill. I'm sure the players had a lot to do with it, but we transformed from turtle and boot it to a fast forward on a counter to a real soccer team. This seems like a step backwards to me.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
encaitar
Footballguy
No. I don't think there's a plan B... or at least these two games made it look like there wasn't. However, I think the inverted fullback works with either Jedi OR Dest, so as long as we're not in this situation where both are hurt at the same time again, then maybe it doesn't matter.
I do know Chelsea struggled for half a year learning Poch's system with a group of young kids, but looked much better last spring and were turning it on. I was surprised he was let go given their development. I'm hoping that maybe he just needs more time? Maybe the 3 weeks we'll be together this summer will help to start meshing the team into what he envisions? I don't know. Like I said earlier, finding a new coach at this point in time seems pointless. Gotta hope for the best.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Missing Dest and Jedi really hurt this team, even more than Adams being out for a long while. The players simply aren't as talented as we think they are.
gianmarco
Footballguy
1. It's 2 games. And the game today not particularly meaningful.
2. We are still missing some key players
3. It's still early and this is new for Poch, both how to implement his system and for the players to do it.
4. It's late in the season and fatigue is certainly setting in, especially for Pulisic and Weston who have been playing a lot of minutes.
5. Turner just hasn't been good. Yes, we need to score, but his inability to stop the 1 shot for Panama shows we need to address a key position.
I would have liked to see better these past few days, but I'm not "concerned" just because of these 2 games.
Maybe this will help temper expectations and light a little fire and we can learn and improve. I'm still optimistic and I still think we are in a MUCH better position with Poch. And even if we aren't, I KNOW we had limited upside with GGG for 2026 WC so I don't care if we end up finding out we downgraded (even though I highly doubt it). At least the money and attempt was made to take the next step.
2. We are still missing some key players
3. It's still early and this is new for Poch, both how to implement his system and for the players to do it.
4. It's late in the season and fatigue is certainly setting in, especially for Pulisic and Weston who have been playing a lot of minutes.
5. Turner just hasn't been good. Yes, we need to score, but his inability to stop the 1 shot for Panama shows we need to address a key position.
I would have liked to see better these past few days, but I'm not "concerned" just because of these 2 games.
Maybe this will help temper expectations and light a little fire and we can learn and improve. I'm still optimistic and I still think we are in a MUCH better position with Poch. And even if we aren't, I KNOW we had limited upside with GGG for 2026 WC so I don't care if we end up finding out we downgraded (even though I highly doubt it). At least the money and attempt was made to take the next step.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The attendance was listed at 68,212.
As long as Mexican fans keep buying tickets, the prices are going to keep going up.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
We all noted that having good offensive full backs was critical to Poch’s system and it’s clear we have no depth here on the offensive side of the ball from those spots.
Which makes the Gold Cup critical. If we have an embarrassment on the field with Jedi and Dest in the lineup……..oh boy….
Which makes the Gold Cup critical. If we have an embarrassment on the field with Jedi and Dest in the lineup……..oh boy….
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Two things I hope Poch can get away from for the Gold Cup.
Forcing Musah into being a wide player and forcing Pulisic into being a central player.
We simply can’t have the best player on the team be so easily taken out of the game in the middle.
Forcing Musah into being a wide player and forcing Pulisic into being a central player.
We simply can’t have the best player on the team be so easily taken out of the game in the middle.
Weah at right back would have been able to fill that role
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
If we don’t get knocked out early, Poch should get more than 4 weeks with the team this summer.
The first friendly against Turkey is June 7. I figure the team will start practicing together in early June. The Gold Cup Final is July 6.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This is true. Weah was the only player who I thought came to play and was fairly effective for both games this tournament. Adams would have been another but his effect on the games were not quite as evident, mostly due to having very little to do against Panama.
Not picking Zendejas, who is in form, seemed to limit Poch’s wing choices, in part because of how he played Pulisic.
I was happy with Luna even though I thought he and Pulisic should have been flipped.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
So thinking about the guys missing and the possible impact in June:
* Jedi and Dest speak for themselves. Things are either going to look better or the team’s current make up/set up may be worse than we feared
* Trusty. Poch can’t seem to find a CB combo he likes. Maybe having Trusty partner with CCV as they do at club level will give him another option
* Striker - while I don’t think either Argy or Sargent played poorly, I don’t think either of them played well enough that Poch won’t be looking for upgrades. I don’t expect Pepi will be ready for the Gold Cup but I am expecting Balogun to be there. What form he will be in is another question
* The Conundrum duo: Tillman and Johnny. Two guys who perform at a high level both in league and in European competition but neither comes close to that quality, at least so far, for the US.
* Steffen: If he keeps his league form, I really think he needs to be given one more chance. Poch needs to find lightning in a bottle some where and keeper is the best chance at that due to the variance of the position
* Jedi and Dest speak for themselves. Things are either going to look better or the team’s current make up/set up may be worse than we feared
* Trusty. Poch can’t seem to find a CB combo he likes. Maybe having Trusty partner with CCV as they do at club level will give him another option
* Striker - while I don’t think either Argy or Sargent played poorly, I don’t think either of them played well enough that Poch won’t be looking for upgrades. I don’t expect Pepi will be ready for the Gold Cup but I am expecting Balogun to be there. What form he will be in is another question
* The Conundrum duo: Tillman and Johnny. Two guys who perform at a high level both in league and in European competition but neither comes close to that quality, at least so far, for the US.
* Steffen: If he keeps his league form, I really think he needs to be given one more chance. Poch needs to find lightning in a bottle some where and keeper is the best chance at that due to the variance of the position
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The set up against Panama was interesting. It was not an inverted full back as Musah kept to the touchline.
Given the incredible amount of space Musah had (some due to Weston not really being a RW in this set up), it should have created a lot more chances. I don’t think Musah played poorly, but I do think Dest would have created more chances with that same space. Maybe even Weah too as @zoobird pointed out.
I am more concerned about Poch’s usage of players in what ever tactics he wants to employ, than the tactics themselves.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Hey, thanks for this NR. I didn't realize it was a 2:1 package deal -- it's like you can't trust social media. That makes a lot more sense.
Unless you expect the USSF to, you know, do what it can to help the USMNT win games anyhow.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
You won’t find me usually defending US Soccer, but they had no say in this. The Nations League and Gold Cup venues are chosen by Concacaf.
US Soccer is responsible for choosing home qualifier venues
So Fi was chosen in part, as a favor to FIFA, as they wanted an early test of the new grass technology that would be used next summer for the turf stadiums.
