US Men's National Team (54 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

Nice start to the half for the US

 

[NewlyRetired]

But the difference in class between their players and ours is marked.

Real Madrid vs Real Salt Lake does speak volumes

 

[encaitar]

Really wish Arfston would've converted that one. Beautiful flowing play there.

 

[encaitar]

Damn. Arfston not taking his chance here. Could've had a brace today.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh man. So many good chances

 

[TLEF316]

Mcglynn passes up like 4 open guys and then Tillman misses a header my 41 year old *** would have scored. Painful

 

[NewlyRetired]

Tillman headed that in the only spot it could be saved

 

[El Floppo]

Oh Tillman... Whole goal open- hardee to find the GK there than open net, but he did that perfectly

 

[encaitar]

Mcglynn passes up like 4 open guys and then Tillman misses a header my 41 year old *** would have scored. Painful

The buildup this half has been great, but decision making in the box and finishing has been un-ideal.

 

[El Floppo]

They should be just giving the ball to Jack and letting him shoot.

 

[encaitar]

We've looked WAY more dangerous in these 15 minutes this half. Have to assume it's Adams' influence in the middle of the field. Hope we keep it up.

 

[El Floppo]

Game has slowed down a bunch. Hot and humid... Lots of players walking.

Lol damn... jack gives up those megs

 

[El Floppo]

KAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!

 

[El Floppo]

Freeman's 1v1 defending has been excellent. Some slight positioning issues on the inlet passes, but all in all a solid debut

 

[El Floppo]

Not many runs happening.

Did Luca even touch that guy?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Freeman's 1v1 defending has been excellent. Some slight positioning issues on the inlet passes, but all in all a solid debut

I was hoping to see more offensively for me but outside of that one bad read in the first half, I agree his defense has been solid. Although Turkey is doing so little on offense.

 

[encaitar]

Was that not last defender?

 

[TLEF316]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

 

[El Floppo]

That's what I've seen from Haji for his club... Isolated hero ball. It either works or not.

 

[El Floppo]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

 

[El Floppo]

That 7 for turkey was money. Where does he play?

 

[encaitar]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

I think Musah would make an excellent #6 if he were put there by someone and given time to grow into the role, but every coach he's had seems to want to play him further forward and I'm not sure why.

 

[encaitar]

That 7 for turkey was money. Where does he play?

Arkturkoglu? Benfica.

 

[The Z Machine]

That 7 for turkey was money. Where does he play?

Benfica

 

[The Z Machine]

Haji does not impress

Tillman does

 

[encaitar]

Oof Haji.... Gotta at least get a shot off there.

 

[encaitar]

Haji Wright.... not a winger.

 

[El Floppo]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I only really saw the second half. For a clear B-team, I've seen way worse. A respectable performance against a legitimately decent European side. Would I have liked to see them wax them the way Canada waxed Ukraine? Sure. But there were some bright spots.

It seems ridiculous to say it, because he's been in ink as a starter for like three years now, but I finally feel confident in Chris Richards as a CB. Not just in a "I guess he's the best we've got" kind of way.

 

[El Floppo]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

I think Musah would make an excellent #6 if he were put there by someone and given time to grow into the role, but every coach he's had seems to want to play him further forward and I'm not sure why.

I think it's because of what we like from him... Hs first thought used to be ball progression, and he was good at it. Problem at the 6 is even 1 giveaway of those is super dangerous. He's looked so timid and unsure of himself for Milan in 2025 (looked better in the fall)

 

[encaitar]

Sigh. Better than our last few outings.. Turkey is a good team. Still, lacking.

Tillman I thought looked good. Adams was good after coming on. McGlynn had a few moments. Freemen was ok defensively.

Everyone else... poor IMO. I can see the system. It's got great moments. We made some really nice flowing attacks today. Just did nothing with them and that's what worries me. Right now, if we need a goal and have a player moving towards their box,.. unless Pulisic is written on his back I have zero confidence that we're gonna make the right play. We just clutch at chances and make decisions too slow when it counts.

Still, this a B team so it's hard to take too much out of it, but I was really hoping for more from Luna. Wanted him to be Pulisic lite at the very least, but it wasn't there.

FYI, Richards needs to keep the hair. It's freaking sweet.

 

[The Z Machine]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

 

[NewlyRetired]

With most of the team on the outside looking in, as one of the fringe players, I think Luca did the most today to keep himself in the conversation. Many more games to go this summer (hopefully) for others to make or break their cases.

 

[The Z Machine]

I was really hoping for more from Luna. Wanted him to be Pulisic lite at the very least, but it wasn't there.

Luna is way more willing to get stuck in though and seems to be less fragile. People weren't hacking him though.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Interesting, I though Luca ran the midfield calmly and progressed the ball nicely both with the dribble and the pass. He was a stand out player for me over the entire game.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I feel we have a bunch of MFs now who have some kind of elite skill set in their bag and then a ton of questions about the other stuff. Adams is an elite ball winner who can really read the game. There was a time when if Jack McGlynn had been named Jacobo Maguino, he'd be spraying passes for Juventus surrounded by a bunch of ball-winners around him. His left foot is absurd. Musah has that Nagbe shuttling superpower. And Adams is the only one I'm sure we can get away with starting.

 

[encaitar]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

I think Musah would make an excellent #6 if he were put there by someone and given time to grow into the role, but every coach he's had seems to want to play him further forward and I'm not sure why.

I think it's because of what we like from him... Hs first thought used to be ball progression, and he was good at it. Problem at the 6 is even 1 giveaway of those is super dangerous. He's looked so timid and unsure of himself for Milan in 2025 (looked better in the fall)

I agree and that's why I said he needs time to grow there. Young #6s are gonna make glaringly stupid mistakes. They need to do that and then learn. But that takes a coach with patience and a team where there aren't 6 other good options. Musah needs to move to a bottom to mid tier team with a good coach that will let him grow. Milan needs to win now and Musah's not talented enough offensively to be a huge part of the attack and is too green defensively to trust as a solo 6. He's the one player I really want to see in a different uni next year for us.

 

[El Floppo]

I only really saw the second half. For a clear B-team, I've seen way worse. A respectable performance against a legitimately decent European side. Would I have liked to see them wax them the way Canada waxed Ukraine? Sure. But there were some bright spots.

It seems ridiculous to say it, because he's been in ink as a starter for like three years now, but I finally feel confident in Chris Richards as a CB. Not just in a "I guess he's the best we've got" kind of way.

Thought the same about Richards. Very professional, confident performance by him.

I thought Makenzie looked decent too. Miles looked uncomfortable imo, especially on the ball.

 

[The Z Machine]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Interesting, I though Luca ran the midfield calmly and progressed the ball nicely both with the dribble and the pass. He was a stand out player for me over the entire game.

Not for me. In the 4-3-3 the midfielders not playing the 6 need to be more dynamic and either make passes to unlock the D or be available to hit a shot from outside the box. I don't think LDLT did those things. When down a goal "running the midfield" isn't good enough. Adams can run the midfield just fine as a 6. Did he make mistakes? No. But it there was zero magic in his play. Not enough creativity and no real threat of any kind.

 

[El Floppo]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

I think Musah would make an excellent #6 if he were put there by someone and given time to grow into the role, but every coach he's had seems to want to play him further forward and I'm not sure why.

I think it's because of what we like from him... Hs first thought used to be ball progression, and he was good at it. Problem at the 6 is even 1 giveaway of those is super dangerous. He's looked so timid and unsure of himself for Milan in 2025 (looked better in the fall)

I agree and that's why I said he needs time to grow there. Young #6s are gonna make glaringly stupid mistakes. They need to do that and then learn. But that takes a coach with patience and a team where there aren't 6 other good options. Musah needs to move to a bottom to mid tier team with a good coach that will let him grow. Milan needs to win now and Musah's not talented enough offensively to be a huge part of the attack and is too green defensively to trust as a solo 6. He's the one player I really want to see in a different uni next year for us.

The irony is that Milan has and still has a genuine need for a good 6 or 2, depending on their tactics. Fofana only really put his stamp on it a the end of the season as Musah faded to irrelevance. Reiknders is gone, and was more of an 8. RLC feels washed.

Milan really tried with Musah- gave him every opportunity... At the 6 and finally out wide. Started so promising in the Fall and just fell off a cliff as the season progressed.

I suppose a move could be good. Maybe a loan to a mid table squad.

 

[encaitar]

I only really saw the second half. For a clear B-team, I've seen way worse. A respectable performance against a legitimately decent European side. Would I have liked to see them wax them the way Canada waxed Ukraine? Sure. But there were some bright spots.

It seems ridiculous to say it, because he's been in ink as a starter for like three years now, but I finally feel confident in Chris Richards as a CB. Not just in a "I guess he's the best we've got" kind of way.

Thought the same about Richards. Very professional, confident performance by him.

I thought Makenzie looked decent too. Miles looked uncomfortable imo, especially on the ball.

Our defense did look much better second half. McKenzie likely was as big of a part of that as Adams was...

 

[The Z Machine]

I suppose a move could be good. Maybe a loan to a mid table squad.

Why? He's already on one.

 

[encaitar]

Obviously adams does some great things....but man is it infuriating how he immediately passes backwards and sideways 90% of the time (even if nobody is near him)

Ive been watching him thinking...Musah would've at least taken some steps forward before passing it off.

I think Musah would make an excellent #6 if he were put there by someone and given time to grow into the role, but every coach he's had seems to want to play him further forward and I'm not sure why.

I think it's because of what we like from him... Hs first thought used to be ball progression, and he was good at it. Problem at the 6 is even 1 giveaway of those is super dangerous. He's looked so timid and unsure of himself for Milan in 2025 (looked better in the fall)

I agree and that's why I said he needs time to grow there. Young #6s are gonna make glaringly stupid mistakes. They need to do that and then learn. But that takes a coach with patience and a team where there aren't 6 other good options. Musah needs to move to a bottom to mid tier team with a good coach that will let him grow. Milan needs to win now and Musah's not talented enough offensively to be a huge part of the attack and is too green defensively to trust as a solo 6. He's the one player I really want to see in a different uni next year for us.

The irony is that Milan has and still has a genuine need for a good 6 or 2, depending on their tactics. Fofana only really put his stamp on it a the end of the season as Musah faded to irrelevance. Reiknders is gone, and was more of an 8. RLC feels washed.

Milan really tried with Musah- gave him every opportunity... At the 6 and finally out wide. Started so promising in the Fall and just fell off a cliff as the season progressed.

I suppose a move could be good. Maybe a loan to a mid table squad.

Musah did look much better under Fonseca. It could just be tactics and how each coach wanted him played. It could also just be a case of a young kid making some mistakes and then losing confidence. I think a loan would be wonderful for both sides there. Milan obviously saw potential in him and getting him consistent game time next year is a must.

 

[encaitar]

I suppose a move could be good. Maybe a loan to a mid table squad.

Why? He's already on one.

Surprised Floppo needed someone else to make this joke for him, given where his loyalties lie. LOL.

 

[El Floppo]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Agree Freemen was a bit uneven. Hesitant getting himself forward, but as I mentioned had Luna and Tillman making a lot of runs into those right channels. But I expected LESS not more from him. A guy coming into his profession game playing against a high level team for his first cap... Did everything he needed to do defensively. And while he didn't light it up going forward, I appreciated that he played quick, smart passes instead of standing on it or losing. It.

 

[El Floppo]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Interesting, I though Luca ran the midfield calmly and progressed the ball nicely both with the dribble and the pass. He was a stand out player for me over the entire game.

Not for me. In the 4-3-3 the midfielders not playing the 6 need to be more dynamic and either make passes to unlock the D or be available to hit a shot from outside the box. I don't think LDLT did those things. When down a goal "running the midfield" isn't good enough. Adams can run the midfield just fine as a 6. Did he make mistakes? No. But it there was zero magic in his play. Not enough creativity and no real threat of any kind.

I agree we need more there. But he was the only guy in the MF turning the ball and progressing it upfield. His ceiling just isn't high enough once he's there.

 

[encaitar]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Agree Freemen was a bit uneven. Hesitant getting himself forward, but as I mentioned had Luna and Tillman making a lot of runs into those right channels. But I expected LESS not more from him. A guy coming into his profession game playing against a high level team for his first cap... Did everything he needed to do defensively. And while he didn't light it up going forward, I appreciated that he played quick, smart passes instead of standing on it or losing. It.

I agree here very much. As a young FB I would prefer to see the focus be defensively. He can work into the offensive game as he grows more comfortable, but we can't afford big mistakes on the wings... opens things up too much. He did his job and given what we've seen from club play, the offensive side will come. He has a good shot at making next year's squad if he can build on this IMO.

 

[The Z Machine]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Agree Freemen was a bit uneven. Hesitant getting himself forward, but as I mentioned had Luna and Tillman making a lot of runs into those right channels. But I expected LESS not more from him. A guy coming into his profession game playing against a high level team for his first cap... Did everything he needed to do defensively. And while he didn't light it up going forward, I appreciated that he played quick, smart passes instead of standing on it or losing. It.

He played a few dumb passes and if I were opposition I'd hound him when on the ball. He is obviously not Sergiño as he doesn't seem to have elite change of direction or dribbling. But his touch and positioning are light years better than Yedlin at this age and better than Jedi too, so that bodes well.

 

[encaitar]

So... Jedi, McKenzie, Richards, Dest back line.... Adams, McKennie, Tillman midfield.... Pulisic, Balogun, Weah front line....

This the expected line up next June at this point? Who has a shot of taking one of these spots if everyone is healthy? And we're not gonna talk about GKers, because that's completely up for grabs.

 

[The Z Machine]

Ok... Unimpressed by: Haji, Quinn, Harriel.

White didn't get much of a chance, but won every ball hit to him, and fed them off to US players... Deserves more looks.

I mean, why not?

I thought Richards played pretty well. Freeman was uneven. I was expecting more out of him. Adam was OK but did misshit some passes.

The US goalie. I hadn't seen him before. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and could move it around the back pretty well. The left back Arfsten did not impress and neither did De la Torre.

Interesting, I though Luca ran the midfield calmly and progressed the ball nicely both with the dribble and the pass. He was a stand out player for me over the entire game.

Not for me. In the 4-3-3 the midfielders not playing the 6 need to be more dynamic and either make passes to unlock the D or be available to hit a shot from outside the box. I don't think LDLT did those things. When down a goal "running the midfield" isn't good enough. Adams can run the midfield just fine as a 6. Did he make mistakes? No. But it there was zero magic in his play. Not enough creativity and no real threat of any kind.

I agree we need more there. But he was the only guy in the MF turning the ball and progressing it upfield. His ceiling just isn't high enough once he's there.

I think we don't need that and should be more direct to Tillman and Agy. The Turks would let the US try to progress once the US broke the initial press. LDLT is one of the reasons the US is static on offense, although they looked less static today than under GGGG.