I don't know how Mike Grella hadn't been called up. We could use a winger with skills on the ball, defensive work rate, and an eye for goal. Grella brings all of that.
Regardless, this needs to be Nagbe's attack in this tournament. He's too good to keep on the bench in favor of any other American midfielder.
I also hate seeing F. Johnson at fullback. That isn't his best position. This fucking coach doesn't know how to put together a 23 or how to pick an eleven from that group.
Using Dempsey as the sole striker was dumb in Brazil, and it's dumb now. He's always done his best work in a partnership, and should be partnered up front with Zardes, who is out of position as a winger.
Playing this game of Tetris with this team makes the head hurt.
They have a history of performing well in friendlies under JK. I remember we were all supposed to care when they beat Italy or Germany in friendlies.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
They have a history of performing well in friendlies under JK. I remember we were all supposed to care when they beat Italy or Germany in friendlies.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
I completely agree that it doesn't have to be.
I think that talent is there now to be a World Cup champion. Some luck is needed to achieve that, but the talent isn't a problem.
I pointed out the problem immediately after we lost to Belgium in Brazil: we lack self belief. We have an enormous inferiority complex that shapes all of our decisions. It makes us hire a German coach and encourage our players to play overseas.
Someone needs to pull the curtain back and show America that the European game isn't played by gods. Until that happens it's always going to be the same bullshit with our teams.
Where we think our U.S. players have to play in Europe before being worthy national team members. In reality, what usually happens in non-elite countries is that players make their names at home and then in international tournaments before being signed by top-tier clubs.
I think of a guy like Rosicky, who went from Prague to Dortmund (after big UCL performances) then to Arsenal (after a big World Cup). Elite talent pre-injury who still built a career from age 19 forward. Manolas went from AEK to Olympiacos to Roma after a good World Cup. Meanwhile we throw Yedlin right away to Tottenham and Roma without a real strong body of work at home.
The bright side is the technical proficiency of the new guys seems to be improved. Very tough to open up your game when you can't keep possession.
Disagree. Our best player should be playing in Europe
This is where the best players in the world play. This is where you get the expireirence for high pressure situations.
We've had issues with guys falling out of favor quickly and them not getting playing time. So yes better decisions on league and club needs to be made.
guys also start to late in the US for the most part. 4 years in college does not help your game. It's basically a different sport in college. It's really a garbage physical game.
but Christian Pulisic gives me great hope. Only 17 and he's already showing glimpses of world-class ability at Dortmund and on national team level. Maybe, just maybe Gedion Zelalem has a big season on loan at Rangers next year and fights his way into the midfield soon
They have a history of performing well in friendlies under JK. I remember we were all supposed to care when they beat Italy or Germany in friendlies.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
I completely agree that it doesn't have to be.
I think that talent is there now to be a World Cup champion. Some luck is needed to achieve that, but the talent isn't a problem.
I pointed out the problem immediately after we lost to Belgium in Brazil: we lack self belief. We have an enormous inferiority complex that shapes all of our decisions. It makes us hire a German coach and encourage our players to play overseas.
Someone needs to pull the curtain back and show America that the European game isn't played by gods. Until that happens it's always going to be the same bullshit with our teams.
The raw talent in terms of our athletic population is there to win any sport we want to. However the player development system for soccer/football is still a work in progress so the actual talent on the field is nowhere close.
However, if we can develop three or four more Pulisic-types who are naturally gifted for soccer in their teenage years, then we have a shot to build a world champion
That is an incredibly exclusive club to break into, and is something that has not been achieved by some real powers like the Netherlands, Portugal, Mexico, etc. Spain and France won one and then only recently.
The goal should be to develop our own philosophy of play that extends from the senior team all the way down through to youth levels. Check out what Germany did to revamp their system after their nightmare Euro 2000 (amazingly Klinsmann had a hand in that). Or look at the effect that Barcelona's youth academy impacted the Spanish national team. Go back farther and look at Ajax and Dutch Total Football.
Regardless, this needs to be Nagbe's attack in this tournament. He's too good to keep on the bench in favor of any other American midfielder.
I also hate seeing F. Johnson at fullback. That isn't his best position. This fucking coach doesn't know how to put together a 23 or how to pick an eleven from that group.
It's in the OP bro. FS1.
Playing this game of Tetris with this team makes the head hurt.
Also, the young guys have added some real excitement.
The team is still a mess.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
Quote:
They have a history of performing well in friendlies under JK. I remember we were all supposed to care when they beat Italy or Germany in friendlies.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
I completely agree that it doesn't have to be.
I think that talent is there now to be a World Cup champion. Some luck is needed to achieve that, but the talent isn't a problem.
I pointed out the problem immediately after we lost to Belgium in Brazil: we lack self belief. We have an enormous inferiority complex that shapes all of our decisions. It makes us hire a German coach and encourage our players to play overseas.
Someone needs to pull the curtain back and show America that the European game isn't played by gods. Until that happens it's always going to be the same bullshit with our teams.
I think of a guy like Rosicky, who went from Prague to Dortmund (after big UCL performances) then to Arsenal (after a big World Cup). Elite talent pre-injury who still built a career from age 19 forward. Manolas went from AEK to Olympiacos to Roma after a good World Cup. Meanwhile we throw Yedlin right away to Tottenham and Roma without a real strong body of work at home.
The bright side is the technical proficiency of the new guys seems to be improved. Very tough to open up your game when you can't keep possession.
We've had issues with guys falling out of favor quickly and them not getting playing time. So yes better decisions on league and club needs to be made.
guys also start to late in the US for the most part. 4 years in college does not help your game. It's basically a different sport in college. It's really a garbage physical game.
Discussing it as a whole. Better if we had them all in youth programs.
Quote:
In comment 12975024 Go Terps said:
Quote:
They have a history of performing well in friendlies under JK. I remember we were all supposed to care when they beat Italy or Germany in friendlies.
The team is still a mess.
I agree the team is a mess. But where I disagree with some is that it doesn't have to be. The talent is there for them to be a formidable team. But it takes consistency and chemistry to get there, especially along the back line. These guys need to play together so they can learn to anticipate the others thought process and actions. Its why Dempsey and Donovan played so well together. And why our back line often looks awful. So much is trusting your partner to be in the right position and to make the right play.
The constant tinkering with the players, positions and formations makes the players think all the time rather than react and anticipate. So frustrating.
I completely agree that it doesn't have to be.
I think that talent is there now to be a World Cup champion. Some luck is needed to achieve that, but the talent isn't a problem.
I pointed out the problem immediately after we lost to Belgium in Brazil: we lack self belief. We have an enormous inferiority complex that shapes all of our decisions. It makes us hire a German coach and encourage our players to play overseas.
Someone needs to pull the curtain back and show America that the European game isn't played by gods. Until that happens it's always going to be the same bullshit with our teams.
The raw talent in terms of our athletic population is there to win any sport we want to. However the player development system for soccer/football is still a work in progress so the actual talent on the field is nowhere close.
However, if we can develop three or four more Pulisic-types who are naturally gifted for soccer in their teenage years, then we have a shot to build a world champion
The goal should be to develop our own philosophy of play that extends from the senior team all the way down through to youth levels. Check out what Germany did to revamp their system after their nightmare Euro 2000 (amazingly Klinsmann had a hand in that). Or look at the effect that Barcelona's youth academy impacted the Spanish national team. Go back farther and look at Ajax and Dutch Total Football.
I think the key is MLS and its youth academies.