These late starts are killing me. The US plays another huge game tonight on the road. After an overnight flight from San Jose, let's hope the boys are well rested and ready to go. Panama will be fired up as they currently sit third in the Hex. The US can overtake them tonight with a win and even get into 2nd place if CR loses.
In more injury news, Sebastian Lletget could be out up to 6 months following his injury vs Honduras.
Plenty of fleas still. But a complete turnaround after the JK debacle to start the campaign. Tonight was about a result. Get the point and get home.
Beat TnT in June. Maybe get a point in Azteca - probably not - try not to get murdered. Then beat Panama at home.
Just hold serve and you're in.
This is why it sucks that Klinsmann fucked up any cushion we might have.
A draw on the road is not bad in WCQ, other than w/r/t to the hole that was dug as GT says. I think we'll move on, but it shouldn't be as difficult as it will be.
Yes please on Jones.
I just can't. Did we watch the same game?
I' haven't watched Fulham since Dempsey played but is Ream really going to be playing in the EPL next year? He was not good as well as zusi who is not Demarcus Beasley. Zusi was getting crushed.
Another hot take was pulisic tried to do to much? Too many dribbles. Does that make sense? I need to rewatch I was fading during the second half. Ant get up at 5am and go to bed at 12
Hot
Many fouls
NO YELLOWS how was that possible
Or it was easier for him because the play was worse.
they pull the ball back farther and farther away
a few times over the middle line !!!!
The ONLY player who would drive the ball forward when he got the ball was Pulicic!!!!
this kid is great - the future of US soccer
too bad too many old players are still on the field
Not that you should ever be playing Jones any more, but you definitely can't play them both in the same midfield. Literally just gaps everywhere.
Gmen1982 : 8:00 am : link : reply
We need to beat these shit teams at their place. Mexico and then maybe Costa Rica are the only away games that a draw is acceptable. It used to be a cake walk to make the World Cup. Now other countries have gotten better and we haven't kept up with our dominance. I don't think we would even qualify in South America or Europe.
It has always been difficult to look at some of these away games as a gimme. They are playing on fields that are sometimes worse than HS fields, in front of crowds that are often allowed to be unruly to the point of being dangerous, and officiated by guys who are intimidated by the crowds and let physical play go unchecked.
A cake walk to make the World Cup is also an exaggeration. This time 4 years ago, Mexico was in worse shape than us and had to play a team from Oceania to make the World Cup. We will probably easily qualify and this discussion will be moot, but to act as if CONCAAF is shit and the US is a power that easily dominates them is simply untrue.
That is completely incorrect. The US did not make the World Cup until I was 38 years old. We went from 1950 to 1990 without making the Cup.
And when we did start making it, it was no cake walk.
What are some of you smoking?
The holy shit moment for me was when he got the ball with his back to the defender near midfield, turned and raced up the sideline with seemingly no room. It was the work of a magician. The dude is special.
Nagbas run through their team had me hyped too.
There's plenty of young talent to be excited about.
And for those that think Pulisic is better now than Donovan ever was go back and watch some games from the 2002 World Cup, where Donovan was absolutely incredible as a 20 year old. Problem was Donovan never wanted to push himself against the best, and never realized his potential as a result. Let's hope Pulisic has that drive and continues to play thrive against the top competition in Europe. It's going to be fun to watch him develop.
We are probably looking at the best American player ever, and Pulisic will become to my son what Donovan, Howard and Dempsey have been for me, but I believe at an even higher level.
We are probably looking at the best American player ever, and Pulisic will become to my son what Donovan, Howard and Dempsey have been for me, but I believe at an even higher level.
I would agree with this. I would also add that both were/are very direct pacey players but Pulisic to me is a better dribbler.
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It used to be a cake walk to make the World Cup..
That is completely incorrect. The US did not make the World Cup until I was 38 years old. We went from 1950 to 1990 without making the Cup.
And when we did start making it, it was no cake walk.
What are some of you smoking?
Sorry I don't count pre-1990. I guess as someone involved with soccer for 30+ years and always being told that we would be a dominant team soon is making me a little impartial. I still remember in high school (1997ish?) hearing how we were developing academies that would take us to the next level. I don't have an answer but I feel like we should be better.
In the 2nd leg, Pulisic drove a dominant Dortmund performance and often looked like the best player on the field even with their striker Aubemayang netting a hat trick.
The next tie up vs Monaco will be very interesting, as he will be going up against Kylian Mbappe, another 19 year old who shone in the CL win over Man City. April 11 - put it in your schedule. Depending on the exact line-up, the two may match up directly against each other.
1. European based players who had to travel an incredible distance and are playing in a climate they are not remotely acclimated to
2. MLS players that are just entering season and not in top form nor acclimated to the climate
In CONCACAF you qualify for the World Cup by winning home games and trying to take points on the road. Arena has us back on that path.
Germany
Brazil
Spain
Argentina
France
Italy
Chile (maybe)
After that, we're right there with everyone else. Breaking into that top group is very difficult, and is something that may not happen in our lifetimes.
Ha no kidding.
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Pulisic and Donovan at their young ages is creativity. Pulisic has the ability to create his own shots and passes a little better than Donovan did. A lot of the good strikers have patience in the box, so that aspect is similar, but Pulisic is excellent at creating space and then taking advantage of that space.
We are probably looking at the best American player ever, and Pulisic will become to my son what Donovan, Howard and Dempsey have been for me, but I believe at an even higher level.
I would agree with this. I would also add that both were/are very direct pacey players but Pulisic to me is a better dribbler.
Pulisic is better on the ball and attacking defenders than Donovan was. Both have/had great vision, speed, and composure and new how to make runs (unlike, say, Jermaine Jones!).
I was most impressed by Pulisic's defensive work last night. Did a good job tracking back and at least putting in the effort.
Germany
Brazil
Spain
Argentina
France
Italy
Chile (maybe)
After that, we're right there with everyone else. Breaking into that top group is very difficult, and is something that may not happen in our lifetimes.
I think your overall point is correct, but if we had played Chile in the Copa, they would have smoked us. A Belgium that has its act together maybe makes that list (yet to be seen). But overall no other teams are that far away.
The Netherlands national team is a shambles right now and has been for the last year. Plenty of teams that might be better than the US but in a one-off game only few are head and shoulders better where we wouldn't have a chance.
As for Belgium, for years that team has been less than the sum of its parts. Had we not been managed by a coward in 2014 we had the people to beat them.
We are probably looking at the best American player ever, and Pulisic will become to my son what Donovan, Howard and Dempsey have been for me, but I believe at an even higher level.
No way Donovan had that level of dribbling skill needed to create the goal, especially that last move when Pulisic rolls the ball with his right foot. In fact, I'm hard pressed to think of another American player with the same level of dribbling skill that Pulisic showed on the assist.
I've taken to watching more Dortmund this year (admittedly, mostly for Pulisic though they're a fun team to watch with Aubameyang, Weigl, Dembele and co) and he's been keeping a huge money signing and German International Schurrle on the bench more or less. It's incredible.
Sokratis!
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I think people are really forgetting how good Donovan was at his peak. Go watch some of his highlight videos....some of his passing was unbelievably good and his finishing was tremendous. I think one of the reasons he's not more appreciated by fans was that he would have games and long stretches where he was incredibly passive and simply disappeared. For example, from memory his entire 06 World Cup was just awful.
I think this world cup should be the swan song for Howard, Dempsey and hopefully Bradley - everyone else old should be phased out beforehand.
Fair point.
Also, I was really impressed by that one run by Nagbe. I haven't seen him play much, but holy crap is he fast with the ball.
Zusi gets a pass as playing out of position, though necessary given the injuries. Jones is too old and there is no way he can contribute more than a short time each game. Ream should play outside, even though that has not worked well always. Again the injuries necessitated the defensive moves. In truth the US should have lost 3-1 last night, but was saved by Howard and some poor shots from the Panama side. Take the point and get the hell out of town. Burn the film though. Go young Bruce!
Somebody tell me how this wasn't a red card when others were given yellows for less.
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Yedlin, Brooks, Wood, Johnson are four regular starters that missed yesterday's game. Then throw in Zardes, Lleget, Morris, and you can see how undermanned we were.
The one thing I'm fairly confident in is that he'll be much more flexible in roster composition than JK was.
While I agree that the Chelsea move was horrible and said it from day one. They don't play youth! It's not true that he is barely playing at Vitesse. He's starting virtually every game (including a 1-0 loss to Ajax 3/19) these days and playing well from what I have read.
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Will he get any burn ever? Sold to Chelsea loaned out to Dutch team and barely plays. Not good.
While I agree that the Chelsea move was horrible and said it from day one. They don't play youth! It's not true that he is barely playing at Vitesse. He's starting virtually every game (including a 1-0 loss to Ajax 3/19) these days and playing well from what I have read.
That's good news then! I looked awhile ago and was under the impression he was just a late sub sometimes. Thank you for correcting me!!!!