he's pretty good. I mean, the team as a whole is Christian Pulisic and the 10 dwarves, but of the dwarves about 5 are not bad. Lima, Arriola, McKinney. Then there's Bradley who's playing kind of a throwback #8 sweeper or glue guy in front of the defenders - he's not that great, but he does what he does. We need more from Zardes and the other guys up front
he's pretty good. I mean, the team as a whole is Christian Pulisic and the 10 dwarves, but of the dwarves about 5 are not bad. Lima, Arriola, McKinney. Then there's Bradley who's playing kind of a throwback #8 sweeper or glue guy in front of the defenders - he's not that great, but he does what he does. We need more from Zardes and the other guys up front
Pleasantly surprised by Lima as well. Bradley on the other hand, one of the sloppier guys in the half. His time should be running short I hope. Just doesn't present any threat ever, may as well just put him on pure defense...
Zardes looks like constantly trips over his own feet. Â
Something USMNT to be excited about! Can't remember the last time I felt that way.
All these guys play in Europe. Pretty much confirming soccer is a European game and odds are will never be a U.S. game like basketball, baseball, hockey, and football.
Boyd was offsides on first goal he scored. It wasn’t even close."
Zardes scores an accidental rebound goal. I don’t think he even realized what happened.
Back four will be a major concern against even an average team no less a good team.
Boyd was the player of the match and Arriola played a good game.
Bradley not the same player he was earlier in his career
Boyd was offsides on first goal he scored. It wasn’t even close."
Zardes scores an accidental rebound goal. I don’t think he even realized what happened.
Back four will be a major concern against even an average team no less a good team.
Boyd was the player of the match and Arriola played a good game.
Bradley not the same player he was earlier in his career
Pretty much agree:
- I've been railing against the back 4 for more than four years; it doesn't seem to matter the names, their play is the same, lead foot, clueless at anticipation what is developing, slow to react. Yeah, because Americans are tall and physical, they play decently with the ball in the air, that's about it;
- Jozy has his strengths, but Zardes seems like a poor man's Jozy; can hold and fend off, but mediocre in creating and quickly converting
- GT has remained a Bradley disciple, and he knows his shit, but I just don't see it, any more, not for years, and he gives the ball away on errant passes all the time, nowhere near as quick as he used to be; Del should be banned from all soccer threads for putting Pirlo in the same sentence as MB ):
Long is coming off a hamstring and hadn't looked himself, but he is fast and has great anticipation. I like Miazga as well, not sure why he was benched. I guess the dumb mistake in the last game, perhaps. Zimmerman is fine as well off the bench.
When Brooks comes back, this is a solid group with depth.
The fullbacks though, who knows. Lima is playing decently, but let's see when the comp steps up. Team has played for years in good leagues (prem and championship) but he worries me.
Is this team faster than those of the recent past? I caught the 2nd half and it jumped out at me that the midfielders and wingers look much faster and played faster than in previous seasons.
It's so hard for me to get into these Gold Cup games. Â
Something USMNT to be excited about! Can't remember the last time I felt that way.
All these guys play in Europe. Pretty much confirming soccer is a European game and odds are will never be a U.S. game like basketball, baseball, hockey, and football.
Is this team faster than those of the recent past? I caught the 2nd half and it jumped out at me that the midfielders and wingers look much faster and played faster than in previous seasons.
We haven't had speedy wingers like Boys and Pulisic since probably Landon and DeMarcus Beasley
Do not be fooled by this match. Guyana was a team of semi-professionals and low level pros. The US should have won that match by 8 or 9 goals.
This team might not advance out of this group because I'm simply not sure they're better than either Trinidad or Tobago or Panama. They will certainly be outcoached by both. Overall, the US player pool (not including the kids who aren't ready such as Sargent, Weah, Pomykal, etc.) currently has a grand total of FIVE quality players: Pulisic, McKinnie, Adams (injured), Brooks (injured), and Boyd.
The tactics are a mess. Beerholder wants to play possession soccer out of the back but the players are so risk averse with possession that they continually play balls square or backwards and end up putting the goalkeeper in a situation where HE has to make the risky pass. It's just stupid and cost them against Venezuela. On the other side, the US has no clue how to press and let a bunch of semi-pros break their press and possess the ball for far more than they should have. The team looks far more lost than they did in their worst days under Klinsmann. Oh my, how I miss the days of Bob Bradley and his pragmatic counterattacking style.
The talent pool is very down, but it's not being helped by some bizarre decisions in team selection. Trapp, Roldon, Mihailovic aren't international quality and have shown very little to suggest that they ever will be. They were humiliated by Venezuela because they are MLS water carriers and not good enough for the international game. It would have been better to call one of the U-21 kids like Paxton Pomykal up or bringing in some of the lower tier European players rather than trotting these guys match after match. Michael Bradley is past his prime and a shadow of his former self, but at least he is miles better than Will Trapp who is bullied by anyone with a pulse in midfield. So far Beerholder seems to favor "his" guys like Trapp and Zardes over better players and that's going to poison the pool worse than anything Klinsmann ever did.
I understand that there are injuries, but even a healthy Tyler Adams would be put at RIGHT FREAKING BACK by Beerholder rather than in the midfield role currently occupied by a diminished Bradley and that waste of space Trapp. I know that Beerholder imagines Adams bombing into midfield on offense, but what happens when they play a real team that can put them under pressure and keep them pinned back? Why is Pulisic, a hugely successful attacking winger being played in midfield where he's less effective?
This team remains desperate for a striker and while I still believe that Jozy's ability to hold the ball and his vision for linking up play are still useful he is constantly injured and we're still 3 years away, at least, from Josh Sargent being a useful international player. In the meantime, I'd take anyone other than Zardes, one of Beerholder's former MLS players.
Ugh, so much to say and so much frustration and I don't have all the knowledge and skill to really lay it out in a clear and concise way. Just completely frustrated with everything that's happened over the past 5 years or so.
Do not be fooled by this match. Guyana was a team of semi-professionals and low level pros. The US should have won that match by 8 or 9 goals.
This team might not advance out of this group because I'm simply not sure they're better than either Trinidad or Tobago or Panama. They will certainly be outcoached by both. Overall, the US player pool (not including the kids who aren't ready such as Sargent, Weah, Pomykal, etc.) currently has a grand total of FIVE quality players: Pulisic, McKinnie, Adams (injured), Brooks (injured), and Boyd.
The tactics are a mess. Beerholder wants to play possession soccer out of the back but the players are so risk averse with possession that they continually play balls square or backwards and end up putting the goalkeeper in a situation where HE has to make the risky pass. It's just stupid and cost them against Venezuela. On the other side, the US has no clue how to press and let a bunch of semi-pros break their press and possess the ball for far more than they should have. The team looks far more lost than they did in their worst days under Klinsmann. Oh my, how I miss the days of Bob Bradley and his pragmatic counterattacking style.
The talent pool is very down, but it's not being helped by some bizarre decisions in team selection. Trapp, Roldon, Mihailovic aren't international quality and have shown very little to suggest that they ever will be. They were humiliated by Venezuela because they are MLS water carriers and not good enough for the international game. It would have been better to call one of the U-21 kids like Paxton Pomykal up or bringing in some of the lower tier European players rather than trotting these guys match after match. Michael Bradley is past his prime and a shadow of his former self, but at least he is miles better than Will Trapp who is bullied by anyone with a pulse in midfield. So far Beerholder seems to favor "his" guys like Trapp and Zardes over better players and that's going to poison the pool worse than anything Klinsmann ever did.
I understand that there are injuries, but even a healthy Tyler Adams would be put at RIGHT FREAKING BACK by Beerholder rather than in the midfield role currently occupied by a diminished Bradley and that waste of space Trapp. I know that Beerholder imagines Adams bombing into midfield on offense, but what happens when they play a real team that can put them under pressure and keep them pinned back? Why is Pulisic, a hugely successful attacking winger being played in midfield where he's less effective?
This team remains desperate for a striker and while I still believe that Jozy's ability to hold the ball and his vision for linking up play are still useful he is constantly injured and we're still 3 years away, at least, from Josh Sargent being a useful international player. In the meantime, I'd take anyone other than Zardes, one of Beerholder's former MLS players.
Ugh, so much to say and so much frustration and I don't have all the knowledge and skill to really lay it out in a clear and concise way. Just completely frustrated with everything that's happened over the past 5 years or so.
I don't disagree with you, but calling him Beerholder is childish enough to undermine the validity of many of your points. Just something to consider.
I think he should be on a short leash. There are plenty of red flags already.
I still think they should have hired Oscar Pareja, but would be open to a Bob Bradley return, especially after what he's done with LAFC.
RE: This team is the worst USMNT I've seen since the 1994 World Cup Â
a return. He has made strides as a manager since his last go around and isn't completely married to his system as before. We have the attacking mids needed to run his style, and we would shore up defensively.
I agree that is probably why, but they can use this game to gauge how far he is and use it to get fit. I hope this game isn't a test for them.
He was a good player in his prime and better than Trapp now. Roldan hasn't done great with his chances either.
Forget defense, learn how to pass and possess. Awful so far, too many easy turnovers on bad passes.
Pleasantly surprised by Lima as well. Bradley on the other hand, one of the sloppier guys in the half. His time should be running short I hope. Just doesn't present any threat ever, may as well just put him on pure defense...
All these guys play in Europe. Pretty much confirming soccer is a European game and odds are will never be a U.S. game like basketball, baseball, hockey, and football.
Zardes scores an accidental rebound goal. I don’t think he even realized what happened.
Back four will be a major concern against even an average team no less a good team.
Boyd was the player of the match and Arriola played a good game.
Bradley not the same player he was earlier in his career
Zardes scores an accidental rebound goal. I don’t think he even realized what happened.
Back four will be a major concern against even an average team no less a good team.
Boyd was the player of the match and Arriola played a good game.
Bradley not the same player he was earlier in his career
- I've been railing against the back 4 for more than four years; it doesn't seem to matter the names, their play is the same, lead foot, clueless at anticipation what is developing, slow to react. Yeah, because Americans are tall and physical, they play decently with the ball in the air, that's about it;
- Jozy has his strengths, but Zardes seems like a poor man's Jozy; can hold and fend off, but mediocre in creating and quickly converting
- GT has remained a Bradley disciple, and he knows his shit, but I just don't see it, any more, not for years, and he gives the ball away on errant passes all the time, nowhere near as quick as he used to be; Del should be banned from all soccer threads for putting Pirlo in the same sentence as MB ):
When Brooks comes back, this is a solid group with depth.
The fullbacks though, who knows. Lima is playing decently, but let's see when the comp steps up. Team has played for years in good leagues (prem and championship) but he worries me.
Quote:
Something USMNT to be excited about! Can't remember the last time I felt that way.
All these guys play in Europe. Pretty much confirming soccer is a European game and odds are will never be a U.S. game like basketball, baseball, hockey, and football.
This is such a bad take.
We haven't had speedy wingers like Boys and Pulisic since probably Landon and DeMarcus Beasley
that you remember when DeMarcus played on the wing
that you remember when DeMarcus played on the wing
Haha young DeMarcus was awesome!
This team might not advance out of this group because I'm simply not sure they're better than either Trinidad or Tobago or Panama. They will certainly be outcoached by both. Overall, the US player pool (not including the kids who aren't ready such as Sargent, Weah, Pomykal, etc.) currently has a grand total of FIVE quality players: Pulisic, McKinnie, Adams (injured), Brooks (injured), and Boyd.
The tactics are a mess. Beerholder wants to play possession soccer out of the back but the players are so risk averse with possession that they continually play balls square or backwards and end up putting the goalkeeper in a situation where HE has to make the risky pass. It's just stupid and cost them against Venezuela. On the other side, the US has no clue how to press and let a bunch of semi-pros break their press and possess the ball for far more than they should have. The team looks far more lost than they did in their worst days under Klinsmann. Oh my, how I miss the days of Bob Bradley and his pragmatic counterattacking style.
The talent pool is very down, but it's not being helped by some bizarre decisions in team selection. Trapp, Roldon, Mihailovic aren't international quality and have shown very little to suggest that they ever will be. They were humiliated by Venezuela because they are MLS water carriers and not good enough for the international game. It would have been better to call one of the U-21 kids like Paxton Pomykal up or bringing in some of the lower tier European players rather than trotting these guys match after match. Michael Bradley is past his prime and a shadow of his former self, but at least he is miles better than Will Trapp who is bullied by anyone with a pulse in midfield. So far Beerholder seems to favor "his" guys like Trapp and Zardes over better players and that's going to poison the pool worse than anything Klinsmann ever did.
I understand that there are injuries, but even a healthy Tyler Adams would be put at RIGHT FREAKING BACK by Beerholder rather than in the midfield role currently occupied by a diminished Bradley and that waste of space Trapp. I know that Beerholder imagines Adams bombing into midfield on offense, but what happens when they play a real team that can put them under pressure and keep them pinned back? Why is Pulisic, a hugely successful attacking winger being played in midfield where he's less effective?
This team remains desperate for a striker and while I still believe that Jozy's ability to hold the ball and his vision for linking up play are still useful he is constantly injured and we're still 3 years away, at least, from Josh Sargent being a useful international player. In the meantime, I'd take anyone other than Zardes, one of Beerholder's former MLS players.
Ugh, so much to say and so much frustration and I don't have all the knowledge and skill to really lay it out in a clear and concise way. Just completely frustrated with everything that's happened over the past 5 years or so.
The case for keeping USMNT coach Greg Berhalter on a short leash - ( New Window )
This team might not advance out of this group because I'm simply not sure they're better than either Trinidad or Tobago or Panama. They will certainly be outcoached by both. Overall, the US player pool (not including the kids who aren't ready such as Sargent, Weah, Pomykal, etc.) currently has a grand total of FIVE quality players: Pulisic, McKinnie, Adams (injured), Brooks (injured), and Boyd.
The tactics are a mess. Beerholder wants to play possession soccer out of the back but the players are so risk averse with possession that they continually play balls square or backwards and end up putting the goalkeeper in a situation where HE has to make the risky pass. It's just stupid and cost them against Venezuela. On the other side, the US has no clue how to press and let a bunch of semi-pros break their press and possess the ball for far more than they should have. The team looks far more lost than they did in their worst days under Klinsmann. Oh my, how I miss the days of Bob Bradley and his pragmatic counterattacking style.
The talent pool is very down, but it's not being helped by some bizarre decisions in team selection. Trapp, Roldon, Mihailovic aren't international quality and have shown very little to suggest that they ever will be. They were humiliated by Venezuela because they are MLS water carriers and not good enough for the international game. It would have been better to call one of the U-21 kids like Paxton Pomykal up or bringing in some of the lower tier European players rather than trotting these guys match after match. Michael Bradley is past his prime and a shadow of his former self, but at least he is miles better than Will Trapp who is bullied by anyone with a pulse in midfield. So far Beerholder seems to favor "his" guys like Trapp and Zardes over better players and that's going to poison the pool worse than anything Klinsmann ever did.
I understand that there are injuries, but even a healthy Tyler Adams would be put at RIGHT FREAKING BACK by Beerholder rather than in the midfield role currently occupied by a diminished Bradley and that waste of space Trapp. I know that Beerholder imagines Adams bombing into midfield on offense, but what happens when they play a real team that can put them under pressure and keep them pinned back? Why is Pulisic, a hugely successful attacking winger being played in midfield where he's less effective?
This team remains desperate for a striker and while I still believe that Jozy's ability to hold the ball and his vision for linking up play are still useful he is constantly injured and we're still 3 years away, at least, from Josh Sargent being a useful international player. In the meantime, I'd take anyone other than Zardes, one of Beerholder's former MLS players.
Ugh, so much to say and so much frustration and I don't have all the knowledge and skill to really lay it out in a clear and concise way. Just completely frustrated with everything that's happened over the past 5 years or so.
I don't disagree with you, but calling him Beerholder is childish enough to undermine the validity of many of your points. Just something to consider.
I think he should be on a short leash. There are plenty of red flags already.
I still think they should have hired Oscar Pareja, but would be open to a Bob Bradley return, especially after what he's done with LAFC.
Once you start with disparaging name calling your commentary is useless.
Mature.