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NFT: USMNT (spoiler)

Del Shofner : 10/13/2021 8:57 pm
After giving up a ridiculous first minute goal, our kids played very well. Nice win. Dest's goal was world class, and I don't see why Weah's goal was deemed an own goal - it had so much power and English, the keeper could not control it and it spun it. Still some adventures on defense, but we needed these 3 points.
after going down 0-1 Canada  
Del Shofner : 10/13/2021 9:15 pm : link
beat Panama 3-1 - probably best for the US.

Mexico - El Salvador coming up - in Spanish - hey, I need some sports excitement and the Giants and Rangers aren't providing it. Yanks disappointing too.

There's always the Knicks. Can't believe they're the most exciting of my teams these days. Along with maybe USMNT but they are a heart attack at least. What you can say is that USMNT is *very* young - like record young. They said the oldest player on USMNT was younger than the youngest player on CR tonight.
A lot to like in what I saw  
ColHowPepper : 10/13/2021 9:29 pm : link
Yeah, Del, Dest's maneuver to get position for the strike was nifty (CR did not close down), and the strike was world class.

Awareness in short area game, moving to space w/o the ball and more often than not delivering it quickly, can it be said--cohesion? Rarely saw that under Klinsmann. But then the careless passes right to the defender or not reading what the defender could get to, esp. Antoine Robinson.

Miles Robinson looking mortal. Not sure if it was he or LOB who wasn't marking the CR attacker on its goal or he who tracked down the CR attacker on the giveaway for a clean breakaway.

I like Steffen, think he's pretty much the goods. Young, aggressive USMNT playing against an experienced, older CR team, making them look old and slow.

And the post-game commentary echoed what I posted on the Panama shit show thread: why play your 2nd string when every game counts toward Qatar??? They looked like shit 2nd string and gave away 3. Keeper in that game not ready for prime time, nor most of the others. Puts all the pressure on this game. wtf is Berhalter thinking?
Not sure how you watched turner  
bhill410 : 10/13/2021 9:49 pm : link
In that game and came away thinking he was the problem verse Panama. He was probably the only positive.
^^^^^  
Del Shofner : 10/13/2021 9:53 pm : link
No disagreement CHP as to any of the above.

I question many things about Berhalter's approach. I commented to ex-BBI-er Charlie at Columbia (4 years of D1 soccer) that I thought the Busio substitution was a good move, and he responded that Busio should have started ahead of Lleget in Panama where Berhalter basically conceded the game.

But Panama absorbed an L in Toronto tonight and assuming Mexico takes care of business against El Salvador (I'll watch - Mrs S is down in the city) - things will look OK in the table tomorrow. Mexico in 1st (no surprise), USA and Canada more or less tied for 2 and 3, and Panama looking in.

Considering we are playing a *college age team who are not in college but playing for top pro teams* - better than it was in some past decades.
RE: Not sure how you watched turner  
Del Shofner : 10/13/2021 9:54 pm : link
In comment 15412864 bhill410 said:
Quote:
In that game and came away thinking he was the problem verse Panama. He was probably the only positive.


Turner is not a problem and frankly I thought the CR goal was more on Steffen than anyone else, but he got his head out of his butt after that.
My comment was to CHP  
bhill410 : 10/14/2021 4:33 am : link
The reality is turner is likely the starter over Steffen in a World Cup game tomorrow. He is an elite shot stopper but has some deficiencies in ball distribution. He also, you know, actually plays. Every time Steffen plays in one of these games he has a rusty moment and you can’t help but wonder if it’s because he literally starts once a month. I get the allure of being on Man City but not sure it’s best thing for his career right now.
I still don't get why Hoppe hasn't got more minutes of playing time  
Rick in Dallas : 10/14/2021 5:25 am : link
He brings such energy to the offensive attack.
The USMNT needs to clean up their passing and giveaways as good teams will make them pay big time. We were lucky we played against CR last night.
Through 6 games clearly Mexico and Canada have done well.
Canada has a draw against Mexico and USMNT on away games.
Davies and Buchannan are multi talented and I love their physical style of play.
Berhalter going forward cannot take the foot off the gas pedal.All games should be played as the deciding game to get into the WC. No margin for error here!!!
we're alone in 2nd at the moment -  
Del Shofner : 10/14/2021 8:15 am : link
Mexico is running away with it at 14. We are at 11, with Canada at 10 and Panama at 8. I think the others are also-rans based on what I've seen, but we still have to beat them (as we did last night). Next WCQ window is mid-November - Mexico up next at home, Cincinnati I believe. Our son is going to the game.
Is it me or for all our talent  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 10/14/2021 8:18 am : link
The US players still lack the technical skill needed to put other teams away? Too many loose passes, too many extra dribbles. Not just this team but extends to the regular starters as well.
.  
Del Shofner : 10/14/2021 8:21 am : link
In comment 15413016 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:
Quote:
Too many loose passes, too many extra dribbles.


Certainly agree with this. To me though this is mainly on Berhalter not coming up with anything resembling a set lineup. Guys don't know where their teammates are going to be or what they're going to do. I think the skill is there, just not the collective intelligence as a team.
RE: Is it me or for all our talent  
section125 : 10/14/2021 8:26 am : link
In comment 15413016 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:
Quote:
The US players still lack the technical skill needed to put other teams away? Too many loose passes, too many extra dribbles. Not just this team but extends to the regular starters as well.


Yep. They are clearly better then they have been. The athletes are there, but technique is somewhat lacking still. FWIW, I see better awareness. But there are still far to many poor passes/touches.
I still think the backline is just not where it needs to be.
Hopefully Berhalter Learned  
Jeffrey : 10/14/2021 8:44 am : link
that it is not the number of changes to the lineup but the quality and the cohesiveness. The USMNT does not have two "equal" squads. There are players on the bench who would fit in nicely with the group that started last night, but from the outset and until late in the game the passing was crisp and for the most part accurate. We got the best of Dest, Adams and Aaronson. MCKennie was not as sharp as usual and still played well. Pepi came back to earth and Weah had only a few moments and still they won. All good signs for the growth of the squad. One hiccup at the beginning of the game with a mental lapse on the left side in marking the Costa Rican attack. Understand though that this is not the Costa Rica of old--it is just an old Costa Rican team. The challenges in November and beyond will come from Panama and Canada and Mexico with Honduras a threat.

In goal the US has an issue. Steffan is not the shot stopper that Turner is but Turner is a disaster waiting to happen with his ball distribution and hesitancy on the ball. Very evident in the Panama game with a number of close calls and poor decisions. What to do with the return of Pulisic--assuming he is ever healthy-- and Reyna? You cannot sit Aaronson and yet none of the three fits at the point, which now seems to be Pepi and Zardes.
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