either way, it killed my interest in the game.Wow, red card in a friendly. Rarely see those, but it was hiiigh studs into the ankle.
I thought Bello and Morris looked pretty good.
either way, it killed my interest in the game.Wow, red card in a friendly. Rarely see those, but it was hiiigh studs into the ankle.
It’s more like a 10.5 vs 10, because Roldan’s been a passenger, but yeah, not a lot to learn anymore.either way, it killed my interest in the game.
I thought Bello and Morris looked pretty good.
Berhalter said as much in an earlier press conferenceIt seems a lot more about keeping the guys we’ve already seen fit than about looking at the ones we haven’t.
I thought Roldan was mostly fine. I mean, he’s Roldan, he’s not going to be a world beater. The biggest problem was that the midfield balance was off. Acosta is always bad as an 8. Just play Acosta, Roldan, and then Clark or Bassett or maybe Booth instead. The midfield trio in this game was too conservative.Real snoozer of a second half. Roldan has been desperately disappointing.
On morning’s sober reflection I was probably putting too much on him. Some of the nicer moments of combination had him in the mix at least.I thought Roldan was mostly fine. I mean, he’s Roldan, he’s not going to be a world beater. The biggest problem was that the midfield balance was off. Acosta is always bad as an 8. Just play Acosta, Roldan, and then Clark or Bassett or maybe Booth instead. The midfield trio in this game was too conservative.
The closer we get to it, the more this St. Paul thing feels like an absolutely psycho decision.With the three games coming up if they were being played today the warmest temp would be the game in Hamilton at 26°. Columbus is checking in at 21° and St Paul is a balmy -2°.
Well I will be at the game so I might have made my own psycho decision. But I agree, this seems like a horrible idea. I definitely went outside this weekend (temp around 0) with the specific purpose of figuring out what I would wear to the game if the worst happened.The closer we get to it, the more this St. Paul thing feels like an absolutely psycho decision.
I understand wanting to play in Ohio against Mexico. That's one thing, but these sites can have a great equalizing effect in the wrong direction. The USMNT is too good to worry about a few thousand El Salvadoran or Honduran fans making a difference. The talent gap is big enough. The cold can minimize this gap.The closer we get to it, the more this St. Paul thing feels like an absolutely psycho decision.
Going to the game seems potentially fun, albeit in a perverse way. I totally get that. Scheduling it, there’s just no excuse.Well I will be at the game so I might have made my own psycho decision. But I agree, this seems like a horrible idea. I definitely went outside this weekend (temp around 0) with the specific purpose of figuring out what I would wear to the game if the worst happened.
That’s definitely part of it, but if you want to reward St. Paul there were so many non-January opportunities.How much of is it a reward for building soccer specific stadiums too?
Goff said a few days ago that we'll probably have to wait until Saturday.Any news on when the roster for the next three qualifiers will be released? I was expecting early this week but that obviously hasn’t happened. Usually it’s 5-7 days before the beginning of the break, at least from my recollection. Perhaps waiting till the MLS camp wraps up tomorrow?
Maybe nobody. It depends on how many players are on the roster and the status of Weah. I expect/hope for at least five wingers:If they add Morris, who will they drop? And does he fill Arriola's role?
Worked last time for sure. They beat Panama so soundly in Orlando that they were riding high and needed only a measly draw at T&T to advance!So Orlando is getting the final home qualifier.
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/USMNT/status/1483898139723583493?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Venezia has a Covid outbreak, which might explain it.Somehow overlooked Busio not being there. I know his form has dipped but at least he’s getting consistent competitive minutes.
One of the 4 keepers needs a hamstring tweak so Sargent can get the call up right now.EDIT: Turns out Sargent's the hot hand, if you believe in that being a good determinant for callups, but we didn't know that until 5min after the roster drop so hard for Berhalter to take it into account really
Berhalter confirms that Busio was on the squad and dropped for COVID reasons.Venezia has a Covid outbreak, which might explain it.
I dunno about offseason Zardes & offseason Ferreria over all European-based strikers bar Pepi, but I'm not that mad about it either, they'll do the job fine.
EDIT: Turns out Sargent's the hot hand, if you believe in that being a good determinant for callups, but we didn't know that until 5min after the roster drop so hard for Berhalter to take it into account really
I don't have details, and I'm not sure if it's even true, but it's a plausible explanation.OK, that's juicy. So he's a huge asshole? Bad teammate?
It does seem like Berhalter is cool towards LDLT and is almost begrudging in how he's brought into camp. Hopefully over the course of these three games and the training sessions scattered among them, he can elevated his profile in Berhalter's eyes.You're kidding yourself if you think LDLT is getting a decent run. It sounds like he's only here because Busio got Covid, so I'm guessing he gets very minimal time, if any.
In general, I am way more frustrated with the roster than you are, I think. The Brooks omission is just absurd. There's no legitimate rationale - he's way better than Mark McKenzie, and we should be calling in our best players. It feels like a personal thing, because if it's not, Gregg is just a fucking idiot.
I fully expect way too much Lletget, Arriola, and Roldan, because that's what Gregg does.
I’ve heard several times that Brooks is a bit of a pain and has crossed more than one manager in his career. That being said, I think that Gregg just wants guys who fit better into his system. Thinking back as far as the Switzerland friendly, Brooks’ lack of pace was pretty clearly exposed. If you combine this with his rep as being a bit of a malcontent when not starting (at least from what I’ve heard), I guess I am saying I understand where the decision is coming from. I definitely don’t agree with it, but to me Brooks is out of the team because he isn’t a system fit for Gregg.You're kidding yourself if you think LDLT is getting a decent run. It sounds like he's only here because Busio got Covid, so I'm guessing he gets very minimal time, if any.
In general, I am way more frustrated with the roster than you are, I think. The Brooks omission is just absurd. There's no legitimate rationale - he's way better than Mark McKenzie, and we should be calling in our best players. It feels like a personal thing, because if it's not, Gregg is just a fucking idiot.
I fully expect way too much Lletget, Arriola, and Roldan, because that's what Gregg does.
Bolded QFT. You can reasonably say Brooks doesn't fit the system, but if this team is trying to advance in the WC, it would be helpful to play a deeper line at times and have someone who's good at it at CB. Even if just as a late sub to hold a lead or throw a changeup. Then again, if Brooks isn't game for that, then it's fair to leave him off for chemistry reasons I guess.I’ve heard several times that Brooks is a bit of a pain and has crossed more than one manager in his career. That being said, I think that Gregg just wants guys who fit better into his system. Thinking back as far as the Switzerland friendly, Brooks’ lack of pace was pretty clearly exposed. If you combine this with his rep as being a bit of a malcontent when not starting (at least from what I’ve heard), I guess I am saying I understand where the decision is coming from. I definitely don’t agree with it, but to me Brooks is out of the team because he isn’t a system fit for Gregg.
My issue is that Gregg seems to just want to play one way tactically which makes the US easier to predict (despite his roster tinkering). Obviously each player has different strengths and weaknesses, but they seem to have common enough traits across position groups so Gregg can just plug and play (at least in his mind). I’d rather have players on the roster who can bring a real change to the game. To me, you bring Brooks precisely because he brings something different to the table (also why I don’t see Konrad or Dike on this team). His ability to pass the ball could definitely be useful against low block bunkered in teams like we will probably see this window.
As far as LDLT goes, probably wishful thinking on my part, but face-to-face time with Gregg matters. I heard an interview with de la Torre recently and he at least seemed appreciative of his communication with Gregg.The MF construction is such that LDLT could very well be in the mix. As TB mentioned, Gregg hasn’t really used Lletget as much lately and Roldan has been used more as a late game winger sub. Ultimately, these are just my guesses after a few days of drinking and pondering things.
Whatever the case, I still think 9 points are a legit possibility in this window