This team has really just made me feel like a dickhead for even watching for the past two years.
Yes, the central problem seems to be that Berhalter is too much of an ideologue right now. He has repeatedly said he likes a DM who can spray long diagonals as a sort of QB-type midfielder. The problem is that we don't have anyone who can do this, and also be good at the defensive part of the job. And against good opponents who press our DM, guys like Trapp and Bradley struggle to even make those progressive forward passes.I don’t care that Mexico is better than the US and that Gregg is trying to play a certain style- the complete lack of adjustments in tactics and/or team selection is embarrassing and frankly feels pretty damning.
I don't enjoy being relentlessly negative and I don't feel relentless negative about Berhalter and the USMNT — certainly not compared to the typical discourse in the usual online places for US soccer.I want to be optimistic. I feel what TB has to say, but I also read what the players said post-game. If there’s ever a time to stick to your guns, damn the consequences...then a dead period friendly is the time to do it. This team does need to learn how to play out from the back against quality opponents if they want to progress. I’m just hoping (against hope?) that Adams at DM, Brooks at CB, and some in-game tactical flexibility will make things much better when the matches count for something.
No, give me Adams!!! The unfortunate thing is that Bradley and Trapp are still very much on the depth chart because we just don't have the depth. Maybe Brandon Servania at FC Dallas can move up the rankings soon, but he's not there yet. Morales is an option, but I don't think he's a good enough passer for Berhalter to ever use him as a single pivot.Some discussion of the depth chart in advance of tonight's 8pm ET friendly with Uruguay.
Not a lot of discussion about which FBs could go to either side, and I think they should give more thought to CCV.
I know nothing of Duane Holmes - should I?
TB should avoid the "DM" section of the article.
Uruguay were maybe at 50% tops and everything was half-tempo, but also the US did play better than vs. MexicoAnyone see this? 1-1 on paper is a decent result vs URU, although I’m sure it was a B team.
We're bringing Dest in for that right? Tie him to US?Onto four games of the CONCACAF Nations League.
They made a good point about this on Sirius FC this morning (I know I know but...) That if they were Dest and his representation that they would decline the offer to "sign" for the US for the Nations League while continuing to play and get minutes at Ajax. The rubber doesn't really meet the road until World Cup qualifiers start next September so he can try to build his resume with the Dutch for the entire season and then make the call based on their interest for the camps leading into qualification. Made sense to me that unless he feels totally frozen out by the Dutch that he'd probably wait the year and only play Friendlies.We're bringing Dest in for that right? Tie him to US?
So he's deciding between 2 countries that didn't make the last World Cup.They made a good point about this on Sirius FC this morning (I know I know but...) That if they were Dest and his representation that they would decline the offer to "sign" for the US for the Nations League while continuing to play and get minutes at Ajax. The rubber doesn't really meet the road until World Cup qualifiers start next September so he can try to build his resume with the Dutch for the entire season and then make the call based on their interest for the camps leading into qualification. Made sense to me that unless he feels totally frozen out by the Dutch that he'd probably wait the year and only play Friendlies.
Play alongside Frankie de Jong or Wil Trapp? Tough call...So he's deciding between 2 countries that didn't make the last World Cup.
The U.S. is hoping to face a to-be-determined international opponent during its stay in Qatar, which is about the size of Connecticut, before returning to the United States for a domestic friendly. The Americans would also have the opportunity to play closed-door scrimmages against top-level club, as several German Bundesliga sides train in Qatar and the nearby United Arab Emirates during that league’s winter break.
This has to be Lalas right? I'm only half kidding. Lalas is somewhat of a twisted genius to me in that he has trolled so effectively over the years I have no earthly idea of where his perspective truly lies.A former MLS player and U.S. men’s national team member told Seattle-based conservative talk show host Jason Rantz that he hopes MLS fans “wear their MAGA gear to MLS games” now that “antifa thugs have just fought, and won the freedom of political expression,” according to an article published Wednesday by Rantz.
Totally agree, but I'm resigning myself to Zardes starting at least one game.Honestly I'd be more happy with like 80%. Let Zardes come in late, let Sargeant get 75 mins. Zardes shouldn't be a 75+ minute player for the USMNT no matter how much Berhalter loves his familiarity with the system.
I think the problem is just that Canada's men's soccer team hasn't been very good for a long time. We haven't lost to Canada since 1985 (10-7-0), and all the draws were in friendlies; we've won the last 7 competitive matches. Canada hasn't made the Hex since the 1998 cycle (they finished last, and we beat them 3-0 both home and away). If Canada ever got good again the rivalry would spark back up.Seeing this thread and the USMNT prospects thread bumped simultaneously, I was bracing for Dest developments.
I’ll take the opportunity to say that I wish we played Canada home and home every year. That should be a bigger rivalry. Throw in baseball, basketball, hockey and rugby and make it a whole international multi-sport event.
With the nations league, maybe at least the soccer part will happen more often.
The "Atiba was onside" game in the semifinal, when Canada was denied a goal to tie the US in stoppage time.I still remember a Gold Cup (‘08 or thereabouts) where Canada was a bad offsides call away from taking the US out - they played really well and seemed on the upswing then. It’s taken some time to build on that.
This being in a USMNT thread I thought you were referring to a US player jumping to another country.A tradition unlike any other: we already have a defection.
https://adncuba.com/deportes/primera-desercion-cubana-vispera-del-juego-vs-usa