it wasn't disastrous, but I think it was bad. Do you want to argue he made the highest-percentage play? My impression was that he was ahead of the defenders, or nearly so, but instead of putting it straight forward to take a centered shot on goal (or draw everyone and then lay it off), he chose to stop, go to the side and then put it wide to Arriola who then took enough time to let the D get reset. I'd listen if that's really the play there though. We ultimately had 4-on-2 and didn't even get a shot on goal.I'm not sure I'd call the first touch bad, he kept control and had a nice layoff to Arriola.
that's CAPTAIN Tim Ream to you, buddy.Tim Ream trying to get the assist on the tying goal.
Ouch. HahYou can't say Zardes wasn't a game-changing sub....
I'm not arguing that it was the highest-percentage play, just that I feel like "bad" makes it sound worse than it was. He could have done better, certainly.it wasn't disastrous, but I think it was bad. Do you want to argue he made the highest-percentage play? My impression was that he was ahead of the defenders, or nearly so, but instead of putting it straight forward to take a centered shot on goal (or draw everyone and then lay it off), he chose to stop, go to the side and then put it wide to Arriola who then took enough time to let the D get reset. I'd listen if that's really the play there though. We ultimately had 4-on-2 and didn't even get a shot on goal.
There's some things Zardes does well, but not in this match.There's some things Zardes does well, but he just had another pretty shocking turnover in the middle of the park.
I’m sure I miss a lot of nuance but to my eyes he flat out sucksThere's some things Zardes does well, but he just had another pretty shocking turnover in the middle of the park.
He's made some good runs. He did well to get through on the ball that he proceeded to mishit badly.There's some things Zardes does well, but not in this match.
He does do a few things well, but he's REALLY bad at the things he's bad at, which is why he just isn't up to the level of the NT.I’m sure I miss a lot of nuance but to my eyes he flat out sucks
He's got speed. He's tall and occasionally can head it ok.I’m sure I miss a lot of nuance but to my eyes he flat out sucks
Coldest spot in the state, every winter. Fwiw.Watching this at a bar in Stanley, Idaho, population 68. Inexplicably, the entire bar of tourists is engaged in the game.
TBH, Zardes isn't even that fast.He's got speed. He's tall and occasionally can head it ok.
I'm told that at the MLS level he's a stone-cold killer, but at the international level it's usually a bit of a clownshoes display.
The clip begins with footage of Frankie Simek coming on as a sub. That DOES seem like a long time ago!Isn't the last U.S.-Mexico GC final at Soldier Field the one that Benny won with the volley golazo from the top of the 18? (Wow, it doesn't seem like it was 12 years ago...)
Healthy Brooks plus this crew is honestly something I’m pretty comfortable with, CB-wise. RB seems to have increasingly decent depth too once Yedlin is healthy. Just need to hope for an LB to turn up somewhere.I'm seeing just enough to be titillated for when Adams is well and Sargent/Weah come along. Who knows what the back line will bring beyond a healthy Brooks, though.
I thought Long has done quite nicely. Has some offensive pop and is solid at the back.I'm seeing just enough to be titillated for when Adams is well and Sargent/Weah come along. Who knows what the back line will bring beyond a healthy Brooks, though.
Footedness is a part of it, but I think a lot of it has to do with comfort and familiarity. FBs are expected to make serious contributions to the attack in the modern game, and if a typical RB just doesn't quite feel comfortable on the left flank because the angles are all reversed, he's going to have trouble getting forward at the right times and combining with other players on that side.I'm going to expose my ignorance, I've played defense, mostly CB, my entire life. What makes finding a LB so difficult?? Why not just put Lima on LB and Yedlin at RB or whatever?
IS it the footedness of the player - aka want a left foot dominant player to play wide crosses?
These are pro players, they should be able to hit an off foot cross halfway decently (then again some of our guys can't play an on foot cross decently) or cut back to dominant foot and play an in-swinging cross
When did Zardes get so bad? It seemed like anytime he had to participate in a play, rather than just run defenders off the play the attack was doomed to fail.The ball just circulates so much better with Jozy on the pitch. His ability to control and pass is a difference maker up top right now. I hope Jozy is ready to start and go 75 against Mexico. Please?
I really need him to be better at ball stopping and not get pushed around on set pieces in the box if he is going to keep up his on field tough guy act.Miazga has looked a step slow and needs to hit the gym a little
Absolutely sparking offense is a key for FB these days. And while angles are slightly different, it is the same game. Take a RB who is used to bombing down the wing wide, overlapping runs etc - so a lot of straight forward motion with a wide, out swinging cross. But they cut back all the time and play square or short passes too.Footedness is a part of it, but I think a lot of it has to do with comfort and familiarity. FBs are expected to make serious contributions to the attack in the modern game, and if a typical RB just doesn't quite feel comfortable on the left flank because the angles are all reversed, he's going to have trouble getting forward at the right times and combining with other players on that side.
Cutback crosses are fine, though they take longer because it requires at least one extra touch. Sometimes that second can make the difference for a defense that is trying to recover their shape.
All that being said, Lima has played more LB than RB this season for San Jose, so I'd be interested to see him tried there.
We actually have a number of legit LB prospects in the pipeline, but they are unready to step up and young enough that it remains to be seen whether they will reach their potential.
2000 — Chris Gloster (Hannover, possibly moving to PSV)
2002 — George Bello (Atlanta), Kobe Hernandez-Foster (LA Galaxy, not pro yet, might move abroad)
2003 — Jonathan Gomez (FC Dallas, not pro yet, but has been playing for their reserve team in USL)
If things go well, Gloster could enter the NT picture before 2022. The others, probably not unless they really get on a fast track.
I agree that it sounds simple, but it just doesn't ever seem to work out that way. I'd guess that the minor differences can cause players to hesitate slightly in moments or play slightly more tentatively and often that makes all the difference.Absolutely sparking offense is a key for FB these days. And while angles are slightly different, it is the same game. Take a RB who is used to bombing down the wing wide, overlapping runs etc - so a lot of straight forward motion with a wide, out swinging cross. But they cut back all the time and play square or short passes too.
The converted LB can cut back and play more of the possession passes square and inside if needed, but still provides an attacking presence, with the occasional off foot cross.
Perhaps I am over simplifying this for a national team level, just seems incredible after all these years the US 'can't find anyone.'
It matters too how the rest of the team is constructed. If a team is playing with real wingers, the footedness of the FB matters a lot less. E.g. Pep's City teams get their width from the wingers and use the FBs as possession players, so Pep can experiment with all kinds of weird choices at FB (he won the title playing converted central midfielder Fabian Delph at LB).I agree that it sounds simple, but it just doesn't ever seem to work out that way. I'd guess that the minor differences can cause players to hesitate slightly in moments or play slightly more tentatively and often that makes all the difference.
Mostly I’m just not really familiar with the guys on this roster outside of the handful of times I’ve seen Miazga—of whom my very first impression a few years back was that he was shockingly weak in the air given his height. I have liked Long, and I ride hard for Yedlin. I guess part of it has been waiting for the aforementioned CCV forever and not having other Pulisic/McKennie-level talents on D, but we’ve always been able to pull a decent crew together, even without a LB.I thought Long has done quite nicely. Has some offensive pop and is solid at the back.
Miazga has looked a step slow and needs to hit the gym a little
Lima and Cannon looked solid at RB, then of course Yedlin in the future.
I'm going to expose my ignorance, I've played defense, mostly CB, my entire life. What makes finding a LB so difficult?? Why not just put Lima on LB and Yedlin at RB or whatever?
IS it the footedness of the player - aka want a left foot dominant player to play wide crosses?
These are pro players, they should be able to hit an off foot cross halfway decently (then again some of our guys can't play an on foot cross decently) or cut back to dominant foot and play an in-swinging cross
CCV is still in the pipeline. He was on loan at Swansea in the Championship last year. He was on the bench to start the season, but took over the starting job when someone got hurt and never let go of it even after the original starter returned to health.edit - also - is CCV still in the pipeline for the US or he hasn't developed enough as expected? (I know he is still just 21).
Aka the Freddy Adu story in bold.CCV is still in the pipeline. He was on loan at Swansea in the Championship last year. He was on the bench to start the season, but took over the starting job when someone got hurt and never let go of it even after the original starter returned to health.
CCV is disadvantaged in Berhalter's system because, among our CBs and CB prospects, he's a weak passer. I can't say I saw much of him for Swansea, but I've read some reports that his passing improved last season. If so, that greatly boosts his prospects. The other thing about CCV is that he reached full physical maturity at a rather young age, so sometimes guys like that peak early and plateau. For a prospect he has a high floor (he's already demonstrated that he's a solid Champ defender at worst) but it remains to be seen how much more upside he has.
Anyway, I'd start Long in a full-strength US XI along with Brooks at the moment. He's mobile, he's tough, he reads the game, he's a good enough passer. Beyond them, Richards is someone I hope develops into a stud. Most of the rest will probably be good CBs who aren't game-changers for the USMNT, but there's a reasonable hope that a couple of them will really take the next step and rise above the rest.
Early physical maturity is just one factor that led to such an epic bust like Adu. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, except catastrophic injury.Aka the Freddy Adu story in bold.
McKennie is an absolute beast in the air, too. He reminds of Bocanegra, in that he is way better in the air than someone under 6'0" should be.Nice thing about Long and Brooks they seem to have some offensive capability on corners and free kicks. US needs all the extra offensive power they can get.
Great to hear we have some others knocking on the door as well.
Ask and ye shall receive: Lima has mostly been starting at LB for the Quakes this year. He was bad in March, got benched, the newly-converted-to-RB Tommy Thompson took over, then Lima went back into the lineup at LB where he's stayed until he went off to the Gold Cup.Can the USMNT / USSF ask some of the MLS teams to move someone like Lima or Cannon to LB during the season? Is that a thing? Or we get DaMarcus Beasley out of NT retirement I guess...