USMNT: Soccer's Coming Home
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
Thought Gio was just OK. Served some nice passes and should’ve drawn one or two whistles in danger areas, but also made some careless passes. Still has the mopey demeanor but I’ve come to terms with just having to live with that.
Was really nice to watch Pulisic cook.
Was really nice to watch Pulisic cook.
Love a short, skilled, confident mfer. In small sample he’s got something for sure. Different look from the rest of our wingers.
Anything we take from that game must come with a Grenada-sized grain of salt, but:
It was the first US away win in more than a year which Is just wild to me. I like this way of attacking more with fewer triggers, less systemization, less structure with most fluidity and creativity. I’m curious as to how this looks against El Salvador. ES must win and the US needs any result, so expect a solid lineup. Folks that were at the practices said that this was the B defense and everyone else the A team, so I’d guess switch out the entire D and keep the rest (maybe Musah in for LDLT??). Last three competitive games against El Salvador:
0-0 WCQ Away
1-0 WCQ Home
1-1 CNL Away
Hugo Perez’s boys have been a tough out.
- I liked the 4-2-3-1 with a lot of fluidity and interchanging between the 3 (CP, Gio, Aaronson)
- There seemed to be a lot more space by inverting the midfield triangle and not having Pepi doing too much false 9 stuff. Christian seemed to benefit the most.
- CP was great, Gio kinda meh (and I’m the conductor of the “Gio as a 10” train). But they worked together so any off field issues aren’t translating right now at least.
- Grenada really shouldn’t be scoring against the US. Looked like a couple of mental lapses
It was the first US away win in more than a year which Is just wild to me. I like this way of attacking more with fewer triggers, less systemization, less structure with most fluidity and creativity. I’m curious as to how this looks against El Salvador. ES must win and the US needs any result, so expect a solid lineup. Folks that were at the practices said that this was the B defense and everyone else the A team, so I’d guess switch out the entire D and keep the rest (maybe Musah in for LDLT??). Last three competitive games against El Salvador:
0-0 WCQ Away
1-0 WCQ Home
1-1 CNL Away
Hugo Perez’s boys have been a tough out.
Yeah aside from the CF, I'd be surprised if Monday's lineup deviated at all from:
Pepi/Dike
CP - Reyna - Aaronson
McKennie - Musah
Jedi - Ream - Miles - Dest
Turner
Basically our absolutely first choice non-Tyler-Adams lineup.
Pepi/Dike
CP - Reyna - Aaronson
McKennie - Musah
Jedi - Ream - Miles - Dest
Turner
Basically our absolutely first choice non-Tyler-Adams lineup.
Close, it’s Dike up top in the land where his legend first spread and Zendejas in for Aaronson which, frankly, I’m into. Excited to see what both can do with the full squad around them.
Last edited:
It’ll be fun to see what Zendejas can do with the A team. I don’t necessarily think he’s better than other options but just a different profile. I’m a little surprised by Dike but we do need to see how he holds the ball and links up with the other attackers.
They’re too disconnected in the midfield so far. ES forcing them into some stretch passes that aren’t connecting.
El Salvador spent two minutes setting up their marking and wall and gesturing to each other then left absolutely nobody on McKennie at the far post. That was comical.
McKennie should do better but the ball wasn't great. If that ball is hit a touch further and better he has a header in stride rather than having to awkwardly redirect it.
McKennie should do better but the ball wasn't great. If that ball is hit a touch further and better he has a header in stride rather than having to awkwardly redirect it.
OK half. Seeing more from Gio tonight and would like the ball at his feet more closer to goal.
Zendejas looks a little nervy, holding the ball too much.
I like Jedi but Pulisic does not benefit from having him as a wingman down the left. Not enough touch, not enough precision.
Dike has done well to draw fouls in dangerous areas but not seeing much of the ball. Nearly on the end of a couple services.
Sweet spot looks to be the 18-25 area, this is where they’ve found gaps.
Zendejas looks a little nervy, holding the ball too much.
I like Jedi but Pulisic does not benefit from having him as a wingman down the left. Not enough touch, not enough precision.
Dike has done well to draw fouls in dangerous areas but not seeing much of the ball. Nearly on the end of a couple services.
Sweet spot looks to be the 18-25 area, this is where they’ve found gaps.
The US was really cooking when Gio got on the ball more, say from the 25th-35th minute. Lots of poor touches by all of the outside players (CP, Zendejas, Jedi, Dest). Musah at times had nice change of pace dribbles, but was mostly invisible.
Give El Salvador credit, they aren’t just sitting back.
I only saw the second part of the half but they seem to be playing well, hardly giving El Salvador a sniff and creating some dangerous situations. As is often the case, they're missing that little bit of top quality in the final third. Dest's ball to Pulisic around 40 minutes could have been a little lower and dippier and he would have had a free header from point blank range, the free kick to McKennie could have been a bit longer and more forceful and he has a running bullet header instead of whatever weird contortion he had to make to try to get on the end of that.
Thought Booth waited to long to serve that ball but nice job by Pepi sliding into the space. Good look by Booth.
I love Aaronson’s game. Especially as a super sub. He’s probably such a pain in the ass to play against