World Cup Day 14 12/3: KNOCKOUT!!! USA!!!
- Thread starter DJnVa
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Sorry, posted it above. He thought they played a little too reckless at 2-1 and should have consolidated and played to be sound instead of ragged and disorganized trying to push forward. His point was that “there is always another chance.” Lalas disagreed and liked the aggressiveness.
Agree with all this. I’m really confused at how, with all the talented athletes we produce, we struggle to find a striker. I’m not even looking for Lewandowski or Kane. I’d settle for Danny Ings or Moise Kean
Again I don’t think the conversation should revolve around the striker. It’s definitely a problem but if you play a 4-3-3 you need your wingers to do a lot of chance creation and that was the major problem. The best thing that could happen to the USMNT would be Pulisic getting a transfer and a regular run of matches for 4 years
My personally theory, and part of it is played out I know:
1) just lack of 'soccer intuition' - didn't play enough, didn't watch enough etc. plus growing up the tall fast early puberty kids get pushed up top even if not the best option
2) Kane, Lew and a lot of other top strikers are a little taller. The 6'+ athletes in the US get pushed elsewhere or attracted elsewhere. The 6'1 speedy and strong kid wants to try football instead of soccer even if he only goes D3 college there whereas could do well into MLS.
For whatever reason this is one position that has lagged a bit behind the development of the other positions in this cycle. And unlike CB you can’t really hide the limitations of a given striker. At this level, a plugger who is theoretically positionally sound and occupies space just isn’t good enough.
There is a lot intuition that goes into a quality striker; when to make the perfectly timed run, etc. Also needs ruthlessness to just fuckin turn and shoot the ball on a dime sometimes with a preternatural sense of where the corner of the net is (see Serbia’s 2nd goal yesterday for example). Our group this cycle were basically unskilled, unaggressive, and uncreative. Very very poor group all around, with Sargent’s decent hold up play the only bright spot. But few actual positive attacking ideas from any of them in all four games. Their loan goal was a freak touch.
But the other thing is there are limited opportunities. A lot of teams play with one striker, maybe two. You need to PRODUCE if you are going to make it in one of the top leagues and really develop world class quality or they will sit your ass down. We just need to keep building our depth up the way we have been and someone will inevitably rise.
View: https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1599084466747547649
Saw another that was 1.77-1.51 for Netherlands.
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He pointed right at Dumfries before the 3rd goal. He has to trust this defenders heard him and reacted to it, because he's counting on that guy to be marked.
USA did not have good situational awareness or speed of thought defending all night. All Dutch goals were from attackers making runs into the box well after the first attackers arrived, set up, and drew defenders. No one picking up those runners. Maybe mental fatigue? I have t bern a GGG fan but this side was very well drilled in the group stage, maybe they just didn’t have enough left in the tank.
On the first goal they strung together 20 consecutive passes--they had the US players moving and the defenders were hauling ass back towards the net. And then the perfect cutback pass when the defenders were playing to defend a pass beyond them.
I think this game was lost against Wales. That was very winnable and would have allowed the Iran match to be far less taxing physically and emotionally.
There may not have been a way through the Dutch, but I think it’s clear the US was drained.
I agree. Especially with Netherlands having Qatar in their last group game. Didn’t have to break a sweat.
The CB also needs to look over his shoulder and shout at Jedi to watch Dumfries creeping in. Keeper and CB need to be generals in the back.
One thing you can say about USA/NED, it was very entertaining. This ARG/AUS match is pretty dull so far.
I guess that’s why there are basically no comments here and we are in the 30th minute.
Is there any reason I should dislike Messi? Are there any skeletons in his closet? Is he a dickhead on the field, and I’ve been blissfully unaware?
Is Adams as fast as Memphis if he’s at 100%? Asking honestly. I don’t know, it just seems unlikely.
Can't find their 40 times, but Adams was jogging back and stopped before the ball was played in
And very ironic given Donovan was known for offense and Lalas for defense
Was he the goalie in the game vs France as well? Because he was a shithead who cost them a goal in that game too.
I think one thing I’d have the US invest in is a conditioning coach or a new program... I’ve never seen a team of 24 year olds be exhausted at 60 minutes so consistently.. every single game they stopped tracking, couldn’t make as many runs.. etc. not sure what’s going on there but on each goal you can see the US defender either losing his man or behind by 5 to ten feet.. they looked absolutely exhausted every match in the second half. And the subs today were basically invisible and didn’t seem to add any energy other than the pretty fluky goal.
Wife and I went out for a swanky lunch after subsisting on a stadium shawarma yesterday, and found out we are eating where the Dutch are staying 
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Decided to look up where all the other teams are. Some of them are a little surprising:
https://www.timeoutdoha.com/sport-wellbeing/world-cup-team-hotels-qatar-2022
Edit: our waiter told us Louis van Gaal was very nice.
.Decided to look up where all the other teams are. Some of them are a little surprising:
https://www.timeoutdoha.com/sport-wellbeing/world-cup-team-hotels-qatar-2022
Edit: our waiter told us Louis van Gaal was very nice.
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They’re exhausted by the 60th because they’ve already done 90 minutes worth of running. It’s not a conditioning problem, it’s a tactical one. The best sides in the world can turn that flying, pressing style off and comfortable absorb pressure while recharging. They’ll then launch another swarm. The US can’t do that yet.
Yesterday the cost of the group stage came due. I said it somewhere else- the lack of finishing in the groups is what left them utterly exhausted mentally and physically yesterday. Another goal in any of those games (especially Wales or England) and the craziness in the Iran match never materializes.