Player Ratings
Turner 6 - One solid save but looked shaky at times on set pieces. Could do nothing on the PK. Average
Dest 6 - Naïve tackle to pick up a completely unnecessary yellow but calm on the ball and the drop off when Yedlin came on was noticeable.
Zimmerman 5 - Battled hard but also naïve on the penalty that cost us 2 points.
Ream 7 - Solid in defense and passed well. Good relationship with Robinson
Robinson 7 - Amazing motor. We looked much stronger on the left throughout the match.
Adams 8 - Clearly the best player on the pitch. Won everything
McKennie 4 - Thought he sucked. Gave the ball away constantly. Looked to be injured. Aaronson must start against England
Musah 6 - Potential is through the roof. Lost effectiveness in 2H but he gives us something different and positive compared to other MFs
Pulisic 7 - Was very dangerous until he was kicked out of the game.
Sargent 6 - Needs to put the header on target but did his job. Held up the ball and pressed well.
Weah 7 - Tired late but provided effective wing play and scored the goal. Should start again
Aaronson 6 - Should have come on earlier. Won possession and didn't constantly give the ball away like Weston
Acosta 5 - We needed to shore things up defensively and he is all we have. World Cup level is just above him.
Wright 4 - Why is he on the team instead of Pepi?
Yedlin 4 - Clear drop-off in quality from Dest. Shouldn't get another opportunity with two more RBs on the roster
Morris 4 - Provides nothing. Why did he come on instead of Gio? Shouldn't be on the roster much less the field.
Berhalter 4 - Got the starters right but who couldn't? All of his subs were average or poor other than the obvious one that everyone could have made. Completely outcoached by Page at HT and throughout the second half. Looked shell shocked every time the camera panned to him. We all knew he would fuck us this world cup and he did. Moron.
Qatari ref 4 - This is the world cup and there will be a few refs who aren't qualified for this level and he is one of them. Allowed Wales to kick Pulisic out of the game and was inconsistent throughout but for both sides.
Wales will likely play a 3-4-3 while in attack (which will primarily be counterattacking) and a 5-4-1 while in defense.
They have good speed on the wings on the counter with James and Johnson (both EPL players). Bale will probably start as a false 9 with Aaron Ramsey (in decline but experienced) and Ampadu (Chelsea loanee in Serie A) in CM.
Their back five consists of two EPL starters (including Ben Davies from Spurs) and a Ligue 1 starter at CB, and an EPL and Championship player at wingback. GK will also be an EPL starter.
I can definitely envision greggg getting his ass handed to him tactically here.
Shaw is LB and in good form. Clinical cross to Bellingham for the opener. England will be looking to crush us for a number of reasons including being able to rest guys against Wales.
Southgate finally played only 2 CBs. Playing an attacking lineup against a completely outclassed defense will yield that 1H.
Maguire looks great in a game where his primary responsibility is to win headers in the opposition box. He will get exposed immediately when he has to repeatedly defend pace on the turn.