October 11Oct 11 2 minutes ago, randomhorn said: This some bull shit Miles is lucky to just get a yellow.
October 11Oct 11 1 minute ago, tokamak said: I think that’s a little harsh to Freese but ECU goalie has been great so far. It’s more meant as a compliment to Ecuadors keeper, he’s been fantastic. Freese has been challenged once and gave up a goal.
October 11Oct 11 I’m happy with Tessmann’s play so far. He could still be more of a presence on corner kicks… OH SO CLOSE! CORNER: … Could we clear the defenders on corner kicks? This isn’t even Pulisic sending them in!
October 11Oct 11 We have been close several times. I much rather see us play like this than how we have most of the last 20 months.
October 11Oct 11 13 minutes ago, Ted Lange said: Ecuadors recent form. Argentina had zero shots on goal vs them. So you’re saying… WE ARE THE STANDARD!
October 11Oct 11 There should have been a body slam foul called on ECU just outside the box, but the foul against the USA that stopped play was NOT a foul.
October 11Oct 11 McKenzie in mid-qualifying form! Has McKenzie ever played well for the USA? Tillman was off. 😁
October 11Oct 11 Really surprised Ecuador has backed off so much. Maybe they always try to protect a lead like this?
October 11Oct 11 6 minutes ago, LurkingHorn said: Really surprised Ecuador has backed off so much. Maybe they always try to protect a lead like this? They are without their best player (Chelsea’s Caicedo) and another 1 or 2 of their starters. Maybe they are adjusting to their personnel. The USMNT score started with winning a ball on the offensive side of midfield and then sending the ball to an offsides Tillman on the right wing. Tillman then crossed the ball into Balogun, who was making a run toward the near post from the edge of the box with a defender on his back. Balogun kind of bundles (bungles?) the ball into off the near post. Replay showed that Tillman may have been onside by a blade of grass, but they definitely didn’t show the technology that shows how much of the defender was keeping Tillman onsides. Edited October 11Oct 11 by Napoleon
October 11Oct 11 Why has Pochettino been playing video games all match? He should be paying attention to the team!
October 11Oct 11 Also I love Luna but I think his role this cycle is best just as a guy you sub on at 80’ and tell him to run his ass off. I’m not an “mls sux lol!” guy but he needs to go to the Dutch league or something like that to keep developing tactically.
October 11Oct 11 I didn’t realize Ecuador was in 2nd in CONMEBOL qualifying and has only given up 5 goals in 18 matches. That was a pretty good team we had on the ropes without Adams, Dest, and Jedi. Very positive performance for me.
October 11Oct 11 I was wondering why Pochettino almost made out with the Ecuadorean manager, but it’s because they have probably kissed many times before. The grossest part of playing 6 v 6 fútbol with a group of Argies from 2008-2009 was that after kissing everyone on the cheek before we played… …before we left, when we were all sweaty and gross, we had to go through and cheek-to-cheek with the kiss sound to every one of the other 11 guys who played. Besos are just part of the culture there. Show up for my dentist appointment and Dr. Pettiti has me give her a beso before I go sit in the patient’s chair and then she instructs me with a “Dame un beso.” as she hurries me out of the room so she can take her next patient.
October 11Oct 11 Weston apparently is finally taking his fitness seriously. It would be nice if players could take their fitness seriously from a young age, but so many don’t.
October 11Oct 11 Seeing the USMNT play that competently vs a legit opponent was fun to watch. They actually look like they know what they were doing. Ecuador is close to a R16 level opponent. They were missing some guys but so were we. Since Poch made the switch to 3 in the back, things seemed to have clicked. I’m genuinely hopeful about the team for the first time in a long time.
October 11Oct 11 Speaking of the back 3, from The Athletics match review The USMNT’s new preferred formation? For the second straight game, and for the first time to open an international window, Pochettino rolled out three center backs in a 3-4-2-1 formation. When he switched to the shape after 60 minutes against South Korea last month, it was intriguing. When it worked reasonably well in a 2-0 win over Japan three days later, Pochettino and players spoke about it as a useful Plan B. “I think it’s good to have different plans, approach to the games, use different formations,” the head coach said postgame. But when he used it from the start again on Friday, it became something more than that. Part of the initial intrigue was key players who seemed to suit the new shape. But even with two of those players, Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, out of the starting 11 due to fitness concerns, and Sergiño Dest also absent due to injury, Pochettino went back to it. He brought in Miles Robinson as a third center back, for a first start since the loss to Turkey in June. He played McKennie and Tillman as dual No. 10s with Morris and Tessmann sitting deeper in midfield behind them. Max Arfsten and Weah played as the wingbacks. The U.S. looked dangerous in the formation, finding space in transition but also via buildup. The formation benefitted especially from the play of Balogun, who consistently made dangerous runs, held the ball up to help spark attacks and created space for those around him. The formation was also different, more of a hybrid, than it had been against Korea and Japan. Both of those teams had also played with three center backs. Ecuador’s back four required a U.S. defensive tweak to match up man-to-man. Without the ball, the U.S. spent most of the first half in a 4-4-2, with Tillman dropping to a left midfield position and McKennie stepping up beside Balogun. And occasionally, Weah would press high, stretching the shape into more of a 4-3-3. Weah’s presence as the right wingback also compelled Pochettino to tweak the shape in possession. Weah often stayed high, with Miles Robinson splaying out to the right touchline in a traditional right fullback position. On one occasion, Robinson even overlapped Weah in the final third. And here are the extended highlights for those that missed the match.
October 11Oct 11 Obviously they’ve hit on something but where do Jedi and Dest fit in? I guess they can play the role that Arfsten was playing last night? Same question for Adams. He replaces Morris?
October 11Oct 11 Jedi and Dest are immediate upgrades over Arfsten and Weah at WB. In Jedis case a really big upgrade. The midfield is where it gets interesting as we are losing one spot, no MMA. If healthy Adam’s is a lock for one of the 6s, I’d think Weston is first choice as his partner, but there are gonna be some options, Tessman, Johnny (if his club form ever carries over), Musah, Morris…
October 11Oct 11 15 hours ago, LurkingHorn said: I didn’t realize Ecuador was in 2nd in CONMEBOL qualifying and has only given up 5 goals in 18 matches. That was a pretty good team we had on the ropes without Adams, Dest, and Jedi. Very positive performance for me. They are much better than "pretty good". They are one of the best 10 or 15 teams in the world right now. That was as good as we have ever played under Poch imo. Could have easily been a W. Especially if Pulisic was given a full half instead of ~20 mins.
October 12Oct 12 22 hours ago, tokamak said: Not impressed with Haji so far I mentally marked this but forget to comment. I thought Haji was the worst player we put on the pitch. Just awful play any time he got the ball.
October 12Oct 12 U20 World Cup 🇨🇴 Colombia 3 - 2 Spain 🇪🇸 🇦🇷 Argentina 2 - 0 México 🇲🇽 Argentina played like the Italian cyclists from “Breaking Away”. They are talented and cheap shot fuckers and used two challenges in the last few minutes of the match to get two different Mexicans sent off even though the game was over. Mexico is always Argentina’s bitch, but the Argentine manager wanted to remind them in the most jackass way. If it weren’t against México, I would be embarrassed for my adopted country. But since it’s México… I FUCKING LOVED IT!! 😎🇦🇷⚽️ Edited October 12Oct 12 by Napoleon
October 12Oct 12 US plays Morocco today in the "Elite 8". Game is at 3 on Universo, Fix soccer+, and Peacock.
October 12Oct 12 The Mexican national team got beat 4-0 by Colombia in Jerry World last night, they take on Ecuador next.
October 12Oct 12 Crap. Just gave up a goal off a long throw. 2-1 Morocco 67th minute. And an own goal at that. Oof
October 13Oct 13 6 hours ago, Ted Lange said: Crap. Just gave up a goal off a long throw. 2-1 Morocco 67th minute. And an own goal at that. Oof
October 15Oct 15 I was hoping someone else would post the lineup. I have to do everything around here. CP starting but much weaker lineup. Sands and Freeman are both bad. McKenzie is meh. Haji looked bad last game but he has some quality - hopefully he's better. Edited October 15Oct 15 by ztejas
October 15Oct 15 15 minutes ago, ztejas said: We "jugamos un partido" (as @Napoleon might say) in 20 minutes, fellas. ¡Vamos a jugar un clásico contra Australia! …¿no? ¡Van a estar docenas de hinchas en el estadio! Puede ser cientos!
October 15Oct 15 18 minutes ago, ztejas said: I was hoping someone else would post the lineup. I have to do everything around here? CP starting but much weaker lineup. Sands and Freeman are both bad. McKenzie is meh. Haji looked bad last game but he has some quality - hopefully he's better. Sands is much improved since going to Germany. Freeman shows potential. McKenzie is meth (FIFY) & Haji only plays well with Christian, but not every time he plays with Christian.
October 15Oct 15 8 minutes ago, Napoleon said: Sands is much improved since going to Germany. Freeman shows potential. Neither of those things are mutually exclusive with the claim that I made. 😂
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.