The Official US Soccer thread

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Game times and TV rights for away matches are not determined by USSF.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Game times and TV rights for away matches are not determined by USSF.

Exactly. Concacaf lets the home team sell the rights to the game.

 

[Stout]

Exactly. Concacaf lets the home team sell the rights to the game.

I can understand the TV station part of things, then, but why would Mexico choose 10pm?

 

[cardpa]

I can understand the TV station part of things, then, but why would Mexico choose 10pm?

Unless I'm mistaken a two hour time difference so the game there would start at 8pm their time.

 

[Stout]

Unless I'm mistaken a two hour time difference so the game there would start at 8pm their time.

I am certainly not up on my geography then lol

 

[Zeno]

I can understand the TV station part of things, then, but why would Mexico choose 10pm?

Why would the US choose Minneapolis in February? Federations make weird decisions sometimes.

I guess good news is that Mexico is still facing a reduction in fans at home games due to their continued use of gay slurs at games--last 2 home games they had like 2500 fans but somehow the number is supposedly close to 45K tonight (Azteca seats 87K).

I am not even sure what to expect with this US team--between injuries & poor coaching (lineup decisions & in game management) I don't have a lot of faith

 

[Stout]

JFC Berhalter!!!

Berhalter: USMNT pondered 'B' team vs. Mexico

U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter said his staff have discussed playing a weakened team against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

www.espn.com

 

[Ronin]

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[Zeno]

JFC Berhalter!!!

Berhalter: USMNT pondered 'B' team vs. Mexico

U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter said his staff have discussed playing a weakened team against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

www.espn.com

So we should be prepared for bunker ball and absolutely no offensive tactics against Mexico. Berhalter is an idiot.

Let the boys loose, these kids want to attack, if we lose but play an aggressive style of play so be it. If we lose and show no fight going forward that goes against everything this team should be about.

 

[cardpa]

Nothing like admitting defeat before even playing the game. SMFH!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The US would be absolutely right to play absorb-then-counter and/or go for set pieces with their aerial advantage today. Denying Panama and Costa Rica points is immensely more important for qualifying than denying Mexico points. They might be telegraphing a 3 CB look by bringing Sands and Palmer-Brown on this roster. The US hasn’t looked good doing it in limited opportunities (very different situation no doubt) but there would be logic should they do such.

 

[Ronin]

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[Stout]

Given my work schedule and bed time, I'll have to watch hurriedly in the AM. Hope it doesn't ruin my Friday.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Sands and Palmer-Brown on this roster.

I really do not like Sands at CB

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That alone should get Berhalter fired.

 

[cardpa]

The US would be absolutely right to play absorb-then-counter and/or go for set pieces with their aerial advantage today. Denying Panama and Costa Rica points is immensely more important for qualifying than denying Mexico points. They might be telegraphing a 3 CB look by bringing Sands and Palmer-Brown on this roster. The US hasn’t looked good doing it in limited opportunities (very different situation no doubt) but there would be logic should they do such.

I think it's foolish to assume the US team can deny Panama and Costa Rica points when they play. Back in 2018 they assumed Trinidad and Tobago was going to roll over having been eliminated and they ended up losing the match. Any team should go into any event with the idea of winning not avoiding a loss and hoping for a tie. This is a defeatist attitude. You play your next game to win and then look forward to what you need to win in the game after that. You play to your strengths and look to neutralize your opponents strengths.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

We have Marsch right there and still choose to stick with Berhalter. Loser mentality.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I think it's foolish to assume the US team can deny Panama and Costa Rica points when they play. Back in 2018 they assumed Trinidad and Tobago was going to roll over having been eliminated and they ended up losing the match. Any team should go into any event with the idea of winning not avoiding a loss and hoping for a tie. This is a defeatist attitude. You play your next game to win and then look forward to what you need to win in the game after that. You play to your strengths and look to neutralize your opponents strengths.

The US using the depth that nobody else in this part of the world has IS playing to their strengths. Squads that haven’t or can’t rotate in the three game windows have done dreadfully in this tournament. I do not assume that the US will roll Panama and Costa Rica which is why they must intelligently manage their roster to maximize their chances to qualify overall. The US absolutely can get a result in Mexico by, say as one example, putting out a squad designed to maximize their aerial advantage in set pieces rather than rolling out social media’s collective best eleven like some video game. It is not about some “defeatist attitude”

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

We have Marsch right there and still choose to stick with Berhalter. Loser mentality.

USSF can’t afford Marsch.

 

[Stout]

Well, I suppose any time you pick up a point at the Azteca, it's a good result, but...JFC, that was a frustrating game. Pulisic sucked out loud. A child could have finished that goal, and he gave away possession so many times. Steffan must've taken a Valium, he was so sluggish and lazy. Why TF did he keep hoofing it long for PULISIC for a 50/50 header, like it was the plan? No quality on set pieces. And our idiot coach did his best to hand the game to Mexico with about 20 minutes left by bailing on the game and bringing on the B-side. Who TF is that striker, and why do we ever want to see him on the field again? Reyna is class, but we punted on that game late and should've lost. We got lucky, really lucky. Should've won it earlier, but should've lost it late. Good thing Mexico sucks too.

 

[cardpa]

Well, I suppose any time you pick up a point at the Azteca, it's a good result, but...JFC, that was a frustrating game. Pulisic sucked out loud. A child could have finished that goal, and he gave away possession so many times. Steffan must've taken a Valium, he was so sluggish and lazy. Why TF did he keep hoofing it long for PULISIC for a 50/50 header, like it was the plan? No quality on set pieces. And our idiot coach did his best to hand the game to Mexico with about 20 minutes left by bailing on the game and bringing on the B-side. Who TF is that striker, and why do we ever want to see him on the field again? Reyna is class, but we punted on that game late and should've lost. We got lucky, really lucky. Should've won it earlier, but should've lost it late. Good thing Mexico sucks too.

Agree, some of the decisions were mind boggling. Reyna is talented, however I had some reservations on his trying to be a one man show at times dribbling into dispossession a few times. Pulisic is disappointing. He's not a physical player at all. Doesn't seem all that interested in playing defense. I wonder how he plays for Chelsea. I thought Pepi was MIA. Weah and Yedlin are out next game because of accumulated yellows. Canada lost to Costa Rica last night.

 

[Stout]

Agree, some of the decisions were mind boggling. Reyna is talented, however I had some reservations on his trying to be a one man show at times dribbling into dispossession a few times. Pulisic is disappointing. He's not a physical player at all. Doesn't seem all that interested in playing defense. I wonder how he plays for Chelsea. I thought Pepi was MIA. Weah and Yedlin are out next game because of accumulated yellows. Canada lost to Costa Rica last night.

Well, neither of them were very good anyway. Still thins the options. Yeah, Pepi sucked too.

We're heading into very, very dangerous territory. Pretty much a must win v Panama Sunday.

 

[cardpa]

Well, neither of them were very good anyway. Still thins the options. Yeah, Pepi sucked too.

We're heading into very, very dangerous territory. Pretty much a must win v Panama Sunday.

I agree, they need to win the Panama game or they are certainly in danger of missing another WC. I remember watching the Gold Cup when the team was made up mostly of reserves and I thought they looked better than what we saw last night. I thought Busio, Hoppe, Acosta, Lletget, Roldan, ZImmerman, Robinson, and Arriola played better as a team than what we saw last night. They had a higher work rate were more aggressive and seemed better conditioned. Last night the team appeared to be on its last legs knocking long balls down the field in the last 15 minutes with no effort whatsoever to counter or press the offense, like they were just trying to hang onto a tie. They looked completely spent. Yes I know Mexico City is a high altitude location but they could have trained near Denver or some other high altitude location in the US and gotten used to the thinner air. If this is the best we can put on the pitch then I expect an early departure (not getting out of group play) come WC.

 

[Stout]

I agree, they need to win the Panama game or they are certainly in danger of missing another WC. I remember watching the Gold Cup when the team was made up mostly of reserves and I thought they looked better than what we saw last night. I thought Busio, Hoppe, Acosta, Lletget, Roldan, ZImmerman, Robinson, and Arriola played better as a team than what we saw last night. They had a higher work rate were more aggressive and seemed better conditioned. Last night the team appeared to be on its last legs knocking long balls down the field in the last 15 minutes with no effort whatsoever to counter or press the offense, like they were just trying to hang onto a tie. They looked completely spent. Yes I know Mexico City is a high altitude location but they could have trained near Denver or some other high altitude location in the US and gotten used to the thinner air. If this is the best we can put on the pitch then I expect an early departure (not getting out of group play) come WC.

Well, from one window to the next, our coach refuses to field even close to the same team, and decides to give even more youngsters significant minutes. Doesn't help team cohesion.

 

[Stout]

I just looked at the run in of fixtures, and that's certainly unfavorable to the U.S. This could be a nightmare if we don't win tomorrow.