The Official US Soccer thread

[MigratingOsprey]

A midweek check in

Americans Abroad Midweek Rewind: McKennie, Tillman, and more - SBI Soccer

Juventus made it two wins out of two to begin its UEFA Champions League return, with Weston McKennie playing a key role in Wednesday's road victory.

sbisoccer.com

Reyna and injuries are frustrating - wanting to get into the squad, not being available for Pokal (league cup) matches against lower division teams or walk through European competing line their match against Celtic hurts.

That has been the path McKennie has rode the past 2 seasons - he doesn't care about what Juventus plans, he shows up in training, takes his opportunities as depth and puts himself into the lineup

Weah is in danger of falling out of the rotation as he deals with injuries.

Circling back to Pulisic, this has been the most refreshing thing with him - he's been able to play a full schedule of big minutes and the production rides with that.

There is a lot of negative talk about his performance with Chelsea, a lot of which is unfair - but it comes with injuries/availability. If you can't show up and consistently work with the top 11, you won't be in it.

From there you risk falling out of the sub pattern as well.

Hopefully he stays healthy and the many US players that seem to constantly struggle for health can find their footing

 

[Lorenzo]

A midweek check in

Americans Abroad Midweek Rewind: McKennie, Tillman, and more - SBI Soccer

Juventus made it two wins out of two to begin its UEFA Champions League return, with Weston McKennie playing a key role in Wednesday's road victory.

sbisoccer.com

Reyna and injuries are frustrating - wanting to get into the squad, not being available for Pokal (league cup) matches against lower division teams or walk through European competing line their match against Celtic hurts.

That has been the path McKennie has rode the past 2 seasons - he doesn't care about what Juventus plans, he shows up in training, takes his opportunities as depth and puts himself into the lineup

Weah is in danger of falling out of the rotation as he deals with injuries.

Circling back to Pulisic, this has been the most refreshing thing with him - he's been able to play a full schedule of big minutes and the production rides with that.

There is a lot of negative talk about his performance with Chelsea, a lot of which is unfair - but it comes with injuries/availability. If you can't show up and consistently work with the top 11, you won't be in it.

From there you risk falling out of the sub pattern as well.

Hopefully he stays healthy and the many US players that seem to constantly struggle for health can find their footing

Chelsea were basically hoarding players. If your name wasn't mason mount, you were going to be in and out of the lineup even if you were healthy.

Tyler Adams and Reyna are both frustrating because they always seem to be injured. Another player that I love is Darryl Dike and his career has been derailed by serious injuries. it's part of the game I guess, and you hope not to have serious injuries.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Yeah, I really enjoyed that young potential with Dike - just nothing but major injuries - rough for him

 

[Lorenzo]

USA beat Panama 2-0 last night in Austin. Musah finally gets a goal. I hope he features more under the new manager. Pulisic and a few other players have been released back to their clubs for load management. USA will be without them vs. Mexico in that friendly.

 

[cardpa]

I thought they looked pretty good last night. Seemed to move the ball quicker and they combined better.

 

[Lorenzo]

I thought they looked pretty good last night. Seemed to move the ball quicker and they combined better.

that's good to hear. I am very happy that we have Pochettino.

 

[Ronin]

Tim Howard: USA fans have ‘every right to be frustrated’ at Milan star Pulisic

USMNT legend Tim Howard says USA fans have ‘every right’ to be frustrated at Milan star Christian Pulisic, who was released by his national team before a 2-0 loss to Mexico.Pulisic returned to Ita...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Lorenzo]

Tim Howard: USA fans have ‘every right to be frustrated’ at Milan star Pulisic

USMNT legend Tim Howard says USA fans have ‘every right’ to be frustrated at Milan star Christian Pulisic, who was released by his national team before a 2-0 loss to Mexico.Pulisic returned to Ita...

sports.yahoo.com

too bad Tim Howard can't still play GK. aside from that this is a non story. the last thing we want is Pulisic to be Landon Donovan 2.0

 

[Ronin]

Berhalter accepts USMNT firing, but 'it still hurts'

Gregg Berhalter acknowledged that his firing in August as U.S. men's national team coach was "a really difficult moment," but said he's now hungry and motivated again to take on his new roles as Chicago Fire head coach and director of football. Berhalter, 51, was introduced in his twin roles on...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[cardpa]

Berhalter accepts USMNT firing, but 'it still hurts'

Gregg Berhalter acknowledged that his firing in August as U.S. men's national team coach was "a really difficult moment," but said he's now hungry and motivated again to take on his new roles as Chicago Fire head coach and director of football. Berhalter, 51, was introduced in his twin roles on...

sports.yahoo.com

I feel bad for the Fire.

 

[Zeno]

too bad Tim Howard can't still play GK. aside from that this is a non story. the last thing we want is Pulisic to be Landon Donovan 2.0

What is wrong with being Landon Donovan? Donovan was the best USMNT player for years and produced consistently for the team when we needed it. I never understood why people got so butthurt he chose to play in MLS than overseas, it was his choice. Yet he still is tied for most goals in a US kit and has the most assists of any US player ever.

 

[Lorenzo]

What is wrong with being Landon Donovan? Donovan was the best USMNT player for years and produced consistently for the team when we needed it. I never understood why people got so butthurt he chose to play in MLS than overseas, it was his choice. Yet he still is tied for most goals in a US kit and has the most assists of any US player ever.

fair points. I didn't mean it to be a bad thing. what Landon did for USA Soccer is unparalleled. I more meant getting burned out.

 

[Lorenzo]

in minute 11 against Jamaica tonight I saw the USA play the ball out of the back in a way that spurs used to in the Pochettino days. love to see that. need that final ball though.

 

[Stout]

A really good result with an offensive explosion this team really needed. The second half is definitely concerning, but it seems like the team is trending in the right direction.

 

[cardpa]

The first half was as well as I have seen this team play in like forever. Second half defensive breakdowns are concerning although they didn't stop pushing offensively like they did in the past if they had a lead. Certainly the direction is positive and as they settle into Pochettino's philosophies they will continue to jell.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Was an interesting series.

The first game was a lot of grinding in pretty awful conditions, let Jamaica control a fair amount of play in the 2nd half - wasn't the most encouraging thing, but a solid CONCACAF road victory

Home match was so much more open - completely dominated the first half and that carried through the early bits of the second half

Weah had a ton of jump - very active in pushing into space, decisive with the ball - looked like he was trying to make a statement

Also interesting to see the freedom they gave Antonee Robinson - he was getting forward as support, which is usual - but he'd also settle in a lot in a central position about halfway in the offensive zone as a holding player

Even with that, they didn't get exploited down the sideline

There was a point where he and scally were next to each other in the right offensive 3rd, which I don't think I've ever really seen

Defensive breaks were adjustments and communication more than anything - Scally and McKenzie were not in sync, but you could see then talking and trying to figure it out

The way they were playing and moving, the back needs to be a unit and others need to drop and help as players were getting a lot of freedom

A couple of times that rotation or handing off assignments wasn't there and it cost them

Overall, one of the more encouraging USMMT games I've seen in a while

Still a lot to work on, but overall the boys were out there actually playing and dictating the game

Another thing that caught my eye at the end was Poch spending a long minute with the officials in a very friendly manner - he would have been right to have some frustrations during the series - I wonder if having a native speaker, South American coach who has familiarity with that general style of refereeing will help the US maybe not get the short end as often as they do

 

[cardpa]

Was an interesting series.

The first game was a lot of grinding in pretty awful conditions, let Jamaica control a fair amount of play in the 2nd half - wasn't the most encouraging thing, but a solid CONCACAF road victory

Home match was so much more open - completely dominated the first half and that carried through the early bits of the second half

Weah had a ton of jump - very active in pushing into space, decisive with the ball - looked like he was trying to make a statement

Also interesting to see the freedom they gave Antonee Robinson - he was getting forward as support, which is usual - but he'd also settle in a lot in a central position about halfway in the offensive zone as a holding player

Even with that, they didn't get exploited down the sideline

There was a point where he and scally were next to each other in the right offensive 3rd, which I don't think I've ever really seen

Defensive breaks were adjustments and communication more than anything - Scally and McKenzie were not in sync, but you could see then talking and trying to figure it out

The way they were playing and moving, the back needs to be a unit and others need to drop and help as players were getting a lot of freedom

A couple of times that rotation or handing off assignments wasn't there and it cost them

Overall, one of the more encouraging USMMT games I've seen in a while

Still a lot to work on, but overall the boys were out there actually playing and dictating the game

Another thing that caught my eye at the end was Poch spending a long minute with the officials in a very friendly manner - he would have been right to have some frustrations during the series - I wonder if having a native speaker, South American coach who has familiarity with that general style of refereeing will help the US maybe not get the short end as often as they do

Pulisic was making nice with them too. It's never a bad thing to rub shoulders with the refs. When I coached, I always had my team go over and shake hands with the refs no matter how badly they called a game. It didn't matter if my team was an U-12 tam or high school boys or girls, I had them go over and thank the refs for doing the game. You never knew when you might get the same refs for another game and they remember teams that were nice to them.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Pulisic was making nice with them too. It's never a bad thing to rub shoulders with the refs. When I coached, I always had my team go over and shake hands with the refs no matter how badly they called a game. It didn't matter if my team was an U-12 tam or high school boys or girls, I had them go over and thank the refs for doing the game. You never knew when you might get the same refs for another game and they remember teams that were nice to them.

He ruined an excellent performance with his MAGA BS. I'm sure the "stick to sports" contingent will be all over this one!

 

[Stout]

He ruined an excellent performance with his MAGA BS. I'm sure the "stick to sports" contingent will be all over this one!

Oh, what the hell did he do?

 

[cardpa]

Oh, what the hell did he do?

After he scored the first goal he did the Trump MAGA dance. The one Trump did during or after his rallies. Pulisic thought it would be fun to do.