sluggo said:
Thoughts on the USMNT after the last games before player selection:
1. They are going to play soccer even if they are not ready. They played Belgium and Portugal, two very good teams, without taking a step back. Most teams in their situation would play more defensively. Berhalter in the last WC did the same thing. I like it. Play like the team you want to be and maybe eventually you will get there,
2. Unfortunately, while they have a number of good players, they are all supporting players, except maybe McKennie. And Reyna, who has his own issues. To score against top competition you need moments of class, and the US has few of those moments. All the coach can do is to put players in positions to have such moments, and Poch is much better at that than Berhalter.
3. The goalie situation is settled. Freese played a perfect game against Portugal. Turner was a disaster against Belgium.
4. There is a right centerback and his name is Alex Freeman and he is good. Before Portugal I did not see what others said about him.
5. There is no left center back. It is a disaster. Trusty was at fault on the first goal against Portugal. Ream committed a penalty handball and was a disaster against Belgium. I would get creative and try to reposition a midfielder. It could not be any worse.
5. The starting lineup will be (I think and hope) playing a 3-3-2-2
G: Freese
LCB: ?
CCB:Richards
RCB: Freeman
Lwingback: A. Robinson
Rwingback: Weah or Dest (injured)
Dmid: Adams (injured)
Mid: Mckennie
Mid: Tillman
F: Pulisic
F: Balogun
6. I think the Portugal game with Richards and Freese was more representative of the team. The Belgium game they were in the wrong shape and had the wrong backline.
7. I thought they played well against Portugal and had many chances that they lacked the quality to finish. That should not be a problem against Paraguay or Australia. Turkiye will be a shootout with many goals.
8. I think the team is better than 22 but still has little chance of going far even on home soil. Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
sluggo said:
Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
dajo9 said:
I don't see the men's team getting to the quarterfinals. That team has no juice.
concordtom said:sluggo said:
Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
I don't understand what you mean.
If we see only similar results, is that progress?
Cal88 said:sluggo said:
Thoughts on the USMNT after the last games before player selection:
1. They are going to play soccer even if they are not ready. They played Belgium and Portugal, two very good teams, without taking a step back. Most teams in their situation would play more defensively. Berhalter in the last WC did the same thing. I like it. Play like the team you want to be and maybe eventually you will get there,
2. Unfortunately, while they have a number of good players, they are all supporting players, except maybe McKennie. And Reyna, who has his own issues. To score against top competition you need moments of class, and the US has few of those moments. All the coach can do is to put players in positions to have such moments, and Poch is much better at that than Berhalter.
3. The goalie situation is settled. Freese played a perfect game against Portugal. Turner was a disaster against Belgium.
4. There is a right centerback and his name is Alex Freeman and he is good. Before Portugal I did not see what others said about him.
5. There is no left center back. It is a disaster. Trusty was at fault on the first goal against Portugal. Ream committed a penalty handball and was a disaster against Belgium. I would get creative and try to reposition a midfielder. It could not be any worse.
5. The starting lineup will be (I think and hope) playing a 3-3-2-2
G: Freese
LCB: ?
CCB:Richards
RCB: Freeman
Lwingback: A. Robinson
Rwingback: Weah or Dest (injured)
Dmid: Adams (injured)
Mid: Mckennie
Mid: Tillman
F: Pulisic
F: Balogun
6. I think the Portugal game with Richards and Freese was more representative of the team. The Belgium game they were in the wrong shape and had the wrong backline.
7. I thought they played well against Portugal and had many chances that they lacked the quality to finish. That should not be a problem against Paraguay or Australia. Turkiye will be a shootout with many goals.
8. I think the team is better than 22 but still has little chance of going far even on home soil. Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
Paraguay finished their round robin WC qual tied for 3rd place with Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, they're not going to be pushovers. This group is up for grabs, 4 evenly matched teams.
sluggo said:concordtom said:sluggo said:
Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
I don't understand what you mean.
If we see only similar results, is that progress?
We now play an open, attacking style. Almost all winning teams play that style. It takes more skill. Previously we played defensively and countered. That can win some games but does not make you a serious contender in the tournament. It is progress to get similar results playing this better style.
Cal88 said:
Got to win the group to make a run, otherwise we would play group winners in the first round of the playoffs.
Quote:
During the Saudi Arabia vs. Belgium match at the 1994 World Cup, held on June 29, 1994, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., the temperatures were extremely hot, with on-field conditions reportedly reaching around 100F (38C).
Cal88 said:
Premium on team depth, finalists will have to play 9 games, with many potential overtimes in the playoff rounds, and many hot weather venues.
Cal88 said:
Premium on team depth, finalists will have to play 9 games, with many potential overtimes in the playoff rounds, and many hot weather venues.
The hot weather will also be an advantage for teams from tropical nations (see the Saudis taking down a very good Belgium team in WC 94)Quote:
During the Saudi Arabia vs. Belgium match at the 1994 World Cup, held on June 29, 1994, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., the temperatures were extremely hot, with on-field conditions reportedly reaching around 100F (38C).
Cal88 said:
Current ELOs in US group:
Turkey 14
Paraguay 22
Australia 28
USA 41
https://www.eloratings.net/
Factor in the home advantage, and it's a pretty even field.
concordtom said:Cal88 said:
Current ELOs in US group:
Turkey 14
Paraguay 22
Australia 28
USA 41
https://www.eloratings.net/
Factor in the home advantage, and it's a pretty even field.
Odd, USA dropped from 14 to 16 following Tuesday's matches in this ranking.
https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men
USA 16
Turkey 22
Australia 27
Paraguay 40
Maybe sluggo can explain
concordtom said:
My question was why the difference in the rankings.
One must study the methodology.
sluggo said:concordtom said:sluggo said:
Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
I don't understand what you mean.
If we see only similar results, is that progress?
We now play an open, attacking style. Almost all winning teams play that style. It takes more skill. Previously we played defensively and countered. That can win some games but does not make you a serious contender in the tournament. It is progress to get similar results playing this better style.
Aunburdened said:sluggo said:concordtom said:sluggo said:
Improving is a slog. I think the next generation of players is better and I hope the generation after is even better. It frustrates me that almost no one will see the progress, they will only see similar results.
I don't understand what you mean.
If we see only similar results, is that progress?
We now play an open, attacking style. Almost all winning teams play that style. It takes more skill. Previously we played defensively and countered. That can win some games but does not make you a serious contender in the tournament. It is progress to get similar results playing this better style.
It doesn't matter what style the U.S. team plays. Until they have a lot more talent that is able to play major roles on teams in the top European Leagues, they are irrelevant in the World Cup.
