definitely. we saw it exposed against Netherlands. many were blaming Tyler Adams, but in fairness to him, he's having to do other peoples jobs as well and can't make any mistakes with the ball because the guys behind him lacked recovery speed. I agree we need our guys to have both speed and ball skills, especially against the top squads. I do think our back line has improved in the middle since our last World Cup. I also agree that ream should be used more sparingly. but goal keeper is scary. we probably aren't alone there though. I think of England with Pickford. he's always one missed smoke break away from a meltdown, but has a way of stepping up in bigger games where he somehow plays above his reputation. that position is a hero or zero position most times. we know we need a strong goalkeeper to have a shot at going far.
The Official US Soccer thread
- Thread starter coyoteshockeyfan
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in the first 15 mins of the game the USA look very good. great in space and being very attack minded. Belgium are definitely giving a lot of space to the USA players. it looks like they are giving Belgium problems in multiple areas. Having Jedi Robinson on the field is a must for this team.
Belgium is settling in after 25 mins. Looks like Weah and Mckinnie have their hands full defensively but are giving it back going forward as well. either way the USA have had the better of it for the start which can be seen as a positive. The only one who is not really getting much action is Balogun in the center.
3-1 Belgium at 60 min mark. the USA played really well for most of the match going forward in attack, but lack quality in finishing which has always been a problem for them at this level.
very soft defensively at times, much like the Netherlands game. doku really got the better of their right side defense. broke down the entire defense. and not enough marking by the rest of the team. too many guys running wide open.
very soft defensively at times, much like the Netherlands game. doku really got the better of their right side defense. broke down the entire defense. and not enough marking by the rest of the team. too many guys running wide open.
ASUCHRIS
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Yeah, it's really hard to see this group do anything - just so many squads out there that are much better top to bottom or not as talented but well coached/savvy that can beat our team. It's depressing that US soccer has produced so little in terms of results since the last world cup here. We should be so much better. (New American motto)
it really is disheartening. you look at the way we play in the final third and it is fun to watch at times. but often lacks the final touch. and clearly their effort on defense is not the same as it is going forward. they have to really change that identity or they are going to get run of the pitch.
ASUCHRIS
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Best case, we survive group stage and probably get summarily dumped the next round. Whee.
let's hope! if we don't survive the group I can only imagine the outcry. but honestly I've never been so meh about an upcoming World Cup. hopefully that changes.
This has always been a problem for this team. It's so incredible that out of the thousands of soccer players in the US we can't find a few that can consistently track back and maintain their marks.
U.S. Soccer Men's National Team
@USMNT
·
36m
TEAM NEWS: Mauricio Pochettino has announced that Johnny Cardoso will depart camp.
@USMNT
·
36m
TEAM NEWS: Mauricio Pochettino has announced that Johnny Cardoso will depart camp.
So I watched the match last night and here is how I saw it.
The US did a pretty good job of attacking and creating chances. As has always been the story, those chances were wasted. Poor finishing by multiple players including Pulisic, McKennie and Balogan. I thought Balogan was a non factor which was disappointing for me.
The US still has problems handling pressure. A couple giveaways that resulted in Belgium chances. Agyemang shouldn't even be in the conversation for a roster spot. Yeah, he did score however it was due to very sloppy Belgium ball handling. Pepi once again showed nothing.
I was actually surprised by the play of Ream. He really didn't do anything to hurt the US. The handball call in the box was bogus. Watch the replays and you will see that although it was close, the ball path and rotation did not change at all, which means he didn't contact it. Contact would have changed one or the other or both.
Turner wasn't as bad in goal as I was led to believe. The defense hung him out to dry. Way too many easy shots for Belgium that were unchallenged. If there is one thing you need to defend and mark it's those trailing runs that are made into the box and the US failed miserably at that. Arfsten got schooled on the one goal.
Scally is another who I think should be left off the roster. I just read where Cardoso was just released from the roster. I see no loss there either.
This team has a severe finishing problem and until that is fixed, they will have trouble scoring goals. Defensively, until they start tracking runs into the box, teams will score often against them. They had 4, 5, 6 guys deep in the box and then there was a gaping hole between them and the next defenders and that's where the Belgium scoring came from, in that gap.
The US did a pretty good job of attacking and creating chances. As has always been the story, those chances were wasted. Poor finishing by multiple players including Pulisic, McKennie and Balogan. I thought Balogan was a non factor which was disappointing for me.
The US still has problems handling pressure. A couple giveaways that resulted in Belgium chances. Agyemang shouldn't even be in the conversation for a roster spot. Yeah, he did score however it was due to very sloppy Belgium ball handling. Pepi once again showed nothing.
I was actually surprised by the play of Ream. He really didn't do anything to hurt the US. The handball call in the box was bogus. Watch the replays and you will see that although it was close, the ball path and rotation did not change at all, which means he didn't contact it. Contact would have changed one or the other or both.
Turner wasn't as bad in goal as I was led to believe. The defense hung him out to dry. Way too many easy shots for Belgium that were unchallenged. If there is one thing you need to defend and mark it's those trailing runs that are made into the box and the US failed miserably at that. Arfsten got schooled on the one goal.
Scally is another who I think should be left off the roster. I just read where Cardoso was just released from the roster. I see no loss there either.
This team has a severe finishing problem and until that is fixed, they will have trouble scoring goals. Defensively, until they start tracking runs into the box, teams will score often against them. They had 4, 5, 6 guys deep in the box and then there was a gaping hole between them and the next defenders and that's where the Belgium scoring came from, in that gap.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
All right positives first, Trusty, Berhalter, Freeman (to some extent), Richards looked pretty solid. I think the move to put Pulisic at center striker was the right move. Weah looked good at times.
Balogan looked like he was pissed off and uninterested when he was subbed in. No energy whatsoever. Aygamang again loped around the field way too much for my liking. When you're down 2 nil you better be working your ass off to win a ball back. I was a fan of Arfsten, not so much now. Still not sold on Scally and Morris was so inconsistent.
Pochettino really needs to figure out how to improve the finishing. An even greater need is how to repair the defense and fix the problem of allowing free runners not being accounted for.
You hear so much about the US team lacking players that have the skills to break down a defense and then you have to ask yourself why this is such a problem. I look at the inability of the development program not accomplishing this. A head coach at the national team level should not have the chore of doing this and should be instead figuring how to best utilize that player.
Balogan looked like he was pissed off and uninterested when he was subbed in. No energy whatsoever. Aygamang again loped around the field way too much for my liking. When you're down 2 nil you better be working your ass off to win a ball back. I was a fan of Arfsten, not so much now. Still not sold on Scally and Morris was so inconsistent.
Pochettino really needs to figure out how to improve the finishing. An even greater need is how to repair the defense and fix the problem of allowing free runners not being accounted for.
You hear so much about the US team lacking players that have the skills to break down a defense and then you have to ask yourself why this is such a problem. I look at the inability of the development program not accomplishing this. A head coach at the national team level should not have the chore of doing this and should be instead figuring how to best utilize that player.
Stout
A handful of fairy tales from the story bag...
We haven't ever had a good youth development program and the US setup has been very incestuous historically. Does anyone know if we even cleared house before bringing in Poch, or if it's still the same as it's ever been?
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
I think this stills goes back to a lack of qualification games that the US sorely needed to play. I believe Pochettino is still trying to find a combination that works up top and in the back. I suspect there will be a lot of watching and re-watching of these two matches looking for the smallest clues to put together some sort of lineup that will at least compete in the WC.
USMNT Only
@usmntonly
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1h
BREAKING: USMNT and Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang had to be stretchered off in the 40th minute after an apparent ankle or Achilles' tendon injury.
@usmntonly
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1h
BREAKING: USMNT and Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang had to be stretchered off in the 40th minute after an apparent ankle or Achilles' tendon injury.
B/R Football
@brfootball
USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang will miss the World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury while playing for Derby County on Monday.The 25-year-old has six goals in 14 games for the U.S. since his debut last year.
@brfootball
USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang will miss the World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury while playing for Derby County on Monday.The 25-year-old has six goals in 14 games for the U.S. since his debut last year.
gmabel830
It's football season!!
Terrible blow, especially for the player!
That’s a blow. He was an up and coming player for the USA.
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