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USMNT 2024


Captain Ron

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Nice result. Don't love the concessions but there isn't a lot Poch can do with what he's been given back there in such a short time. Hopefully we develop in the right direction and keep improving as a team along the back. 

The starting lineup in attack is filthy. Also like how Turner looked this window.

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3 minutes ago, LurkingHorn said:

He is trying to hit the shit out of it when it seems like he’d be better served to place it. 

I thought he tried too hard to place the first chance he had. Just needed to put pace on it and make it difficult for the keeper.

2nd one looked like he just didn't catch it clean. 

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That’s what we’d been hoping to see, the guys looked so much more comfortable and confident going forward.   It’s one match, but a lot to be hopeful about after that performance.   Now imagine having Dest on the right cooking people.  

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That first half was one of the best in a long time for our Nats. CP10, Weah, Pepsi & Co. dominated possession ... and with purpose. Don't know what the intermission stats were, but I'd imagine possession was close to 80/20 for the U.S. with much of it being meaningful instead of the usual backpassing or futile attempts to play wide and cross to nobody.

Furthermore, it was intoxicating to see the team continue to play positive in the second half. Even with the subs on, our Nats remained aggressive and creative, some times playing fast and direct, then methodical and wide, and others still immediate and long, such as Weston picking out Puli for the opener. All in all, some of the best attacking soccer I've seen from the USMNT in quite some time.

On the other hand, our backline continues to disappoint. They don't pick up runners very well, are hesitant to close down dribblers, and repeatedly allowed Jamaica to serve the ball into the middle from the wings, often to an attacker running in space because someone is watching and reacting rather than anticipating and moving.

That said, Jamaica is a solid side by CONCACAF standards and a tough quarterfinal draw. Very pleased overall with the aggregate results.

Anybody have advanced metrics to share?

 

EDIT--One last bitch: that Jamaica could go a full 90 and only get whistled for three fouls is absolute horseshit.

Edited by Braff Zacklin
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1 hour ago, LurkingHorn said:

I do think Poch is going to unlock Balogun if last night was any indication.

balogun was so clinical his entire time coming up through the arsenal youth ranks, so i definitely have all the hope in the world that poch can get him going. 

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3 hours ago, LurkingHorn said:

I do think Poch is going to unlock Balogun if last night was any indication. Pepi had a nice goal, but I do think Flo can elevate the team even higher. It's early, but I'm hopeful the Berhalter days of our 9s contributing absolutely nothing is over. 

I don't think it's much of a comparision - Balogun is the #1 if he is healthy. The question is who is our number 2 and how much of a drop off is there? And right now Pepi has set himself apart as that #2. He's also shown that the dropoff is a lot less than it was before. Its still significant though.

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37 minutes ago, Captain Ron said:

I don't think it's much of a comparision - Balogun is the #1 if he is healthy. The question is who is our number 2 and how much of a drop off is there? And right now Pepi has set himself apart as that #2. He's also shown that the dropoff is a lot less than it was before. Its still significant though.

I still think Sergeant probably claims the #2 spot in the end. But Pepi is certainly making a case. 

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1 hour ago, The Dog said:

Pepi needs to start—either he needs to find a way to start at PSV or he needs to move.

 


He’s 21 and thriving in his current role. He started at Augsburg before he was ready and it was a disaster.
 

Why force a move out when he’s kicking ass on a team competing domestically and in Europe?

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2 hours ago, LurkingHorn said:

I still think Sergeant probably claims the #2 spot in the end. But Pepi is certainly making a case. 

That's a hell of a take. Pepi has been much better for the NT than Sarge and is younger.

I think Pepi is pretty firmly the 2 and there's a bunch of guys fighting for the next 2 spots.

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54 minutes ago, ztejas said:

That's a hell of a take. Pepi has been much better for the NT than Sarge and is younger.

I think Pepi is pretty firmly the 2 and there's a bunch of guys fighting for the next 2 spots.

Pepi is going to have to play more for his club team before I say he's "firmly the #2" for a World Cup that's still 1.5 years away. 

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6 minutes ago, LurkingHorn said:

Pepi is going to have to play more for his club team before I say he's "firmly the #2" for a World Cup that's still 1.5 years away. 

Who do you think Sargent plays for? Aston Villa?

Sure we'd all like Pepi to play more but he's having a major impact off the bench for a top ~30 team in the world. Norwich isn't even a top 30 team in England right now. 

I think Pepi vs. Balogun is a better argument than Pepi vs. anyone behind him, frankly. 

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9 minutes ago, ztejas said:

Who do you think Sargent plays for? Aston Villa?

Sure we'd all like Pepi to play more but he's having a major impact off the bench for a top ~30 team in the world. Norwich isn't even a top 30 team in England right now. 

I think Pepi vs. Balogun is a better argument than Pepi vs. anyone behind him, frankly. 

Time will tell. 

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3 hours ago, LurkingHorn said:

Pepi is going to have to play more for his club team before I say he's "firmly the #2" for a World Cup that's still 1.5 years away. 

 

Things certainly can change. But if we were making a World Cup roster today - Pepi would be the #2 no question about it.

 

1 hour ago, Ted Lange said:

Sargent can’t stay healthy, which is another reason Pepsi is 2, but more like 1b.  He might be 1a if when Balogun gets back if Balogun doesn’t press and play as hard as Poch is asking. 

I don't question that Balogun is going to put in the work. This style of play matches his game too much for him to not want to play in it. 

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23 minutes ago, Captain Ron said:

In other CNL matches:

Panama-Costa Rica drew 2-2 last night. Combined with a Panama 0-1 win in leg 1, Panama advances.

Canada is up 3-0 at home right now on Suriname.  They won the first leg 1-0 so well on to advancing.

Do you know which team the US would face in the semis? My guess is Panama because I rate them second best in CONCACAF right now and believe the league wants to prevent the USMNT from winning a fourth-straight title. Explains why the Nats faced Jamaica in the quarterfinals and Mexico and Canada got ... checks notes ... Honduras and Suriname, respectively.

To add to Ted Lange's quip, I wouldn't be surprised if match refs go all out to find a way to help Mexico advance. El Tri will need it--they are at their nadir.

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10 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

Do you know which team the US would face in the semis? My guess is Panama because I rate them second best in CONCACAF right now and believe the league wants to prevent the USMNT from winning a fourth-straight title. Explains why the Nats faced Jamaica in the quarterfinals and Mexico and Canada got ... checks notes ... Honduras and Suriname, respectively.

To add to Ted Lange's quip, I wouldn't be surprised if match refs go all out to find a way to help Mexico advance. El Tri will need it--they are at their nadir.

Unknown. The teams are seeded based on points in their 2 games of the QF stage. Standard 3-1-0 points.

Right now it is:
Canada 6 pts, +4 GD
USA 6 pts, +3 GD
Panama 4 pts, +1 GD

Mexico would be 4th if they advance.
Honduras can finish any place from 1st to 4th should they advance.

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1 minute ago, Ted Lange said:

Is the match on in English anywhere?   Says it’s supposed to be on Paramount+ but it doesn’t show up. 

I picked up a Fubo.tv one-week free trial. Will cancel immediately after the match ... but it's in Spanish, so probably not much help.

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