The Swamp

Or Chicago or Florida. I think an Atlanta game would be 60/40 Mexicans. They've got it right moving around.

Rex wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 6:07 pm Here it is-we finally get Adams/McKennie/Musah in a game that counts. If this doesn’t work, im joining a monastery

That was, by far, the best midfield play we've seen since the Ramos-Reyna-Harkes days. Probably better, if we're being honest.

And they're all babies.

AND and, we didn't even have Reyna and Christian out there. Holy shit, guys.

I thought Brenden Aaronson had a really nice night. He makes a big difference creating transition from defense to offense. I also know this group is not a huge Paul A fan (and the blond dye job does not help), but he brings a bit of that bite that this team does not really have. That attitude that J. Jones (who was terrible as an analyst last night) or Clint Dempsey brings. He paired nicely on the outside (seemed to see him working with Aaronson and Dest as they moved forward).

Jamaica is not a good team though and we easily left at least two goals out on the field.

This next game is the big test for me. Can they go to Central America and get 3 pts against an average(-ish) side. That's what a world class team would be able to do.

* - After the first 15 minutes, JAM dropped completely into park the bus mode. Pepi was still pressed high as a lone striker. Second half, he was much more of a false nine, interchanging with Aaronson and getting triple (at least) the amount of touches. He's in the flow, and boom, you start really hammering a passive JAM team. That's a very good adjustment at half time, so full credit to Triple G. Against a better team, we need to make that adjustment in minute 30.

* Weston and Musah are just incredible in terms of creating an offensive engine. Especially Musah... That guy was just incredible last night.

* Want to give props to Luca De La Torre. Guy needs to see more of the field. Period. The ball that we all thought Pepi would've slotted with Zardes out there... That was a DLT ball.

* Agree that this was one of Dest's best games for the US.

* Arriola was the prototypical MLS plugger. Now that he's in form (as opposed to GC where he was coming off injury), he's a serviceable guy when we are trying to kill a game with hustle and effort. But he's just not up to the level of these other guys. Just look how much better Weah was with the ball when he cam in... I'm not anti-MLS in general, but continuing to START guys like Arriola, Acosta, Llegget and Roldan is really starting to look silly with these younger, better guys sitting on the bench. Shit, swap about Arriola for Busio. Just put guys that are ready to play with Adams, McKinnie, Musah, etc.

* Should've put Richards in for Zimmerman in the second half. Zimmerman played fine (tho it's pretty random to start a guy that wasn't in camp) but we want to start building more quality depth in the back.

* Why aren't you putting Hoppe out there instead of Zardes? FFS.

* Really like Aaronson. Brings a lot of connectivity and creativity in the final 3rd. I DON'T LIKE his fairly constant whining and putting his arms up when he's 50 yards from the ball. Cut that shit out, kid.

Love whichever of those guys chased a ball he couldn't get to and took out two Jamaica defenders in their box spinning in the air. Guys remember that stuff. If they play with that mentality the rest of the way they're in.

I didn't think it was the best game for Arriola (whose best game is already worse than other guys' best game), but there were some sound reasons for playing him in this spot, and it didn't end up costing anything.

brian wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 8:53 am Jamaica is not a good team though and we easily left at least two goals out on the field.

This next game is the big test for me. Can they go to Central America and get 3 pts against an average(-ish) side. That's what a world class team would be able to do.

I mean.. I get that, but... Did you notice how much more dangerous we were when he got swapped out for Weah?

We need to get past the idea of needing grit out there, IMO. Musah and Adams and to some extent McKinnie are plenty good in terms of mucking it up in the middle. The drop in quality/touches/decision making (speed) is just night and day between these guys playing at a high level in Europe and the career MLS guys is really starting to become glaring.

And Twellman is such an annoying MLS homer. Zardes should've scored 3 or 4 times (easily) and he says NOTHING. If that had been Sargent, it's all we would've heard for 30 minutes.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:05 am Love whichever of those guys chased a ball he couldn't get to and took out two Jamaica defenders in their box spinning in the air. Guys remember that stuff. If they play with that mentality the rest of the way they're in.

That was Arriola and not calling a foul on that play was BONKERS. The ref was absolute garbage.

And I do value Arriola for that attitude. You guys aren't wrong on that. I just think against better quality teams, we need to out class people at this point.

Don't think that was a foul. He was muscled off the ball legally and while off-balance collided with another defender whose path was toward the ball. Freak collision but I can't see a penalty called from that.

I was thrilled with the play in the second half, but totally realize that was the bottom team in the group missing their best players. But, you can only beat who is in front of you, and 4 years ago, we couldn’t beat a weak T&T team, so I’ll let myself feel good for a couple days.

Weird Pepi erasure in here this AM. I will remember.

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:25 am Don't think that was a foul. He was muscled off the ball legally and while off-balance collided with another defender whose path was toward the ball. Freak collision but I can't see a penalty called from that.

Obviously not a big deal, but I just disagree. Watched the replay a couple of times. The trailing JAM defender put his forearm on PA's shoulder and shoved him (hard) into the path of the other JAM defender who sent him helicoptering.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:42 am Weird Pepi erasure in here this AM. I will remember.

?

I thought that point was so obvious I didn't even need to cover it. The guy is absolutely killing it.. at 18!!

Talk of him going to Bayern is worrisome. I don't want him at Bayern, I want him with Aaronson at RB Salsburg. Work your way up like Haaland.

I mentioned him in terms of tactics... Once he started dropping back to get into the flow of the game in the second half (combined with Musah dropping back to start the offense more), the game turned on its head.

The first goal, the header... That's just a world class finish. A lot harder to direct it back post while going away from goal.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:48 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:42 am Weird Pepi erasure in here this AM. I will remember.

?

I thought that point was so obvious I didn't even need to cover it. The guy is absolutely killing it.. at 18!!

Talk of him going to Bayern is worrisome. I don't want him at Bayern, I want him with Aaronson at RB Salsburg. Work your way up like Haaland.

I mentioned him in terms of tactics... Once he started dropping back to get into the flow of the game in the second half (combined with Musah dropping back to start the offense more), the game turned on its head.

The first goal, the header... That's just a world class finish. A lot harder to direct it back post while going away from goal.

The proposed transfer fees I've seen for Pepi pretty much have him priced into only the top 20-ish clubs in the world.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:48 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:42 am Weird Pepi erasure in here this AM. I will remember.

?

I thought that point was so obvious I didn't even need to cover it. The guy is absolutely killing it.. at 18!!

Talk of him going to Bayern is worrisome. I don't want him at Bayern, I want him with Aaronson at RB Salsburg. Work your way up like Haaland.

I mentioned him in terms of tactics... Once he started dropping back to get into the flow of the game in the second half (combined with Musah dropping back to start the offense more), the game turned on its head.

The first goal, the header... That's just a world class finish. A lot harder to direct it back post while going away from goal.

Why wouldn't you want him to go to Bayern? They seem to be great for development. Alphonso Davies went to Bayern at 18.

Team can't expect to out finesse anyone left on the road. So in at least half the games they better have that.

Cause he won't make the bench?

I want the guy to play. I don't know Bayern's full roster sitution, but it's a lot harder for an 18 year old to start at a place like Bayern. If you tell me Pepi is sitting in a position to start at Bayern, cool.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 10:06 am I want the guy to play. I don't know Bayern's full roster sitution, but it's a lot harder for an 18 year old to start at a place like Bayern. If you tell me Pepi is sitting in a position to start at Bayern, cool.

Exactly. Steffen playing in domestic cup competitions is not great. The reason Konrad had to move on from Barca. Close but close does not get enough minutes.

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a lacrosse coach years ago. The thing kids getting recruited should know if you can't contribute as a freshman, don't go to the school because I am going to keep recruiting kids who are better than you and the likelyhood you will play gets less and less.

Not totally clear what we’re doing here but we’ll find out!

English anywhere?

Musah better get acclimated to the pace of a Central America game pretty fast

This starting lineup leaves me unhappy

This was the kind of lineup you would put out if you expected to be pinned back for the first half or so. But that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. At least Musah is starting to figure some things out.

Well if that was really meant to be rope-a-dope before you bring the good players on, you have to respect it.

Who says Zardes can’t finish.

I hate this so much.

Sure felt like he wanted to rest on the road and get 0-0, no?

mister d wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:34 pm Sure felt like he wanted to rest on the road and get 0-0, no?

That would be evidenced by some indications of an ability to plan.

Gregg suuucks SO much.

Aaronson and Adams have managed to play as poorly as the guys they replaced.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:45 pm Gregg suuucks SO much.

Where I get frustrated is where a team like Panama can find a coach that can come in and imprint a plan and style of play. Why the F can’t we seem to do the same? We have the economic clout to do so.

The good news is we’ll have a very CONCACAFy 11 minutes of extra time

Square Rob wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:50 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:45 pm Gregg suuucks SO much.

Where I get frustrated is where a team like Panama can find a coach that can come in and imprint a plan and style of play. Why the F can’t we seem to do the same? We have the economic clout to do so.

I mean, I get that, but let’s say there are a dozen people (max) who have serious input. How many brothers do you think those dozen have?

It gets so infuriating watching GGG try and prove how good our shit players are.

If that’s not it for the MLS all-stars …