mister d wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:09 am
J-Lo, you know I skew slightly pessimistic ; ) and I felt amazing throughout almost the entire match, save maybe the last 10:00 of each half. I know exactly what can happen against Iran because I’ve seen Greggggggg do it before, but I also see a path to me arguing we have a very good shot at the Netherlands in the knockouts. This was a really good draw, not a hang on for dear life draw. The kids carrying it versus relying on the dopey MLS subs felt like a huge moment for the program.
I don't really even know what most of that means but I'm glad for anything that can temporarily quell your pessimism. You're a bit of a drag.
I feel like the thing that Enoch said is going to happen.
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
Jerloma wrote: ↑Fri Nov 25, 2022 7:51 pm
I don't know, you guys. Watching that doesn't feel to you at all like just a complete and utter slog?
You still watch the steelers, right?
Haven't missed a game in like 25 years. Not only that, but I play tennis from 7-8:30 eastern every Thursday night. I not only have every TNF game set to record on Amazon, but when I get home, I watch them from the beginning so I don't miss a play.
I think it's because offensive progress just feels so much more permanent in this football.
It's almost definitely an ADHD thing. Probably why it took me so long to get into hockey as well.
I totally get why the casual fan has a hard time watching soccer. There are so many minor little strategic moves going on that are very easy to miss. Not knowing the players makes it much less compelling, too. I love the beauty of the game, I get excited by creative passes that split defenders or when players try something unexpected and pull it off. Goals in soccer are incredibly exciting because they are rare. It's hard to get excited about a score in basketball. It's my favorite sport, but if you don't have the patience for it, I totally understand that.
So the thing is I think I actually see the game fine. I played a couple years as a kid. I can see where there are openings and how there are chances you need to take to score and certainly the risk of flipping possession by not executing the those passes as opposed to the safer ones. I see the lanes. I see the risks for not executing those passes. I see how ridiculously precise you have to be to hit those lanes using only the extremity without the opposable thumbs. They just never seem to manifest themselves in anything beneficial or damning or even exciting.
But of course, I'm well aware I'm in the minority not only here but fucking globally, so I'm glad you guys have a thing you like because you're all wonderful and you deserve that.
My B-i-L was here with the family and they were pretty into it. I watched, but I warned them that every time I watch a World Cup game, it ends in a 0-0 draw. I was catching up on some proofreading for work and would look up when one of them seemed to get excited, then laugh when nothing happened. I feel like I try to get into it, but when nobody scores for 95 minutes, I just feel like it's time wasted. I'm with you, J-Lo. Watch what brings you joy. I'm sure there's plenty of you who couldn't give a shit about baseball, but that's my thing. Maybe I'll try to watch some Premier League after this is over to see the best there is and look to find a team or player to connect with. (From my quick research, maybe Leeds since they have Philly-area guy Aaronson)
How do you all get your death notices since I left?
Leeds is a good choice if you like high scoring. They play a super high pressure defensive tactic and get beat a lot. Vet fun to watch and they also gave Tyler Adams. Two Americans getting a ton of minutes.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
What's offside? Ball has to be in the rectangle before any players?
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
Jerloma wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 2:54 pm
What's offside? Ball has to be in the rectangle before any players?
Oh boy. So the gist is that the offensive player cannot be further towards the goal than two players on the defense when the ball was played forward (towards the goal). one of these two is usually the goalkeeper but not always. Has to be across midfield as well. Can't be offside in your own defending half.
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
If you want super-specific to the US MNT, 11 Yanks, Tactical Manager and FIFAmerica are all pretty good. I actually like the last one the best, just because he's not typically dog on a bone about a player or the manager.
Though, all 3 pretty universally have trouble giving credit where it's due when it comes to Gregg (GGG) Berhalter, the US coach/manager.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 1:07 pm
If you want super-specific to the US MNT, 11 Yanks, Tactical Manager and FIFAmerica are all pretty good. I actually like the last one the best, just because he's not typically dog on a bone about a player or the manager.
Though, all 3 pretty universally have trouble giving credit where it's due when it comes to Gregg (GGG) Berhalter, the US coach/manager.
I wrote this up for the D3 soccer board I'm on, when someone was saying Berhalter stinks:
Things that folks should give credit to GGG for:
* Tim mf'ing Ream. Dude has been on the outside looking in for what seems like a decade. Too slow, many of the analysts and fans said. Meanwhile he is a rock for an EPL side. He has been absolutely lights out this tournament.
* Bringing on Carter-Vickers. Zimmerman was a step slow on a few occasions the first 2 games, gave up a pretty bad penalty in the first. He is also a problem with ball at his feet. ENG clearly targeted him on their press... Every time he touched the ball, someone was right there closing him down and it led to a lot nervy situations. CV was outstanding yesterday.
* Starting lineups, formation. We have started all three games in an attacking stance and have looked pretty dangerous. We had close to 60 percent possession in the first half yesterday.
* We have played 3 games and given up 1 goal, none in the run of play.
Some things I would question/gripe about:
* Gio. Not sure what he did to get into the doghouse, but I'm not sure why he's not even coming off the bench sooner. While Pulisic says he's ready to go for Saturday, I doubt it. Need to get Reyna on the pitch.
* Formation, stance in the second halves. Wales was really the most glaring example of GGG not making the proper adjustment. Got way too passive. I think it was fine going into a 442 against ENG in the second half... seemed to kind of put them off for a good bit.
But, yesterday... Going 442 up 1-0 is fine. Slightly more defensive, but still allows you to quick strike on the counter. But going 541 with 15 minutes left (and you know at least 5 in stoppage - turned out to be 9) was just unnecessary. You're just asking for some nonsense at that point and Iran really could've scored at least twice in the final moments.
That said... And I've been critical of GGG in many instances. I'd grade him out at a B. The belief, grit and determination of this group of young guns is palpable. That is cultural, and it doesn't just happen with the players. It's a deliberate approach and GGG and the rest of the staff should get credit for that.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
His subs yesterday (other than zimmerman) and approach in the last 25 especially was fucking insane. They were lucky as hell that they didn't give up the equalizer and find themselves going home. That's on him. Shit approach, shit subs, he fucking sucks. Fuck him.
Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 3:00 pmThat said... And I've been critical of GGG in many instances. I'd grade him out at a B.
If Taremi's shot squeezes through Turner's legs a little bit harder, what does that grade become or does it hold at B?
I think I'd be closer to TB if we didn't get the result. That's just the way sports grading works. But, you're right. The second half stuff is really really annoying.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 3:05 pm
His subs yesterday (other than zimmerman) and approach in the last 25 especially was fucking insane. They were lucky as hell that they didn't give up the equalizer and find themselves going home. That's on him. Shit approach, shit subs, he fucking sucks. Fuck him.
I'm with TB here. We won in spite of GGG's decisions, not because of them. Incredibly dangerous using the final 2 subs on defensive guys. If Iran scored in the final 15 minutes or whatever it was if you include injury time, we had no options going forward and were stuck with Acosta and a dead Musah in midfield and Wright looked horrendous. I do give him credit for CCV, that worked out well. I think his tactic of involving the fullbacks up high was great, Robinson was phenomenal and Adams had the game of his life getting back to cover when the fullbacks were caught up. Instead of bringing on Acosta (who played well), I wish he brought on Reyna and moved Aaronson into McKennie's spot. Brenden can play defensively and bring more into the attack. I appreciate the need to pack it in and not take any chances, but the way we dominated in the first half, we could have tried for more possession and playing higher up. Bunkering down for 30 minutes rarely works, and there were several near misses that easily could have gone in. 1 goal isn't enough to sit on in a must win game, GGG was much more lucky than good.
I give credit to Tim Ream for playing himself back into the team. GGG couldn't ignore him, especially after Miles Robinson and Chris Richards went down, and whatever the reasoning is for keeping Brooks out. Ream isn't the same player he was 3 or 4 years ago, which is shocking for a 35 year old to suddenly get better, but he has been phenomenal for Fulham this year. Now that I think about it, I wonder if he is taking some sort of PEDs.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt
Hey, you guys should check out this soccer game. It's wild!
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. - God
Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:42 pm
I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?
They're not weak calls because you have to look at positioning. Dembele let a guy get by him then stupidly chased him from behind and clipped him. Dembele was so out of sorts he got subbed before halftime. Otamendi pulled a guy back from behind. In fact, that should be a foul even if the guy doesn't go down (like defensive holding in football) but refs never call it UNLESS the guy goes down. That's why players have to fall. And finally, the last one was a clear hand ball, you can't use your arms to make yourself bigger nd block space.
The ref had a fantastic game, especially he didn't fall for Thuram's dive late in the 2nd half.
Kung Fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene..
Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:42 pm
I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?
They're not weak calls because you have to look at positioning. Dembele let a guy get by him then stupidly chased him from behind and clipped him. Dembele was so out of sorts he got subbed before halftime. Otamendi pulled a guy back from behind. In fact, that should be a foul even if the guy doesn't go down (like defensive holding in football) but refs never call it UNLESS the guy goes down. That's why players have to fall. And finally, the last one was a clear hand ball, you can't use your arms to make yourself bigger nd block space.
The ref had a fantastic game, especially he didn't fall for Thuram's dive late in the 2nd half.
When you consider that the result of a penalty is a near-certain goal, they were weak penalties. None of the fouls interferes with clear chances, nor were they particularly vicious or cynical. Yes, they were correctly called penalties under the rules. But none of them deserves goals being gifted to the victims.
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:42 pm
I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?
They're not weak calls because you have to look at positioning. Dembele let a guy get by him then stupidly chased him from behind and clipped him. Dembele was so out of sorts he got subbed before halftime. Otamendi pulled a guy back from behind. In fact, that should be a foul even if the guy doesn't go down (like defensive holding in football) but refs never call it UNLESS the guy goes down. That's why players have to fall. And finally, the last one was a clear hand ball, you can't use your arms to make yourself bigger nd block space.
The ref had a fantastic game, especially he didn't fall for Thuram's dive late in the 2nd half.
When you consider that the result of a penalty is a near-certain goal, they were weak penalties. None of the fouls interferes with clear chances, nor were they particularly vicious or cynical. Yes, they were correctly called penalties under the rules. But none of them deserves goals being gifted to the victims.
Sure but those are the rules. I think we get caught up on, is the penalty deserved or not? When in fact a penalty is just a foul that occurs in the box.
But I think those are clear. Di Maria is going into the box when Dembele clips him. Otamendi is clearly holding Kolo Muani back. Again, he shouldn't have to fall. And finally that's a handball in the box, clear as can be.
As for your argument of an automatic goal, they really should move the spot back a yard or two. But then the field wouldn't look so pretty and symetrical.
Or...
Kung Fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene..
