The Swamp

Morris? Acosta? Lleget? Roldan? Really?

You can do that both ways, right?

Better finishing and no one is complaining. The performance was fine.

Right, but that doesn't change the fact that when Berhalter made his post-goal changes, they were 3 for 3 MLS guys in and Euros kids out. Maybe that's not foreshadowing and he was managing the week, but what happens if El Salvador had leveled with 10+ to go?

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 11:55 am Better finishing and no one is complaining. The performance was fine.

Except...he didn't play his guys who...yaknow...finish. So better finishing is asking for players that GGG did not play.

It really shouldn't be about putting "experienced MLS" players out there against El Salvador. El Salvador sucks. Play guys that you expect to actually make a difference once we play real teams, both in this Q cycle and in Qatar.

That's the point ppl that have followed this program for decades are trying to make. We really should stop acting like getting out of CONCACAF is some huge struggle, that we need to play Jose Altidore and Michael Bradley (and now Acosta, Llegget and Roldan) because they "know our system." (Which is what bit us in the ass last cycle, btw.)

Our system is bullshit anyways. It's not some complicated thing with tons of interchanging. It's a 4-3-2-1 with the outside backs expected to choose their spots. About as basic as it comes.

And, look, I Iike the MMA midfield very much. The starting lineup, except for the striker, was just fine. This wasn't a debacle, it was just underwhelming.

I'm looking to be whelmed, given the talent on this team (even without Gio.)

Rex wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:48 am There were 8 Euro guys in the starting lineup last night (about to be 9). Any more Euros and they'd be Kraftwerk.

That was a good one.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:17 pm

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 11:55 am Better finishing and no one is complaining. The performance was fine.

Except...he didn't play his guys who...yaknow...finish. So better finishing is asking for players that GGG did not play.

So I ran some numbers and these are the top teams possible to make the World Cup going by the latest rankings (which would change, especially since Europe is not playing in this window)

Teams already qualified in bold
Pot 1
48. Qatar (hosts)
1. Belgium
2. Brazil
3. France
4. England
5. Argentina
6. Italy (over 8. Portugal, 37. Turkey and 67. N. Macedonia)
7. Spain

Pot 2
9. Denmark
10. Netherlands
11. USA
12. Germany
13. Switzerland
14. Mexico
15. Croatia
16. Colombia (over 35. Australia) (playoff)

Pot 3
17. Uruguay
18. Sweden (over 27. Poland, 32. Czech, 34. Russia
19. Wales (over 25. Ukraine, 31. Austria, 38. Scotland
20. Senegal (over 45. Egypt)
21. Iran
23. Serbia
26. Japan
28. Morocco (over 64. Congo DR)

Pot 4
29. Algeria (over 50. Cameroon)
30. Tunisia (over 53. Mali)
33. South Korea
36. Nigeria (over 52. Ghana)
40. Canada
46. Ecuador
51. Saudi Arabia
63. Panama (over 110. New Zealand) (playoff)

So Canada needs to keep winning to get into Pot 3. The USA with a possible 6 wins could get into Pot 1 since the Europeans teams ahead of them are not active until the World Cup itself( and maybe some nations league bullshit)

Obviously everyone not seeded wants to get into Qatar's Group.

I don't think this is an MLS v. Euro thing. I think it is a work rate thing. Zardes, Ariolla, and Morris all get jerseys for games because of the effort they put in on the forecheck. I think you saw that from Musah until he exhausted himself. Dest and Weah did a nice job pushing forward but Musah was then forced to sprint back behind the ball to pressure (not just prevent a counter attack). You don't get that effort from Pulisc (he has to remember to get up and run after a turnover), not sure about Pepi, or the left side of the team yesterday. Aaronson for Pulisic was a step up in speed and pressure. For Concacaf the play is press and pressure..just don't get caught on counters of bad turnovers in the back. The US was a better team and controlled the game. Zimmerman did a nice job taking balls knocked out after a failed attack and shoving it back into the offensive 3rd.

Now in a group world cup game against better opponents where we don't control the pace...be interesting to see what model of team works. Robinson and Dest are go forward guys. Zimmerman is not the lockdown centerback. Can't pass out way out...will be interesting.

Fun!

I think the US is going to try to tap out a 0-0 draw today, but conditions like these might make that hard.

Rex wrote: ↑Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:42 am

Fun!

I think the US is going to try to tap out a 0-0 draw today, but conditions like these might make that hard.

Its artificial turf? I thought all qualifiers had to be played on grass.

Nope, Costa Rica's been playing on turf for years.

Canada only has one grass field. BMO Field in Toronto.

You're better off playing on turf in the winter. Frozen grass fields are an absolute nightmare.

Cold should be a non issue. Snow on the field a different matter but I stood on the sidelines all day yesterday and those kids acted like it was 55 instead of 25. So I think the guys that get paid will deal with it fine. 2-1 USA!

Smaller field than what NYFC plays on. Frozen and icy. Just park the bus. If he wants to play his MLS faves do it here.

Fuck that. Press em and qualify this window. If it's narrow should make the press more effective.

No one at this game. 60 mins before and studio shots have about 500 in the stands.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Sun Jan 30, 2022 2:04 pm No one at this game. 60 mins before and studio shots have about 500 in the stands.

Must be previously taped studio shots. There will be capacity 12,000 there.

Double barrel going. They should do this every time.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Jan 30, 2022 1:14 pm Smaller field than what NYFC plays on. Frozen and icy. Just park the bus. If he wants to play his MLS faves do it here.

If he’s starting Zardes it can only mean Gregg doesn’t want to score.

Pulisic needs to cut inside and get a shot off. He looks bad.

Why is he taking kicks

I like it they're just losing. Mid looks good.

Other than that one play, the us is dominating and looking dangerous. I like our chances to tie it.

US dominating the midfield as expected. Kaye is so useless. Just getting dominated all over the field. It's like playing a man short.

Just laughed at the corner flag stands. Sorry Canada.

That was what I call “a big save”.

Good first half. Make em do it again.

Wonder when you pull the plug on Pulisic today. He’s obviously frustrated at himself and everything else, and getting hacked too. Getting 3 points on Wednesday more important than getting 1 today

You guys need to make subs. Is there a plan b? Are you going to keep chasing the game with Zardes instead of Pepi?

He’s fucking doing it again.

Uhh could us that sub. With five one is an emergency

Those the breaks. Feel like they win that more often than not. Might have found a winner after 85 with 11 men. Onward. Must win though. Tough game.

Congrats, Canucks. You have a fun team.

Shitty way to finish.

Fucking Zardes. Waiting into the 70th minute to put Pepi in...

Just kind of tired of it all, frankly. Yes, you can dominate possession in soccer. You also lack a cohesive set-up connection, so you never truly look like you're going to score.

Possession and "dominating the midfield" don't mean shit if you have no plan to score.

Fucking Zardes, man.

Waste of space. I'd rather see Morris up there. At least he can fucking dribble the ball more than two touches in a row.

(I'm really not even all that upset, TBH. That was all very predictable. I have two TVs going, we cooked an amazing spread, and I'm sipping on some good wine.)

Yeah chili here. Pulisic. What the fuck? Dude did nothing. But for miles Robinson getting bitched on a turn they did well. The mids and outside backs are the strength. They dont have any danger at 9 or and wings did not nearly enough. Maybe Aaronson did some things and zardes held up and pressures ok but they need goals. That said I think the formula works. Dominate the mid and get forward from the backs. Another day McKinnie scores and it's a success.

Again, doing well includes scoring. When you play a guy with stone feet, you are just asking him to press and you have a huge hole in your ability to put the ball in the back of the net. Yes, they scored early and didn't do much after... They didn't need to.

I also think people are using CP as a scapegoat at this point. He's not the kind of guy that's going to dribble through a defense and score on his own. HE NEEDS A CONNNECTOR.

Just really tired of the same conversation. You put guys out there with no touch, while guys like CP, Musah, Aaronson, McKinnie, Adams and Dest are all spinning magic. It's so glaring and obvious. Play guys with the ability to work off of skill and talent.

Like I said, it's not an MLS thing. I love Jordan Morris... He can hang. Zardes sucks ass.

Disagree about Pulisic. He wasn't sharp in the box, but he was a pretty constant threat and, as always, draws a lot of fouls. Aaronson was really good for a while, but faded. McKennie was our best player. I agree that with a better striker, we could have easily won that game. Honestly, with how we were attacking from the wings and Canada's defense being physical, I thought we'd get a PK eventually.

Seems a bit disingenuous for Berhalter to claim this is the most dominant away match they’ve played when 83 minutes were spent trying to equalize.