The Swamp

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:08 pm Wait, we're going to struggle to qualify now? Because we had two shitty Friendly matches in the run-up to a third tier (well, to be fair, Oceania is horrid and in a possible 4th tier all by itself) confederation tournament in an off-year?

I went on a very long, very detailed rant about the Lost Generation and how it cost us qualifying last round. At this point, though, the young guys that are coming up but were way too young for the last cycle are going to need to flesh out the roster. Not having a bunch of late 20s and early 30s players shouldn't preclude us from qualifying for Qatar by any stretch.

This, however, is why I (and others) have been bitching about the Gold Cup roster. Where possible, bring in the guys you're going to need THREE YEARS from now. Get those guys blooded in a tournament, but one that really doesn't fucking matter. Especially now that they've disbanded/shutdown the Confederation's Cup. I mean, honestly, the GC is a pretty useless tournament. Use it wisely. If the powers that be won't give Berhalter the room he needs, if he makes the right case, then that's gonna be put back on them. In this country, the ONLY thing that matters to the general public and media is how we do in the WC. This should be a 3.5 year build up. Not something that we "really" focus on in terms of the player pool 3 months prior to WCQ. This is the short-sighted bullshit that caused the Lost Generation in the first place.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:16 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:14 pm Not a single comment after the 6-0 revenge match over T&T? Sure, T&T looked really weak, but I'll take it. Pulisic looks sharp and hungry, Boyd is a threat against minnows, and I'm not overly excited, but hey, maybe he can be dangerous against good teams too?

I'm convinced they discovered Aaron Long smoking behind a high school in 1986, wearing a Metallica t-shirt.

Everyone is embarrassed that they impugned our new soccer overlord Zardes.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 3:00 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:16 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:14 pm Not a single comment after the 6-0 revenge match over T&T? Sure, T&T looked really weak, but I'll take it. Pulisic looks sharp and hungry, Boyd is a threat against minnows, and I'm not overly excited, but hey, maybe he can be dangerous against good teams too?

I'm convinced they discovered Aaron Long smoking behind a high school in 1986, wearing a Metallica t-shirt.

Everyone is embarrassed that they impugned our new soccer overlord Zardes.

He did exactly what we discussed: Scored against a minnow.

I don't EVER root against a player to "prove my point." I learned from the BigSoccer days that going that route makes you a pretty miserable person (from observation, not from experience.) I hope Zardes proves us all wrong.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 2:57 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:08 pm Wait, we're going to struggle to qualify now? Because we had two shitty Friendly matches in the run-up to a third tier (well, to be fair, Oceania is horrid and in a possible 4th tier all by itself) confederation tournament in an off-year?

I went on a very long, very detailed rant about the Lost Generation and how it cost us qualifying last round. At this point, though, the young guys that are coming up but were way too young for the last cycle are going to need to flesh out the roster. Not having a bunch of late 20s and early 30s players shouldn't preclude us from qualifying for Qatar by any stretch.

This, however, is why I (and others) have been bitching about the Gold Cup roster. Where possible, bring in the guys you're going to need THREE YEARS from now. Get those guys blooded in a tournament, but one that really doesn't fucking matter. Especially now that they've disbanded/shutdown the Confederation's Cup. I mean, honestly, the GC is a pretty useless tournament. Use it wisely. If the powers that be won't give Berhalter the room he needs, if he makes the right case, then that's gonna be put back on them. In this country, the ONLY thing that matters to the general public and media is how we do in the WC. This should be a 3.5 year build up. Not something that we "really" focus on in terms of the player pool 3 months prior to WCQ. This is the short-sighted bullshit that caused the Lost Generation in the first place.

The problem is that the US hosts this thing every time, in big stadiums, for money. The US cannot field an under-23 team at this tournament for the prices that they charge tickets. It's all about greed. The tournament is setting up for a US-Mexico final at Soldier Field for $200 a ticket.

The tournament was held in Jamaica and Costa Rica this time. They should have one entire tournament outside the US. Surely the US can then field a weak squad when they are not hosting.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:15 pm That play by Zardez after the TO is peak Zardez. He sucks. Sorry.

A_B wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:20 pm I think we are going to need a second.

Square Rob wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:38 pm That was the least interesting and lowest intensity us performance I’ve seen in a long time. They were garbage.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:15 pm That play by Zardez after the TO is peak Zardez. He sucks. Sorry.

Square Rob wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:38 pm That was the least interesting and lowest intensity us performance I’ve seen in a long time. They were garbage.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:44 am Yeah, all three of the ABC islands can pull that move. Just like Martinique call pull French nationals with heretical ties to the island, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao can pull from Dutch players.

There are few other small protectorate type deals that aren't countries but are members of CONCACAF, I'm just too lazy to go hunt them down.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:55 am That was rough, and Curacao were waaaay better than I ever expected they would be. Apparently if a Dutch national has any Curacaoan(?) heritage, they can play for them. Wish I'd looked at the roster, or listened to the Total Soccer Show guys, before wagering on US -2.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:46 am

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:55 am That was rough, and Curacao were waaaay better than I ever expected they would be. Apparently if a Dutch national has any Curacaoan(?) heritage, they can play for them. Wish I'd looked at the roster, or listened to the Total Soccer Show guys, before wagering on US -2.

If I heard correctly, there isn't a single player on the team born or raised in Curacao. While the US performance is still worrisome and embarrassing, Curacao was a decent team. And having watched the Jamaica v. Panama game, I'm confident Curacao would have beaten both of those teams yesterday. I feel like CONCACAF is in a slide at the moment. I haven't seen much beyond the US games, but what I have seen is very underwhelming.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:56 am Panama should've won that game, they just don't have anyone that can score. The PK call was technically correct, but man... They need to look at the new rule on handling. There needs to be some objective scrutiny of those calls. It's one thing when a guy comes in on a challenge with his arms flailing around and a shot hits an outstretched appendage.

If you haven't seen the play, two guys going up for a header, ball skims off the JAM players head and hits the wrist of the PAN player, whose arm is raised in the natural motion of jumping. Again, it was the right call, but it sure felt shitty.

Oh, and it happened, literally, in the patch of turf at the very top corner of the penalty box. Super unlucky for Pan.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:51 am

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:46 am

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:55 am That was rough, and Curacao were waaaay better than I ever expected they would be. Apparently if a Dutch national has any Curacaoan(?) heritage, they can play for them. Wish I'd looked at the roster, or listened to the Total Soccer Show guys, before wagering on US -2.

If I heard correctly, there isn't a single player on the team born or raised in Curacao. While the US performance is still worrisome and embarrassing, Curacao was a decent team. And having watched the Jamaica v. Panama game, I'm confident Curacao would have beaten both of those teams yesterday. I feel like CONCACAF is in a slide at the moment. I haven't seen much beyond the US games, but what I have seen is very underwhelming.

Well Haiti came back from 2-0 at halftime to win 3-0 (although one of the goals was howler between the goalie and back).
CR took Mexico to PKs.
Jamaica once again thinks the Gold Cup is the World Cup and brings there best game to this tournament. If only they would do the same during the Hex (wait sometimes they don't even make that).

The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2019 11:16 pm Anybody watching? Jamaican goalie has to do better on directing the rebound away from the middle

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2019 2:06 pm The minutes leading up to the rain delay was the best I've seen the US play under Berhalter and it legit should've been 3-0, 2-0 if you want to be charitable. US was slashing and gashing and it was moving towards a blowout when lightning came on the scene.

US still bossed the game for the most part and the scoreline was pretty fair, though I'm not sure JAM "deserved" their goal all that much.

Very encouraging, particularly the midfield. It also (hopefully) showed Berhalter that not only does he not need Zardes or Altidore in that traditional forward position, but they are much better off with all those guys with handle, attacking in numbers with quick movement but more important the skill to break the D down in 2-1, 3-2 triangle play. Both Zardes and Altidore are useless for that. Morris, for example, brings a ton to the table in that other style.