The Swamp

I just think lumping this competition into a "summer of soccer thread" lacks some ownership over this shit fest.

Currently watching Haiti giving Canada all they can handle (as I fucking predicted) with only 3 subs coming in (already made one, so they have one field player left to sub in.)

Funny dynamic are the US fans filing into the stadium and getting behind the blue shirts.

And... Haiti looks tired AF.

They do.

I have no idea how the "brackets" line up, but it's going to be pretty tough for the US on GD if they don't pummel Martinique tonight.

ETA - To form a full thought... It's usually not ideal in these tournaments to not win the group, given the relative disparity in quality of ththe teams past the top 4.

Yes. 2nd B plays 1st C probably Costa Rica. And then Mexico in the semis. Although Mexico need to beat El Salvador.

It would be funny if both Mexico and US finished 2nd, which also means they don't meet until the final.

Well I’m glad they chose a fun lineup for CONCACAF After Dark

I like this version of the GC squad.

Rex wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:03 pm Well I’m glad they chose a fun lineup for CONCACAF After Dark

Fucking sniper, you are.

Feel like Dike scores twice tonight.

Letting the kids who want to progress the ball and score is fun and works. Funny that.

Hm.

Hoppe is really all over the place in positive ways.

Love that pairing and love the Busio - Roldan pairing. Texted that to my coaching buddy at the start of the game.

Hoppe made the splash in Germany? Not a fluke, maybe. He's everywhere. You can see the instinct and talent.

I wonder if those beers are $75 dollars. They. Are. Huge.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:24 pm Hoppe made the splash in Germany? Not a fluke, maybe. He's everywhere. You can see the instinct and talent.

he had a hat trick to help his shitty team break out of a really bad spell in the bundesliga

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:34 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:24 pm Hoppe made the splash in Germany? Not a fluke, maybe. He's everywhere. You can see the instinct and talent.

he had a hat trick to help his shitty team break out of a really bad spell in the bundesliga

thanks - that's what I was thinking.

Dike could have leaned inside on that breakaway. As big as he is not gett pushed off that ball and then an angle at the whole goal.

Martinique’s average age of 31 cracks me up.

Sealed off the last defender there and finished no problem.

Just asked this elsewhere: O/U 3.5 guys in tonight’s match getting a WC qualifier starts.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:54 pm Just asked this elsewhere: O/U 3.5 guys in tonight’s match getting a WC qualifier starts.

To get a single start in one of the 14 matches? Great question. I’d take the over for making the roster, but for starting? Gotta take the under. Maybe Dike. Berhalter loves Zardes andLlleget maybe they get a start. Is Cannon on this roster? He’ll get a start.

Acosta and yueill also. If I had to bet I'd take over cause three game weeks is heavy and possible early qualification. Figure 17-18 guys start between formation changes, injury, regular rotating.

Paul A could get a start too.

I'll be pissed if Zardes makes the roster, but not shocked. I've said it 1000 times... He scores almost exclusively against CONCACAF minnows. The second the opposition is elevated, he's literally a waste of space out there.

The guy I hadn't tracked up until now is Busio... Really enjoyed watching him the last 2 games.

Busio was super fun. And interesting the names above since when I asked I had Turner and "one of the CBs" in mind along with Dike.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:35 am I'll be pissed if Zardes makes the roster, but not shocked. I've said it 1000 times... He scores almost exclusively against CONCACAF minnows. The second the opposition is elevated, he's literally a waste of space out there.

The guy I hadn't tracked up until now is Busio... Really enjoyed watching him the last 2 games.

100% agree. Berhalter loves Zardes for some reason, and I just don't get it. He isn't good enough to play against halfway decent competition.

Busio was a lot of fun to watch last night. Curious if he can play against a real team, but if nothing else, a fun guy to watch against the lowest tier of competition. Same with Williamson. He is so calm and composed with the ball in traffic, and he put through some beautiful passes. Dike is a beast with some really nice foot skills. I'd love to see if he can stay dangerous against a good team. I like Sargent, but I don't think he is good enough. I think Dike's skill set and style could be a perfect fit with the A team. A big target man with the speed to get on a through ball. His combination of size, speed, control and intelligence in making runs, he could be an absolute nightmare to deal with. The other thing I noticed, players seem to love him.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:44 am Busio was super fun. And interesting the names above since when I asked I had Turner and "one of the CBs" in mind along with Dike.

Walker Zimmerman? I can see him making the bench for some games. When he was with the youth teams, I really thought he'd break out. I think I heard the announcers say he was the MLS Player of the Year, so he is obviously doing well. If Long can't get healthy for the qualifiers, I'd sure rather see Zimmerman than Ream. Ream was an option because he can play left back as well as CB, but we actually have some left backs for the first time in forever, so PLEASE, let's be done with Ream!

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:44 am Busio was super fun. And interesting the names above since when I asked I had Turner and "one of the CBs" in mind along with Dike.

Greensboro, NC. Somehow he ended up in KC. Seems like kids here have to deal with MLS territorial rules. What ive seen of Wake FC(?) youth teams was solid. Bello is another young guy that gets starts with Atlanta United. Team isnt lighting it up so hard to say but thats the local name thats made it to the 1s recently.

Hoppe could start at some point in WC qualifying. Probably should. I really liked watching him play last night.

That was a great game to be a bit more experimental with the lineup. Hopefully Berhalter continues to try out different things when he can and start using what the learn in a more competitive match.

Busio was fun to watch. Love a player with confidence and energy to match their skills. Though I'm not sure what he did on some of those corners and free kicks. He sky balled at least two corners. He also got pushed around a bit. I guess that happens when you are a teenager playing against 30+. Old man strength.

Williamson and Sands played well and helped open things up. I like Dike as a big target up top. Wouldn't mind seeing that type of lineup again.

I don't know if it's just because I look for it, but Zardes first touches always prevent at least a few good chances. He had one last night at the 6 where he nearly put it out and didn't get a shot off.

testuser2 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:29 am I don't know if it's just because I look for it, but Zardes first touches always prevent at least a few good chances. He had one last night at the 6 where he nearly put it out and didn't get a shot off.

Nope, he has stone feet. He got better, I remember a couple years ago an announcer talking about how he spent an offseason working on his first touch. Better, but still pretty bad.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:54 pm Just asked this elsewhere: O/U 3.5 guys in tonight’s match getting a WC qualifier starts.

Just to answer this directly, I think it's under. One thing to make the squad, but our Euro-based wunderkinds are gonna gobble up the vast majority of starting slots.

If by some random miracle, we are through to the knockouts after two games, well... maybe. But I don't think we've ever been in that position.

(Off to check on that.)

The Sybian wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:49 am

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:35 am I'll be pissed if Zardes makes the roster, but not shocked. I've said it 1000 times... He scores almost exclusively against CONCACAF minnows. The second the opposition is elevated, he's literally a waste of space out there.

The guy I hadn't tracked up until now is Busio... Really enjoyed watching him the last 2 games.

100% agree. Berhalter loves Zardes for some reason, and I just don't get it. He isn't good enough to play against halfway decent competition.

Busio was a lot of fun to watch last night. Curious if he can play against a real team, but if nothing else, a fun guy to watch against the lowest tier of competition. Same with Williamson. He is so calm and composed with the ball in traffic, and he put through some beautiful passes. Dike is a beast with some really nice foot skills. I'd love to see if he can stay dangerous against a good team. I like Sargent, but I don't think he is good enough. I think Dike's skill set and style could be a perfect fit with the A team. A big target man with the speed to get on a through ball. His combination of size, speed, control and intelligence in making runs, he could be an absolute nightmare to deal with. The other thing I noticed, players seem to love him.

Sargent has a really pronounced tendency to completely disappear for long patches. I totally agree about Dike... He's like Jose but, you know... good. His size is a real problem for defenders. But he's got that extra little bit of footwork that you just don't typically see with guys that big.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:47 am

testuser2 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:29 am I don't know if it's just because I look for it, but Zardes first touches always prevent at least a few good chances. He had one last night at the 6 where he nearly put it out and didn't get a shot off.

Nope, he has stone feet. He got better, I remember a couple years ago an announcer talking about how he spent an offseason working on his first touch. Better, but still pretty bad.

Yeah, his poor touch is pretty legendary (in a bad way, obv) at this point. It's why so many of us groan whenever he's in the lineup. Super fast, yes... But he'd be a lot more useful playing out wide. He's TERRIBLE at holding the ball as a target.

Busio is one of the best midfielders in MLS. he absolutely deserves a shot against a bigger team and to start the rest of the way in the tournament

we were gonna go to the game Sunday night (can't now because of a golf tournament) but the cheapest reserved tickets were $55 before fees. little too much for a game vs. Canada. would pay that for a bigger opponent for sure.

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:04 am Busio is one of the best midfielders in MLS. he absolutely deserves a shot against a bigger team and to start the rest of the way in the tournament

we were gonna go to the game Sunday night (can't now because of a golf tournament) but the cheapest reserved tickets were $55 before fees. little too much for a game vs. Canada. would pay that for a bigger opponent for sure.

I'm all for giving young MLS guys a shot, especially in the current schedule. While I am anxiously awaiting seeing what our young A-team can do, I get why we have to throw out this unit, and I fully agree with resting the Euro-based guys with WCQ coming up. I'm aware that my USMNT pool radar is very narrow and while I never got into MLS, prior to last few years, nobody snuck in without me at least reading about them. I have no doubt that a guy could dominate the MLS today and I'd be unaware of it. I'm fine with Zardes getting called in with this crew, I just hope Berhalter stops dragging out the older guys who have proven they can't play against top competition. I'd much rather get a young guy some experience and see what he can do rather than see Zardes score against Martinique and get a shot in qualifiers and once again prove he is a flat track bully.

Canada a step up. Wanna be starters show up here id say.

Fucking shitshow, sorry, not sorry.

* Llegget and Acosta and Zardes need to go. That lineup was just destined to lack any possession and continuity. We got extremely lucky to catch Canada's (not very good) backline napping in the early seconds.

* Pines is fucking done. No mas. That was about as bad a game as I've seen from a backliner. Woof. Fucking Woof.

* Busio was done a disservice with that lineup, as he had zero personnel to play off of and create. See my first bullet.

* Sands was INCREDIBLY good in the six spot tonight. I'd like to see him as a CB, frankly, as we really lacked quality in terms of possession and transition after Zimmerman went out.

* Speaking of Zimmerman, while the injury was unfortunate, it came about because he got roasted for PACE. That's always the big red flag when it comes to CBs. Very Ream-adjacent and not a good sign for him going forward.

* I liked the play of Robinson and Moore. Particularly thought Robinson showed some quality soccer IQ. If I'm rating, he's a 7.5-8.0.

* Dike is like... RIGHT there. Needs another couple of seasons at a higher level. Might not be the answer for Qatar, but 2026? Hoo boy. Very worried that was a dislocation. I've seen guys have that injury and his wincing/knee-buckling sure looked the part.

* Berhalther took WAY TOO FUCKING LONG to figure out that we needed to change to a possession/technical unit and insert Hoppe. Roldan and the other dude (?) were of that ilk, but nowhere near as effective/good. I want to like this guy for his player pool selections and some of his lineups, but he just takes too fucking long to adjust when things aren't going well. We spent a solid 30 minutes in the first half not being able to possess and build out of the back. You make changes at HALFTIME when it's that bad. He waited into the 70s. Just... WTF are you looking at?

* On that front.. He better fucking start Hoppe next game. Guy is CLEARLY better than any other option on this roster up top. It's not even close.

Aye. Hoppe is good. Which is why fuckface won't play him.