SUfanNC
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Timbers on the toes!
2021 USMNT Thread
- Thread starter DeGrozz
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Orangezoo
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Musah, Aaronson and Dest put a ton of pressure on a defense. Add in the runs and pace of Arriola and then Pepi at the 9 and it makes a really solid group. Musah has both the pace, touch and then the strength on those runs. I think Pulisic would work well with this young group but gotta figure out how. He is just so injury prone it's tough.
LPOrange
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I like Arriola's pressure but when the US wins the ball he turns it over.
Aronson was very progressive. Took some speculative shots from distance but didn't try to play hero ball.
Musa was good after the first 5 minutes or so.
I want to see more of Weah. I always thought he was a right sided player but he looked great on the left.
Zardes had 2 and 1/2 good chances in his limited time. Pepi would have scored at least once more.
Aronson was very progressive. Took some speculative shots from distance but didn't try to play hero ball.
Musa was good after the first 5 minutes or so.
I want to see more of Weah. I always thought he was a right sided player but he looked great on the left.
Zardes had 2 and 1/2 good chances in his limited time. Pepi would have scored at least once more.
About as good as you could hope for.
Who knew playing with actual wingers could provide width? The fast and accurate switching by the US to the wings created the space in the middle for Musah to drive up field.
I love Reyna but, Arriola demonstrated the benefit of having a true winger in front of Dest to play overlaps with. It’s just too bad that Arriola couldn’t score at the bunny ranch.
Dest played the best game I’ve seen from
him w the US. Was solid on defense and dynamic on offense. It helped that Musah, Adam’s and McKinnie all covered for him when he attacked.
Love the fact that McKinnie and Dest let the ball do running and not try dribbling the entire Jamaican team. Pulisic, I hope you were taking notes
Musah was a revelation… controlled the ball and was able to connect the defense with the offense. Are we sure Reyna and Pulisic are our most talented players?
Adams was solid as ever.
Robinson was decent going forward and defending… he’s missing that little bit of quality to finish plays and become a truly big time player.
CBs were dominant and avoided recreating the Bermuda Triangle.
My only criticism was the the team from 25 minute mark through the half tried to get too cute with possession and wasn’t nearly as vertical. Also they forgot you need to shoot to score.
Who knew playing with actual wingers could provide width? The fast and accurate switching by the US to the wings created the space in the middle for Musah to drive up field.
I love Reyna but, Arriola demonstrated the benefit of having a true winger in front of Dest to play overlaps with. It’s just too bad that Arriola couldn’t score at the bunny ranch.
Dest played the best game I’ve seen from
him w the US. Was solid on defense and dynamic on offense. It helped that Musah, Adam’s and McKinnie all covered for him when he attacked.
Love the fact that McKinnie and Dest let the ball do running and not try dribbling the entire Jamaican team. Pulisic, I hope you were taking notes
Musah was a revelation… controlled the ball and was able to connect the defense with the offense. Are we sure Reyna and Pulisic are our most talented players?
Adams was solid as ever.
Robinson was decent going forward and defending… he’s missing that little bit of quality to finish plays and become a truly big time player.
CBs were dominant and avoided recreating the Bermuda Triangle.
My only criticism was the the team from 25 minute mark through the half tried to get too cute with possession and wasn’t nearly as vertical. Also they forgot you need to shoot to score.
IthacaMatt
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Was this Musah's first official cap? First competitive game for the US? Is he ours now?
C
creatorsgam
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Canada just struck an equalizer vs. Mexico. 1-1 late in the first half. Would love to stay up for this one if I didn’t have to be up at 5:30.
IthacaMatt
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Loved him at Fulham! He never really got a fair chance at Spurs.
IthacaMatt
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Great post!
NailstheCusefan12
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Orangezoo
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I like Reyna and Pulisic as well but Aronson and Musah stand out. It's a good problem to have too much talent. I think also that those guys are ideal for qualifiers especially. Reyna and Pulisic shine brighter against European competition which makes sense given where they play. For right now the most effective pairing attack wise was out there tonight that I've seen in qualifying.
C
creatorsgam
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Craven Cottage was absolutely buzzing!
He's still a teenager so not exactly... I think he needs to now get capped for 3 non-official matches or something like that. But he can't switch for 3 years, just like Pepe so he's effectively ours as long as we play him
I'm not even sure that Reyna and Pulisic shine brighter against Europeans... when have we looked good against any European competition? Musah seems to be a more dynamic player with the US then Reyna, but then again Reyna hasn't had the benefit of playing with true wingers and a mandate from triple-G to mush the ball forward and not just circulate.
Pulisic is our most dangerous player and should play one of the wings... but he needs to stop being such a ball hog and let the ball do the work.
IthacaMatt
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Pulisic was one of the best players in the Premier League, during "Project Restart", the last 11 games or so of the season. He had 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in 2019-20. That's near all-league mention, if you take into consideration that he put up those numbers without being a full-time starter. So, that's a hell of a year, in my book.
If he stays healthy, doesn't try so damn hard all the time, and relaxes a bit, I think he will find the chances come easier. If you watch some of the other great goal scorers, what they have in common is calm at the key moment, composure.
Look at Mo Salah the other day with that fantastic dribble through about 5 guys in the box before calmly slotting hom. It's like the zen moment of a perfect golf swing. Calm, don't try so hard, "swoosh".
Mostly, Pulisic tries to overpower people a bit on his dribbles with the ball. Too many dead-ends, although his talent is undeniable. The thing he needs to do more is one-and-ones with other attacking players in the box. That's how you break down a difficult defense, you move the ball quickly, move without the ball decisively, and then be ready if you get it back.
Agree on all of this... he doesn't trust the rest of the team to do something positive. Based on the last 4 years or so since he broke through, I don't blame him. But now his teammates have the equal talent to get him the ball back in an even more dangerous position.
I might be confused, but isn't a draw the best possible outcome for us? We are tied with Mexico at the top of the group right?
jncuse
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I would think in general having top contenders around you tie rather than have a definitive winner is better, especially earlier in the competition. Only 2 points get distributed to those teams instead of 3.
LPOrange
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US has better goal differential (+5 vs +2) but both have 8 points.
It would be best if everyone else tied their games leaving the most points on the table.
Canada should qualify now.
They have played their 2 toughest matches already and gotten draws at Mexico and USA.
USA and Mexico should be the other 2 teams that quality.
USA if they can get out of Panama with a draw would be in good shape as long as they beat Costa Rica in Columbus.
Mexico got a draw at Panama and won at Costa Rica.
They have played their 2 toughest matches already and gotten draws at Mexico and USA.
USA and Mexico should be the other 2 teams that quality.
USA if they can get out of Panama with a draw would be in good shape as long as they beat Costa Rica in Columbus.
Mexico got a draw at Panama and won at Costa Rica.
Shrmdougluvr
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The hand-wringing by the the USMNT-stans is nonsense. Mexico, Canada, and USA are heads and shoulders above the concacaf competition at this point. It would take a collapse much worse than Couva for this team not to qualify.
Orangezoo
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Yep and the youngsters have settled into play now.
if Mexico is the next best team and the goal is to qualify then mexico giving pts to teams that we are fighting with it always bad. if the goal is to be first in our group then a tie is great.
Orangezoo
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Canada is on our 6 with building their talent pool and working to cement themselves in the top 3 in Concacaf. Honestly it's overdue considering like the U.S. and Mexico they have the resources to build a strong program.
I would love to see a North American Football League between the 3 nations instead of the MLS and Liga MX. It's a pipe dream of course but I think it could level up football on this side of the Atlantic.
cusefan88
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IMO the central american sides are worse than usual. Huge fan of Tim Weah, I hope he starts and goes 60 mins against Costa Rica. He's tidy and quick with his touches.
No nonsense workman like performance. Job done. Onto Panama!
No nonsense workman like performance. Job done. Onto Panama!
