Everything Soccer

[InKellyWeTrust]

I think you guys need to calm down a bit. Poch is taking inventory still. This is the C team. I'll reserve judgement on this squad until we see the A team in a competitive match.

 

[Old Man Mike]

OK, I guess. But if it IS the "C" team, why are we wasting weeks of practice with not (at least) the "B" team? Beasley saying that it was the worst performance he'd ever seen by a US team surely means SOMETHING.

 

[Pete]

So… do I ride the recent outcomes and toss some cash on Trinidad & Tobago?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think you guys need to calm down a bit. Poch is taking inventory still. This is the C team. I'll reserve judgement on this squad until we see the A team in a competitive match.

It was pretty bad regardless.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Christian Pulisic, Landon Donovan controversy explained: USMNT stars feuding after Pulisic skips Gold Cup

Pulisic and the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed that he would sit out this summer's Gold Cup 'to get the rest he needs'

www.cbssports.com

Howard and Donovan have invited Pulisic and McKennie to be guests on their podcast. Both have declined. So there's that. Doubt it is going to happen now.

There has always been something about Pulisic that hasn't really jived with me. When he signed with Chelsea, it probably solidified what I felt even though I could never quite put my finger on it.

I think the drawback to a lot of our guys getting good money on bigger clubs in Europe is that being part of the USMNT doesn't mean as much. Howard, Dempsey, Donovan, etc. took a great deal of pride when they played for their country. There was a different mentality. The mentality today is.....different. I understand it, though, but I think this is just the new reality we're going to face.

 

[Fbolt]

That conclusion seems to be a stretch.

 

[DCDomer]

The USMNT looks like trash, and this FIFA World Cup is about to be a clown show as they can barely sell tickets.

Tons of optimism going into WC '26!

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

The USMNT looks like trash, and this FIFA World Cup is about to be a clown show as they can barely sell tickets.

Tons of optimism going into WC '26!

This same trash USMNT beat Morroco 3-0 in a friendly 6 months before 2022 WC. Morroco fired their coach and then went to the semis. A lot can change in a year.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Club World Cup is Americanized garbage. Nobody cares

USMNT beating Trinidad and Tobago was positive. Saudi Arabia up next on Thursday. My expectations should be higher, but at this point I'll take a strong showing in the Gold Cup when the goal in reality should be to win it.

 

[DCDomer]

The Club World Cup is Americanized garbage. Nobody cares

USMNT beating Trinidad and Tobago was positive. Saudi Arabia up next on Thursday. My expectations should be higher, but at this point I'll take a strong showing in the Gold Cup when the goal in reality should be to win it.

The fact that Saudi is playing in a CONCACAF competition highlights how much of a sham these two summers are.

 

[fightingirish26]

I'll be at City vs Wydad Casablanca tomorrow. Don't think I'm gonna have to worry about crowds.

 

[PolishDomer]

The Club World Cup is Americanized garbage. Nobody cares

USMNT beating Trinidad and Tobago was positive. Saudi Arabia up next on Thursday. My expectations should be higher, but at this point I'll take a strong showing in the Gold Cup when the goal in reality should be to win it.

Its a really weird tournament...not sure how some of these teams qualified

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Love the last two results. Could give a shit about process at this point. Just getting back to back clean sheet wins feels good.

Chris Richards is a model American.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

While a bit contrived, I think the CWC is fun. Seeing teams from across the world square off is pretty exciting.

 

[Tejas]

While a bit contrived, I think the CWC is fun. Seeing teams from across the world square off is pretty exciting.

Pretty cool to see the Brazilian teams

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Pretty cool to see the Brazilian teams

And they're showing out too

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

All this international football plus the CWC means most international teams are fielding low quality teams.

 

[Fbolt]

USMNT came through on a game they should have easily won. It'll be interesting to see these players go up against either MX or CR.

One thing, and I seem to come away with this each time I watch him during game analysis, Donovan is petty.

 

[Irishdawg]

USMNT came through on a game they should have easily won. It'll be interesting to see these players go up against either MX or CR.

One thing, and I seem to come away with this each time I watch him during game analysis, Donovan is petty.

Take the W but underwhelming to say the least!! Hopefully only a handful of these players will be on the actual WC team.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Not important but I like Donovan. I like him because he is really serious about USMNT soccer and emotionally wants them to win. Alexi is too, but understands that there is a PR job here to not trash anything too badly and give the team/coach a chance to build back the fan base's trust. (and to say things just goofy enough to entertain the viewers.) As long as they get along off screen, I very much like the willingness of both of them to speak with occasional edges. ... very much unlike the USWNT commentary personified by Foudy, which refuses ever to say anything analytically useful. (The ex-Notre Dame great Shannon Box will contribute something if given a chance in her very ladylike way.)

As to the performance of these players: Alexi gave a Five Stand-Outs list. I'm not in much agreement and neither were Landon and Mo. The players that I thought added things that the real USMNT pretty much lacks were/are Luna and Ageymang (blew the spelling but ...) Both these guys add a level of aggression-forcefulness in their different ways that I feel a distinct poverty in the main team. Tillman has had good moments, and Ream is still the peaceful spot in the defensive chaos. (I don't count Tyler Adams due to injury recover grace at the moment. ... and Matt Turner for get-up-to-speed reasons plus lousy fullback play. Those two guys are rare Team A guys here.) Maybe McGlynn will be good enough. Maybe Bertholder. I need to see those guys a LOT more. Everybody is in love with Richards. I saw real breakdowns amidst the good plays. Hopefully they will be the vanishing aspects of his game.

I have nothing against the Coach, assuming he had no real choices in selecting his team. I don't think that he has much to work with as far as real skills and mentality are concerned. We seem to win on grounds of grinding and better athleticism and not a lot else.

 

[stpeteirish]

USMNT came through on a game they should have easily won. It'll be interesting to see these players go up against either MX or CR.

One thing, and I seem to come away with this each time I watch him during game analysis, Donovan is petty.

Yeah he certainly is. I wonder about his time as a player; don't recall hearing a lot of complaints about him but if he was anything like he is now he must have been a miserable fuck to have to be teammates with. The coaches would never be right.

 

[notredomer23]

The US needs to find a proper keeper in the next 12 months. I’m hopeful Turner moving to Ligue 1 will get him needed playing time and into good form for next summer

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The US needs to find a proper keeper in the next 12 months. I’m hopeful Turner moving to Ligue 1 will get him needed playing time and into good form for next summer

Probably never thought you'd ever type that ever, right?

Freese made a very bad error last night. He did have two clean sheets prior to that, but really didn't need to do much.

I think Turner is going to have to be the guy next year, but he needs to be playing every week if he goes to Lyon.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Freese has been solid. I want to see how he handles a bit more pressure out of the back. Haiti, though lacking the skill, did pressure the back line more than the previous 2 opponents. I think Freese has been mostly good and I do think his foot skills are noticeably better than Turners.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Probably never thought you'd ever type that ever, right?

Freese made a very bad error last night. He did have two clean sheets prior to that, but really didn't need to do much.

I think Turner is going to have to be the guy next year, but he needs to be playing every week if he goes to Lyon.

I disagree. I'm not surprised he has struggled in Europe.
He can't play with his feet at all by today's high standards, and for today's physical standards for goalkeepers he is certainly in the bottom third percentile of athletic ability and stature.
6ft 3 and like 185-190 soaking wet is small for keepers nowadays. Especially for the physical play keepers need within the box.

It always felt like he was just anointed the spot for the USMNT, and never really earned it.
I will say that he was fantastic in the group stage of the 2022 Cup, but also very bad vs the Dutch.
He needs to put a good year in at Lyon to be behind the sticks come next summer.

Of course, we have basically no option worth a damn right now behind him, so he will likely just start by default.
I had hopes Gaga or Patrick Schulte would see the ginormous opportunity of being the USMNT keeper for likely the next three world cup cycles, but injuries have hurt them both.

Lord help us if Zack Steffen needs to play meaningful minutes next summer.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I disagree. I'm not surprised he has struggled in Europe.
He can't play with his feet at all by today's high standards, and for today's physical standards for goalkeepers he is certainly in the bottom third percentile of athletic ability and stature.
6ft 3 and like 185-190 soaking wet is small for keepers nowadays. Especially for the physical play keepers need within the box.

It always felt like he was just anointed the spot for the USMNT, and never really earned it.
I will say that he was fantastic in the group stage of the 2022 Cup, but also very bad vs the Dutch.
He needs to put a good year in at Lyon to be behind the sticks come next summer.

Of course, we have basically no option worth a damn right now behind him, so he will likely just start by default.
I had hopes Gaga or Patrick Schulte would see the ginormous opportunity of being the USMNT keeper for likely the next three world cup cycles, but injuries have hurt them both.

Lord help us if Zack Steffen needs to play meaningful minutes next summer.

Turner needs games. Which he really has not gotten in Europe. If he's going to Lyon, he has to start more often than not. Otherwise, get him somewhere where he can.

I guess I'm confused with what you disagree with. What I'm gathering you're saying here is Turner is shit, but everyone else is more shit, which I suppose I agree with which is why I think it is likely Turner that gives them the best chance less than a year from now.

Poch needs the best version of Matt Turner for the World Cup next year. I don't know if a better option is going to emerge between now and then.

I think Turner has to be the guy for all the reasons you're stating here. There is no one else. If he's going to Lyon, he has to be playing every single week in addition to being part of Poch's squads leading up to the World Cup. If that happens, it can only be good, because he spent most of last year picking his seat.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Turner needs games. Which he really has not gotten in Europe. If he's going to Lyon, he has to start more often than not. Otherwise, get him somewhere where he can.

I guess I'm confused with what you disagree with. What I'm gathering you're saying here is Turner is shit, but everyone else is more shit, which I suppose I agree with which is why I think it is likely Turner that gives them the best chance less than a year from now.

Poch needs the best version of Matt Turner for the World Cup next year. I don't know if a better option is going to emerge between now and then.

I think Turner has to be the guy for all the reasons you're stating here. There is no one else. If he's going to Lyon, he has to be playing every single week in addition to being part of Poch's squads leading up to the World Cup. If that happens, it can only be good, because he spent most of last year picking his seat.

Yes, I would the USMNT goalkeeping situation has never been this bleak, and it is terrible timing when we will be competing in the most important World Cup of likely most of our lifetimes.
The one position we could consistently rely on for the past two decades has quickly become our second biggest liability behind center back.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yes, I would the USMNT goalkeeping situation has never been this bleak, and it is terrible timing when we will be competing in the most important World Cup of likely most of our lifetimes.
The one position we could consistently rely on for the past two decades has quickly become our second biggest liability behind center back.

It is undoubtedly the worst period for goalkeeping in the USMNT for a generation.

As for center back, if there is one person other than Diego Luna who has shown some grit as of late it is Chris Richards.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

It is undoubtedly the worst period for goalkeeping in the USMNT for a generation.

As for center back, if there is one person other than Diego Luna who has shown some grit as of late it is Chris Richards.

Yes, agreed.
Unfortunately, we need to start two center backs next year...and a 38 year old Tim Ream isn't exactly giving me a great deal of confidence at the moment.
Miles Robinson Achilles injury was a huge blow for the program.
He would have been the starter for likely two straight world cup cycles.
We will see if we have any breakout candidates over these next 12 months, because we cannot expect Time Ream to play 270+ minutes in the American summer heat next year and not have something go horribly wrong during the group stage games.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yes, agreed.
Unfortunately, we need to start two center backs next year...and a 38 year old Tim Ream isn't exactly giving me a great deal of confidence at the moment.
Miles Robinson Achilles injury was a huge blow for the program.
He would have been the starter for likely two straight world cup cycles.
We will see if we have any breakout candidates over these next 12 months, because we cannot expect Time Ream to play 270+ minutes in the American summer heat next year and not have something go horribly wrong during the group stage games.

What's the story with Carter Vickers?