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Post by rudy on Jan 20, 2024 17:15:53 GMT -5
1-0 loss. While it was mostly subs, they showed little effort or skill vs. Slovenia. Disappointing for sure.
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Post by bogan on Jan 20, 2024 17:37:22 GMT -5
1-0 loss. While it was mostly subs, they showed little effort or skill vs. Slovenia. Disappointing for sure. Yeah-we were physical-not very tactical. |
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Post by soccerlegacy on Jan 21, 2024 0:33:52 GMT -5
Interesting responses. I found them to look pretty good for being some of younger, more inexperienced group, with very few caps amongst them. They did have the same old problem USA always has, which is little to no serious scoring threats. We just don't seem to ever have one of those stud goal scorers in the red, whit, and blue.
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Post by bogan on Jan 21, 2024 7:14:14 GMT -5
Interesting responses. I found them to look pretty good for being some of younger, more inexperienced group, with very few caps amongst them. They did have the same old problem USA always has, which is little to no serious scoring threats. We just don't seem to ever have one of those stud goal scorers in the red, whit, and blue. I mean, we were playing Slovenias B team as well…I thought they did fine running up and down the pitch until the ball was at their feet… didn’t feel we were ever a threat…unfortunately, we (US) are always looking for “something” to get us to the next level. I’m not blaming the players as much as I am blaming the system. Perhaps I’m just frustrated with the status quo. I was sure in 1994 that we were turning the corner. 🤷🏻♂️ Edit-I will concede that Diego Luna showed some creativity and good ball handling abilities. |
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Post by missionimpossible on Jan 21, 2024 8:46:42 GMT -5
B team with 11 players making their international debuts. It could have gone either way and with Slovenia’s compact defense it was hard for the men to create chances once they got behind.
However, the USMNT is frankly not very impressive without their proven playmakers. Once you get past Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Serginio Dest, the level of playmakers goes way down. Especially, at outside back and wide areas of the field with not having Dest out there. NOT GOOD. I have never been a fan of Shaq Moore. Dejuan Jones (I think ?) sent the ball way over the box in a 3 v 2 situation. Kamungo (winger) loss the ball on a 1v1 in the top of the defensive 3rd resulting in the Slovenia goal.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Jan 21, 2024 23:19:39 GMT -5
B team with 11 players making their international debuts. It could have gone either way and with Slovenia’s compact defense it was hard for the men to create chances once they got behind. However, the USMNT is frankly not very impressive without their proven playmakers. Once you get past Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Serginio Dest, the level of playmakers goes way down. Especially, at outside back and wide areas of the field with not having Dest out there. NOT GOOD. I have never been a fan of Shaq Moore. Dejuan Jones (I think ?) sent the ball way over the box in a 3 v 2 situation. Kamungo (winger) loss the ball on a 1v1 in the top of the defensive 3rd resulting in the Slovenia goal. One thing I've noticed about American players who are only trained here domestically, is their inability to be creative when in the final/attacking third. You tend to see strikers only striking the ball. What I mean is sometimes there are defenders in front of their pathway to the goal, yet they "strike" the ball in the hopes that it will magically go through the defenders. It is something that has always intrigued me. Not sure if it's the youth system or the inability of coaches to rectify since it's already engrained. You will notice that the missing playmakers you mentioned: Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Serginio, etc. Everyone one of them, had a stint outside the country during the pivotal developmental youth years. So when they are on the ball, they do things to create the space needed to strike the ball with a higher percentage of finding the back of the net. Sometimes a step-over, a juke to the left or right can move a defender or goalie and increase your chances of success. A classic example of this locally, is Jackson Conway (who btw just signed this week with the Charleston Battery). He was exposed when he went on loan to Phoenix Rising, which is why he was sent packing back to the ATL... |
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Post by missionimpossible on Jan 22, 2024 9:01:05 GMT -5
You make an excellent point and that certainly seems true with this group. Not only more creative in the attacking 3rd but also extremely versatile and can play multiple positions. Weston Mckinney for example can play every field position except for maybe centerback.
Watching the other day I was hoping to get a glimpse of Gio Reyna. However, sadly he wasn’t available. I am always suspect of the legacy players who have been given everything. Is he worthy of the hype and capable of earning respect as a game changer on the USMNT squad or is he just an overrated, average player on the international stage.
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Post by soccerlegacy on Jan 22, 2024 13:18:35 GMT -5
It looked to me like that was more of our "C" or those that hadn't even played enough to qualify with a "A,B,C" designation. That 18 year old with the long last name Blat....ski??" I thought he looked good for a newcomer... and Caleb Wiley got in. Anyway, I'm not saying they were great, but not a lost cause either. I don't follow it closely enough to know the younger USMNT's so I can't speak to what we have coming up in those ages. But I agree we still really struggle in the final third of the field.
Glad to read all the comments though, it helps me learn from other opinions and see things from a different perspective... and often from those more knowledgeable than me.
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Post by bogan on Jan 22, 2024 16:35:48 GMT -5
It looked to me like that was more of our "C" or those that hadn't even played enough to qualify with a "A,B,C" designation. That 18 year old with the long last name Blat....ski??" I thought he looked good for a newcomer... and Caleb Wiley got in. Anyway, I'm not saying they were great, but not a lost cause either. I don't follow it closely enough to know the younger USMNT's so I can't speak to what we have coming up in those ages. But I agree we still really struggle in the final third of the field. Glad to read all the comments though, it helps me learn from other opinions and see things from a different perspective... and often from those more knowledgeable than me. …I don’t know if I’m more knowledgeable…I’m just getting old and grumpy 🤣. |
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Post by missionimpossible on Jan 22, 2024 16:49:59 GMT -5
So this was described as the “experimental” squad. All the teams Berhalter has fielded, A, B, C, experimental, I’m not sure if its good or bad but its dam sure confusing.
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Post by 04gparent on Jan 22, 2024 17:29:46 GMT -5
So this was described as the “experimental” squad. All the teams Berhalter has fielded, A, B, C, experimental, I’m not sure if its good or bad but its dam sure confusing. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. It was the B/C team. None of the guys playing in Europe was available. We should read nothing into this outcome. Maybe the best question is why are we scheduling friendlies in the dead of winter without international breaks. I tuned in thinking I would see the names we have come to expect only to see only players playing in US and Mexico. |
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Post by rifle on Jan 22, 2024 17:59:01 GMT -5
B team with 11 players making their international debuts. It could have gone either way and with Slovenia’s compact defense it was hard for the men to create chances once they got behind. However, the USMNT is frankly not very impressive without their proven playmakers. Once you get past Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Serginio Dest, the level of playmakers goes way down. Especially, at outside back and wide areas of the field with not having Dest out there. NOT GOOD. I have never been a fan of Shaq Moore. Dejuan Jones (I think ?) sent the ball way over the box in a 3 v 2 situation. Kamungo (winger) loss the ball on a 1v1 in the top of the defensive 3rd resulting in the Slovenia goal. One thing I've noticed about American players who are only trained here domestically, is their inability to be creative when in the final/attacking third. You tend to see strikers only striking the ball. What I mean is sometimes there are defenders in front of their pathway to the goal, yet they "strike" the ball in the hopes that it will magically go through the defenders. It is something that has always intrigued me. Not sure if it's the youth system or the inability of coaches to rectify since it's already engrained. You will notice that the missing playmakers you mentioned: Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Serginio, etc. Everyone one of them, had a stint outside the country during the pivotal developmental youth years. So when they are on the ball, they do things to create the space needed to strike the ball with a higher percentage of finding the back of the net. Sometimes a step-over, a juke to the left or right can move a defender or goalie and increase your chances of success. A classic example of this locally, is Jackson Conway (who btw just signed this week with the Charleston Battery). He was exposed when he went on loan to Phoenix Rising, which is why he was sent packing back to the ATL... That is a really interesting observation. Totally agree.. it seems like domestic players couldn't unlock a safe with the combination tattooed on (our) hand. I certainly don’t expect every USMNT player to be able to turn like Martin Odegaard. But I damn sure wish they wouldn’t ALL think the last option (passing backwards for safety) is the only option. Do you suppose it has to do with youth soccer parents screaming “not in the middle!!” LOL. And lastly - regarding JC. My son played against his Cobb FC teams way back at U11-U12 and they had some friends in common. The one thing that dazzled my son at that early age was JC being legendary for kicking the ball SO HARD that he once broke a kid’s arm…… |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Jan 22, 2024 19:52:47 GMT -5
I certainly don’t expect every USMNT player to be able to turn like Martin Odegaard. But I damn sure wish they wouldn’t ALL think the last option (passing backwards for safety) is the only option. Do you suppose it has to do with youth soccer parents screaming “not in the middle!!” LOL. And lastly - regarding JC. My son played against his Cobb FC teams way back at U11-U12 and they had some friends in common. The one thing that dazzled my son at that early age was JC being legendary for kicking the ball SO HARD that he once broke a kid’s arm…… Absolutely spot on. I had a friend who attended that game, and she shared the details about the broken arm. While I lack concrete data to support this, I personally attribute the creativity of non-Americans to what I term the "blacktop theory." Drawing parallels to basketball, where on the blacktop one earns their stripes, this theory suggests that individuals develop their skills by playing against various skill levels, refining their game, and experimenting freely. The beauty of this lies in the absence of coaches or parents berating you for missed shots or attempts to navigate through a crowd of players. It's a journey where you learn the intricacies of the game, experiencing moments of heroism and others where you might be the goat. In the United States, however, the lack of designated greenspaces for kids to simply grab a ball and play with friends is evident. Most parks in metro Atlanta are more likely to feature free basketball courts than "available" soccer pitches. Even if a public park does have a soccer field, it's often assigned to local pay-to-play clubs. The challenge lies in how we can foster a genuine grassroots system without adequate space for unrestricted play... |
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