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0-0 draw
Missed the Trio Express (Swanson, Smith, Rodman) but still had enough talent up front to get a goal, just always that last pass...and two really good saves by Earps, the UK keeper.
On to The Netherlands, and Naeher's final start for the USWNT.
Didn't have a chance to see the England game. I hope Naeher gets to go out on a high.
We enjoyed the run of play. Ended up with about 55% of the possession, had 6 shots on goal, to their one, which was from the 18 and absolutely no problem for Naeher, easy save. Mostly our midfield stymied theirs, which is supposed to be England's strength, and led by Girma our back line DOMINATED! It was, as usual, in the attacking 1/3 where our issues were. Lavelle showed why she is still one of the very best attacking midfielders in the world. She created chance after chance for the US, one time Lavelle dribbled through 3 England defenders and made a perfect cross at the 6...no one was there. Horan is sloooooooooow. I have watched Horan for years and have always harbored my doubts. Here's the issue, she is simply too slow afoot. Not her fault, it is what it is, but attacks break down when either Horan is on the ball, or she is the next person in the sequence. She cannot get to the spot she is needed to be, not because she doesn't know what to do, but rather she is just too slow. Sam Coffey and Emily Fox, while recognized as starters, are under-rated. They are a HUGE part of the team's success. I also like Korbin Albert, she is dynamite on defense in the midfield and creates offensive opportunities.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
The US is much better than England. We're ranked #1, England is ranked #2, but the gap between the two is very obvious.
I think Hayes has us going back in the right direction. I think there was a back log of good young players sitting behind some veterans that should have moved on a little earlier, and I think it will take a little time to identify them, get them some PT, and figure out which one's mesh with the current talent etc.
US 2 Netherlands 1
Out-played for about 85 of the 90 minutes. TOP for the Dutch 57%, out-shot the US 23-5, 9 corners for them, 0 for the US, etc. But, we had Naeher in goal and she made several great saves to keep us in it, until an own-goal, and a very fine goal by Lynn Williams turned it around. Had no business winning this match. Should have lost 5-1 or something like that.
The Dutch played essentially a 2-6-2 formation, which was in constant flux, and Hayes never switched from the 4-3-3, moving to a 4-4-2 in the 2nd half (in the 70th minute), and because of that the Dutch RULED the midfield.
Rather be lucky than good...that was the case today.
Sometimes the better team that day still loses. I will take one of those wins every so often.
Julie Foudy and Demarcus Beasley were guests on a blog, and they speculate that Emma Hayes saw what was going on, the mismatch in the midfield, sometimes 6 v. 3, and purposely did nothing (until the second half) just to see how her players would handle the situation. Unless Hayes confirms this notion, that is surely pure speculation. But, it is consistent with everything folks say about Hayes.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
As it was Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, and Rose Lavelle were often surrounded by Dutch players. Albert in particular, whom I really like, looked like a deer in headlights. She would win the ball and then Bam! 2 or 3 orange-clad Dutchers would be on her like that! I was screaming at the TV for Hayes to switch her formation because it was so obvious we were getting killed in the midfield. Hayes finally did switch to a 4-4-2 in the 70th minute. Williams scored the game-winner in the 71st minute, Hello!
And yep, the Dutch were definitely the better team that day. There's a great saying, "Sometimes you win...sometimes you learn." Could be the USWNT changed that to "Sometimes you learn...and sometimes you still win."
I do feel that Hayes is still in the experiment with the players and tactics phase, so it could be easily true. I also feel that the days of the U.S. even running our best team out there and just blowing people away is over. There are some good countries out there that can beat us even on a good day now. So, I will take the freebie now and again :)
The single biggest job right now is to find a new keeper. There are about 6 candidates listed by various sources. Combined, all 6 of these have a grand total of 29 caps, with Casey Murphy holding 20 of those. Naeher retired with 115 caps.
USMNT 3 Venezuela 1
We had seven guys earned their very first caps, 6 started this match. No, none, zilch from the FIRST TEAM started, and Walker Zimmerman got in very late, after the matter had been settled, to spell an injured defender, Campbell. Meanwhile Venezuela started 7 of their "A" team, along with four youngsters. So, our "B" team, one might say really it was in large part our "C" team and we enjoyed the run of play and won the match.
Jack McGlynn was most impressive, and I also like Aygemang (Sp?) and a few others looked good. Mostly l like how Coach Ponch handles the team, his scheme, and the way it appears the players trust him and respond to him.
I was glad some of those guys got some PT. Even happier they played well against a decent squad.
Same squad plays Costa Rica tonight.
I find it strange that none of the bots post on the soccer thread...
They are more into cricketQuote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Shhh...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
please don't let them botholes ruin this thread too
US 3 Costa Rica 0
Another good performance by our youngsters...plus a few veterans mixed in. Two spectacular saves by Zack Steffen, world class saves. Brian White and Caden Clark got their first international goals and Patrick Aygemang added his second in as many games.
Coach Poch has brought a different level to USMNT than we ever saw under Bradley and Berhalter. I like it!
I think most European coaches have just lived it more than our guys have, and I am not knocking our guys by saying that. It's not something in their control. Poch has the technical knowledge and the coaching skill to manage and adapt his systems to the players he has while, building a system that the players will eventually be trained for. I would love for him to stay for a full cycle after the '26 cup to see what he could do with a full term, because I think the time factor will limit his overall success in '26. Klinsmann definitely had the technical knowledge but lacked the player management and adaptability.
I had kind of forgotten about Klinnsman, easy to do since he left Landon Donovan off the 2014 WC roster
Yep, I still believe that single move, caused by Klinnsman's own ego, kept us from reaching the quarterfinals that year. Would we have then beaten Argentina... no but it's about getting as far as you can.
10th Annual SheBelieves Cup
USWNT 2 Columbia 0
vs. Australia
vs. Japan
Coming up.
USWNT 2 Australia 1
Started 11 new players from the Columbia game. Three more earned their first caps. Australia has 15 players on this roster who played in both the recent World Cup and Olympics. So, given the experience gap, I think our youngsters performed well today.
Japan is on a roll and carries a significant goal differential advantage (+7) over the US (+3). So, Wednesday US vs. Japan, all they need is a draw to win the Cup. This is probably a good thing. The US has to win the match to win the tournament.
Watched an interview with a member of US Soccer re: USWNT. Says Emma Hayes is not building a team, she is building a program. Plans are to have a pool of 60+ players all with caps. Some of these players will be as young as 17. So, this means there will be players in the Hayes system, going to camps, playing at the highest level who will be available for at least FOUR World Cup cycles. The program will continually bring in youngsters every year to keep the pool vibrant and stable. Hayes says inside of two years to the next World Cup she plans to focus on the top 30 players each time. Giving all of them plenty of training in camps and earning caps. Because you never know when an injury will sideline a key player, she wants to be at least two deep at every position with additional alternates.
Last night she played an extremely young team, with 3 veterans and 8 newbies. This will be her formula during non-WC years. She wants veterans on the field to serve as coaches out there, guiding the newbies.
Now, we shall see what importance she places on winning the SheBelieves Cup. The US has won 7 of the previous 9 and has to beat Japan to make it 8 of 10. Will she start a more regular lineup, or throw some youngsters out there? This Japan side is very, very good.
Most European countries have the ability to identify players through the national program and clubs from an earlier age, and with that those players are introduced to their national system early and train in it, sometimes even playing in it at the club level. This is a big reason that Spain and England have developed. For a lot of reasons this hasn't been feasible in the U.S. so she is trying to approximate it as best she can here. I am all for it. Look deep into the talent pool out there, try them out, find those gems that US Soccer normally wouldn't find. Then when its crunch time identify your top 30 or so and get to work. The repeat during the next cycle.
USWNT vs. Japan, a late nighter, kickoff is 9:30 PM our time. Be interesting to see if Hayes is going for the win and starts a more regular lineup or if she throws more youngsters into the fire. Either way Japan is a tough nut to crack.
Really good article exploring this "dilemma": building for the future vs. winning today. Hayes was mostly non-committal but based on her response, I'd say she is leaning toward building for the future. She did add, that doesn't mean we can't win or don't expect to win with a young team.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Crystal Dunn says, winning is in our DNA. We are the US [women's] national team, we expect to win, strive to win every time we take the pitch. That's the true USWNT mindset. I can guarantee Japan wants to win tonight. They are coming off some disappointing results for them in recent international tournaments. They are hungry to lift some hardware, and the SheBelieves Cup will do nicely for now.
US 1 Japan 2
Two huge mistakes in front of our goal, gifts, and Japan converted both. Mostly our B team, with some regulars, but Japan was at full strength and hungry for a tourney win. It showed. Hayes was out-coached and we were out-played. Maybe this will remove the veil of invincibility from Hayes who has garnered so much heightened praise.
Still struggling in the attacking 1/3.
USMNT 0 Panama 1
Clearly Coach Poch is not the answer. Next!
Lost to Canada 2-1 in the 3rd place match. Nothing more needs to be said...
USWNT 2 Brazil 0
Patterson became the 17th player to earn her first cap under Hayes. There is definitely a youth movement on, building a program to be successful for years to come.
Yeah she is building to longevity. You want to win '27, but you have to '31 since we are hosting again. A lot of these youngsters if they have staying power will be mid to late 20's at that point.
Brazil 2 Hayes 1
She owns this loss. Youngest starting line-up since 2001. Wasn't so much the youth, it was Hayes' tactics that lost the match. Maybe she did it on purpose as a "teaching moment." Even so, this L is on her.
USWNT 3 China 0
Two more debutantes earning their first caps, although one of those was a nice gesture by Hayes, playing a 32-year-old pro who had never been called up for the national team before. Hayes is building a program and wants as many folks as possible embracing/supporting the USWNT.
guess they decided they didn't want to play the return leg.
Also looks like we won't be fielding out best players in the Gold Cup. Seems like they would rather rest.
USWNT 4 Jamaica 0
One more debutante earning her first cap.
Glad to see Becky Sauerbrunn got her night of celebration, much deserved recognition. Rock-solid, consistent, dependable, our anchor on defense for so many years and two World Cup titles.
We should be able to win the Gold Cup with only a few of our "A" team sprinkled in. But, I don't think Hayes really cares about the Gold Cup; her focus is building a program that can win the next three World Cups.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
Sorry I meant the mens gold cup. Pulisic and a few others have asked out.
I am glad Sauerbrunn got her time. She was a workhorse and half for so long.
USMNT 1 Turkey 2
More of the same...nothing. Poch is now 5-0-4 as coach. He's not getting it done and there are no signs of it getting any better.
USMNT 0 Switzerland 4
Pathetic. Have hit rock bottom. Played Matador Defense, Ole! Looked like a "shadow" drill practice for the Swiss offense. Poch is 5-0-5 and now on a 4-game losing streak. The Gold Cup opens in less than a week, road game (loss) at T&T. World Cup is a year away. Embarrassing early exit pending for the US.
I am suffering from USMNT fatigue. Just tired of this crap. The usually VERY loyal and supportive US fanbase booed the team off the field. This has to be a first for that. Huge changes needed...including with the whole coaching staff.
The players are like the former player criticism is overblown. No, it's not and the fans are tired of supporting a program that isn't even trying to put its best foot forward.
As I said I have reached USMNT fatigue. Much like Tech's athletics. Have gotten to the point where I don't care anymore.
That said, like Tech, I will continue to watch games and root (hope) for them to do well. But there is no more surprise or disappointment when they fail.
USMNT 5 T&T 0
Better. I like Luna's savvy playing style. McGlynn is the most talented player on this roster. T&T is not much of an opponent but given how both Mexico and Costa Rica struggled with "inferior" opponents, our easy win looks a little more impressive.
There are players that were buried because Berhalter had his "guys" (which lots of coaches do), I am not saying they may be world class, but we have some young guys that need a stretch of games and training. Maybe some of the A-Team wanting to rest Ponch can see what is below the surface. He has been here long enough now to at least been given an idea.
Luna reminds me of a kid I coached, Brian M. All I had to do was put him out there and let him disrupt and create chances. And man, did he ever!Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Gonna need some of that Luna creativity tonight to get a W against Saudi Arabia. SA has no offense, but they do have a rock-solid defense, and this match is likely to end 0-0 unless there's a big defensive error or some incredible play made by an offense...or the ref interjecting and granting a PK for one of the sides. Hopefully the US can get that 1-0 win and advance to the knockout round of the Gold Cup.
US 1 Saudi Arabia 0Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Game went exactly like I thought and hoped it would. Very predictable.
But, here is the truth SA, while good on defense and they did upset Argentina in the WC, they are ranked 58th in the latest FIFA ranking. So don’t get too excited about this US win. Have to keep it in perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
At this point I am just happy not losing. I don't expect to upset higher ranked teams, I am just happy when we don't Tech it up and lose to a lower ranked team.
We tried to "Tech it up" today, escaping with a 2-1 win over lowly Haiti.
There is nothing there. If this is the roster Poch takes to the WC next year, we won't get out of group play. Of course, I don't expect this to be the roster.