Re: Back to the important stuff....
Using a baseball example as an analogy...the Braves' hall of fame pitchers, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddox were very successful at the highest level and rarely threw much more than a 90-91 mph fastball. I had the occasion to sit with a Yankee scout watching some high school kids. One pitcher I was scouting for colleges was really good, but the Yankee scout said he lacked arm-strength and would never make it at the Div I level and certainly never reach the pros. I commented that Glavine and Maddox didn't throw hard...the scout said, Ah!! but they can! They have the arm strength to reach back and hum one. And that arm strength allowed them to pitch 8-9 innings too.
Well, at the highest level of international soccer, it's not so much that a team, especially the midfielders, have to possess the ball for some given % of time, or say "we have to hold the ball for at least 55-60 minutes," nah! but it is having the ability to do so! The striker has to have the ability to play with his back toward the goal and hold the ball. Possess it...often it's for a few seconds at a time, but it's steady and consistent. And midfielders, in particular, have to individually, and as a unit, be able to possess the ball when needed. NOT that there is some magical number of percentage time a team has to possess the ball.
The US men's team has historically been horrible at possessing the ball, especially against stiffer competition, and has not been able to climb to the next level. Often "good" but not "good enough." By contrast the USWNT has dominated in the midfield often having back-ups much better than other sides' starters, and the women's team OWNS the midfield i.e. possession. No surprise they have enjoyed such success.
Berhalter needs to back away from that hardline, stubborn adherence to playing from the back and instead initiate a hybrid of it. Our back line has no business trying to out-skill opposing strikers and midfielders and finesse the ball up the field from the defending 1/3. Get the ball up field onto the feet of a midfielder and go from there. Of course the back line plays a role in the offense, overlaps, making runs up the line, and serving as a drop when the midfield gets into heavy traffic. That is just good soccer. But don't put such pressure on the back line like that. Makes no sense.
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US 4 Costa Rica 0
USMNT is now 11-1-1 in its last 13 matches, playing well.
Last night marked the 4th game for the team in 11 days, and points to the conditioning needed, both physically and mentally, and a test of the depth of the program. Last night Berhalter started 9 new players who did not start the recent Mexico match. This is his B team. Costa Rica also was short of some of their regulars, they started 6 first teamers of their national team. But, as the World Cup CONCACAF qualifying tournament looms it is good Berhalter is developing depth. The grueling schedule and the pressure of WC qualifying can drain players and injuries do occur.
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USWNT 1 Portugal 0
Now 10-0 all time vs. Portugal outscoring them 39-0.
Women's team is 18-1-0 under the new coach. That's 18 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, allowing just one goal. Overall the USWNT is on a 45-game streak of no losses. Have to go back to January, 2019 for the last loss, 3-1 to France and prior to that the next loss was to Australia in July 2017. Have played 58 matches since then with a record 51-6-1. Again, draws (ties) are listed second.
Last night's match was not a good effort, rather lethargic and disjointed in the attacking 1/3. But, the power of possession showed through. The US held the ball for nearly 70% of the time, and much of Portugal's TOP was on their own half. Just a guess, but I'd say that at least 85% of the match was played on Portugal's half of the field. Can't score if you don't have the ball and Portugal rarely had the ball on our half.
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Add another to the looooong list...
USWNT 4 Jamaica 0
Another day at the office.
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USWNT 2 Nigeria 0
Typical pesky effort by Nigeria. Both their men's and women's teams are always a "tough out." Tremendous athleticism and skills and an understanding of the game makes these teams dangerous. Lots of individual play and/or two players executing wall passes and excellent tight passing and bam! they get a shot on goal. Nigeria had something like 8-9 shots tonite on the US goal. That is a lot of shots surrendered by the US defense. Usually a very stingy defense that gives up maybe 2-3 shots/game.
If Nigeria ever got some money, sponsorship, support for its national teams, both their men's and women's sides would be ranked in the top 10 in the world. The Nigerian women's team came into this series, 3 matches vs. the US, Jamaica, and Portugal on the heels of just three weeks training and these being their first games played in months. Lost to Jamaica but tied Portugal in the series.
Now, the US has to reduce its roster to 18 players getting ready for the Olympics next month. Two friendlies vs. Mexico is all they'll have prior to Tokyo, where the US is the Group of Death.
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Gold Cup Roster looks awful. Bunch of C and D teamers on there.
I get the reasons.
1. Gold Cup is right before qualifying for World Cup.
2. Club players are in training camps with their teams.
3. Not wanting to injure A or B level players unnecessarily.
But wow does it look like a bottom tier MLS practice squad.
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Haven't seen the roster for the Gold Cup. But not surprised it's devoid of our better players.
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USWNT 4 Mexico 0
Tune up for the Olympics. We play Mexico again Monday. Christin Press is a goal-scorer. Has a knack.
With Julie Ertz out with an injury, Horan has been called on to fill that absolutely crucial role of holding midfielder. She has done a good job, but we have not played the quality of competition we will face in Tokyo. Horan will be tested. Sam Mewis is good in the attacking midfielder role, seeing more PT than the "older" Carli Lloyd, but I am concerned by Mewis' lack of quickness. Again, the quality of the opposition is on another level in the Olympics. The USWNT will win a gold medal, or not, based on how well Horan and Mewis step up. The rest of the pieces are in place.
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USWNT 4 Mexico 0
Same two teams and same result. US now on a 44-game unbeaten streak. Next up Sweden later this month in Olympics.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
dawg80
USWNT 4 Mexico 0
Same two teams and same result. US now on a 44-game unbeaten streak. Next up Sweden later this month in Olympics.
Don't care until the entire team figures out how to be respectful as a unit during pregame, something that was lacking today.
Re: Back to the important stuff....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FriscoDawg
Don't care until the entire team figures out how to be respectful as a unit during pregame, something that was lacking today.
^^^THIS! It's all over social media, just as it should be. I'm not a women's soccer fan any way, but even if I was, this "American" team is a disgraceful bunch. They're the team you love to hate. I hope they lose. They are doing more to kill viewership for the upcoming Olympics than COVID19. I'll cheer against 'em if given the opportunity.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
FriscoDawg
Don't care until the entire team figures out how to be respectful as a unit during pregame, something that was lacking today.
Fake news / part of team TURNED to face the flag,while the rest stayed facing forward toward anthem performer. Why do y'all believe this clickbait
Re: Back to the important stuff....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sportdawg
Fake news / part of team TURNED to face the flag,while the rest stayed facing forward toward anthem performer. Why do y'all believe this clickbait
Because the age of reason and logic has left us.
We now live in the age of outrage! Both our left and right leaners have become captive to their passions and animal brains. Find me something to be outraged about!
Maybe once we start teaching philosophy in schools again we can recover stoicism, logic, and reason.
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It is sad when you come to expect the worst out of our athletes and celebs. Reality plus social media influence has taught us to anticipate the worst and be ecstatically shocked when it turns out different.
