Best goal of the night (that made it 4-0).
US 6 Martinique 1
Ticky-tack call against Acosta costs us a goal and the catbird seat in the group. Still, tough night for Acosta.
Liked how we were attacking all night. We have athletes! turn 'em loose.
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Acosta is a liability, but he’s probably the best player on this squad for that position.
I wish they hadn’t substituted Zardes in for Dike. He would have had a hat trick. Zardes touch isn’t as good as Dike’s. Burhalter loves some Zardes.
Love the young attacking football approach. This team has speed and youth. Let them use it.
People on message boards saying yeah but it’s Martinique. My reply is yeah, but these are our 2 and 3rd stringers. The fact that they are finishing Martinique off like they should is a good thing.
Canada will be the challenge of our group stage. They have a decent squad, and both of us have 6 points.
Unleash The Broon! Becky Sauerbrunn Nears USWNT Scoring Record - YouTube
Unsung hero of the USWNT. Rock solid on the back line, the anchor of a great defense.
That didn't take long. 20 seconds in 1-0 USA over Canada.
I like that Burkhalter has come out of his shell and is opening up our style of play. That's good, but..."choppy" is a good way to describe it. I personally like the 4-4-2 formation, not that is the USMNT's formation. The two strikers need to stay within short passing range of each other...no more than 20 yards or so, and work together applying constant pressure on the opposing back line allowing the 4 midfielders to make runs, often UNMARKED when tactically conducted properly. It was very clear Zardes and Dike were both doing their own thing and acting as if they were the only striker.
But, a win is a win.
Just as an aside….I like getting the technical feedback from you guys. For me, I enjoy the game, but do not understand the strategy or most of the rules. It might as well be rugby or cricket. But hey, if you guys feel we are making progress, I believe it.
I loved the play for the first 30 minutes against Canada. The rest was a learning experience for a really young B/C side against pretty much Canada’s top line. They pinned Canada back but then looked like they were fading. Strange game with the early injuries etc. I really think that this tournament is giving Berhalter a great look at the second line depth for WC Qualification.
I also agree, I like that he is experimenting with formations that fit his available personnel, instead of the old school make the round peg fit no matter philosophy. A couple of these guys may be very nice complimentary pieces to our European starters. The guys calling the match today mentioned several of these guys are getting looks in the transfer window from some quality foreign sides. That level of competition will only improve our depth and skill heading into the winter cup next November/December.
Won the group so that was probably goal one on the teams board. Quarters are in DFW next weekend. Wish El Salvador would have finished El Tri tonight but oh well. I would love to beat them again and cause the rest of their meltdown going into qualifying.
Here ya go! Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, LaCrossee, etc.... all fit into a special team category in America. Just call it "Team Sports people play in America when they are not good enough to play Football, Basketball or Baseball." It may be harsh, but it's true.
https://media.gq.com/photos/5ce05d21...-967191120.jpg
No baseball, football, or basketball player could handle the physical demands of playing soccer. Hell, baseball is a stationary game, basketball is played on a postage stamp size court, and football players are fat-asses who need a break between every play.*
*there may be individuals who participate in those three sports who, because of some independent work-out regiment, could, but it won't be because anything they do to prepare for those other games
Soccer players log an average of (except the goalkeeper) 3-4 miles and midfielders 7-8 miles in a standard 90-minute match. And it is not jogging or just straight running, it's sprints, starts and stops, changes of direction, jumps, and physical contact of sorts. Truth is most baseball, football, and basketball players...even the superstars... would be cut from even the most mediocre soccer teams. Truth hurts.
Coming from the guy who admittedly doesn’t get everything about soccer, I think athletes in our 3 major sports could transition to soccer better than soccer players could to those 3 sports. Mainly because football, baseball, and basketball require(most often)that the player be a very specific physical specimen to handle the riggers of the sport or be able to excel. Size absolutely matters. 3….2…..1…..
In soccer, it’s endurance, agility, footwork, and anticipation. With the right coaching, a wide receiver, running back, DB, point guard, or short stop can become very good at soccer, IMO. Can a 170lb soccer player make the transition to running full speed at another human weighing 230 and also running full speed to the inevitable collision that could easily hospitalize one or both? I don’t know.
I think Daryl Dike could easily be a RB or PG or CF. He's smaller (6'1), but he's good
Hogdawg's post is stupid and was designed to stir the pot. Which is fine, since I have been known to do some pot stirring too. No, a 165 lb soccer player won't transition too well to being an OL, and of course there are skill-sets....such as baseball pitching which IT APPEARS not too many can master. But, it is also true soccer is a LOT more than just endurance, and anyone who thinks that doesn't know the game. I just started with the most obvious: endurance, stamina.
Of the latter I will add there are varying levels of physical fitness, and at the top are the endurance sports: running, swimming, cycling...and then there is SOCCER SHAPE! crowning them all.