Back to the important stuff....

3rd Place game, Belgium v. England

Belgium is the better team, but in such games motivation matters.

From experience when I played for Tech's soccer club team we lost in the semifinals in the Mobile tourney, 4-3 to Florida on a golden goal (OT). 1 1/2 hours later we were back on the field to face Tulane in the 3rd place game. It would be our 5th game in just over 24 hours, and it was late April and kind of hot. Too many of our guys didn't want to play and we got drilled 6-1.

In practice the next week that loss, to an inferior Tulane, team lingered. Several of us were pissed that the team "phoned it in," and we made a vow, never again. A month later we were in Pensacola for the Univ of West Florida-hosted tourney. Again, we fell in the semis, this time to Florida State and faced the host school, West Florida, in the 3rd place game. WFU, kind of like Russia in the WC, greatly over-achieved advancing to the semis. We were a lot better and knew it. They soon knew it too....we smoked 'em 8-0 in that 3rd place consolation match. The long drive home to Ruston that evening was a whole lot more pleasant than after Mobile.

Some say, don't play 3rd place consolation games....and I understand the sentiment. But, the worst thing that happens to a team is to LOSE that game! That really sucks! Ending a great tourney run, into the Final Four, with back to back losses. That sucks!

Well...Belgium looks motivated....1-0 just 3 mins in.

Belgium 2 England 0 Final

France 2 Croatia 1 Halftime

Croatia has enjoyed the run of play, with 60%+ TOP and generating the most chances. But, they have been very unlucky so far. An own goal and an unfortunate hand ball in the box has given France its two goals. Now, either their luck will change and Croatia goes on to pull this out, or France makes "halftime adjustments" and owns the 2nd half and gets the WC title.

45 mins to go...we shall see. Regardless, I really like this Croatia side.

France 4 Croatia 2 Final

Great match, worthy ending of an awesome tourney.

As always it comes down to midfield play, and France had the best of that.

Until we, the USA, develop a stable of midfielders of world class caliber, it'll never happen here. Our USWNT has the best midfield in the world, and no surprise are defending WC Champions. For our MNT, it just ain't there. We've had a few over the decades: Reyna, Ramos, Donovan....maybe McBride....I had high hopes for Michael Bradley, and he showed some flashes of greatness, but alas.... To win a WC requires having 6 world class MFers. A starting 4 plus a couple of quality subs you can count on to deliver.

Keep on keeping on....


Actually, McBride was a striker.

USA vs. Brazil

Clint Dempsey has officially retired. Altidore is gone. So, the youth movement is on for the USA. Christian Pulisic is out injured.

Brazil has brought its real team tonite, 10/11 starters from the recent World Cup, including Neymar.

U-S-A !!!

Talk about a trial by fire.

Brazil 2 USA 0

2nd goal was total BS, horrible call by ref. But really, after Brazil scored in the 11th min, it was effectively game over. They possessed the ball 70-30% and except for a couple of scrambles in front of their goal, we never threatened to score.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Brazil 2 USA 0

2nd goal was total BS, horrible call by ref. But really, after Brazil scored in the 11th min, it was effectively game over. They possessed the ball 70-30% and except for a couple of scrambles in front of their goal, we never threatened to score.

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I thought it was interesting that Brazil played their A team in friendly. I mean they started Neymar.

The call was BS. I love the kid asking the ref if he watched the WC. Instant classic. Neymar is a good player, but he flops.

We played B and C youth. They did pretty well all things considered. For the most part they marked well, held their formation, and limited their mistakes.

Mexico will be a better match to judge on Tuesday.

Antonee Robinson got smoked in his left back position, all night long. Our single biggest weakness. First goal was a direct result of Robinson getting burned, and the build up that led to the BS call in the box, came thru Robinson too.

But we also had no midfield play. Brazil dominated midfield, and held the ball 70% possession. We mostly chased the ball all night.

As you said, we had a minor league team vs. The NY Yankees, with Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, (yes, I threw Mickey in there too). It's what we need to do. Our goal should be to build a team/program for the 2026 WC when we host. Use the 2022 WC as a training event.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Antonee Robinson got smoked in his left back position, all night long. Our single biggest weakness. First goal was a direct result of Robinson getting burned, and the build up that led to the BS call in the box, came thru Robinson too.

But we also had no midfield play. Brazil dominated midfield, and held the ball 70% possession. We mostly chased the ball all night.

As you said, we had a minor league team vs. The NY Yankees, with Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, (yes, I threw Mickey in there too). It's what we need to do. Our goal should be to build a team/program for the 2026 WC when we host. Use the 2022 WC as a training event.

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Yep.

The next manager should look at a two WC cycle instead of a one. We should only start/play players who will be with the team in 2026.

So no Bradley. Altidore is a probable (but only because he is the best/only real striker we have right now).

We need to focus on development: Weah, Pulisic, Yedlin, Acosta, Sargent, Morris. Build a core midfield around Pulisic. This gets us two cycles of a solid team.

I would love to see a Weah, Pulisic, McKennie, and Green midfield develop together. That could be a core of something special.

Of the roster vs. Brazil, Yedlin was the veteran guy with 50 caps. I think the rest of the team combined doesn't have 50.

Midfield play. That's it. Until we have a good midfield we'll always be just another "also ran." We have 8 years until we host the WC Finals. The focus needs to be on developing a WORLD CLASS midfield. Can we do it? Will we do it? I dunno. But we have to try, because without it, we are doomed to fall short.

In the short run, I'd like to see these young bucks play solid soccer. Smart soccer. At least be in the right place....all the time. No excuse for being caught out of position. That's a mental issue.

USA 1 Mexico 0

Yeah, baby!

Robinson clearly showed why he might make a pretty good left midfielder, and is the absolute worst marking back I've seen in years. Pretty run to set up US goal, and then nearly gave it back because he is clueless what "marking" a player is. When asked about, Robinson held up a Sharpie and muttered, "would I use this...or what?" And Twellman tried to blame Miaga on that play! Ah...no.

Do want to point out that the entire US team, all 23 players, stood and sung the National Anthem. Hands on hearts. Great Americans, each one.

Seemed pretty disjointed in the first half. The youth showing. But we settled down and hit it when it counted.

Yeah. Disjointed first half. Very youthful.

Second half was much more composed. Again most of these youngsters are playing for a potential starter spot right now. Robison is up and down. I think the problem is we do a poor job of developing defensive soccer players at every level. Too much emphasis on strikers and midfielders. I want to see core back lines that hold their shape and don’t get out of position. That is key. Too many coaches are bringing up defenders into striking formations including Klinsman using Yedlin this way.

You may not have numbers going forward, but you won’t have backlines that are beat either.

Nothing wrong with marking backs making runs up the touch line. In fact, without it, you're stuck in a regimented box formation, easy to defend. Score would have been 0-0 last night save for Robinson's run. It was perfect.

But! the primary role of the back line is to defend, and the outside backers have to "mark up." Miaga glanced to his left, on that late, nearly game-tying attack by Mexico. He saw Robinson over there and assumed, as he should, he had the attacker covered. Meanwhile, to his right, Miaga and one other US defender, Trapp, I think, were dealing with 3 attacking Mexicans. From behind him, Miaga did not know Robinson had been burned again (he could have guessed though). He was incensed and "shot daggers" with his look at Robinson.

Antonee Robinson shows enormous potential to be a left midfielder. I see incredible talent in that youngster. Speed, ball skills, understanding how to stretch the field out to the touch line...The USMNT needs a stable of midfielders. Robinson can be one.

But....our back line woes. One of the first things I would teach kids, even U12, is how to recognize what was happening, and how to be in the right place. Even without good ball skills, or even good athleticism, if a defender is where they should be...they can disrupt an offensive attack. To see players...on the frickin' USMNT!!! get caught out time and time again....I am screaming at the TV...."watch your right! shift right!!!" or whatever the defensive play calls for. It's frustrating.

US Soccer has all these development programs, like Olympic Development camps, etc.. I even had some players who were invited to such camps when they were youngsters, usually, in my case, U14. They would come back from such a camp, say in Dallas, and I'd ask 'em what they learned... "ball skills." Was the usual answer. Nothing about "team soccer." Perhaps that's why our youngsters look lost out there. They have not ever been properly coached.

Talk is, of course, that Michael Bradley and Altidore and maybe a couple of other "older players" will be on the 23-man roster next year when WC qualifying starts for Qatar 2022. Altidore is what, 27? Should be in the prime of his athletic career, but he stays hurt. Christian Pulisic is hurt a lot too. Has missed 7 of the last 8 MNT's games due to nagging injuries.

Dempsey, the ole "bulldog," as he is referred to, has retired. Someone(s) need to step up and be that go-to guy up top.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Talk is, of course, that Michael Bradley and Altidore and maybe a couple of other "older players" will be on the 23-man roster next year when WC qualifying starts for Qatar 2022. Altidore is what, 27? Should be in the prime of his athletic career, but he stays hurt. Christian Pulisic is hurt a lot too. Has missed 7 of the last 8 MNT's games due to nagging injuries.

Dempsey, the ole "bulldog," as he is referred to, has retired. Someone(s) need to step up and be that go-to guy up top.

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Bradley should not be called up again. His ball handling and passing is dreadful. Turnover machine. I think Klinsman ruined him because he used to be decent in midfield.

Injuries are a part of the game. Everyone has injuries. Altidore has had more than his fair share. Dempsey missed a lot of games because of injuries. You have to make your twos as good as your ones because of this. It should always be next man up. Thats why I think the next coach needs to assemble a group of 23 and keep that group pretty stable for two cycles. They can learn and grow together. I hope the next coach can create a scheme that works for our talent, and not force our talent to work into their scheme.

I don't think it will be Ramos. He should have taken the interim job and proven his worth.

Osorio is no longer available.

Marsch maybe if you want an American coach?

Bradley is a turnover machine, true. Which is why he'd make a decent defender or strictly Holding Midfielder. He gets in trouble in tight quarters when the MF is trying to mount an attack, create some possession. I think if he were allowed to do more clearing of the ball upfield when challenged, he'd do fine on the back line. There was a time, when his Dad coached, he was good. In fact, I thought he was a VERY good Holding Midfielder...even used the term "world class," when he peaked and was playing his best.

JK comes along and tries to convert him into a #10, I guess to bump LD out. But Bradley never adapted to being an Attacking Midfielder, except for a few flashes of brilliance. After LD retired, and one would think Bradley would settle into the #10 position, he actually got worse. He has been playing better for Toronto, but that is not world class, best of the best soccer.

I think a good coach could help Bradley salvage his MNT career and allow him to go out on a high note.

Did ya say coach??? Yeah, like, soon...okay guys.

Watched that Toronto v. Tigres match the other night. Toronto had Michael Bradley playing center back, on of three in a 5-man back line. It worked very well. The three center backs play a triangle formation with Bradley at the point, which effectively leaves a straight 4-man back line behind him. It worked until Toronto started losing discipline and shape of the formation...and T's lousy keeper allowed two goals in he should have stopped, and a T own goal. But Bradley is suited for such a role. His clearing balls, 30-40 yard outlet passes are very accurate. I can see him playing that for the USMNT.

Now....Altidore. All he did was run around losing the ball, making bad passes, and starting fights.

That was a mess against Columbia.

Bradley just looked slow and old.

Defense was terrible.

Defense?

Starting with the single biggest flaw: Antonee Robinson. He is NOT a fullback. He has no clue and no desire to play defense. You could hear Columbia's coach shouting at his players to "attack through Robinson." As I have posted previously, Robinson has some potential as a left midfielder, but then only if we have a ultra strong left marking back shutting down that side. Because that marking back won't get any defensive help from Robinson to speak of.

But, last night, and in the current state of affairs, it's a lot worse than just Robinson. There is not a single defender, including Bradley, who is worth protecting for a roster spot. IF we ever get a new coach, he needs to advertise an open call for defenders for a try out camp. That said, during a transition period, say the next year or so, I can see Bradley retaining a spot provided he can coach a little. I think he can be effective as a TRUE holding midfielder, the one role he has performed well at. But, you're right, he has lost a step and even in that position his effectiveness is questionable.

There is no one in the midfield, save for some flashes of offensive brilliance, who has demonstrated they can advance to some, even remotely, "world-class" status. Midfield is all about playing defense and holding the ball. Possession....possession....possession. Some casual soccer fans don't understand what that really means. It is NOT about casual passes and the clock ticking so you garner more TOP. It's about QUALITY possession. It's about denying the opposing midfield the ball! That means tough and skillful tackling. Taking the ball away and then being able to ward off the other dude's attempts to take it back. Even the greatest midfielders of all time lose the ball....for a few seconds. That's right, they quickly took it back again. And, just as importantly, when a world class midfielder's side does not have the ball, their defensive pressure forces the other guys to focus ALL of their attention on just keeping the ball. Meaning, NO WAY can then even think about mounting an offensive attack. It's those subtle aspects of the game that some sports' fans fail to appreciate. And it's what separates the pretenders from those with little stars on their uniforms.

This is the worst I have seen the US Men's National Team in my lifetime. We have hit rock bottom.

By stark contrast, the US Women's National Team is the best in the world. Our second string would form the core of a Top 10 side. Yes, CONCACAF is an even bigger joke on the women's side, than the men's, and so the USWNT is making a mockery of WC qualifying. In case you missed it we swept thru pool play, 3 matches, outscoring Mexico, Panama, and T&T by a combined 18-0. And with just a little luck, it could have been 30-0. Alex Morgan clanked the woodwork 7 times herself in the 3 games.

The USWNT is to CONCACAF what Bama would be to CUSA in football. The very best team in the very worst league.

Very business-like....

US 6 Jamaica 0

Next up a pretty good Canada side for the CONCACAF title, on Wednesday. Being played in Frisco.

Last night... USMNT 1 Peru 1

Typical friendly, Peru, the better team did just enough to get some kind of result. Took yet another defensive mistake by the US, in this case, Yedlin, in the 86th min to give up the equalizer.


Tonite….USWNT 2 Canada 0

Canada is the #5 ranked team in the world, and they are tough. Expected a hard-fought match, and got one. US's midfield is in transition and we are still searching for adequate replacements for Rapinoe and Lloyd, who were the #1 and #2 best players in the world. Both will be part of the 23-player roster for France, 2019, but Lloyd will be used sparingly, a super-sub in France, and Rapinoe has lost a step as well.

For now, the USWNT is CONCACAF champions, a perfect 5-0, and outscoring the opposition by a combined 26-0.

USWNT is the juggernaut in the soccer world. They have no real challengers, and other countries just don’t develop women’s soccer the same way we do in America.

Unfortunately the reverse is true of the USMNT. I think we have found our front three that will be together for the next two cycles...Weah, Sargent, and Pulisic. The problem is our back line and midfield. Left back continues to be a problem Robinson now Yedlin. Yedlin was better but still made a mental mistake that led to the equalizer. Our opponents are just going to continue to attack the left side until we do something about it.

Not sure how I feel about a possible HC with no international experience like Berghalter.

The problem is our back line and midfield....OH! is that all? And here I was concerned....:icon_roll:

Just messing with ya! I know you know what drives the train in futbol.

I played left back at Tech, and again in a semi-pro league, we were sponsored by an Italian restaurant and had the, ahem, most colorful uniforms... At Tech, our coach, Hugo, a former World Cup player for Venezuela, before that country descended into communism, told me I was playing left back, even though my left was average, at best, because he wanted me to clear the ball, when I had to, by changing fields. Being a strong right footer aided in that endeavor.

I digress....the USMNT has had a left back problem, well, forever! Beasley did okay at it...not great....but okay, because he was an overall good player. But even he never played the position correctly. Defenders are a special breed. Not everyone is cut out to handle it.

Yeah, we need a good coach. International experience is a plus....though it didn't seem to help JK. Mostly, we need a coach who will teach fundamentals! Especially positioning for the back line and midfield.

I think Yedlin could be made into a left back. He’s just not natural at it yet. He needs to develop that position as his primary.

Beasley was the best left back we’ve ever had. Again not saying much, but there is a reason he kept getting called up by HCs. He wasn’t natural at it, but he could clear the ball.

Maybe there’s someone out there who might be a diamond in the rough. U-17 player or something that we could develop.

Yedlin is right footed. He usually plays right back. He may have subbed in as center back vs. Peru, but that is not his usual position. He is listed as a right back on the USMNT roster. Now, that's not to say he couldn't play left back....many primary right-footers do. If he's pretty good with his left, especially making crosses, he could play left back.

But, I am not impressed with him either as a defender. He's had some good moments when playing right mid, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think he's a rock on the back line.

Great game last night in the MSL playoffs! Wow! between bitter rivals Seattle and Portland, 2nd leg of the western conference semis. Match had everything. Back and forth, beautiful goals, drama all over the place. Ultimately decided in a shootout, won by Portland 4-2.

Seattle's striker, Raul Ruidiaz is awesome, very dynamic player.

https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...s/video/178696

Atlanta United beats Portland for the MLS Cup in front of 72K LOUD fans in Atlanta. Love the crowd! Never stopped chanting and cheering. There is nothing like an involved soccer crowd.

in other news....

US Women drew Thailand, Chile, and Sweden for their group for the 2019 World Cup in France. The schedule will have the US playing Thailand and then Chile so we should be sitting on 6 pts and thru to the knockout round heading into the Sweden match. They should be too. According to the pundits, the US would be better off NOT winning the pool as the runner-up actually gets an easier path to the finals, avoiding both host France and Germany, on that side of the bracket.

But, we are the USA and we're all about winning! As Tobin Heath said last night, if our goal is to win the WC, which it is, then might as well face, and beat, France/Germany in the quarterfinals or semifinals. Have to beat them anyway to win a second straight WC title.

My biggest concern for '19 is Carli Lloyd is past her prime and will be a role player, getting minimal minutes, and Megan Rapinoe has lost a step as well. And no one has stepped up to fill that void for the US. We enter the 2019 WC Finals without a dominating midfield. We are very good, yes, but not dominating, crushing, like we were in 2015.

Very few, if any, men's or women's soccer programs repeat as WC champions. It's hard enough to win one, virtually impossible to repeat.

The Gregg Berhalter era begins with a win... US 3 Panama 0

Outside of Michael Bradley and Zardes it was 9 newcomers. I like the youth movement, it's absolutely necessary to start over with brand new players. Three years to the next WC Finals, so there is time to build a competitive team that can at least qualify for the Finals, and then advance out of pool play.

Mostly I like the attacking style Berhalter brings. Very refreshing to see an aggressive scheme. I'm cautiously optimistic we will have something to be excited about, and proud of, again.

Berhalter is 2-0. US 2 Costa Rica 0

Second goal was spectacular! Paul Arriola finished it with a great chip, but the whole attack was started by the US keeper with a perfect outlet pass, a great header to a runner, a pass with perfect weight, and then the finish. End to end on the pitch and in a matter of a few seconds. Great stuff!

I'm already loving the Berhalter era, just two games in.

Great start to the Berhalter era.

Emphasis on development of younger players.

Lletget may move Pulisic to Winger.

Lletget is legit! I also like Lima's energy. Well, all these youngsters are refreshingly energetic go-getters.

Then Lalas is talking about the addition of Bradley and Altidore to the mix...I don't know. Maybe early in the process, and then only as off-the-bench. We are three years out from the next WC Finals. Plenty of time to develop these youngsters. Bradley and Altidore represent the past which was a dismal failure.

Here's the truth. When Donovan, and to a lesser extent, Beasley hit the big stage as 22 year olds they instantly changed US Soccer. They had an instant impact! It was after both of those guys were retired...last year...that the MNT hit the skids. Outside of Pulisic I don't see any LD-level super star talent, and Pulisic is NOT the same type of high-impact player LD was. All that said, I think we should bite the bullet and go totally with youth.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Lletget is legit! I also like Lima's energy. Well, all these youngsters are refreshingly energetic go-getters.

Then Lalas is talking about the addition of Bradley and Altidore to the mix...I don't know. Maybe early in the process, and then only as off-the-bench. We are three years out from the next WC Finals. Plenty of time to develop these youngsters. Bradley and Altidore represent the past which was a dismal failure.

Here's the truth. When Donovan, and to a lesser extent, Beasley hit the big stage as 22 year olds they instantly changed US Soccer. They had an instant impact! It was after both of those guys were retired...last year...that the MNT hit the skids. Outside of Pulisic I don't see any LD-level super star talent, and Pulisic is NOT the same type of high-impact player LD was. All that said, I think we should bite the bullet and go totally with youth.

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I agree. Altidore and Bradley need to step down. Their era is over and it went out with a whimper.

Right now we are preparing and playing for the next two cycles.

WC2026 should be our target. ESPECIALLY since we are hosting.

Yes there will be some mistakes by the youngsters and some mental mistakes, but they need to develop a solid core for the next two cycles.

Good showing in 2022 followed by a deep run in 2026! That is the plan.

USWNT...

US 2 Japan 2

GK Naeher is simply too slow a-foot to be effective at this level. Davidson is a major liability at center back. Dunn tried...and failed miserably...to fill in for Horan on the back line. What a bad joke that is!

We have major issues in the goal and in the back four.

On the positive side of the ledger, Megan Rapinoe is back in form and playing well, and Tobin Heath is stepping up to fill that void being vacated by an aging Lloyd. Ertz was moved up to play holding midfielder, and she's good at it, but her absence on the back line is stark! She needs to be back at center back and captain of the defensive line again. HUGE hole in our defense!

Christin Press should be a starter, up top with Alex Morgan in a true 4-4-2 alignment.

Beyond the glaring glitches in the line up, this team needs to recapture a sense of urgency. They act like every game is a friendly...which outside of the World Cup, they are really. But they are developing bad habits. This notion that they can turn it on/turn it off like a light switch is alarming. In France this summer, that kind of attitude, over-confidence, will get you beat and in the knock-out rounds...there is no reprieve.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

USWNT...

US 2 Japan 2

GK Naeher is simply too slow a-foot to be effective at this level. Davidson is a major liability at center back. Dunn tried...and failed miserably...to fill in for Horan on the back line. What a bad joke that is!

We have major issues in the goal and in the back four.

On the positive side of the ledger, Megan Rapinoe is back in form and playing well, and Tobin Heath is stepping up to fill that void being vacated by an aging Lloyd. Ertz was moved up to play holding midfielder, and she's good at it, but her absence on the back line is stark! She needs to be back at center back and captain of the defensive line again. HUGE hole in our defense!

Christin Press should be a starter, up top with Alex Morgan in a true 4-4-2 alignment.

Beyond the glaring glitches in the line up, this team needs to recapture a sense of urgency. They act like every game is a friendly...which outside of the World Cup, they are really. But they are developing bad habits. This notion that they can turn it on/turn it off like a light switch is alarming. In France this summer, that kind of attitude, over-confidence, will get you beat and in the knock-out rounds...there is no reprieve.

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I am beginning to wonder if the defense woes of US teams speaks to a development problem. Too many kids want to be strikers and midfielders. Even down to the younger levels where I coached. Parents want their kids to play up front where the action and glory is, not on the back line that rarely gets praise and often gets the blame.

Also most teams (including my own) have he tendency to hide their slower players in the defense.

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Originally Posted by revf

I am beginning to wonder if the defense woes of US teams speaks to a development problem. Too many kids want to be strikers and midfielders. Even down to the younger levels where I coached. Parents want their kids to play up front where the action and glory is, not on the back line that rarely gets praise and often gets the blame.

Also most teams (including my own) have he tendency to hide their slower players in the defense.

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Preface this with the comment that we gave up soccer pretty early, so this isn't really from soccer experience -- but that last line strikes me as something I see from a lot of American sports. I wonder if other countries do something differently. When your emphasis is on winning the game even at age 7, you are going to tend to try to put your best players where they can make the most difference. But that is going to mean that players don't necessarily develop the appropriate skills for later. How many players who are the best athletes around at 8-9, are less so at age 16? Maybe they could have found a niche in one of those less glamorous positions. A kid plays power forward in basketball but turns out to be 5' 10". Maybe he could keep playing if he had learned guard skills, but he wasn't the best possible guard at age 10.

I don't know if I've really even got a suggestion here, just ruminating off of the point you made there.

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Originally Posted by revf

I am beginning to wonder if the defense woes of US teams speaks to a development problem. Too many kids want to be strikers and midfielders. Even down to the younger levels where I coached. Parents want their kids to play up front where the action and glory is, not on the back line that rarely gets praise and often gets the blame.

Also most teams (including my own) have he tendency to hide their slower players in the defense.

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Agreed.

And I "hid" my less athletic players in defense when I coached U14 and younger, because I could teach team defense, organization, and proper positioning and we employed a "defensive" defense. My players were reminded: when in doubt, kick it out!

But that did not work at the high school and college level. Needed SPEED on defense and athleticism. Yeah, I often had a weak link on the back line, a slower player, but we could cover for one liability with a dropping mid-fielder. i.e. a defense-first midfielder playing in front of that fullback. But, especially at the college level, I always built from the back, with a mix in the midfield. One year I was so devoid of athletes...at that level, I put two of my weakest players up top and asked them to 1) be a target when we had to clear a ball upfield, and 2) be a pest with the opposing defense. I didn't expect them to do much. But funny thing happened, every time we mounted an attack the opposing defense marked them tightly...I suppose they thought they were skilled players, being strikers. I used them as decoys and often had them drift out to the touch line and my attacking midfield would slice inside that fullback.

You are right about "parents," yuck! and Ugh! Had a huge issue when I coached a girls' U16 select team. Best player on my roster was a natural at holding midfielder. Damn! she was good at it. But, yeah, the parents whined about her playing striker.

I coached u8 and u10. We would usually have one or two really good players, two decent players, and the rest were okay to bad. Even at younger levels you can pick out the natural ball handlers for the midfield, the speed guys on the wings, and the trackers for the backfield. The main thing especially at U8 is helping them learn to patrol an area and help out, learn their side, tracking the ball, and getting away from the blob.

Absolutely right I taught to kick it out if they got in trouble. Getting numbers back is a good thing. That was one of the most infuriating things of the klinsman era of soccer. They were told never kick it out and he sought to eliminate set pieces which have always been a fixture of US soccer.

US 2 England 2

More of the same, lousy porous defense, stupid mistakes, HORRIBLE GK play, Franch getting her first cap, hope its her last cap...

Now, to keep this on an even keel, England is the 4th ranked side in the world and did finish 3rd at the 2015 WC Finals. They were at full strength last night, playing their best game, and the US is still short Lindsey Horan in the middle, and O'Hara just returned off a long injury recovery. Becky Sauerbrunn returned and saw some late minutes as well. She is 33 and has one WC Finals left in her. BUT! as anyone who knows, knows, it takes a roster of 23 players to win a WC. All teams have to deal with injuries at times.

I found it interesting when Coach Ellis moved Ertz back to center back in the last 15 mins, obviously to preserve at least a draw. Shows who she has confidence in, and who she doesn't, in crunch time. Lavelle is pretty good, and has potential. Ellis is counting on her to improve her game to become a world class midfielder. She shows flashes of brilliance, but then disappears for periods of time and/or makes a horrid mental mistake. Too inconsistent for my liking.

Rapinoe and Heath scored the two goals...Rapinoe's shot from the 18 was brilliant! Great shot! And those two are playing very, very well right now. They are ready for France in June. The rest of the team needs to catch up. If Ellis and the coaches don't solve the GK and back line issues, we won't win a 4th WC title this go-around. IF, HUGE IF! we could muster a strong defense, I could see the rest of the line-up, in a 4-4-2, being:

Morgan and Press - strikers
Rapinoe and Heath - outside mids
Lavelle -attacking mid ( or Horan if back and in top form)
Ertz- holding mid

Carli Lloyd first off the bench in the midfield in the 65-70th minute.

But, only if we can find a back 4 and a GK.

1-0 vs Ecuador.

I though Morris was onside for the earlier score, but refs waved him off.

Arriola looks good. McKennie has great recovery speed and good intelligence on the pitch. Burkhalter is still experimenting with style and formation which is good.

Brooks looked better than he has in years past. Morris lost his man getting back but the kick was too high.

Young team making young mistakes. Playing time and growth is the most important thing right now.

Zardes' goal was lucky, but it also shows what happens when you don't play good defense, Ecuador went to sleep on that play leaving him unmarked just outside the 18. The US was lucky when our guys made bonehead plays on defense, the other guys didn't finish. Eucador did not make the last WC Finals, and won't again next time. They are not a good side. A win is a win, and yes, I like what I'm seeing from our youngsters. I am cautiously optimistic. But, a performance like last night vs. a Top 10 side gets you beat 3-0. World Class strikers make you pay for defensive mistakes.

Overall, I am enjoying this. Yes, it's all about playing time and development.

First draw of the berkhalter era.

Chile is a legit top 15 team. Maybe close to top 10. (Argentina is overrated in my opinion especially with an aging Messi)

It was a good test to see how we faired. Decent goal from Pulisic. A draw is better than a loss, but we have to shore up that defense. I still think berkhalter is experimenting right now with positions and players and that’s okay right now. Westin out for the season is concerning. I thought he brought a lot of energy and was willing to track back on defense and saved a goal vs. Ecuador.

It’s still early.

The US side can ill-afford injuries, especially season-ending ones.

Possession... Chile is a good team, but not world-beaters, yet they out-classed us for 90 mins. We mostly chased the ball. Until the US consistently has opponents chasing the ball we'll always be chasing that Final Four appearance in the WC Finals.

Defense... MARK UP! Goal side! And that doesn't mean staying 5 yards away.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Defense... MARK UP! Goal side! And that doesn't mean staying 5 yards away.

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This is what I say to the U11 girls team my kid plays on.

It's seriously a problem for the US team?

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Originally Posted by Champ967

This is what I say to the U11 girls team my kid plays on.

It's seriously a problem for the US team?

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Yes, that and keep getting caught "ball watching."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

The US side can ill-afford injuries, especially season-ending ones.

Possession... Chile is a good team, but not world-beaters, yet they out-classed us for 90 mins. We mostly chased the ball. Until the US consistently has opponents chasing the ball we'll always be chasing that Final Four appearance in the WC Finals.

Defense... MARK UP! Goal side! And that doesn't mean staying 5 yards away.

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The MNT has never been good at playing possession soccer. Our best WC years were playing with Donovan in a dual role making runs and defense. I’ve seen arguments that US soccer should be based/built in a rock solid defense and set pieces.

But from what I’ve seen now we don’t have a single decent holding midfielder. Bradley is a turnover machine and Pulisic can’t handle the double team that he will regularly face right now. I just don’t know how to solve the development piece where the us clearly has money and resources but cannot make it happen.

If you can't possess the ball...and that means consistently and with a purpose...you will NEVER win a WC, and probably never reach the Final Four even..

USWNT in 2015 had the best, BY FAR! midfield in the world. We could do anything we wanted, when we wanted, between the 18s. Oh, and BTW, we won the World Cup too!

Donovan is the best player in USMNT history. He ran up and down only because he had to to give us a chance. Imagine if he didn't have to, and could have just played the position he was born to play: attacking midfielder.

Nah! the USMNT has got to get better at possession. Might as well start with youngsters and train 'em right.

US 5 Australia 3 (USWNT)

No defense and a GK who is slow as ice. More than half the goals the US is surrendering now Solo would have gobbled up. Ertz needs to be back at center back, anchoring the back line. Marking backs suck. This is the worst defense, back line and center midfield, in the history of USWNT. Shouldn't have an issue advancing into the knockout round, but from game one of it, this USWNT is at great risk of an early exit this summer. UNLESS of course! the US suddenly finds a defense. But...from where? Who?

Horan is just back off a long layoff due to injury. So, in two more months, and still 4 or 5 friendlies to play, maybe she'll play herself back into shape. But last night...woe! Lavelle is just a liability. Dunn and Sonnet are total jokes as marking backs. Rapinoe, IMO, the best player in USWNT history, and Heath are solid as outside mids. Morgan, Press, Pugh, and the other strikers are all more than adequate. But central midflield, the back line, and Keeper are all major concerns.

Defense wins championships. No women's side has ever repeated as WC champions. Both of those will be reinforced this summer.

Women's World Cup begins June 7 but the US doesn't play our first game until June 11.

Coming off a "good" three-game run of WC prep, outscoring opponents 11-0. I particularly like the goose egg put up by the defense. Still, we are weak up the middle. We do have strong outside mids in Rapinoe and Heath. And, previously I said Rapinoe is the best player in USWNT history...I wish to revise that, Rapinoe is the best player in the history of women's soccer, period! Best in the world. Midfielders are the heart and soul of any soccer team. Have to control the midfield if you wish to be successful, especially if you want to win the frickin' World Cup!

Well, unfortunately the US is weak at center midfield. Yes, Carli Lloyd will be a major contributor when she enters the match, but at age 36, she's good for about 30 mins max. Hopefully we'll be in the game...when we reach those tough knock-out rounds...and Lloyd will provide the spark to get us over the hump.

BTW...this is just one example of why Rapinoe is the best ever. Watch this pinpoint pass at a critical moment from the 2011 WC quarterfinal. US one minute from elimination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qq0HsY4ciE

Meanwhile the U-20 team is playing out of their minds!

Huge win over France (a legit squad)

Soto looks legit as a goal scorer. The defense was hit & miss, flashes of brilliance mixed with WTF lapses. And, the same ole same ole with US sides...absence of ball possession by the midfield. Our ball movement for 90 minutes was straight from the back, either through or over the midfield to the strikers up top. Very, very typical of US style of play.

Tab Ramos is the coach and was a brilliant midfielder. Along with Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna, and Johnny Hawkes, Ramos is one of best in US history. In fact, those four compose my starting midfield on my all-time greatest USMNT. So! Ramos should know the importance of the midfield. What's more, he needs to use the U20 program as a farm system for the MNT and the focus should be on developing midfielders.

Our U20 play Ecuador Saturday in the quarterfinals, the Elite 8, of the World Cup.

MLS is a big part of our problem. The league is crap. The players are crap. The development is crap.

And it’s got such a hold on American soccer right now. They control so much. Monopoly.

Midfield development is poor at best. The only way the MNT is going to get better is to farm our development back out to international development (Pulisic, Soto, Weah understand this).

Jamaica 1 US 0

Yeah, it was largely a "B" team, a friendly....still, most of those players will be counted on as part of the near-future of MNT. Some individual displays of talent and skill, some "good ideas" demonstrated, but ultimately FAILURE!

Sunday the MNT face Venezuela in what should be a better look at what this team is, and will be heading toward WC 2022.

Well...the Women's WC and the Gold Cup will provide lots of great viewing for we US soccer fans over the next month!

Factual tidbits ahead of the Women's World Cup...

this is the 8th edition. There have been 7 WCC's.

7/7 times the USWNT reached the Final Four.
3 times we won it all.
3 times we lost in the semi, but won the consolation match
1 time we lost in the Final.

Worst finishes in history, 3rd place.

This year we are looking at a potential, and more-than-likely matchup with France in the quarterfinals (Elite 8). That's just the way the brackets line up, luck of the draw. If we lose that match...and that is a very real possibility...it'll mark the first time ever we failed to advance to the semifinals.

In 2011 we faced a similar predicament. We had highly ranked, and one of the tourney favorites, Brazil, in the quarterfinals. The US trailed 2-1 with one minute left...and then Rapinoe hit Wambach with that perfect pass from 40 yards away. We eventually won on PKs.

France is more than just legit. "Vegas" has them pegged as the odds-on favorite to win it all and they are playing on their home soil.

The US has to resolve its GK and "down the middle" issues, or...

France has a quick team. Good attacks.

Not saying we should do this, but I would totally take the 2F spot out of the group stage. You get a far easier path to the finals.

France's big girl, center back, Renard is a huge defensive liability for them when the ball is played at the feet. Yeah, with her height she's good against balls in the air. But she is slow, slow, slow...I can see ATM blowing right by her. Also, France's defense tends to get caught forward a lot, and again, with slow foot speed, they are susceptible to counter-attacks. That's the only real weakness I see.

France reminds me of the powerful German teams of the early 2000's. They won two WCs, so that is saying something.

England is every bit as good, and perhaps even better than France. And Australia, The Netherlands, Germany, and Japan are all legit, and any one of them will be a tough quarterfinal opponent. Point is, ducking France will only land US in another tough quarterfinal match. And our goal is to WIN the WC. If that means we have to go through France to do that, then might as well play them sooner, rather than later.

Well, after studying the bracket...I say we get our 6 pts then purposely lose to Sweden! The winner of our group is VERY likely looking at: Spain or China, then France, England, and Germany. The US is ranked #1 but the path includes #13, then #3, #4, and #2. If this happens, then to win the Cup either the US or France would have completed the toughest road to the title in WWC history. Brutal!

Oh wait! try this scenario!! If Germany finishes 2nd in their pool but everything else goes according to form, the US could face:

#2, #3, #4 and then #5 (Australia) in the final. REALLY BRUTAL!

Italy 2 Australia 1

First upset of this year's WWC. Won't be the last...

The USMNT has hit an all-time low. As it stands right now I'd say this is the worst MNT in our entire history.

Next Tuesday when the Gold Cup pool play starts for real, we should see a better side out there. But...better than what, this crap? Won't be saying much. It bears mentioning that Venezuela has NEVER, EVER reached the World Cup finals in all of their history! This is the same Venz bunch that just lost to Mexico 3-1...with El Tri missing NINE starters!!! Hell, Venezuela doesn't even have a real country!

Recently, the MNT has lost at home for the FIRST TIME ever to both Jamaica and now Venezuela while scoring a grand total of ZERO goals.

Sheeesh! :icon_roll:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

The USMNT has hit an all-time low. As it stands right now I'd say this is the worst MNT in our entire history.

Next Tuesday when the Gold Cup pool play starts for real, we should see a better side out there. But...better than what, this crap? Won't be saying much. It bears mentioning that Venezuela has NEVER, EVER reached the World Cup finals in all of their history! This is the same Venz bunch that just lost to Mexico 3-1...with El Tri missing NINE starters!!! Hell, Venezuela doesn't even have a real country!

Recently, the MNT has lost at home for the FIRST TIME ever to both Jamaica and now Venezuela while scoring a grand total of ZERO goals.

Sheeesh! :icon_roll:

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Embarrassingly sloppy bad play. Our u20 team could have played better soccer.

As I said before none of these MLS scrubs should never be seen wearing a us crest again. They were painfully bad. The one position that we’ve never had to worry about before has gotten worse...the goalie! He had no clue how to play goalie. Out of position, bad reads on kicks led to two of the goals.

I mean 6 year olds know...when in doubt kick it out. The goalie should have launched the damn ball down the field. Then I see defenders running into each other and falling down like amateur hour out there.

I know berkhalter was looking for stars to fill his roster, but these players are rec play scrubs.

Great win today from the USWNT.

It was an expected performance against the scrub In their group, but they looked solid the whole match and didn’t let their effort down because of the competition.

I still think you win the next match and then sit your starters and maybe let Sweden take the top spot out of the group.

The USWNT "worst" 11 could still beat Sweden. We'll have to score own goals, on purpose, to lose.

Actually this match was a bad joke. The Thai GK is simply horrible. Yes, the US is a frickin scoring machine with ATM upfront in the 4-3-3 formation, and could put pressure on even the best sides, but Thai didn't help themselves with that exaggerated bunker defense. Officially 4-5-1, but morphed into a 5-5 and there was no real outlet for the defense to clear to.

As someone who has coached OVER-MATCHED sides, I can tell you from experience you are asking for a double-digit disaster bunkering down to that extent. Even when you are clearly out of your league, you still have to play fundamental soccer and that means as much possession you can get.

I trust the focus and mind-set of this team, so I don't think anything negative will come from opening with such a blowout. But, in general, results like this have been known to cause teams to lose focus, think everything will come easily. It won't...

In case you missed it:

USA 13 Thailand 0
Alex Morgan scored 5 goals.

Crazy

Of course there is some pushback and criticism of the US team, saying they should have stopped scoring/celebrating after it got to 8-0. Well, why at 8? Why not stop at 7? Personally, I would have subbed out Morgan around the 70th minute, and then Rapinoe and Heath, switching to a 4-4-2 with Press and Pugh up top and bringing in another reserve midfielder for game experience. I wouldn't have called off the dogs though. Still have to play the game. When it was 12-0 I was rooting for Lloyd to get one. She did.

Now, next up Chile, which played a good Sweden side very tough, losing 2-0 on late goals after the weather delay. The Chile GK is very good. They will offer more resistance than Thailand did.

BTW, the Thai GK was credited with 8 saves. The US took 42 shots, 21 on goal. Incredibly the US never hit the woodwork once. That's unbelievable given how this match went. TOP was 75% US, but as far as effective possession it was more like 90% US.

BS on the penalty in the France-Norway game.

And why does Brazil's women's side have 5 stars on their jersey when they have won exactly ZERO World Cups? Yeah, I know, because their men's team has won 5 titles. So? Different teams. Don't see the USMNT with 3 stars on their shirts. Talk about disrespectful and unsportsmanlike...it's a slap in the face of the countries who have actually earned their stars.

Hah! Brazil blows 2-0 lead, loses to Australia 3-2! :laugh:

Wanted to point out re: the US 13-0 blowout of Thailand, there is nothing in their pedigree that would have alerted/warned us this was an overwhelming mismatch. In the 2015 WC Finals Thai was outscored 10-3 combined in their three matches. And earlier this year, just a couple of months ago, Thai lost to France just 1-0 in a friendly.

At the half, at the moment, it is Sweden 3 Thai 0 and it does have all the makings of another pending blowout. Thai is doing a little better at possession...just a little, and have taken two shots in the 1st half. Oh, and the Swedes have celebrated after all three goals...shame, shame!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Wanted to point out re: the US 13-0 blowout of Thailand, there is nothing in their pedigree that would have alerted/warned us this was an overwhelming mismatch. In the 2015 WC Finals Thai was outscored 10-3 combined in their three matches. And earlier this year, just a couple of months ago, Thai lost to France just 1-0 in a friendly.

At the half, at the moment, it is Sweden 3 Thai 0 and it does have all the makings of another pending blowout. Thai is doing a little better at possession...just a little, and have taken two shots in the 1st half. Oh, and the Swedes have celebrated after all three goals...shame, shame!

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Didn’t this American women’s team lose a scrimmage to a boys 15 and Under team? I’ll have to find that link on Tiger Rant which is where I saw it.

There seem to be a few SJW Dykes on this team. I hope they lose every game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Wanted to point out re: the US 13-0 blowout of Thailand, there is nothing in their pedigree that would have alerted/warned us this was an overwhelming mismatch. In the 2015 WC Finals Thai was outscored 10-3 combined in their three matches. And earlier this year, just a couple of months ago, Thai lost to France just 1-0 in a friendly.

At the half, at the moment, it is Sweden 3 Thai 0 and it does have all the makings of another pending blowout. Thai is doing a little better at possession...just a little, and have taken two shots in the 1st half. Oh, and the Swedes have celebrated after all three goals...shame, shame!

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Didn’t this American women’s team lose a scrimmage to a boys 15 and Under team? I’ll have to find that link on Tiger Rant which is where I saw it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glm47

Didn’t this American women’s team lose a scrimmage to a boys 15 and Under team? I’ll have to find that link on Tiger Rant which is where I saw it.

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it was a scrimmage 2 years ago https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/new...n-a-scrimmage/

I have not heard of the USWNT even playing a boys team. Of course Tiger Rant...wait, what are you doing hanging around the enemy like that anyway? Oh, okay a scrimmage. Thanks sportdawg.

True or not, it's not about what any women's team can/would do vs. men's teams. No WNBA team, even an all-star team, would stand a chance vs. an NBA team. In pro Track & Field even the fastest women would get smoked by the best men's runners. So? Men are superior physically...overall. Is this a revelation for you?

I tell you what, YOU organize a soccer team and go play the USWNT. We'll see how you'll fair... 13-0 would look good to you!

Oh, BTW, I coached a girls' U-14 team and we entered and won a boys' tourney. I'd like to say it was all because of my superior coaching! But truthfully I had some very good players, good athletes, including basketball standout Brandy Broome who played GK for me on that team. In 5 matches, she surrendered 1 goal, and was a perfect 7 for 7 stopping penalty kicks in the tourney.

Just saying...

US 3 Chile 0

We cleared the bench. The Chile GK, Endler, is terrific, had several fantastic saves. The US did enough today. Secured a spot in the Round of 16 and sit in first place in the group. Now, do we want to remain in 1st place? Yeah...it's not our way to not try our best to win.

We are WEAK at keeper. Wish we had Endler...

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Originally Posted by dawg80

US 3 Chile 0

We cleared the bench. The Chile GK, Endler, is terrific, had several fantastic saves. The US did enough today. Secured a spot in the Round of 16 and sit in first place in the group. Now, do we want to remain in 1st place? Yeah...it's not our way to not try our best to win.

We are WEAK at keeper. Wish we had Endler...

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Haven’t had a keeper since Solo.

Unfortunately...she’s still an asshole.

I don't think she's an a-hole...she is a bit out-spoken and opiniated. A little "over the top" at times. So? I'd be a hypocrite if I criticized her for that...

France is being given a free ride by FIFA. Twice in a row they were handed a "W" by the refs. Total BS! They aren't as good as they had appeared to be during the build-up to the WC Finals. What scares me though is just how big a screwing the US will get when we play 'em, and we don't have a GK who can deny the inevitable PKs coming.

Italy has been a surprise, they have a big game today vs. Brazil.

US Men's Team

Open Gold Cup play tonight. Expect a win over Guyana...well, if we don't get the 3 pts...forget it!

Right now I place the US 4th in the power ratings in the Copa Oro:

1. Mexico
2. Costa Rica
3. Jamaica
4. USA

This can change, and I hope we climb up!

3 goals! Still a lot of time left.

USA 4 Guyana 0

They are ranked 117th in the world. Not much you can say about this one. It's like beating a SWACer in football, something like 28-0. Ho hum...

And we suffered some injuries.

Yep, we have a long way to go.

USWNT couldn’t lose and won the group.

Not sure if that is a good thing or bad as the gauntlet is much harder on one side of the bracket than the other side.

Ticky Tacky Yellow Card as well

Did enough. Lackluster performance, not sharp at all. Sweden didn't want to win anyway. They sat half their starters, didn't play as aggressively as they usually do, and seemed content to be ONE quality opponent (Germany) away from the final.

Our side of the bracket is loaded!

Not sure if it was mentioned earlier but Tech's own Nomvula Kgoale plays for the South African national team (unfortunately they finished in the bottom of their group).

A tale of two halves against T&T. (The team that knocked us out of the WC and help us reach the bottom)

Lackluster 1st half

Explosive 2nd half

Defense...still shaky
Midfield....slow and up and down
Frontline...boneheaded at times. Brilliant at times.

Still wanting more out of Berhalter than a MLS All-Star team...

US 6 T&T 0

Glad for the W, and maybe, just maybe, we have exorcised a few demons lingering from 2017...

First, the not-so-good... T&T is ranked 92nd in the world. They are supposed to get drilled by "decent sides." They do have a couple players who play in the EPL, so there is some individual talent on that team. But, our transition defense was utterly non-existent and that mostly falls on Bradley who, as the #6, holding midfielder, is charged with either breaking up counter-attacks or slowing them down allowing our midfield time to get back on defense. He did neither. T&T ran free from their defending 1/3 to their attacking 1/3 all night. It's only because T&T lacks overall quality that they did not score 3 or 4 goals off those counters. A legit good team would absolutely smoke us!

Second, the better. As mentioned, T&T has some talent and Hyland and Alvin Jones absolutely, incredibly HAMMERED some shots and our youthful keeper, Zack Steffen, was equal to the task and did a good job on those saves. Those were world-class strikes he defended. Jones' 30 yarder was 100mph and knuckling. And, I see what Berhalter is trying to do with the attacking scheme. It's a solid game plan. The players just have to get better as individuals, and working together in executing the offense. We did show some flashes of brilliance. Of course most of that thanks to Pulisic.

Overall, well...Zardes has no place on a true national side. He is MLS level, at best. McKennie is a foul-committing-machine, a hot head, with average talent at best. I know his pedigree and what some say of his talent and potential, which hasn't shown up yet, but he's too much of a liability, unless you just like playing a man-down a lot. I still think Michael Bradley can contribute to a developing USMNT program...with proper coaching and instructions. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear he'll get that from Berhalter. Altidore? His entire career has been one of "unrealized potential" laced by long periods of injury time. Maybe he has a place on a 23-man roster for the time being, but that's about it.

Pulisic...hmmm....well, as a striker or attacking midfielder, yeah, he has talent and can get even better. But, he's not the overall mega-star talent this USMNT needs. He pales in comparison to Landon Donovan and will never, ever, reach that level as a true international superstar. LD was literally all over the field! He was our best defensive midfielder, time and time again sprinting 80 yards to get back on defense, then sprinting 80 yards the other way to lead the offensive attack. You never see Pulisic in the defending 1/3. NOW, as a striker or as the attacking MF Pulisic shouldn't have to be that far back defending. But...we are not a Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, etc. futbol power either. Those sides can afford their superstar strikers not getting back on defense because they have world class defenders. We don't.

To reach a World Cup Final Four you need a world class midfield for starters and a back line capable of being the star on lesser teams. Good scheming, good coaching can mask some of the lack of talent and produce a damn good side. Then, with luck, who knows? The US Soccer Federation needs to enhance its player development and just as importantly coach development. We need youngsters getting good coaching from the time they first set foot on the pitch and during their entire development.

As for 2019 and the near future, fortunately, much as Tech benefits from being in a lousy CUSA, so too does the USMNT benefit from being in CONCACAF. We are able to compete simply by showing up. There are 33 nations on CONCACAF and if you look at the FIFA world rankings, this league dominates the Bottom 20, yippee! Mexico is highest ranked at 18th, the US is next at 30th, and Costa Rica is 39th. Beyond that....woe! So, we have that going for us. :icon_roll:

First real challenge, first glimpse of poor play.

Major breakdowns versus a tough Spanish team with an incredible striker(maybe the best striker at the WC).

Only won this match through two penalty kicks that were iffy fouls at best. A lot of refs would have told them to play on.

I honestly think that there is talent on the USWNT. I just don't think that Ellis is all that great of a manager of talent. She has relied on pure talent to win games, and not brought anything of scheme or planning to the match. Talent will only get you so far. Morgan is a great striker versus cupcakes, but looks incapable of creating space versus anyone with a pulse. This is why you need schemes to match the talent. Ellis doesn't understand schemes.

Friday in Paris versus France will be a showdown.

There's a video, about 15 mins in length, highlighting the "perfect" tournament Becky Sauerbrunn had in the 2015 WC Finals in Canada. She played every minute of all 7 matches (630+ minutes) and she was "perfection." Not only did she cover mistakes for her teammates, she never made a mistake herself. Not once did she have an "Oops!" that caused someone to pick her up. In sports, one has to be careful tossing around terms such as "perfection." But, she came as close as any athlete has come, especially over a 7-game span at the highest level of that sport.

I didn't mention this previously because I didn't want to jinx her. Well...so much for that. Also shows you just how fast disaster can strike. I don't like the GK playing those short passes out when the other side is applying high pressure. You're just asking for something bad to happen.

This was a tough match to watch, but it's what you have to expect in the WC Finals. No one is gonna roll over and play dead. Every side believes they can win, especially in the knockout rounds. France has "won" three straight 1-goal games. All three were "handed" them thanks to some very questionable officiating. Germany has struggled thus far. England, a lot of pundits' picks to win it all, has looked less than impressive. It comes with the territory. The US is better than Spain, and was better yesterday. We enjoyed the overall "run of play" for 90 minutes. But it's always a close thing at this level.

Spain was hacking Alex Morgan the whole game. There were several obvious fouls committed against her away from the ball, missed by the refs. I would say they played dirty, but they did what they thought they had to do. It's up to the refs to control that kind of stuff. I know I have to tread carefully saying this, but I've never backed away from expressing opinions before, so... Alex Morgan is feminine. She's a "girl" (young woman) playing a sport that is not for the faint of heart. Soccer is a lot rougher than most people know. And most of these international professional women players are tough...I'll leave it at that. Morgan plays a finesse game, depending on her speed/quickness/skills to be successful. She gets knocked around and knocked down a lot by these "tough" defenders.

I don't agree Coach Ellis lacks a scheme. But, so far, she has employed the exact same one....every game! Opponents are not stupid and watch film in preparation. Still, even though Spain is good and was very well prepared, the US sliced and diced their midfield to shreds. Every US attack penetrated Spain's defending 1/3. It was a combination of good individual defending by Spain's defenders, and just some bad luck for us. We missed two very good chances we usually finish. A 4-1 final would have looked a lot better.

Well...France is better than Spain, they are playing at home, I am afraid FIFA really wants the home side to reach the final for attendance purposes...the deck is stacked against us Friday. Mostly, we need to elevate our game and play our best.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dawg80

US Men's Team

Open Gold Cup play tonight. Expect a win over Guyana...well, if we don't get the 3 pts...forget it!

Right now I place the US 4th in the power ratings in the Copa Oro:

1. Mexico
2. Costa Rica
3. Jamaica
4. USA

This can change, and I hope we climb up!

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Welp!

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Jamaica
4. Costa Rica

And CR is hanging by a thread.

How 'bout dat Haiti!

Tonite USMNT vs. Panama

Women's World Cup Elite Eight

7 European sides, and US!

This is the 8th WWC and in the previous 7 the USA reached the semifinals, at least. Well, another tough test this go-around to see if that streak continues.

Megan Rapino says she won’t go to the “bleeping” White House if they win the WC.

I think it is worth pointing out that it is not illegal to stay home for that celebration. It is also not illegal to kneel for the anthem or refuse to say the pledge. These actions lacking a reverence and respect for the people’s house, the office of the president, and our national symbols justifies my opinion that these people are idiots and have no credibility.

I fully support anyone who feels they can't sing the anthem or salute or anything like that. I even support those who kneel, that's their right and it's a peaceful statement.

Rapinoe is not being a humble protester. She's being an arrogant prick and making it really hard to root for the team. Sorry we don't all share your extremely narrow set of approved values, Megan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

I fully support anyone who feels they can't sing the anthem or salute or anything like that. I even support those who kneel, that's their right and it's a peaceful statement.

Rapinoe is not being a humble protester. She's being an arrogant prick and making it really hard to root for the team. Sorry we don't all share your extremely narrow set of approved values, Megan.

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I haven’t paid attention until now. Can I pull for the bleeping Russians? This isn’t Kapernack. The bitch signed on to play for the United States National team. I hope she blows an effing ACL in the next game.

If you feel that the US team does not represent your values...you are allowed to resign.

Like Jaelene Hinkle. She could have raised a big fuss and used her spotlight to get loads of attention. But she didn't. Quietly resigned her spot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blue Dawg

If you feel that the US team does not represent your values...you are allowed to resign.

Like Jaelene Hinkle. She could have raised a big fuss and used her spotlight to get loads of attention. But she didn't. Quietly resigned her spot.

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It will be interesting to see how the “new” ESPN handles this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skilldawg

It will be interesting to see how the “new” ESPN handles this.

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I mean, if I were them, I'd be content to just let it be a controversy. I think Trump got into a flame war with her on Twitter, that only helps ratings because now everyone is talking about it.

US (B Team) 1 Panama 0

USMNT completes sweep of group play, three clean sheets. Next up is start-up Curacao. I hope we donkey-stomp them, but I could root for Curacao when they play someone else.

If forms hold, we'll then see Jamaica in the semis and Mexico in the final. Er, provided we get past Jamaica. May not.

As for all this political nonsense, please take it somewhere else. I have seen on blogs, and one mention here, that due to Rapinoe's stance some hope the USWNT loses. Why? Rapinoe is just one of 23 players on the team. The other 22 players stand and sing the National Anthem, as does the entire coaching staff, and support personnel. As do the hardcore US soccer fans. You won't find more patriotic folks than US soccer fans. We are in the trenches, we are taking "the fight" to the world in THEIR sport!

As for Rapinoe, the player, well, she is just the best player in the history of women's soccer. ANY coach, and I mean ANY, who wished to build a "dream team" would draft Rapinoe. I personally, as a coach, would make her my #1 pick. Do I agree with her politics? What do you think!??

Again...just ONE person on a team of 30 people (players/staff).

UPDATE: Ali Krieger tweeted support for Rapinoe.

USA 1 - PAN 0

Won the group with mostly second team (ie Berhalter’s MLS All Stars)

Ironically right before Jozy scored while I was complaining about his lack of creativity off the ball. The whole night he was just going down field waiting for a cross while being sandwiched between two defenders.

Political Nonsense? Who exactly made it political?

https://sports.yahoo.com/megan-rapin...162416461.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by techman05

Megan Rapino says she won’t go to the “bleeping” White House if they win the WC.

I think it is worth pointing out that it is not illegal to stay home for that celebration. It is also not illegal to kneel for the anthem or refuse to say the pledge. These actions lacking a reverence and respect for the people’s house, the office of the president, and our national symbols justifies my opinion that these people are idiots and have no credibility.

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Who made it political on this forum, you asked?

Here ya go...