I would love 6 points from these two games, but I’ll take 4. Either combo of a win and a draw is a minimum. Less than 4 points is failure.
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I would love 6 points from these two games, but I’ll take 4. Either combo of a win and a draw is a minimum. Less than 4 points is failure.
Spark ignited at the end of the 74th minute.
Uno a cero.
After 85'
Dos a cero.
Again!
If that result holds not only would it be history repeating itself, it would put the US atop the table on goal differential.
FIN.
Dos a cero.
On to Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon.
Table after Matchday 7 of 14
USA 14 +7
MEX 14 +5
CAN 13 +7
------------
PAN 11 +1
------------
CRC 6 -2
JAM 6 -4
SLV 6 -5
HON 3 -9
Matchday 8 results
HON 2 PAN 3
CAN 1 CRC 0
USA 2 MEX 0
SLV 1 JAM 1
"Man of the Match" or "men" (plural)
1. Zimmerman 2. Weah 3. Pulisic 4. McKennie
Defense wins championships....Zimmerman, huge night!
Weah was so consistently good all night. And our two goal-scorers. HUGE win!
USA 2 Mexico 0
Now...get that one down in Jamaica.
Damn Honduras! Blew a 2-0 lead in 13 mins. Damn it. Could have virtually eliminated Panama.
Weah with that assist to Pulisic was a thing of beauty. He drew TWO Mexican defenders on him and crossed the ball with ease.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Nobody step into the cross until Pulisic banged that header in.
Dos A Cero is fate for Mexico. They hate that result.
Now let’s get 3 points in Jamaica and put ourselves in the drivers seat for Concacaf.
And I mean eliminated Panama from the Top 3 automatic qualifiers, Panama is likely to secure that 4th place play-in spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
For the US 3rd place is just as good as the #1 slot. We will not be one of the Top 8 seeds for the WC Finals so that means our name will be drawn from a hat, like the 24 other teams, and it'll be pure luck which pool we end up in. Yeah, it'll probably be the "Group of Death!" with sides like Belgium, Denmark, and Germany. OMG!
Actually, after last night's win, the USMNT has moved up to 11th in the FIFA rankings. But just like Cincy can be ranked #2 in the AP poll but 6th where it matters, ditto with FIFA. No way, even if we win out the remaining 7 WCQ matches and break into the Top 8 rankings, we will NOT garner a Top 8 seed. There is the subjective "eye test" which we fail.
But, since the draw is pure luck, maybe we'll get very lucky and get the "Group of Cupcakes" and advance to the Sweet 16.
The MMA midfield is solid, but it could be better.
I think it has to be MRA (with Reyna in place of Musah)
Aaronson and Pulisic and Weah are our wingers.
Pepi has to grow in 9 spot.
Zimmerman was solid on defense.
Steffen is our number 1 goalie.
When Reyna is healthy he starts, but developing depth there is great. Berhalter has now defeated the coach a lot of people wanted instead of him 3 times in the same year with 2.5 different lineups. I am not saying he is a better soccer mind than Tata, but he seems to have his number right now.
GGG gets credit because he played the best lineup this time.Quote:
Originally Posted by DallasDog
He doesn't get credit because he still calls up Lleget and Arriola like they are serious options for their positions. His favorite players still make no sense. They are B-C team at best.
The PREMIUM lineup is
Steffen
Dest, Zimmerman/Brooks, Robinson, Robinson
Acosta, Mckennie, Reyna
Pulisic/Aaronson, Pepi/Sargeant/Pefok/Dike (still don't have a dominate 9), Weah
That's your World Cup Starting Lineup!
Every coach has their favs that get to stick around a while past their time. We need to find about 2-3 more guys for quality depth, especially someone on the defensive side. We are good at keeper 1-2.
I'd take Adams over Acosta in the midfield. Acosta gives the ball away too much and is often...VERY often!...caught out of position causing a shift in our defense to fill the hole. Not impressed with Acosta.Quote:
Originally Posted by revf
Sargeant is another one who leaves me unimpressed.
Need a result at Jamaica tonight. Want the 3 points!
Miles Robinson and Weston McKennie have returned to their club teams since both are carded out of this match. Never have liked that rule. Each match should stand on its own. Two holes in the lineup that Berhalter has to fill.