Back to the important stuff....

[DallasDog]

I feel the same about your midfield, fullbacks and centerback. I think we actually have some quality depth in the midfield (still needs to keep maturing but talent is available), and I feel pretty good at center back and right back. Left back Robison is a natural left foot but he didn't play great this window.

I think GB prefers Steffen. As a soccer coach and keeper coach I have always subscribed to the the theory, in the absence of substantial talent difference you ride the hot hand with keepers. There are sometimes I considered one keeper over the other against a particular opponent, but I am not sure it ever really made a difference in the outcome. Turner took his shot during the previous window and made it tougher for Steffen to be viewed as a clear number 1 and that's all you can do when the coach gives you your chance.

The number 9 position is tough, a lot of young talent that needs more minutes at the international level, or needs more minutes just to have enough game time to judge accurately.

Pepi may be the most dynamic but is the least experienced
Pefok, I would just like to see him more.
Dike kind of reminds me of Altidore at that age

[DallasDog]

England's women beat Latvia 20-nil today..... our ladies drew the second leg of the Australian matches. Lot of young players logged valuable time on the trip down under.

[dawg80]

England's women beat Latvia 20-nil today..... our ladies drew the second leg of the Australian matches. Lot of young players logged valuable time on the trip down under.

We have a ship load of young talent. This year as we watched Lloyd wrapping up her career, and knowing others, like Sauerbrunn, Rapinoe, Morgan...are all in their 30's there was a question about the next USWNT to come. Well, rest easy. Julie Foudy said as much during a match about 6 months ago, not to worry US Soccer fans!

The Aussies got lucky on the deflection to score their one goal and salvage a draw. We bested them 4-1 in aggregate and enjoyed the run-of-play. Now, that said, I did not like how porous our midfield was at times on defense. It was mostly a case of youngsters getting drawn out of position and not rallying quick enough. And, I will say this, much like the loss of Landon Donovan to retirement set the MNT back years, so too will the loss of Carli Lloyd. Yes, we have great athletes and tremendously skilled youngsters coming along, but watching and CRINGING at midfielders caught out of position on defense makes me nervous. Lloyd was a solid ROCK on defense in the midfield, even when she was playing striker! Go back and watch some matches and note how many times the other side is enjoying a good possession and who breaks it up? Why, it was good ole #10. All that said just to point out Horan, now inheriting the coveted #10, has big shoes to fill and she better deliver.

Defense wins championships and in world class, international soccer, that starts with a solid midfield.

[DallasDog]

I think Horan will be fine. She may not hold the position as long as some others have if the talent behind her is a little more dynamic than she is, but she should be good through this current cycle and cup at the least. We were 4-1 agg. but in that first match the Matildas whiffed on two goals from 6 yards and in twice I can think off. Australia is a growing side, and I hope they continue to improve. I would love to see some new faces up near the top, as long as we are still the top of the table

[dawg80]

US 1 Bosnia 0

We sucked! I counted 15 unforced errors, turnovers, led by the turnover machine himself, Acosta. Lethargic, uninspired, pathetic performance...

The USMNT concluded an otherwise successful 2021 season with a record of 17-3-2, including 12 clean sheets. The 17 wins is an all-time record in US history for a calendar year. We were 3-0-0 vs. Mexico and won two tournaments, the Nation's League and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, both nice accomplishments. In those 22 matches the roster had a pool of 52 different players. Berhalter said last night he plans to continue using a large pool through early 2022. But at some point, and very soon, he needs to put together a core of players who he plans to take to Qatar. Injuries have plagued this effort as he never knows who will be available week to week. But, the USMNT lacks cohesion which only comes from playing together as a group, learning each other's subtle tendencies.

We still lack a world-class striker and a solid enough midfield to actually be competitive in the WC Finals, which I assuming we will reach this time.

[FriscoDawg]

Matchday 9 has arrived.

USA vs SLV 6:00 PM CT ESPN2, TUDN, UniMas
JAM vs MEX 6:00 PM CT CBSSN, Paramount+, Telemundo, Universo
HON vs CAN 7:05 PM CT Paramount+
CRC vs PAN 8:05 PM CT, Paramount+, Universo

[FriscoDawg]

Ferreira in replacing Pepi up top in chilly Columbus.

Turner in goal.

[FriscoDawg]

Pretty ugly overall, but Robinson's finish was sweet. And the 3 home points are sweeter. 1-0 over El Salvador.

Have to play better Sunday in the other Steel City or it could be ugly.

Mexico finally comes from behind to beat Jamaica's 10 men 2-1.

[dawg80]

We are still horrible in the attacking 1/3. Can't finish and a lot of it is the lack of players making runs through the opposing defense. Too mechanical, too predictable and we are too easy to defend. I was glad to see Pulisic play 63 minutes and only sit on the ground and whine just one time. Hey, making some progress!

CONCACAF is so frickin' weak that it's almost impossible not to qualify for the WC finals.... almost. Just make it to Qatar, please.

[FriscoDawg]

We are still horrible in the attacking 1/3. Can't finish and a lot of it is the lack of players making runs through the opposing defense. Too mechanical, too predictable and we are too easy to defend. I was glad to see Pulisic play 63 minutes and only sit on the ground and whine just one time. Hey, making some progress!

CONCACAF is so frickin' weak that it's almost impossible not to qualify for the WC finals.... almost. Just make it to Qatar, please.

A big step closer to automatic qualification as Costa Rica holds on to win at home 1-0 over Panama.

Matchday 9 results
USA 1 SLV 0
JAM 1 MEX 2
HON 0 CAN 2
CRC 1 PAN 0

Table after 9 of 14 matchdays
CAN 19 +10
USA 18 +8
MEX 17 +5
------------
PAN 14 +1
------------
CRC 12 0
JAM 7 -5
SLV 6 -7
HON 3 -12

[FriscoDawg]

Good thing the match Sunday in Hamilton is at 3:00 PM ET.

Forecast for Sunday is cloudy with no mention of snow but a high of just -8C (18F).

[dawg80]

Good thing the match Sunday in Hamilton is at 3:00 PM ET.

Forecast for Sunday is cloudy with no mention of snow but a high of just -8C (18F).

Be happy to get a draw, one point.

And yes, need Panama to lose some more matches. The best we can hope for is to finish in the top 3, automatic qualifying.

[dawg80]

Canada's best player, their world class striker Alphonse Davies is still out of the lineup due to health issues. He is the single best player in CONCACAF. That does bode well for us today. But Canada is more than just Davies and they did outplay us in Nashville when the match ended 1-1. Maybe because Davis is out Vegas has us favorite to win today, but I don't see it. We simply lack offense and a 0-0 draw works nicely, thankyaverymuch.

Game is not on real TV for some dern reason.

[FriscoDawg]

Zardes starting up top today.

Canada v USA, 2:05 PM CT, Paramount+, Telemundo, Universo
Panama v Jamaica, 4:05 PM CT, Paramount+, Universo
Mexico v Costa Rica, 5:00 PM CT. Paramount+, Univision
Honduras vs El Salvador, 6:05 PM CT, Paramount+, Universo

CBS pushing those Paramount+ subscriptions. Already have one anyway, and 1883 is worth the price by itself.

Heat wave in Hamilton...temperature is up all the way to 20F.

During the prematch show, this year's national Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. Clint Dempsey, Shannon Box, and Hope Solo.

[FriscoDawg]

US gets burned by Turner's lack of distance on his goal kicks. Counterattack blasted by him by Larin.