Back to the important stuff....

[dawg80]

Starting 11 tonight is Lloyd, Horan, Dahlkemper and 8 youngsters. Sonnet at right back has some caps, but don't consider her to be one of the best 3 that could have started there. Basically a 4-3-3 with Lloyd flanked by Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh, up top. I would have played/coached this match like it was the frickin' World Cup Final. There is no tomorrow for Carli Lloyd...win this match! There will be plenty of friendlies to come to mold the next generation. I don't like these babies being thrust into the position of having to deliver tonight. Yeah, we have a VERY DEEP bench!

[techman05]

Great feed from Rapinoe and finish by Morgan.

[dawg80]

Great feed from Rapinoe and finish by Morgan.

And Heath's touch pass to Williams for goal #6 on the night. Perfect.

US 6 South Korea 0

That's the way to send a GOAT out.

[DallasDog]

Not quite the same starting lineup from S. Korea but still the 18th ranked squad in the world. The first goal pulled them out of shape a little and there were some early chances missed, but they eventually salted it away.

Thank you Carli for all you did for the U.S. and women’s sports. You were always a true sportswoman and great representative for your country every time you donned the kit.

[techman05]

And Heath's touch pass to Williams for goal #6 on the night. Perfect.

US 6 South Korea 0

That's the way to send a GOAT out.

I missed the last one. Putting kids in bed.

[dawg80]

Upon reflection...I now think Rose Lavelle should inherit the coveted #10 jersey. She won't since Horan has already been selected, and nothing against Horan, but I see many of the same traits Lloyd is known for in Lavelle.

The future is bright with these youngsters coming along. But, oh my! now you see why the past 8-10 years have been the absolute best in USWNT history. The talent! Didn't take long for Rapinoe and Morgan to hook up and destroy South Korea's crumbling defense. Also, Tobin Heath completely flipped the flow in the midfield and culminated that with an awesome dribble-penetration, drew the defense to her, and threaded a perfect pass to a cutting Lynn Williams.

Mallory Pugh, Sophia Smith, Emily Fox and so many others, like Davidson, Sullivan, etc...mixed with the veterans with years left, like Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan. And to hear the talk of other youngsters, mere teenagers, who haven't earned their first cap yet but have awed the experts....more World Cup titles to come.

[dawg80]

Pulisic back for the next WC qualifier window: vs. Mexico and Jamaica, but Reyna and Dest out with injuries. I'd rather have Reyna and Dest and Chelsea can keep Pulisic.

Need 4 points, at least, from this window. This will mark the halfway point of the WC qualifying too.

[DallasDog]

I agree. While Pulisic can be stunning at times, I think his presence hampers the team dynamic. Whether its him demanding the ball or players just trying to force it to him because they think that's what they need to do, the teams play has just not been as fluid with him in the lineup. Granted due to injuries and Berhalter's tinkering I would imagine that none of these players have had that many matches together to really form a chemistry.

Reyna is the engine that can make this team run in that midfield spot. Just like his dad. Dest just adds to my comfort level when we have him defending and he is in form.

[dawg80]

Naturally, I hope Pulisic comes up big and proves me wrong. Go ahead, do it, I can take it . But, Pulisic has proven to be too fragile, and as a result has been ineffective on the national team. He spends half the time down on the ground, and the other half whining to the ref. Yeah, it could be that the team has been instructed to feed him the ball and there is no rhythm in the overall attack. Whatever the reason(s) the team has been disappointing with him in the line-up.

[DallasDog]

He definitely has to have a long run of injury free success to overcome the fragile stigma. His club coach has been frustrated with his health as well.

[dawg80]

He definitely has to have a long run of injury free success to overcome the fragile stigma. His club coach has been frustrated with his health as well.

Chelsea manager Tom Tuchel sent a message to Berhalter and US Men's Soccer regarding Pulisic: "Please be gentle with him." Whoa! He was referring specifically to playing time and watching how his just-recovered injured ankle holds up. But. come on man! how pathetic is it for a supposed world class soccer player to be coddled like this.

Landon Donovan recorded way more minutes for club and country and held up very well. Not only that, but LD actually played a "full game" as a midfielder getting back on defense and then sprinting to get in on every offensive attack. Pulisic is no Landon Donovan...but then very few are...but for all the notoriety he gets, and all this talent he is supposed to have, CP is a frickin' wimp!

As I said, I hope he proves me wrong and has a huge impact on the matches vs. Mexico and Jamaica. But, if he doesn't start delivering he should surrender that #10 jersey, he is not earning keeping it.

[DallasDog]

No matter how talented if you can't stay on the field and/produce when you are, its time to go with someone else. To me he seems mentally fragile. Tuchel kept saying in the pressers for Chelsea when asked about CP returning to training that he was medically fit to train, but CP felt something was "off". I know its a fine line to tread, but when club and country are frustrated with you, may be it's a you problem not a them problem

[FriscoDawg]

No matter how talented if you can't stay on the field and/produce when you are, its time to go with someone else. To me he seems mentally fragile. Tuchel kept saying in the pressers for Chelsea when asked about CP returning to training that he was medically fit to train, but CP felt something was "off". I know its a fine line to tread, but when club and country are frustrated with you, may be it's a you problem not a them problem

CP will be starting on the bench, and that's the right call. I wouldn't trust him to go close to a full 90, and off the bench he might be able to provide a spark if one is needed.

[dawg80]

HUGE match tonight....HUGE! Need a result. The three points would be nice, and certainly that's what I expect, but at least get a point.

On the world stage the USMNT is not very good...mediocre, at best. Some of it has to do to with Berhalter's "average" coaching ability, some of it with the youth on the squad, still learning what world class international soccer really is, and some of it with...well, with a few exceptions, the players are simply not that good. So! just qualifying for the WC Finals in Qatar** would be an accomplishment. Just getting there would be the peak of the mountain for this bunch.

** Qatar has built some incredible facilities for the tourney. Temps can reach 120F(summer) during the day there, but every venue is a dome stadium, with retractable roofs for late evening matches since it does cool off at night. Also, all the supporting facilities, the housing for the teams, for media, for fans, etc...are all indoor with huge A/C systems. Of course they moved the tourney out of the HOTTEST summer months to late November-December, but it still gets hot there. Average temps for November is 86F for highs, 70F for a low. Although 90F+ temps are not uncommon even into December. Beats 120F though!

[DallasDog]

CP will be starting on the bench, and that's the right call. I wouldn't trust him to go close to a full 90, and off the bench he might be able to provide a spark if one is needed.

Depending on how it’s going I would sub him in about the 60th minute.