Gold Cup
- Thread starter Gmoney4WW
- Start date
Brutal game. Really showed that this group of US players was really deficient as a whole in how to keep possession that had a purpose. Luna was too soft today and lost possession to easily, either on his 1st touch or in his passing. Has to be way more precise. Berhalter is a 1 trick pony. His delivery on set pieces is world class, his 1 v 1 defending and ability to complete passes in the run of play are not. The only solace I take is this was likely our B team at best. Only Richards and Adams are likely starters going into the WC next season. And there may be only 2-3 other guys who will be part of the 23 (Ream, Tillman). B Aronson will be part of that squad, maybe De La Torre. Mexico was running out a lot of guys who will be there including their 9 (Jimenez) and their CBs and a couple of MFs. Mora is going to be a problem for years to come. Now I don't know who they're going to run out in goal at the WC. I was shocked that Ochoa was even named to this squad and was on the bench but the guy they have in the pipes now would make me uneasy if I were a Mexico fan, almost as uneasy as I am about any of the guys the US is likely to run out there next year.
I think the US with Pulisic, McKennie, Dest, Jedi, and Weah really put a ton of pressure on this Mexico side (I don't think it's particularly close). And I don't think Mexico even attempts to press that group. it was apparent that Adams could have turned Mexico inside out at the 6 if he was intent on getting forward but he wasn't getting anyone making a dynamic run on the wings OR even up top yesterday. Ageyemang was pretty static yesterday and certainly wasn't holding things up like he did earlier in the tournament. Product of going up against better competition and him needing to raise his level of play to match...he simply didn't. Luna suffered the same.
1st goal against...that's on the MF who should have picked up the guy who slipped the pass into Jimenez. Instead, the MF is nowhere to be found and Richards had to step out which dragged him right out of the spot Jimenez slipped into and Ream was just a half step slow in reacting. 2nd goal was just a great goal off a set piece.
I think the US with Pulisic, McKennie, Dest, Jedi, and Weah really put a ton of pressure on this Mexico side (I don't think it's particularly close). And I don't think Mexico even attempts to press that group. it was apparent that Adams could have turned Mexico inside out at the 6 if he was intent on getting forward but he wasn't getting anyone making a dynamic run on the wings OR even up top yesterday. Ageyemang was pretty static yesterday and certainly wasn't holding things up like he did earlier in the tournament. Product of going up against better competition and him needing to raise his level of play to match...he simply didn't. Luna suffered the same.
1st goal against...that's on the MF who should have picked up the guy who slipped the pass into Jimenez. Instead, the MF is nowhere to be found and Richards had to step out which dragged him right out of the spot Jimenez slipped into and Ream was just a half step slow in reacting. 2nd goal was just a great goal off a set piece.
Oh, and for everyone screaming about the handball that wasn't called...I initially was calling for a handball because I thought the trail hand had stopped Downs' (or was it Ageyemang?) attempt to drag the ball past the defender. I knew the ball contacted a hand in the real speed play. Upon replay, I walked it back to it not being a hand ball. 2 things...for the action the defender was making, his hand would be considered in a natural position and certainly not intentional. 2, the hand contacting the ball in the manner it did DID NOT impact the attacking player who had already moved on away from the ball after the defender's initial tackle was successful. In no way did that contact with the hand prevent an attacker from continuing the attack. Had the US had another player over there and the hand contact prevented that player from playing the ball, then maybe the US has a case.
Overall, I thought the game was refereed one sided. Any time Mexico got touched in the back and went down, a foul was given. The US had several plays where there was a similar contact against them and no foul was given. Pochettino was probably correct that had a US player contacted the ball in a similar manner in their own box that almost assuredly a handball and PK would have been given.
Overall, I thought the game was refereed one sided. Any time Mexico got touched in the back and went down, a foul was given. The US had several plays where there was a similar contact against them and no foul was given. Pochettino was probably correct that had a US player contacted the ball in a similar manner in their own box that almost assuredly a handball and PK would have been given.
Luna coming back to help Arfston because he sucks as a defensive guy helped make Luna ineffective. Especially on a not up to par team against a solid opponent in Mexico.
Yes. Not a handball by definition of the law nor IFAB/FIFA guidance and clarification. This is probably the thing referees get yelled at the most for because people don't understand how few instances of the ball contacting the hand rise to the level of a handball offense. People will always disagree and the level of subjectivity in calls like this create the chaos.
I will say this...had the referee called a handball and awarded a PK, it would not have been overturned mainly because the contact with the hand away from the body making him bigger is indisputable and it was even on the initial replay. The subjective part is always was this a natural position for the action taking place.
I had a U11 coach get on me last Fall about a non-handball/play on where his attacker kicked the ball into the defender who was about 2 feet away. The defenders arm was hanging down naturally and his hand was pretty much just below the hip and not more than 3-4 inches from his body. My considerations for this: 1) Natural position 2) Arm/hand in tight to the body 3) does the defender have time to react and move his hand out of the way (or into the way if you're considering an intentional play with the hand). Answers of yes, yes, and no and there is no handball offense. Coach screams. I tell him that not every time a ball contacts a hand is it a handball offense. He turns to me and says "Well, actually it is". I then replied with...you're done talking to me for the rest of the game and this conversation is over. Probably a bit snarky but it simply told me this coach had no idea about the law itself and the practical guidance.
And again, this is probably the most subjective law in the game and every referee will see this and call this differently.
I've seen a lot less inadvertent hand/ball interaction called a PK in the World Cup, so I was a bit shocked when a full hand was on the ball and completely changed the balls momentum and direction -- but no call.
Anyone else sick of the ex-mnt's (Donavan, Howard, Carli LLoyd and the red-headed bloviator-in-chief: Lalas) criticism of our best players absence from the Gold Cup? The tournament that always took 2nd place to Nations League as virtually a nothing burger. And now, many of these former worthies are suggesting NOT calling up or Poch setting them down after call up for the WC. This will prove a point that Pochettino is the $6 Mill. coach and is not to be treated this way. It will also prove that without our Euro guys, success in the WC is less than important.
Well, I for one am sick of these former players, now talking heads, and this constant critical drum beat.
Well, I for one am sick of these former players, now talking heads, and this constant critical drum beat.
It doesn't bother me any at all. I'm sure it's a lot worse in other countries. Every country has an annoying Taylor Twellman X 10.