World Cup thread

[Kennedy_UK]

-i understand soccer...but don't follow the team. This Moore guy is awful...added nothing in any of the games. Wright was weak as well. Is the US bench that short?

Berhalter left off two good CFs in favor of Jordan f*cking Morris. And Ferreira should've come on to press their backline, not Wright. Just an awful, awful substitution.

Shaq Moore is OK (but young and inexperienced). Not sure how you don't bring on Yedlin there with his pace and experience. Moore probably **** his pants.

Was critical of bringing on a 3rd CB with Zimmerman at the time, but he did well.

Not a whole lot else in the CDM other than Acosta, who was horrific.

So it's a mixture of a limited roster, but also some head-scratching subs.

 

[UKwizard]

Chumps just hates coaches in general.

 

[entropy13]

-i understand soccer...but don't follow the team. This Moore guy is awful...added nothing in any of the games. Wright was weak as well. Is the US bench that short?

At those particular positions, yeah kinda. I thought Moore did OK when he came on late in the England game, but today he was definitely off. Bad touches and at least one terrible giveaway that could've been costly.

At the end, Wright either needs to take that to the corner and hold it to run clock, or put a good shot on frame. Not that piddlefart, halfass shot he took.

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

I thought it was fun only match I watched all year.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

 

[entropy13]

If someone else besides Pulisic could take our corner kicks, that'd be great. Those are missed opportunities. Acosta, who has other issues, is a good dead ball specialist. Hell, Musah could probably serve a nice ball in too. Pulisic would be great to collect the garbage at the top of the box that sometimes happens on CKs.

 

[cayts25]

Whole lot of controversy right now over not playing Gio Reyna

 

[entropy13]

Whole lot of controversy right now over not playing Gio Reyna

I think/hope he sees significant minutes against the Netherlands. That's probably a great game for him to start, rather than use as a sub.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Berhalter left off two good CFs in favor of Jordan f*cking Morris. And Ferreira should've come on to press their backline, not Wright. Just an awful, awful substitution.

Shaq Moore is OK (but young and inexperienced). Not sure how you don't bring on Yedlin there with his pace and experience. Moore probably **** his pants.

Was critical of bringing on a 3rd CB with Zimmerman at the time, but he did well.

Not a whole lot else in the CDM other than Acosta, who was horrific.

So it's a mixture of a limited roster, but also some head-scratching subs.

I know Zimmerman isn’t the most popular but he sold out his body to Save a goal against England and today he backed up turner again saving another goal. The pk was bad but Zimmerman needs to be at CB

 

[Wildcats1st]

Whole lot of controversy right now over not playing Gio Reyna

No controversy. His game isn’t geared toward sitting back. Reyna not playing vs wales is another issue altogether.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

I know Zimmerman isn’t the most popular but he sold out his body to Save a goal against England and today he backed up turner again saving another goal. The pk was bad but Zimmerman needs to be at CB

I thought CCV was very good today. A better passer out of the back, and good pace. That's the main knock against Zimmerman, but with the exception of the stupid PK, I've been good with him. Much bigger fish to fry with this team, tbh.

 

[LOL_Man]

Whoever that guy was on the USA team that hit that laser off the top bar in the first half... get him the ball.

I guess this Christian Pulisic guy will be my favorite player. That quick move he put on that guy then the laser off the bar was the highlight of those 4 hours for me.

Looks like I nailed it. I enjoyed that game. Sure, my fantastic plan to feed the ball to Pulisic on the block and let him do work has revolutionized the sport and turned the USA into a global scoring juggernaut. True I know absolutely nothing about the game or any of the rules involved, but I guess I just instinctively mastered the game and saved the USA soccer team. Not bad for a nube.

 

[SaltyCat22]

What’s up with all this lovey dovey sportsmanship crap in post-match interviews, etc?

You say death to Eye-Ran. You say you heard from his boyfriend that the Ayatollah has a small wee-wee.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

 

[vhcat70]

Don't think we can ever win if we give up a goal. Two seem beyond our capability.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

So do we have any shot against the Dutch?

Also, glad we finally won a game. Knockout stage is great because you have to win the games.

 

[bkingUK]

So do we have any shot against the Dutch?

Also, glad we finally won a game. Knockout stage is great because you have to win the games.

We have a shot. Dutch 10 years ago not so much, but they are beatable. France and Brazil are on a different level

 

[UKwizard]

Yeah I think England is better than the Dutch so we definitely have a shot. Gotta bring the A game though.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Yeah I think England is better than the Dutch so we definitely have a shot. Gotta bring the A game though.

With the Dutch running a 3-4-1-2, I'm really concerned about our midfield trio (Munsah, McK, and Adams) getting overwhelmed. I think we'd be better off dropping back into more of a 4-2-3-1 to match their numbers.

 

[LOL_Man]

What’s up with all this lovey dovey sportsmanship crap in post-match interviews, etc?

You say death to Eye-Ran. You say you heard from his boyfriend that the Ayatollah has a small wee-wee.

Those Iranian soccer player put their lives and the lives of their families on the line by refusing to sing the Iranian anthem during their first game as a show of solidarity for the protestors back home. They were threated by the Iranian military immediately after that game. That's why the US players are hugging them.

 

[vhcat70]

With the Dutch running a 3-4-1-2, I'm really concerned about our midfield trio (Munsah, McK, and Adams) getting overwhelmed. I think we'd be better off dropping back into more of a 4-2-3-1 to match their numbers.

How about letting the Dutch react to us?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

We have a shot. Dutch 10 years ago not so much, but they are beatable. France and Brazil are on a different level

Yeah. We are gonna blitzkrieg those boys and knock them back to 1940.

 

[vhcat70]

Yeah. We are gonna blitzkrieg those boys and knock them back to 1940.

You have your history screwed up.

 

[Catman100]

Those Iranian soccer player put their lives and the lives of their families on the line by refusing to sing the Iranian anthem during their first game as a show of solidarity for the protestors back home. They were threated by the Iranian military immediately after that game. That's why the US players are hugging them.

How soon until we hear Iranian players disappear?

 

[vhcat70]

Pulisic hospitalized due to pelvic injury.

 

[vhcat70]

How soon until we hear Iranian players disappear?

Well, they sang against US, so maybe not.

 

[LOL_Man]

How soon until we hear Iranian players disappear?

I think at least a few of them will be snuffed out within a day or two.

 

[bkingUK]

Pretty sure half of our foreign players didn’t know the words to our anthem. Don’t care. As long as they are “American”

 

[Wildcats1st]

Pretty sure half of our foreign players didn’t know the words to our anthem. Don’t care. As long as they are “American”

More American than the French national team is french.

 

[entropy13]

Pulisic hospitalized due to pelvic injury.

Not hospitalized. He has a pelvic contusion and is day to day. He met his teammates back at the hotel after the game.

 

[Wildcats1st]

How about letting the Dutch react to us?

We are over matched at every spot. If we go up and down with the Dutch side it could get ugly. We have to win midfield and the England game gave us a blue print with the 4-4-2. I think that formation seemed to help the team stay connected and hold their shape. I’d be inclined to run it again rather than the 4-2-3-1 so we have two strikers pressing their 3 back system. If we have to we can pull back a striker so be it but I don’t want to start on our heels that’s not our strength. This team has potential to apply pressure and get quality chances. I like our chances if we get to pks.

 

[CardHack]

There is no bigger echo chamber than US soccer fans twitteratti questioning Berhalter; in one regard I see it as progress that tactics are scrutinized...but it's an Echo Chamber because nobody speaks up as a counter voice.

Haji Wright was brought on instead of Ferreira because we went back to 4-4-2 and Wright's goals invariably in Turkey are on counters; Iran was going to have to commit numbers which opens up to why Wright was on the field to begin with. Acosta was brought on for McKennie because McKennie isn't capable of much more than 65 minutes and whatever you think of Acosta he is outstanding on set pieces (he should have taken the free kick instead of Musah) and is a good ball winner. Once committed to that path it makes the final two subs kind of obvious though I'm in Clint Dempsey's boat questioning whether I want to see Moore again any sooner than Nashville FC's first regular season game. Tough to take Dest off but he is still a defensive liability and we got caught on the counter twice where he was dispossessed around the attacking third leading to big recovering runs by some tired legs.

If we had to attack or it was tied tactically your subs would be De La Torre for Musah, Reyna possibly for McKennie and go to a midfield Diamond. I'm not sure De La Torre is fit though.

 

[funKYcat75]

You guys know a lot about the USMNT. I'm legitimately impressed.

 

[CAT Scratch FVR]

Continue to be impressed with ref's restraint on whistle when players get knocked down.

 

[stuway]

Berhalter should be fired for not playing Reyna. Besides Pulisic he is the second best goal scorer we have available. Criminal with whatever is going on with not playing him. He played a few games with Dortmund before the Cup started. He is not injured and he himself said that's so we are winning in spite of our coach

The Dutch are very talented obviously. If we contain Gakpo we may have a shot. They don't have great goal scores either. Actually both us and the Dutch are similar make ups. I think we are faster, they are more technical. We can hang if we bring our A game, or lose 1or2-0 if not. I guess a chance is all you can ask for, right?? If we ever get a proper #9 USA soccer is gonna be very, very good. We have all the other pieces. USA USA #fireberhalter

 

[Catman100]

Berhalter should be fired for not playing Reyna. Besides Pulisic he is the second best goal scorer we have available. Criminal with whatever is going on with not playing him. He played a few games with Dortmund before the Cup started. He is not injured and he himself said that's so we are winning in spite of our coach

The Dutch are very talented obviously. If we contain Gakpo we may have a shot. They don't have great goal scores either. Actually both us and the Dutch are similar make ups. I think we are faster, they are more technical. We can hang if we bring our A game, or lose 1or2-0 if not. I guess a chance is all you can ask for, right?? If we ever get a proper #9 USA soccer is gonna be very, very good. We have all the other pieces. USA USA #fireberhalter

Playing Reyna seems to be the same as expecting Calipari to play a zone defense.

 

[bkingUK]

Playing Reyna seems to be the same as expecting Calipari to play a zone defense.

Really like Reyna. Dude is going to be good. I kind of get why he’s coming off the bench though.

Have to play McKennie, Adams and Musah. Our midfield is our strength. Have to play Pulisic. I think you have to play Weah for quickness. So this leaves the decision of a false 9 with Reyna in middle or traditional st.

If the US had a real killer at st, then makes more sense to start Reyna at CAM and McKennie and Adams in midfield but we don’t have a striker who can create.

Albeit, I also like idea of bringing Musah and McKennie up to box with Reyna in false 9 and Pulisic and Weah cutting inside. I think that makes more sense vs Netherlands than Iran

 

[vhcat70]

So why was Griezman offside? He got back on after the kick & it looked to me Tunisia played, not just deflected, the kick with a header.

 

[Catman100]

That’s a crappy penalty for Messi.
Saved!!
Ball don’t lie,

 

[Wildcats1st]

There is no bigger echo chamber than US soccer fans twitteratti questioning Berhalter; in one regard I see it as progress that tactics are scrutinized...but it's an Echo Chamber because nobody speaks up as a counter voice.

Haji Wright was brought on instead of Ferreira because we went back to 4-4-2 and Wright's goals invariably in Turkey are on counters; Iran was going to have to commit numbers which opens up to why Wright was on the field to begin with. Acosta was brought on for McKennie because McKennie isn't capable of much more than 65 minutes and whatever you think of Acosta he is outstanding on set pieces (he should have taken the free kick instead of Musah) and is a good ball winner. Once committed to that path it makes the final two subs kind of obvious though I'm in Clint Dempsey's boat questioning whether I want to see Moore again any sooner than Nashville FC's first regular season game. Tough to take Dest off but he is still a defensive liability and we got caught on the counter twice where he was dispossessed around the attacking third leading to big recovering runs by some tired legs.

If we had to attack or it was tied tactically your subs would be De La Torre for Musah, Reyna possibly for McKennie and go to a midfield Diamond. I'm not sure De La Torre is fit though.

Shaq Moore is awful. He shouldn’t be on the team and making those runs out of the back late losing the ball in the attacking 1/3 was bananas. I didn’t see the 4-4-2 you did. Berhalter actually went to a 5 back system with wright up top which is ok if he understands his role to hold the ball and not go at goal late. He can be a good player.

What I want to focus on is playing 5 backs. That is awful strategy we were getting killed in the MF. It was a formation with no shape, no balance, massive gaps. Friggin Aaronson goes where he wants. He has great energy but doesn’t play with in himself he’s a turnover machine. When the subs come in our team falls apart. I can only hope berhalter realizes what has worked the best which was the 4-4-2 from the get go against England. The problem will be the Dutch don’t ping it around like England and they like to go direct. Our fitness will be tested in a big way against the Dutch but there will be massive opportunities to counter.