USMNT: Hold My Beer
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
Clint Dempsey is a national treasure. I hope he becomes a mainstay on US Soccer broadcasts, though I'm not super confident that he'd want to do that.
The Nations League final is tonight. USA vs. Mexico. 9:30pm ET. Brace yourselves.
There are rumors that Berhalter is going to switch up the formation, although they come from a reporter that I don't particularly trust. We'll see. Adams has been declared healthy enough to play, but is he healthy enough to start? IMO, you have to start Acosta at DM if Adams can't go — or else you play McKennie and Musah in a 3-4-3 (a bit risky also). Yueill has struggled for two games and hasn't added anything on either side of the ball. I've wanted him to be successful, but I'm prepared to move on.
There are rumors that Berhalter is going to switch up the formation, although they come from a reporter that I don't particularly trust. We'll see. Adams has been declared healthy enough to play, but is he healthy enough to start? IMO, you have to start Acosta at DM if Adams can't go — or else you play McKennie and Musah in a 3-4-3 (a bit risky also). Yueill has struggled for two games and hasn't added anything on either side of the ball. I've wanted him to be successful, but I'm prepared to move on.
CBSSN is showing 9:30 on the program guide (with a pre-game show from 8:30 to 9:30). I can't imagine why ESPN would be showing 9 pm, especially when they aren't televising it.
I wonder if Gregg makes the call to go 3 at the back tonight. Even if Adams can play, I'm not sure he alone covers up for the susceptibility to counters and how exposed Brooks looks against fast players. In the attack, the spacing has looked bad. There are basically two 8s plus Gio and Pulisic coming inside. Sargent likes to drop back to connect with player. Dest likes to come inside too. Just too many players and not enough space.
Ultimately I think this is where the US ends up. Most of the key players for the USMNT play in some sort of 3ATB formation with their clubs. Off the top of my head, Brooks, Richards, Robinson (when he plays, they use him as a wing back more often than not), Dest, McKennie, Adams, Pulisic. 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 3-4-2-1, whatever, I think it gives the players more comfort and allows them to play to their strengths, and tactically can address some of the issues we've been seeing.
I suppose in the end it won't much matter if the Yanks don't add some grit to their game. Tactics and formations can only go so far, and the US hasn't looked up to the fight to me.
Ultimately I think this is where the US ends up. Most of the key players for the USMNT play in some sort of 3ATB formation with their clubs. Off the top of my head, Brooks, Richards, Robinson (when he plays, they use him as a wing back more often than not), Dest, McKennie, Adams, Pulisic. 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 3-4-2-1, whatever, I think it gives the players more comfort and allows them to play to their strengths, and tactically can address some of the issues we've been seeing.
I suppose in the end it won't much matter if the Yanks don't add some grit to their game. Tactics and formations can only go so far, and the US hasn't looked up to the fight to me.
Yes to this. Especially Clint.
Okay, you got me. Wrong network. 9 of 10 for the snark, but you got my point, there were tweets out there listing 9 pm.
3-4-3. Adams not fit to go 90 (which isn't a huge surprise to me). Yedlin starts at RB. Yueill and Lletget go the bench, replaced by Acosta and Ream.
Pulisic (c) -- Sargent -- Reyna
Dest -- McKennie -- Acosta -- Yedlin
Ream -- Brooks -- McKenzie
Steffen
Pulisic (c) -- Sargent -- Reyna
Dest -- McKennie -- Acosta -- Yedlin
Ream -- Brooks -- McKenzie
Steffen
That wasn't snark. I genuinely don't get why ESPN is saying 9 pm (and I've confirmed that they are, it's in the bottom line). It would make more sense if they were televising it and wanted watchers to tune in to the pre-game.
This is definitely a game where, as Bruce Arena would say, we need our best players to be our best players.
Just a trophy (but I'm not sure "just" is ever really true when it's USA-Mexico). The biggest significance is that this is one of a limited number of opportunities the U.S. gets to prepare for qualifying. This is going to be something approximating our "A" line-up, which Berhalter hasn't had many chances to play together (and probably won't be together again until the first set of matches for the ocho in the fall).
I think the US is much more talented than Mexico. I'd like to see the team not get psyched out with CONCACAF shenanigans, which I think happened a bit in the last game. Pulisic was also a ghost last game, need him to be the best player on the field (because he is).
I'm ready for the day when USMNT coverage does not include someone who's clearly there to appeal to all the people rooting for Mexico. You wouldn't see that anywhere else in the world, and it fucking bugs me.
Wouldn't way more of the pro-Mexican fanbase be watching on Univision and not this obscure upper-tier cable channel?
I agree, yet, we had whatever the hell that just was. There was none of that on Thursday.
Pulisic doing all the talking in the huddle there. "I won the Champion's League, STFU and follow me."
I think CONCACAF is saying 9, and everyone else is just repeating it. Super annoying. It's one thing to say 9:30 for a 9:36 start; saying 9:00 is basically just lying.
On paper (e.g. club resume), it's true that the USMNT has more players doing it at a high level, but there's a lot to be said for experience. A lot of the USMNT players are still figuring out how to (a) play with each other and (b) how to bring their talent to bear in a maximally effective way, every game.
