World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Stauber1]

Everyone wants to blame Berhalter because no one wants to believe that our Golden Boys actually played like s—- this window.

I don't understand why it's such a taboo for you to criticize the staff. Playing people out of position or in formations that don't offer them the support they need to excel is not a recipe for success, and an inability to make adjustments is going to cost you in tight games.

 

[LynahFan]

Well, well. I went to be at halftime, so this is a very pleasant “good morning,” for me.

Not sure I’ve ever seen so much discussion on who to blame or what went wrong following a 4-1 CONCACAF road win, but y’all seem to be enjoying that, so I won’t stop you.

 

[Jimjamesak]

and an inability to make adjustments is going to cost you in tight games.

This statement, made after making three subs and a formation change after trailing 0-1 at halftime to win a road game 4-1, pretty much invalidates anything else you’re saying.

Edit: Also near catastrophe? JFC we won 4-1 on the road. GTFOH and go back to the r/ussoccer circlejerk.

 

[RaceBoarder]

I don't understand why it's such a taboo for you to criticize the staff. Playing people out of position or in formations that don't offer them the support they need to excel is not a recipe for success, and an inability to make adjustments is going to cost you in tight games.

We saw this with Klinnsman all the time. The issue is that he wouldn't sub to correct until 70:00+ min.

Berhalter did make changes that had immediate results (47th minute).

There is a question if this was just a case of the US just outgunning Honduras by pulling their heads out of their asses (think of how many NCAA Bouncy games see a 13/14/15 seed competitive at the half only to end with a 25+ point differential). Same deal here. I question whether we can make the same adjustments against Mexico and Costa Rica and pull a W out.

We've burned our Mulligan already (Canada) so we REALLY have to capitalize on points at home going forward. 6 points from Austin and Columbus and 7 overall absolutely needs to happen.

 

[unofan]

We saw this with Klinnsman all the time. The issue is that he wouldn't sub to correct until 70:00+ min.

Berhalter did make changes that had immediate results (47th minute).

There is a question if this was just a case of the US just outgunning Honduras by pulling their heads out of their asses (think of how many NCAA Bouncy games see a 13/14/15 seed competitive at the half only to end with a 25+ point differential). Same deal here. I question whether we can make the same adjustments against Mexico and Costa Rica and pull a W out.

We've burned our Mulligan already (Canada) so we REALLY have to capitalize on points at home going forward. 6 points from Austin and Columbus and 7 overall absolutely needs to happen.

If you go by the "win at home, draw on the road" adage, we're right where we should be points wise, albeit in a roundabout way.

It's a 14-game grind, we're not even a quarter of the way into it. I wouldn't panic yet.

 

[J.D.]

Yesterday's result ends the panic for me. That's not to say they are a lock for the WC right now, but there's definitely no reason to panic after last night.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Yesterday's result ends the panic for me. That's not to say they are a lock for the WC right now, but there's definitely no reason to panic after last night.

It’ll be interesting to see how the next round of matches go for all teams. A lot of dropped points at home for all teams.

Mexico: People are going to say they look weak but they got 7 points and only played one home game in an empty stadium.

Canada: Better than I thought they’d do and they’ll have confidence, which they’ll need because they’ve got a visit to Azteca coming up plus a game against a way better Panama.

USA: 5 points is a good spot to be in, they just did it in weird way. Next window is way more favorable with two home games though the trip to Panama could be tough.

Panama: A lot of people thought they’d be the weakest team and yet they’re tied for second. How much of that is being buoyed by a win against a weak Jamaica is the question. They’ve got a tougher round next so we’ll see.

Costa Rica: The sun may be setting on Costa Rica and their program. Two points at home and one goal scored ain’t gonna cut it. They’ve got Honduras and El Salvador next round though.

Honduras: Take everything that people were saying about the US and panicking and actually apply that to Honduras. They drew a game they probably should’ve won at Canada, got a point after rotating against El Salvador, and lost a huge one at home to the US. It’s panic time in Honduras.

El Salvador: Did ok with two straight home games against tough opponents but absolutely got shelled on the road. Doesn’t get any easier with games against Panama and Mexico coming up.

Jamaica: They looked good in a tough loss to Mexico while missing their England based players. Looked terrible in two games with them. One point and now they’ve got games against the US and Canada. They were a pre qualifying favorite but certainly don’t look it now.

 

[cF[Authentic]]

It wouldn't be a soccer thread without Jim admonishing someone and bestowing us with his infallible knowledge about US soccer.

 

[Jimjamesak]

;n3680981]It wouldn't be a soccer thread without Jim admonishing someone and bestowing us with his infallible knowledge about US soccer.

It’s what I do best.

 

[J.D.]

;n3680981]It wouldn't be a soccer thread without Jim admonishing someone and bestowing us with his infallible knowledge about US soccer.

Is Stauber all that different?

 

[Jimjamesak]

Is Stauber all that different?

Yeah, I’m more of a d—k about it.

 

[LynahFan]

If you go by the "win at home, draw on the road" adage, we're right where we should be points wise, albeit in a roundabout way.

It's a 14-game grind, we're not even a quarter of the way into it. I wouldn't panic yet.

And +3 with 6 goals scored (the first two tiebreakers). We could have the same points with +1 and 1. That 93rd minute goal at Honduras could matter some day….

 

[Slap Shot]

Come on man. It's right there in the post. These games aren't the first time this group has played competitive matches together, and the point is that qualifying isn't the time to figure out what your team might be. That should be squared and sorted by now, and if it isn't there is a problem.

Bulls**t. You're dismissing the challenge of finding your best roster and beyond that the overall roster does not have that many games together under it's belt of late whether you admit it or not. Not to mention how many games played have been missed already by key players? Add to that several players had to come back from Europe and then you have the whole Concacaf crap while playing in places and on surfaces that are far less than ideal.

Oh and they won 4-1.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Bulls**t. You're dismissing the challenge of finding your best roster and beyond that the overall roster does not have that many games together under it's belt of late whether you admit it or not. Not to mention how many games played have been missed already by key players? Add to that several players had to come back from Europe and then you have the whole Concacaf crap while playing in places and on surfaces that are far less than ideal.

Oh and they won 4-1.

Also key to mention is qualifying is a 14 game slog, we’re not going to use the same 15-16 players every game. Form dips, suspensions, injuries, rotation necessities (because they’re playing 3 games in a week), tactical adjustments, it takes a huge group to get through qualifying, upwards of 30 different players. And they all gotta come together and play inside of two days.

This ain’t the Gold Cup where you have a set roster and two games against minnows to figure things out, nor the Nations League Final where they had a week plus a friendly.

 

[Jimjamesak]

On a previous note:

Charlie Davies with some real words about and to Weston McKennie.

I still remember hearing about his accident and just being so gutted.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Clubs: “The number of international matches is putting too great a strain on players by asking them to play in too many matches.”

Also Clubs: “We’re adding more teams to Continental competitions and introducing a new cup competition.”

 

[Jimjamesak]

So Canada has two home games in the November window against Costa Rica and Mexico. Their plan is apparently to play those two games in Edmonton. Which seems incredibly risky to me.

Like, I get it, freeze them out, gamesmanship and all that. But, the second a snowflake flies you know Costa Rica is going to be “ok we’re done here” and Mexico would likely be in the same boat. And given the tight schedule, the best case scenario is a forced draw with a real chance at a forfeit not in your favor.

 

[RaceBoarder]

So Canada has two home games in the November window against Costa Rica and Mexico. Their plan is apparently to play those two games in Edmonton. Which seems incredibly risky to me.

Like, I get it, freeze them out, gamesmanship and all that. But, the second a snowflake flies you know Costa Rica is going to be “ok we’re done here” and Mexico would likely be in the same boat. And given the tight schedule, the best case scenario is a forced draw with a real chance at a forfeit not in your favor.

Does Edmonton get that much snow though? I think the goal is to have it be 15-20*F.

And have their been any regulation changes since Costa Rica's last Snow Globe Spectacular in Denver?

 

[Slap Shot]

So Canada has two home games in the November window against Costa Rica and Mexico. Their plan is apparently to play those two games in Edmonton. Which seems incredibly risky to me.

Like, I get it, freeze them out, gamesmanship and all that. But, the second a snowflake flies you know Costa Rica is going to be “ok we’re done here” and Mexico would likely be in the same boat. And given the tight schedule, the best case scenario is a forced draw with a real chance at a forfeit not in your favor.

I'm not tracking. A team can take their ball and go home then force a draw?

 

[Jimjamesak]

I'm not tracking. A team can take their ball and go home then force a draw?

If the weather goes south, Costa Rica is almost certainly going to want to stop playing (they learned their lesson in Denver in 2013). Given the constraints on the schedule, it's possible the game wouldn't be able to replayed/finished and declared a draw.

The biggest risk is that FIFA just declares it a forfeit considering that Canada has other options, it's one thing if they played in Toronto or Montreal since they've played matches at those stadiums at that time of year before (not to mention MLS Playoff matches) but it's whole 'nother thing to just blatantly game things by playing in Edmonton.