World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[dxmnkd316]

TBF, it’s not just Twitter.

The worst part? It’s that the most vocal people on it are big soccer people. People who are very knowledgeable but are falling back into the same fucking trap: “it’s our system” “we need to get away from pay to play” “time to change everything” Same s-, different World Cup.

Honestly can’t wait for the USSF to be pressured into hiring some third rate foreign manager that’ll have us in the same situation in four years.

We tried that.

(except he wasn't third rate)

 

[Jimjamesak]

We tried that.

(except he wasn't third rate)

Thankfully, the USSF having a Sporting Director (Earnie Stewart) and General Manager (Brian McBride) will insulate things from the way that got us Klinsmann (the whims of a USSF President).

(And yes Klinsmann was third rate. Everyone else in the world knew he was an overrated blowhard and L?w was the real reason Germany succeeded yet Gulati couldn’t help himself.)

 

[Deleted member 3166]

I am too.

My only reservation is where the goals are going to come from. I just don’t know of anyone in the pipeline that can realistically do it.

Yet another reason to not play the system we do. Counter attacking would suit our players so much better.

 

[French Rage]

I look forward to seeing how this young squad shapes up in 4 years.

Me too. I'm assuming this was many of the younger players first WC exposure, since we missed 4 years ago, so this experience is something to build on, given they were 3rd youngest I believe. Another cycle to build on, learn from mistakes, and then get to play at home, gets me interested.

Dumb question, do we do any sort of qualification for the next WC given we get the host auto-bid? If not, is that lack of additional experience something to be wary about?

 

[French Rage]

Kudos to the Dutch. They took advantage of their opportunities. Kept their shape really well and made the timely plays.

Sigh...

I am no expert at all on soccer, but I agree. We attacked more earlier on, and the Dutch bended but didn't break, and kept their form throughout the game. There might have been some luck on their end we didn't get at least one in early on, but they were willing to play their game all 90 minutes and keep their composure and then strike when we gave them any opening. By far the best team we've played (which I guess is a nice way of saying they were clearly better than England).

 

[Jimjamesak]

Yet another reason to not play the system we do. Counter attacking would suit our players so much better.

TBH, not really. Our defense is nowhere good enough for that and our midfield is actually really good at holding the ball and possessing. It’s just our offense is a black hole of suck. No amount of quick counters is going to make up
for that.

The biggest problem is that Jozy Altidore was born 8-10 years too early.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

TBH, not really. Our defense is nowhere good enough for that and our midfield is actually really good at holding the ball and possessing. It’s just our offense is a black hole of suck. No amount of quick counters is going to make up
for that.

The biggest problem is that Jozy Altidore was born 8-10 years too early.

Yet that's pretty much the only way we scored. But yeah...let's keep allowing Berhalter and the rest of US soccer to force a style that we can't effectively play. I personally don't care if foreign pundits say it works. It doesn't for us and if the black hole of offense is happening...it makes no sense to try and break down defenses when we can't finish it anyway. Possession is nothing without scoring.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Sifting the the crap online, this is a good comment:

I cannot imagine the venom that would have been spit at Landon Donovan if he'd missed the chances Pulisic did this tournament and was as abysmal on dead balls as Christian was.

The Landycakes and orange slice brigade would have been at his throat.

Instead they're all going after the coach. If you don't have at least one clinical finisher the '16 and quarter finals are your ceiling.

Arsene Wenger isn't walking through that door, and even if he does who is going to put the ball in the net?

 

[Jimjamesak]

Yet that's pretty much the only way we scored. But yeah...let's keep allowing Berhalter and the rest of US soccer to force a style that we can't effectively play. I personally don't care if foreign pundits say it works. It doesn't for us and if the black hole of offense is happening...it makes no sense to try and break down defenses when we can't finish it anyway. Possession is nothing without scoring.

And countering doesn’t work either if you have no one to finish.

”Forcing a style” isn’t the problem. Pulisic and Reyna and Aaronson and Weah and Musah and McKennie and others all being talented at running and passing yet not be able to score regularly is the problem.

They could’ve dusted off Bob Bradley’s empty bucket 4-4-2 from 2010 and it would’ve been the same result.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

And countering doesn’t work either if you have no one to finish.

”Forcing a style” isn’t the problem. Pulisic and Reyna and Aaronson and Weah and Musah and McKennie and others all being talented at running and passing yet not be able to score regularly is the problem.

They could’ve dusted off Bob Bradley’s empty bucket 4-4-2 from 2010 and it would’ve been the same result.

I don't believe that to be the case. I think they have a better chance finishing counter attacking.
We are not going to agree and you are not going to bash US soccer...so...stalemate it is.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I don't believe that to be the case. I think they have a better chance finishing counter attacking.
We are not going to agree and you are not going to bash US soccer...so...stalemate it is.

The willingness to bash US Soccer has nothing to do with this.

Name one player eligible for the US who finishes a counter attack against Van Dijk and Ake.

I’ll wait.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

The willingness to bash US Soccer has nothing to do with this.

Name one player eligible for the US who finishes a counter attack against Van Dijk and Ake.

I’ll wait.

Pulisic has a better chance doing it that way than trying to break down 8 men doing it the way Berhalter wants. All of them have a better chance on the break...it's ridiculous to say otherwise.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Pulisic has a better chance doing it that way than trying to break down 8 men doing it the way Berhalter wants. All of them have a better chance on the break...it's ridiculous to say otherwise.

Pulisic does it the way he does because that’s the way Pulisic plays, not because of Berhalter. He does the same thing at Chelsea (and that’s why he rides the bench a lot at Chelsea).

In a counter Pulisic would’ve dribbled at Van Dijk, gotten smashed and lose the ball just like he does now!

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Pulisic has a better chance doing it that way than trying to break down 8 men doing it the way Berhalter wants. All of them have a better chance on the break...it's ridiculous to say otherwise.

Today, our defense would allowed a half dozen goals before Pulisic would have scored on a counter.

Fact is, we had our opportunities today. Here's to a true 9 developing in time for 2026.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

Pulisic does it the way he does because that’s the way Pulisic plays, not because of Berhalter. He does the same thing at Chelsea (and that’s why he rides the bench a lot at Chelsea).

In a counter Pulisic would’ve dribbled at Van Dijk, gotten smashed and lose the ball just like he does now!

Yes.. he's a better counter attack player than a break down player .. imagine thinking it's better to not play to your players strengths...

If you honestly believe that the US is better at breaking down teams than playing a counter attack style there is absolutely no point in arguing with you tactics or not by the coaches... tactics or not by US soccer... If you honestly believe that this team has a better chance at breaking down defense has been playing a counter-attack there's no point

 

[Jimjamesak]

Yes.. he's a better counter attack player than a break down player .. imagine thinking it's better to not play to your players strengths...

“Our defense is questionable and our offense is akin to a black hole. I know! Let’s play a system that relies upon tight defense and clinical finishing!”

 

[Deleted member 3166]

Today, our defense would allowed a half dozen goals before Pulisic would have scored on a counter.

Fact is, we had our opportunities today. Here's to a true 9 developing in time for 2026.

And it still would have ended with the same result. I'd rather play a style that gives us a better chance to win by scoring than one that hopes you can stop team from doing it when it always seems inevitable with our defense.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

“Our defense is questionable and our offense is akin to a black hole. I know! Let’s play a system that relies upon tight defense and clinical finishing!”

Better yet ..let's play a style that forces guys to break down players when they have no hope of doing so and wouldn't finish even if they did and hope our shit defense can pull a result...
Two can play this game.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Better yet ..let's play a style that forces guys to break down players when they have no hope of doing so and wouldn't finish even if they did and hope our **** defense can pull a result...
You're not an expert

Our strength is in the midfield, you play to your strengths. Possess the ball so you limit your opponents chances and create enough that you eventually convert.

But hey, your strategy of giving up the ball and negating the teams strength in favor of one relying upon the two biggest weaknesses will totally work.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Everyone during the group stages: “It was an obvious mistake to stop possessing the ball and go defensive and try to protect a lead.”

FTLT: “What if we did that the whole time!?!”