OT: USMNT world cup qualifying thread?

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by wc1934

Yea of little faith.
Tonite you saw what a difference a keeper can make and Buffon is better.
Chiellini being out with a calf injury is troublesome but I am hoping the Bernabeu crowd will leave with long faces.
Forza Italia!!!

I know, I know.

But Chiellini out is a big problem, and Asensio is on fire lately, along with Morata. On the other hand these are the kinds of matches that ITA is capable of surprising in, and even winning. So, fingers crossed!

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

Yea of little faith.
Tonite you saw what a difference a keeper can make and Buffon is better.
Chiellini being out with a calf injury is troublesome but I am hoping the Bernabeu crowd will leave with long faces.
Forza Italia!!!

Can you say catenaccio?

btw, does Italy still play a 3-5-2/ 3-4-3?

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by echappist

Can you say catenaccio?

btw, does Italy still play a 3-5-2/ 3-4-3?

Ventura is keeping it a secret but a 4-2-4 looks probable tomorrow.

Insigne - Immobile - Belotti - Candreva
De Rossi - Verratti
Darmian- Bonucci - Barzagli - Conti
Buffon

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by cadence90

So true re: unforced errors. Tonight was a US comedy of them.

The defense was atrocious, but you are correct that the attack really had no cohesion either. I thought the only one who played with some fire and lucidity up front was Wood.

I thought Arena was supposed to fix the Jurgen issues. Everything seems worse.

[ultraman6970]

Saw the resume of the last USA and honestly? the US needs to get another goalie.. is not the 1st game where the goalie fails big time...

[BobC]

Disgusting game

Figured the Ticos would play a 5-3-2, play for the quick counter, foul Pulisic hard every time he touched the ball and generally bitch & moan about every call to disrupt the game. They did. Ref let all the crap go. USMNT didn't adjust. Bad on them.

Gotta play quicker 1 or 2 touch rhythm, play in the space on the wings, get behind the back line, move off the ball. Too much ball watching. Ugh.

Ream is done. Besler would have helped Cameron more (JC picked the worst time to have the worst game EVER). Tactically Ream & Cameron don't work (CBs are all about partnership).
Johnson wasn't ready. So rusty.
Perhaps putting Nagbe (whom I like a lot) and Pulisic together against a 5-3-2 is not such a great idea. Need far more speed (and play) on the wings. There was so much space in in the deep wings (Wood figured that out quick -- so did Altidore later).

Bleah.

[echappist]

now I wonder what he'll trot out against Honduras.

One off game for Cameron is okay. Obviously not desirable, but this is the first bad game I recall. Agreed on the partnership, though to be fair, Ream-Gonzalez-Cameron played well in that one game against Azteca.

The ref is atrocious; bush league Concacaf stuff.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by echappist

now I wonder what he'll trot out against Honduras.

One off game for Cameron is okay. Obviously not desirable, but this is the first bad game I recall. Agreed on the partnership, though to be fair, Ream-Gonzalez-Cameron played well in that one game against Azteca.

The ref is atrocious; bush league Concacaf stuff.

Gonzalez was the difference in that back 3 -- he & Cameron are fine (in fact Gonzalez plays a better game with JC, JC seems to elevate Gonzalez's game).

Agreed about the ref -- but it isn't the first (or last) time. You have to adjust your play. Arena should have talked to the 4th official the second Pulisic was getting roughed up (really should have talked to him before the match started as it was expected). Been in his ear counting the fouls out loud.

[wc1934]

Anyone see the USMNT "play" Bosnia Herz in last nites friendly?
Trying not to be too negative, but if it weren't for the keepers best friend......

[ultraman6970]

The american male team sucks, the girls team and the sub17 male team has more idea how to play soccer than the adult team, actually their soccer is beautiful compared with the adult team.

I was the coach of the male team i would grab all the sub 17 and make them play all the time with reinforcements of the original adult male team. If they lose they can say.. Ok are just kids.... but those kids need to play together to form the base of the next adult team.