Jump to content

Ted Lange

Legacy Members
  • Posts

    10940
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    4

Everything posted by Ted Lange

  1. I did a quick check on twitter and Mexican fans are losing thier shit, jajajaaj
  2. Jedi and Dest are immediate upgrades over Arfsten and Weah at WB. In Jedis case a really big upgrade. The midfield is where it gets interesting as we are losing one spot, no MMA. If healthy Adam’s is a lock for one of the 6s, I’d think Weston is first choice as his partner, but there are gonna be some options, Tessman, Johnny (if his club form ever carries over), Musah, Morris…
  3. Speaking of the back 3, from The Athletics match review The USMNT’s new preferred formation? For the second straight game, and for the first time to open an international window, Pochettino rolled out three center backs in a 3-4-2-1 formation. When he switched to the shape after 60 minutes against South Korea last month, it was intriguing. When it worked reasonably well in a 2-0 win over Japan three days later, Pochettino and players spoke about it as a useful Plan B. “I think it’s good to have different plans, approach to the games, use different formations,” the head coach said postgame. But when he used it from the start again on Friday, it became something more than that. Part of the initial intrigue was key players who seemed to suit the new shape. But even with two of those players, Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, out of the starting 11 due to fitness concerns, and Sergiño Dest also absent due to injury, Pochettino went back to it. He brought in Miles Robinson as a third center back, for a first start since the loss to Turkey in June. He played McKennie and Tillman as dual No. 10s with Morris and Tessmann sitting deeper in midfield behind them. Max Arfsten and Weah played as the wingbacks. The U.S. looked dangerous in the formation, finding space in transition but also via buildup. The formation benefitted especially from the play of Balogun, who consistently made dangerous runs, held the ball up to help spark attacks and created space for those around him. The formation was also different, more of a hybrid, than it had been against Korea and Japan. Both of those teams had also played with three center backs. Ecuador’s back four required a U.S. defensive tweak to match up man-to-man. Without the ball, the U.S. spent most of the first half in a 4-4-2, with Tillman dropping to a left midfield position and McKennie stepping up beside Balogun. And occasionally, Weah would press high, stretching the shape into more of a 4-3-3. Weah’s presence as the right wingback also compelled Pochettino to tweak the shape in possession. Weah often stayed high, with Miles Robinson splaying out to the right touchline in a traditional right fullback position. On one occasion, Robinson even overlapped Weah in the final third. And here are the extended highlights for those that missed the match.
  4. Seeing the USMNT play that competently vs a legit opponent was fun to watch. They actually look like they know what they were doing. Ecuador is close to a R16 level opponent. They were missing some guys but so were we. Since Poch made the switch to 3 in the back, things seemed to have clicked. I’m genuinely hopeful about the team for the first time in a long time.
  5. Much deserved goal, it had been coming. This has been an exceptional performance
  6. Fuck this CANADIAN ref. This is outrageous
  7. Need me a Moon Man goal.
  8. Ecuadors recent form. Argentina had zero shots on goal vs them.
  9. It’s more meant as a compliment to Ecuadors keeper, he’s been fantastic. Freese has been challenged once and gave up a goal.
  10. Considering who we are missing, we are playing much better than expected. The goalkeeping is the difference in the score line so far.
  11. Weah playing RWB and Weston up top with Flo and Tillman. Uh, ok. According to the broadcast interview with Weah. Also, TNT coverage is light years ahead of shitty fox sports
  12. Yeah, scoring isn’t likely.
  13. Some musings on tonight’s match. Ecuador defense is insane. 18 WCQ matches, 5 goals allowed. Also their FFIA ranking is getting close to moving them to a Pot 2 team, so they are likely gonna be playing to win. It isn’t just some friendly to go thru the motions. Assuming Pulisic isn’t playing, getting a single goal here would probably be surprising.
  14. Just watched the trailer.
  15. Well this sucks. Sounding like no Pulisic or ARob tomorrow night.
  16. I hadn’t been watching the matches, keep forgetting they are on. Looking at FotMob lineups, there are a few names I recognize, several MLS rotation guys and Cole Campbell who’s on Dortmund. Cole keeps making Dortmund bench but hasn’t gotten many minutes. Final 4 looks fun. USA plays Morocco next
  17. Closed as in zero crossing, no. But…. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8wd8938e8o
  18. United is starting a new route from EWR to Bari.
×
×
  • Create New...