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Posted
1 minute ago, tokamak said:

I think that’s a little harsh to Freese but ECU goalie has been great so far. 

It’s more meant as a compliment to Ecuadors keeper, he’s been fantastic.   Freese has been challenged once and gave up a goal.   

Posted

I’m happy with Tessmann’s play so far. He could still be more of a presence on corner kicks…

OH SO CLOSE!

CORNER: …

Could we clear the defenders on corner kicks? This isn’t even Pulisic sending them in!

Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, LurkingHorn said:

Really surprised Ecuador has backed off so much. Maybe they always try to protect a lead like this?

They are without their best player (Chelsea’s Caicedo) and another 1 or 2 of their starters. Maybe they are adjusting to their personnel.

The USMNT score started with winning a ball on the offensive side of midfield and then sending the ball to an offsides Tillman on the right wing. Tillman then crossed the ball into Balogun, who was making a run toward the near post from the edge of the box with a defender on his back. Balogun kind of bundles (bungles?) the ball into off the near post.

Replay showed that Tillman may have been onside by a blade of grass, but they definitely didn’t show the technology that shows how much of the defender was keeping Tillman onsides. 

Edited by Napoleon
  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Also I love Luna but I think his role this cycle is best just as a guy you sub on at 80’ and tell him to run his ass off.

I’m not an “mls sux lol!” guy but he needs to go to the Dutch league or something like that to keep developing tactically. 

Posted

I didn’t realize Ecuador was in 2nd in CONMEBOL qualifying and has only given up 5 goals in 18 matches. That was a pretty good team we had on the ropes without Adams, Dest, and Jedi. Very positive performance for me. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted

I was wondering why Pochettino almost made out with the Ecuadorean manager, but it’s because they have probably kissed many times before. 

IMG_9448.thumb.jpeg.f8565029e00c9a76b2ccc93f410d8207.jpeg
 

The grossest part of playing 6 v 6 fútbol with a group of Argies from 2008-2009 was that after kissing everyone on the cheek before we played…

…before we left, when we were all sweaty and gross, we had to go through and cheek-to-cheek with the kiss sound to every one of the other 11 guys who played. 

Besos are just part of the culture there. 

Show up for my dentist appointment and Dr. Pettiti has me give her a beso before I go sit in the patient’s chair and then she instructs me with a “Dame un beso.” as she hurries me out of the room so she can take her next patient. 

  • Haha 1
Posted

Weston apparently is finally taking his fitness seriously. 

It would be nice if players could take their fitness seriously from a young age, but so many don’t.

Posted

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.  

  • Hook 'Em 4
Posted

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.

 

Posted

Obviously they’ve hit on something but where do Jedi and Dest fit in? I guess they can play the role that Arfsten was playing last night?

Same question for Adams. He replaces Morris?

Posted

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…

Posted
15 hours ago, LurkingHorn said:

I didn’t realize Ecuador was in 2nd in CONMEBOL qualifying and has only given up 5 goals in 18 matches. That was a pretty good team we had on the ropes without Adams, Dest, and Jedi. Very positive performance for me. 

They are much better than "pretty good". They are one of the best 10 or 15 teams in the world right now.

That was as good as we have ever played under Poch imo. Could have easily been a W. Especially if Pulisic was given a full half instead of ~20 mins.

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