Generic soccer thread
-
@rockchalkjayhawk Mihailovic Ferreira Vasquez Busio and Reynolds were good.
Zendejas, Sonora, and Cowell struggled.
Everyone else
-
I think Mihailovic earned consideration for future opportunities
-
Just read this about Cade Cowell. Kinda what I was thinking last night.
LOSER: Cade Cowell
It’s not that Cowell had a bad game, because he didn’t. He was decent enough and dangerous enough. Still, you were left wanting more from the 19-year-old attacker, who just couldn’t quite take this one over in the way he did so often at the Under-20 World Cup.
Handed a chance to start, Cowell never really threatened the opponents with his pace and dribbling ability. Part of that was because of the style of game, of course, with the defense bunkered in, but even when he had moments, he just couldn’t quite create magic like he did earlier this summer.
At this point, Cowell may just be a better supersub for the USMNT, with his physical attributes having a better chance to impact games later on. That’s not to say he’ll be in that role permanently, because his ceiling is so high, but at the moment, his game is just missing the little things that help break down a bunkered defense.
Those little things could come eventually, and the U20 World Cup showed us that Cowell is, in fact, a player for the big moments. He’ll have bigger ones than a Wednesday night game against St. Kitts and Nevis, and the hope will be that he can take those moments and make a slightly bigger impact than he did in this one.
-
Beautiful first goal by US tonight. jones, our wingback gave the ball up to Roldan then made a run to box, received the ball and hit Ferreira at the 6 who popped it up and hit it quickly back post. Nice and fluid!
-
@approxinfinity Just tuning in and checked on other matches. Seems like this is not a serious event for us.
-
Mexico-Qatar is pretty compelling right now.
-
Was hoping for the tie, dislike Mexico and dont like that Qatar bought way in to Concacaf. Was hoping for tie. Still looks bad for Mexico. Now with win Qatar advances
-
@BShark well we get to see the kids and non starters. Cowell had a few electric moments. Vasquez and Ferreira also. Enjoyed.
-
Delayed response to the US game last night…
BAM! One shining moment and now Cade Cowell is oozing with confidence! You see his demeanor change after that breakaway goal? Awesome. He had no fear after that. Hope it sticks.
Alejandro Zendejas does not deserve another chance. I realize we use the Gold Cup to grow our younger players, but cmon. Dude was just awful the entire tournament.
Loved the way we dominated possession, and kept the counters to a minimum (mostly).
That field in Charlotte was an embarrassment. The ball didn’t do anything close to normal on that pitch. You could see the players struggle with how to pass, trap, expect the bounce, etc. terrible. Grass over artificial turf? Insane. Horrible decision.
Top of the group! Happy that we found our scoring touch. Jesus! Another hat trick! That first goal was another master touch.
-
When’s the US play next? I’ve got nothing but time to kill in this recovery!
-
US plays July 9.
Awaiting opponent.
-
It’s summer transfer time. A few updates as i see em:
1: Pulisic has agreed to terms with AC Milan. Now the teams have to agree on a transfer fee.
2: Sergino Dest. Barcelona says they want to get rid of him by the end of the week. no teams seem interested at the moment. What happened to him? Thought he was a wunderkid?
3: Folarin Balogun. Arsenal looks like they want to put him on the market. He’s currently on loan in France. Arsenal is looking for suitors for about $50M. He’s been linked with AC Milan, Juventus, Marseille and RB Leipzig.
4: Yunus Musah: Inter and AC Milan seem to be in a battle for the Valencia player. that’s a good thing! He’s also linked with Fulham.
5: Brenden Aaronson. After relegated with Leeds, he could join Union Berlin on loan. His brother Paxten plays in Germany as well.
6: Weston McKennie: Rumors of him joining AC Milan with Pulisic and Musah. Juventus doesn’t want him any more.
7: Timothy Weah: Signed with Juventus.
8: Tyler Adams: Also relegated from Leeds. Looking for a new home. Linked with Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion.
-
Antonee Robinson is reportedly set to snub interest from the likes of Manchester City and AC Milan by signing a new contract at Fulham.
-
Pulisic to Milan. It’s official!
I’m a bit bummed. Loved being able to watch him and our other US players easily in the EPL.
-
@rockchalkjayhawk im excited. They have a star at left wing already, but i hear the manager is high on the idea of Pulisic at 10. Hope to see that instead of just right wing
-
Looking forward to making John Herdman sweat tomorrow.
-
@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk im excited. They have a star at left wing already, but i hear the manager is high on the idea of Pulisic at 10. Hope to see that instead of just right wing
Yea, read that somewhere as well. Do you think we have enough evidence that he can play the 10? Pulisic must be excited about it if he chose Milan.
-
Aaronson to Union Berlin.
-
@rockchalkjayhawk i think so. He distributes very well, carries well with both feet, has about equal number of goals and assists, though many more goals on left and assists on right. He loves taking central routes on the left with wingback overlap wide. I think hes ready!
-
Awesome. would love to see that work out for him. needs some PT!
-
This has been a hell of a game. I went into this tournament wishing we would roll out a more competitive line up. Win or lose this game, i am now won over, and impressed with the depth we have. Probably 8 or 9 guys have done really great things this tournament, lots of improvement across the board.
-
Clutch win!
-
That was fun to watch. Never seen a ref wiped out in the first minute of a match before! Nil nil until the 88th minute, then 4 goals in the last 45 minutes. Amazing. I hate PKs to solve a match. It’s so artificial. NHL model of removing skaters from the ice before they go to PK’s might help. Even though it would have bit us last night, golden goal would eliminate the need for going to PK’s on some occasions.
-
@wissox as a parent of a goalie, i live for PKs.
-
Whew. Man. A great day to watch US soccer yesterday.
The women were dominant vs Wales. We can see the tactics other teams will use against them: pack it in. They will need to finish better for sure in that defensive quagmire. Early on I didn’t realize the girls were playing in my neck of the woods. I shoulda gone! I’ve seen them play out here in Cali before. Fun to watch live. The San Jose stadium is awesome for soccer.
Approx, the men’s game was kind of UGLY! Yikes. Aggressive. I don’t mind that actually. Fouls everywhere. Lucky we didn’t see any reds (both sides). I saw a few guys step up in this tourney for sure. I saw a few guys take a big step back, too. Like you, glad to see some guys make a future for themselves with the national team.
The game opened up a bit more in the second half. My boy Cowell was aggressive again when he subbed in. It’s definitively good to see younger guys get minutes in big games.
It’s great to develop depth, and that’s what it looks like this group of guys was here for. I was mostly impressed with the defensive units we rolled out. Last night they all had some suspect moments with their feet (passing), but generally they all showed out. That being said, Jalen Neal had an amazing assist last night.
My knee jerk reaction to who could and couldn’t ever make a US World Cup roster:
— All the defenders have a future.
— Maybe two of the midfielders. Mihailovic and Sands. Neither looks like a star though. Busio needs a lot of work IMO, plus about 50 pounds of more muscle. Sonora goes straight to DVD.
— Forwards? Jesus and Cowell. No real opinion formed about Gressel. Vazquez has nice size. Showed some skill. Zendejas straight to the high school coaching ranks.
A fun day yesterday. Off to the World Cup for the ladies!
-
The boys lost tonight. Drat. PKs.
As predicted before he took it, Roldan crapped the bed. Oh well.
Even game. Both sides had chances. The Panama goal was a catastrophic failure by the left side of the US defense.
The US had a decent second half though.
Love that Turner saves at least one PK per shootout.
-
@rockchalkjayhawk i predicted that Ferreira would take the first and miss. I was surprised that Gressell and Miazga were first 5. Miazga buried it top corner.
Thought it was a fun showing. We were outplayed first half, seemed out of sorts. We connected well first 5 minutes and then seemed on the back heel. Punting instead of keeping possession.
Kids will learn.
Enjoyed the run.
Loved that Morris got to be a hero with the header assist for the equalizer.
-
Also once Cade Cowell learns to pass in traffic (if?) he could really be a dynamic scoring threat.
-
Yup, I was thinking the same thing about Cade. The ball stays on his foot too long. Shoot or pass. Exciting to see him dribble thru a crowd for sure though. Just young. Hopefully as he plays with more mature players around him, they’ll let him know (loudly, probably).
-
Ouch for McKennie!
McKennie has been excluded from Juve’s squad for the trip to the US, along with club captain Bonucci. the players who have not been selected to travel with the squad have been told to find a new club, as they will not be considered for selection in 2023-24.
Along with being excluded from the squad, it has been reported that Weston McKennie and Bonucci have been told that they are to have no contact with manager Massimiliano Allegri and to train with the youth team. McKennie spent the second half of last season on loan at Leeds, as the club were relegated to the Championship. Bonucci has made 502 appearances for the Serie A giants.
-
This Panama Mexico match is awesome! Watching the spanish telecast which is way better even if I can’t understand the announcers!
-
Who won? Didn’t watch. Did the US have a consolation game?
-
@rockchalkjayhawk mexico won. Panama had their chances. Was pulling for them.
-
Women’s world cup soon. USA looking to 3peat
-
@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
Women’s world cup soon. USA looking to 3peat
Yup, coming up. Women play Friday? Can’t wait. This World Cup I’m guessing will be a wake up call for the US women. Motivation will be required. The competition will be much better than previous years. A three peat is no guarantee.
-
Ok, decided to stay up late to catch the first game of the women’s world cup! Zzz. Just realized it’s WINTER in Australia/New Zealand. Brilliant decision. Fire the idiot (s) who made that decision.
-
A dominating 3-0 win over Vietnam tonight.
That’s the good part. Never tested. Never a concern.
The bad part…everything else. Wow was that some ugly play in the final third. Could hardly be worse. Passing, shooting, intelligent decisions all severely lacking (except of course Morgan’s brilliant flick assist).
Hoping they got the nerves out of the way. Vietnam parked the bus, but we shoulda scored many more.
Goal differential could come into play.
-
Having a hard time adjusting from USMNT, tbh. Need to watch a real chess match to get engaged I guess
-
Yea, and it doesn’t help that this roster is not as famous as with previous years.
Also didn’t help with that weird ass lineup last night. I get it, rest some players.
I likely won’t watch any game other than the US.
-
Massive clunker of a first half tonight vs Netherlands.
Absolutely, and shockingly, outclassed in every way. Wow! Very surprising.
Their 3-5-2 ish system just perplexed us. Vlatko deserves a first half F for failure to adjust in any way.
Crystal Dunn was comically bad. By far the worst I’ve ever seen her play. Her passing was awful. Really awful. Plus she effed up tremendously on the first goal.
The second half was way better! Way better. The commentators believe it was because the Dutch lost a key defender at the half. They also switched to a 4-4-2, oddly. Why change what was working well?
That allowed the US some success in the midfield, and in pressing. They possessed the ball and had some good chances. A lot of it because my girl Rose came in the game!! Love her play.
Vlatko, however, deserves another F for his failure to sub in more than Rose. The front line was clearly done cookin, and Dunn continued to suck.
I know the Netherlands is good. A tie felt fair.
But now, with the Netherlands left with Vietnam, goal differential could mean a second place finish for the US. We didn’t score many vs Vietnam.
Assuming of course that we beat Portugal!
-
@rockchalkjayhawk enjoyed Dunns defense and range in the second half. Havent watched this team much. Didn’t think she was awful second half.
-
Yea, from the git go I was steamed at Dunn. Maybe she didn’t play as bad in the second half, but my ire was up!
And I’m never steamed at Dunn! Really odd game for her.
I thought Demelo did some good things.
-
I decided to stay up late for the US game. Zzz.
Another ugly, ugly effort so far in the first half.
Just smiled as Alexi Llalas said the same thing I’ve been saying…”Crystal Dunn doesn’t look like she’s played soccer before!”
So funny, but so sad.
This team is just a giant dud in the first half. No life, no skill, no energy. They better pick it up next half. A tie is fine, but I’d hate a tight game then Portugal puts one in late. The US would be sent packing!
Portugal is just stuffing the midfield, clogging passing, dribbling lanes for the US. Vlatko once again has no answer.
Let’s go!
-
@#$&*!
My god, as feared Portugal nearly finished it in the 90th minute. Saved by the woodwork!
-
Whew. Escape! Time for bed.
(Rapinoe is barely playable these days)
-
This team is playing scared.
-
@AsadZ said in Generic soccer thread:
This team is playing scared.
Could be. Also could be that they just aren’t as talented as they once were? I dunno. Something needs to change, huh.
-
Recorded the match and glad I saw the final while perusing the web while watching. Deleted the game before I read about the near winner for Portugal in stoppage time. Portugal played with way more passion and energy than the US I thought.
-
They should appreciate being there, advancing out of group, and the rest of the way is house money. Don’t expect to win it all.
-
Looking that way @approxinfinity . Fingers crossed they can pull it together and beat Sweden (?).
