next soccer question

[pdub]

Look at the lines in the grass.
That graphics angle in the tweet isn't much better.

That said, the linesman called it, so I'd much prefer that than any VAR - so you accept the call.
I think VAR should only be used for clear and obvious mistakes.
I hate video replay down to the millimeter ( goes for all sports ).

[Deleted User 863]

That was the most nerve-racking game I've ever watched. Just insane.

Some others I remember:

Algeria 2010.
Ghana 2014.
Portugal 2002.
Germany 2002.
Belgium 2014.

It was insane how many shots on target Belgium had in 2014. It felt like a million more than us.

[UnholyLivingDead]

At what point do we need to have the discussion that Gregg Berhalter gets way more crap than he deserves? Ever since taking over, he's won the Gold Cup, won the Nations League, pretty well dominated the rivalry against Mexico, and taken the team out of the group stage which was probably the maximum of what was expected this year. Yeah he's not perfect and makes some weird decisions but there are entirely too many dude bros on the internet that think they'd be better at this job than him.

[Deleted User 863]

At what point do we need to have the discussion that Gregg Berhalter gets way more crap than he deserves? Ever since taking over, he's won the Gold Cup, won the Nations League, pretty well dominated the rivalry against Mexico, and taken the team out of the group stage which was probably the maximum of what was expected this year. Yeah he's not perfect and makes some weird decisions but there are entirely too many dude bros on the internet that think they'd be better at this job than him.

No doubt.

It's a thankless job.

[NewtonHawk11]

At what point do we need to have the discussion that Gregg Berhalter gets way more crap than he deserves? Ever since taking over, he's won the Gold Cup, won the Nations League, pretty well dominated the rivalry against Mexico, and taken the team out of the group stage which was probably the maximum of what was expected this year. Yeah he's not perfect and makes some weird decisions but there are entirely too many dude bros on the internet that think they'd be better at this job than him.

I get it. He's not the worst. However, he was pretty bad tactically in the 2nd half though. He was good tactically against England with the 4-4-2. The 4-3-3 is lame. Especially when Pulisic is probably better off as the False 9 and you can put Weah and Gio out wide.

He also turtled way too soon in this game. US was clearly better. Iran went from zero shots in the 1st half, and not even really coming close to 4 shots in the 2nd and one of those on goal and another that dribbled through the legs of Turner that was cleared, so not an official shot. Possession was about 60-40 in favor of US that first half and in the 2nd half it went about 60-40 for Iran. Instead of grabbing the game by the balls and going out giving your best shot, it was a survive and advance. Can't do that against better teams.

Your best action is when you press forward. They did that against Wales in 1st half, against England for about 75 minutes and then for 45 today.

[NewtonHawk11]

Oh and continuously playing Brenden Aaronson and Kellyn Acosta over Gio is really dumb.

[pdub]

At what point do we need to have the discussion that Gregg Berhalter gets way more crap than he deserves? Ever since taking over, he's won the Gold Cup, won the Nations League, pretty well dominated the rivalry against Mexico, and taken the team out of the group stage which was probably the maximum of what was expected this year. Yeah he's not perfect and makes some weird decisions but there are entirely too many dude bros on the internet that think they'd be better at this job than him.

Internet bro example is spot on.
He’s done well.

[Deleted User 863]

He also turtled way too soon in this game.

I thought so too.

And we're not really that good at doing that anyway. We give up way too many looks when we get in that mode it feels like.

[pdub]

We don’t seem to have a good counter so when we turtle, it’s full on, get the ball out and get ready for them to attack again.

That said Zimmerman came in and did some key defending at the end there.

[pdub]

And I like Aaronson in this spot today.
I don’t really like Acosta but Acosta is Gregg’s guy.

[Deleted User 863]

That said Zimmerman came in and did some key defending at the end there.

I liked what Zimmerman did for sure. Moore not so much, he was stressing me out.

[NewtonHawk11]

Aaronson is fine because of his work rate. He’s a pest.

But place him out there for Pulisic is fine. But Wright instead of Reyna is horrendous. If you want to turtle, go for a person who can play defense and then has the speed and ball skills to do something when the ball is cleared up too. Just a terrible substitution pattern. Do that to any team with a hint of attacking prowess and US ties which makes them go home.

[pdub]

Haji Wright was awful. 90 seconds left and you pass the ball to the goalkeeper. Go to the corner or, I dunno, shoot better.
Moore was even worse. He must have given the ball away three or four times in fifteen minutes.

If Sargent can’t go I wouldn’t mind trying Jesus.

[pdub]

Pulisic pelvic contusion.
Day to day.

[Deleted User 863]

[UnholyLivingDead]

Berhalter hasn't been perfect and it hasn't always been pretty, but at this point, considering we didn't even qualify for the last World Cup, I think it's worth celebrating that we're accomplishing the goals that were laid out rather than worrying about if we accomplished them with enough style points.

American sports fans are generally drawn to two types of teams:

1. Underdogs - teams like the Miracle On Ice, St. Peter's in last year's NCAA tournament, etc.
2. Pure dominance - Lakers, Yankees, Patriots, etc.

The USMNT is just good enough to not be a consistent underdog and they're not and probably never will be good enough to completely dominate international soccer. So when they land in that weird gray area between the two, fans just don't know how to react and support a team like that.

[NewtonHawk11]

I hear ya. But the US is beyond the turtle and be a coward phase.

They did it in all 3 games and it worked against England and Iran (Lucky that they couldn't finish chances) but it didn't work against Wales.

The US is stingy on defense. No goals allowed in open play is tremendous. But man, if they get up 1-0 against the Dutch and turtle up, they'll lose 2-1.

[pdub]

I do think they turtled too early with the defensive subs but I also think the loss of Pulisic and Sargent played into that a bit.

And I don't think there are a lot of teams out there beyond 'turtle and be a coward' phase if they are up a goal with 20 minutes to go. We just were shiite on any kind of counters ( but we did have a couple great chances - one was stifled by a yellow card intentional foul - the other was completely blown by Haji Wright ).

[NewtonHawk11]

Berhalter hasn't been perfect and it hasn't always been pretty, but at this point, considering we didn't even qualify for the last World Cup, I think it's worth celebrating that we're accomplishing the goals that were laid out rather than worrying about if we accomplished them with enough style points.

American sports fans are generally drawn to two types of teams:

1. Underdogs - teams like the Miracle On Ice, St. Peter's in last year's NCAA tournament, etc.
2. Pure dominance - Lakers, Yankees, Patriots, etc.

The USMNT is just good enough to not be a consistent underdog and they're not and probably never will be good enough to completely dominate international soccer. So when they land in that weird gray area between the two, fans just don't know how to react and support a team like that.

This is the mentality that will hurt US Soccer.

Over half of your roster are playing in the top European Leagues. Italy, Spain, England and Germany. These are not some MLS scrubs that are all rah rah team spirit kind of guys like the mid 2000s were or anything like that. These are talented dudes playing top level soccer for club teams. They have talent! They have experience! They are young! All positive things going for them.

Turtling up and hoping for a 1-0 win is cowardly and if the US maintains that attitude, they will remain somewhere close to the top 20 of the World Rankings when in reality, they should consider themselves a top 10 team in the world with the talent and experience even while being young. US Soccer has such a small-minded mentality towards world soccer. They had CONCACAF qualifiers in the freaking cold and snow in the past to throw other teams off. That hurts the talent of these current and future players. That worked 20 years ago when the US was true underdogs. They are not that anymore.

I get it though. Everything is going to go towards 2026 World Cup. But damn that is a wasteful 4+ years if you don't try to take advantage of it now!

[pdub]

"Over half of your roster are playing in the top European Leagues"

While true, this is misleading.

Many aren't stars for their teams or even starters. Several play for lower half teams.
Pulisic is our best player and doesn't start.
Turner doesn't start.
Dest wasn't starting for Barca and isn't for AC Milan.

We've had Sargent starting for us this World Cup - he plays in the 2nd tier English league.

The top 10 teams in the world have starting rosters with guys who are starters or STARS for their clubs.

Do we have a top 100 player in the world? Our best bet might be Pulisic. But again, he's struggling for time at his clubs.