USMNT Talk

[ZYanksRule]

It's not that he's picking the wrong players, it's that the USA simply isn't good enough. We've had nearly two years since Couva and still as a country we refuse to deal with that simple problem.

We aren't good enough.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I watched only a bit of the game. I just caught the highlights and checked the stats, and I am a little less crazy about the result.

Two of Venezuela’s goals (1st and 3rd) were clearly offsides. Shots on goal and possession were same, and Ven goalie stood on his head a bit.

It still needs to be better. Defense was poor - the center back situation without Brooks is a major issue. Plus, the ball watching on the 2nd goal (including by McKennie) is inexcusable.

However, I am less ready to push the panic button. Let’s see how the tournament plays out.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I watched only a bit of the game. I just caught the highlights and checked the stats, and I am a little less crazy about the result.

Two of Venezuela’s goals (1st and 3rd) were clearly offsides. Shots on goal and possession were same, and Ven goalie stood on his head a bit.

It still needs to be better. Defense was poor - the center back situation without Brooks is a major issue. Plus, the ball watching on the 2nd goal (including by McKennie) is inexcusable.

However, I am less ready to push the panic button. Let’s see how the tournament plays out.

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The first half was dreadful, scoreboard aside (and even noting that 2 of the goals were offsides aside). It seemed like the only thoughts going forward were to have Boyd create something, or launch long balls over the defense from the CBs.

(sidenote: I totally forgot about Tyler Boyd making the one-time switch and for a second thought that Terrence Boyd was in the XI and had a huge WTF moment)

Second half was better, can't believe I was actually happy to see Jozy coming onto the pitch.

And I agree re: panic button. I'm definitely not encouraged, but these last two were friendlies with key pieces missing. While that doesn't excuse a lot of the lackluster play we saw, I'm cautiously hopeful that the Gold Cup will be much better.

 

[Keith Putnam]

lackluster play

Honestly, one of the biggest issues by far is that neither McKennie or Roldan would drop back behind the Venezuelan midfield to be available for a pass from Trapp. I hope Berhalter pulled them aside afterward to say "look, I know I told you where to be, but if you see the 6 struggling to find a pass, help him out".

 

[Seth]

Defense was poor - the center back situation without Brooks is a major issue.

…without Sands…

 

[Ulrich]

Honestly, one of the biggest issues by far is that neither McKennie or Roldan would drop back behind the Venezuelan midfield to be available for a pass from Trapp. I hope Berhalter pulled them aside afterward to say "look, I know I told you where to be, but if you see the 6 struggling to find a pass, help him out".

Flip side is maybe Roldan and McKinnie we’re doing what they were supposed to do positionally and Trapp just wasn’t able to or didn’t have the confidence to make the pass.

Trapp is not MNT caliber - he could get by at the YNT level, but he hasn’t continued to keep pace with normal MNT caliber players’ progression. He’s like Richie Williams, an over-achieving/good MLS starter that is frantically treading water at the international level.

 

[Davo15]

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/06/12/tim-weah-psg-lille-transfer-usa


Hopefully it would guarantee playing time. Their in Champions league though I think likely to lose many of their top players. Would think double digit goals would be possible if he plays regularly.

 

[Keith Putnam]

So, uh, Duane Holmes is out of the squad with an injury.
Good thing the Gold Cup is a hilarious garbage tournament.

ETA: I guess this is going to work out well for Djordje Mihailovic.

 

[adam]

I guess we're not getting 13-0 tonight.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

Bradley is so bad. Everything is either backwards or he tries some cross field pass that ends up out of reach or out of play.

 

[mgarbowski]

Nice first touch by Zardes.

 

[Christopher Jee]

Why does it seem like almost every side in the world is more skillful than the USMNT? Genuine question. I guess the fashionable theory is a lack of informal soccer?

 

[mgarbowski]

Why does it seem like almost every side in the world is more skillful than the USMNT? Genuine question. I guess the fashionable theory is a lack of informal soccer?

There are oceans of ink written on this. What you suggest is one theory. Another popular one is the absence of technical coaching so kids rely more on brute speed, strength, athletics, etc. unless they are taught. Maybe in other countries where the sport is everywhere kids are surrounded with family and friends who can impart skills informally and even by example and watching but we don't have that critical mass.

 

[Gotham Gator]

There are oceans of ink written on this. What you suggest is one theory. Another popular one is the absence of technical coaching so kids rely more on brute speed, strength, athletics, etc. unless they are taught. Maybe in other countries where the sport is everywhere kids are surrounded with family and friends who can impart skills informally and even by example and watching but we don't have that critical mass.

I think it is also the necessity of spending all your time doing soccer if you want to build up the technical proficiency. Not too many kids focus only on that sport - at least until their teens. I also think that is changing.

 

[Schwallacus]

There are oceans of ink written on this. What you suggest is one theory. Another popular one is the absence of technical coaching so kids rely more on brute speed, strength, athletics, etc. unless they are taught. Maybe in other countries where the sport is everywhere kids are surrounded with family and friends who can impart skills informally and even by example and watching but we don't have that critical mass.

I really think it's a lot of that (bolded sentence). American kids are taught and train to be stronger and faster which will help them in most sports (football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey) but that doesn't seem to transfer well for soccer. Yes speed and strength is fine but if you look at European youth teams, most of the kids are scrawny as hell. However, they can pass the ball and have much better technical knowledge and skill vs. an American kid.
I do think it is starting to change and Americans are learning that physicality isn't everything. We should hopefully start to see kids playing with the ball and passing more than seeing them do drills for videos to put on instagram and twitter.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Bradley is so bad. Everything is either backwards or he tries some cross field pass that ends up out of reach or out of play.

I am going to have to disagree with you. I thought he was solid. He made the safe play a bunch of times, yes, but he did have some very good balls forward, including assisting on Tyler Boyd's last goal.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Yes speed and strength is fine but if you look at European youth teams, most of the kids are scrawny as hell.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I am going to have to disagree with you. I thought he was solid. He made the safe play a bunch of times, yes, but he did have some very good balls forward, including assisting on Tyler Boyd's last goal.

I think you mean Boyd's first goal. Either way, I'm not completely convinced that Bradley made a good play there. Yeah, it worked out, but he really missed the wide open through pass for Boyd that would have been a lot more dangerous, and got a bit lucky on whatever the defender was doing.

dummyrun pointed this out pretty well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1141183674773385217

 

[NickA]

Why does it seem like almost every side in the world is more skillful than the USMNT? Genuine question. I guess the fashionable theory is a lack of informal soccer?

As someone who's coached rec and club soccer for boys and girls for 9 years I can tell a big part of the problem is access to good training. Most kids go through soccer recreational programs that don't tech the fundamentals and skills needed to compete at a higher level unless they are talented enough to overcome that. My daughter who is 11 now and on a flight 1 club team has learned more skills in 8 practices than any kid can ever learn on a recreational team for their whole childhood. The club teams use trainers. The coaches don't train, they coach. The trainers work on footwork, ball control, spacing, etc. But it comes at a price. It costs money to train these kids and most people don't have it. I've seen so much wasted talent go through the rec system. Proper training comes with money. It's big business. Yes, some kids get sponsored, but the number is so small it's not even making a difference on the talent/development ratio. Most are unprepared to even play in high school. Good news is that there are more and more clubs and associations popping up in the last few years. So it's growing and hopefully that drives prices down, giving access. The boys have other opportunities in sports so many move on from soccer. The girls seem to focus on soccer more. It also seems like parents are willing to spend money on girls in soccer than the boys. It's 100% not a talent issue. It's a training issue. That said, it's also a problem. They are relying on being trained rather than taking a ball outside and kicking it around. That rarely happens here. I used to think it will get better, but sports in general seems to be dying with this generation.

 

[Keith Putnam]

There appears to be a bunch of internal pushback to the Berhalter regime.

"...a behind-the-scenes revolt against the federation’s most powerful executives, notably its longtime chief executive, Dan Flynn, who plans to retire this summer, and his top deputy and potential successor, Jay Berhalter."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/sports/us-soccer-berhalter.html