USMNT Talk

[Kenny]

I agree with you on the handball non-call, I'm just saying I've seen that type called for sure, so we were a bit lucky there.

The foul negating the goal--- disagree. I watched the replay a bunch of times and I have no idea what the ref was seeing there, that you don't see on literally every corner kick ever. Jamaica must be livid, and rightly so.

But like I said--- CONCACAF giveth and taketh away, both.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I agree with you on the handball non-call, I'm just saying I've seen that type called for sure, so we were a bit lucky there.

The foul negating the goal--- disagree. I watched the replay a bunch of times and I have no idea what the ref was seeing there, that you don't see on literally every corner kick ever. Jamaica must be livid, and rightly so.

But like I said--- CONCACAF giveth and taketh away, both.

Right, have definitely seen that handball called before, but still don't think it should have been called here.

And I do agree we were lucky that that foul was called. But again, the replays do show Zimmerman being shoved forward and he isn't able to get the height he usually gets (he basically won like every aerial duel that match, it's insane how good he is in the air) because the Jamaican attacker was on his shoulders pushing him down and out. This is called often and still a good number of times is missed because on corners there is often so much clutter that gets in the ref's view. I do also agree that had this been the defender doing the same thing to an offensive player, that would not have been called because refs are always going to give more leniency to defenders off of corners. So again, I do think the USMNT was lucky to have that foul called there, but I still think it's a foul.

 

[Kenny]

Fair enough. I appreciate the thought-out reasoning.

I’d be so pissed though if I were a Jamaica supporter

 

[mgarbowski]

Has anyone found a site that breaks down international games with advanced statistics. I'd love to see XG and other stats from the USA - Mexico game last Friday.

Paul Carr on Twitter almost always posts a small summary. He works for an analytics company so I think his data feed is proprietary and not available to you or me. But here is his thread on that game, with xG of USA 2.17 - Mexico 0.72.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1459372331156000770

Also, this chart tells a story:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1460986585256652806

 

[LionNYC]

WCQs under freezing conditions. If we can't beat El Salvador and Honduras in the US anywhere in the US, the USMNT has larger concerns.

January 30 vs. Canada in Hamilton, Ontario is the expected venue (near Toronto)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1463532257159921665

 

[SoupInNYC]

WCQs under freezing conditions. If we can't beat El Salvador and Honduras in the US anywhere in the US, the USMNT has larger concerns.

January 30 vs. Canada in Hamilton, Ontario is the expected venue (near Toronto)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1463532257159921665

There are clear reasons to why they were scheduled up North:

• Makes the travel to and from Hamilton for the team much less than going to warmer climates.
• Nobody cares about "we should be able to beat x teams anywhere". If you can build an advantage due to weather, you take it.

 

[LionNYC]

There are clear reasons to why they were scheduled up North:

• Makes the travel to and from Hamilton for the team much less than going to warmer climates.
• Nobody cares about "we should be able to beat x teams anywhere". If you can build an advantage due to weather, you take it.

It's as cold and as close to Hamilton in New Jersey than Ohio. But yes, there's more Salvadorians.

 

[Shwafta]

I think this thread should be pinned heh.
Anyway,

Report: Wolfsburg look to sign FC Dallas star Ricardo Pepi | MLSSoccer.com

UPDATE, Dec. 26 (6:55 pm ET) – Bundesliga side Wolfsburg have emerged as the favorite to land Ricardo Pepi, according to a follow-up report from Fabrizio Romano. Romano reported earlier Sunday that Germany's top flight was the most likely destination for the 18-year-old FC Dallas forward, but...

www.mlssoccer.com

 

[KevinJRogers]

I think this thread should be pinned heh.
Anyway,

Report: Wolfsburg look to sign FC Dallas star Ricardo Pepi | MLSSoccer.com

UPDATE, Dec. 26 (6:55 pm ET) – Bundesliga side Wolfsburg have emerged as the favorite to land Ricardo Pepi, according to a follow-up report from Fabrizio Romano. Romano reported earlier Sunday that Germany's top flight was the most likely destination for the 18-year-old FC Dallas forward, but...

www.mlssoccer.com

Tough one. Vfl Wolfsburg is pretty bad, and I'm not sure Kohfeldt is the right guy to get Pepi to the next level. I wouldn't necessarily blame him for Josh Sargent's development curve stalling out but the truth is the timing is . . . suspicious.

It's a good league, though. A good fit. There was some talk of Serie A and AC Milan but I don't know about that. They seem to be more in the market for a defender anyway, maybe a midfielder too. Although Ibra is hurt (and it would be good for Pepi to get to hang out with him -- My Crazy Uncle Syndrome LOL).

 

[Sabo]

Yikes. This is a shocker.

Makes me wonder how common this is going to be going forward ... if it can happen to Alphonso Davies it can happen to anyone.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/bayern-...vies-sidelined-with-covid-related-heart-issue

Big game in Canada in a couple of weeks. First known COVID wildcard.

 

[Antidote P. Smiley]

Yikes. This is a shocker.

Makes me wonder how common this is going to be going forward ... if it can happen to Alphonso Davies it can happen to anyone.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/bayern-...vies-sidelined-with-covid-related-heart-issue

Big game in Canada in a couple of weeks. First known COVID wildcard.

Yeah. This bummed me out. We humans are making a mess of this spinning rock and f’n our own good stuff up.

 

[FootyLovin]

if it can happen to Alphonso Davies it can happen to anyone

I've done a bit of research on this driven by an anti-vaxxer in the family. Myocarditis is one of the big anti-vax rationales. And there is evidence that the vaccine carries a risk of myocarditis, most pronounced for young men. What the anti-vaxxers don't much discuss is that COVID comes with the risk of myocarditis at a much greater rate than the vaccine. I'd have to go back to the research to get the exact proportions.

But in either case, it is relatively rare. To your point, it can happen to anyone. Davies (and all professional male soccer players) are in the demographic most likely to get it. But it's still very unlikely.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I've done a bit of research on this driven by an anti-vaxxer in the family. Myocarditis is one of the big anti-vax rationales. And there is evidence that the vaccine carries a risk of myocarditis, most pronounced for young men. What the anti-vaxxers don't much discuss is that COVID comes with the risk of myocarditis at a much greater rate than the vaccine. I'd have to go back to the research to get the exact proportions.

But in either case, it is relatively rare. To your point, it can happen to anyone. Davies (and all professional male soccer players) are in the demographic most likely to get it. But it's still very unlikely.

This is correct. It’s also relatively benign. There are cases that can be serious, but mostly it requires time to get past it.

 

[QuigrNYCFC]

Big qualifying window this week/weekend. Started listening to the Eric Wynalda podcast today. Are we still listening to his opinion?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1485716326651863041

 

[moogoo]

bit disappointed that sands didn't get a callup.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I am more disappointed in the absence of Scally, Dike or Brooks.

This roster has some odd additions that seem like rewarding some who did the January camp. I just don't get having 1 LB, 3 RBs and 1 who can do both. I don't get LDLT.

As for Sands, he would be great too, but Rangers is playing through the break, and he needs to settle in.

 

[413Blue]

I wonder how much push back GB got from Euro clubs when selecting this roster. I know this has been going on all fall, but with the recent surge and especially breakthroughs, I wonder if clubs got more defensive this window.

 

[Shwafta]

I am more disappointed in the absence of Scally, Dike or Brooks.

This roster has some odd additions that seem like rewarding some who did the January camp. I just don't get having 1 LB, 3 RBs and 1 who can do both. I don't get LDLT.

As for Sands, he would be great too, but Rangers is playing through the break, and he needs to settle in.

Gladbach isn't doing too hot right now so I can understand the lack of Scally.

 

[Sabo]

Gladbach isn't doing too hot right now so I can understand the lack of Scally.

Scally has missed a couple of games because of COVID. I wouldnt read more into not being selected for this round than that.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Interesting news on a couple of fronts that help clarify some of it.

Dike has a muscular injury that will keep him out 8 weeks. Steffan is nursing a bad back and hasn't yet traveled to the U.S. He is day-to-day. That helps explain Slonina.

As for Scally, he started and went 67 in a cup game last week and then came off the bench over the weekend. I know Covid has been bandied about as the reason, but it doesn't make sense.