Removing Weah instead of Aaronson was a poor decision.
Also, if it's an even competition, Turner should get his job back after this.
If "distribution" is the skill Steffen hangs his hat on, it wasn't good today (he was so fortunate to not have conceded when he played the ball directly to Jamaica while well off his line). While, admittedly, I'm not certain Turner saves that shot, I'm also not certain he doesn't.
The Turner/Steffen choice is so simple to me. Shot-stopping is *the* fundamental skill for a keeper. Distribution is secondary.
GGG isn't Pep or Klopp and he doesn't have his choice of world-class shot-stoppers AND distributors - so you default to the best shot-stopper every single time.
I thought the game was the U.S.'s to win right up until those absolutely dreadful substitutions Berhalter made. Nobody will deny that the game needed both Pulisic and Acosta, but taking off Weah and Musah was truly incomprehensible -- especially in the final game of a two-game window. Busio has a bright, bright future as a part of the USMNT, but he simply didn't have it tonight. Musah was a little off as well, but thought his physicality (this is where I'd put a peach emoji if I was on my phone) was necessary to keep on the pitch. Taking Weah out is too mind boggling for me to even try to understand, so I won't even bother.
A really poor performance from the US other than a bright opening 20 minutes.
They were poor in passing, poor in vision, poor in position and organization, poor in control, poor in speed, poor in decision making, poor in positive play, and poor in managing the physical play of Jamaica. On the last point, some blame falls to the referee, who let Jamaica commit foul after foul, some egregious, without consequence…but he also gave a gift in not calling a penalty on the US and in calling a phantom foul on what should have been the second Jamaica goal, so it balances.
The US did not deserve the draw they were lucky to get. When we least expect it, we see boys playing among men.
The wrongly-denied Jamaica goal and the miss from 5 yards, when it was more difficult to miss than score, should’ve given Jamaica a 3-1 win. The US generated almost nothing up front, and was *very* fortunate to get a point. And they’ll be even more fortunate if they’re still leading the group at 11:00.
I was stunned when Acosta didn’t start, and even more stunned that he replaced Musah instead of Busio. He might’ve brought some urgency to the game, which the US lacked tonight. Even Aaronsen was lacking a bit of energy tonight. A letdown was understandable, but they had a chance to take control of the group tonight. Disappointing.
It was clear Jamaica was not going to let Pulisic beat them. They were fortunate to have 11 on the pitch from the deliberate and obvious fouls that weren’t given cards throughout the game, but the ones on Pulisic were WWE-caliber. Get used to it. That strategy worked tonight, the rest of CONCACAF saw it, and I’d expect them to mimic it going forward.
We’re lucky the 2nd goal was disallowed but I could have sworn we had kicked it out over the touch line — a throw-in. I couldn’t rewind, but I could have sworn it should have been a Jamaican throw, not a corner kick.
It is 18 degrees in Edmonton.
Removing Weah instead of Aaronson was a poor decision.
Also, if it's an even competition, Turner should get his job back after this.
If "distribution" is the skill Steffen hangs his hat on, it wasn't good today (he was so fortunate to not have conceded when he played the ball directly to Jamaica while well off his line). While, admittedly, I'm not certain Turner saves that shot, I'm also not certain he doesn't.
The Turner/Steffen choice is so simple to me. Shot-stopping is *the* fundamental skill for a keeper. Distribution is secondary.
GGG isn't Pep or Klopp and he doesn't have his choice of world-class shot-stoppers AND distributors - so you default to the best shot-stopper every single time.
It was a "fine" game. That's it.
I thought the game was the U.S.'s to win right up until those absolutely dreadful substitutions Berhalter made. Nobody will deny that the game needed both Pulisic and Acosta, but taking off Weah and Musah was truly incomprehensible -- especially in the final game of a two-game window. Busio has a bright, bright future as a part of the USMNT, but he simply didn't have it tonight. Musah was a little off as well, but thought his physicality (this is where I'd put a peach emoji if I was on my phone) was necessary to keep on the pitch. Taking Weah out is too mind boggling for me to even try to understand, so I won't even bother.
A really poor performance from the US other than a bright opening 20 minutes.
They were poor in passing, poor in vision, poor in position and organization, poor in control, poor in speed, poor in decision making, poor in positive play, and poor in managing the physical play of Jamaica. On the last point, some blame falls to the referee, who let Jamaica commit foul after foul, some egregious, without consequence…but he also gave a gift in not calling a penalty on the US and in calling a phantom foul on what should have been the second Jamaica goal, so it balances.
The US did not deserve the draw they were lucky to get. When we least expect it, we see boys playing among men.
The wrongly-denied Jamaica goal and the miss from 5 yards, when it was more difficult to miss than score, should’ve given Jamaica a 3-1 win. The US generated almost nothing up front, and was *very* fortunate to get a point. And they’ll be even more fortunate if they’re still leading the group at 11:00.
I was stunned when Acosta didn’t start, and even more stunned that he replaced Musah instead of Busio. He might’ve brought some urgency to the game, which the US lacked tonight. Even Aaronsen was lacking a bit of energy tonight. A letdown was understandable, but they had a chance to take control of the group tonight. Disappointing.
It was clear Jamaica was not going to let Pulisic beat them. They were fortunate to have 11 on the pitch from the deliberate and obvious fouls that weren’t given cards throughout the game, but the ones on Pulisic were WWE-caliber. Get used to it. That strategy worked tonight, the rest of CONCACAF saw it, and I’d expect them to mimic it going forward.
Want to see this squad with a healthy Pulisic and Reyna and Dest. And McKennie out there. We need a Jermaine Jones type player. Matthew Hoppe anyone ?
We’re lucky the 2nd goal was disallowed but I could have sworn we had kicked it out over the touch line — a throw-in. I couldn’t rewind, but I could have sworn it should have been a Jamaican throw, not a corner kick.
Disappointing result though if that Jamaica goal had been allowed it would have been a terrible result.
2 points left on the table. Fortunate to get the 1.
Musah can't drive the ball forward on the dribble on a miserable cow patch.