It is only a good result when the likely alternative is zero points. In this case, everyone who watched knows we should have had three points. A good football team wins that game. A good team does not breath happily with a nil-nil result. We are not as good as everyone hopes we are.
Extremely proud of the USMNT. Defenders were on point, even though the final 15 was a bit nerve wracking. For a team with injured stars, away at Azteca, I am happy with a point. We own our own destiny.
I don’t mean to be rude, but we have “owned our own destiny” from game one of this qualifying tournament. The problem is: we don’t win games. Not enough. We are running out of opportunities now “ to control that destiny.” If we can’t score against Panama, if we can’t beat Panama, the time will run out in which we can control anything. I appreciate your optimism. I just don’t share it . This team does not have a dominating win, from start to finish. ( maybe the second game against Honduras). How good can we be? Really?
I keep expecting this team to show more than a nil-nil draw which everyone gets all excited about. We still cannot score. And we still get nothing from the position Pefok plays. No matter who is there, nothing happens except missed opportunities. This is the big stage ( World Cup prelims) and a team can’t succeed when it constantly blows clear chances. In the World Cup itself, those mistakes are just killers. Good teams make them and this team doesn’t. I know I am in the minority here. Most everyone is all pumped because we got a point in Mexico City. I don’t feel all jubilant about that. If we are going to be any damn good, we can’t be pleased with outcomes like that. Anyone can do that. Trinidad can do that . Is our excuse all the injured players or are we just fodder at best
Seeing as Trinidad is 0-6 at Mexico in WCQ with Mexico holding a 20-2 goal differential in those matches I’m gonna go ahead and say Trinidad can’t do that.
Mexico has lost twice in 50+ WCQ at the Azteca. Relax.
As Grant said, a very “professional” performance from what is really still a bunch of primarily very young guys.
Reyna was *brilliant*, especially on his dash through the middle of the entire Mexican defense, which conjured images of Maradona. The team badly missed his creativity. Welcome back, Gio.
C’mon Grant . We have “ been in a position to effectively qualify” for the World Cup for a long time. The problem is; we aren’t winning enough games. And if we lose to Panama, we’ll probably still “ be in a position to qualify” ( if we beat Costa Rica on their home ground). But we don’t win. We eke out points here and there. Aside from the constant excuse of players missing due to injury, is it possible that everyone is over-rating this team? Maybe we are no better than Jamaica. Or a decade worst Mexican team.
On TV it felt more like a meaningless friendly than a epic clash of historical rivals in a legendary arena.
The life seemed sucked out of Azteca by an apparent combination of money (via upgrades catering to the "wine and cheese crowd"), more money (evening kickoff rather than noontime at maximum temps/pollution), CoVID protocol hangover and a lingering battle against a homophobic chant.
It is vaguely suicidal: Azteca nutered by Mexicans. The only advantage beyond ruin was dictated by geography (the altitude).
No other away venue in this cycle has been so un-intimidating. Jamaica was next where the heat seemed to bear on the Yanks more than the Capital's thin air (and the lack of spectators at The Office was hardly a disadvantage relative to the passive Mexican crowd occasionally drowned out by the Outlaws [heard clearly on the broadcast]).
Grant you had righteously asserted that this may have been the last of an era: The last deeply meaningful US-MEX tie in the notoriously arduous Azteca. I think your comment was one cycle late: In hindsight the final chapter was 2017. The 2022 edition *should* have been the conclusion but instead goes down as a timid epilogue; arguably another victim of a global pandemic (along with other factors).
Watching this match, I couldn't get past the lack of movement off the ball and proper positioning to keep the ball/offensive pressure on MEX when in possession. Looked like a lot of standing around waiting for the US player in possession to do something OR trying to force it downfield with the long ball. I thought we were past that 90's style of USMNT play. If that was due to McKennie and/or Dest being out, then we are going to have many more issues at the WC if those linchpins cause this much disorganization of our attack. Related to my positioning/movement point, it seemed like the vast majority of the time when we would win the ball back in our defensive half that MEX was funneling our passes to our fullbacks on the outside b/c they knew that (9 times out of 10) they were either going to kick it long (good chance for MEX to retain possession), kick it out of bounds or turn it over under pressure. I don't think Adam/Acosta/Musah did enough or where in the right spots to help our back 4 relieve that pressure into the middle of the field so we could effectively move the ball up the field with more options than just pumping long balls to forwards who rarely could settle/control them. That said, I do think we had a fairly good defensive showing (aside from a few moments and some poor defensive positioning by A. Robinson/Yedlin on the outsides) and MEX also lacked the final 1/3 attack touch/finishing. Reading some of the Player Rating articles from various sports platforms, it feels like our players were given higher ratings than deserved for this match. A point is a point, which is always nice to get @ MEX in WCQ, but I can't help but feel we should have walked out of there with 3 (and basically sealed our trip to Qatar). Thanks Grant for all your perspective and insights as always. Keep up the good work.
Funny stuff right here. Even though there is objective ranking of players through the Player Rankings the OP devolves to "feelings" about the match. Even in the era of Opta or other objective statistics gathering soccer still revolves around human emotion. The thing that keeps us coming back. Great!!
I tend to agree with your "feelings" perspective on the various player ratings. Makes for some interesting reads and provides debate fodder. While match/player analysis will always have a subjectivity to it, we are starting to see the move toward a deeper level of objective analysis using Opta and/or other detailed statistical measurements/analysis that can help paint the picture of a player/team's performance when coupled with the "eyeball" test. And yes, I'll keep coming back too :)
Matt Doyle ended up being right, we all hate to gas him up 😆, but why waste the A team when the other guys could have pulled the same result. Our so called b team is still a legitimate bench and great starters. Listen this is also easy for me to say as an armchair QB, if I was in Gregg’s shoes and had to deal with egos and player pride, maybe I would have done the same. Anyways cheers to Matt for good journalism and you as well.
If I am reading the standings correctly, the US is basically in the World Cup if they beat Canada at home. That's because even if Costa Rica sweeps their last two games (including the final against the US), and both the US and Costa Rica finish with 25 points, the US currently has a massive goal differential (+9 to +2).
So if the US beats Panama, and avoids losing by 4 or more goals down in Costa Rica, they would get one of the top 3 slots.
What have you seen from this team to suggest that beating Panama at home is a given? This team has not shown that it can take over a big game and dominate from start to finish. In fact, in most games we have scored zero goals in the first half, regardless of the opponent. This team may make the World Cup , but It has not shown itself to be of World Cup quality. We beat Honduras two times. That is our peak accomplishment.
Generally yes. Re: GD, would depend on what happens in the games on Sunday. But if the GD remains the same then yes, a 3-goal loss or better would have us advance.
Great point but agree we had the better chances. A bit worried about Panama without weah and with a tired Pulisic (why wasn’t he subbed earlier?). That said, I’ll take it. Let’s take care of business in Orlando.
A point there is almost always a good result; and it’s a good one tonight. But we should have won.
It is only a good result when the likely alternative is zero points. In this case, everyone who watched knows we should have had three points. A good football team wins that game. A good team does not breath happily with a nil-nil result. We are not as good as everyone hopes we are.
Extremely proud of the USMNT. Defenders were on point, even though the final 15 was a bit nerve wracking. For a team with injured stars, away at Azteca, I am happy with a point. We own our own destiny.
I don’t mean to be rude, but we have “owned our own destiny” from game one of this qualifying tournament. The problem is: we don’t win games. Not enough. We are running out of opportunities now “ to control that destiny.” If we can’t score against Panama, if we can’t beat Panama, the time will run out in which we can control anything. I appreciate your optimism. I just don’t share it . This team does not have a dominating win, from start to finish. ( maybe the second game against Honduras). How good can we be? Really?
I keep expecting this team to show more than a nil-nil draw which everyone gets all excited about. We still cannot score. And we still get nothing from the position Pefok plays. No matter who is there, nothing happens except missed opportunities. This is the big stage ( World Cup prelims) and a team can’t succeed when it constantly blows clear chances. In the World Cup itself, those mistakes are just killers. Good teams make them and this team doesn’t. I know I am in the minority here. Most everyone is all pumped because we got a point in Mexico City. I don’t feel all jubilant about that. If we are going to be any damn good, we can’t be pleased with outcomes like that. Anyone can do that. Trinidad can do that . Is our excuse all the injured players or are we just fodder at best
Good teams miss as well. Relax and enjoy the soccer. See longform piece from today. Don't get all angsty!
Seeing as Trinidad is 0-6 at Mexico in WCQ with Mexico holding a 20-2 goal differential in those matches I’m gonna go ahead and say Trinidad can’t do that.
Mexico has lost twice in 50+ WCQ at the Azteca. Relax.
As Grant said, a very “professional” performance from what is really still a bunch of primarily very young guys.
Reyna was *brilliant*, especially on his dash through the middle of the entire Mexican defense, which conjured images of Maradona. The team badly missed his creativity. Welcome back, Gio.
Now let’s go get Panama and finish this thing!
Was there a point when the American Outlaws were out-chanting the home side?
Reyna comes roaring back into the lineup. Confident on the ball and looking hungry.
C’mon Grant . We have “ been in a position to effectively qualify” for the World Cup for a long time. The problem is; we aren’t winning enough games. And if we lose to Panama, we’ll probably still “ be in a position to qualify” ( if we beat Costa Rica on their home ground). But we don’t win. We eke out points here and there. Aside from the constant excuse of players missing due to injury, is it possible that everyone is over-rating this team? Maybe we are no better than Jamaica. Or a decade worst Mexican team.
Easiest away environment/stadium of this cycle?
Away at Mexico.
On TV it felt more like a meaningless friendly than a epic clash of historical rivals in a legendary arena.
The life seemed sucked out of Azteca by an apparent combination of money (via upgrades catering to the "wine and cheese crowd"), more money (evening kickoff rather than noontime at maximum temps/pollution), CoVID protocol hangover and a lingering battle against a homophobic chant.
It is vaguely suicidal: Azteca nutered by Mexicans. The only advantage beyond ruin was dictated by geography (the altitude).
No other away venue in this cycle has been so un-intimidating. Jamaica was next where the heat seemed to bear on the Yanks more than the Capital's thin air (and the lack of spectators at The Office was hardly a disadvantage relative to the passive Mexican crowd occasionally drowned out by the Outlaws [heard clearly on the broadcast]).
Grant you had righteously asserted that this may have been the last of an era: The last deeply meaningful US-MEX tie in the notoriously arduous Azteca. I think your comment was one cycle late: In hindsight the final chapter was 2017. The 2022 edition *should* have been the conclusion but instead goes down as a timid epilogue; arguably another victim of a global pandemic (along with other factors).
Watching this match, I couldn't get past the lack of movement off the ball and proper positioning to keep the ball/offensive pressure on MEX when in possession. Looked like a lot of standing around waiting for the US player in possession to do something OR trying to force it downfield with the long ball. I thought we were past that 90's style of USMNT play. If that was due to McKennie and/or Dest being out, then we are going to have many more issues at the WC if those linchpins cause this much disorganization of our attack. Related to my positioning/movement point, it seemed like the vast majority of the time when we would win the ball back in our defensive half that MEX was funneling our passes to our fullbacks on the outside b/c they knew that (9 times out of 10) they were either going to kick it long (good chance for MEX to retain possession), kick it out of bounds or turn it over under pressure. I don't think Adam/Acosta/Musah did enough or where in the right spots to help our back 4 relieve that pressure into the middle of the field so we could effectively move the ball up the field with more options than just pumping long balls to forwards who rarely could settle/control them. That said, I do think we had a fairly good defensive showing (aside from a few moments and some poor defensive positioning by A. Robinson/Yedlin on the outsides) and MEX also lacked the final 1/3 attack touch/finishing. Reading some of the Player Rating articles from various sports platforms, it feels like our players were given higher ratings than deserved for this match. A point is a point, which is always nice to get @ MEX in WCQ, but I can't help but feel we should have walked out of there with 3 (and basically sealed our trip to Qatar). Thanks Grant for all your perspective and insights as always. Keep up the good work.
Funny stuff right here. Even though there is objective ranking of players through the Player Rankings the OP devolves to "feelings" about the match. Even in the era of Opta or other objective statistics gathering soccer still revolves around human emotion. The thing that keeps us coming back. Great!!
I tend to agree with your "feelings" perspective on the various player ratings. Makes for some interesting reads and provides debate fodder. While match/player analysis will always have a subjectivity to it, we are starting to see the move toward a deeper level of objective analysis using Opta and/or other detailed statistical measurements/analysis that can help paint the picture of a player/team's performance when coupled with the "eyeball" test. And yes, I'll keep coming back too :)
Matt Doyle ended up being right, we all hate to gas him up 😆, but why waste the A team when the other guys could have pulled the same result. Our so called b team is still a legitimate bench and great starters. Listen this is also easy for me to say as an armchair QB, if I was in Gregg’s shoes and had to deal with egos and player pride, maybe I would have done the same. Anyways cheers to Matt for good journalism and you as well.
A well-earned point for sure. The downside, besides two missed gimme goals, was poor set pieces.
If I am reading the standings correctly, the US is basically in the World Cup if they beat Canada at home. That's because even if Costa Rica sweeps their last two games (including the final against the US), and both the US and Costa Rica finish with 25 points, the US currently has a massive goal differential (+9 to +2).
So if the US beats Panama, and avoids losing by 4 or more goals down in Costa Rica, they would get one of the top 3 slots.
Correct?
What have you seen from this team to suggest that beating Panama at home is a given? This team has not shown that it can take over a big game and dominate from start to finish. In fact, in most games we have scored zero goals in the first half, regardless of the opponent. This team may make the World Cup , but It has not shown itself to be of World Cup quality. We beat Honduras two times. That is our peak accomplishment.
Generally yes. Re: GD, would depend on what happens in the games on Sunday. But if the GD remains the same then yes, a 3-goal loss or better would have us advance.
Meant to say 'if they beat Panama at home' in that first sentence above.
Great point but agree we had the better chances. A bit worried about Panama without weah and with a tired Pulisic (why wasn’t he subbed earlier?). That said, I’ll take it. Let’s take care of business in Orlando.