Thanks Grant for the excellent and quick analysis. The main thing I saw lacking which will be vital in two months is passion. I didn’t see any on the pitch and whether it’s a friendly or not, this is where we need to show what we can do.
And I totally agree with you on Pefok being a requirement to the roster. A coach who is so inflexible with a 26-man roster is so disappointing.
It was particularly shocking to see McKennie and Adams play so poorly. They are two of the leaders of this team. For better or worse, their performance sets the tone, just as it did today.
I don't believe substack comments allow for GIFs. Otherwise I'd be embedding the "Not Great Bob" GIF from Mad Men.
Sloppy game on defense, not very inspired on offense, and it's clear that things will need to get better if the US wants to advance out of the group. Just imagine Gareth Bale with all that space they were conceding on the wings.
Yes the team was crap - especially Adams, Wes + CBs ....
On the positive -- Turner was a stud; otherwise it’s 4 or 5.
Loved Brendan’s work rate. Thought LDLT was one of the few folks looking to carry + take people on. Hopefully Tuesdays doesn’t suck as badly. Stay Positive!
It's altogether shocking to see just how poorly the U.S. is playing right now. None of our defenders are convincing--even a little. I'm a huge Tim Ream fan (as an admitted Fulham fan), and while he's probably an upgrade in terms of passing and ball handling, he would struggle in a system that isn't designed at all to play to our strengths.
A 3-5-2 system - which would let Jedi and Dest play higher up the pitch, allow for a central #9 with Pefok and someone who could play aside him as more of a rooney-style #10 (maybe that's Sargent, even), would make sense with our personnel. But it's just a round peg in a square hole, man.
Hopefully GB is not stubborn as Klinsmann was with Landon and wisely pick Pefok for the final roster. I still think if it was Landon instead of Wondo against Belgium he would of buried that shot and who knows what would of happened after that ….
There is no 'freedom' to their play. Zero creativity. Why? Because each and every player was brought up in a structured, controlled youth system. We need kids from the streets that play for their love of the game, not because Mom is carpooling them in the family SUV.
I’m worried about a Debacle in The Desert. Could spend an obscene amount of money to go to Qatar only to watch the most talented US team ever bounce out of the group stage, because Gregg doesn’t want to adjust. Am I overreacting?
At minute 60, it is pretty clear that this USMNT has no chance of putting a ball in the goal today. Just running around and kicking it , pretty much anywhere. This is not a World Cup team at the moment. It reminds me of a team that qualified for the competition while losing. Now that seems fitting. I wonder what we’ll look like on Tuesday. But it doesn’t seem to matter we have a bunch of “good” players. Can’t really sort them out today.
A few thoughts after now watching first half of game ( tape delay): team was flat. Lacked energy. No passion and no leadership. Team was reactive and on its heels. Dest played at a higher level and so did Turner. Ferreira does what he always seems to do: mess up our best opportunity to score. And if he had scored, we might have seen a different outcome. But he left us questioning ( again) do we have anyone who can play that position? I thought McKinnie had a poor game with some flagrant giveaways. Several players did that. Defense in the center was slow and disorganized. Front three never got into the game, because we could not control the ball into the attacking end. Japan seemed faster, fitter and tougher. The USMNT did not look like a young, athletic and eager team. Now I shall watch the second half, with Morris, Sargent, and two other subs.
Matt Turner played well enough in goal that it his his job to lose. Brenden Aaronson made the case that he should start. CB is an Achilles’ heel with no apparent solution — MLS CB’s not good enough to play at WC level. At least Ream brings you experience from the Premier League. Striker has been a hot mess for years; the absence of Pefok was baffling. Team needed a solid game to give itself confidence and send a message to the rest of its group. Right now, ceiling for this team seems to be getting out of the group stage.
I only saw the first half so far. What I saw was slow, slow, and SLOW. If there was urgency, I sure didn’t see it. If there was a plan, I sure didn’t see that, either.
I’ve never seen a sloppier game from a US team. Bad touch followed by a bad touch. Passes to absolutely NOBODY. I mean, it’s one thing to miss a guy by a few feet. It’s another when there’s nobody within 10 yards - in the middle of the park!
Indeed, Japan showed the world how to play against the US - press HARD. NOBODY from the US had a decent first half. Even Adams & McKennie made mistakes I’ve never seen them make before. One team came ready to play today, and it wasn’t the US.
It’s possible CONCACAF competition is even worse than we thought. And maybe this was just a horrible game all the way down. I sure hope that’s true. But if the first half of THIS game is what we’re going to see in November? The World Cup is going to be brutal.
Thanks Grant for the excellent and quick analysis. The main thing I saw lacking which will be vital in two months is passion. I didn’t see any on the pitch and whether it’s a friendly or not, this is where we need to show what we can do.
And I totally agree with you on Pefok being a requirement to the roster. A coach who is so inflexible with a 26-man roster is so disappointing.
It was particularly shocking to see McKennie and Adams play so poorly. They are two of the leaders of this team. For better or worse, their performance sets the tone, just as it did today.
I don't believe substack comments allow for GIFs. Otherwise I'd be embedding the "Not Great Bob" GIF from Mad Men.
Sloppy game on defense, not very inspired on offense, and it's clear that things will need to get better if the US wants to advance out of the group. Just imagine Gareth Bale with all that space they were conceding on the wings.
Thanks Grant!
Yes the team was crap - especially Adams, Wes + CBs ....
On the positive -- Turner was a stud; otherwise it’s 4 or 5.
Loved Brendan’s work rate. Thought LDLT was one of the few folks looking to carry + take people on. Hopefully Tuesdays doesn’t suck as badly. Stay Positive!
It's altogether shocking to see just how poorly the U.S. is playing right now. None of our defenders are convincing--even a little. I'm a huge Tim Ream fan (as an admitted Fulham fan), and while he's probably an upgrade in terms of passing and ball handling, he would struggle in a system that isn't designed at all to play to our strengths.
A 3-5-2 system - which would let Jedi and Dest play higher up the pitch, allow for a central #9 with Pefok and someone who could play aside him as more of a rooney-style #10 (maybe that's Sargent, even), would make sense with our personnel. But it's just a round peg in a square hole, man.
Hopefully GB is not stubborn as Klinsmann was with Landon and wisely pick Pefok for the final roster. I still think if it was Landon instead of Wondo against Belgium he would of buried that shot and who knows what would of happened after that ….
There is no 'freedom' to their play. Zero creativity. Why? Because each and every player was brought up in a structured, controlled youth system. We need kids from the streets that play for their love of the game, not because Mom is carpooling them in the family SUV.
Results like these shouldn't be surprising. The qualifying campaign wasn't far from being a disaster.
I’m worried about a Debacle in The Desert. Could spend an obscene amount of money to go to Qatar only to watch the most talented US team ever bounce out of the group stage, because Gregg doesn’t want to adjust. Am I overreacting?
At minute 60, it is pretty clear that this USMNT has no chance of putting a ball in the goal today. Just running around and kicking it , pretty much anywhere. This is not a World Cup team at the moment. It reminds me of a team that qualified for the competition while losing. Now that seems fitting. I wonder what we’ll look like on Tuesday. But it doesn’t seem to matter we have a bunch of “good” players. Can’t really sort them out today.
Weak sauce. Wow. Do they have pre WC injury anxiety? I’ve never seen them play this badly.
A few thoughts after now watching first half of game ( tape delay): team was flat. Lacked energy. No passion and no leadership. Team was reactive and on its heels. Dest played at a higher level and so did Turner. Ferreira does what he always seems to do: mess up our best opportunity to score. And if he had scored, we might have seen a different outcome. But he left us questioning ( again) do we have anyone who can play that position? I thought McKinnie had a poor game with some flagrant giveaways. Several players did that. Defense in the center was slow and disorganized. Front three never got into the game, because we could not control the ball into the attacking end. Japan seemed faster, fitter and tougher. The USMNT did not look like a young, athletic and eager team. Now I shall watch the second half, with Morris, Sargent, and two other subs.
Matt Turner played well enough in goal that it his his job to lose. Brenden Aaronson made the case that he should start. CB is an Achilles’ heel with no apparent solution — MLS CB’s not good enough to play at WC level. At least Ream brings you experience from the Premier League. Striker has been a hot mess for years; the absence of Pefok was baffling. Team needed a solid game to give itself confidence and send a message to the rest of its group. Right now, ceiling for this team seems to be getting out of the group stage.
Super discouraging.
Basic passing and receiving of the ball was abysmal.
Worst Weston McKennie performance I can recall.
Are the young guys succumbing to the pressure?
I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope they magically gel between now and Nov. 21.
This is what comes from not playing quality opponents and from questionable roster choices and injuries (to be fair).
I only saw the first half so far. What I saw was slow, slow, and SLOW. If there was urgency, I sure didn’t see it. If there was a plan, I sure didn’t see that, either.
I’ve never seen a sloppier game from a US team. Bad touch followed by a bad touch. Passes to absolutely NOBODY. I mean, it’s one thing to miss a guy by a few feet. It’s another when there’s nobody within 10 yards - in the middle of the park!
Indeed, Japan showed the world how to play against the US - press HARD. NOBODY from the US had a decent first half. Even Adams & McKennie made mistakes I’ve never seen them make before. One team came ready to play today, and it wasn’t the US.
It’s possible CONCACAF competition is even worse than we thought. And maybe this was just a horrible game all the way down. I sure hope that’s true. But if the first half of THIS game is what we’re going to see in November? The World Cup is going to be brutal.