Commentary
USA-Saudi Arabia Men's Player Friendly Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Sep 27, 2022
Sept. 27 in Murcia, Spain
USA 0 Saudi Arabia 0.
Att.: 364.
Unlike the Japanese, who last Friday in their 2-0 win swarmed and stifled the USA, Saudi Arabia gave the Americans plenty of time with the ball and space in midfield and on the flanks. But the USA lacked the passing precision and clever combination play required to create scoring chances. It plodded to a 0-0 tie in a scrimmage atmosphere on Tuesday in Spain.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Matt Turner made one routine save in each half — on low shots from outside the penalty area — but didn't hold on to the ball on either. On an 80th minute Saudi corner kick, Turner stayed on his line and was lucky Abdulelah Al Amri headed high from inside the goal area.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG) 20/0 (28)
Central defender Aaron Long's first touch was booting the ball out of bounds, his second was a header to Hattan Bahebri, and in the 15th minute he sent the ball straight to Nasser Al Dawsari, ending a 14-pass sequence by the USA. Walker Zimmerman hit some impressive long-range and cross-field passes, but also mis-played simple ones, like in 82nd minute when his pass missed Joe Scally by five yards and rolled out of bounds. Left back Sergino Dest's dribbling from his own half into Saudi territory reminded one of how dynamic he can be at his best. But that, like everything else that came from the U.S. flanks, failed to bear fruit. At least Dest and right back DeAndre Yedlin sparked some attacks — something that could hardly be said of the U.S. midfield — but Yedlin's crosses didn't trouble the Saudis.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami) 75/0 (29)
4
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) 33/3 (29)
3
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls 29/3 (29)
4
Sergino Dest (AC Milan/ITA) 19/2 (21)
From mis-hit passes to fouling a defender in the Saudi half who was facing his own goal, Kellyn Acosta, the midfield's elder statesman, failed as stabilizer after replacing Japan game starter Luca de la Torre. The marauding Weston McKennie played mistake-prone ball in attack and defense. It would have been difficult without a scoresheet to tell that Acosta, McKennie and Tyler Adams were supposed to be a trio. The midfield failed as a group and individually to bring rhythm or creativity to the U.S. game.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3
Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA) 37/9 (24)
4
Tyler Adams (Leeds United/ENG) 32/1 (23)
3
Kellyn Acosta (LAFC) 53/2 (27)
Experiencing muscle tightness and subbed after 30 minutes, Gio Reyna found Ricardo Pepi with a through ball in the 4th minute, but the center forward was offside. Reyna's free kick after being fouled provided a chance for Christian Pulisic that he headed meekly wide. Pulisic, who wasn't going to get balls to his feet upfront, tried to get the offense going by retreating to midfield, but the Saudis made sure to limit his options. The only shot from the starting forwards was the Pulisic header. Pepi was subbed after a lonely 59 minutes.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
nr
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER) 14/4 (19)
3
Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED) 12/3 (19)
4
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG) 52/21 (24)
SUBSTITUTES
Aside from McKennie, who had a weak shot in the first half, Jesus Ferreira was the only American to force a save by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie. After receiving the ball from Reyna's replacement Paul Arriola, who latched on to a poor Saudi pass in the back, Ferreira shot from 13 yards between two defenders and straight to Al-Rubaie. Ferreira flicked a ball to set up Arriola's lone shot in the 87th minute. Arriola missed by far, striking it like he was trying to hit the moon. Joe Scally got so much of the ball that it seemed the Saudis were welcoming the USA's ineffective crosses. The hope that Scally would bring value to the game faded with each unsuccessful delivery. Mark McKenzie gave the ball away shortly after coming on. A few minutes later he was robbed a second after he intercepted a pass.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
Paul Arriola (FC Dallas) 48/10 (27)
4
Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) 15/7 (21)
4
Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL) 10/0 (23)
5
Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER) 3/0 (19)
4
Malik Tillman (Rangers/SCO) 4/0 (20)
nr
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG) 24/6 (21)
TRIVIA: The USA has been shut out in six of its 12 games in 2022.
Sept. 27 in Murcia, Spain
USA 0 Saudi Arabia 0
USA — Turner; Yedlin (Scally, 59), Zimmerman, Long (McKenzie, 59), Dest; Acosta, Adams, McKennie (Aaronson, 76); Reyna (Arriola, 30), Pepi (Ferreira, 59), Pulisic (Tilman, 76).
Saudi Arabia — Al-Rubaie; Al-Ghanam (Bamasud, 81), Albulayi, Abdulhamid; Al-Hassan (Kanno, 66), Sharahili, Al Dawsari (Al-Abid, 66); Al-Naji (Haitham, 31), Al-Brikan (Al-Muwallad, 66), Bahebri (Tambakti, 81).
Yellow cards: USA — Tyler Adams 90+1; Saudi Arabia — Abdulhamid 57.
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Att.: 364.
USA/Saudi Arabia
Shots: 7/10
Shots on target:2/2
Saves: 2/2
Corner Kicks: 4/3
Fouls: 10/9
Offside: 5/2
Possession: 55%/45%
"Sloppy" says it all. These guys are pros?
In the Immortal words of Alfred E. Newman:
"What Me Worry???"
Wrong coach for the USA. Other countries would have fired him by now. Really looks bleak for the team in the world cup.
Sorry to say that I have to agree completely.
It's gonna all Depend on who's Healthy
I rate the coach a -3 against Japan and a -2 against Saudi Arabia.
The preliminaries are over. Next is the roster release. Really don't believe he has any intention of including Sargent or Pefok. Think Sargent was brought in for these games to keep the howling to a low roar. If Long is there our opponents will be salivating. It really doesn't matter because they struggle to create anything. The defense in all parts of the field is the priority. Injuries will play a big role in who goes or not. The ability of everyone to chase is the most important. They are the team I cheer for first and foremost and at least expect intensity in Qatar. Have not felt as discouraged entering a World Cup since 1998.
The "Enthusiastic" CHASE (GegenPress) will be the Key
Why not rate the non-motivating coach?
Why Bother.???... He's Irrelevant Now... Except for who he Picks...
I feel that the Players are Going to Take over, once the Whistle Sounds.
Santi, these are young players unlikely to challenge the coach. On top of that the coach controls who gets called up. If they snub the coach, they won't get another cap.
I have never seen a national team (with professional players) play so dumb. I quit watching after 20 minutes. Was too boring.
I don't see how things can get worse than hoping that young players will ignore the coach's game plan.
I think this team is in trouble for two reasons: they cannot connect any one touch passes or build up play with consecutive diagonal passes in midfield, second problem is the coach's system does not work with the primary players skill set. All commentators after these two friendlies say if Musah is healthy the midfield will prosper. Is any viable World Cup contender reliant on only one player? And he is young and injured. Well in the last cycle Egypt was missing Salah but this is decidedly different. Ultimately it comes down to a handful of the top European players getting "up" having "personality" in Qatar. Too bad we don't play Mexico in the Group Stage. I thought after the draw that we would go 1-1-1. Now we be lucky to get a draw against Wales or Iran. Berhalter has proven unable to motivate, inflexible on strategic decisions and frankly mystifying on squad choices. We need everyone healthy to have a chance, but what are the odds on that. A veteran leader for this cohort of players is desperately needed. One other problem I think is unique to USA, several players on the squad have never played with each other outside of USMNT. One reason Japan's team was so cohesive. Head scratcher: would Berhalter ever think of combining Ream and Robinson on left as they do weekly for Fulham?
John, if we were playing to Win NOW; Stability and Experience dictate the Starting Line-Up would be;
Pefok
CP. Arriola
Roldan
Adams. Acosta
Jedi. Yedlin
Ream. Brooks
*Turner*
YUK !!!... Ugly Ball.!!!
We can talk all we want about bad reffing, bad fields ,lack of intensity, bad coaching but that is not where the problem lies. Having watched both games, we have a major problem and that is our lousy player development, and it shows so glaringly in skills and not even tactical(mental) aspect.
Japan began a lot later in their soccer development than us and look how well they are doing , then look at Saudi Arabia, ranked around 50th in the world, of which we played the B-team filled with domestic players none that play internationally. Both teams can PLAY ball BETTER than we do. Both teams have better ball handling, faster ,quicker and able to pass the ball keeping possession whereas compared to us we can barely keep possession stringing two passes together..Note the Saudi's were not trying to outrun their opponent, but often employed triangles and medium range passes or passes in extreme tight spaces. Watching them play, I sense they play a lot of indoor soccer by how they move with the ball.
CP would have difficulty starting for the Saudi B-team, for it requires you to be able to handle a ball under pressure, able to pass the ball quick and accurately, win 1v1 duels 90% of the time. Notice how often we would lose in a 1v1 duels especially when both players are going for the ball ,the Saudis ,somehow, would win out by sticking and extending their leg out quicker. Notice how the Saudi were able to move and the across field with long diagonal balls without really employihg much effort or power in their passes. This kind of pass is done with loose leg, not hard stiff leg. The goalie who is playing 2nd division ball, kick up field without any effort.
As usual we don't have flank play. CP on the wing, as usual would end up in his own half or near the center of the field. A wing's,first job is to stay wide and deep downfield as possible, thereby nullifying the Saudi's back to go up on attack and it keeps the Saudi's backline spread wide. That is not happening. To have Dest, McKennie and CP on one flank is a BAD combination... McKennie is clueless about fieldposition. In other words you have positioning and field positioning. CP recieves the ball on the flank and all of sudden Mckennie runs and positions about 10meters further down on the flank. Which means McKennie not only blocks CP's forward movement but also brings with him an extra opponent .
NEST POST...
Funny that all these Players, That everyone is Maligning; Have ALL(Minus the MLS players) Done Brilliant and Notable things on their Individual Clubs in in Europe... I think they know they are IN, why get Hurt for Nothing.???... It's their First Chance to play in a World Cup... Who in their Right Mind would get Hurt, playing with the "B" team Players, Against the "B" team from Saudi Arabia, Japan; While playing in front of 1,000 fans in Crappy uniforms.???
Santi, it has nothing to do with the players worrying getting hurt that's make them look bad. You can play at 70% but that still wouldn't explain the lousy skills, dumb movement off the ball, unable to string two passes together and bad field positioning. In other words finding the time and space.The B-team looked good because they knew where to position ahead thus giving themselves enough time space....This is why old players from Europe can play in the MLS and play at 70% which they can't do any longer in Europe....
Not scoring in your last two matches is not ideal...or maybe, GB is brilliantly lowering expectations for Qatar to take the pressure of his young team! (and if you believe that, there's this bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to talk to you about...) On the other hand, if the main goal of these two matches was to finalize the roster for Qatar, maybe some good can come out of it. But if that's the case, some player choices are confusing. We know what Ferreira can do (and the same can be said for Arriola and Acosta). ;A& A are solid players and can have roles to play, though I wouldn't complain if they were left off the final roster (I thought Arriola played better than most today, Acosta worse than most). I do think they're better than Roldan and Llegett (and probably Morris). Ferreira seems to be GB's first choice at CF, but why play him in these matches? I would have preferred to see Sargent given more than a half (in a game when everyone played poorly). If Pefok was not called in because he's already a lock, that's fine. I haven't seen him much, so I would have liked to have seen him more to get a sense of how he'd fit in. I think it was fine to call Pepe in; he's young, and can benefit from the coach's confidence, and hopefully that will jump start his club play. But he should be aiming for the next WC, not this one. I've now seen Tillman in a couple of games, and he just seems to disappear (maybe not his fault, but he hasn't made a case for himself).
In the back, Long is just a weaker Zimmerman. ;There is no reason to take Long. I like Zimmerman, and since he's been the anchor in the back (and is truly dominant in the air), but who plays next to him is open to question. I also like Ream, but recognize that he's getting older (not always a bad thing in a defender) and he's not swift of foot (always a bad thing in a defender, especially if you're playing flat with a high line). But he's played so well at Leeds, and plays next to Robinson regularly, and has experience and a captain's mentality, he's probably worth bringing. I hadn't seen a lot of Scally, so I was glad he got a look, and he was one of the few players who impressed today. Yedlin is a bit one dimensional, but he's a solid performer and is usually reasonably effective offensively without giving away much defensively; I thought he did better than most today, and helped his chances. I see him as a reasonable back-up to bring.
In MF, Adams and McKinnie are locks (as they should be). Musah was missed, LDT should have seen more time today (to play Musah's role).;Most of the other guys that have proven themselves (Reyna, CP, Weah, Aaronson, Dest) will simply have to have good games in the WC, since they are clearly going and we'll be relying on them. (cont)
(cont) Theoretically, the next WC (in North America) should be our best chance to win (when these young players are 4 yrs older and wiser, but still fit, and it's being played at home), but we need to take our chances when they come. It won't be easy, but anything's possible...
McKennie is not a smart player, like 'screwie squirrel' Aaronson, both act only with spontaneity without forethought..Two things are wrong our flank play, the personnel employed and how they employ their field positioning. We have no one penetrating down the endline, Mckennie nor CP, nor Aaronson, nor Reyna ,all tend to go inward. By not penetrating to the endline you don't force the opponent to move backwards, giving us more space and allowing us to use our strength closer to the goal which is our heading potential. Furthermore, when you penetrate towards the endline you force at the defender to choose to either look at his man or the ball but he can't be both....
The right flank has similar problems but at least there was some penetration a couple of times and creating havoc. If you look Arriola he's not technically gifted with great moves but has a drive to go to the endline for the cross, like Morris.
That all of our strikers have a problem scoring needs to be seen in light of our bad flank play as well. Pepi is not good enough. And Fereira looks like a copy of Pepi.
Reyna should stay home, I really don't know what he can add to the team in his state. Reyna, Aaronson, CP,as wings don't play that position right and tend move inwards to the middle clogging up things.
The coaching staff has failed in making the flank efficient and fluid, neither by stipulating how to play the flank properly, nor as individual unit....
The other problem we have is lack of leadership from older players. Our team is made up of young players better put 'interns' that need to learn the ropes. The dutch for instance when they bring young players they are guided by older veterans and told what to do....we don't have that. Sorry but CP, McKennie are not what I would call seasoned veterans that know the ropes and show how it's done.
We need to go back to base one, study the Japanese experience for instance the Saudi experience for both are so much better technically individually than we are, WHY IS THAT??? Why is that these teams can possess the ball better than us. Why is our player development so lacking in what these two are so good at.
Frank .. get ViX .... Watch USA u20 vs Peru, Mexico, Paraguay ..
There is what you are Looking For...
McGlynn should be brought IN Immediately to the FULL team
Santi, isn't this always the case? Our younger teams do wel look good and then they lose something. Performance drops. My son's DA team had numerous hispanic players who crossed the border and tried out for Mexican teams. They were desirable at first, more physically developed, and gradually lost something and came back home.
Santi, Vix? how do you get and how much is it and do they offer
Santi, I almost forgot about him. McGlynn, I liked him. He was the only on the that team I was impressed with a few months ago...
Agreed. McGlynn looked good.
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus manager, seems to think Weston McKennie is a pretty good player and very important to his club. But then again, what does he know?
Dave, Allegri last season he wanted to get rid of McKennie and now he considered very important to the club. WOW , what happened , did his optician changed Allegri' his prescription glasses.
You mean to tell me he sucked according to the Allegri one season and next he is an important cog, Pleazzzze....
What , did Juventus send him to summer soccer camp for a couple of weeks
First of all, a smart manager isn't going to say openly any negative things about his player in case of trading him . Look how McKennie played in the last two games and that should tell you enough....If he was a Real Juventus player he would stick out head and shoulders above any of the players on team, after all he's probably the oldest vet out there, although he doesn't play like it....
You can get ViX at "The App Store"... Free Download ... Lots of Free Soccer... They have a ViX+, that costs 6.99 a month to get All "Non-Free" free games.
Pathetic, Pathetic, Pathetic
All US soccer fans should feel utterly afraid of our next match against Wales. Two uninspiring matches from an uninspiring coach. Last match before the WC and we put on a performance that is arguably worse than it was against Japan. This against a B Saudi Arabia team. We are once again outshot in the match!! If this does not send red flags that GB should have been fired a long time ago, and needs to be fired now despite the WC being 54 days away. A new coach will not make it any worse. There was again no clear game plan to attack a compact 5-4-1 in the first half that left the outside open to bring pressure to score. The Saudi coach knows the fullbacks we play (besides Dest) do not have 1v1 breakdown ability nor the ability to bring in dangerous crosses. They took the middle of the field away and GB could not figure it out once more. The players did not deviate from the plan as they all want to make the roster. You can’t long ball all game thinking you will get lucky to score. The players must be going absolutely insane with the clear lack of a sound plan to score on and defend against an opponent. Especially the European based players that practice at higher levels than we played in the last two matches. At this point they must feel completely handicapped and I think this showed up in their play because there is no confidence in the coaching staff to lead the team. GB again plays our worst passing CBs in a game requiring more precise passing to the fullbacks and open midfielders to be able to break lines. And yet, does not bring in JS, but Ferreira. So it does not matter what you are doing in your club play. JS will not be in Qatar. GB made that obvious tonight. He starts Acosta, instead of using Tillman who will be able to bring some offensive bite and physicality to break lines. I literally sat in disbelief the entire match.
It was crazy to watch Dest misplay the ball at his feet twice because GB is yelling instructions at him while he trying to receive the ball. I am like WTF, you could literally see Dest look at GB and then mishandle the pass. GB acts like is playing FIFA with a game controller in his hand needing to move all the players around to be in their correct positions. This can only be the reason that we continued to square the ball over and over and over and over and over again until trying to play long over the top. There is not much else to say at this point. Make sure to watch all the group stage games, but the party will be over soon. Not one announcer or pundit stated what they were really thinking after the match. This window was a complete and utter failure and there is far less confidence heading into the WC than before we played these matches.
Dest not a Conte player then? Conte not alone in his joy sticking of team, many coaches bark/yell/scream from sidelines, somewhat part of game. Mishandling is 100% on player, esp. at this level, have the confidence to read the game, make the play and deal with the coach if it's not what he wanted/expected. This is called being a professional.
Pathetic, Pathetic, Pathetic
All US soccer fans should feel utterly afraid of our next match against Wales. Two uninspiring matches from an uninspiring coach. Last match before the WC and we put on a performance that is arguably worse than it was against Japan. This against a B Saudi Arabia team. We are once again outshot in the match!! If this does not send red flags that GB should have been fired a long time ago, and needs to be fired now despite the WC being 54 days away. A new coach will not make it any worse. There was again no clear game plan to attack a compact 5-4-1 in the first half that left the outside open to bring pressure to score. The Saudi coach knows the fullbacks we play (besides Dest) do not have 1v1 breakdown ability nor the ability to bring in dangerous crosses. They took the middle of the field away and GB could not figure it out once more. The players did not deviate from the plan as they all want to make the roster. You can’t long ball all game thinking you will get lucky to score. The players must be going absolutely insane with the clear lack of a sound plan to score on and defend against an opponent. Especially the European based players that practice at higher levels than we played in the last two matches. At this point they must feel completely handicapped and I think this showed up in their play because there is no confidence in the coaching staff to lead the team. GB again plays our worst passing CBs in a game requiring more precise passing to the fullbacks and open midfielders to be able to break lines. And yet, does not bring in JS, but Ferreira. So it does not matter what you are doing in your club play. JS will not be in Qatar. GB made that obvious tonight. He starts Acosta, instead of using Tillman who will be able to bring some offensive bite and physicality to break lines. I literally sat in disbelief the entire match.
Not sure how the double post happened. Sorry about that one.
US looked like Man U before their new manager. Play must be faster while at this level. Many runs by forwards were missed, while at other times there was no action at getting in behind, except for over the top when Saudis were high in their back line.
I also think that way too much play went through 10 in this game. A great way to get him injured. The selection of long shots only revealed lack of awareness. Hopefully the new set play assistant learned some thing from the first corner on the right.
Blogger complaints followed by excuses when in fact the team attitude and dull performance v S.A. was totally unprofessional.
It is going to be a short World Cup.