Commentary
Grenada-USA Concacaf Nations League Player Ratings
- by Arlo Moore-Bloom @ArloMBloom, Mar 25, 2023
GRENADA-USA EXPRESS:
March 24 in St. George’s
Grenada 1 USA 7. Goals: Hyppolyte 32; Pepi 4, 53, B.Aaronson 20, McKennie 32, 34, Pulisic 49, Zendejas 72.
Att.: 7,032.
In its first competitive match since the World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team cruised to a 7-1 win in the Caribbean against Grenada. The win qualified the USA for this summer's Gold Cup and puts it in a favorable position to advance to the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, needing only a tie against El Salvador on Monday to win their group.
The game against the Spice Boyz offered opportunities for interim coach Anthony Hudson to experiment with a young backline and Gio Reyna in the No. 10 role. It worked well against a team of players, almost all of whom play several levels below those on the American roster. Ricardo Pepi scored a brace, as did Weston McKennie.
But it was Christian Pulisic who stole the show, constantly beating his man with and without the ball to create chances. He was involved in the USA’s first four goals (assisting on two and serving free kicks into the area on the next two goals) before scoring himself in the 49th minute. He may not have put a foot wrong before getting subbed out with 25 minutes left.
The USA’s attack looked loose, creative — even entertaining? — for the first time in a while. Its inexperienced defense made very few errors and held their shape well on the few times Grenada ventured into American territory.
Maybe even more important than goals, though, was the fact that Alex Zendejas, the Mexican-American dual national who chose to play for the USA earlier this month, was officially cap-tied to the USA and played well, picking up right where Pulisic left off.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Matt Turner made an elite save to keep the USA’s 1-0 lead before the floodgates opened, but after that he had little to worry about. He played with his feet best on the short game — he lost the ball long several times — but overall dished to his team well. He was left out to dry by his defenders on Grenada’s only goal.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG); 25/0 (28)
DEFENDERS
This game offered a look into the offensive capabilities of the USA’s younger defender pool. The outside backs impressed, particularly right-footed left back Joe Scally, who comfortably ran on the inside of Christian Pulisic to isolate him for one-on-one situations. In the 85th minute and up 7-1, he stormed into and won a 50-50 tackle deep into Grenadian territory and the few American fans cheered in approval. On the right side, Bryan Reynolds was mostly quiet in the first half as the ball always gravitated to Pulisic on the left. What impressed most was his dribble and perfect pass to Luca de la Torre in the box on the USA’s fifth goal — difficult to pull off at top speed but one he made look simple. Center back Mark McKenzie was a little clumsy in one-on one situations but held his ground well. Next to him was Auston Trusty, who enjoyed an ideal debut scenario for any center back and assisted on Weston McKennie's second goal. The only punished mistake the backline made as a unit was dropping its line too deep and early on Grenada’s only goal, which they conceded just a minute after the USA went up 3-0.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo/BEL) 3/0 (21)
7
Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG) 1/0 (24)
7
Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL) 11/0 (24)
8
Joe Scally (Borussia M'Gladbach/GER) 4/0 (20)
MIDFIELDERS
Weston McKennie was having a bad game until he scored two goals off of set pieces -- the first with a volley after his header was blocked -- in three minutes just past the half-hour mark. Better in a defensive role than going forward, he usually deferred to Luca de la Torre to connect in and around the Grenadian box. It’s an exciting partnership that hides each one’s weaknesses and promotes their strengths. De la Torre tried to fill in the “6” pocket though he should have done better to close down the Grenadian attack that led to the home team's goal. Once Grenadian legs tired, de la Torre’s soft feet went to work with two quick assists in the second half. His playing time at Celta looks to have done wonders to his confidence. That duo’s discipline gave Gio Reyna room to roam. He completed some dribbles and made some crafty passes for teammates, springing de la Torre in midfield to help set up the sixth U.S. goal.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER) 17/4 (20)
7
Luca de la Torre (Celta/ESP) 13/0 (24)
8
Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG) 42/11 (24)
FORWARDS
Christian Pulisic made one thing clear: he is the point which this team turns. His ball control is superb and he’s selfless on the ball, allowing for quick combinations around the opponent’s box to open space for a shot. Because Pulisic could essentially beat his man on command, the USA didn’t get to practice probing and switching the point of attack, normally a standard at the international level. For the USA’s second goal in the 20th minute, Brenden Aaronson created a chance for himself and snapped a near post shot perfectly through his defender’s legs. Ricardo Pepi is back and his brace puts him back into contention for the team’s most up-for-grabs starting gig. He benefited from some questionable defending on both goals in the 4th and 53rd minutes but looked eager to connect on the ground and took his chances when they came to him.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG) 29/7 (22)
8
Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED) 13/5 (20)
10
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG) 57/23 (24)
SUBSTITUTES
Forward Taylor Booth debuted and immediately took over dead ball duty. Alex Zendejas scored a great goal to cap things off, jumping on a loose ball on top of Grenada’s box and rifling it into the bottom corner. He almost scored two more but for great saves from the Grenadian keeper Jason Belfon. Yunus Musah was his regular energizer bunny-self, performing consistently, and safely, on both sides of the ball. Daryl Dike probably feels like he should’ve scored to make a case against Pepi’s brace.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP) 24/0 (20)
6
Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion/ENG) 9/3 (22)
6
Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED) 1/0 (21)
8
Alex Zendejas (Club America/MEX) 2/1 (25)
NR
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA) 5/0 (21)
TRIVIA: The USA set a team record for most goals in a road match with the seven goals.
NEXT UP: The USA closes out group play in the Nations League on Monday against El Salvador in Orlando. The USA will win the group with a win or tie. El Salvador needs to win to advance to the semifinals on June 15 in Las Vegas.
March 24 in St. George’s
Grenada 1 USA 7. Goals: Hyppolyte 32; Pepi 4, 53, B.Aaronson 20, McKennie 32, 34, Pulisic 49, Zendejas 72.
Grenada -- Belfon; Ettiene, Harrack, A.Pierre, Paterson; Frank (Julien 68), Theodore, Hippolyte (Abraham, 80), Charles Cook; Berkeley Agyepong (Issac, 68), Mitchell (Charles, 68).
USA -- Turner; Reynolds, McKenzie, Trusty, Scally; McKennie (Musah, 57), de la Torre (Cardoso 75); B.Aaronson, Reyna (Booth 64), Pulisic (Zendejas 64); Pepi (Dike, 57).
Yellow Cards: Grenada -- Isaac 80, Abraham 89; USA -- de la Torre 71. Red Cards: none.
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica). ARs: Ojay Duhaney (Jamaica), Jasset Kerr-Wilson (Jamaica): 4th Official: Okeito Nicholson (Jamaica).
Att.: 7,032.
Stats:
GRN / USA
Shots: 7/19
Shots on Goal: 3/12
Saves: 5/2
Corner Kicks: 4/8
Fouls: 11/8
Offside: 0/4
Possession: 32%/68%.
Photo: Concacaf.com.
This is only one match, on a bad surface, and against a lower ranked opponent, but I was pleased by the way they were playing. Lots of mobility and more compact than usual. The back line kept the tempo up and didn't keep the ball in the ball. Good use of the width of the field. Vertical passes were a surprise tactic rather than a tactical mainstay. I really liked the way the team played under the interim coach and also his choices.
I believe Hudson is a better coach than GB, but I hope USSF hires a better coach. Regardless, there is no reason to renew GB's contract.
Ditto
I thought the team played "Loose", Free Wheeling...(Of course it's Grenada, So.....)
THE u25 PLAYERS have TAKEN OVER,
And The Coach, Anthony Hudson (AH) IS ONBOARD...
I Would Definitely rather have AH than Ggg.!!!
I Feel Confident this Group of u25 Players can "Run The Team" just Fine...
So, My Selection for Coach is LEANING Toward JIM CURTIN.
("WIND THEM UP AND STAY OUT OF THE WAY" {I Paraphrase what he said})
I WANT AN AMERICAN COACH...(and Vermes already Turned Down an Interview with the Search "Firm")
Call me "Jingoistic"... BUT,
I am having Trouble VISUALIZING, a US Team, Playing in a HOME WORLD CUP, Where the Coach doesn't put his HAND OVER HEART, During the Singing of the National Anthem...(A few of our Players could have done better with THAT Last Night)
Most coaches are better than GB
yes, Kerry... i think The "Peter Principle" Really Caught up with Him.
...the constant talk about Reyna's "ceilings" is now falling on my deaf ear...no disrespect, this was Grenada, yet he again, failed to show any quality worthy of our national team, to my eye.
From Ggg's Assistant Coach AH... After the game in Grenada;
"We wanted to give him a little bit more freedom," Hudson said. "I think when when you see Gio receiving the ball in between the midfield and the defensive line facing forward, he's an amazing, incredible, dangerous player."
"Et TU Brute".!?!?!?
That's the Assistant Coach "Throwing the Old Coach, UNDER THE BUS.!!!"
IT WAS ALWAYS OBVIOUS, To anyone, with a Soccer Brain, that Gio, IS NOT A RT. FORWARD.!!!
LET HIM FLOAT, AS A #10... Take OUT YOUR CT.Forward, {THAT ARE USELESS} AND PLAY WITH GIO AT #10.!!!
so SARGENT SITS ... SO WHAT.!?!?!?!?
In this Case, ADAMS "SAT"...So that GIO could Play
We are BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEM.!!!!
FOR GIO TO PLAY.... SOMEONE MUST SIT.!!!
Who will it be.???
CP at Lf. Forward.???... Nope
Weah at Rt. Forward.???.... Nope
M-M-A.???... Nope.
Therefore, unless you are going to do SOMETHING DRASTIC;
The USMNT MUST PLAY WITHOUT A CT.FORWARD, and use Gio as a #10.!!!!
Bob, that's a pretty snappy judgement to be able to say by only watching this game, this Granada side, which looks like an All Star team from Pizza Hut, Hudson is a better coach...although you could be right and I agree we the next quality coach.
I could only watch about 15 min. of this garbage being played before switching channels watching NCAA basketball for I saw more soccer, elements of it, being played there than in the Granada game...I'll go back to watching the game on Peacock this morning. I never watch basketball,although in the 80's with Larry Bird &Co and still now only the final NCAA 16 picks.
As I watched Pulisic, he's gotten so much more predictable. If he's going to remain playing on the left flank, he's got to learn and develop going down deeper to the end line on the left flank. All he does is take the ball down the left flank a couple of dribbles upon receiving it, than go inside.... Come on!!! A 14 year old can do that. And furthermore , he positions himself too far back to receive the ball. HE DOES NOT CREAT SPACE FOR HIS TEAM, especially for his midfielders. As a wing he needs to position as deep as possible downfield. And the manner how he receives does nothing for pace or tempo of the game.
Someone who played wing needs to work with this kid. We have a Hugo Sanchez who could work with our strikers, and now we need bring over a retired great winger from Europe, a la David Ginola, Johnny Rep, Dzajic,etc., so many that could work with our flank attackers.....Where is our USSF President Cole or whatever her name is on this.
Reyna, moves and plays around at one pace, he looks like he on one of those little scooters you stand on. Everyone morning I watch some fat DC bureaucrat going to the busstop with that thing. I don't think Reyna has ever heard of 'acceleration' of movement...it's all one pace with him.
And what 'the hell' is he doing coming near CP's space and position...It's not only stupid but inefficient...
Our front line was made to look good by the lousy Granada defense...Just look at how CP was guarded by the back, it's like watching high school..
NEXT POST.
whoa this site. Cone is her name and you know it. And singing praising to a flag is window dressing. Commitment is everything. Grenada were terrible yet some of those finishes were outstanding - suggesting joy, freedom, quality and commitment.
And yet Mylene;
Window Dressings do add Value to "The Room"
So, Does putting your Hand Over Your Heart and Singing The National Anthem, before going out to "Defend" your Country.
Don't know if you have had that Opportunity.???
Santi, Amen
Mylene, I've known Parlow since she was 12... When is she going to "STAND UP, AS THE USSF PRESIDENT... and DOMINATE, Like she did as a Player.!?!?!?
If you look at her track record in cleaning up the mess - left by the prior two presidents - which is very well documented - she has crushed it. It's done. Behind us. Go read the reports. The contracts. They are all out there. Transparent. It's just that most of the cleanup happened on the women's side. That was Parlow-Cones comfort zone. She is not well versed in the men's global game. And many are aplauding that the gentlement that where, that all served on the MNT then spend careers as - players, administrators and coaches - have left - and - our bench is very thin. Careful what you wish for. The heavy lifting is over for Parlow-Cone - but this is the hard part. This is like learning a new language for her. You can be the fool, and think, because you played the game, you know it all. This is a disease in American soccer, so many experts, but if you did not play, administer or coach in the context you have responsibility, well, you really do not know and you'd better get professionals you can trust that have the experience necessary to help you make good decisions - and fast. 2026 is just around the corner. I am confident that Parlow-Cone will do it - but not in the sense of urgency, currently.
Humble, It is not about cleaning up messes...anyone can do that. We got her elected because she has a Soccer backround. And as far as I'm she's totally failed in that dept. I was hoping because of her soccer backround her focuse would have on how to improve our players, to raise our playing standards and training and improve the quality of soccer. All she has done is create committees and making sure men and women have equal representation on them and all the other PC crap....
I was her, I would have announced a big push in the improvement of our players as the main focus and let her subjects deal with things off the field, that she can oversee. I would set up a committee whose job it is to contact, go to and talk to in Europe and South America coaches, retired players and ask their opinions on how to improve our American players, what are they missing and what can we do about it. And don't want to hear we need to lift more weights and run harder and fight more. I want to good detailed analysis from the experts.
Why hasn't she even suggested to USSF to bring over expertise as I have mentioned with Hugo Sanchez, or others, for instance ,and also bringing technical expertise to help our players quality-wise. I HAVE NOT HEARD NOT ONE THING OR SEEN SHOWN ANY IMPETUS going in that direction.
Personally ,she is not good enough to think along those lines. I prefer a man ,a former player who played at the highest level, who has deep insight about the game, and that is a qualification you won't find in the States. His job and whoever he hires, top level expertise, like himself instead of some Rumdumb with a USSF coaching license, like those Rumdumbs they bring over from Holland's KNVB.
Sorry, she does not fit the bill that is required for our game to be raised....
Oh Frank,,, Now you starting to Sound like Gio Papa... "Got to be a Man.!!!"
I don't see it that way... BUT,
The #1 Thing she could DO, (After we Crush El Salvador Tonight)
APPOINT HUGO PEREZ as the Coach.!!!
Sends a Clear Message that the "Good 'OL Boys Network in NO Longer In-Charge.!!!
Santi, I say man, because man play better and higher level of soccer. New ideas ,training, playing as set by the men and women just follow what the men do
What I miss watching in these games is the lack of game thinking on our part. For example, in holland in my days kids grew up playing billiards not so much pool. Cruyff's Ajax in their free time played billiards with 3balls for it is a game where you to think ahead about your moves, taking into account secondary movements, etc....In other words, everything you do has to have a reason a thinking ,a plan.....This is why Cruyff once stated , he doesn't like players who dribble and don't know why they're dribbling... YOU DRIBBLE TO DRIBBLE...that's no reason...Why did you pass there or to him...what was the reason and it shouldn't, be 'well he was open'. This is the same idiocy you hear that our passing completion rate was 90%....what does that prove...WHAT KIND OF PASSES were those, HOW EFFECTIVE, OR FUNCTIONAL were they...that's not something that's talked about ,only the stats.
Billiards, some of the aspects helps soccer players think about what they should do and what the effects are. Playing Turbo soccer does not make one think much. We played a lots of cowboys and indians when growing up in Amsterdam. I was alway on the winning team. I would walk along the canals, sneakily, hiding behind bridge or along canals. It ripened me for tactical thinking, for that is what cowboys and indians was all about. Balance was another aspect I obtained as a kid in Amsterdam walk and balance yourself ,so you won't fall in the water. These are all aspects that made city kids better soccer players than kids outside of the city.
Frank de Boer and his brother would be on the school concrete playground kicking a ball back and forth while protecting their little made goal behind them. They were allowed 2 touches. That meant the touch/trap upon receiving the ball has to be placed correctly for the second touch/ shot or pass to the goal. This was a fun game, it was not meant as an exercise to improve trapping and shooting but that's the indirect effect of it.
It is like when going on attack, you make sure when you're in opponent's half, you cover those opponents who can quickly counterattack.. Like in this Miami vs Houston basketball last night, Houston missed and the Miami countered with a pass a running wide open teammate going for a layup... There is no excuse for that...
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You made two points that a lot of people won't understand. I suspect that most people don't know that billiards and pool are different games. I also suspect that most people don't distinguish between a completed pass and an effective pass.
I agree that metrics are meaningless without context. Metrics out of context are used all the time to intentionally mislead people. IMO the English FA last century was famously mislead by metrics out of context used to justify kick and run soccer. I dealt with this kind of misinformation all the time from business managers trying to cover up their mistakes. I doubt that people who conflate data and analysis will distinguish between pool and billiards.
I don't think people developed playing soccer with unlimited subs or NCAA sub rules can appreciate the importance of controlling the tempo. Ditto for people developed on small fields understanding the importance of compressing the playing area. It takes a lot of the tactics and thinking out of the game. I just described the soccer experience of a majority of fans.
Bob, you're right, you don't develop players having unlimited subs.
check it out..Omar Sívori - TOP 10 huachas - YouTube
There is so much Maradona learned him...He was van Hanegem's favorite
Interesting comments, Frank. Interesting comments from others, too.
Frank, following your logic about functional/tactical movement and decision making, which I appreciate and would actually love to see applied on our USMNT, what is your purpose with these comments? What do you or could you hope to achieve? Not to be snarky, because I really do appreciate the insight and perspective, but how is any of this "helping". Are you sharing your observations and suggestions with USSF? Have you requested a meeting with the Leadership? Perhaps others on this thread would join you as a delegation of soccer experts and enthusiasts that could volunteer their expertise to help the National men's and women's teams improve. I'd be happy to help get organized if there is interest. Grantheslin@gmail.com
Grant, you don't think all the USSF "Biggies" are Reading this.???
This is where "Real" Soccer Knowledgeable people come to Converse (Or READ)... Because it's more than "280" Characters, and it's Not TOO Congested with Millennial "Newbies"...
The Problem with today's players is that they lack Thinking and Touch. Today, one considers a good winger he has speed, Turbo. A good winger in my days was cunning, fox like and uses quickness to complete what he has do. And being a fox ,you employ your own tricks, and feints and each wing had his a toolbox of tricks...The most important aspect the soccer in my days was, more cerebral , watching situations, and pondering what you have in your toolbox to effect the outcome. A foxy new what his direct opponent's weakness was for you learn that playing lots of street'pickup soccer.
Just look at how they build Notre Dame, along with all secretive, sacred, divine geometry these stonemasons embedded in making these grand structures. Today, we build churches like they were bigbox stores...And that is how I compare soccer in my days to today....Not much to see.
Some think that today's players have better skills which is very naive for it comes from those who were not that technical themselves. Even Cruyff compares players of yesteryear as better skilled rating an 8 to today's a 5. Players in my days, as kids played 10-30 hours of soccer and therefore had more touch and feel on the ball, not to mention better savvy. Wingers who were foxes would take on an opponent, make him go a certain direction a couple paces, watching if the defender create a lane for the wing to cut in or pass in to a teammate. If he wanted to beat him ,he would move in manner able go over his weak foot , or placing him off-balance leaning the other way. This requires less energy, or TURBO, to beat a teammate, having one-step space to make a pass or shot on goal, or forcing another defender to leave his postion/or man creating for the wing a 2v1 situation.
But today's wingers lack the brains, the savviness, and small space skills, so instead the wing in fact employs a sledgehammer to kill an ant when you just blow it away. Many are impressed by the Turbo and speed of todays game, because they don't understand wasting of energy employed which wasn't necessary, just a little more skill and brains, and quickness of ball handling. That aspect is not taught to today's players. It's TURBO-DUMBO....
When I teach a winger I always tell him 'if your going to suck him in a certain direction, make him move at least 2or3 steps where obtains a rhythm ,making it more difficult to change direction when you do....
Deception is the highest form of soccer artistic beauty. Combine quickness and agility with deception and you get unmarkable players and fans in the stands.
You,re so Right , Bob
Love the way you put that Bob;
I call it "Twitch" on the Physical Side... You can REALLY See it in Zendejas.
DECEPTION is: NOT PLAYING THE WAY YOU ARE FACING !!!
Going a bit to far down the memories path when you bring up churches. For sure. And let me 'counter' you Frank, with the following, aren't keepers better with their feet today? And is it not true, that not too long ago, the defenders just 'backpassed' to keeper? This was so painful to watch when Germany got a goal up. All what you say is true, but remember the context. We are in USA. The sport here has grown, is growing even faster, there is an acceleration in it's popularity. We are producing MORE better players now. Maybe not AS good as before, but for sure MORE. With time we they will get the traction on the technical side, the kids can do it, what is lacking is the coaching, at home, in school and at club in quantity and quality. We are better of here in USA, maybe in Holland, after the spanking by France, not so good!
Humble, Some keepers are better with their feet today, but you won't find that in MLS or in most of the world. That aspect came from Ajax ,installed by Cruyff and followed by van Gaal. Van der Sar at Man Utd trained on it, and he was the best. Look at our starting NT keepers , they have no clue about kicking, or placing which takes so much time and training....
The reason you keepers you use their feet more because of a rule back in the late 80's or early 90's that you weren't allowed to pass back to the keeper unless he uses his feet. So it wasn't that keepers are their feet more to improve their game but they were forced to and it is still the weakest part of the keeper's game, technically speaking. It is not a technical improvement of the keepers, for they feel very uncomfortable doing it.
As far as bringing up churches, I could have used other examples like marine training today as compared to yesteryear to adjust for the 'sensitive' types.
"And is it not true, that not too long ago, the defenders just 'backpassed' to keeper?". What have been watching? That's all these players do is pass back to the keeper, and that is because the opponent teams play 'high defense" ,thus giving the backline few or no options to either kick it upfield long or back to the keeper, or pass square ,which gets you ,nowhere. And this will continue as long as these realize that continually emphasizing build out from the back is not working.
We are not producing more and better players, we are producing more soccer players. The players techniques have not improved here in the past 50years....We have increased leagues, MLS, USL and what not but all we are doing is watering down any talent. We have reached a glass ceiling as far playing development. In the past 50 years we have YET to see a natural Talent produced, like a great passer, dribblers, thinker. We basically produce fighters ,hustlers , who will run all day for you....Sorry, I don't share that opinion that our players are just getting and better.
Frank,
Don't you think that if we Took the 30-40 American Players, that are Playing in Europe/Latin America and put them in MLS, that the Level would be Better....
I do Concurr with you that the Level of US Player in the USA, is "Cookie Cutter/Dime-a-Dozen"
BUT, it is a higher Overall Level than 50 years ago, while i Maintain, that those Exceptional Players that we had from Previous Generations, could play as Well or Better than the Current u25s in Europe, IF, they had gotten the Same Training and Environments as Today's Player.
Santi, your Question about placing 30-40 Americans players back in the MLS, would that improve MLS , NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. First of all the players we send over are not going there to improve the play or level of these teams in Europe. They are happy that they can learn something from better players. They are there, so speak, to pick up the garbage, they are the 'untouchables', gotten for a cheap price and hopefully sold on to another team for money...Also, it is too late for those players too learn the more intricate aspects, technique or details or otherwise. I have seen no changes in CP ,I still criticize for the lack of things he did and still does. Nothing has changed, I don't see the improvements in him...It's same old ,same old with him
Look at our European based players play for the NT...None of them stick out above from our MLS players, showing their game maturity the increased level of play, their poise. McKennie is a perfect example, CP, and the others , item ditto. Better, you couldn't tell if your life depended on it which ones play in Europe, if you didn't know them...
Don't you think that if we Took the 30-40 American Players, that are Playing in Europe/Latin America and put them in MLS, that the Level would be Better.
Frank,,, Completely Disagree with you on the Level of our US Players in MLS, versus USA Players Based in Europe.
There IS a Clear Difference.
santi, I don't that distinct difference when the best MLS players players on the NT play with European ones.
Frank, You dissapoint me for the 1st Time EVER...
You really don't see a Difference between CP and Morris.???
Between Roldan and McKenNIE.???
Between CCV and Zimmerman.???
Between Richards and Long.???
Between Dest and Moore.??? Dest and Yedlin.???
Between Pepi and Vasquez.???
Between Aaronson and Acosta.???(because Many Times GGG brought Acosta as #8 and Not is Usual #6)
Between Jedi and Wiley/Tolkin.???
If you made and All-Star Team of MLS Americans versus Euro Americans... It wouldn't be Close, at Least on Paper.
Santi, <"If you made and All-Star Team of MLS Americans versus Euro Americans... It wouldn't be Close, at Least on Paper."> Exactly, I agree, at least " on Paper".
Your one on one comparisons is obviously correct, I'm not arguing that, for that is also why they play in Europe and the others in the MLS. But the difference, the QUALITATIVE difference whereby you say to yourself 'you can tell he plays in Europe, it really shows'. No,that you can't say. That is what i'm saying.
These European players if send back to the MLS right now will not improve the league. They will more likely lower their own level of play over time because they are playing MLS, ball. That is totally different with Zlatan, Henri and those types for they have their abilities have so much more Qualitative input that it not only won't hurt their game but also improve others in the MLS own game around them....Bringing back Pulisic to the MLS will not improve anyone playing with him and I will guarantee CP will go down ib quality....because these types are teetering on the edge of getting better or worse..
Given that this was Granada, who looked every bit as weak as their population and world ranking would suggest they would be, all those ratings should be taken with a grain (or more accurately, truckload) of salt. So the fact that the team played "loosely" and with freedom (particularly after scoring in the first few minutes) does not indicate much about the coaching style of Hudson v GB. Playing against England or the Dutch in the WC is a tad different.
But it was nice to see the players having a good time (even though it was a pretty rough playing surface) and scoring goals. Pulisic was clearly a man among boys, and his touch was immaculate. If consistently beating your man and setting up your teammates is predictable, give me more of that.
I thought Pepe looked much more dangerous (and involved) than he had been in previous stints with the team. The finish on his 2nd goal was excellent (though he could have done better on his 2nd great opportunity in the first half). Unfortunately for Dike, he didn't seem to be able to get as involved.
Although I thought Reyna might be able to play in the center, I thought he did not look comfortable hanging out in a crowd. He's capable of playing some good short touches through a crowd, but not being constantly surrounded by opponents. I think he's much better on the wing.
As Arlo said, the most important thing to come out of this match is tying Zendejas to the US. He looks like a great addition to the offense.
McKinnie was having a bad day (or at least a quiet one), until McKinnie did what McKinnie does...makes things happen. He's a very unorthodox player, but he's such an important part of the team.
Not really the field where someone like LDT can shine, but he managed to be very effective anyway. His tight ball control and excellent passing really adds a lot.
Hard to tell about the new defenders, since they were so infrequently tested (though Scally looked very good going forward).
El Salvador will provide more of a test.
Kent, If you "consistently beat a man like that ,keep doing it". My point is that Pulisic did not learn one thing by playing against lousy defense. Considering the poor quality of defending he should have worked on and improved his play but instead he did the same thing over and over again against this poor team....Playing like that will not help him improve one iota against a strong team, since it was a very weak team
Looking forward to the El Salvador game...
No one knows this USA team, like Hugo does...
He will have a Well Prepared Game Plan...
It WILL Be a Real Test of The Character of this u25 Group;
CAN THEY ORGANIZE AND BREAK-DOWN A "Stiff" Opponent.!?!?!?
I CONTEND, That they CAN, "IF" The Coach AH, will Line them Up, and STAY OUT OF THE WAY.!!!
CP. Zendejas
GIO
Aaronson
MUSAH. McKenNie
Jedi. Dest
Trusty. MRob
*Steffen*
So Close, Yet So FAR.!!!
I Contend that Playing a CtF, like Dike, in the Space AHEAD of Reyna. is Like putting a "Turd-in-the-Punchbowl"
It just Clogged Up the Middle, Reyna was Forced Out of the Area he Likes to Operate In, and that caused him to "Shut Down"
There was "Constant" Gesticulating from Reyna towards Dike when they were Trying to Organize the NON-Existent "GegenPress"... Just Soured the Whole Game... Reyna, Dropped too Deep in the Mid-Field and that just seemed to Throw-Off the Whole Rythm of the Team.
Seriously, how can you make any "real" evaluations of players, coach and tactics aginst this opponet...we had the ability to do basically anything we wanted under no real pressure except getting fouled and possibly injured. Save the praise for a genuine opponent. As the author pointed out, the value of this game was cap-tieing Zendejas.
Curious everyone's thoughts on newer players to the pool coming in to a game like this, trying to get their footing. Zendejas came in, had some touches around the 18 and scored and could have had another. Gio and Dike, both new-ish, come in and struggle to find their place/space/ tempo in the match to contribute. Club formation, playing style & duties are different for everyone. It would seem the front 4 need some time to gel at the Nats level. We had the luxury of playing a lower CONCACAF team and scored some easy goals, but that's not usually the case. How does our attack improve from here?
Zendejas is "Unique"... Left Footed RT.Forward( Yes, I know that AH brought him IN for CP as a "Conventional" LF.Wing,,, But, that is NOT his Real Value to the USMNT)... Didn't see Too much from him,,, but Watching him for Aguilas de America D.F. you see more of his Real Potential... Bit of a Cross between, Maradona and Messi ...
We shall see if he can Live Up to the "Hype"... I'd Settle for 50% of either Messi or Maradona.!!!
We DIDN'T get it versus El Salvador.!!!
Maybe Next Game versus Mexico.???
Totally agree with ratings with the exception of Aaronson who, I thought, deserved an 8.
Have to agree with Frank about Reyna. Think he played kind of on his heels and without any change of pace. Enjoyed seeing some new faces. Think there will be a different look coming soon. Especially in the back. Not convinced about Pepi. Praying they get right coach.
Pepi did OK... But, he SHOULD HAVE Finished 2 other chances, if he wants to Play more.!!!
As I Stated throughout this Thread... SomeOne, is going to have to SIT, "IF" GIO is Going to Play...( And it's Not going to be CP, Weah or M-M-A)
GIO is NOT going to go "Balls-To--the-Walls" GegenPressing... (Though, as a Former Tuechel Player, He does Know how to do it)
Gio's "Value" to USMNT, is the Focal Point of Ggg's "Wet Dream";
Ggg wanted to: "CHANGE THE WAY, THE WORLD SEE US MEN's SOCCER TEAM."(Those were the Words on the 1st PowerPoint Slide that Ggg showed to the team EVERY "Get Together", for 4 YEARS.!!!)
I say; at the Moment...
Our "LEAST PRODUCTIVE/VALUABLE/INCONSEQUENCIAL" Position is "WHOEVER" we Play as a Conventional Ct.F...(Sargent, Pepi, Dike, Pefok, Haji, Vasquez)
DOES GIO Have the Skills to "Take Over" a Game, YES..
Does he have the Intelligence or Drive or Desire.???( To be Determined)
The Real Problem ( and it will be a Nice one) is if BALOGUN becomes a USMNT Player.!!!... Then who sits.???
In the context of a single match, who sits is a problem. There is no such problem at all in the context of competition of multiple matches like the Gold Cup or the World Cup Finals. Remember 1994? In the final match all 4 of Brazils backs were "reserves". Nobody goes deep at the finals by having only 11 great players. Didn't even mention player avilability.
The beatdown on Berhalter is like beating a dead horse, he is gone. Now it's Hudson's team, a geam he helped build and knows very well and this showed. There are almost zero takeaways from this, except that they, players and staff, did not slip on the banana peel. Well done to Coach Hudson to get them ready and to the boys for doing what they should do, crush it. It was a training match, warm-up for El Salvador, nada mas. El Salvador will be a nice little fixture. I will put it to record. Good day.
Humble... He Ain't GONE, until the FAT LADY Sings.!!!
Or in this Case... until The Skinny Lady, Presidenta C-P-C ... Appoints a New Coach.
Until he is NO LONGER A Candidate to be Coach of USMNT....
I'm gonna continue to Beat the Dead Horse.
It still makes me FUME, as to the Waste that this Last (4) years was under his Guidance.!!!
Guys , I'm afraid looking for a new coach will take a long time like last time...