OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026
- Thread starter brad1218
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Would you want to finish first - any risk we could draw a tougher three than the 2 from group G (assuming Belgium does what it should and coasts through their group)?
I definitely want to finish 1st in the group. Sure, there is a chance that the 3rd place team would be one of the favorites that had a very disappointing group stage...but the chances are better that it will be a lesser team.
I agree. There have been teams that won the World Cup but were pedestrian in group stage as it takes times to gel
and teams that sweep the group easily then lose next game so who know
bit we should want to go 3-0 and win the group
I don’t see that happening but I do see 2-1-0 as best case (Turkey tie)
Pretty good write up on Julian Hall and the evolution of American soccer development - and what has been lacking for so long.
breakingthelines.com
Julian Hall and the Death of the “Raw American Prospect” - Breaking The Lines
The American footballer is no longer being built like an athlete learning soccer. Julian Zakrzewski Hall represents the first generation being educated to think the game before they run it. For decades, American football development carried a specific stereotype. The “American prospect” was...
breakingthelines.com
Great article, unfortunately too many youth trainers still base their team selections on the "fastest, most athletic" rather than the players who understand the game, can read the field, move off the ball into pockets of space, and make plays.Pretty good write up on Julian Hall and the evolution of American soccer development - and what has been lacking for so long.
Julian Hall and the Death of the “Raw American Prospect” - Breaking The Lines
The American footballer is no longer being built like an athlete learning soccer. Julian Zakrzewski Hall represents the first generation being educated to think the game before they run it. For decades, American football development carried a specific stereotype. The “American prospect” was...
Once this mentality reaches the lower levels then we will start to see a lot more players making an impact.
I think there's a high probability that they advance to the knockout stage.
The top two, us usual, will advance but this world cup will have a Round of 32 instead of 16 with the expanded team lineup, so a number of 3rd place teams will also advance.
Kind of like what happened to basketball going for all the above the rim guys who aren’t high basketball IQ guys. Steph Curry changed that I think and now guys like Cam Spencer are good nba player where 15 yrs ago he wouldn’t have had a shot
Let's go USA today. An important game to play well for positive momentum. Wonder if Poch reveals his cards with a lineup and formation to match what we'll open with vs. Paraguay or if we purposely do something different. And does it really matter?
Let's just hope Richards is good to go and fit for the WC. We really need him big time.
Let's just hope Richards is good to go and fit for the WC. We really need him big time.
Pulisic looks back in form. Great pass to Dest for the goal and clinical finish for his goal. Bad giveaway by Robinson led to the Senegal goal late in the 1st half by Mane (great goal off a great pass), but up 2-1 is nice against the #14 team in the FIFA rankings.
Center backs getting exposed against a quality team, this is why they will not advance far out of the group stage.
My thinking is that this is not American football, where the league requires a final exhibition game which no one wants to play. Poch scheduled this game for a reason. It will be both a final tuneup for the known starters, and a final audition for the two or three spots which I think are still up for grabs.Last tune up vs. Germany. How do these teams approach that game? Play the starters for a half? Bubble wrap on everyone?
I think you’re right. Both need to see more of what they have and what adjustments can be made. I watched Germany vs. Finland today and Finland is not very good. This will be a much better test for them.
Pulisic, Pepi, Balogun, McKennie, Dest, A Robinson solidified why they should start.
Add Freese so that’s 7.
let’s hope we have Richards then I would go McKenzie not Ream. Add Weah so that’s 10.
Last spot between Freeman, Reyna, Zendejas IMO.
Add Freese so that’s 7.
let’s hope we have Richards then I would go McKenzie not Ream. Add Weah so that’s 10.
Last spot between Freeman, Reyna, Zendejas IMO.
What formation are you using? Balogun and Pepi won't be on the field together unless they are trailing in a knockout stage match.
Poch ran the same 3-4-2-1 formation today that he's been using for awhile now, so I have it like this:
GK: Freese
CB: Freeman, Ream, McKenzie (until Richards is back)
WB: Dest & Robinson
CDM: Adams & McKinnie
AM: Pulisic & TBD btw Tillman, Aaronson & Reyna
Striker: Balogun
- Ream being named Captain means he's starting every game which is crazy and an indictment on how bad our CBs are other than Richards. Freeman immediately moving to starting CB when he's a RB also says a lot.
- Richards from my understanding is going to miss at least 1-2 games in the group stage. There's a chance that he could miss the entire group stage.
- If McKinnie is starting across from Pulisic as an attacking mid, then you're stuck with Roldan or Berhalter as the other starting CDM. This is where excluding Aiden Morris for Zendajas or Arfsten is going to bite them.
Pepi and Balogun? Not a McKenzie fan at all, but as much as I like and respect Ream, his pace is going to cost us at one point. I liked Freeman in the back three.
Yeah I think I messed that up!
Pepi played really well but Balogun will start
Right I messed that up with 2 strikers but Pepi did play well today
It is clear we need Dest high up to attack as he really is a better attacker than defender.
I see a similar lineup for Paraguay:
GK: Freese
CB: Freeman, Ream, McKenzie (until Richards is back, if Richards then no Ream)
WB: Dest & Robinson
CDM: Adams & McKinnie
AM: Pulisic & Weah or Reyna
Striker: Balogun
Defense used to be our strength but it’s fair to say CB and GK may be our 2 weakest areas.
Crazy that we didn’t keep another DM like Tessman or Morris. Maybe they put Roldan there?
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My predicted 11 would be (while being optimistic that Richards is good)…
Freese
Freeman-Richards-Ream
Dest-Adams-McKinnie-A Robinson
Tillman-Pulisic
Balogun
No Richards, and McKenzie gets the nod.
Tillman is a bit of a guess, as Aaronson or Reyna could also be the pick.
Didn’t see the game but noted Reyna started. ESPN rated his play a 4/10.
I sure hope he rewards Poch’s faith in him as it sounds like another pedestrian performance.
I sure hope he rewards Poch’s faith in him as it sounds like another pedestrian performance.
ESPN was pretty harsh on a lot of guys. I thought Reyna was better than a 4. Also they crushed Berhalter yet SI said he played well
Use FotMob for more accurate ratings. The ESPiN ratings aren’t based on much more than the opinion of whoever wrote the article.
Reyna’s grade there was in the 6 range which is average. Also, the starters in that game was a mix of starters and backups and most of them were subbed out at the half. I wouldn’t read much into it. The lineup against Germany will also be a mix.
USA tied for 4th youngest roster at 26 avg age. In 2022 believe we were the youngest.
Sweet spot appears to be around 26.5 for winners
Australia slightly older but Turkey a full year older on average and Paraguay over 2 yrs old.
Young legs help with games on short rest
Sweet spot appears to be around 26.5 for winners
Australia slightly older but Turkey a full year older on average and Paraguay over 2 yrs old.
Young legs help with games on short rest
I hope not, lineup against Germany really needs to be his starters getting 45 together outside any injuries like Richards.
Richard’s not even training with the full team. Was surprised he made the cut with that injury.
Because he's the only dependable center back on the roster.
We'll see how Freeman does and the early returns have been positive but it's only 2-3 games that he's played there.
They are not in good shape after them. Ream should be retired but the remaining guys on the roster can't seem to displace him 4 years later.
we don't really need Richards to get out of the group. Even if we don't finish top 2, 8 of the 12 3rd place teams advance. now as 3rd place, we'd likely face a really good team in the round of 32.
i think we can handle australia fairly easily.
paraguay will be tough match but i see us winning by a goal
i don't think we can beat turkey but maybe we can get a tie
2 wins and tie and we're in good shape IMO
but then we'll need richards in the knockout round
i think we can handle australia fairly easily.
paraguay will be tough match but i see us winning by a goal
i don't think we can beat turkey but maybe we can get a tie
2 wins and tie and we're in good shape IMO
but then we'll need richards in the knockout round
It's an odd group in the back right now...Richards is playing great and had a great season, but isn't 100% and will likely be lacking a bit of fitness. I like Freeman, but he's not a natural CB. He is composed on the ball and a good distributor, but still not sure how good he is at defending world class attacking players (especially ones that are more physical and bring some size). Ream has lost a half step...I still like him defending in tight spaces, but we're playing to his weaknesses by letting Jedi get well upfield and forcing Ream to defend out in space as things get stretched.
Poch loves the 3 CB formation, but it really exposes us in a position that currently has a limited player pool. If I were coaching this team, I'd be playing a 4 man back and asking Jedi and Dest to really pick their spots when they get forward, playing a bit more defensive minded, either a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-4-2 and going with both Balogun and Pepi up top ( at least in spots)...then again, I'd be playing Pulisic more centrally in the attack, which might be a mistake since he thrived out wide on Sunday. Water under the bridge at this point though, as the roster selection tells you we're all in on the 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1 or 5-2-2-1 or whatever we want to call it).
Poch loves the 3 CB formation, but it really exposes us in a position that currently has a limited player pool. If I were coaching this team, I'd be playing a 4 man back and asking Jedi and Dest to really pick their spots when they get forward, playing a bit more defensive minded, either a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-4-2 and going with both Balogun and Pepi up top ( at least in spots)...then again, I'd be playing Pulisic more centrally in the attack, which might be a mistake since he thrived out wide on Sunday. Water under the bridge at this point though, as the roster selection tells you we're all in on the 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1 or 5-2-2-1 or whatever we want to call it).
We’ve played our best under Poch with a back 3 but i am concerned about Ream. He’s just old-slow. Also I really like Dest being further up to attack as he’s one of our most skilled guys - so if he can create more goals than he gives up we are ahead!
. It’s interesting too because wasn’t Poch a CB like Berhalter? One could argue CB is our weakest group…It would be great to get Bolugun and Pepi both on the pitch together but then the whole formation would change I guess. Pepi looked really good the whole half but so did Balogun.
That was the thing that was most exciting. We actually look like we can score a few goals. It's always been the weakest part of the team.We’ve played our best under Poch with a back 3 but i am concerned about Ream. He’s just old-slow. Also I really like Dest being further up to attack as he’s one of our most skilled guys - so if he can create more goals than he gives up we are ahead!
Defensive concerns are obvious.
Predicted first half lineup vs Germany since Richards is out.
3-4-2-1
GK: Freese
CBs: Freeman, McKenzie, Trusty
MF: Dest, Adams, A Robinson, Mckennie
F: Pulisic, Weah
Striker: Balogun
I think 9 are definite.
Poch could put in Ream for Trusty and any of Tillman, Reyna, Zendejas, or even Pepi if we go with a 4-4-2 but I doubt it.
One thing about my starting XI…lot of short dudes so not going to win a lot of headers.
3-4-2-1
GK: Freese
CBs: Freeman, McKenzie, Trusty
MF: Dest, Adams, A Robinson, Mckennie
F: Pulisic, Weah
Striker: Balogun
I think 9 are definite.
Poch could put in Ream for Trusty and any of Tillman, Reyna, Zendejas, or even Pepi if we go with a 4-4-2 but I doubt it.
One thing about my starting XI…lot of short dudes so not going to win a lot of headers.
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