There's some USMNT themed action in the Bundesliga on FS1 this morning. Hertha Berlin and John Brooks play Borussia Dortmund (maybe some more time for Pulisic?).
***Official USMNT Thread***
- Thread starter ianoconnor
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If anybody is looking for something to watch tonight, the Sounders are playing Club America in a CONCACAF Champions League match on FS1 right now. It's Jordan Morris' pro debut playing with Dempsey up top in a 4-3-3.
Dempsey with a pretty free kick to put Seattle up 1-0.
And Seattle gives it right back with their high line getting torched for the equalizer.
And Seattle gives it right back with their high line getting torched for the equalizer.
I think you have to call in Deuce for Copa if he's healthy and playing well for Seattle. There was a bit of discussion about Dempsey in this thread back in November when he wasn't called in for the first set of WC qualifiers. I think he's still pretty clearly the best forward in the player pool. Some here thought it was time to move on from Clint back then, but I think some of that is an overreaction to how he played against Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup. I was in the Rose Bowl for that match and will be the first to admit that Dempsey looked awful, disinterested, and sluggish. But throwing the guy out of the player pool for one bad match (even if it was a pretty huge match) seems very reactionary given the guy was the only consistent scoring threat throughout 2015 including the Gold Cup.
Johannsson just recently returned from injury to start training with Werder Bremen. I don't know what that means for when he might start playing in matches again, but he's at least on that road.
Pulisic is one to get excited about. Every time I've seen him play for Dortmund, they've used him as the left forward in their 4-3-3. So I think you could use him as a wing player at a minimum, but I'm pretty sure he played as the US #10 at the U17 World Cup where he was pretty much the only bright spot for the US in that tournament. I don't know that Jurgen will be ready to call him in to the senior team, but it wouldn't surprise me if Klinsmann and Herzog lobbied very hard to get Pulisic on the U23 squad that is playing in the home-away Olympic qualifying matches against Colombia in March. Dortmund won't be obligated to release him for youth international duty, but you never know given the fact that they won't be catching Bayern Munich for first and that they have a 15 point lead on Hertha Berlin who is in third in the Bundesliga.
Another kid to watch....
http://americansoccernow.com/articles/joshua-perez-18-eager-to-impress-at-acf-fiorentina
http://americansoccernow.com/articles/joshua-perez-18-eager-to-impress-at-acf-fiorentina
I also like that Pulsic is from Hershey, PA and starting in the Bundesliga at 17. I think I read he is going to be on the Olympic Qualifying team. He has to right? Playing at the highest level of anyone that might be on that team except for whom, Yedlin (who they said would be on the team if they qualified). I think Pulsic played the 10 with the Nationals, but if we can get him on a wing, and find some functional fullbacks so Fabian Johnson can stay on a wing that is some serious pace and play making ability on the outside for the WC in a couple years. I would also like to see some form of 3 forward lineup if Johansson can get back. We saw what that did to our back line when Mexico did that to us.
Also, because I'm here, here is my theory on American soccer. Our technical ability will never be to the ability of the finest European and South American countries. Our youth academies aren't developed, our top athletes play other sports, and our coaching and training isn't up to par, but what we can do, is ******* run with any country in the world, we have absolute pace usually everywhere on the field. We have horses. I was talking with a former National team member and Midwest ODP coach, and after a few beers, we fixed the program. we put 7 guys behind the ball, and two top strikers and a bad *** attacking MF, and counter, and run and run and counter and run. Because what we don't have in technical ability, and probably won't no matter how hard JK tries to put that square peg in a round hole, we have athletes, and we have thoroughbreds. You have to play to your advantages and that is the one that we have on most countries. Pack it in, and then use pure American speed, to counter.
-end rant
Isn't that basically what Bob Bradley did? Bunker and counter? I didn't pay attention a ton when he was coaching, but I remember everyone got tired of that style.
Basically yes that is what american soccer has looked like until JK took over ... Now while i like what JK has brought in as a tactician i feel like we are no where close to having the players needed to field his ideal team position by position ... There are some bright spots and the future looks better than the present, but who knows if we stay on this path ... Alot of people are calling for JK's head which is understandable, but he has taken this team to new heights and made usa soccer somewhat relevant again ... I know what my ideal attacking style is or would be but thats neither here nor there ...
Jurgen has done a great job of bringing in young talent and getting guys with dual nationalities to play for the USA. But he has failed tactically. I like that his style is more wide open but he constantly plays players out of position and neglects players that should be called up. After this summers Gold Cup and Mexico man, I'm pretty anti-Jurgen right now. 2015 was a failure.
Yes that is a perfect formula. Just missing 2 minor things, top strikers and bad *** attacking midfield. Oh and a good back line, so I guess that's 3. I like it conceptually, but it will only take you so far.
Jozy has played well so far this year but let's see how he does against better competition. Fielhaber is probably the best creative midfielder in the pool but he and JK don't get along. We got a lot of young talent in our back line, so that's exciting.
the strikers are coming. I think we will soon finally be able to get out of the Dempsey Donovan shadow up top, and if Pulsic can develop into the player Dortmound thinks he can be, he might be the creative type that could run that style.
Also Benny doesn't just fight with JK, he doesn't get along with anyone. Like, his friends don't like him.
I can't say I know a lot of Benny's history but he hasn't had any problems at Sporting KC.
New crest. Pretty unimaginative IMO.
its almost like this crest wasn't good enough to be the German crest, so we took it and are now forcing it on everyone
I kinda like it, but I prefer simple and thought the old crest looked lame and had a mid 90's vibe with soccer ball, and stars.New crest. Pretty unimaginative IMO.
