***Official USMNT Thread***

shagcarpetjesus

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Apr 18, 2006
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This match is not improving my mood. 2 fluky goals for Guatemala and the US is getting the full on CONCACAF treatment now.
 

shagcarpetjesus

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If nothing else worthwhile comes from this match, maybe, just maybe this second half will convince Jurgen that Bradley should be our defensive/box-to-box mid and Nagbe should be the attacking mid. Darlington has sparked the attack this half.
 

thatguy

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no way Jurgen has the locker room right now. Excited to get Pulisic in the mix. At this point I think you go all young guys after U-23 qualifies.
 

boone7247

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I don't see how you build a team when you constantly change the players. You have to identify talent, get it together and keep it together so they can grow as a team. You are going to have injuries or U-23 tourney's that limit your selections. But when the US pool seems to be never ending, and there is no clear pecking order, that has to be hard on the players. They never know who they are competing against, and honestly they probably shouldn't have to worry about that, instead they should be worrying about their next opponents.
 

BreezyClone

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Have we played two back to back competitive games with the same line-up at any point in the last 3 years? Injuries and knocks happen but we can't seem to even find a core. Klinsmann inherited a veteran unit with an acknowledged core group of guys that he tinkered around the outside with. His problem seems to be identifying the next group. This transition phase has lasted 2 years too long. At this point, quit screwing around, identify who you want your leaders to be and leave them on the field! We should be seeing 2-3 changes max in the starting line-ups between competitive games, I bet we see 5-6 for tomorrow.
 

pulse

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Mar 24, 2006
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I think he keeps looking for something better. Sorry JK this is all there is. There isn't some magical diamond out there or somebody who is going to step up and be a star. The pool is tiny, or rather large and mediocre.
 

boone7247

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I get, getting a promising starlet cap tied if you can. But it seems we are constantly looking for what is next instead of saying, these are the guys I am going to war with. Let me get them ready. It affects everything thing. I get it if someone comes out of nowhere you may have to adjust your plans, or if someone performance takes a dive, but seriously, you need to have a core group of guys that are always there for you. Sometimes a player somewhere else might be playing better, but guess what if he isn't a cog in the machine already, he shouldn't be a cog in the machine now.
 

ajdowns

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Jan 1, 2010
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I'm not too worried about qualifying, yet. It seems every cycle we've dropped points in an away match in this round. 4 years ago we lost in Kingston to Jamaica. What is worrying to me, though, is we haven't had a consistent starting 11. JK seems to love "tinkering" (for lack of a better word) with the starting lineup, and even with playing guys in their non-club positions. That gets old, quick. When is the last time we've started the same CB pair two matches in a row? I think a consistent starting line up would go farther than adding in young players with potential.

At the end of the day, results cure all. I'll be in Columbus tomorrow where we HAVE to get 3 points. Anything else, might be time to panic...
 

shagcarpetjesus

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Apr 18, 2006
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For tonight:

Zardes-Dempsey-Wood
Bradley-Zusi
Beckerman
Castillo-Cameron-Birnbaum-Yedlin
Guzan
This at least looks better than what JK did on Friday. Getting Yedlin out of the right wing spot is smart. And playing a real D-mid instead of Mix at least makes sense too.
 

BLRNerd

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Apr 25, 2014
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...Behind You
USA Wins 4 (Dempsey, Cameron, Zusi, Altidore) - 0

Bradley did receive a yellow card and will be suspended for the next game against St. Vincent.
Pulisic did get subbed on around the 78', now cap tied to the US.

Time for the u-23 team, if the current result holds against Colombia (1-1), US u-23 qualifies for the Olympics on away goal difference.
 

thatguy

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after that 12' minute goal by Dempsey i made my 4-month scream. Seemed like the cap was blown off after that.

This U-23 team, looking at Trapp to take the Beckerman role, hopefully, Acosta can develop into just a serviceable left back and if Maziga can look like he deserves that Chelsea contract. Jordan Morris, Acosta, Mizaga would have been with the senior team tonight if this game wasn't taking place.
 

thatguy

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also Bradley is SOOO much better with a servicable number 6 behind him. Wether it is Beckerman, Cameron, Trapp, somebody back there that can two foot some guys if he gets to far forward. Loved that formation tonight with MB, Zusi and Becks in that middle triangle