World Cup and European leagues

[jknezek]

Well there you go. The best game they've played in the tournament so far. Did Costa Rica squander some chances? Absolutely, but we squandered a few as well, including Morris in the first 30 seconds. Scoring that fast would have changed the game. Regardless, the team made the finals, as we should in the Gold Cup. We also have won our last 3 games 7-0 combined, which is interesting considering how ragged the defense has been. Last night was much better. Gonzalez and Besler at least look like they can work together, and Bradley marshalling in front of them definitely helps.

It's still not a very good US team, but they are winning and that is what matters. I assume we'll face Mexico in the finals, though their C team hasn't really been much prettier than ours. But Jamaica is capable of pulling an upset as well. There speed is always dangerous on a counter. Hopefully the US will finish the tournament strong. For all our complaining, there isn't much more we can ask than that. Being pretty isn't as important as winning at that the ultimate levels.

[jknezek]

Well... that was not how I expected a Jamaica upset could occur. Didn't think they'd get it off a free kick that the Mexico goal completely choked setting himself. Figured if Jamaica did win, they'd catch a counter. The U.S., as it failed to do 2 years ago, will have to be very careful of Jamaica's speed.

Still, here we see the peril of sending a B or C team to an international tournament, even one as lightly contested as the Gold Cup. Mexico has failed to reach the finals 2 of the last 3 tournaments and, of course, the U.S. failed in 2015. It also shows the stupidity of holding the Gold Cup every 2 years, though that will probably improve if this was the last edition of the Confederations Cup.

[Goldenrj]

Much better performance against Costa Rica, the best team we have faced in the tournament so far.  CR barely created any chances, except for Ruiz making a couple of runs.  We were in control and Duece came on and filled the Pulisic-sized hole underneath the strikers.

Side note, Timmy Howard has barely been tested, but the few saves he has made were big ones.  I was the one touting Guzan earlier in this thread, and he had a great start with Atlanta this weekend, but Timmy is still the man.  Apparently if Buffon can go past 40, Timmy can pull off 38.

[jknezek]

Little late updating this one, but the U.S. did win the Gold Cup. Well done. It wasn't the prettiest, but what matters is we won. Morris got his goal in a key spot, hopefully that will jumpstart his slow year in MLS. I didn't see too many guys I think will make the leap up to the A team. Maybe Accosta, Morris will probably be back with the group, Gonzalez and Besler did well enough to be back in consideration. Villafana might get a look as we are criminally short at outside back. Mostly though, I don't think there will be a lot of movement and there certainly wasn't a break out star. Dwyer was probably closest, but I still don't think he overtakes our current forward options.

[Greek Tragedy]

Wonder if Liverpool's 4-0 spanking of Arsenal will convince Coutinho to stay. Will the Reds cave if Barça offer £150m?

[truenorth]

I'm a Liverpool fan.  Obviously Coutinho remains attracted to Barca because they are a top 4 club in the world and they are the dream club for aspiring South American players.  That said, Liverpool don't want to intentionally weaken their attacking talent unless they are confident they have a suitable replacement lined up with just a few days to go in the transfer window.

If they don't have a suitable replacement, I think they'll walk away from the big money and keep Coutinho and then do a deal with Barca a year from now.  You may have seen this, but they have just signed Naby Keita for next year.  He WOULD be a suitable replacement.

[Gray Fox]

Big game tonight.  Any comments?

[jknezek]

3 points or the USA is playing for third... Should be able to win. Riding a high right now and CR always struggles in the U.S.

[jknezek]

Or not. Uggh. All that useless and aimless possession. Well, playing for third to avoid the playoff games to make the World Cup. Not really a good effort from the U.S.

[Golden_Fan]

Only one who played well the entire game was Nagbe

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Honduras has the toughest schedule of the three as they still have to play vs US, @ Costa Rica, and vs Mexico.
US is @ Honduras, vs Panama, @ T&T
Panama has vs T&T, @ US, vs Costa Rica
The big issue will be what kind of lineups will Mexico and Costa Rica send in their final game if (Costa Rica)/when (Mexico) they've locked up spots.


As to the potential of the playoff... the AFC has 1 gameday left in this stage on Tuesday.
Group A will be S Korea (14 points), Syria (12), or Uzbekistan (12) with 1 qualifying and 1 in a playoff... Uzbekistan hosts S Korea while Syria heads to group leader Iran (who have yet to concede a goal in this round)
Group B sees Saudi Arabia (16 points), Australia (16), and UAE (13) in the same positions as group A. Saudi Arabia hosts group leader Japan, Australia hosts last place Thailand, while UAE (who is technically still alive but have very little chance of moving up) are at Iraq.

My prediction is S Korea and Australia qualify while Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia face each other with the winner facing the CONCACAF 4th.

[Mr.Right]

That was an absolutely ugly performance by the US. They are in trouble. Bruce Arena is a master motivator so I was surprised by the effort last night. While Arena is a great motivator he is not the best tactician. He gets outclassed tactically quite a bit at that level. That was one of the reasons he was let go in the first place.

[deutschfan]

So who do you start up top--Wood, Altidore, Dempsey, Morris, and or someone else? Back line was a shambles.

[Mr.Right]

So who do you start up top--Wood, Altidore, Dempsey, Morris, and or someone else? Back line was a shambles.

Not a fan of Altidore. Dempsey and Bradley I feel are past their prime. I like Wood up top with Pulisic right behind him with freedom to take players on. I usually like Cameron but he had a rough game along with Wood but they will bounce back fine. I do not understand what they see in Bedoya. He was a great player at Boston College but is in over his head at this level

[deutschfan]

Wood and Pulisic are future of American soccer. Both products of German engineering.