USA MNT WC 2022 post-mortem

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by HatterDon, Dec 8, 2022.

  1. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    As pointed out elsewhere, there should be no shame involved in losing in the knockout rounds. Overall, the US played well, I thought. Here's my report card:

    1. uniform brilliance award -- Tim Ream. His passing and defending were beyond reproach. It is interesting that as he slips past 35, he's getting stronger and smarter.
    2. major disappointment award -- goes to our gaffer ... his consistent selection of Zimmerman over Carter-Vickers is not quite as agregious as continuing to field Yedlin when we had a chance of doing better. His "sell by date" was 2019. And that's not even mentioning his "use" of Reyna.
    3. pleasant surprise award -- goes to our attackers -- pretty much all of them. Weah and Sergeant looked right at home with Pulisic. Antonee Robinson's attacking prowess was always enjoyable to watch. Given a better game plan, we might be a dangerous attacking side for the next 3 or 4 years.
    4. and finally, our hope for the future award -- Matt Turner should be our #1 #1 for the next 4-8 years. It would be nice if our gaffer could have a word with Arsenal about loaning him out for a season to a Championship side so that he could play meaningful football every weekend. I didn't think much about him going into the tourney, but I was impressed with his skill and strength.
    Finally, the USMNT needs to stop relying so much on MLS players -- especially defenders and keepers. We also need to have our international breaks synch with Europe. I'm sure our CONCACAF colleagues would also applaud this. We essentially have two international teams, and this weakens us.

    That's it.
     
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  2. MicahMan

    MicahMan Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2014
    I'd say that Fulham also had a pretty good showing at the tournament although only Palhina is left in Qatar. Firstly, no one got injured! (Knock on wood for Palhinha) Ream and Robinson were arguably the best players on the US squad. Robinson did leave a man unmarked for a score in the Netherlands match, but otherwise he had a number of really good games. Meanwhile Ream played like a guy who had been the leader of this squad for a cycle or two rather than a late addition to the roster.

    Mitrovic scored a couple and did about all that you could expect from him, but the Serbian defense just couldn't hold on to leads two different times. His header against Switzerland was one the the prettiest goals I saw in the tournament.

    Wilson and James certainly had a disappointing tournament, but despite their lack of scoring it seems that most of the fault seems to have placed on Bale and the manager.

    The guys did well, but not so well that they are likely to attract too much attention from bigger clubs during the winter transfer window, so all-in-all a positive experience for Fulham.
     
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  3. SoCalJoe

    SoCalJoe Well-Known Member

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    Sep 5, 2006
    Location:
    Walnut, CA
    @HatterDon Great stuff as always HD, to a couple of your points;

    Turner, he for sure needs PT, but kudos have to go to whomever is the Arsenal GK coach, Turner has obviously worked his butt off and taken to the coaching, because his foot work and long range kicks are night and day to where he was a year ago (I’ll throw in Ramsdale should be the #1 for England).

    I can ramble on about Berhalter (not everything has been bad to be fair), but this quote after the Holland match made me lose my mind. ‘We don’t have a Memphis Depay right now, someone that scores in the Champions League’…..Jordan Pefok’s last 12 CL matches…6 goals :mad::mad::mad::mad:

    I don’t have a replacement in mind, but sign him for another cycle, and we got no shot to get past the round of 16.
     
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  4. jumpkutz

    jumpkutz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Agree with both summations. Turner really commanded his area and then some, without coming close to committing any tourney killing howlers that seem to befall other keepers. We’re a nation of midfielders right now. We need a couple of talented youngsters to get greedy and audacious enough to be like Berbatov, Ibramimovic, even Mitro and, yes, Deuce brave enough to “try shit.” I thought the finals roster was the best thing Berhalter got right. How he used them, or didn’t, as has been noted, is suspect. That Haji Wright saw more of the pitch than Gio Reyna (137 vs. 53) is but one of a number of head scratchers. CCV over Zimmerman, as Don’s drum banging confirms, looks legit (does CCV attempt that ill advised challenge on Bale? Methinks not). I’d like to see Jedi buckle down on his defensive responsibilities. He’s way above average going forward, but you gotta shut the back door at this level. Hard.
    Finally, I wouldn’t necessarily rule out Tim Ream for one more World Cup cycle. He’s playing quite possibly his best football right now, and the grace period for center backs is a bit more generous than, say, attacking mid or second striker. Pepe’s having a very fine World Cup for Portugal at age 39. He’s looked a consistent threat on corners and direct free kicks as well, creating havoc when not soaring for a thumping header past the oppo keeper.
    I’m not qualified to express an informed opinion on big picture stuff like calendars and leagues, but it would seem to make sense that we try to get on the same page as the Europeans wherever and whenever we can. I think we’re going to have to rely on MLS players more than we might want to. And it’s going to have to get on the same international calendar eventually, along with some workable promotion-relegation protocol. I know this is old stuff, but accelerating the pace toward all of these will help us best in the long run, and competing better at the big soiree every four years. But…not too much will change until we’re all within driving range of it in 2026.
    Anybody up for a F-USA meet up?
     
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  5. timmyg

    timmyg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2006
    Forgive me for forgetting the details, but didnt we have several starting lineups with zero MLS players? Depth is a whole other issue, but Gregg did find a medium between all-MLS and Jurgen era "cap anyone with American heritage, even if they suck, provided they arent in MLS"

    Anyway, not sure if folks saw the various bits going around but it seems Gio's lack of PT was allegedly down to attitude problems. Skeptical of some of it (sending him home would have created a massive Streisand effect) but where there is smoke...
     
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  6. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    .
    Good old Don! Some refrains never change. But yeah.
    ADDED:
    We’re a nation of midfielders right now. ​
    You guys are far more up on it than I am, but that's my impression, too.
    In fact always was. That's why McBride and Dempsey stood out.
    Sidenote: My ten yo grandson is a standout on his select team but both his Dad and I stressed the value of the Assist early on .. Now he typically gets two A's for every goal he scores.
    Have to wonder if that's a good thing.
     
    #6
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2022
  7. jumpkutz

    jumpkutz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Got my first true extended look at Cameron Carter-Vickers during this morning’s Old Firm tilt at Ibrox. I must agree with HD that we would have been much better served with CCV as Berhalter’s first choice partner for Tim last month in Qatar. In a scintillating 2 all draw, he came up big on numerous occasions, especially down the stretch in the 2nd half. Could easily have been the dark horse MOTM.
     
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