It wasn't as bad as you're making it sound. Back line was shaky, but they could have easily gotten away with it if not for a solid shot by Ureña. US wasted too many chances in the attacking third. That seems to be a trend. However, they were creative at times. Maybe a bit unlucky all in all. .
Too much dribble and Howard has been GOD AWFUL on his distribution. When a team presses you....YOU GO OVER THE FRICKEN TOP..... We got out played, out coached, and worse, out efforted........Costa Rica - wanted it more, they deserved it. DD
Holy hell it was worse, we came out soft.....the one thing we lacked was a bit of crazy competitive spirit, Dempsey has it, Jones has it....but no one in the starting lineup tonight has it....they are all role type of players, and Pulisic is too young to be that vocal leader yet. This was a disaster of epic proportions, we played like a bunch of panzies. DD
As someone who has played and watched soccer his whole life, it's not as bad as the ESPN hype machine is making it. Costa Rica is the better team. I'm not sure why people are surprised by that after recent tournaments.
The truth is that Mexico is carrying the USA to Russia at the moment. Not sure many would admit that but it's true.
Yeah, that is just not true, Costa Rica is not "Better" they had a better plan, they had more spirit, but they are hardly a better team. DD
Parts of the team are, others are not. If it were up to me, I'd play a front 4 of Wood, Pulisic, Nagbe, and Johnson. I think that is among the best the US has ever had up top. However the midfield is still putrid. Bradley just isn't very good and who do you pair with him? Acosta is the only viable option and he is extremely young. Bradley should be a 2nd fiddle at best. Outside of Brooks and MAYBE Cameron, the backline is shaky all around.
We don't have a true number 10, midfielder that is offensively oriented.....I would move Pulisic there, and have Bradley at CDM beneath him. Would have Nagbe out left too. DD
I would play a 4-2-3-1 with Pulisic at the 10, Johnson and Nagbe at the wings, Wood as a lone striker. Bradley and whoever else (Acosta?) as further back central midfielders. 4-4-2 doesn't fit this personnel for me.
Believe Syria will be playing Australia for AFC's .5 spot. If we end up being CONCACAF's fourth place team, we play either country for their ticket in. I kinda want it to be Syria for the giggles.
What a horses*** of a game. If they could do it wrong last night, they did. Terrible defense with the center backs WAYYYYY too far apart on goal one and then handing them the ball on goal 2. Howard should've made the save on the 1st but we went too far to the near post and gave the CR forward the angle...coupled with a horribly slow reaction. CR was clearly playing overly defensively and looking for the counter. You have to do things to draw them out. Some shots from distance (that were available and not taken...or taken so horribly there was no reason to worry). Keeping the ball moving from side to side instead of trying to force it through the middle. Wood isn't the type of player that does well in close quarters. He needs space to run and use his strength. Same with Jozy and his trampoline of a first touch. Yet...they kept it up over and over. Can someone explain how Dempsey didn't get a straight red card? What a stupid thing to do. CONCACAF should consider suspending him on the basis of being an idiot. They were unprepared, out played and out coached. Possibly Arena's worst game as coach in either stint.
