Draw, draw isn’t specifically bad, but I don’t know that these were quality draws in that you say “that was just bad luck we didn’t win, we keep playing like this and goals will come.”
The good news at the moment is that it’s only Mexico and Panama with wins. Honduras is now kind of “must-win” though because as noted above, going into Mexico and Costa Rica at the end needing points is a place for us to be.
WSL in England doesn’t have VAR, treated like second-class citizens:
CONCACAF men’s WC Qualifiers says, hold my beer.
Both should have VAR. The CONCACAF reasons are a little more complicated. Right now the only countries in CONCACAF using VAR are US, Canada, Mexico. The other countries don’t have stadiums with the equipment, nor refs trained in VAR.
I have no idea why the WSL wouldn’t do it.
I think the WSL teams are also playing in stadia without the technology, as only three of them are playing in their respective men’s teams stadia (LEI, BIR, Reading) when there isn’t a scheduling conflict. The rest play in academy stadia or lower tiered men’s homes.
And one more booth referee will cost money.
USMNT unraveling. bad bad bad bad bad
McKennie → Juventus (being a dumbass wrt COVID protocol … for a 2nd time)
Some of them don’t realize how important the national team is to a lot of the nation.
They are just not all there.
Yuck. We have no one in the midfield to link the defense to the offense when the opposition is in a bunker. Our only real chances came of turnovers or set pieces. We can not break down an opponent when we have possession.
We gave Davies 2 chances on a break and they converted one.
On the positive side, we were elite at passing between our center backs.
Need 3 points on Wednesday in Honduras to stay on schedule. I am not confident that will happen.
We are losing players left and right. Not sure how many wingers we have left that can go run for too long in the hear/humidity. Aaronson has played 75+ minutes each night. Pulisic went 90 after the Covid deal. Konrad is the only “fresh” one we have left.
McKinnie still has some growing up to do. Not exactly sure what happened, but my guess is he had some people (ladies?) up to his room. If he was out at the Nashville bars past curfew I am sure we would have seen pics by now. Big call to send him home as he would be fresh and needed at Honduras.
There are lots of wild rumors going around right now, some originating from Italian sources. I don’t think anybody really knows right now.
It’s actually surprising that no one has come up with a credible leak yet.
We didn’t find out about the Harkes/Wynalda story for 12 years. Though that was before social media.
Let’s hope it’s nothing major and McKennie learns and is accepted back and committed to the team. He’s been such a leader on the field, I know he had one issue in Juventus with COVID protocols but this is still surprising to me.
TUDN reporting that McKennie spent the night outside the team bubble, and brought an unauthorized person inside the team bubble at the hotel.
Personally I’m thinking we break out the 3-5-2 that we used at times over the summer tonight.
I would really like to see Pepi tonight since Sargent /Pefok haven’t shown much, but doubt he gets a start on the road for his first cap.
Also tonights game is on Paramount+ if you need an English version. Also think it is on Telemundo or Univision in Spanish.
I think Pepi will play. Possibly even start.
We could see a 3 CB formation, with Ream/Brooks/MRob and then ARob/Yedlin as wingbacks.
Adams, Pulisic are lock starters, then we need 3 others. Acosta probably. Konrad and Pepi would be good. With Aaronson coming on as first sub at 55-60min.
I think Aaronson is a starter with our best 11, but he’s played a lot this week and could be a good super sub.
I could also see Bello playing instead of Yedlin. Also McKenzie instead of MRob (who has played a lot this week)
+1
If they go a back 3, I would think Sands would be in the middle (he held that spot in the GC) flanked by MRob and Brooks/Ream/Zimmerman (Brooks looked completely gassed the last 10 minutes of the Canada game).
ARob and Yedlin (or Bello as Yedlin might be cooked going 150+ each night) as the wingbacks.
I would guess the 2 up top would be Sargent and Pulisic (with Pulisic playing more withdrawn).
3 mids would be Adams and then 2 of Acosta/Lleget/Roldan. Aaronson (who I agree makes out best 11) has to be spent so I am guessing he will be a 2nd half sub.
If we go 4-3-3 I could see them going
ARob Brooks MRob Bello
Acosta Adams Lleget
Konrad Sargent Pulisic
“Fun” facts I just read courtesy of @PaulCarr:
Adams, McKinnie, and Pulisic have started 1 USMNT game together (2019 friendly vs Ecuador). They have played 114 minutes together across 3 games.
Adams, McKinnie, Pulisic, and Reyna have played 0 minutes together for the USMNT.
Canada pots a 3-0 win. Panama gets a draw vs. Mexico.
No pressure, but if we don’t get a win tonight this is going to have serious '18 vibes again.