General Soccer Thread

[Freed Roger]

Watching it late, mostly done. Utterly dominated. Any bright spots on the US side? I didnt see any

[Tambourine Man]

Watching it late, mostly done. Utterly dominated. Any bright spots on the US side? I didnt see any

Yedlin outran Messi to a 50/50. Highlight of the game for the US.

[thrill]

Watching it late, mostly done. Utterly dominated. Any bright spots on the US side? I didnt see any

Yedlin outran Messi to a 50/50. Highlight of the game for the US.

Dempsey bodied Macherano with a dirty elbow. That was funny.

Beckerman and Wondo can't ever be called in again. Period.

The problem last night was that Klinsmann's lineup was too timid AND his tactics were way too aggressive.

When I say "the problem last night" I don't mean the reason we lost. He could've gotten everything right and we lose anyway. I'm just talking about why the team looked like chickens with their heads cut off. He tried to replicate a balls-out, high press style that relies on speed and power by replacing speed and power in Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood with slow and slower in Wondo and Beckerman. Playing a three-man press with Beckerman-Bradley-Wondo is insane against any good team because, like we saw in the World Cup, it makes Bradley an island and he runs himself like crazy to compensate for his partners' lack of coverage and limits his passing effectiveness. That team was unprepared and unequipped and it's obviously nothing new. There's probably nothing that could've been done to win that game, but there's plenty that could've been done to compete. Marking Messi rather than following decoy runners in the midfield, leaving him with nothing but open grass with the ball at his feet for one. That would've been a good idea. We should've overloaded the midfield and had forwards with speed but Nagbe and Jordan Morris aren't ready yet, I guess.

[TimeForGuinness]

I don't need to see Nagbe and Pulisic both in the 11, but starting Beckerman or Wondolowski would be a failure.

Yeah, when I saw Wondolowski & Beckerman in the lineup, I was scratching my head...Nagbe and Pulisic would have been something different and possibly energetic...but then again I'm not a Wondolowski fan. Like thrill said, we still would have lost, but it would have been a great experience for Nagbe & Pulisic.

Also, Messi's goal was fantastic.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't need to see Nagbe and Pulisic both in the 11, but starting Beckerman or Wondolowski would be a failure.

Yeah, when I saw Wondolowski & Beckerman in the lineup, I was scratching my head...Nagbe and Pulisic would have been something different and possibly energetic...but then again I'm not a Wondolowski fan. Like thrill said, we still would have lost, but it would have been a great experience for Nagbe & Pulisic.

Also, Messi's goal was fantastic.

The most disheartening thing for me was that I totally get not starting Pulisic especially, I didn't need a go for broke lineup. I'm even okay with Zusi as a poor man's Bedoya. But why not start Besler again and let Johnson fill in at midfield since he does it for a Champion's League team? Throw in Nagbe as a CAM in a 4-3-1-2 and you might have at least been able to take a shot at some point. But instead we're trotting out our what, 8th best forward in Wondolowski who even if he was capable isn't a good skillset to have out there in replacing Wood? Frustrating.

[Fat Strat]

Beckerman and Wondo can't ever be called in again. Period.

I agree. I did think those were questionable calls to begin with, but he did add Pulisic & Nagbe, so I just assumed he wanted some vets to go with the younger players.

The problem last night was that Klinsmann's lineup was too timid AND his tactics were way too aggressive.

When I say "the problem last night" I don't mean the reason we lost. He could've gotten everything right and we lose anyway. I'm just talking about why the team looked like chickens with their heads cut off. He tried to replicate a balls-out, high press style that relies on speed and power by replacing speed and power in Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood with slow and slower in Wondo and Beckerman. Playing a three-man press with Beckerman-Bradley-Wondo is insane against any good team because, like we saw in the World Cup, it makes Bradley an island and he runs himself like crazy to compensate for his partners' lack of coverage and limits his passing effectiveness. That team was unprepared and unequipped and it's obviously nothing new. There's probably nothing that could've been done to win that game, but there's plenty that could've been done to compete. Marking Messi rather than following decoy runners in the midfield, leaving him with nothing but open grass with the ball at his feet for one. That would've been a good idea. We should've overloaded the midfield and had forwards with speed but Nagbe and Jordan Morris aren't ready yet, I guess.

First, this would not have made the difference in the game. That said, I was not surprised and yet very surprised that we didn't have Nagbe to start the game. Seemed like a no-brainer. We needed someone that could hold possession and run a little... Basically, the opposite of Beckerman. With no Morris on the roster, I also would have considered putting Zardes up top because he has shown flashes of being capable of handling target-style long-balls and then moving Johnson to the mid-field with Nagbe or Pulisic in the mix. Though, with that you're creating a potential problem with Besler on Messi's side (does he really have a side?) Johnson can also handle possession and run better than Beckerman. I liked the speed and link up ability with Johnson/Bradley/Nagbe/Zusi. That might not have solved the troubles we had in the middle of the field, but it might have made the game more interesting to watch.

My real take away from that game is that Messi is beautiful and I love him.

(Edit - I guess TT said the same thing. I should have read his post and just ++'ed it.)

[TimeForGuinness]

Ireland (and Northern Ireland) make the round of 16

[Tambourine Man]

So Messi is saying he's done with the national team. I somehow doubt that decision sticks.

[MrSaigon]

Oh my-celand.
I can't believe my eyes-land.
Hey England, care for some chicken and rice-land?
I've now seen Joe Hart in international play [expletive] it up twice-land.
Something something David Price-land.

[mtcefc]

Pretty special time to be English right now.