This team seems a bit of a step down athletically from U17 teams of the past tbh. We're just getting tracked down with the ball repeatedly and getting beat badly to 50-50's.
what's the deal with Folarin Balogun? I think he's played for both the US and England at youth levels, and is also eligible to play for Nigeria. what's the general feeling on where he winds up?
The front 3 struggled with their hold up play, a lot of good opportunities ruined. Look much better than match 1. Let’s get Gio in here to finish one of these chances. Carrera is struggling out wide, I bet they attack that in the second.
Luckily the Dutch decided not to show up. I doubt Senegal beats Japan by 5+ so get a W vs the Dutch and hope 4 points gets us through as a 3rd place.
Why can’t the USA at any fucking level show some technical skill whether dribbling or passing.....its painful to watch
Efrain just equalized for Mexico against italy on a nice solo goal Edit: at least Italy retook the lead a minute later
Pretty sure we’re basically through if we get the W (I think Argentina has to beat/draw Tajikistan tomorrow and we’re good). I know Gio/Gian rotated the armband at the CONCACAF tourney and looks like they’re doing the same. Pepi has a knock so Gio’s at the 9, not ideal. With Gray back I’d rather see Carrera at the 6 (he dominated the Dutch there 2 months ago).
Dutch seem to be overloading Gianluca and Leyva and only like twice have our wings/fullbacks done something dangerous out wide.
Never like Wicky having Gio take the corners. He’s our best player in the air, let Busio whip the corners in and Gio get on the end of them.
Alright AOC up top, Gio out wide, Kayo in for invisible Saldana will give us more size for set pieces. Let’s show some heart boys. C’mon.
Maurice nailed it. We’re getting nothing out of Bello, nothing out of Scally, nothing out of Dobbleare.
Reyna takes it past their entire midfield, sends Scally our wide....who dribbles right back into the retreating midfielders and immediately turns it over leading to another goal. most disappointing youth tourney in a while from what I can recall.
I haven't watched today, but from the other matches it seemed like they were trying to implement the GGG System and it just doesn't work
Props to the Dutch coach, he saw our weakness and gave them all the space and time in the world and they did nothing. If Pepi didn’t get hurt putting him up top with Gio on the wing would have been interesting. But even when AOC came on we still kept Gio central. Not Wickys best work imo.
Kinda pass the ball around in the back, try to create an overload down the field and then dump and chase
Pretty close. I kinda wish it was that simple. The problem with his system at the national level is that when you create that overload the opposing fullback needs to be making that gut busting run to either open himself up for the switch or to draw the 2nd CB over so the 9 can run near post and the 8/10 set up at the top of the box so the other CB is baited into making a poor choice BUT while that happens the CBs need to split wide and the 6 that hit the initial wide pass needs to tuck deep to make a 3 man line to prepare for a counter off a tournover/stopped shot. BUT you have to remember the RB will tuck into that spot vacated by the 6 so after the RW hits the switch or picks out the 9 or 8/10 he has to get back into that space vacated by the 6 vacated by the CB vacated by the LB.....It’s dumb to say due to Alexi’s dumb ass comments but it’s very similar to what City wants when they get possession and transition into their “W-M”. Now City has the best squad in the world and train together 10 months out of the year. When an event occurs 30 yards away it is natural for them to get into the right spot and prepare for the next interaction. Can you do that with a national team that trains together a couple weeks every few months???? Spoiler Now Wicky is Swiss and has coached in the Dutch system and that’s how he’s had this group play for the past 18 months. Short controlled passing. “Tiki-taka” as Barcelona coined it. Use your triangles. Use your possession to defend. Split lines with your 1-2s and tap it in on the back post. Worked great vs Senegal till we got up and kept trying it and got caught in the counter 4 times. Japan we just couldn’t break down and complete simple passes. Tonight was just a disaster.
Which is why I said it may be the most disappointing youth tourney in forever. That was every match in the Concacaf tourney, even vs Mexico in the champ game that we lost, we passed them off the field but we just missed sitters all game. I don’t know if it was the pressure, the climate, coming at the end of the MLS/USL long season? Outside of the first 20 mins vs Senegal that team didn’t exist.