***Official USMNT-WCQ Octagonal Thread***

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AustinScubaAg
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In reply to KCup17 • 9:10a, 9/3/21
AG
KCup17 said:
So from my understanding we expected a team with a bunch of players with absolutely zero CONCACAF away game experience to walk into a hostile WCQ environment and dominate this Salvadorian team? Got it.

No amount of European experience can prepare you fro the grind that is the CONCACAF octagonal. It's okay to be frustrated with how we played but in reality we just need to get to the magical 21 points from 14 games. Every point matters.

I am by no means happy with the result but I will take a point over a loss. Remind you in the last cycle we got 0 points from the first 2 games.


You nailed it. This was a game were a young team with almost no concacaf road game experience looked poor and inconsistent. The positive is it was a weak opponent and we got a point and experience.
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fig96
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In reply to Rudyjax • 9:17a, 9/3/21
AG
Kevin the 3-legged dog said:
aggiephoenix02 said:
PatAg said:
aggiephoenix02 said:
PatAg said:
aggiephoenix02 said:
PatAg, you got a lot of nerve telling other poster how to post. Remind us, what makes you so incredibly special?
Don't be weird.
Don't be condescending to other posters when they call you out for being An overbearing blowhard. And I'll ask once again, what makes you so incredibly special you get to dictate to other posters?
Well, when you want to actually contribute to the game thread I look forward to it.
If you want to just try to pick a fight with me, have fun.
You just can't get over yourself can you? I'm not picking a fight with you (your just SO important). I'm calling you out for posting like the condescending jerk that you come across as based off of what you post...

No one wants to read y'all's homo erotic flirting. Just ignore each other.
100%. No reason to engage a poster who contributes nothing to actual discussion.
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heddleston
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9:19a, 9/3/21
AG
this is how we played all summer, we just had home field advantage every game not against Mexico and we're able to grind out Ws. Not happy about it, I'm just not shocked. CONCACAFing is hard. It's always been hard and no matter the talent disparity it's always gonna be hard, and it's time for these guys to turn the hype into something real.
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fig96
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In reply to AustinScubaAg • 9:19a, 9/3/21
AG
AustinScubaAg said:
KCup17 said:
So from my understanding we expected a team with a bunch of players with absolutely zero CONCACAF away game experience to walk into a hostile WCQ environment and dominate this Salvadorian team? Got it.

No amount of European experience can prepare you fro the grind that is the CONCACAF octagonal. It's okay to be frustrated with how we played but in reality we just need to get to the magical 21 points from 14 games. Every point matters.

I am by no means happy with the result but I will take a point over a loss. Remind you in the last cycle we got 0 points from the first 2 games.
You nailed it. This was a game were a young team with almost no concacaf road game experience looked poor and inconsistent. The positive is it was a weak opponent and we got a point and experience.
Dempsey talked about it post game, how even though these guys are playing in Europe that CONCACAF qualifying is a totally different experience.

That said, early on I'm ok taking a point on the road (particularly when we've got a few key players out). But that needs to quickly adjust and we need to assert our dominance against lesser sides so we don't end up in the same situation as last time where we're under pressure to get points to actually qualify.
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KCup17
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In reply to fig96 • 9:26a, 9/3/21
AG
I expect their to be a steep learning curve for the young guys. I also expect us to play a vastly different game at home in front of home support.

It's hard to dictate a game when every time you have the ball at your feet a payer is stepping on your toes, pulling you back, fouling you hard or tripping. It's vastly different than what you are going to experience in Europe. If we don't start adapting by the Costa Rica game then I'll be pretty worried.
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oh no
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10:11a, 9/3/21
AG
El Salvador was a tough out even for Mexico and Qatar in the gold cup a month ago. ...and that Mexico-El Salvador match in Dallas was basically a home crowd for El Tri. You wanted to grab 3 pts of course, but going on the road in San Salvador was never going to be easy. El Salvador plays Honduras on Sunday in San Salvador. I really hope that Honduras team doesn't do what US was not able to do. El Salvador plays Canada in Toronto next week in this window - let's see how they do on the road.

The US fought hard and created some good chances. Miles Robinson, McKennie, and Acosta all were very close to heading one on frame, Sargent, Aaronson, and Pefok had some chances as well. think they had way too many giveaways both dribbling and with bad passes, but the dribbling giveaways bother me so much more. So many of them were not in the attacking third - not the time to be that creative and heroic. Too many guys are trying to do too much on their own and taking too many touches.

That 88th minute winning goal by Mexico really sucked, puts them alone on top early in the Octagonal, but that is the kind of thing US needs to do - finish, and find a way to put an inferior opponent away.

3pts on Sunday is important and Canada will be tough. They have their full complement of first choice players including Alphonso Davies this time too.
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jeffk
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In reply to oh no • 10:18a, 9/3/21
AG
The Mexico late winner did suck, but that was a home game against a really depleted Jamaica team, so them getting less than three points would have been a huge gift.
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jeffk
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10:22a, 9/3/21
AG
Road CONCACAF qualifiers are always going to be tough to win. You just try to take a point on the road and win all your home games. Anything above that is bonus.
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DeangeloVickers
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10:30a, 9/3/21
AG
For Sunday the biggest change I want to see are goals.


Next I want these changes:
Brooks for Ream (although Ream did great)
Robinson for Dest
Dest to RB for Yedlin
Pulisic for Aaronson
Acosta for Konrad
Pefok for Sargent

I'd also like to get Haaland some American parents to have him at the 9
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jeffk
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10:34a, 9/3/21
AG
I'm torn on Dest. I know he's talented, but he requires a ton of coverage defensively. Maybe play him further up the field as a wingback (in a 3 back formation) or a true winger?
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TamuKid
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10:37a, 9/3/21
AG
I just don't like the built in CONCACAF excuse. These are professional players. The stadiums are loud, and tight sidelines. It's raucous and there's constant bangs and yelling and things being thrown. And the pitches suck. And the refs normally suck. And the hospitality is low.

Okay simulate all of that. Train on a crappy pitch. Throw stuff at players. Pump up sounds, set fireworks off at training. Interrupt scrimmages with ticky tacky fouls. bang on their hotel doors at 3am during training days.

I don't think the sky is falling. Everyone is overreacting. It's the first game. A road game. After many flew in from Europe. With a very young, talented team. Without two important players and leaders (Brooks and Puli). We got a point. We got some experience and know what to expect now. It's a good result. Just not a great one.

My bigger issue than the play on the field was with GGG's lineup. He got the fullbacks wrong. Should have been Antonee left and Dest right. Add experience to the midfield with Lletget or Acosta in place of Aaronson (instead of Yedlin). Needed someone who can connect in the midfield, someone who doesn't try to do too much, and we didn't have that. We played 3 wingers and a false 9 up top. A bizarre choice.

Canada lineup needs to be:

Puli - Pefok - Reyna
Lletget - McKennie
Adams
Antonee - Brooks - Miles - Dest

Or put Roldan at RW with Reyna in place of Lletget.
Pepi needs to be Pefok's sub if Pefok doesn't get anything done in the first 60.
I imagine Puli will need to be subbed around 60 (go Aaronson or Konrad).
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JJxvi
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In reply to jeffk • 10:38a, 9/3/21
AG
jeffk said:
The Mexico late winner did suck, but that was a home game against a really depleted Jamaica team, so them getting less than three points would have been a huge gift.
Would it? We dont get a trophy for finishing first. Jamaica dropping points is better for our qualifying chances.
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fig96
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In reply to DeangeloVickers • 10:40a, 9/3/21
AG
Quote:
I'd also like to get Haaland some American parents to have him at the 9

Goodness this squad with a striker like him...

As per lineup tweaks I'd really like to see Reyna more central, I feel like he plays better there and gives us a more creative presence in the middle. Let McKennie sit deeper as a 6 with Adams playing box to box, and give Pulisic space on the wing playing opposite someone like Konrad.
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oh no
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10:44a, 9/3/21
AG
I really do think Dest prefers 2 and we only play him at 3 because our options there haven't been where we need them to be. If Antonee is ready to take hold of that 3 spot (with Vines coming on in the next year or two right behind him), and we can play Dest at RB and RWB instead of LB, that would be fantastic. I think we have guys like Cannon and Shaq Moore coming up behind Dest to the point where Yedlin won't be that useful anymore. Yedlin's purpose right now is that he one of the only ones with suitable CONCACAFing experience.

Ream plays the ball out well as a CB and plays the ball in the air pretty well. His lack of recovery speed to defend counter attacks and long balls over the top scare me... but John Brooks also lacks pace, so that worry doesn't go away. Brooks does make some better decisions and is superior in the air. Zimmerman is not going to be an answer at CB either. Along with Miles Robinson, I think we need see more Mark McKenzie and Chris Richards over the course of the next year. I also think Miazga is still one of our best CB options and Sands played very well in the gold cup. All these guys are going to pass Ream and Zimmerman and eventually, especially with injury history, Brooks. Where Ream has the most value on the roster is when they play with three CBs and wingbacks on the back line. Ream on the left side in that formation is good.
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KCup17
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In reply to fig96 • 10:45a, 9/3/21
AG
Yeah you could easily tell that when Reyna had the ball at his feet he was looking to play the through ball to either Sargent or back towards the middle to McKennie or Adams. It allowed the ES to get numbers back.

We really missed a dynamic dribbler who could beat players 1v1 in the attacking 3rd last night. Needed that multiple times on the counter and we decided to slow play down.
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jeffk
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In reply to JJxvi • 10:48a, 9/3/21
AG
I know a lot of folks expect Jamaica to be in contention for a qualifying spot, but with their roster in the shape that it's in, I'd be really surprised it that happens.
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KCup17
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In reply to jeffk • 10:49a, 9/3/21
AG
What's going on with them? I haven't been paying close attention but I had seen that they had a number of good players scattered throughout Europe.
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JJxvi
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10:55a, 9/3/21
AG
It should be a surprise if the top 3 aren't Mexico, USA, and Costa Rica. The US situation is improved from where we were before yesterday because El Salvador, Canada, and Panama, all teams you need to be at the bottom all dropped points at home. Jamaica is also a team you want at the bottom, and getting a point away at Mexico helps them more, IMO, than it would hurt Mexico.
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JJxvi
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10:57a, 9/3/21
AG
If you believe that Jamaica is good but their roster is in shambles, that's even more of a reason to hope they get kicked while they are down before any of the roster problems have a chance to correct itself.
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fig96
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In reply to JJxvi • 10:59a, 9/3/21
AG
Costa Rica isn't what they used to be, they've been really inconsistent the last few years. IMO Canada has as good a shot at the 3 spot as they do if not better.
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oh no
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11:02a, 9/3/21
AG
Jamaica's goal vs Mexico last night was niiice tho

I want the US players to be more ambitious and take more shots from around and just outside the 18. We go deep and wide and try to connect on a cross or dribble through traffic all the way to the six yard box all the time. Shoot your shots, boys. They only had 2 shots on target in a full 90 minute match last night. You may not always get that many chances if you only look to set up perfect tap-ins and glancing headers.
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JJxvi
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11:04a, 9/3/21
AG
Hope so, that would be a positive development. If Mexico wins at Costa Rica on Sunday, that would be a positive result for us, but I'm sure everyone will be rooting against Mexico again.
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fig96
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In reply to oh no • 11:04a, 9/3/21
AG
Ream is also aging out of the pool, at 33 this will be his last cycle. Brooks is the clear #1 there for me and Robinson might be the next best up, he's young and can still get a lot better and has the athletic ability some of the others lack.
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oh no
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In reply to JJxvi • 11:04a, 9/3/21
AG
I like the current Canada roster and WCQ player pool a lot more than Costa Rica. Canada has had some nice growth and development in soccer in the last several years and have some really nice pieces right now.
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oh no
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In reply to JJxvi • 11:06a, 9/3/21
AG
JJxvi said:
I'm sure everyone will be rooting against Mexico again.
Guilty as charged. Sorry. Can't help it.
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fig96
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In reply to oh no • 11:07a, 9/3/21
AG
What I would do to slide Davies across the border into our left back spot...
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jeffk
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In reply to KCup17 • 11:47a, 9/3/21
AG
KCup17 said:
What's going on with them? I haven't been paying close attention but I had seen that they had a number of good players scattered throughout Europe.


They were hit hard by the English FA refusing to release club players to play in nations on their "red list."
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Rudyjax
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In reply to oh no • 11:52a, 9/3/21
AG
oh no said:
I like the current Canada roster and WCQ player pool a lot more than Costa Rica. Canada has had some nice growth and development in soccer in the last several years and have some really nice pieces right now.
Canada has really benefitted from the MLS as well.
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jeffk
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11:53a, 9/3/21
AG
Honestly, I don't expect the US to be in danger of qualifying this year, so my rooting interests in non-US games is purely emotion-driven, no bigger strategy happening here.
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DeangeloVickers
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12:05p, 9/3/21
AG
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BigJim49 AustinNowDallas
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In reply to DeangeloVickers • 12:07p, 9/3/21
AG
DeangeloVickers said:
New guys
New coach
3-4 years of being pissed off and sad

Here we go this is the moment....fired up...


And really nothing except a lot of turnovers.....it's a weird place to play but Mexico scratched out a result...we're supposed to be a Top 10 team now...


And now a whole lot of PTSD
We will NEVER win with this coach. In my opinion.
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HowdyTexasAggies
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In reply to KCup17 • 12:09p, 9/3/21
AG
KCup17 said:
So from my understanding we expected a team with a bunch of players with absolutely zero CONCACAF away game experience to walk into a hostile WCQ environment and dominate this Salvadorian team? Got it.

No amount of European experience can prepare you fro the grind that is the CONCACAF octagonal. It's okay to be frustrated with how we played but in reality we just need to get to the magical 21 points from 14 games. Every point matters.

I am by no means happy with the result but I will take a point over a loss. Remind you in the last cycle we got 0 points from the first 2 games.


Fair point on the environment. It looked like they were playing on a prison yard with chain link fences and security to hold back the inmates during corners. Hard to get that experience anywhere prior.
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Rudyjax
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In reply to BigJim49 AustinNowDallas • 12:12p, 9/3/21
AG
BigJim49 AustinNowDallas said:
DeangeloVickers said:
New guys
New coach
3-4 years of being pissed off and sad

Here we go this is the moment....fired up...


And really nothing except a lot of turnovers.....it's a weird place to play but Mexico scratched out a result...we're supposed to be a Top 10 team now...


And now a whole lot of PTSD
We will NEVER win with this coach. In my opinion.
Except we won the Nations league and Gold Cup with him.
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HowdyTexasAggies
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In reply to Rudyjax • 12:18p, 9/3/21
AG
Kevin the 3-legged dog said:
BigJim49 AustinNowDallas said:
DeangeloVickers said:
New guys
New coach
3-4 years of being pissed off and sad

Here we go this is the moment....fired up...


And really nothing except a lot of turnovers.....it's a weird place to play but Mexico scratched out a result...we're supposed to be a Top 10 team now...


And now a whole lot of PTSD
We will NEVER win with this coach. In my opinion.
Except we won the Nations league and Gold Cup with him.

And, this group of players have been fun to watch (1s to 3s), they show grit, emotion etc. I'll leave tactics to someone else to analyze on Burkhalter. I would have to give him credit for the later at a minimum. The overall chemistry and attitude of the entire team / program is 100% better than 4 years ago.
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KCup17
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In reply to HowdyTexasAggies • 12:31p, 9/3/21
AG
Imagine if ES had scored. You would have seen people scaling the sides of that fence looking rabid. CONCACAF away games are something else.
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