***** Official USA vs Canada Eh Nations League Final thread *****

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Pahdz
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11:26p, 6/18/23
Canada had some chances they didn't capitalize on but their keeper also made some out of his mind saves on some of our attempts.

Absolutely love the swag this US team plays with now.
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Furlock Bones
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7:48a, 6/19/23
AG
Domination over these 2 matches. Domination in a way that we haven't really seen from the US before. Reyna was our best player. He's a midfielder not a winger.

CP10 just loves playing for the RW&B. Flo Balogun looks like the real deal at striker. The goal he scored is the kind of goal that we have been missing.


Herdman and Canada have come back to earth. They are so much better than they have been in a long time. But, the WCQ run was a bit of smoke and mirrors. They overplayed their stats by a good margin.

I hate them but we need LLL trash to find their form again, and we need Canada to continue to get better. That will make us better.
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KCup17
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8:25a, 6/19/23
AG
I feel like this game was a turning the page for this team. We are now proving we are the dominant force in Concacaf.

Balogun is the real deal. His spacial awareness, runs into space, touch and finishing ability are unreal.
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deadbq03
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In reply to KCup17 • 8:39a, 6/19/23
AG
Star given because I hope you're right, but I'm gonna wait till Ggg slows things down and tries to possess the ball and methodically work it into the box before I think we've solved our problems at the 9… because a big part of me thinks that our problems at the 9 aren't really about the players we've tried there.
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Aston94
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In reply to deadbq03 • 8:51a, 6/19/23
AG
deadbq03 said:
Star given because I hope you're right, but I'm gonna wait till Ggg slows things down and tries to possess the ball and methodically work it into the box before I think we've solved our problems at the 9… because a big part of me thinks that our problems at the 9 aren't really about the players we've tried there.


We haven't had a 9 of Balagun's quality in a long, long time. And when we did have a 9 like that we didn't have the team around him to provide the ball in quality spots like we do now.

In the era of nation's leagues and fewer friendlies it is really important for us that Canada and Mexico provide quality opposition.
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Aggies1322
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In reply to Aston94 • 9:04a, 6/19/23
AG
Aston94 said:
deadbq03 said:
Star given because I hope you're right, but I'm gonna wait till Ggg slows things down and tries to possess the ball and methodically work it into the box before I think we've solved our problems at the 9… because a big part of me thinks that our problems at the 9 aren't really about the players we've tried there.


We haven't had a 9 of Balagun's quality in a long, long time. And when we did have a 9 like that we didn't have the team around him to provide the ball in quality spots like we do now.

In the era of nation's leagues and fewer friendlies it is really important for us that Canada and Mexico provide quality opposition.

Prime Jozy is the only comparison I can think of..
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deadbq03
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In reply to Aston94 • 9:05a, 6/19/23
AG
I agree he looked great. We've just been burned so many times… guys that look fantastic for a few games and then fade. I think Flo is better than all of them, but it just makes me worry that the real problem with our lack of consistent production is due to Ggg.

But you're right, our problems at the 9 extend well deeper into the past than Ggg's tenure - with turds like Jozy, Wood, etc.

I hope Flo can be the guy - he certainly has the tools. Apologies for the BAS.
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Aggies1322
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In reply to deadbq03 • 9:37a, 6/19/23
AG
deadbq03 said:
I agree he looked great. We've just been burned so many times… guys that look fantastic for a few games and then fade. I think Flo is better than all of them, but it just makes me worry that the real problem with our lack of consistent production is due to Ggg.

But you're right, our problems at the 9 extend well deeper into the past than Ggg's tenure - with turds like Jozy, Wood, etc.

I hope Flo can be the guy - he certainly has the tools. Apologies for the BAS.

Turds like Jozy? The guy had 42 international goals..
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to Aggies1322 • 10:02a, 6/19/23
AG
Aggies1322 said:
deadbq03 said:
I agree he looked great. We've just been burned so many times… guys that look fantastic for a few games and then fade. I think Flo is better than all of them, but it just makes me worry that the real problem with our lack of consistent production is due to Ggg.

But you're right, our problems at the 9 extend well deeper into the past than Ggg's tenure - with turds like Jozy, Wood, etc.

I hope Flo can be the guy - he certainly has the tools. Apologies for the BAS.

Turds like Jozy? The guy had 42 international goals..


Yup some are either too young or just don't remember how quality Jozy was for awhile. Sure it didn't last as long as we all hoped.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to Aston94 • 10:05a, 6/19/23
AG
Remember who fed him that ball. Sure tactics changed and we defended more in the second half. But Gio was the engine of the midfield and we lost that control and dynamism when he went out.
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H.E. Pennypacker
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In reply to deadbq03 • 10:10a, 6/19/23
AG
deadbq03 said:
I agree he looked great. We've just been burned so many times… guys that look fantastic for a few games and then fade. I think Flo is better than all of them, but it just makes me worry that the real problem with our lack of consistent production is due to Ggg.

But you're right, our problems at the 9 extend well deeper into the past than Ggg's tenure - with turds like Jozy, Wood, etc.

I hope Flo can be the guy - he certainly has the tools. Apologies for the BAS.


I don't understand this recent Jozy slander. He was a talented player in his day. I'll never forget his goal in that upset of Spain.
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SECcess12
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In reply to H.E. Pennypacker • 10:14a, 6/19/23
H.E. Pennypacker said:
deadbq03 said:
I agree he looked great. We've just been burned so many times… guys that look fantastic for a few games and then fade. I think Flo is better than all of them, but it just makes me worry that the real problem with our lack of consistent production is due to Ggg.

But you're right, our problems at the 9 extend well deeper into the past than Ggg's tenure - with turds like Jozy, Wood, etc.

I hope Flo can be the guy - he certainly has the tools. Apologies for the BAS.


I don't understand this recent Jozy slander. He was a talented player in his day. I'll never forget his goal in that upset of Spain.
That turn/holdoff was impressive. He gave the Spanish defense hell that day.

ETA - the best part about that goal was hearing Wynalda openly celebrating in the background of the broadcast lol
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to H.E. Pennypacker • 10:18a, 6/19/23
AG
This obviously isn't the same level. But there are people already saying Ronaldhino wasn't as good as portrayed. They either just want to be contrarian or never got to see these guys play at peak levels.

Messi, CR7, Tiger Woods, Nadal, etc spoil our frames of reference. Playing at the highest level is exceedingly difficult. Doing so for over a decade is nigh impossible.
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deadbq03
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10:30a, 6/19/23
AG
Turd was a bit of hyperbole, but Jozy wasn't good. Had a few great moments, but peaked too soon and even at his best, I'd say he's not as good overall as Pepi is right now.

I will concede that peak Jozy would be the exact target man 9 that would slot well into Ggg's system.
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Aggies1322
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In reply to deadbq03 • 10:36a, 6/19/23
AG
deadbq03 said:
Turd was a bit of hyperbole, but Jozy wasn't good. Had a few great moments, but peaked too soon and even at his best, I'd say he's not as good overall as Pepi is right now.

I will concede that peak Jozy would be the exact target man 9 that would slot well into Ggg's system.

If you want to say that his skill level was lower - okay.. hard to hold that argument against a guy who is the 3rd highest USMNT goal scorer ever. Obviously the talent level of US players has been going up, but saying he wasn't good is absurd. Compared to what? Ronaldo? Fine.. but he's the best true striker the US has seen to date. I think Pepi and Balogun could change that but they haven't yet.
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JJxvi
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10:38a, 6/19/23
AG
Ricardo Pepi gets loaned to Gronigen, scores like 10 goals, finishes dead last in the Eredivisie....awesome player.

Jozy Altidore, at basically the same age went to AZ for two seasons and scored like 40 goals for a European spot contending team, won a Dutch cup, played in a European final, named in Eredivisie teams of the year....trash.
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jeffk
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10:41a, 6/19/23
AG
Jozy was great for a good period in his NT career. I think his reputation gets tarnished by being a part of the squad that failed to qualify for the 2018 WC and also going down injured in the first 20 minutes of the first group stage match in 2014... which pretty much put a ceiling on how far the team would progress that tournament. Also, his stint in the EPL was less than stellar and that can lead people to believe he's a poor player.

Balogun already having spent extensive time in the European academy systems is a positive sign I think. Also, he's likely to get first-team minutes somewhere over the next several years against top competition, so he will hopefully continue to improve. He's had two games for the US, one great and one okay. Both against pretty meh defensive backlines. So while I'm excited for his future, I'm trying not to over-hype myself into thinking he's going to save my team from mediocrity in 2026. (I've been down that road too many times already.)
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fig96
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10:45a, 6/19/23
AG
Jozy was a great striker for us, fantastic hold up play and had some critical goals to be sure.

But let's put things in context:

Jozy's best professional run was 39 goals in 2 seasons for one of the better clubs in the Eredivisie when he was 22-24.

Balogun just scored 21 in his first professional season as a starter in Ligue 1 at age 21.

Jozy was good. Balogun is potentially world class.
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JJxvi
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10:46a, 6/19/23
AG
Is there some kind of weird Pepi cult of personality going on or what? We're really comparing Balogun to Pepi here, and thats not even close by the way. If both those players stay healthy and available, Balogun is going to be on the field every time.

The freaking Ligue 1 goalscoring table last year was Mbappe, Lacazette, David, then Balogun for christ's sake.
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jeffk
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In reply to JJxvi • 10:50a, 6/19/23
AG
I blame the constant "Pepi should have been in Qatar!" refrain we've been getting the past 6 months from the American soccer pundits. Should he have made the roster? Sure, maybe, but it wasn't some enormous oversight that cost the team a trip to the final. He might not have scored a single goal in the tournament.

I hope he continues to grow and progress, but he hasn't been somehow stabbed in the back by GB like many folks make it sound.
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Aggies1322
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In reply to jeffk • 10:57a, 6/19/23
AG
jeffk said:
I blame the constant "Pepi should have been in Qatar!" refrain we've been getting the past 6 months from the American soccer pundits. Should he have made the roster? Sure, maybe, but it wasn't some enormous oversight that cost the team a trip to the final. He might not have scored a single goal in the tournament.

I hope he continues to grow and progress, but he hasn't been somehow stabbed in the back by GB like many folks make it sound.

I think the added frustration was that he brought Jesus because GGG is "muh MLS" and left off a better player in Europe.
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jeffk
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In reply to Aggies1322 • 10:59a, 6/19/23
AG
I get that complaint. I just think it's way overblown.

And you could argue that Sargent or Haji Wright took Pepi's spot instead of Jesus (who is a much different skillset than Pepi).
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JJxvi
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11:02a, 6/19/23
AG
Surprising fun fact, of all the players we are discussing at the #9, Jesus Ferreira currently leads all of them in total number of goals for USMNT
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Dre_00
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11:09a, 6/19/23
Somewhere I mentioned Altidore when everyone was swooning over Pepi's season in the Eredivisie.

It wasn't meant to be compliment.

Not because Altidore was trash but because his talent level was/is not sufficient to get where the US wants to go. Not then. Not now. Jozy has 2 very good season at AZ. He played 91 league games in Europe outside of the Eredivisie.

He scored 4 goals.

I don't think that makes him trash. He deserved the international appearances that he got. But he wasn't near the talent level that you want from your best striker.

Pepi could easily have a career like Jozy's. In fact his career to date has been very similar to Jozy's. Initial struggles when moving to Europe before finding goals in the Netherlands. He could ultimately be better than Jozy. But people are treating him like he's already surpassed Jozy and that's just not even close to true.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to jeffk • 11:15a, 6/19/23
AG
jeffk said:
I get that complaint. I just think it's way overblown.

And you could argue that Sargent or Haji Wright took Pepi's spot instead of Jesus (who is a much different skillset than Pepi).
Pepi should have been there in place of Haji. If nothing else than to give Pepi a first look at the WC to see how things are done. There was no upside to Haji taking a roster spot.

I always said one of the biggest issues with missing the 2018 world cup was that CP10 missed out on the opportunity to go and get a feel for the WC.
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JJxvi
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11:18a, 6/19/23
AG
The upside was that Haji Wright would be a striker that would actually score a goal...
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deadbq03
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11:44a, 6/19/23
AG
I'm not explaining myself well, so I should probably stop.

But for the record, I don't think Pepi is good either. My comparison was meant as a denigration of Jozy, not a praise of Pepi. And I'll freely admit I was unaware of how awesome Jozy was for two seasons... I didn't pay close attention to soccer until 2017ish, which was a heck of a bad time to do so.

But I don't care what sport it is, peaking at 22-24 isn't good. Jozy has a ton of goals because he has a ton of caps... because guys behind him were utter trash. I'll let y'all do the math on what Ferreira or Pepi are on pace to do for the USMNT if they ever get to 115 caps. And again, I don't think either are good, but they're basically par for being as productive for us as Jozy was in his career.

So to Dre's point - if he was our best striker - we should hope for a lot more. Early returns on Balogun are exciting, and I hope he continues to progress.
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JJxvi
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11:48a, 6/19/23
AG
Quote:
I'll let y'all do the math on what Ferreira or Pepi are on pace to do for the USMNT if they ever get to 115 caps
Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi, upon retiring with exactly 115 caps each, could look back on their 51 (Jesus) and 50 (Pepi) goals with great pride.

Also, between the two of them, they will have scored 40 goals against Grenada which just doesnt seem fair.
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aggiebird02
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11:51a, 6/19/23
PatAg
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4:11p, 6/19/23
AG
I was not expecting Musah to be as good at defensive mid as he was...I think it opens a lot more options in the midfield than we had before
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boogieman
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4:22p, 6/19/23
AG

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GrapevineAg
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5:53p, 6/19/23
AG
deux a zero
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LeonardSkinner
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6:22p, 6/19/23
Couple of clickbait pieces out there about Reyna's injury. Any real news?
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Rudyjax
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8:07p, 6/19/23
AG
NSIAP.

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akm91
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9:24p, 6/19/23
AG
This is just awesome!

"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
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