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Uh oh…USA is toast.

New England lost. 0-3 and then on penalties. Lol. Looks like MLS might blow it afterall.
And Montreal's draw wasnt enough to get them through. I told you.

Seattle is up 3-0 on Leon but go down there to tonigbt. I think they get it done, but it will be close. Maybe 2-0, 3-1 something like that. Or maybe they advance on PKs after getting beat 3-0.

Luckily NYCFC made it to the semis without having to play a Liga MX team and would get Seattle next so they'd probably be the first team to make it to the final without facing a Mexican side.
 
And Montreal's draw wasnt enough to get them through. I told you.

Seattle is up 3-0 on Leon but go down there to tonigbt. I think they get it done, but it will be close. Maybe 2-0, 3-1 something like that. Or maybe they advance on PKs after getting beat 3-0.

Luckily NYCFC made it to the semis without having to play a Liga MX team and would get Seattle next so they'd probably be the first team to make it to the final without facing a Mexican side.
Who thought Montreal would win being down 1-0 going to Mexico? No one. But I assumed New England would get through. But I know nothing about MLS so what do I know? I turned on the beginning of the New England game expecting to see Walker Zimmerman and didn’t realize he doesn’t play for them.
 
Zardes MLS team is now shopping him because even they have better options.

this window, man…they have never won in Mexico, then they play a tough Panama team at home, then go to Costa Rica, where they have never won. I don’t know how he manages this, but you’d think he okays he best squad for the home match right? 3 pts vs Panama is most critical. But if he messes around and doesn’t put out a strong line up in the two away games, they’re toast. That Panama match is going to be so nerve racking, unless they somehow make history and win in Mexico.
They currently have a 3 game winning streak over Mexico and all three where championship matches or WCQ.
 
They currently have a 3 game winning streak over Mexico and all three where championship matches or WCQ.
I sense optimism and I hope you’re right. It’s an odd day and age. In the NFL we have the not your fathers Steelers very active on the first day of free agency. And in international soccer, we have not your fathers Mexico team that looks to be old and ready for a rebuild. But until the USA wins in qualifying in the Azteca, I’m not going to get my hopes up.

that said, Mexico can easily get 9 points this window and win Concacaf. And some might say they should. They are essentially guaranteed 6 points and the question will be their home match vs the US.
 
I sense optimism and I hope you’re right. It’s an odd day and age. In the NFL we have the not your fathers Steelers very active on the first day of free agency. And in international soccer, we have not your fathers Mexico team that looks to be old and ready for a rebuild. But until the USA wins in qualifying in the Azteca, I’m not going to get my hopes up.

that said, Mexico can easily get 9 points this window and win Concacaf. And some might say they should. They are essentially guaranteed 6 points and the question will be their home match vs the US.
It's not a sure thing, be we've had Mexico's number lately. it does suck that some of our best players will be out.
 
Who thought Montreal would win being down 1-0 going to Mexico? No one. But I assumed New England would get through. But I know nothing about MLS so what do I know? I turned on the beginning of the New England game expecting to see Walker Zimmerman and didn’t realize he doesn’t play for them.
They lost 1-0 in Mexico. They played in Montreal and needed a 1-0 win to send it to PKs or a 2 goal win.....well if they still have the away goals rule, not sure.

I didnt think they'd do it. I did think New England had a great chance. Maybe they should play Kizza.
 
.well if they still have the away goals rule, not sure.


They do. The New England - Pumas game went to extra time because both teams won 3-0 at home (if that's not proof that Liga MX is better I don't know what is!). The NYCFC - Comunicaciones match ended 5-5, but it did not go to extra time because NYCFC scored two goals in Guatemala and Comunicaciones only scored one in Connecticut.
 
But until the USA wins in qualifying in the Azteca, I’m not going to get my hopes up.


In competitive games (WC Qualifying, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup) at the Azteca the US is 0-7-3 and has been outscored 19-5. The only good thing about it is that two of the draws were the last two qualifiers played there.

Given the teams current form, you'd like to think we could at least get a point, but as you say, I'll believe it when I see it.
 
In competitive games (WC Qualifying, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup) at the Azteca the US is 0-7-3 and has been outscored 19-5. The only good thing about it is that two of the draws were the last two qualifiers played there.

Given the teams current form, you'd like to think we could at least get a point, but as you say, I'll believe it when I see it.
Just wondering, do you know the Costa Rica record? It’s just as bad?
 
Just wondering, do you know the Costa Rica record? It’s just as bad?


Just as bad? It's actually WORSE!

The US is 0-9-1 all time in qualifiers in Costa Rica. And the tie was actually the first time they played one (a 1-1 draw in 1985). So Costa Rica is on a nine game home winning streak against the US in qualifiers. Combined score, 24-7.
 
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Good news! No Gyasi Zardes!

Bad news. Sergino Dest got hurt in Barca's Europa League game today. He is out for their game this weekend, and surely isn't going to be able to play for the US next week.
 
I wanna see aggression out of the gate in Mexico City. I'd start the following:

GK: Steffen
RB: Reggie Cannon (in lieu of today's news of Dest picking up a knock)
CB: Zimmerman
CB: M. Robinson
LB: A. Robinson
DMF: Adams
CM: De La Torre
CM: Musah
LW: Puli
RW: Weah
CF: Pefok (Most in form)

Bring in the Energizer Bunny and Reyna in the 2nd half along with hopefully the good Kellyn Acosta to keep things tight on defense.

What a slap in the face to Josh Sargent. Paul Arriola gets a bid over him. Sargent has seen good minutes and played decently for a relegation team. Arriola stinks.

I'm ok with Morris, even though I've always held it against him that he was scared to give it a go in Germany.
 
Good news! No Gyasi Zardes!

Bad news. Sergino Dest got hurt in Barca's Europa League game today. He is out for their game this weekend, and surely isn't going to be able to play for the US next week.
So of our top 5 (Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie, adams, Dest), only one is fully fit, 2 are out, and two with recent injuries. Brilliant.

pulisic hopefully sits this weekend in the FA Cup.
 
So of our top 5 (Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie, adams, Dest), only one is fully fit, 2 are out, and two with recent injuries. Brilliant.


That's why you don't give away games early in the cycle. You just never know what's going to happen six months down the line.
 
They do. The New England - Pumas game went to extra time because both teams won 3-0 at home (if that's not proof that Liga MX is better I don't know what is!). The NYCFC - Comunicaciones match ended 5-5, but it did not go to extra time because NYCFC scored two goals in Guatemala and Comunicaciones only scored one in Connecticut.
They credit Communicaciones for scoring in Connecticut?

I'm looking forward to see where NYCFC plays Seattle. I wonder if Highmark Stadium will bid for it. They host anything and everything at that place. Might have to be 2PM on a Tuesday though before Pitt lacrosse and the U12 Girls team practice
 
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They credit Communicaciones for scoring in Connecticut?

I'm looking forward to see where NYCFC plays Seattle. I wonder if Highmark Stadium will bid for it. They host anything and everything at that place. Might have to be 2PM on a Tuesday though before Pitt lacrosse and the U12 Girls team practice
Man, I watched the Seattle game until they scored. It wasn’t bad. The play to score the goal was pretty good. But after that goal there was no way they weren’t winning so I flipped over to hoops and the Pens, and then flipped back to see the final whistle. Funny though, I still don’t know who won the Pens game. It was 2-2 late and I never flipped back. I’ve been up for 2.5 hours this AM and still haven’t checked to see who won. That goes to show you how I feel about hockey. I know who won the Concacaf champions league match, I know Everton beat New Castle in the 99th minute and Super Frank Lampard broke his hand celebrating, I know Berhalter didn’t select his boy Zardes, but I still don’t know what the Penguins did.
 
Man, I watched the Seattle game until they scored. It wasn’t bad. The play to score the goal was pretty good. But after that goal there was no way they weren’t winning so I flipped over to hoops and the Pens, and then flipped back to see the final whistle. Funny though, I still don’t know who won the Pens game. It was 2-2 late and I never flipped back. I’ve been up for 2.5 hours this AM and still haven’t checked to see who won. That goes to show you how I feel about hockey. I know who won the Concacaf champions league match, I know Everton beat New Castle in the 99th minute and Super Frank Lampard broke his hand celebrating, I know Berhalter didn’t select his boy Zardes, but I still don’t know what the Penguins did.
You're a soccer fan so I don't know what that proves. I couldn't name more than 2 players on the Pens.

BTW, off-topic but Wake is on a Spring Break England tour. They played Brentford's B team and Leicester City's U23s. Would be cool if Pitt did that
 
You're a soccer fan so I don't know what that proves. I couldn't name more than 2 players on the Pens.

BTW, off-topic but Wake is on a Spring Break England tour. They played Brentford's B team and Leicester City's U23s. Would be cool if Pitt did that
My daughters BF from England is with us for Spring Break. He told me lots of interesting stories about those matches and the results because he knows people who participated. It’s tough to measure because Wake actually had significant success on the trip and actually won a match. Wake got to tour and train at those clubs. Leicesters new facility is the gold standard. I think they played Derby County too and had the red carpet rolled out by Wayne Rooney.
 
They do. The New England - Pumas game went to extra time because both teams won 3-0 at home (if that's not proof that Liga MX is better I don't know what is!).
What? Why is that proof that Liga MX is better? They BOTH got the SAME result? Just trying to understand the comment?
 
What? Why is that proof that Liga MX is better? They BOTH got the SAME result? Just trying to understand the comment?


Yeah, FK has it right. There is a certain someone here who thinks that Liga MX is vastly superior, and the fact that Pumas advanced on penalty kicks after two games that were essentially the same (other than the fact that Pumas got an extra 30 minutes at home to try to win the match) proves his point.

As long as you ignore what actually happened.
 
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Man, I watched the Seattle game until they scored. It wasn’t bad. The play to score the goal was pretty good. But after that goal there was no way they weren’t winning so I flipped over to hoops and the Pens, and then flipped back to see the final whistle. Funny though, I still don’t know who won the Pens game. It was 2-2 late and I never flipped back. I’ve been up for 2.5 hours this AM and still haven’t checked to see who won. That goes to show you how I feel about hockey. I know who won the Concacaf champions league match, I know Everton beat New Castle in the 99th minute and Super Frank Lampard broke his hand celebrating, I know Berhalter didn’t select his boy Zardes, but I still don’t know what the Penguins did.
What a phenomenal 3 points that was for Everton. They were very limp and then boom, a stoppage time thriller while 1 man down.

Then damn, just now, Jesse Marsch led Leeds come back from 0-2 to pull out a 3-2 win.
 
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What a phenomenal 3 points that was for Everton. They were very limp and then boom, a stoppage time thriller while 1 man down.

Then damn, just now, Jesse Marsch led Leeds come back from 0-2 to pull out a 3-2 win.
whoa! I didn’t see that! That’s awesome!
 
Well we might have dodged a bullet today. Before every chelsea game, I’m on twitter an hour before the game to check for the starting lineup and usually I’m hoping Pulisic is in it. Well today I was disappointed when I saw he was in it. I didn’t want an injury before the international window.

and wouldn’t you know, he seemed to have picked up a little niggle. It doesn’t appear to be anything major as he didn’t come off and played until he was subbed off late. But he didn’t look like himself. It’s something to watch out for.
 
I checked to see how our USA boys did in Bundesliga this weekend, and it looks like Dortmund (Reyna) plays today. But I noticed that Pepi is still in bad form. His team was tied for most of the 2nd half and needed a goal. They never brought him into the game when they are fighting relegation.

I don’t care if it’s the EPL, Bundesliga, MLS, or the Swiss league. Our #9 needs to be someone who is scoring goals and Pepi hasn’t scored since October. Hopefully Pefok (from a weak league) gets the start vs Panama. And I’d have rostered Sargent over Pepi right now. At least Sargent starts in the Premier League, so he’s doing something right that Pepi isn’t. But maybe it’s tactical for Berhalter to roster him because Sargent has been playing on the wing and not as a 9.
 
I checked to see how our USA boys did in Bundesliga this weekend, and it looks like Dortmund (Reyna) plays today. But I noticed that Pepi is still in bad form. His team was tied for most of the 2nd half and needed a goal. They never brought him into the game when they are fighting relegation.

I don’t care if it’s the EPL, Bundesliga, MLS, or the Swiss league. Our #9 needs to be someone who is scoring goals and Pepi hasn’t scored since October. Hopefully Pefok (from a weak league) gets the start vs Panama. And I’d have rostered Sargent over Pepi right now. At least Sargent starts in the Premier League, so he’s doing something right that Pepi isn’t. But maybe it’s tactical for Berhalter to roster him because Sargent has been playing on the wing and not as a 9.
I'd have Pefok starting @ Mexico as well.

Derp is just a moron. I'm really glad to see that loyal soldado Paul Arrieola get a run this window over Sargent. I was shocked to see Busio, I must've misheard that he picked up a knock in Italy and wouldn't be available.

Let's just hope for no injuries to front end of the park, that's the excuse Derp will use to bring Ole Gyasi back into the mix and start him one of the matches.

I wouldn't have brought Pepi. He needs to figure it out in Germany right now.
 
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OMG search the own goal on steffen just now! Incredible. Man city tied at the half.
 
BTW, according to the on screen guide CBS is showing the game at Mexico on Thursday on CBSSN. But at this time they have no games or studio shows or anything scheduled for the following Wednesday when the US is playing at Costa Rica. If that game ends up being meaningful and they have the game on streaming only they are going to piss off a lot of fans.
 
BTW, according to the on screen guide CBS is showing the game at Mexico on Thursday on CBSSN. But at this time they have no games or studio shows or anything scheduled for the following Wednesday when the US is playing at Costa Rica. If that game ends up being meaningful and they have the game on streaming only they are going to piss off a lot of fans.
Since when has this federation cared about its fans?
 
Since when has this federation cared about its fans?


The federation might get the blame, but this really won't be their fault. They don't own the television rights to the away games, so they have no control over who they get sold to and they have no control over what the person that buys the rights decides to do with them.

What I've always said that they should do is that they should tell these other countries that if they do not sell the rights to the games to someone who will make the games widely available in the US that the US will simply not be selling the rights to the game in the US to any broadcasters in their country under any circumstances.

"Costa Rica, you want to sell the rights to the US at Costa Rica game to someone who is planning on making the game available only on a streaming service, that's fine, it's your right. We will thus be refusing to sell the rights to show the Costa Rica at US game to any broadcasters or streamers in Costa Rica. If you won't make the games widely available to people in the US we will likewise not be making the games widely available to people in Costa Rica"

For whatever reason, they've never had the balls to tell anyone that.
 
Brenden Aaronson was pulled from the starting lineup for Salzburg ten minutes before kickoff with a knee injury today.

Uh oh.
 
Brenden Aaronson was pulled from the starting lineup for Salzburg ten minutes before kickoff with a knee injury today.

Uh oh.
I mean, every one of our top 6 players have injury questions. Unreal.

gurantee if it’s even minor, his club will talk to USA about not releasing him.
 
Didn’t realize this, and I can’t believe I didn’t. But the US has had 2 GK starters in the 4 FA Cup quarterfinal round. Guess I didn’t count on Steffen being fit. But he played and won, and now Horvath is playing vs Liverpool and just had a great 1v1 save on Firminho.
 
Brenden Aaronson was pulled from the starting lineup for Salzburg ten minutes before kickoff with a knee injury today.

Uh oh.
Oh goodie, Derp undoubtedly has called Zardes and told him to be ready last minute to A. be ready for a callup and B. be ready to start in Mexico
 
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