soccer soccer soccer

[UMFan83]

Almost a worse case scenario night. Panama and Costa Rica both cut the US lead over playoff and out to 1 and 6 points (from 3 and 8) and it’s only halftime but I think a tie would be the optimal result between Canada and Mexico which is not the case so far. Only thing worse would be the US getting 0 points instead of 1

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Assuming this result holds, records against the top 4 of the ocho:

 

Canada: 4 games, 8 points

US/Panama: 3 games, 4 points

Mexico: 4 games, 2 points

 

who wouldve guessed Mexico would have to be bumslayers to advance

[pitchcs]

As a very novice fan until WC rolls along, it seems as though the US 2nd half schedule is set up well? The easier opponents at home for 7-9 points and a shot to grab a few on the road at tougher opponents? Could they go worse than 2-0-1 at home?

[bukie]

As a very novice fan until WC rolls along, it seems as though the US 2nd half schedule is set up well? The easier opponents at home for 7-9 points and a shot to grab a few on the road at tougher opponents? Could they go worse than 2-0-1 at home?

The concerning thing is that their 3 toughest road games are left, and their last cycle includes 2 of them and a home game v Panama, so it'd be nice to have some clearance on qualification going into that.

[soccer10k]

As a very novice fan until WC rolls along, it seems as though the US 2nd half schedule is set up well? The easier opponents at home for 7-9 points and a shot to grab a few on the road at tougher opponents? Could they go worse than 2-0-1 at home?

The concerning thing is that their 3 toughest road games are left, and their last cycle includes 2 of them and a home game v Panama, so it'd be nice to have some clearance on qualification going into that.

 

Yep. That’s why the next cycle in January is huge. Don’t want to have to go into the last couple matches needing a win to finish third.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

One minor plus, the US now have 5 straight games in North America before the last game in Costa Rica, so crappy field conditions and similar CONCACAFery shouldn't hold them back.

 

Speaking of this, Canada is basically the opposite, they still have 4 road games and they're all against central american teams. If they struggle like the US has they could slip fairly quickly.

 

 

Here's the next window for the contenders:

 

Canada: @ Honduras, v. USMNT, @ El Salvador

USMNT: v. El Salvador, @ Canada, v. Honduras

Mexico: @ Jamaica, v. Costa Rica, v. Panama

Panama: @ Costa Rica, v. Jamaica, @ Mexico

 

yeah the US really needs to be comfortably clear of the playoff after this window.

[UMFan83]

As a very novice fan until WC rolls along, it seems as though the US 2nd half schedule is set up well? The easier opponents at home for 7-9 points and a shot to grab a few on the road at tougher opponents? Could they go worse than 2-0-1 at home?

The concerning thing is that their 3 toughest road games are left, and their last cycle includes 2 of them and a home game v Panama, so it'd be nice to have some clearance on qualification going into that.

 

You’d consider at Costa Rica tougher than at Panama at this point?

[bukie]

As a very novice fan until WC rolls along, it seems as though the US 2nd half schedule is set up well? The easier opponents at home for 7-9 points and a shot to grab a few on the road at tougher opponents? Could they go worse than 2-0-1 at home?

The concerning thing is that their 3 toughest road games are left, and their last cycle includes 2 of them and a home game v Panama, so it'd be nice to have some clearance on qualification going into that.

 

You’d consider at Costa Rica tougher than at Panama at this point?

Yes, without a doubt. Never win in Costa Rica and got destroyed by them 5 years ago in the previous qualifying cycle.

[soccer10k]

One minor plus, the US now have 5 straight games in North America before the last game in Costa Rica, so crappy field conditions and similar CONCACAFery shouldn't hold them back.

 

Speaking of this, Canada is basically the opposite, they still have 4 road games and they're all against central american teams. If they struggle like the US has they could slip fairly quickly.

 

 

Here's the next window for the contenders:

 

Canada: @ Honduras, v. USMNT, @ El Salvador

USMNT: v. El Salvador, @ Canada, v. Honduras

Mexico: @ Jamaica, v. Costa Rica, v. Panama

Panama: @ Costa Rica, v. Jamaica, @ Mexico

 

yeah the US really needs to be comfortably clear of the playoff after this window.

 

Go Costa Rica and go Mexico. I feel dirty just typing that.

[wolf stansson]

Pretty clear that to reach our potential, we need a healthy MMA midfield to play. Every game where one of those guys is unavailable, we struggle to execute our game. Aaronson also has emerged as the clear bench candidate when Reyna and/or Pulisic are fit.

[Rex Buckingham]

Really need Reyna and Dest to be healthy next cycle, and the full MMA midfield available.

 

Also, Antonee Robinson was terrible last night. I know he's been solid, but he constantly killed our attacks on the left with poor touch and overdribbling

[UMFan83]

One minor plus, the US now have 5 straight games in North America before the last game in Costa Rica, so crappy field conditions and similar CONCACAFery shouldn't hold them back.

 

Speaking of this, Canada is basically the opposite, they still have 4 road games and they're all against central american teams. If they struggle like the US has they could slip fairly quickly.

 

 

Here's the next window for the contenders:

 

Canada: @ Honduras, v. USMNT, @ El Salvador

USMNT: v. El Salvador, @ Canada, v. Honduras

Mexico: @ Jamaica, v. Costa Rica, v. Panama

Panama: @ Costa Rica, v. Jamaica, @ Mexico

 

yeah the US really needs to be comfortably clear of the playoff after this window.

 

I'd feel better if the central American teams Canada was facing weren't the teams that have a combined 1 win so far in the octo.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

One minor plus, the US now have 5 straight games in North America before the last game in Costa Rica, so crappy field conditions and similar CONCACAFery shouldn't hold them back.

 

Speaking of this, Canada is basically the opposite, they still have 4 road games and they're all against central american teams. If they struggle like the US has they could slip fairly quickly.

 

 

Here's the next window for the contenders:

 

Canada: @ Honduras, v. USMNT, @ El Salvador

USMNT: v. El Salvador, @ Canada, v. Honduras

Mexico: @ Jamaica, v. Costa Rica, v. Panama

Panama: @ Costa Rica, v. Jamaica, @ Mexico

 

yeah the US really needs to be comfortably clear of the playoff after this window.

 

I'd feel better if the central American teams Canada was facing weren't the teams that have a combined 1 win so far in the octo.

 

It's one of those things where Canada(and Mexico) don't really matter unless they start dropping games like that. In this next window Canada's only really relevant head to head, Mexico playing CR and Panama at home is where we'll either get separation of the Top 3 or Mexico will find themselves in a much less comfortable place than they want to be.

[UMFan83]

 

Speaking of this, Canada is basically the opposite, they still have 4 road games and they're all against central american teams. If they struggle like the US has they could slip fairly quickly.

 

 

Here's the next window for the contenders:

 

Canada: @ Honduras, v. USMNT, @ El Salvador

USMNT: v. El Salvador, @ Canada, v. Honduras

Mexico: @ Jamaica, v. Costa Rica, v. Panama

Panama: @ Costa Rica, v. Jamaica, @ Mexico

 

yeah the US really needs to be comfortably clear of the playoff after this window.

 

I'd feel better if the central American teams Canada was facing weren't the teams that have a combined 1 win so far in the octo.

 

It's one of those things where Canada(and Mexico) don't really matter unless they start dropping games like that. In this next window Canada's only really relevant head to head, Mexico playing CR and Panama at home is where we'll either get separation of the Top 3 or Mexico will find themselves in a much less comfortable place than they want to be.

 

I'd argue that all 3 of the other teams at the top are relevant since they are separated by 2 points. That said it only takes one of them to fall off to feel pretty secure of a top 3 finish. Panama is clearly the weakest of the bunch so I see how you can say Canada and Mexico arent relevant since they are likely to continue towards qualifying, but you never know. Basically the US has 3 home games left, 2 against the aforementioned 1 combined win CONCACAF teams and then Panama. Win all 3 of those and there is nothing to worry about.

[soccer10k]

As if the table wasn't enough to show the gap between the top 4 and bottom 4.

 

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[imb]

Pulisic starting at the 9 today. I’d like to see Greg try this more often

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pulisic starting at the 9 today. I’d like to see Greg try this more often

 

I am open to the tactical idea here, although on the US team that needs a target at times that part would be rough. What tips me against it is Pulisic getting bludgeoned for 90 minutes by CONCACAF center backs in games officiated by CONCACAF refs might take a decade off his career.

[bukie]

Chelsea-Juventus UCL match, with both Pulisic and McKennie starting opposite each other. Get hype.

[bukie]

Pulisic starting at the 9 today. I’d like to see Greg try this more often

Couple it with Dest as a winger, anything to generate some offense against the CONCACAF slop.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So with the reasonable assumption that Benfica beats an already-eliminated Dynamo Kiev at home, Barcelona has to beat Bayern in Munich to stay out of the Europa League, woof

[soccer10k]

So with the reasonable assumption that Benfica beats an already-eliminated Dynamo Kiev at home, Barcelona has to beat Bayern in Munich to stay out of the Europa League, woof

 

Guessing Bayern won’t be playing their first team though, especially since they play at Dortmund the Saturday before.

 

Final game of the group in 2018-19, Spurs were tied with Inter and held the tiebreaker. Spurs played at Barcelona who had already locked up the group while Inter hosted PSV, who had nothing to play for. Spurs managed a draw while Inter couldn’t beat PSV and Spurs advanced.

 

That’s not to say Barcelona is going to win or Benfica won’t win of course. Just that it’s not as tough for Barcelona as it seems.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

an incredibly good and just sport, definitely worth my emotional investment

 

 

[stitchface]

So with the reasonable assumption that Benfica beats an already-eliminated Dynamo Kiev at home, Barcelona has to beat Bayern in Munich to stay out of the Europa League, woof

 

Honestly, getting several Europa league games instead of going out in the round of 16 is probably better for Barcelona at this point. Get more experience, maybe build some confidence. I thought they played well yesterday - just lack scoring impetus. Getting Fati and Dembele healthy at the same time and getting a 9 better than Memphis would sure help. Dest came on as a left wing for the last 20 or so.

 

Hate hate hate Pulisic as a 9. Why would we want him there? Need Pulisic running at defenders.

[stitchface]

Italy and Portugal drawn together so one of them misses World Cup 2022. Hard to believe.

[bukie]

Italy and Portugal drawn together so one of them misses World Cup 2022. Hard to believe.

That's good for the USMNT pot 1 chances. Currently ranked 12th, and now only needs to be top 8 to get seeded

 

Also, the intercontinental draw was made, and the 4th place CONCACAF team will play the Oceania team in a playoff.