soccer soccer soccer

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

A little surprised but not upset at Richards over Miles. Happy that Weah starts here since I think that sets up well for Aaronson to relieve him tonight and go 90 against Canada. Apprehensive about Ferreira over the striker alternatives.

[wolf stansson]

I think the Ferreira choice is ggg being too cute, but if it works, it could be really fun watching him combine with surging runs from the wing from Weah/Pulisic, and from the middle with McKennie/Musah. I see what he’s trying for, but I would start Pefok based on form (oh wait).

[stitchface]

Conmebol chaos Brazil at Ecuador.

 

Game doesn't matter to Brazil and Ecuador is near certain to qualify also. First, it's in Quito at 9350 feet elevation.

 

5 minutes in, Brazil scores sloppy goal. Minutes later, Ecuador keeper comes out and kicks Brazil player in the throat when he realizes ball is outside box still and he tries to clear. Not 30 seconds after the restart, Emerson Royal tries to clear ball and kicks Ecuador player in crotch from behind getting a deserved yellow - and it's his second, so its 10v10 after 20 minutes. Not to be outdone, Allison then comes out of box and clears ball with high boot that comes down on Ecuadorean player's head - he is sent off. Only VAR review saves him and it's reduced to a yellow (I think the correct call).

 

in extra time, tied 1-1, Allison gives up a penalty and gets his second yellow, getting sent off again. Except VAR reverses this one also! New record for reversed reds? Ends 1-1

[UMFan83]

Guessing they're hoping (if needed) they can bring Pepi on for 20-30 minutes. It's not a bad sub to have in your back pocket at all.

[UMFan83]

Very meh first 45.

[wolf stansson]

Fake injury celebration got me

[wolf stansson]

Pulisic has been absolute garbage

 

MMA has been incredible

[UMFan83]

Mexico about to win, Canada winning. Can we get some help from Costa Rica please?

[UMFan83]

Pulisic has been absolute garbage

 

MMA has been incredible

 

Re: Pulisic I wonder how much not playing at Chelsea affects him when he comes over

[UMFan83]

2 of the 3 scenarios I mentioned earlier no longer apply. After tonight, I think this path is correct but keep me honest

 

1. USA wins at Canada and vs. Honduras

2. Panama loses vs Jamaica and @ Mexico

3. Costa Rica loses to Jamaica

 

Think Costa Rica could still tie us in the final window but they'd have to make up an 8 GD.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

2 of the 3 scenarios I mentioned earlier no longer apply. After tonight, I think this path is correct but keep me honest

 

1. USA wins at Canada and vs. Honduras

2. Panama loses vs Jamaica and @ Mexico

3. Costa Rica loses to Jamaica

 

Think Costa Rica could still tie us in the final window but they'd have to make up an 8 GD.

 

 

This is the path to auto-qualification:

 

USA win @ Canada

Mexico win or draw v. CR

Jamaica win @ Panama

 

 

USA win v. Honduras

Jamaica win or draw v. CR

Mexico win v. Panama

 

 

Functional qualification(+9 points and lots of GD) means Panama can draw one instead of losing twice, and CR can win one/lose one instead of lose/draw + lose/draw.

 

In other words, if functional or auto qualification is possible after this next matchday, we've gotten over the biggest hurdles to doing so.

[soccer10k]

So from a purely results based perspective and ignoring the rivalry, we want Mexico to win their next two games against CR and Panama, right? Not only do Mexico have 4 of 5 remaining games at home but their one road game is against Honduras, who is bottom of the group.

 

Ultimately it shouldn’t matter if we just win our two home games. That would put us on 24 points. Panama would have to pick up 10 points from their other 4 games just to tie and Costa Rica would have to pick up 9 points from their other 4 games (assuming they beat us). So in the scenario where we win our home games, Panama would have to at least tie Mexico and CR would either have to get a result in Mexico or win their other three games.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So from a purely results based perspective and ignoring the rivalry, we want Mexico to win their next two games against CR and Panama, right? Not only do Mexico have 4 of 5 remaining games at home but their one road game is against Honduras, who is bottom of the group.

 

Ultimately it shouldn’t matter if we just win our two home games. That would put us on 24 points. Panama would have to pick up 10 points from their other 4 games just to tie and Costa Rica would have to pick up 9 points from their other 4 games (assuming they beat us). So in the scenario where we win our home games, Panama would have to at least tie Mexico and CR would either have to get a result in Mexico or win their other three games.

 

Yes. Mexico pulling themselves out of the fire last night(down 1-0 to 10 man Jamaica in the 80th minute) means that while Panama and CR could still technically ruin things for them, it's more likely they can help the US through winning than on a minimal chance of schadenfreude in falling to 4th or 5th.

 

This next matchday will be illuminating, because Mexico gets CR and Panama has their only home game of the window. The US will be favorites to gain points on both in the 3rd matchday so if they get points and/or Panama slips to Jamaica, things can open up(or conversely, tighten) quickly.

[stitchface]

the US will qualify. Panama's schedule is so tough - they won't make up four points.

 

That said, the US needs to be much better - great the way they dominated but they need to score. The whole left side of the attack was so disorganized.

[UMFan83]

Here are the updated charts after yesterdays games. Needless to say, things are looking pretty pretty good.

 

[wolf stansson]

I’d like to see some stats on the MMA midfield. Who’s got the good stuff for me?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I’d like to see some stats on the MMA midfield. Who’s got the good stuff for me?

 

Their jersey numbers add up to 18, which is the same as the total number of letters in their last names.

[stitchface]

they better win sunday. I don't like being behind hockeyland

[UMFan83]

they better win sunday. I don't like being behind hockeyland

 

yeah its ridiculous that they are ahead of our super big soccer nation

[imb]

Looks like lampard is gonna be the next everton manager. I can definitely see Pulisic ending up there. In fact, in almost every FM sim I do, that's where he goes.

[wolf stansson]

 

 

Uh, no thank you? WTF?

[wolf stansson]

 

Cowards. Let him in.

[wolf stansson]

I have a friend who’s second shot was delayed by getting covid between shots, so I know it’s a thing, but looking at the timeline, he could have made time to get the second dose. He just didn’t have to for France and clearly didn’t factor in international travel requirements that might be different. A little annoying that he let this happen, but understandable.

 

When we smoked them 4-1 in nations league, Jordan Morris was MOTM. So they’re vulnerable to fast, powerful wingers, which Weah is, but on the other hand, we still have J Mo. be interesting to see if he or Aaronson get the nod.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Annoying, but I mentally wasn't considering that they'd push Weah too hard in this one given his fitness and starting on Thursday. Aaronson's defensive workrate or Morris's danger in transition will work fine.

[stitchface]

Looks like lampard is gonna be the next everton manager. I can definitely see Pulisic ending up there. In fact, in almost every FM sim I do, that's where he goes.

 

gross