USMNT - ‘23 and beyond (6 Viewers)

[efil4stnias]

"The difference was the way they fight for the game," Pochettino said. "They were hungry for every single ball. Every ball was the last one for Panama and, from the touchline, you feel that difference."

Pochettino was particularly upset with his team's first-half display, even though it nearly scored on several occasions.

"The way we approached the game and started the game wasn’t in the right way," Pochettino said. "The first half, we played too slow, [we were too] comfortable on the pitch. We didn’t show aggression with the ball."

He added: "The first half was really painful to see."

Pochettino explains why Luna and Reyna didn't play in Panama loss

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has explained why playmakers Diego Luna and Gio Reyna stayed on the bench during a 1-0 loss to Panama.

prosoccerwire.usatoday.com

recurring theme with this squad- not sure what the answer is at this point.

 

[Beast]

Very risk adverse and mostly content to possess the ball.

With Panama playing 5 at the back, there should have been spaces in behind the wingbacks to counter/attack quickly, and I think we saw some of that with all the room Musah had over there early. But he’s not really who you’d want attacking in that situation. Weah at RB would have been better IMO.

And seems like while Panama was trying to clog the middle, we were as well, wirh Pulisic drifting inside often. And then we’re still lobbing balls into the box hoping something connects.

We really needed someone like Reyna (or even Pulisic) to just be willing to take them on and beat one or two defenders one on one to open things.
Felt very much like a Berhalter game.

 

[efil4stnias]

We really needed someone like Reyna (or even Pulisic) to just be willing to take them on and beat one or two defenders one on one to open things.
Felt very much like a Berhalter game.

been saying this for what feels like an eternity now.

We HAVE the quality/player to do this- and they simply dont. I think still living that muscle memory from Berhalter days. Dont want to be the guy dispossessed which turns into a counter and goal. So fearful of that.

I do think the narrow field last night messed with them some. Needed way more quick decisions and movement and we got slow, methodical and pretty static movement. The few times in first, down Musah side, mid would make run diagonal toward corner, dragging 2 defenders opening up space, then Josh would make his run, one defender, and Musah wouldnt make the pass. Happened 3-4 times and im like DUDE PASS THE !@#!#!@# BALL would ya?!?!?nope- back to Richards to cycle back n forth.
Musah seemed quite slow in recognition and movement last night as well as getting muscled off ball a few times where i thought, hmm thats unusual for him ( possession is a strong point ) Maybe an off night but damn, one and done guys.