tysker said:

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Aston94 said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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On the centerback topic, I think I am ok with one of of Zimmerman or Long being in the game, but they NEED to be paired with another CB that is confident on the ball.

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*cough* Tim Ream *cough* *cough* John Brooks *cough*

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Chris Richards, McKenzie

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Tim Ream is captaining an EPL team. Richards isnt even playing.
I dont really care either way, I just think its funny how fans dont want to bring the players best suited for the system then complain that the system isnt working

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Maybe adapt the system to fit your best players?

Zimmerman and Long are not asked to play out of the back for their clubs like Berhalter wants them to do, so they are not good fits for his system either.

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I dont think defenders are being tasked with playing form the back as much as being able to handle a high press.

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Weren't there 17 turnovers between the 2 of them?

PatAg said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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On the centerback topic, I think I am ok with one of of Zimmerman or Long being in the game, but they NEED to be paired with another CB that is confident on the ball.

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*cough* Tim Ream *cough* *cough* John Brooks *cough*

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Chris Richards, McKenzie

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Should call Austen Trusty up, but its obviously to close to the WC for someone with no caps. One of the top performing CBs in the Championship.

Wow I sadly had no clue about him. This might not be his cycle, but he's definitely one to watch for '26.

tysker said:

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Aston94 said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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On the centerback topic, I think I am ok with one of of Zimmerman or Long being in the game, but they NEED to be paired with another CB that is confident on the ball.

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*cough* Tim Ream *cough* *cough* John Brooks *cough*

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Chris Richards, McKenzie

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Tim Ream is captaining an EPL team. Richards isnt even playing.
I dont really care either way, I just think its funny how fans dont want to bring the players best suited for the system then complain that the system isnt working

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Maybe adapt the system to fit your best players?

Zimmerman and Long are not asked to play out of the back for their clubs like Berhalter wants them to do, so they are not good fits for his system either.

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I dont think defenders are being tasked with playing form the back as much as being able to handle a high press.

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I think the two go hand-in-hand.

To be fair to ggg, it doesn't help that Turner can't jack it deep. We'll always be hamstrung a little bit into short distribution with him back there (that said, his shot stopping is overwhelmingly worth keeping him in).

wangus12 said:

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PatAg said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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On the centerback topic, I think I am ok with one of of Zimmerman or Long being in the game, but they NEED to be paired with another CB that is confident on the ball.

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*cough* Tim Ream *cough* *cough* John Brooks *cough*

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Chris Richards, McKenzie

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Should call Austen Trusty up, but its obviously to close to the WC for someone with no caps. One of the top performing CBs in the Championship.

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Heck of a name for a CB

Also, FWIW, a friend of mine who's been a massive FFC fan for many years disagrees with a Ream call-up. Fulham are setup so his lack of pace doesn't get exposed. He'd be better in possession, but he'd be a liability against a quality attack.

I'm not sure that, even if we liked the keeper's power enough, we'd ever try to rely on long balls and hope we can win 50-50 balls and second balls. We're probably equally as bad at those things as we are at building out and combining from the back.

Japan was much sharper and quicker to the ball than we were and they pressed well together making it difficult to build out and combine. What do we expect out of Iran and Wales? Both are currently ranked slightly higher than Japan per fifa rankings. Because the game plan for getting 6 points in those two matches in Qatar is what we need to be working on in these friendlies.

Yeah I don't want to see long balls often… but if you do it maybe 25% of the time, you keep everyone a little bit more honest and lower the line of engagement a bit.

Agreed. The problem is that in the MLS both Long and Zimmerman play that style regularly (long balls out the back). Which is why it is so apparent that they struggle in the possession from the back style ggg likes to play. Also didn't help that 2 of the 3 midfielders played shockingly and gave next to no effort. McKennie and LDT. Wonder what the change in lineup does to the on field product tomorrow.

Yeah… and a Sands that did nothing over there. And a slow crappy field. It was a perfect storm of suck.

I'm hopeful that this is a wake up call. I'd much rather have it now than on Nov.

understood. you have to be able to do both. ..and good soccer players can combine with their teammates to break lines and they can win 50-50 balls in the air and second balls.. there's just always so much consternation about building from the back, when I think it's typically a problem for nearly all national teams since they don't spend as much time together.

also, USMNT did look sluggish and very sloppy vs Japan. the giveaways were too often and atrocious. I'd like to see them less hung over and sharper vs Saudi tomorrow. The central defenders should have zero giveaways like Long and Zimmerman had on Friday. Always take the easy pass, keep possession, and solve your problems safely back there. Let the #10 and wingers be creative and daring further up the pitch. Never central defenders. Maddening.

deadbq03 said:

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tysker said:

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Aston94 said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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tysker said:

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PatAg said:

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On the centerback topic, I think I am ok with one of of Zimmerman or Long being in the game, but they NEED to be paired with another CB that is confident on the ball.

---

*cough* Tim Ream *cough* *cough* John Brooks *cough*

---

Chris Richards, McKenzie

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Tim Ream is captaining an EPL team. Richards isnt even playing.
I dont really care either way, I just think its funny how fans dont want to bring the players best suited for the system then complain that the system isnt working

---

Maybe adapt the system to fit your best players?

Zimmerman and Long are not asked to play out of the back for their clubs like Berhalter wants them to do, so they are not good fits for his system either.

---

I dont think defenders are being tasked with playing form the back as much as being able to handle a high press.

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I think the two go hand-in-hand.

To be fair to ggg, it doesn't help that Turner can't jack it deep. We'll always be hamstrung a little bit into short distribution with him back there (that said, his shot stopping is overwhelmingly worth keeping him in).

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Exactly, when you play from the back you invite a high press.

For example, teams have begun nullifying Liverpool's high press by going over the top on them. Gregg wants to play from the back, but neither Long or Zimmerman play on club teams where they are asked to do such on a regular basis.

But Long and Zimmerman have played on a lot of different teams their whole lives and know how to stay connected and make passes. To me, their current club's base tactics is a poor excuse for some of those giveaways and not necessarily a knock of Greggg's tactics.

oh no said:

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But Long and Zimmerman have played on a lot of different teams their whole lives and know how to stay connected and make passes. To me, their current club's base tactics is a poor excuse for some of those giveaways and not necessarily a knock of Greggg's tactics.

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Whatever man. They aren't good at playing from the back and they are constantly asked to do so in this system. Blame whatever you want, those are the facts.

You thought Ream didn't play CB and primarily plays LB for Fulham, so I really question how much ou are watching any of them and their club level play.

Aston94 said:

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oh no said:

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But Long and Zimmerman have played on a lot of different teams their whole lives and know how to stay connected and make passes. To me, their current club's base tactics is a poor excuse for some of those giveaways and not necessarily a knock of Greggg's tactics.

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Whatever man. They aren't good at playing from the back and they are constantly asked to do so in this system. Blame whatever you want, those are the facts.

You thought Ream didn't play CB and primarily plays LB for Fulham, so I really question how much ou are watching any of them and their club level play.

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I think most people aren't watching the majority of club games our national team players play in. I do my best to only give my personal opinion on players I have actually watched games for, and not just highlights. Its almost impossible to watch them all.

Its ok to reference other people's analysis, but then we have to make sure to not just stick to it if it turns out to be wrong. So I think we all usually have a couple people we have found ourselves to agree with, and tend to trust their opinions.
Its actually pretty crazy how many of these national media members write articles without even watching the games, but then pass it off as fact.

I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

oh no said:

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I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

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Give me a break. Don't question everyone else and then get upset when you get questioned yourself

oh no said:

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I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

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Uh, I think most of us know that the LB for Fulham is Antonee Robinson, because like he plays for us too.

JJxvi said:

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oh no said:

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I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

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Uh, I think most of us know that the LB for Fulham is Antonee Robinson, because like he plays for us too.

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Pretty sure the only time I haven 't seen him play CB is for the US with a 3-4-3.

I cant wait until November when we get our every four years influx of drive-by know-it-alls
For like 6 weeks its going to be almost as bad as the basketball board

GAMEDAY. BOYS BETTER COME TO PLAY BECAUSE I BLAME GGG FOR THE INFIGHTING HE'S CAUSED ON THIS UTOPIA WE CALL THE TEXAS A&M SOCCER BOARD.

FIX IT GREGG

Ken Scarborough said:

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JJxvi said:

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oh no said:

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I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

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Uh, I think most of us know that the LB for Fulham is Antonee Robinson, because like he plays for us too.

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Pretty sure the only time I haven 't seen him play CB is for the US with a 3-4-3.

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Are you saying that Antonee primarily plays CB? Maybe you're thinking of Miles Robinson?

tysker said:

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I cant wait until November when we get our every four years influx of drive-by know-it-alls
For like 6 weeks its going to be almost as bad as the basketball board

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This is the internet. Where everyone is simultaneously absolutely right and 100% wrong.

Gameday!!!!!

Lineup I would like to see today (given we know that Pulisic and Pepi will be starting)


Pulisic----------Pepi----------Aaronson


-----------------Reyna----------------------


-----Adams--------------McKennie-------


Dest-----Zimmeman----McKenzie----Scally


---------------------Turner-----------------

I have a feeling Horvath will play instead of Turner, but honestly I would prefer Turner get the minutes with the 1st team on the field.

I like it. Hopefully we see Sargent get the full second half.

Sargent should be ahead of Pepi but GGG gonna gggg

I think Turner starts. Horvath/Johnson may get the 2nd half but neither is battling for starting job so makes no sense to start either in the last friendly.

I think Yedlin is locked in as Dest's backup as RB, especially after Cannon's performance and subsequent injury. I would love to see Scally start as LB to see how he performs, with Dest starting as RB.

Aston94 said:

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Lineup I would like to see today (given we know that Pulisic and Pepi will be starting)


Pulisic----------Pepi----------Aaronson


-----------------Reyna----------------------


-----Adams--------------McKennie-------


Dest-----Zimmeman----McKenzie----Scally


---------------------Turner-----------------

I have a feeling Horvath will play instead of Turner, but honestly I would prefer Turner get the minutes with the 1st team on the field.

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I think we REALLY need to get Reyna playing inside like this, and not being asked to be a winger in our system.
I like this lineup (assuming McKennie has a bounce back game), but Im still not entirely convinced he can be relied upon to handle and progress the ball under pressure at this point.

wangus12 said:

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Sargent should be ahead of Pepi but GGG gonna gggg

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Gotta think Sargent is in and Pepi is fighting for a last spot with Pefok, right? Right?
My problem is we should be getting these guys paying time together instead of giving guys a tryout

Ken Scarborough said:

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JJxvi said:

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oh no said:

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I've watched Fulham play once or twice this season and several times last season and I've seen Ream at LB more than once. I do try to keep up. Sorry for commenting here. I'll stop.

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Uh, I think most of us know that the LB for Fulham is Antonee Robinson, because like he plays for us too.

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Pretty sure the only time I haven 't seen him play CB is for the US with a 3-4-3.

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Ream played LB for Fulham in their last game...but only because Robinson is injured.