OT: Soccer Tuesday Open Thread (Also, USMNT v Panama Open Thread)

Submitted by itsbigcat on

Today’s Schedule

 

This One Right Here

10:00p USMNT v Panama - beINSports

 

World Cup Qualifiers

2:35a   New Zealand v Fiji

5:00a   Australia v UAE – ESPN3

6:35a   Japan v Thailand

7:00a   Korea Rep v Syria – ESPN3

8:00a   Iran v China – ESPN3

9:00a   Uzbekistan v Qatar

1:30p   Saudia Arabia v Iraq

4:00p   Bolivia v Argentina – beINSPortsenEspanyol

5:00p   Ecuador v Colombia – beINSports

5:00p   Honduras v Costa Rica – beINSportsConnect

6:00p   Chile v Venezuela – beINSportsenEspanyol

7:00p   Trinidad and Tobago v Mexico – beINSports

8:45p   Brazil v Paraguay- – beINSPortsenEspanyol

10:15p Peru v Uruguay – beINSPortsenEspanyol

 

World Friendlies

2:45p   Netherlands v Italy – beINSports

2:45p   Ireland v Iceland – beINSportsConnect

2:45p   Portugal v Sweden – beINSportsConnect

3:00p   France v Spain – ESPN2

MGoBoard
Other

ken725

March 28th, 2017 at 11:57 PM ^

Bradley with lots of iffy passes again. Zusi experiment at RB should end. A team with more pace and skill on the wings will eat him up

Joined: 10/26/2008

MGoPoints: 32866

Michiganguy19

March 29th, 2017 at 12:04 AM ^

of Bradley passes are backwards or flat? He plays such a methodical game and with him slowing down it feels like he is less and less providing any meaningful tactical action.

I know there are still fans of his... but its starting to beg for someone else to mix in at that midfield role.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 1496

ken725

March 29th, 2017 at 12:08 AM ^

There were so many times that Panama was leaving Villafana open down the wing and Bradley would not even see him. Seems like his vision has declined too since he doesn't have the same footspeed as he did before so everything has slowed down.

He has been on a steady decline since the WC. 

Joined: 10/26/2008

MGoPoints: 32866

Needs

March 29th, 2017 at 12:12 AM ^

He was pretty bad. Had a couple of chances to provide Pulisic the ball in stride and once underhit the pass behind him, leading to a dangerous attack and on the other switched the ball out wide where the attack died. At this point, he should know that if Pulisic is running free in between the lines, he needs to provide the ball. Also, the Jones-Bradley pairing has never really worked well. They get in each other's way more than they create any danger

Joined: 08/05/2008

MGoPoints: 11638

ken725

March 29th, 2017 at 12:21 AM ^

Bocanegra brought up a good point. When he played he would tell Bradley to get out of his way and get in the MF more.

Bocanegra said that he thinks Bradley is dropping too deep to get the ball. If he is going to drop that deep he wants to see the CB get wider and the outside backs to push up so it builds a 3 back line. 

 

Joined: 10/26/2008

MGoPoints: 32866

Needs

March 29th, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^

That's a really good point. Also, by dropping so deep, he created a giant hole in the middle of the US formation, giving the team little opportunity to interchange and play combinations in the middle of the park.While all the long ball was partially attributable to the bad field conditions, it was also because Bradley didn't really provide an option there. By the end of the game, you saw Dempsey getting so frustrated with the lack of a midfieldnoption that he was dropping way inside the US half to receive the ball.

Joined: 08/05/2008

MGoPoints: 11638

Needs

March 29th, 2017 at 12:08 AM ^

Terrible pitch. Ball wouldn't role true all night. Left the US trying to hoof the ball up the wings. Was impressed by Villafana, really solid down the left side. Nagbe had a couple of darting runs but couldn't release the final ball. Pulisic obviously already on another level than anyone on the field. Bradley and Jones were both mediocre, weren't able to settle possession, establish a rhythm or provide a consistent outlet for pressure. Bradley, in particular, had some shocking turnovers. Altidore wasn't good but might have never received a ball to his feet. Ream did well aside from getting caught in between on the long throw. Did well otherwise to snuff out some dangerous attacks once the game got stretched. Zusi looked like a midfielder playing right back. Good going forward but scary with his positioning and while retreating toward his own goal. All in all, US got what they needed but not a particularly well played game.

Joined: 08/05/2008

MGoPoints: 11638

Solecismic

March 29th, 2017 at 1:57 AM ^

I'd agree with this. Since I didn't follow it online and I only watched the second half (in Spanish), I honestly did not know Altidore was in the game until he was subbed. If he was active (Pulisic was very active), the midfielders seemed unable to generate anything in his direction. But Panama was conceding the wings to prevent any significant strike up front. Funny moment... on the Panama corner early in the second half, one of the announcers started yelling, "mano, mano, mano" over and over. Apparently some Panama players thought Bradley was guilty of a handball. But they had a good replay angle and the ball clearly hit Bradley on the upper arm, no tell-tale arm extension. The disappointed "oh" from the announcer was fantastic comedy. After that, I think the announcers quit on the game and started discussing their stock portfolios, but I could be wrong. My Spanish is terrible. So, yeah, they needed the point (and, more importantly, to keep Panama from getting three) and hung on despite Panama having the better second-half chances. That's good enough for now.

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: 7603