ponsaelius Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Tomato Deuce said: Can’t tell if Qatar are actually half-decent or if CONCACAF is just that shit that any middling team can walk in and win a group that includes Panama and Honduras, two of the stronger teams in the region. A few of their players seem canny. Their players have been playing together for a long time. From the Aspire academy, through youth sides, and then the national team. They've had the same coach throughout as well with Felix Sanchez being at Aspire as early as 2006 and then moving up the age groups. Put together with that a lot of players playing for the same couple of club sides and they have something approaching club level chemistry. Clearly there has been a long term goal in place even before they got awarded the World Cup. They didn't win the Asian Cup by fluke - they absolutely dominated it in a country that was extremely hostile to their presence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 (edited) 19 minutes ago, toontownman said: Qatar are basically Brazil's D side arent they? No. No Brazilians. This is a very different model to some of the naturalization they've tried in the past and have done controversially in handball. Most of the squad is actually homegrown, either born there or moved there at a young age. Some of the star players have heritage from Africa or elsewhere but that's not unsurprising considering the demographic nature of the country. A majority of the population ultimately come from somewhere else. There's one or two players who've been naturalized having played there only as adults/professionals - but even then they've been there a long time. Edited July 21, 2021 by ponsaelius Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 22 minutes ago, toontownman said: Qatar are basically Brazil's D side arent they? Jamaica will be a tough challenge especially if the states play the same way they did against Canada. Jamaica had a good start and have been downhill but they have some strong dangerous players. Canada vs Costa rica will be a good test for both probably a step too far for Canada with all the injuries. Mexico will stroll to the cup as usual. Unfortunatley, yet again Concacaf leads the way with the worst officiating in FIFA. Even the VAR is. Doesn't matter how good the teams might get with picking up repats (it is definitely improving), it will always be hamstrung and a joke with the standard of officiating. It has to change. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose to Jamaica. Berhalter is too “smart” for his own good. Obsessed with formation and shoehorning players into it regardless of fit. Clearly this tournament is about giving these players a shot at making the WCQ roster. Martinique game aside though, we’ve looked pedestrian to downright poor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 A game on Big Fox that doesn't involved the U.S. or isn't a major MLS game? Not even Mexico gets that treatment Wonder how much Qatar payed for that shit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 21/07/2021 at 08:20, ponsaelius said: Pulling for the bants of Qatar being champions of two continents going into the World Cup. Sorry, man. That terrible penalty attempt deflated them. Fun team to watch though. I think they’re primed to do well in front of the home crowds next year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 USA vs Mexico again. Hyped. Fucking Mexico. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Only in Concacaf can you punish Mexico for repeated homaphobic chants by their fans by giving them a 5 minute break to recover after they were against the ropes. Tough loss for Canada who were the better team in the second half. WCQ in September is going to be fun. Back to the chants. Until they dock points or forfeit games it won't stop. They got a warning in the first half and then the stoppage of the game in the second. They have already been warned and fined. Closed doors games with fans banned means nothing coming out of lock down. There has to be zero tolerance. Nothing will happen. *another plug for this guy. He is going to be a steal for someone Edited July 30, 2021 by toontownman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) The stuff with Mexico is definitively nuanced. Because the chant very very closely resembles “Mex-I-co!” and as someone who was recently at the US/Mexico match, even being there, it’s hard to tell. I agree they need an actual repercussion - points? no crowds? missed World Cup? - but not sure even that will stop the chant to be honest. And even if it does, what happens the next time the common and very similar sounding chant happens? Edited July 30, 2021 by cubaricho Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 7 hours ago, toontownman said: Only in Concacaf can you punish Mexico for repeated homaphobic chants by their fans by giving them a 5 minute break to recover after they were against the ropes. Tough loss for Canada who were the better team in the second half. WCQ in September is going to be fun. Back to the chants. Until they dock points or forfeit games it won't stop. They got a warning in the first half and then the stoppage of the game in the second. They have already been warned and fined. Closed doors games with fans banned means nothing coming out of lock down. There has to be zero tolerance. Nothing will happen. *another plug for this guy. He is going to be a steal for someone Buchanan is mint. He’ll be in Europe sooner rather than later. I hope y’all can qualify for Qatar. Some really lovely players on that team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 U.S. players who’ve really impressed me this tournament: Hoppe, Robinson, Vines, Turner, Sands. Dike has been a disappointment…bullied Martinique but has been a ghost the rest of the time. Don’t think he’s quite ready to step up. Sands looks more comfortable as part of a back 3 or as a deep-lying playmaker just in front of the CBs. He struggled yesterday in the back 2. He’s got a wicked eye for a through ball though. Zardes is such an enigma. He reminds me a bit of Papiss in that he’ll oscillate between making these zany, slapstick plays, and then score the wildest goal. Berhalter is absolutely right to play him as a 9 though, finally…he’s always been shunted out wide for the national team. I like the guy and I think he’s gotta be on the WC roster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Considing the youth and experience the tournament has been a huge success for the US. Might have been ugly at times but it's a win culture and the team has found its way to the win one way or another irrespective of whether they were the better team. The investment in the MLS and production of youth is paying off. Large depth now that is only growing and only a matter of time until real world class game changers un-earthed dominate the team to a point players can be picked on form, not just talent and injuries are less of an issue. Likewise Canada with 8-10 first teasers missing. The program is two decades behind with the CPL but it will only continue to improve. WCQ will be tasty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Gonna be laughs when Soccer is a Westerner's game. Coming home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Bets on the US winning a World Cup before England does again? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 I'll take that bet. We'll both be dust before either of those things happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 9 hours ago, Tomato Deuce said: U.S. players who’ve really impressed me this tournament: Hoppe, Robinson, Vines, Turner, Sands. Dike has been a disappointment…bullied Martinique but has been a ghost the rest of the time. Don’t think he’s quite ready to step up. Sands looks more comfortable as part of a back 3 or as a deep-lying playmaker just in front of the CBs. He struggled yesterday in the back 2. He’s got a wicked eye for a through ball though. Zardes is such an enigma. He reminds me a bit of Papiss in that he’ll oscillate between making these zany, slapstick plays, and then score the wildest goal. Berhalter is absolutely right to play him as a 9 though, finally…he’s always been shunted out wide for the national team. I like the guy and I think he’s gotta be on the WC roster. Hoppe's definitely shown he's not a flash in the plan, been fun. Robinson and Turner in particular has been immense, hope they get a shot in Europe after this. Our CB depth is full of players that are decent and might be good soon. Best part about this tournament so far is finding a handful of new players we know we can rely on in a packed qualifying schedule. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Stu Holden has actually become a pretty decent commentator. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Wait. You're all pronouncing Hoppe as 'Hoppy'!? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 This game has “87’ minute deflection winner off the back of Gyasi’s head from 20 yards” written all over it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 13 minutes ago, Tomato Deuce said: This game has “87’ minute deflection winner off the back of Gyasi’s head from 20 yards” written all over it. It’s gotten good in the last ten minutes but you’re absolutely right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Did anyone have “goalkeeper saves shot with his back” on their bingo? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Over 61,000 people there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 This is making me so bummed that Fox has the 2022 World Cup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Great tournament from Robinson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Fox trying to make it sound like this wasn’t Mexico’s C team too. But still a great win. Lots of good energy around the national team right now which is awesome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Pleasant surprise winning this. Beating the Mexico A- side side no less. Gotta give Berhalter credit…it’s not always been the prettiest, but the players respect him, seem to have bought into his style, and play hard for him. Robinson may have played himself into the full strength starting XI. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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