this sums up what I was trying to say earlier. It is spot on so far based on what we have seen
Also this is should never happen at this level and why I wanted Steffan in goal.
USA Men's Soccer National Team
Also this is should never happen at this level and why I wanted Steffan in goal.
A picture is worth a thousand words. As a former keeper I am little more critical to positioning because while a lot is out of your control, positioning is one thing where you can always get an advantage. This combined with awareness to where you are relative to the center of the goal is critical to be able to stop shots like this.
The angle and how this shot ended up being taken, there was no need to be that close to the short side. even half a step to his left and he covers this shot with ease. Just poor positioning and awareness in a critical moment of the match.
****note I fully understand playing at his level is nowhere near any level I have sniffed, but keeper fundamentals and awareness are constant, and Turner has to be better****
The angle and how this shot ended up being taken, there was no need to be that close to the short side. even half a step to his left and he covers this shot with ease. Just poor positioning and awareness in a critical moment of the match.
****note I fully understand playing at his level is nowhere near any level I have sniffed, but keeper fundamentals and awareness are constant, and Turner has to be better****
You can’t help but think if he has more live game minutes that that positioning wouldn’t be crisper
100% agree. When he came in and saved the team early on, he was getting minutes with Arsenal at the time, and it helped. At this point if he isn't a full time keeper overseas, come home, play in the MLS and get sharp. Steffan is a prime example of what good minutes can do for a keeper.
I agree, they just seem to be missing those two or three players who can go out and win a match. Also agree that anyone who thinks they should win a knockout round or the next World Cup would be a failure quite frankly has unrealistic expectations.
Back half of last year, if I have my numbers correct, Steffen was the best keeper in the league
These are professionals and it's easy to sit back and be critical, but I just don't see any urgency with any of them. We don't have any "dogs" on this team and we need those players/personalities to wake this team up. Dare I say there is a lack of heart also? I hate going down that road, but there is too much talent for this team to be seeing results like we did last night.
Isn't this the best generation of players? I heard a comment that Poch said they're not playing for the shirt or similar. That's key for me, they said that no one is willing to put themselves completely out for the shirt, fight to the very end.
No different for my team, I want them to give everything for the badge, because if they show the desire to do anything for the shirt results can be chalked up to luck if they've given 100%. If they're picking up caps & money then get them out of the team.
This generation will go down in history like the Belgium team. They have all the talent in the world and several are playing at high levels with their clubs.
They come and put on the shield and they lose that edge. They lose that "dog mentality" and with that comes a lack of heart which leads to lack of energy.
I don't know what the solution is, but until the boys "want" to win for their country, or start playing like they do, we will always be what we are right now.
Stop selecting them, put kids in who want to represent the country.
Unfortunately there will be appearance clauses in their contracts, should be performance clauses.
Along with the shirt comment, I heard comments that the fan base isn't behind the team because the World Cup is is too faraway and clearly the soccer administration feels that way putting them on at a time no one wants to attend and essentially the warm up game for Mexico in the US. Mental.
I agree, stop selecting them and bring in players who want to be there and not just get the extra $$
The fan base not being behind the team is a dumb take. (I know it's not your take). Last night had nothing to do with the WC and all about being in a stadium/city that isn't a soccer city. They wanted to show off So-Fi. This was not a warm up game. This was the semi final and more importantly another step in the Pochettino era to get quality minutes in a system that is still a work in progress. The US Federation made a huge mistake having this in LA. It should have been in Columbus or another soccer city and get a better crowd.
Mexico filled that stadium up and it wasn't because of the time the game kicked off either. You could have held that game at 10 am, and they would have filled So-Fi.
Poor judgment and not very supporting by the Federation if I'm being honest.
But it's consistent with how they manage things here, poorly.
to be fair, I know CONCACAF is running this tournament and decides venues, but the US has a way to help sway those decisions.
Maybe they didn’t know until he showed at camp?
Jesse Marsch is going to eventually get a statue at this rate
We should a Canada National team thread…
When was the last time you saw three USMNT shirts straight crashing the box at full speed from 40 yards away….
Dempsey/Donovan era.
I think if they had to qualify we’d see a different team. I’m not excusing it, I just think they don’t care about things like Nations League. And sadly, I don’t know how many guys behind them care either. Here’s hoping they can just turn it on when they need to.
I think if they had to qualify they wouldn't make it. I just don't see the heart and desire to play at 100% when on the national team.
I mean, the team just lost to Panama and Canada, plus Mexico is a solid side. Typically Concacaf gets four teams which means we would be right on the brink.
This team lacks leaders who can pull the team together, lot of individual talent, but lack of leadership