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Started By
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USMNT goal total in WCQ history
Posted on 1/31/22 at 1:49 am
Posted on 1/31/22 at 1:49 am
We've played 10 matches in The Oct which is what, in the past, is the total we've played in The Hex. The 13 goals we've scored in this cycle is the second lowest we've scored since The Hex was created in 1998.
2022: 13
2018: 17
2014: 15
2010: 19
2006: 16
2002: 11
1998: 17
I guess it's funny that the lowest total came in the cycle where we had our best World Cup, but it still just shows how bad our final product has been this cycle.
Also, we've only had three goals scored by a striker in this cycle. That's the least amount of goals from the position in a WCQ cycle we've ever had. Pepi scored those three goals in his first two matches and he's since been goalless in his last five WCQ appearances.
Part of it is coaching, but I think just as much blame goes to how our striker pool is just complete and utter shite.
2022: 13
2018: 17
2014: 15
2010: 19
2006: 16
2002: 11
1998: 17
I guess it's funny that the lowest total came in the cycle where we had our best World Cup, but it still just shows how bad our final product has been this cycle.
Also, we've only had three goals scored by a striker in this cycle. That's the least amount of goals from the position in a WCQ cycle we've ever had. Pepi scored those three goals in his first two matches and he's since been goalless in his last five WCQ appearances.
Part of it is coaching, but I think just as much blame goes to how our striker pool is just complete and utter shite.
4
Posted on 1/31/22 at 5:22 am to Broski
quote:
how bad our final product has been
quote:
coaching
Posted on 1/31/22 at 7:36 am to Broski
quote:
Part of it is coaching, but I think just as much blame goes to how our striker pool is just complete and utter shite.
I'm not here defending our strikers by any means, but I would place the vast majority of the problems on lack of creating goal scoring opportunities. It's not like we have strikers scuffing chances left and right - we can go large portions of matches against bad teams and not create a single chance
Posted on 1/31/22 at 8:18 am to Broski
Not to completely forgive our less than stellar play but Covid restrictions and the rash of injuries we have suffered has played a large role in this low goal total. Plus the three game windows doesn’t let you play your best available as often as the hex. All of these things have played a role
This post was edited on 1/31/22 at 8:20 am
Posted on 1/31/22 at 8:45 am to OGtigerfan87
quote:
Plus the three game windows doesn’t let you play your best available as often as the hex.
Everyone in our region has to play the same schedule so it's not tilted one way or another. Gregg lacks in several areas and he has us playing sideways and negative. We have to play quicker especially when we come across teams in a low block. Slow side to side where the defense can stay organized is not gonna create shite unless we get a moment of brilliance from someone.
Posted on 1/31/22 at 9:44 am to Broski
4 of those goals were against Honduras as well 
If we had more capable strikers I'd think about running two up top, but I think in the interest of playing our best players we gotta go with a 4-2-3-1. One less midfielder and one more attacking player, whether it's Aaronson/Pulisic/Reyna (when available, obviously). Against Honduras I would run with this:
Pepi
Pulisic Aaronson Weah
McKennie Adams
Robinson Richards Zim Dest
This formation also mitigates the midfield depth issue, as you would have Musah available as a legit high quality midfield option off the bench. Could even experiment with Musah on the wing if you wanna get crazy, he has all the physical tools to make runs to the touchline and take defenders on/whip in crosses. IMO long term his best position is centrally attacking the channels, but I think his physicality and pace could be really useful for a squad that has struggled to create width (other than Weah).
If we had more capable strikers I'd think about running two up top, but I think in the interest of playing our best players we gotta go with a 4-2-3-1. One less midfielder and one more attacking player, whether it's Aaronson/Pulisic/Reyna (when available, obviously). Against Honduras I would run with this:
Pepi
Pulisic Aaronson Weah
McKennie Adams
Robinson Richards Zim Dest
This formation also mitigates the midfield depth issue, as you would have Musah available as a legit high quality midfield option off the bench. Could even experiment with Musah on the wing if you wanna get crazy, he has all the physical tools to make runs to the touchline and take defenders on/whip in crosses. IMO long term his best position is centrally attacking the channels, but I think his physicality and pace could be really useful for a squad that has struggled to create width (other than Weah).
Posted on 1/31/22 at 10:28 am to BeYou
I agree with all of this. I wish we would go with the 4-2-3-1 or empty bucket like we did under Jurgen/Bob. If we aren’t going to play with two strikers at least put a midfielder in a more advanced position. We don’t have a reliable striker so we are forced to rely on our wingers/midfielders for increased offensive production.
One problem I see is that McKennie and Musah are often really close to our RB/LB when we start our attacking sequences. This helps us with retaining possession but allows the other team to organize easier into the low block.
Looking back at our results, we’ve only had two goals from our midfielders: McKennie against Mexico and Lletget against Honduras. We’ve gotten more goals from our left and right backs (yikes). Our midfielders aren’t delivering assists (again we rely on our forwards and backs). While I love MMA I am starting to think that the 3 man midfield, and how deep they are played, is one of the main reasons we have been so poor at creating scoring opportunities.
For as good as MMA are we create nothing from the midfield. Our switches of play are slow, we rely on our backs playing crosses into the middle for most of our scoring opportunities, and this together with a lack of late runners into the box from midfield (or other incisive runs) is a recipe for being unsuccessful against these bunkering teams.
My preferred lineup against Honduras would be this:
Pepi
Weah-Aaronson-Pulisic
McKennie-Adams
Robinson-Richards/Miles-Zimmerman-Dest/Yedlin
Sub on LDLT in the attacking role at some point. Musah can sub for one of the more defensive mids.
My biggest concern is that we have spent so much time being offensively ineffective in this 433 formation that I wonder if it is too late to integrate a new formation.
One problem I see is that McKennie and Musah are often really close to our RB/LB when we start our attacking sequences. This helps us with retaining possession but allows the other team to organize easier into the low block.
Looking back at our results, we’ve only had two goals from our midfielders: McKennie against Mexico and Lletget against Honduras. We’ve gotten more goals from our left and right backs (yikes). Our midfielders aren’t delivering assists (again we rely on our forwards and backs). While I love MMA I am starting to think that the 3 man midfield, and how deep they are played, is one of the main reasons we have been so poor at creating scoring opportunities.
For as good as MMA are we create nothing from the midfield. Our switches of play are slow, we rely on our backs playing crosses into the middle for most of our scoring opportunities, and this together with a lack of late runners into the box from midfield (or other incisive runs) is a recipe for being unsuccessful against these bunkering teams.
My preferred lineup against Honduras would be this:
Pepi
Weah-Aaronson-Pulisic
McKennie-Adams
Robinson-Richards/Miles-Zimmerman-Dest/Yedlin
Sub on LDLT in the attacking role at some point. Musah can sub for one of the more defensive mids.
My biggest concern is that we have spent so much time being offensively ineffective in this 433 formation that I wonder if it is too late to integrate a new formation.
Posted on 1/31/22 at 12:20 pm to BeYou
Like others have said, we need attackers that can create opportunities and can be creative. The attack right now is so boring, lax, and predictable.
Why are players like Zardes starting at this point? Why are players like Jordan Morris seeing any playing time during important qualification games where we need a result?
Why are players like Zardes starting at this point? Why are players like Jordan Morris seeing any playing time during important qualification games where we need a result?
This post was edited on 1/31/22 at 12:22 pm
Posted on 1/31/22 at 1:39 pm to SUB
Man that is an eye opening stat. Worsened when you consider half this paltry goal production is Pepi + Fullbacks.
I don’t disagree, but Pulisic and Musah simply haven’t been good enough offensively creating chances this window either. Aaronson’s distribution and Weah’s athleticism and work rate have been the lone bright spots from any of the attacking players this window. If Pulisic is going to operate centrally perhaps it’s time to just let him place in place of Musah and let aaronson/weah handle the wing against Honduras.
quote:
Why are players like Zardes starting at this point? Why are players like Jordan Morris seeing any playing time during important qualification games where we need a result?
I don’t disagree, but Pulisic and Musah simply haven’t been good enough offensively creating chances this window either. Aaronson’s distribution and Weah’s athleticism and work rate have been the lone bright spots from any of the attacking players this window. If Pulisic is going to operate centrally perhaps it’s time to just let him place in place of Musah and let aaronson/weah handle the wing against Honduras.
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