On 01/04/2022 at 12:58, axman2526 said:

USA in England's world cup group. Happy with that @USATim ?

 

I hope you will have better keeper this time.

I still remember Dempsey's goal against England quite well 😂

44 minutes ago, haviet1 said:

 

I hope you will have better keeper this time.

I still remember Dempsey's goal against England quite well 😂

Lol would be funny if England got pasted in all 3 games.

Think we saw the difference in CP and Mount supporting Havertz when Ziyech and Werner stepped in to their roles against Brentford.

Ziyech is capable of pulling a rabbit out of the hat but it does not happen often enough. I know Mount played but he was well off it and not as far forward as normal. We badly missed the pressing and ingenuity Mount and CP bring and certainly CPs goal threat. Ziyech was none existant and Werner...well it has been covered in his thread.

On 01/04/2022 at 13:15, Valerie said:

Is he even aware other countries have national teams too?

Salivating.  On the point of euphoria.  Black Friday cannot come soon enough.

On 01/04/2022 at 12:58, axman2526 said:

USA in England's world cup group. Happy with that @USATim ?

Yep. Christmas came early. Cannot wait for Black Friday. A match made in absolute heaven  - you have no idea how much I wanted this. Not a clue.

On 01/04/2022 at 13:56, Munkworth said:

I don’t think he’s aware that people other than Pulisic exist. 

Funny. Sad, and wrong. But funny. Hope it's this funny Black Friday.

6 minutes ago, USATim said:

Yep. Christmas came early. Cannot wait for Black Friday. A match made in absolute heaven  - you have no idea how much I wanted this. Not a clue.

Got your aye on a good sale eh? 😉

 

I do think it is wrong FIFA continue seeding the draw the way they do.

Canada by merit won the Concacaf octagon, unbeaten in both games vs Mexico and USA and got shafted in pot 4. 

Is also mornic Qatar are top seeds simply because they host. If they were not hosts they would not even qualify!

On 01/04/2022 at 14:00, axman2526 said:

Fair question. What say you Tim?

Pretty sure you are a figment of our imaginations.

Stoked. We will see if we can continue our World Cup domination of England, or whether the Mother Country can bury us. Will make for a very, very interesting game. Just hope all of our guys are healthy. We didn't have one game in qualifying with our full starting 11 on the field. It will be the only way we have a chance against the Motherland.

1 minute ago, USATim said:

Stoked. We will see if we can continue our World Cup domination of England, or whether the Mother Country can bury us. Will make for a very, very interesting game. Just hope all of our guys are healthy. We didn't have one game in qualifying with our full starting 11 on the field. It will be the only way we have a chance against the Motherland.

How do you feel about facing Wales, or I guess possibly Scotland, as well as Iran?

Just now, axman2526 said:

Got your aye on a good sale eh? 😉

 

I do think it is wrong FIFA continue seeding the draw the way they do.

Canada by merit won the Concacaf octagon, unbeaten in both games vs Mexico and USA and got shafted in pot 4. 

Is also mornic Qatar are top seeds simply because they host. If they were not hosts they would not even qualify!

Good points. But, Canada played way above their talent level. Think the general consensus among most in Concacaf is that the US, when healthy, and Mexico, are still the two best teams. Canada is on the rise but them winning the group was an apparition.

1 minute ago, USATim said:

Good points. But, Canada played way above their talent level. Think the general consensus among most in Concacaf is that the US, when healthy, and Mexico, are still the two best teams. Canada is on the rise but them winning the group was an apparition.

Good coach they have, took the Canada women to New heights before. You mentioned the US not having its best players for the whole qualifying. Canada missed Davies for a large chunk of it too. I would argue he is as important, if not more so, than Pulisic is to you.

Just now, axman2526 said:

How do you feel about facing Wales, or I guess possibly Scotland, as well as Iran?

Think Wales comes out of that group. That would make Group B the most difficult group. That first game for us is key - if we can defeat Wales, and somehow, someway get a result against you guys, even a point, I think we will take Iran. I see us finishing second to you guys and then getting bounced by the Netherlands. We will be the youngest team in this WC - I think 2026, on our turf with our guys older and more experienced, will be a different story.

Just now, axman2526 said:

Good coach they have, took the Canada women to New heights before. You mentioned the US not having its best players for the whole qualifying. Canada missed Davies for a large chunk of it too. I would argue he is as important, if not more so, than Pulisic is to you.

Yep. Davies was a big loss for them. Other than him, they stayed healthy in the qualifying stages. We were decimated by injuries - like a mash unit. And Herdman is AWESOME. Will take him over Berhalter any day of the week. Good point.

10 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Got your aye on a good sale eh? 😉

 

I do think it is wrong FIFA continue seeding the draw the way they do.

Canada by merit won the Concacaf octagon, unbeaten in both games vs Mexico and USA and got shafted in pot 4. 

Is also mornic Qatar are top seeds simply because they host. If they were not hosts they would not even qualify!

Good point on Qatar. Agree 100 percent. But what can you do? Host country gets that spot. Will be us next Cup so I am not complaining. Only difference is it probably will be the strongest team we have ever fielded in 26.

9 minutes ago, USATim said:

Good point on Qatar. Agree 100 percent. But what can you do? Host country gets that spot. Will be us next Cup so I am not complaining. Only difference is it probably will be the strongest team we have ever fielded in 26.

Next time out you, Canada AND Mexico all get top seed spots. I mean let's look at this shall we? 3 huge countries, large populations. Mexico love football, US less so Canada even less but is growing now.

But the 3 of you share the world cup? I would argue you could all do an amazing job hosting it on your own. Anyways in order to host it you 3 are sharing it but Qatar can host it on their own?!! 

Beating a dead horse I know but really is a disgrace how FIFA do some things.

I wonder how many other concacaf sides will be able to qualify given USA, Canada and Mexico all automatically go in?

20 minutes ago, USATim said:

Think Wales comes out of that group. That would make Group B the most difficult group. That first game for us is key - if we can defeat Wales, and somehow, someway get a result against you guys, even a point, I think we will take Iran. I see us finishing second to you guys and then getting bounced by the Netherlands. We will be the youngest team in this WC - I think 2026, on our turf with our guys older and more experienced, will be a different story.

Would agree with that. Iran are there simply for the other 3 to beat. Would be best for England and the US if Ukraine or Scotland make it through. Wales are a much better side than them imo.

19 minutes ago, USATim said:

Yep. Davies was a big loss for them. Other than him, they stayed healthy in the qualifying stages. We were decimated by injuries - like a mash unit. And Herdman is AWESOME. Will take him over Berhalter any day of the week. Good point.

What Herdman has done with Canada is nothing short of immense. Don't know if you read up on him taking the canMNT reigns but before him the players did not get on, huge divides in the camp and they used to get in to actual fights in training. He turned them from a rabble of angry guys who could not cut it at hockey in to an actual team. Scenes in Edmonton for the US game and the recent win over Jamaica in Toronto made me proud to see the sport I love actually mean a lot to my adopted homeland.

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Next time out you, Canada AND Mexico all get top seed spots. I mean let's look at this shall we? 3 huge countries, large populations. Mexico love football, US less so Canada even less but is growing now.

But the 3 of you share the world cup? I would argue you could all do an amazing job hosting it on your own. Anyways in order to host it you 3 are sharing it but Qatar can host it on their own?!! 

Beating a dead horse I know but really is a disgrace how FIFA do some things.

I wonder how many other concacaf sides will be able to qualify given USA, Canada and Mexico all automatically go in?

Would agree with that. Iran are there simply for the other 3 to beat. Would be best for England and the US if Ukraine or Scotland make it through. Wales are a much better side than them imo.

What Herdman has done with Canada is nothing short of immense. Don't know if you read up on him taking the canMNT reigns but before him the players did not get on, huge divides in the camp and they used to get in to actual fights in training. He turned them from a rabble of angry guys who could not cut it at hockey in to an actual team. Scenes in Edmonton for the US game and the recent win over Jamaica in Toronto made me proud to see the sport I love actually mean a lot to my adopted homeland.

Agree 100 percent. I would love for the US to go after either Jesse Marsh or Herdman if we go 0-3 and get bounced at the WC, which could easily happen with how inconsistently we play on the road under Berhalter. If we are healthy, American fans will truly have no idea which team will show up. Very frustrating.

20 minutes ago, USATim said:

Agree 100 percent. I would love for the US to go after either Jesse Marsh or Herdman if we go 0-3 and get bounced at the WC, which could easily happen with how inconsistently we play on the road under Berhalter. If we are healthy, American fans will truly have no idea which team will show up. Very frustrating.

You never seem to have a good coach. Did not think much of Bruce Arena either. There have been really good players, Donavan, Mcbride, Dempsey, Friedel, Bocanegra, Pulisic etc. Never even a decent coach though. Maybe the chap at Leeds will be one.

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

You never seem to have a good coach. Did not think much of Bruce Arena either. There have been really good players, Donavan, Mcbride, Dempsey, Friedel, Bocanegra, Pulisic etc. Never even a decent coach though. Maybe the chap at Leeds will be one.

True. I liked Klinsmann, though. Think he would have done well with this young group. Marsh is next in line. Hope he has success at Leeds.

6 hours ago, USATim said:

Funny. Sad, and wrong. But funny. Hope it's this funny Black Friday.

I’d like to point out at this juncture that I don’t care about international football, it’s joyful watching all the over the top In-ger-land supporters trying to deal with the fact their team is actually quite sh*t. If the USA win and Pulisic scores then great 

@Valerie will now give a similar speech about that terrible Orange country. 

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Think we saw the difference in CP and Mount supporting Havertz when Ziyech and Werner stepped in to their roles against Brentford.

Ziyech is capable of pulling a rabbit out of the hat but it does not happen often enough. I know Mount played but he was well off it and not as far forward as normal. We badly missed the pressing and ingenuity Mount and CP bring and certainly CPs goal threat. Ziyech was none existant and Werner...well it has been covered in his thread.

I agree.  Mount, havertz and CPs skill sets compliment each other so well

- Mount has the great engine, very very good striker of the football from any range, can play that great pass

- Havertz is silky smooth.  The most technical footballer we have. Great with his head.  Links up excellent for a player that far up the pitch

-  CP is a tricky quick burst winger who has good instincts within the 18 yard box.  Direct and a goal threat. 

And any of them out of injured or out of form ?  We have Ziyech and all that he has to offer with that left foot of his. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Browerkid said:

I agree.  Mount, havertz and CPs skill sets compliment each other so well

- Mount has the great engine, very very good striker of the football from any range, can play that great pass

- Havertz is silky smooth.  The most technical footballer we have. Great with his head.  Links up excellent for a player that far up the pitch

-  CP is a tricky quick burst winger who has good instincts within the 18 yard box.  Direct and a goal threat. 

And any of them out of injured or out of form ?  We have Ziyech and all that he has to offer with that left foot of his. 

 

 

 

Agreed. This has to be the front three going forward. Not only do all three press well, but they all can push the ball offensively. Agree on your assessment - Mount brings that engine, relentless. Scoring threat and can set things up. Havertz is just smooth, not really a hold up guy up top, but slippery in the box and makes great runs. CP is the best at straight on attacking, taking guys on one on one. Also makes great runs in the box. This front three is going to be a bitch with James and Chilwell as wingbacks whipping those crosses through that six yard box.

I recall one of the recent World Cups when Iran qualified think 2014 though they went out in the group stage it took a 90th min + goal from Messi to break them. They also drew with Nigeria.

Not expecting them to do anything this time and yet England WC comps has often struggled against some of the underdogs. I'm hoping Ukraine put out both Scotland and Wales as England are more likely to beat Ukraine rather than any home nation. 

38 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

I recall one of the recent World Cups when Iran qualified think 2014 though they went out in the group stage it took a 90th min + goal from Messi to break them. They also drew with Nigeria.

Not expecting them to do anything this time and yet England WC comps has often struggled against some of the underdogs. I'm hoping Ukraine put out both Scotland and Wales as England are more likely to beat Ukraine rather than any home nation. 

I hope not I want to have two sides to cheer for at least. 

14 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I hope not I want to have two sides to cheer for at least. 

Not for me when we are in the same group, only if we get knocked out.

After Saturdays horror show, Pulisic must be in line to start vs Madrid especially since he was the standout across both legs last season. Front 3 of Mount, Havertz and Pulisic should work with our usual 3241/3421 formation. Ziyech also has a shout but I think those 3 will press Madrid more relentlessly not to mention their chemistry is really good.