Both the US national teams came away with medals from their recent competition, although the colors might be reversed from earlier expectations. The Union get four points from two matches. Man City continue to stockpile talent while Newcastle can't close on their number one priority.
US Beat Mexico While Qatar Gently Weeps (apologies to The Beatles and hat tip to Michael B)
The USMNT adopted a risky formula for the Gold Cup knockout rounds - keep a clean sheet and score late. But it worked. Against Qatar in the semi, the strategy meant being outplayed in the first half and relying on a big save from keeper Thomas Middleditch Matt Turner. Also, meant surviving a PK in the second half - Turner didn't even have to make the save as the ball soared over the crossbar. A trio of subs combined for the game winner in the 86th minute as passes Eryk Williamson and Nicholas Joe Akini Gioacchini set up Gyasi Zardes.
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| Separated at birth? Middleditch (top) and Turner |
We'll discuss competition management theory in more detail below but this was a win-win for Berhalter and the USMNT. We don't have to call it the JV or the B-team or anything like that but you do have to acknowledge that some of our better players were not rostered for this competition. And it looks like a brilliant decision. A new group of younger players got international experience and not just in friendlies, but in nasty, physical contests with hardware on the line. This has to be a plus when we get to World Cup qualifying in the fall. Oh, and they got gold anyway. Winning.
It's Not Superstition If It Works
We were in Bethesda on Thursday and took in the Gold Cup semi vs Qatar in the hotel bar. When the PK was called, Laura's sister Sandy headed to the bathroom. I was adamant that she couldn't leave until the kick was taken - bad karma. She reluctantly agreed to wait. After the PK was missed and she sped off, the guy sitting behind us who was also watching called out "Thanks, Sandy." Obviously he appreciated her effort as well.
No, Canada
Things weren't as great for the USWNT in Japan. They continued a string of flat performances and fell 0-1 to Canada. While the PK that decided things was too much re-refereeing for my taste, the US did nothing to deserve the win anyway. Just not good enough so the US played Australia for the bronze medal. Here they looked more like the team we remember. A cheeky goal off a corner by Rapinoe which she followed up with great volley shot 13 minutes later. Two from Carli Lloyd gave the US a 4-1 lead by the 51st minute. Things got a touch hairy from there as the Aussies got one back quickly, hit the post shortly after and added one more in stoppage time to keep things in doubt until the final whistle. More than the score, this was the first time the team looked anything like what we've come to expect.
On the one hand, bronze looks like the appropriate color medal for performance in this tournament. The problem is the expectation that the only acceptable outcome is gold. And this team was not of that standard. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski took the opposite route than Berhalter - sticking with the most veteran team possible. Hard to criticize him for that - the Olympics are several levels above the Gold Cup in terms of prestige and importance. He also took pains to rotate players, sometimes making substitutions that didn't make much sense. Maybe he overthought that aspect. On the other hand, look at the performance in bronze medal match; would the team have been totally gassed and unable to compete without the rotation throughout the competition?
What is clear though is that the core of the team we've watched since 2015 probably has played their final international competition. The World Cup is in just two years but even that is probably too far away. I would be reluctant to pink slip Andonovski off of this performance but he has serious work to do before 2023.
Four Should Have Been Six
The Union drew 1-1 with Chicago and easily pinned back Toronto 3-0. Four points sounds good until you note that these were both home games against teams far down in the table. It gets worse when you hear that the Union were up a man from 34 minutes on against Chicago but could not find a game winner. Some of that feels unlikely - expected goals were 2.7 - .45. But they didn't look all that dominant after the sending off. A frustrating watch.
Things were much better Wednesday night as the boys got busy early. The back of the neck header from Glesnes was a touch lucky but the goal was certainly deserved. The pressure continued and a marvelous through ball from Jack Elliott sent Santos in alone on the Toronto keeper, who didn't get ball but did get Santos; Gazdag efficiently dispatched the PK. Minutes later Santos got one for himself. The only thing I remember of note from that point on was the ridiculous PK call on Jack Elliott, who never touched the attacker. The replay here isn't as clear as the one we saw on the stadium screen but it was the attacker who actually kicked Elliott. In a classic case of "ball don't lie," the take was crappy and Blake saved it to preserve the clean sheet.
Glass half full analysis is that the Union are in third, one point behind second place Orlando. Glass half empty view is that fourth and fifth place Nashville and New York City have more points per game. Also, as discussed in more detail here, Jamiro Monteiro is likely heading to Holland or Belgium in an attempt to be closer to his family. The Gazdag signing takes much of the sting out of this transfer.
Worst Draft Excluder Evah
Even I Almost anybody can be an MLS level draft excluder. All you have to do is lie down behind the wall on a free kick and be willing to let the ball hit you if the shooter goes low. I mean, it's just not that hard. Maybe not. Check out the Fire's Fabian Herbers on Kai Wagner's free kick here. I can't tell whether he never stretched out completely, or worse, came up from the prone position before the kick was taken. In any case, the wall jumped, Wagner shot low and the ball got past Herbers for a goal. That simply cannot happen. All you have to do is lie down on the job. Or as Mackenzie might say, "Dude, you had one job."
Transfer Follies
With the start of the 2021-22 season less than a week away, it's been a quiet summer transfer window to date, with a few notable exceptions. Grealish to Man City is big. Villa, anticipating the loss, have been active, adding Buendia, Bailey and Ings. Man United got Sancho. Kane may or may not be going to Man City. Ah, but one thing is constant. Newcastle hasn't done sh...squat. The primary target has been getting Joe Willock back, hopefully on a permanent basis. The reported transfer fee of £22-25 million seems reasonably; the problem may be that Arsenal can't make their mind up. And Villa look to have taken the lead on another Magpie target, Axel Tuanzebe. I keep hearing talk of Aaron Ramsey coming to Newcastle but that seems crazy; no way Ashley would agree to pay his wage bill.
I have begun to survey the EPL predictions and hope to report the results of my research in next Friday's post. Not optimistic heading into the season. Maybe only Southampton of the returning sides has fallen below Newcastle at this point. Even with Willock, we are probably no better than 15th.
Easy Weekend
For BFS I mean. The Union have to travel to face New England at Gillette Stadium, second only to Yankee Stadium in MLS venues I dislike. They are the top team in the conference so this will not be easy; 538 has 50% for NE win, 23% for draw so a point would be awesome. Match is at 6 pm and though Gil Scott Heron said The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, you can catch this one on PHL 17 or ESPN+.
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