Didn't get to watch the game live but had an inkling of how it went down despite my best efforts to plug my ears and shout "Lah, Lah, Lah" when the sports news breaks would cut through on the radio at work. Was great viewing of the replay when I got home. What was the reaction to Waine's goal for you guys when it happened during the match? Was it jump of the couch "omg we've actually gotten a result this late in the game?" Or was it a bit more subdued.
I for one am pleased that it seems there was a bit of soul searching done after the pathetic display against Mexico but it still was far from the perfect performance. I know the results were less successful, and my memory may be a bit hazy but I still feel like we were more resilient/put on a better show during the Egpty and Tunisia games earlier in the year?
I think Rufer brought out the best In Bell. And while a bit more defensively inclined I think that midfield trio of Bell, Rufer, and Stamenic (who also it should be noted had his most effective and impactful game wearing the fern for quite some time) is a must have when Singh isn't an option.
I for one am pleased that it seems there was a bit of soul searching done after the pathetic display against Mexico but it still was far from the perfect performance. I know the results were less successful, and my memory may be a bit hazy but I still feel like we were more resilient/put on a better show during the Egpty and Tunisia games earlier in the year?
I think Rufer brought out the best In Bell. And while a bit more defensively inclined I think that midfield trio of Bell, Rufer, and Stamenic (who also it should be noted had his most effective and impactful game wearing the fern for quite some time) is a must have when Singh isn't an option.
Yes I feel we had more possession against first Egypt (1-0 loss) & then Tunisia (0-0 then lost on pens). Be interesting to know the stats.
But Egypt were without Salah & from memory one of their other big name players. Yes we didn't have Wood, but we had Singh which would have helped the AWs hold the ball more.
But mostly I just think Mexico & the US (both were close to full strength) are a step up from the likes of Egypt & Tunisia - and the rankings show that.
That was a US starting 11 today with players at -
Notts Forest, Standard Liege, Toulouse, Palermo, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Middlesbrough, AC Milan, Coventry, Monaco & PSV Eindhoven.
Then their biggest star Pulisic off the bench. And they needed his class to finally score.
Others off the pine at Strasbourg, Real Betis, Celta Vigo, PSV Eindhoven.
Not one MLS player today for them. Closed being Cowell at Guadalajara in Liga MX. Players spread over the Top 5 Euro leagues, plus Eredivisie & Championship.
Club homes don't mean everything, but their collection of players just overall far better than ours. And with that you have to plan on having less of the ball, than say those 2 teams we played in March. AWs had some luck today, but feel Bazeley & Co also planned the game better against the US in comparison to the Mexican match, where El Tri just had so much space in the taxing heat.
Baze has been slow to show Rufer some love, but today may have convinced him that Roofs has a place in a 3 man midfield for these higher quality opponents.
Edit - I'd say Bazeley had planned to use Wilkins to sub on at RB, for a tiring Payne in both these games. Unfortunately Dalton W got injured in an early training on this AWs trip, screwing that idea. A little odd though that they flew Sutton all the way over there - the same Sutton who played RB at the Olympics - only to use Tuiloma as a RB sub in both games.