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Post by futbolguru on Nov 10, 2022 12:51:55 GMT
That's a very strong starting xi quality wise. Even your defence looks capable enough, although is there a particular reason you would play zimmerman over Carter-Vickers? CCV was very good in his loan spells with Cardiff and Swansea, and is a Celtic regular Zimmerman is first choice at CB for Gregg Berhalter. He loves his determination, leadership, vocal, etc. The issue is our 2 other CB's were quick players that paired well with Zimmerman. I would pick CCV over Ream but I think he will choose Ream. Ream is really good on the ball but slow just like Zimmerman. |
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Post by conwy10 on Nov 10, 2022 13:12:31 GMT
I'm not sure on "much higher quality". I think our defence is pretty strong for international football and we have X factor that other teams don't possess in Bale and (potentially) Ramsey. Ramsey is key for us, I doubt Allen will be fit so we'll need Ramsey to produce the all action displays he has in the past. I think a midfield 3 of Ampadu, Wilson and Ramsey is pretty solid tbh. I think we have plenty of quality in our first 15 or 16 players, beyond that it's a bit of a struggle Ward Roberts Mepham Rodon Davies Williams Ampadu Wilson Ramsey Bale James I think that's a very solid team with some able replacements in Johnson, Moore, Allen and Hennessey. Beyond that we're getting into unproven/lesser quality players I must say I think the US will be a real force in a few years I've been thinking for years that USA will become a member of the elite in football for a few years but it just never happens. There's no reason why the USA shouldn't have won a World Cup as they've had massive investment in their league for about 20 years, they have the best infastructure for sports scientists, massive wealth, a nationalistic population for the most part, but it just doesn't happen. |
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 10, 2022 15:44:24 GMT
The reason is 99% of the best athletes pick American Football, Basketball and Baseball.
Example, here in the States from 1900-2000, if you were say 6 foot 3 inches and weighed 220 pounds and a great athlete you tried to be Heavyweight champion of the world in Boxing. It's why we dominated forever. Well, those same athletes started choosing to play Linebacker in American football instead and now look.......we don't have anymore boxing champs like we used to. At the end of the day, if the best athletes are not playing it's hard to be the best.
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Post by conwy10 on Nov 11, 2022 13:20:41 GMT
I mean that's taking into account that people can only play one sport. I think every football club on the planet encourages younger children to participate in other sports instead of just football.
For example I love football, but represented my county in running and high jump at a young age despite never focusing on them, I just had natural abilities because of football so it was just a quick transition to teach my techniques. I didn't have to pick one. Americans can play Basketball and Soccer. The intensity of moving, jumping, running, turning in basketball will also benefit someone in soccer.
Even if you don't have the population size interested in the sport the ones who do play soccer will have the most advanced facilities and equipment in the world.
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 11, 2022 14:18:09 GMT
You are correct, they play multiple sports but Football (Soccer) is never chosen in the end to play professionally.
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Post by saints19 on Nov 11, 2022 17:41:39 GMT
It's always baffled me why countries like the US to a lesser extent and to a greater extent China and India can't produce really good football teams. You only need 11 players and those countries have a population of 350m-1bn. Even if it's a fringe sport (and it's not, as can be seen from the fan interest) then you still have a huge pool to pick from, as well as massive economies to invest in the game. It makes little sense to me. Surely given the money on offer capable athletes should be attracted. I know there are cultural factors but still. It's bound to take off at some point you would think.
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Post by cadno on Nov 11, 2022 17:44:47 GMT
Culture is far more important than population i think, the Netherlands and Uruguay have a great tradition of football and consistently do well despite not having a huge population.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 14, 2022 16:14:54 GMT
Ward
Connor-Mepham-Rodon-Davies-Neco
Ampadu
Ramsey-Wilson
Bale-DJ
Kieffer on for Bale in the 2nd half. Brennan on for DJ later on. Allen on for Wilson/Ramsey
I think this is our best system and these are the best players to fill it. Harsh on Kieffer & Brennan but there we are
Hypothetically if we are trying to shoe-horn everyone in I really don't think 3-4-3 is the way to go. 4-3-3 actually works far better for that
Ward
Neco-Rodon-Mepham-Davies
Ampadu-Ramsey
Bale-Wilson-James
Moore
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 14, 2022 17:34:11 GMT
IMO, you can hurt us more with your quicker players. Kieffer is great in the air but Zimmerman is great in the air as well. He struggles with pace. Playing on his shoulder making runs in behind is how you beat us.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 14, 2022 17:41:35 GMT
Interesting, I imagine that will be picked up in analysis. Thanks for the insight
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Post by fiveattheback on Nov 14, 2022 21:38:28 GMT
Kieffer is no slouch mind, sure he's no Dan James but he can move
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Post by vaulksthrowfanclub on Nov 14, 2022 22:24:26 GMT
Ward Connor-Mepham-Rodon-Davies-Neco Ampadu Ramsey-Wilson Bale-DJ Kieffer on for Bale in the 2nd half. Brennan on for DJ later on. Allen on for Wilson/Ramsey I think this is our best system and these are the best players to fill it. Harsh on Kieffer & Brennan but there we are Hypothetically if we are trying to shoe-horn everyone in I really don't think 3-4-3 is the way to go. 4-3-3 actually works far better for that Ward Neco-Rodon-Mepham-Davies Ampadu-Ramsey Bale-Wilson-James Moore The top team would be my pick, looks well balanced. |
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Post by dai on Nov 14, 2022 22:45:09 GMT
Ward
Connor-Mepham-Rodon-Davies-Neco
Ampadu
Ramsey-Wilson
Bale-DJ
Kieffer on for Bale in the 2nd half. Brennan on for DJ later on. Allen on for Wilson/Ramsey I think this is our best system and these are the best players to fill it. Harsh on Kieffer & Brennan but there we are Hypothetically if we are trying to shoe-horn everyone in I really don't think 3-4-3 is the way to go. 4-3-3 actually works far better for that Ward Neco-Rodon-Mepham-Davies Ampadu-Ramsey Bale-Wilson-James Moore I think that's what we'll see, however Moore just always seems to pop up with goals! It's hard not to play him. The other option it to drop Wilson and play James or Bale with Ramsey and Moore up in the front 2. Tough decisions for Page. |
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Post by iot on Nov 15, 2022 18:16:20 GMT
I've been listening to a couple of american podcasts over the last couple of months and get the strong impression that they don't respect us at all and are expecting to overwhelm us on Monday. Just listened to the one below earlier and one of them was talking through his xi for our game. He wanted to drop one of the holding midfielders in place of an attacking mid, actually saying "I don't have MMA starting (referring to their usual midfield 3 of McKennie, Musa, and Adams), and it's actually because I don't respect Wales enough to start all three of MMA to solidify our spine defensively" podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scuffed-u-s-soccer-world-cup-yanks-abroad-futbol-in-america/id1352231546We all know how much better we are against teams that come at us, so I really hope the coaching staff have a similar attitude! |
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Post by ddirpytnop on Nov 15, 2022 20:39:07 GMT
I've been listening to a couple of american podcasts over the last couple of months and get the strong impression that they don't respect us at all and are expecting to overwhelm us on Monday. Just listened to the one below earlier and one of them was talking through his xi for our game. He wanted to drop one of the holding midfielders in place of an attacking mid, actually saying "I don't have MMA starting (referring to their usual midfield 3 of McKennie, Musa, and Adams), and it's actually because I don't respect Wales enough to start all three of MMA to solidify our spine defensively" podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scuffed-u-s-soccer-world-cup-yanks-abroad-futbol-in-america/id1352231546We all know how much better we are against teams that come at us, so I really hope the coaching staff have a similar attitude! I wish you hadn't provided a link to that podcast. Listening to it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. To quote Kelly Jones, there's more life in a tramp's vest. |
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Post by hooky on Nov 15, 2022 22:26:58 GMT
I heard one it was so boring and so uninformed
Wales had no scary players but apparently the US do - Pulisic! He's skillful but from the little I see of him he seems so unproductive at times.
Bale or him with a half chance to win the game - I wonder who I would back.
The US have decent players and maybe they are better on average but these so called US football experts are delusional.
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Post by hooky on Nov 15, 2022 22:27:41 GMT
Oh and Ben Davies is always liable to make a mistake - another pearl of wisdom expressed on that podcast!
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Post by cynonvalley on Nov 15, 2022 22:28:13 GMT
Pulisic! He's skillful but from the little I see of him he seems so unproductive at times. He's the Lebron James of soccer |
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 15, 2022 23:35:36 GMT
Don't let these uninformed podcast guys wind you up. Most of these "experts" are rubbish. I can't listen to their analysis as their football knowledge is lacking. People that know the game here in the States know this will be a difficult match. If our manager continues to play the style he wants (aimlessly knocking the ball around midfield with no penetration) we will struggle. I'm hoping the players play more direct as when they do we actually look pretty good.
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Post by bale-droed on Nov 16, 2022 2:39:10 GMT
We will comfortably beat USA 2-0 and wonder why we hadn’t score more. Followed by a nice 1-0 v Iran
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 18, 2022 1:17:04 GMT
I watched Norwich on Saturday and saw Josh Sargent play quite well and score. He's good at Championship level, he works hard and he's not that bad a finisher but put pressure on him and he panics and he tends to get caught up in the moment and do silly things that concede free kicks. He's fast though and can jump high, I just don't want us doing something stupid ad letting someone like that score. They have some good players but so did Austria and Ukraine and we dealt with them. I'm not at all confident but I'm just going to enjoy us being at a World Cup.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 18, 2022 13:34:19 GMT
TIFO football have a bloke called Jesus Ferreira of FC Dallas starting up front for them, not Sargent
I've been saying I think it will be 2-1 to us, but I'm starting to feel a bit more confident now and I think if we can get an early goal I can see us going on to win 2-0
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Post by 1282 on Nov 20, 2022 15:32:57 GMT
Allen out
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Post by dai on Nov 20, 2022 17:39:00 GMT
I can't imagine Allen featuring during this WC unfortunately, 4 days is nothing so how is he expected to be fit for Iran. England a very outside possibility.
If he wasn't fit for USA I couldn't see him playing at all, really hope I'm wrong.
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Post by jimbo82 on Nov 20, 2022 17:40:02 GMT
We will comfortably beat USA 2-0 and wonder why we hadn’t score more. Followed by a nice 1-0 v Iran I really think the USA game is key for us. Iran will be like an away game, especially as it's an early kickoff in the heat. Would be great if we can overcome the USA as then the pressure would be on others more than us |
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Post by conwy10 on Nov 20, 2022 18:30:24 GMT
I think this can go in any direction. 2-0 Wales, 2-0 USA, 2-2 draw. We don't know our place in the global food chain so see what it brings. If its anything to go by I'm sure our 2nd team beat a Mexico strong lineup a few years ago. As much as USA try to play the big boys they've got nothing on Mexico.
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Post by 1gwaunview on Nov 20, 2022 18:50:35 GMT
1-0 Cymru.
Shame about Joe Allen though, a huge miss and looks doubtful now if he'll play any part in this group stage. Siomedig iawn.
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 20, 2022 19:12:31 GMT
I think this can go in any direction. 2-0 Wales, 2-0 USA, 2-2 draw. We don't know our place in the global food chain so see what it brings. If its anything to go by I'm sure our 2nd team beat a Mexico strong lineup a few years ago. As much as USA try to play the big boys they've got nothing on Mexico. M8, we have beaten Mexico 3 out of the last 4 matches (Nations League, Gold Cup and WCQ) and tied them at the Azteca in WCQ. The last time we played them in the WC we beat them 2:0. |
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Post by conwy10 on Nov 20, 2022 19:47:53 GMT
I think this can go in any direction. 2-0 Wales, 2-0 USA, 2-2 draw. We don't know our place in the global food chain so see what it brings. If its anything to go by I'm sure our 2nd team beat a Mexico strong lineup a few years ago. As much as USA try to play the big boys they've got nothing on Mexico. M8, we have beaten Mexico 3 out of the last 4 matches (Nations League, Gold Cup and WCQ) and tied them at the Azteca in WCQ. The last time we played them in the WC we beat them 2:0. Fair enough. I just see Mexico as the big American team. Didn't Canada win the American qualifiers? I'd still back Mexico to beat Canada when it really matters though. |
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Post by futbolguru on Nov 20, 2022 20:05:54 GMT
M8, we have beaten Mexico 3 out of the last 4 matches (Nations League, Gold Cup and WCQ) and tied them at the Azteca in WCQ. The last time we played them in the WC we beat them 2:0. Fair enough. I just see Mexico as the big American team. Didn't Canada win the American qualifiers? I'd still back Mexico to beat Canada when it really matters though. Yes they did. They are very well organized and have 2 forwards (Jonathan David and Cyle Larin) that are very dangerous. It definitely helped that they played their home matches in poor winter conditions against Central American sides that are used to heat and humidity. Fair play to them for taking advantage. |
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