At the half, I like the aggressiveness. Team played well after they got the jitters out. I think everyone looks pretty good but I’d take Gio or someone else over Tillman. I don’t think he has touched the ball more than twice. Slow getting to his man.
In case the animals want to play along and post, I was curious what the rules would be?
Can’t use the same team twice?
Equally divided among POTs? Can’t use the same team twice in a POT?
For example if you are breaking up the defense into CBs and WBs and so forth you could probably get 6 different groupings. 2 from POT1, 2 from POT2, 1 from POT3, 1 from POT4?
GK, CBs, RB/LB/WBs, DM/AM/CM, RM/LM/W, AF/ST
Tell me how to live…
The boys said Gio was quiet vs Senegal but I thought he was solid so I re-watch his half. I think he may have had the best half of any player on the Team and I see why Poch likes him.
Reyna Notes
Quick Summary: He doesn’t lose the ball, solid passes, solid ball control. He wins headers, pressures the ball and gets turnovers. He pulls defenders out of position, throwing the defense out of balance. He guarded their DM once we were up 2-0 probably a tactical shift from the coach. He had 2 poor defensive positions imo that did not lead to goals. Both times he was just a little too far off his man when our defense cleared it to the other team….. hard to know if he could have reacted faster.
NOTES in order from the half.
Pressured the keeper for a turnover for the possession where we scored the first goal. He also pulls the CB a little wider leaving that lane for Dest to run into.
Case could be made Reyna was in a bad defensive position for the first Mane opportunity. Did not lead to a goal, and it was a defensive clearance, probably hard to react that quickly. He was also the out ball option for turner on the counter though.
Nicholas Jackson chance, he made a run all the way back into the box from RF.
On the Pulisic goal Reyna had moved more centrally. The RB moved up to defend Freeman. Pepi is now 1v1 with the CB who he makes the juke on, takes him out of the play. The single CB left now has to contend with Pulisic behind him, Pepi in front of him and Gio centrally. Created a lot of confusion for the Defense.
On the play where Berhalter fouls. Both Dest and Freeman are up the field out of position. Gio recognizes it and pulls into RB before the play can develop.
Beautiful ball to the wing in the 28th minute. Still has not had a turnover at this time.
Awareness is really strong. Pressure on the CB leads to a throw-in. Reyna quick takes the throw to a wide open pepi who can’t believe how much space he has, shanks it.
Gio gets another turnover in the 30th minute that leads to the Robinson chance.
Reyna takes the corner there is a clearance and 50/50 at the tip of the box. He wins a big header over the defender. Technically a shot.
Wins a 50/50 when we are under attack and draws a foul to reset the defense.
Two give aways so far. A header on goal and just now a chip back post for Pepi that he doesn’t jump for. Both result in a goal kick but both are probably worth the risk/reward.
Reyna is open at the top of the box but Pulisic isn’t finding him. Kind of forces a shot instead.
His only incomplete pass was in the 46th minute a one timer to Pulisic after he gets a turnover at the edge of the box. Pulisic is not quite ready for it, kind of quits on it. The defense clears again and we get the ball back right away.
Other notes: Several of our players had sloppy turnovers, even some of our better players, Pepi, Pulisic, Adams, Ream. I think this is where Reyna was much more solid than the rest of the team.
Towards the end of the half some of our players were getting caught way too far forward, pushing even further up than Reyna, and walking back. This is what led to the Mane goal before half. Those players are Dest, Berhalter primarily. Got goal hungry…
I always like to look at the wage bill vs league position. I feel like it gives a better look at the club than net spend. How much are you paying these players to come to your club?
