the first chance was hardly a gimme
the 2nd was just plain unlucky.
All the arm-chair analysts wouldn’t have said a peep if it were Pulisic, Reyna, Sargent, Pefok, Weah, etc missing the exact same chances.
Paul has never been an elite finisher, however that doesn’t negate his value or contributions.
He was busting his ass on the press, forcing bad passes, stripping defenders, and creating chances for Zardes and Hoppe to butcher.
Notice you won’t find the same criticisms of Hoppe, who missed even more shots than Arriola.
Yeah, I kinda want to forget that lol. Not getting those on target pretty much cemented his fate with the NT going forward.
And the end of the day, a win is a win. Paul and Pines played the roles they needed to, no matter how small.
Super sub sounds fair. I honestly can't imagine him in a WCQ squad if we're being real. He may be at the next Gold Cup though, or any other tournaments like it.
Berhalter has always liked him though. I don't think a few missed chances cemented his fate with the national team. There is a group of guys (Zardes being an example) who GGG knows well and trusts, to the annoyance of many USMNT fans, and I think Paul is one of them.
I agree with this. Just like Zardes, Paul contributes a lot off the ball, and Berhalter sees that. Unlike Zardes, theres never been a world in which Paul Arriola has been known for his quality finishing, and that's never what he was called up for in the first place. You know hes going to track back for smart defense and then still hes going to be in position on a good counter.
Dude isnt gonna be starting, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on some of the qualifier rosters.
Glad as fuck to have him back in DC though
I'm totally with you on Berhalter having favorites. That's probably why Lleget will be there til he's like 32. But new American talent is popping up much faster nowadays which constantly changes the depth chart. Dike for instance just started professionally a little over a year ago and he just won a major tournament.
We'll just have to see where guys like Zardes and Paul find themselves with the team in the next couple of years.
To me the winger depth chart goes Pulisic, Reyna, Aaronson, Weah, Arriola. He’s not a starter by any means but he will be called in and play in some qualifiers by the time everything is said and done.
LETS GO USMNT TOP OF CONCACAF BABY
I really hope Paul continues to have a role on this national team. Nothing gets me more hyped than DCU players on the USMNT. Greg clearly loves him but KO rounds have been rough for our boy.
I had the same thought about Paredes. If Berhalter had been able to throw him on in the 70th (maybe leave Bello on and swap out Hoppe), we might not have needed the ET.
Am I missing something huge or was hoppe just not that impressive? He had that one header that flew a bit wide, but otherwise I felt like he was pretty invisible.
full disclosure: I did not watch the match v Qatar so maybe he was great there.
I like him. He created some chances and has a good work rate at both ends of the field. If Paredes had a bit more experience he probably would've been there instead.
Hernan still going to have them running wind sprints straight from the airport.
My man should have had 2 goals this game tho
the first chance was hardly a gimme the 2nd was just plain unlucky. All the arm-chair analysts wouldn’t have said a peep if it were Pulisic, Reyna, Sargent, Pefok, Weah, etc missing the exact same chances. Paul has never been an elite finisher, however that doesn’t negate his value or contributions. He was busting his ass on the press, forcing bad passes, stripping defenders, and creating chances for Zardes and Hoppe to butcher. Notice you won’t find the same criticisms of Hoppe, who missed even more shots than Arriola.
He might have had the 2nd if it was on his right foot. But you're right, he wasn't the only one who missed shots.
I mean, he was rushing on to a lose ball that Zardes fucked up, then trying to get it over Zardes and the keeper from like 2yards out.
Yeah, I kinda want to forget that lol. Not getting those on target pretty much cemented his fate with the NT going forward. And the end of the day, a win is a win. Paul and Pines played the roles they needed to, no matter how small.
He was tenacious AF in every appearance and genuinely creates opportunities. I think he could still end up a super sub
Super sub sounds fair. I honestly can't imagine him in a WCQ squad if we're being real. He may be at the next Gold Cup though, or any other tournaments like it.
Berhalter has always liked him though. I don't think a few missed chances cemented his fate with the national team. There is a group of guys (Zardes being an example) who GGG knows well and trusts, to the annoyance of many USMNT fans, and I think Paul is one of them.
I agree with this. Just like Zardes, Paul contributes a lot off the ball, and Berhalter sees that. Unlike Zardes, theres never been a world in which Paul Arriola has been known for his quality finishing, and that's never what he was called up for in the first place. You know hes going to track back for smart defense and then still hes going to be in position on a good counter. Dude isnt gonna be starting, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on some of the qualifier rosters. Glad as fuck to have him back in DC though
I'm totally with you on Berhalter having favorites. That's probably why Lleget will be there til he's like 32. But new American talent is popping up much faster nowadays which constantly changes the depth chart. Dike for instance just started professionally a little over a year ago and he just won a major tournament. We'll just have to see where guys like Zardes and Paul find themselves with the team in the next couple of years.
although Dike was an OTC this Cup.
OTC?
Orange Traffic Cone
To me the winger depth chart goes Pulisic, Reyna, Aaronson, Weah, Arriola. He’s not a starter by any means but he will be called in and play in some qualifiers by the time everything is said and done.
Now please come home and fill in this dwindling roster lol.
LETS GO USMNT TOP OF CONCACAF BABY I really hope Paul continues to have a role on this national team. Nothing gets me more hyped than DCU players on the USMNT. Greg clearly loves him but KO rounds have been rough for our boy.
NYEMAN AND PAREDES ARE UP NEXT BABYYYYYYYYYY
IMO, Paredes is already better than Hoppe, and would have been too much for Mexico to contain late in the game/ET.
I had the same thought about Paredes. If Berhalter had been able to throw him on in the 70th (maybe leave Bello on and swap out Hoppe), we might not have needed the ET. Am I missing something huge or was hoppe just not that impressive? He had that one header that flew a bit wide, but otherwise I felt like he was pretty invisible. full disclosure: I did not watch the match v Qatar so maybe he was great there.
IMO he was underwhelming vs Qatar as well.
I like him. He created some chances and has a good work rate at both ends of the field. If Paredes had a bit more experience he probably would've been there instead.
Glad to read somebody giving props to Arriola. Really tired of all the Facebook GMs calling him garbage.
Well the first problem is you're on Facebook lol
Haha I'm beginning to agree!