After five months, 11 matches and innumerable twists and turns, the U.S. men’s national team is approaching the final stages of its campaign to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
While there’s still work to be done, the Americans stand in strong position heading into their final three matches of the CONCACAF Octagonal in March. One other result would have to fall in their favor, but there’s a solid chance that the U.S. will be able to clinch a spot in Qatar with a win against Panama in Orlando on March 27. That’d be a huge relief — no one in the U.S. camp wants to go down to Costa Rica for the qualifying finale on March 30 needing to draw or win in order to return to the World Cup.
Before qualifying got underway in September, my colleague Paul Tenorio broke the USMNT player pool into four tiers: Locked-in starters, surefire call-ups who are fighting for starting jobs, players closer to the bubble who, if called, will mostly be used as reserves and players who are currently outside the team but have a reasonable shot at breaking in.
As a quick glance at his piece shows (John Brooks! Antonee Robinson! Ricardo Pepi!), quite a bit has changed since the start of the Octagonal. U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter has started 34 players, given playing time to 36 and called 43 during qualifying, with a core group now starting to coalesce as qualifying draws to a close.
Still, there’s still plenty of potential for movement, especially towards the back end of the roster. The picture will surely change even more between now and a potential trip to the World Cup in November.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth evaluating where players stand in the here and now.
How much of an impact will Newcastle’s January signings have in their bid for survival? Can Bruno Guimaraes be their saviour?
And what about Frank Lampard and Everton — are they too good to go down?
With at least 15 games to play for the teams in the Premier League’s bottom seven there is still so much to play for. Burnley are bottom but are only three points off safety, and they have plenty of games in hand over some of their rivals.
Our data experts Mark Carey and John Muller have joined forces with reporters from each of the bottom seven clubs to weigh up their strengths, weaknesses, playing styles and chances of staying up — and how important it is for the club that they do…
Why will this team stay up?
Brentford (Jay Harris): Thomas Frank’s side have lost four in a row but, once they get past Manchester City on Wednesday, their fixtures become kinder and results should improve.
They have struggled with injuries and COVID-19 cases in the last two months, but with Kristoffer Ajer, David Raya and Josh Dasilva back fit, their squad is in a much healthier state.
Brentford score, on average, one goal per game which does not match up to the quality of chances they are producing (xG 1.16). If this can be corrected, they should stay up without any trouble.
Two years ago, from the comfortable remove of Doha, he pontificated on what sort of forward suited Barcelona and who, in particular, did not: Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“Aubameyang will kill you in open space,” Xavi told the press. “But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces. It’s not easy to think of players who have adapted well to Barca. Samuel Eto’o was perfect, as is Luis Suarez right now.”
Ah, well, nevertheless.
Becoming a manager has a funny way of folding your list of ideals up into a delicate little origami crane and then smashing it repeatedly with an accountant’s laptop. The Barcelona Xavi inherited isn’t the one he played for or even the one he imagined that Aubameyang wouldn’t fit. It’s a club battered by financial hardship, injuries, and the still-aching wound close to the heart where Lionel Messi used to be.
Xavi’s Barcelona rank a distant fourth in La Liga for non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes and an unthinkable seventh in real, actual balls kicked into nets. One-time Newcastle flop Luuk de Jong might be their best available striker at the moment, and that’s if it isn’t one-time Ajax defensive midfielder Frenkie de Jong. This team desperately needs someone who can score.
You know who used to be really good at that? Mr Open Space Killer himself, who as recently as two years ago was routinely banging in 20 a season for Arsenal and Dortmund.
Provides justification for the guiding of specific training methods, interventions decision making processes within soccerHighlights the practical application of modern, research based training methods assessment toolsProvides an increased evidence knowledge to understand key kinesiology, soccer science performance processes across a range of coaching science topicsDiscusses the most efficient training methods and detailed insights into developing player fitness alongside rehabilitation training methodologiesLearn from industry experts in the area of soccer or football science, kinesiology, sport science performance training in team sportsHelp maximise your decision making through a better understanding appreciation of football or soccer science
这个课程是为谁开设的？
Individuals tasked with the responsibility for the training, preparation coaching aspects of soccer players or team sportsKinesiologists, sport scientists, athletic trainers, coaches fitness trainersIndividuals with an interest in developing their knowledge in the training development of individual soccer players or team sports
Tactical Analysis in the Training Process The process of analysis in soccerSławomir Morawski MSc, UEFA A License Elite Tactical Analyst MINDFOOTBALLNESS
a game a source of potential information,analysis collection and processing of information for its presentation and further application,feedback presentation of information and its placement in an appropriate context,change of perspective confronting existing knowledge with facts,planning and adjustment of the training process putting the information collected into practice as a reference point for working in a particular direction,training working based on new information (+ analysis),adaptation of training conditions intensity and work context management.
Provides justification for the guiding of specific training methods, interventions decision making processes within soccerHighlights the practical application of modern, research based training methods assessment toolsProvides an increased evidence knowledge to understand key kinesiology, soccer science performance processes across a range of coaching science topicsDiscusses the most efficient training methods and detailed insights into developing player fitness alongside rehabilitation training methodologiesLearn from industry experts in the area of soccer or football science, kinesiology, sport science performance training in team sportsHelp maximise your decision making through a better understanding appreciation of football or soccer science
Sport or soccer psychology is the use of psychological knowledge skills to optimize performance and well-being of athletesmaximising the developmental aspects of sports participation understanding the systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations
什么是心理技能训练
Mental skills training is the process involving methods techniques to improve performanceTechniques involve such things like: Developing self-confidence creating a positive mind-set through goal setting, positive self-talk, visualization, imagery self-efficacy
