Scholarship table
Honest question from a non fan. How easy/hard does the USA men's team have in qualifying for the World Cup compared to other parts of the world?
I'll stick with my opinion on Gold. He'll be in foul trouble within the first eight minutes.
It really depends on some of the draws. For instance, a top team in Europe can get a relatively simple draw (see Germany in 2018) if they don't have a real top-notch second team to deal with. Whereas Italy didn't make the Cup because they had to go against Spain in the group stage, then lost in the playoffs to another tough team in Sweden.In Africa, it is similar, where only the group winners make the Finals. So if you are placed with another good team, it's going to be difficult.I would think the hardest is South America. Ten teams playing a complete round robin. Really the only "dogs" are Bolivia and Venezuela.
Another dumb non-fan question. Are both qualifying tournaments and the World Cup COMPLETELY random "draws" in terms of "pools" (or whatever they may be called), or are there things like "one team from this group of countries will be in each different pool" kind of thing?
Really don't like the new format.
Can I ask why? It really shouldn't/doesn't affect the USMNT very much at all, and it allows a lot of smaller countries opportunities to play significantly more games, even if their chances of qualification aren't increased at all.
I highly doubt that Steffan will ever play for City. He's only one year younger that their no 1 and wouldn't want to be a back up. Good loan move, but he'll be sold by city within a couple of years for a profit.Miazga is staring to run out of time with Chelsea. 24 and 4th straight year on loan. I think he's good enough for a mid tier big 5 league team, but the breakthrough has to come soon. Development has slowed over the last 24 months.
Claudio Bravo is 36 coming off an Achilles injury. I could see Steffan being brought back in 2020 to spell Ederson, play the Cup matches, and then likely get sold elsewhere in England. Having an America wear the shirt also helps with their continued US branding efforts.
The thing is, that I'm not even sure that he would be the best keeper that mcfc currently has out on loan.https://www.transfermarkt.us/arijanet-muri%C4%87/profil/spieler/371021Four years younger. Came up through the academy (which actually means something), recalled after Bravo's injury last year and impressed in the chances given. Also, as much as the branding helps, that will have 0% influence over Pep. He will play who he wants, regardless of what anyone else says. I absolutely want Steffan to succeed, and I think he will, I just doubt that it will be with City. Remember when City signed Mix Diskerud and people freaked out because it was an American going to a big club? Never made an appearance for City.
https://twitter.com/SkyKaveh/status/1154780800216371201I wasn't overly impressed with Long during the Gold Cup, but if this were to go through his ceiling would skyrocket. One of the best leagues in the world with a top manager. More please.
So week one of the Prem in the books, and surprise, it looks like it's really only going to be a two horse race again. City made West Ham look like a high school team and Liverpool looked equally impressive against (an admittedly bad) Norwich side. Spurs and Arsenal both looked so-so for long stretches and Sundays' United Chelsea game was more about how Chelsea couldn't strengthen and have a rookie manager rather than United being "back". Expect top two to be another slug-fest, and then a solid 15-20 point drop off.