Futbol Talk

[MuggsyB]

Whiffing the ball is never good.

[MuggsyB]

We created an "identity" in this game?  I don't see it.  Unless that identity is what not to do in the World Cup?

[Its DJOver]

Since when have you let that get in your way?

It's very annoying when 95% of the thread is actual intelligent comments. I imagine we won't have any "distractions" again until next June.

[GB Warrior]

It's just hard to see the USMNT making the next step without more aircraft carriers

[Shaka Shart]

Mexico out hustled, had an actual attacking gameplan, had more talent playing. Not a surprising result.

Congrats to them on winning the "Saudi Arabia presents: The CONCACAF Gold Cup sponsored by Saudi Arabia"

[brewcity77]

We look pretty lost out there Brew.  Why can't we find guys that can control the ball and attack?

I think they played really well, far better than I expected going in.

You have to remember, very few of these players will be on the USMNT roster for the World Cup next summer. Freese, Richards, and Adams will compete for starting spots. Beyond that, there were guys who are fighting to make the bench next year. Tillman, Luna, McGlynn, Arfsten, maybe Agyemang, and that's it.

This was essentially Mexico's A team barely getting by our C team. I don't love the idea of playing a deep defensive line and rarely attacking, but our best hope in this game was always to defend for 70% of the time and hope to nick a goal (we did, but didn't hold up) or take it to penalties (12 more minutes and we get there). Guys like Arfsten, Freeman, de la Torre, Berhalter, they just aren't international level attacking threats. Agyemang is physically gifted but doesn't have nearly the control or agility to pose any danger.

Because of that, our best shots were either moments of brilliance from Luna and Tillman or set piece delivery from Berhalter or McGlynn. That was enough to get us to the Final, even enough to have us in the game until the last 15 minutes. Not to mention the worst missed handball call I've seen since 2002. But frankly, this team wasn't supposed to make the Final, much less win it.

Considering the two friendlies leading into this, winning all three group stage matches and reaching the Final is a great accomplishment. Celebrate what they did, don't despair over what went wrong against a vastly superior opponent. Play this game again with our first choice roster and I like our odds.

Oh...and that handball...

https://x.com/MenInBlazers/status/1942020506699403512

[JWags85]

I think they played really well, far better than I expected going in.

You have to remember, very few of these players will be on the USMNT roster for the World Cup next summer. Freese, Richards, and Adams will compete for starting spots. Beyond that, there were guys who are fighting to make the bench next year. Tillman, Luna, McGlynn, Arfsten, maybe Agyemang, and that's it.

I think Tillman will actaully be fighting for a starting spot.  Had a really nice year for PSV, just signed a big transfer to Leverkusen and continues to grow exponentially as a player.

I don't want to see Arfsten anywhere near the roster for the WC, he gets lost WAY too much.

Guys like Arfsten, Freeman, de la Torre, Berhalter, they just aren't international level attacking threats. Agyemang is physically gifted but doesn't have nearly the control or agility to pose any danger.

De La Torre is so disappointing that he seems to have plateaued.  I love his edge and his attitude and I thought he could grow to be a key piece.  He's just not quite there.  Not good enough to be a super consistent in La Liga, but clearly still a level above MLS as his loan spell has shown.

Agyemang is fine for friendlies and lesser match ups, but unless he makes a big jump after a year in the Championship, he's just a Temu version of Altidore.  Strong and fast, good hold up play, but very lacking in technique, missed numerous key runs cause he's not instinctual enough, not great touch.  He's the opposite of Luna who has everything else but might just be lacking a bit in the physical gifts.

[Pakuni]

It's just hard to see the USMNT making the next step without more aircraft carriers

Haaland in the portal?

[brewcity77]

Tillman could fight for a starting spot but midfield is the hardest place to break in. Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Adams, Musah, they seem pretty cemented, barring injury. I think he's more a spot starter and key reserve. Hopefully this tournament bolsters his confidence at this level.

Also don't love Arfsten, but we need someone behind Jedi & Poch seems to favor him over Tolkin. Though I could see bringing Scally (meh) and/or Freeman to deputize and swinging Dest to the left when necessary. Or dropping Weah back to RB at times.

[JWags85]

Tillman could fight for a starting spot but midfield is the hardest place to break in. Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Adams, Musah, they seem pretty cemented, barring injury. I think he's more a spot starter and key reserve. Hopefully this tournament bolsters his confidence at this level.

Also don't love Arfsten, but we need someone behind Jedi & Poch seems to favor him over Tolkin. Though I could see bringing Scally (meh) and/or Freeman to deputize and swinging Dest to the left when necessary. Or dropping Weah back to RB at times.

Given the way that Poch used Arftsen, I would really like to see Paredes getting run there.  He's been awesome at Wolfsburg when healthy, and he has immense upside.  Really want to see him back into the USMNT rotation.  Other than that, Caleb Wiley is the future LB after Jedi, imo, and would like to see him getting run as opposed to a presumable MLS lifer like Arfsten.

[The Sultan]

Leave it up to UEFA to enforce the rules with Crystal Palace while Red Bull and City group repeatedly break them.

[JWags85]

Leave it up to UEFA to enforce the rules with Crystal Palace while Red Bull and City group repeatedly break them.

Its less selective enforcement of rules, and more allowing huge loopholes regarding blind trusts and "decisive" ownership that City and Red Bull went through with and and Palace didn't by the deadline.  Honestly, its less aggravating than all the Financial Fail Play BS that City has skirted around and UEFA has completely looked the other way on.  There was a simple enough fix here, no matter how BS it is, but Palace's ownership group messed it up a bit.  The quarrel between Textor and Steve Parish is as much to blame as anything, IMO. 

Absolutely sucks for Palace and their fans though.  Selhurst Park is great and their fans are awesome and welcoming.  Hope they make a Chelsea-like run in the Conference League

[The Sultan]

Its less selective enforcement of rules, and more allowing huge loopholes regarding blind trusts and "decisive" ownership that City and Red Bull went through with and and Palace didn't by the deadline.  Honestly, its less aggravating than all the Financial Fail Play BS that City has skirted around and UEFA has completely looked the other way on.  There was a simple enough fix here, no matter how BS it is, but Palace's ownership group messed it up a bit.  The quarrel between Textor and Steve Parish is as much to blame as anything, IMO. 

That just shows how ridiculous it is though. I mean, the City and Red Bulls groups have been very straightforward about the relationship between their various clubs. Putting stuff into blind trusts and the like is cute, but it ignores the obvious relationships between the likes of Girona and City, as well as Salzburg and Leipzig, who all played in the CL just this past season.

And now we have a problem with a club that Textor doesn't have a majority interest in, doesn't manage, and is actively trying to sell, and Lyon...in the Europa League?

A simple solution would have been to prevent them playing in the league phase and to move on from there. Now CP has to quality for the Conference League, and play six games against crappier competition, instead of the 8 that the EL would have provided.

[MU82]

MLS has exactly one player the average American sports fan has heard of, one player the league markets incessantly (and for good reason) ... and then the league's commissioner suspends him from an actual game for missing an exhibition game that few care about.

Nose, I cut thee off to spite mine own face!

[JWags85]

Lot of chatter about Son moving from Spurs to LAFC in the summer window.  I can get being ready for a new challenge after a decade at Spurs but destination seems surprising.  He's still been effective and hasn't show big signs of falling off.  De Bruyne is older and has way more injury problems and he still landed at Napoli.

But I suppose he can go get a small fortune at LAFC for 2-3 years, and then head back to the K League as a legend for a season or two in his late 30s before retiring

[Pakuni]

Lot of chatter about Son moving from Spurs to LAFC in the summer window.  I can get being ready for a new challenge after a decade at Spurs but destination seems surprising.  He's still been effective and hasn't show big signs of falling off.  De Bruyne is older and has way more injury problems and he still landed at Napoli.

But I suppose he can go get a small fortune at LAFC for 2-3 years, and then head back to the K League as a legend for a season or two in his late 30s before retiring

Son really did fall off last year. The statistical decline wasn't alarming, but anyone who watched him could see he lacked the sheer pace that's essential to his game. He had a similar spell in 2022-23 and came back to form the next year, but that kind of bounce back seems unlikely at 33 years old.
LAFC makes sense, given the area's huge Korean population. Lots of opportunities off the pitch, and the club is probably willing to pay him well as a result.
He's been told he can remain at Spurs as long as he wishes, but no promises regarding his minutes.

[JWags85]

Son really did fall off last year. The statistical decline wasn't alarming, but anyone who watched him could see he lacked the sheer pace that's essential to his game. He had a similar spell in 2022-23 and came back to form the next year, but that kind of bounce back seems unlikely at 33 years old.
LAFC makes sense, given the area's huge Korean population. Lots of opportunities off the pitch, and the club is probably willing to pay him well as a result.
He's been told he can remain at Spurs as long as he wishes, but no promises regarding his minutes.

Fair, I meant more he didn't fall off to the point of not being an effective player in the Prem anymore.  Clearly he's past his peak, especially as a pacey player, but I thought he still has EPL/Bundesliga football in him.

Given the above, I meant MLS was surprising as a destination in general.  If he goes to MLS, obviously LAFC makes sense due to Koreatown I think having the largest population of Koreans in the world outside of SK proper.  Makes as much sense as all the LatAm guys at Inter Miami or Drogba ending up at French speaking Montreal.

[Its DJOver]

Turner back to the MLS.  Safe to say the Keepers seeking European game time venture has failed pretty spectacularly the last decade. 21 caps over three season for Steffen, 31 caps over three seasons for Turner, Slonina has yet to make his Chelsea debut, went on loan to get relegated with Eupen, and spend 6 months at Barnsley before getting injured. Rolling with a MLS keeper is not the end of the world for the US (although certainly not ideal), they just need to be getting gametime.

[JWags85]

Turner back to the MLS.  Safe to say the Keepers seeking European game time venture has failed pretty spectacularly the last decade. 21 caps over three season for Steffen, 31 caps over three seasons for Turner, Slonina has yet to make his Chelsea debut, went on loan to get relegated with Eupen, and spend 6 months at Barnsley before getting injured. Rolling with a MLS keeper is not the end of the world for the US (although certainly not ideal), they just need to be getting gametime.

Makes sense given Lyon was trying to back out of the deal the last few weeks. Ligue 2 probably wouldn't have been a bad level for him to be at, but might as well get his confidence back somewhere he is comfortable if at all.

I think the problem with Turner, compared to Howard, Guzan, Friedel, Keller is that they were experienced/established high level keepers when they went abroad in their early 20s. All had been US starters for a dozen caps or so in their early 20s.

Turner played mid level college soccer at best, featured on no national teams growing up, played well after a few years in MLS and got the call ups, but he wasn't playing true high level soccer until he was 27.  Then he went to England and was over his head, lost confidence, and that bled to the national team.

I think guys like Riley and Schulte still have a lot of upside if they can make moves in the next season or so.

Slonina is an odd situation, cause he's still got huge upside, he's only 21 and at least he's getting regular playing time. But Chelsea's loan system is brutal and if you're not a favored prospect, you languish.  I can only think of Cholobah as a guy who did the loan stretches and ended up a regular at the big club.  I would hope his next move is Championship level and he plays well otherwise he's on his way to being Miazga'd

[JWags85]

Politicians being clueless about sports but still trying to make some folksy "go team!" statement is a genre that never gets old.

https://x.com/managertactical/status/1953219987390513365?s=46

Look forward to seeing Son in a USMNT kit next summer!

[Its DJOver]

Welcome to the Championship Wrexham.

[JWags85]

Welcome to the Championship Wrexham.

I like how half their window was signing washed up former Premier League players...Conor Coady, Danny Ward, Jay Rodriguez...

Honestly, finishing in the top 15 would be a big win

[panda2.0]

I like how half their window was signing washed up former Premier League players...Conor Coady, Danny Ward, Jay Rodriguez...

Honestly, finishing in the top 15 would be a big win

Signing some local/localish guys is smart. All of those guys can certainly do a job, windass is a great championship level player. But imo, the championship is one of the most difficult leagues in the world. Absolute grind of a schedule with the top teams playing with a premier league (ish) budget. They have nowhere near enough depth to compete week in week out. They have enough talent to stay out of a relegation scrap but top half will be a success.