Futbol Talk

[ZiggysFryBoy]

What a fking game

Spurs

DVD.

Holy shít!  Shades of Amsterdam!

[JWags85]

Josh Sargent finally opens his account at Norwich with an absolute gem

https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1484635040927657985?s=20

Then follows it up with a second.  Huge game in a huge moment for Norwich.  Still think they end up going down but good for him.  Hope he grabs even more form

[shoothoops]

Pretty big moments for Josh. 2 goals and a big win. At 21 years old, he's the 3rd youngest American to score in the Premier League.

https://twitter.com/nbcsportssoccer/status/1484635040927657985?s=21

https://twitter.com/nbcsportssoccer/status/1484640382466269186?s=21

Well earned respect of his teammates, coaches, and fans for his high character and work ethic. SLSG celebrates tonight.

https://twitter.com/nbcsportssoccer/status/1484648692535676930?s=21

[Billy Hoyle]

well here's a new one. Diluting the importance of World Cup to hold it every two years (and make FIFA billions) will solve the "refugee crisis."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino linked his plan for biennial World Cups on Wednesday to giving more hope to Africans who risk their lives crossing the sea to Europe.

The African refugees I've worked with and assisted over the years could have stayed in their countries and not had to flee civil war if only the World Cup were held every two years. Who knew? 

[JWags85]

Matt Turner on the cusp of moving from the NE Revolution to Arsenal.  Start back up the USMNT to EPL GK pipeline

[The Sultan]

Survive and advance. Well not really but it felt that way.

[BM1090]

Don't know what it is exactly, but I don't enjoy this US team very much. But will gladly take the 3 points. Hopefully they get 1 vs. Canada and beat Honduras in Minneapolis.

[Its DJOver]

I guess the saving grace is that no one else seems to playing all that well either. Mexico needed two late goals to beat 10 man Jamaica. Panama hasn't created much against Costa Rica, although it's only half. If that ends in a draw it'd be just as big as the US win.

[JWags85]

El Salvador isn't good, but they have a weird grit so they play everyone close.  They've only lost by more than a goal once in the last 8 or so.  It's 15 degrees in January on a frozen crappy pitch against a plucky opponent.  Take the 3 points and move on

[drewm88]

We have no business fearing the competition so much we put these games in the freezing cold. Beyond the potential for injuries, we're risking sloppy games that become a toss-up.

The lack of confidence and touch in the final third is aggravating. I get enough of that as a Chelsea fan.

Pulisic looks like he doesn't trust any of his teammates and is trying to be the hero every time.

The gulf between us and most of CONCACAF is papering over a lot of ugly. Gregggg out.

[panda]

We have no business fearing the competition so much we put these games in the freezing cold. Beyond the potential for injuries, we're risking sloppy games that become a toss-up.

The lack of confidence and touch in the final third is aggravating. I get enough of that as a Chelsea fan.

Pulisic looks like he doesn't trust any of his teammates and is trying to be the hero every time.

The gulf between us and most of CONCACAF is papering over a lot of ugly. Gregggg out.

I do think there is value to training and playing in the cold knowing your most important game will be playing in the cold in Edmonton.

[drewm88]

Disagree completely. The other 6 road games are warm weather, and while this may be the toughest test (I'd defer to Mexico away still), it's not the most important. The goal is first to qualify and second to prepare the team to compete in Qatar. Beating Canada is just a measuring stick, and mostly for them rather than us.

We can play in St. Paul in October and still get plenty of cold experience. Snow/frozen football is fun but silly at this level for this team.

(Also, game's in Hamilton.)

[panda]

Disagree completely. The other 6 road games are warm weather, and while this may be the toughest test (I'd defer to Mexico away still), it's not the most important. The goal is first to qualify and second to prepare the team to compete in Qatar. Beating Canada is just a measuring stick, and mostly for them rather than us.

We can play in St. Paul in October and still get plenty of cold experience. Snow/frozen football is fun but silly at this level for this team.

(Also, game's in Hamilton.)

Hamilton - My mistake.

It makes sense to play/train in the cold during this window as they know a cold road game awaits in Canada.

It makes sense to play Mexico in Columbus for home field advantage.

It does not make sense to play winter/cold/snow games at any other point.

[Its DJOver]

Why would it only make sense to maximize home field advantage against Mexico?  Shouldn't we be attempting to do that every home game? Other countries are.

[panda]

Why would it only make sense to maximize home field advantage against Mexico?  Shouldn't we be attempting to do that every home game? Other countries are.

There's a reason we play cash grab friendlies vs. Mexico in large football stadiums in cities like Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix etc. and qualifiers in Columbus and other soccer specific venues.

Columbus has always been a haven for big time US crowds while other cities which don't host many competitive games anymore attract larger crowds for the visitors.

I think the federation does a good job maximizing home field advantage for all home qualifiers.

[JWags85]

I saw a couple people complaining last night about playing qualifying games in places where they know there won't be many minorities, aka immigrant fans of the opposing country, which is just a preposterous complaint.  Its racist to want a homefield advantage?  Got it

[Its DJOver]

There's a reason we play cash grab friendlies vs. Mexico in large football stadiums in cities like Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix etc. and qualifiers in Columbus and other soccer specific venues.

Columbus has always been a haven for big time US crowds and other cities which don't host many competitive games anymore attract larger crowds for the visitors.

I think the federation does a good job maximizing home field advantage for all home qualifiers.

You're not making any sense. We haven't played Mexico in Columbus since 2016, and have played them 6 times in the states since then, so your argument kinda doesn't hold up.

[drewm88]

Hamilton - My mistake.

It makes sense to play/train in the cold during this window as they know a cold road game awaits in Canada.

It makes sense to play Mexico in Columbus for home field advantage.

It does not make sense to play winter/cold/snow games at any other point.

Fair. Agree to disagree on this window--I'd prioritize the risk of injury with triple the time in the cold over preparation for Canada, but I see your side.

[Its DJOver]

I saw a couple people complaining last night about playing qualifying games in places where they know there won't be many minorities, aka immigrant fans of the opposing country, which is just a preposterous complaint.  Its racist to want a homefield advantage?  Got it

Honestly the biggest home field advantage that anyone in CONCACAF gets is the field conditions in some of the Central American countries. Location in the states really isn't all that influential. We win last night whether the game was in Ohio or California, as long as it was on a proper field.

[drewm88]

You're not making any sense. We haven't played Mexico in Columbus since 2016, and have played them 6 times in the states since then, so your argument kinda doesn't hold up.

The WCQs were in 2016 (Columbus) and 2021 (Cincinnati's new soccer stadium). His point stands.

[drewm88]

I saw a couple people complaining last night about playing qualifying games in places where they know there won't be many minorities, aka immigrant fans of the opposing country, which is just a preposterous complaint.  Its racist to want a homefield advantage?  Got it

My complaint isn't about racism, it's how pathetic it is we can't fill the stadium with supporters and/or win against El Salvador and Honduras no matter who's in the crowd.

[Its DJOver]

The WCQs were in 2016 (Columbus) and 2021 (Cincinnati's new soccer stadium). His point stands.

Not really. The idea that we only play "cash grabs friendlies" at football stadiums kinda ignores the non friendlies in Denver, Chicago, and Vegas that have all occurred since we last played Mexico in Columbus. The whole home field advantage because of the weather is way overblown.

[panda]

You're not making any sense. We haven't played Mexico in Columbus since 2016, and have played them 6 times in the states since then, so your argument kinda doesn't hold up.

You only play one home qualifier per cycle vs an opponent so you are correct in that the US has not played a home qualifier vs. Mexico in Columbus since 2016. Not many opportunities....

We've played them multiple other times during that time span in Gold Cup venues and friendly venues which are meant to maximize profits for the federation and Concacaf. I admitted that in my initial post....

To your other point -

Columbus has hosted the most USA Mexico qualifiers and there's history and mystique behind the venue.

What's hard to understand ?

[Its DJOver]

There's a reason we play cash grab friendlies vs. Mexico in large football stadiums

Non friendly Gold Cup Final in Chicago
Non friendly Nations League Final in Denver
Non friendly Gold Cup Final in Vegas.

Three non friendly competitive games occurring in football stadiums since we've played in Columbus. You are factually incorrect.

[panda]

Non friendly Gold Cup Final in Chicago
Non friendly Nations League Final in Denver
Non friendly Gold Cup Final in Vegas.

Three non friendly competitive games occurring in football stadiums since we've played in Columbus. You are factually incorrect.

You're correct.

However I clearly wasn't talking about tournaments with pre determined sites.

I apologize that the topic of conversation on the ability of the federation to pick home sites for friendlies vs. qualifiers was lost on you.