The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2014/03/18/its-official-jurgen-klinsmann-confirms-bayern-munichs-julian-green-chooses-u

"A big part of the decision was the experience I had in Frankfurt," Green said in a statement. "All the players were super nice and welcomed me from the beginning. Clint Dempsey gave me a jersey with my name on it, and the way they supported me gave me a lot of belief. The coaches have shown a lot of trust in me, and now I hope to do everything I can to earn a spot on the World Cup roster."

[UMFan83]

So with all the guys we've added in recent months, how much better is the US in the short term and in the long term? Like are these significant game changing talents down the road or just good upgrades?

[shnsajax]

So with all the guys we've added in recent months, how much better is the US in the short term and in the long term? Like are these significant game changing talents down the road or just good upgrades?

 

Short term (the WC) Aron makes an impact and could start ahead of Jozy. Long term (2018 WC) Jozy might not be a starter anymore. We went from having little depth to making the Forward position a potential strength. Aron and Green could be the best combo at forward we have ever had and could be together for the next 10-12 years, and Jozy if he relizes his potential is right there with them.

[wolf stansson]

Like are these significant game changing talents down the road or just good upgrades?

Johannsson is an excellent young striker, but he's not a starter at this World Cup unless Jurgen changes from his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation which relies on a physical striker. He'll be the super sub off the bench. Green is an excellent young winger but he's not a starter at this Cup either. So they are not significant upgrades now and they are not game-changing talents down the road. Well, they might be, but I don't think it'll be the exponential leap that the term implies. These dudes are not our Ronaldo or Messi, they could definitely be our Pedro (Green) or Thomas Mueller (Johannsson) which is a realistic next step in our evolution.

 

What is exciting about these guys is that Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey are 32 and 31 respectively and Jozy Altidore isn't ready to shoulder the offensive load leading up to 2018 and probably never will be. Johannsson and Green are basically like-for-like replacements for those guys but with a head start at the club level. They're more refined, accomplished club players than those guys were at 22 and 18. Realistically, the players that they replace immediately are Brek Shea and Eddie Johnson. Compared to Donovan and Dempsey they aren't clear upgrades. Compared to Brek and the GAM, they definitely are.

 

Green can be what Donovan would have been had he wanted to stick with Bayer Leverkusen instead of come to MLS. Johannsson could be what Dempsey would have been if he went pro at 18 in Europe rather than college. Do these factors mean they'll be better than Donovan and Dempsey? I don't know. I kind of doubt they'll be much better for the national team. It'd be hard for almost any player to accomplish that. I do think they'll be the players that show up on bigger teams in the Champions League that we've always wanted to see.

 

Remember how the market for Clint wasn't what we expected when he went to Tottenham? It's because he was 29 and a tweener with no standard position. Johansson will make that big move when he's 23-25 and he has a set position. Donovan only played in the german 4th division and Bruce Arena brought him to Korea in 2002. People thought that was too soon. Julian Green has dominated the german 4th division at 18 and people are skeptical that he deserves a WC spot. Similar players, similar circumstances but we know Green isn't going to parlay a strong World Cup into a move to the San Jose Earthquakes and we know that Johannsson will probably have an opportunity to move to a club like Tottenham at a much younger age than Deuce.

 

Like everything in US Soccer, they are an incremental, steady improvement and every step forward helps. We're going to see what Junior Flores can do at Dortmund and where Luis Gil moves in the next two years. In Russian 2018 (or England 2018 if Putin keeps acting crazy) we could have an attack with those 4 guys all under 26, all at big European clubs. Could.

[UMFan83]

Both excellent answers. Thanks for the perspective guys.

[wolf stansson]

Aww man.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/03/cherundolo-battling-injuries.html

Steve Cherundolo is retiring. Legend.

[wolf stansson]

Green analysis: http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/reality-check-julian-green-and-the-u-s-national-team

This is something to look forward to:

Even if Green goes to the World Cup, he is unlikely to start or see significant minutes. Yes, the 2015 Gold Cup could be another major tournament for him and theoretically he could play in next year’s U-20 World Cup. But its also possible that the 2016 Olympics (when he will be 20) could be his first major showcase for the United States.

If the United States qualifies, the young core of that team is intriguing. In addition to Green, the other standouts include Luis Gil, DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Will Packwood, Shane O’Neill, Wil Trapp, and Paul Arriola. That’s a pretty exciting group of players who have the potential to be part of the national team for years to come.

[shnsajax]

We better not miss out on the next Olympics.

 

How has Junior Flores been doing at Dortmund?

[wolf stansson]

We better not miss out on the next Olympics.

 

How has Junior Flores been doing at Dortmund?

He can't play until he's 18, which is in a few months iirc.

[Guest]

Thanks for the detailed post plus link, wolf.

 

Is there really any chance at Gedion Zelalem?

[wolf stansson]

Is there really any chance at Gedion Zelalem?

No. He accepted a call-up to Germany's u-19's which means he has to file his one-time switch from Ethiopia, he's not yet a US citizen though his parents have permanent resident status so as soon as he suits up for the German youth team, as I understand it, he's gone.

[wolf stansson]

In the past Germany has been pretty non-plussed when we poach duals. Not this time, apparently.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2014/03/19/world-cup-german-soccer-federation-pursued-julian-green-personal-call-joachi

[Guest]

All 8 group winners advanced to the UCL quarterfinals for the first time since this format was used. I'm not sure we've had as good a list of teams in the QF either. The worst team is probably either ManU or Dortmund, which is crazy.

 

All I want from the draw is for no two teams from the same country to get matched up.

[shnsajax]

Aron and AZ are through to the Quarters probably against Valencia. Spurs are virtually done unless they can score 4 in the 2nd half. Juve need a goal still with 45 minutes to go as well.

[shnsajax]

All 8 group winners advanced to the UCL quarterfinals for the first time since this format was used. I'm not sure we've had as good a list of teams in the QF either. The worst team is probably either ManU or Dortmund, which is crazy.

 

All I want from the draw is for no two teams from the same country to get matched up.

 

Close:

 

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea

Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich

 

The Special One vs the Zlatan should be fun and the best matchup of all of these. This might be ManU's last two European games for the next 15+ months.

[shnsajax]

Europa:

 

AZ vs. Benfica

Lyon vs. Juventus

Basel vs. Valencia

Porto vs. Sevilla

 

Tough draw for AZ

[wolf stansson]

Fantastic Champions League draw.

[shnsajax]

RvP is now out 4-6 weeks. That matchup got a lot less interesting.

[wolf stansson]

Deuce suspended two games for his ball tap. His only game action leading up to the WC will be internationals, so he better knock that rust off quick. Bad stuff.

[Guest]

RvP is now out 4-6 weeks. That matchup got a lot less interesting.

 

I thought ManU was going to get beat down anyway and this is only going to make it worse.

[shnsajax]

RvP is now out 4-6 weeks. That matchup got a lot less interesting.

 

I thought ManU was going to get beat down anyway and this is only going to make it worse.

 

This, I wouldn't be surpised now to see them get shutout both games.

 

And Sunday's Manchester derby is now without Aguero and RVP.

[USSoccer]

Deuce suspended two games for his ball tap. His only game action leading up to the WC will be internationals, so he better knock that rust off quick. Bad stuff.

 

That suspension is complete [expletive].

[wvcbxl]

Arsenal down 3-0 after 17 minutes at Chelsea and a man down to boot (and the wrong man was sent off)

They sure don't like saturday lunchtime games...

[shnsajax]

I can't believe I woke up for this [expletive]. Away games vs top 4 are a lock for a loss for Arsenal.

[Guest]

Arsenal down 3-0 after 17 minutes at Chelsea and a man down to boot (and the wrong man was sent off)

They sure don't like saturday lunchtime games...

 

Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain are both black so the ref probably couldn't tell them apart.