soccer soccer soccer

[UMFan83]

 

Because I don’t like those cities.

 

And no one likes Sacramento, so.....lose lose lose

 

Cool. I'm glad you felt the need to jump into a thread about a sport you don't care about to defend St. Louis and Cincinnati.

 

Ahh yes the quinnisential Derwood experience

[UMFan83]

anyways why does it seem like we are finally developing top end talent but the actual team is getting worse?

[Derwood]

 

And no one likes Sacramento, so.....lose lose lose

 

Cool. I'm glad you felt the need to jump into a thread about a sport you don't care about to defend St. Louis and Cincinnati.

 

Ahh yes the quinnisential Derwood experience

 

Sorry to disrupt this very important discussion.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

anyways why does it seem like we are finally developing top end talent but the actual team is getting worse?

 

1) we need to have the painful waiting period for that talent to mature since there’s a huge void in the age groups in front of them. Case in point last night with Dest getting roasted on the first goal. Thankfully we’ve seen the Berhalter USMNT comfortably dispatch CONCACAF minnows in competitive play so they’ll qualify, and we’re still more than 3 years til the start of Qatar, so the McKennies, Dests, Pomykals, and Weahs of the world will be much different when we need to rise to the challenge.

 

2) At this point it’s clear that Berhalter is willing to let friendly results sink in the name of learning. That’s okay with me, but if he’s going to have his eye on the long term prize then he needs to have a longer term eye with his rosters and playing time too so we can get the full benefit.

[wolf stansson]

2) At this point it’s clear that Berhalter is willing to let friendly results sink in the name of learning. T

Dude reeeeeeeeally doesn't care about friendly results. To the degree that I feel like a sucker for watching at this point.

 

I can forgive and even admire his hubris in that regard, but still can't get over two things:

 

1) A senior national team is the last venue where you should be developing your system. The senior team should be pragmatic imo.

2) Playing his shitty Columbus guys like Trapp and Zardes. They're solid MLS contributors. That's it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

2) Playing his horsefeathers Columbus guys like Trapp and Zardes. They're solid MLS contributors. That's it.

 

I don't really like seeing either of them, although I do feel like the backlash is getting a bit extreme because of the circumstances(this is mostly because the USMNT fanbase is particularly self-loathing and toxic). Especially at striker the player pool is super thin, and I fully expect that Sargent will start tomorrow and by the time qualifying starts he'll be ahead of Zardes on the depth chart. Hopefully someone like Toye, Ebobisse, or Soto continues to progress too. Trapp I have less patience for, I get that Berhalter wants someone who can play beautifully weighted long balls in every direction, but Trapp can barely get the space to do that against subpar international competition and he's a defensive zero. Really hope that Adams getting healthy and some more progression from Yueill knocks him out of selection.

[wolf stansson]

I agree that the backlash has been ugly and personal in a way that is totally unacceptable, but objectively, if you're essentially doing a flash rebuild before WCQ starts back up, what are you doing playing a 28 year old and a 26 year old who has plateau'd for 4 seasons? A rebuild is about upside and development. Neither of those players have shown either over a pretty [expletive] broad sample size.

 

That's the funny thing about Will Trapp. He looks like he's 16, so you can talk yourself into thinking he's a project. He's already two years into his soccer prime.

[stitchface]

MLS coming to Sacramento.

 

I’m still annoyed they gave teams to Cincinnati and St Louis first but better late than never.

 

yay? Since it's literally not possible to get to avaya in time for a kickoff, I guess this is good.

[soccer10k]

I like VAR and replay in general but I hate when stuff like this gets overturned.

 

 

It took way too long to review and I don’t know how they can figure out exactly when the ball was kicked and exactly if the guy was offsides or not when it’s this close. It’s not a “did the ball go across the line” situation where the line doesn’t move and it’s easy to tell if the ball went across. In this case, you’ve got when the ball was kicked, the defenders body and the attacker’s body.

 

It’s like the safe/out in baseball or who the ball went off of in basketball. When you have to slow it down so much and take more than like 60 seconds to review it, just leave the call as is and move on.

 

Leicester had a goal ruled out for offsides earlier. It was clear and took 30-45 seconds to review. That’s perfect.

[stitchface]

I like VAR and replay in general but I hate when stuff like this gets overturned.

 

 

It took way too long to review and I don’t know how they can figure out exactly when the ball was kicked and exactly if the guy was offsides or not when it’s this close. It’s not a “did the ball go across the line” situation where the line doesn’t move and it’s easy to tell if the ball went across. In this case, you’ve got when the ball was kicked, the defenders body and the attacker’s body.

 

It’s like the safe/out in baseball or who the ball went off of in basketball. When you have to slow it down so much and take more than like 60 seconds to review it, just leave the call as is and move on.

 

Leicester had a goal ruled out for offsides earlier. It was clear and took 30-45 seconds to review. That’s perfect.

 

 

There is no call on the field as the ARs are told not to flag it.

[soccer10k]

My main issue (in all sports) is how long some of these reviews take. I know we’ve discussed it countless times in game threads. Cap it to 60 seconds and if you can’t tell, you go with the call on the field/court. In this case, 60 seconds and if you can’t tell if he’s offsides, then the goal stands.

 

Like I said about this specific one, I’m also dubious as to VAR’s ability to factor in exactly when the ball was kicked, where the attacker was and where the defender was. Maybe they can tell. I’m just not 100% sure.

 

Related note, when they review for offsides, is it when the ball is initially touched or when it leaves the foot? I honestly have no idea but if we’re trying to determine offsides down to the millimeter, this is relevant.

[biittner77]

This seems like one of those spirit of the rule situations. If it's that close, what possible advantage could the attacker have? If the attacker doesn't have any really clear advantage then it shouldn't be off-sides.

[soccer10k]

I know it’s only been a few games but boy am I sure glad that Pulisic went to Chelsea.

[stitchface]

I know it’s only been a few games but boy am I sure glad that Pulisic went to Chelsea.

 

I was talking with an english co-worker and he was telling me it was likely the academy players would freeze him out to support their mates. He doesn't seem to be socially skilled enough to break that down.

[stitchface]

love him or hate him, I think Klinnsmann is right about a lot of things in his recent interview.

[wolf stansson]

love him or hate him, I think Klinnsmann is right about a lot of things in his recent interview.

Verbalizing/criticizing the issues wasn't his problem. He's always been good at that, not that it takes a ton of insight to zero in on what's wrong with US Soccer.

I was talking with an english co-worker and he was telling me it was likely the academy players would freeze him out to support their mates. He doesn't seem to be socially skilled enough to break that down.

Based on IG, he seems to be pretty tight with Tomori, Abraham, and Batman. 2/3 are academy dudes.

 

Also, speculating on Christian Pulisic's social skills is a weird thing to do in general.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

https://twitter.com/rebekahvardy/status/1181871914081509376?s=21

[UMFan83]

First loss to Canada in 34 years...

[javy knows my name]

 

https://twitter.com/rebekahvardy/status/1181871914081509376?s=21

 

It's worth going into the thread of the response tweet just for the WAG puns. I'm dying

[wolf stansson]

Buried in an article on the Athletic's Newcastle FC coverage was this gem:

https://theathletic.com/1301597/2019/10/19/yedlin-must-shake-off-international-woes-to-provide-vital-weapon-in-newcastles-attack/

Sources across the Atlantic described the mood inside the USA camp as “disconsolate” after the game. This latest loss added to the sense of drift that has afflicted a team who failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup finals and who are yet to find their identity after almost 12 months under coach Gregg Berhalter.

 

“It’s not exactly a great environment around the team at the moment,” said one source. In fact, the verdict was that Yedlin would be “excited” to return to Newcastle duty following a troubling 10 days with his national team.

 

Grrrrrrreat. Quick reminder: the head coach, who should've had an incredibly easy act to follow in terms of building optimism and a positive culture, is already failing but don't worry, his brother is about to be named CEO so I'm sure he'll be held accountable.

 

I keep thinking back to the story of Carlos Bocanegra walking into the players meeting before the USSF president vote and convincing them to reject populist candidates like Martino and elect Cordero.

 

horsefeathers him for that. horsefeathers them for listening to a boss during such a key negotiation. Cordero sucks, Berhalter(s) sucks, and without the women's cult of personality, they're be seen for the abject failures they are.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

MLS’s new playoff format is great and worth it for the Dallas/Seattle game alone

[wolf stansson]

MLS’s new playoff format is great and worth it for the Dallas/Seattle game alone

Just saw this tweet and it’s very apparent why the new format is better.

 

 

 

The frenetic chaos with all home teams ultimately winning is best of all worlds.

[stitchface]

welcome to Sacramento MLS!

[wolf stansson]

I know it’s only been a few games but boy am I sure glad that Pulisic went to Chelsea.

Uh huh.

 

Saw this over the weekend. Don't see anyone from Spurs on there. Shrug emoji.

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

Second on Chelsea to Tammy Abraham, but sure, Mount has been perceieved to be a revelation and Pulisic a bust. Sure would hate to have a 21 year old producing at that level, under outrageous pressure, on my team. Not to mention that Pulisic is a really good finisher and he hasn't been finishing. We have enough of a sample size to know it's a fluke. Physicality & pressure are the learning curves. If wasted chances aren't a fluke, they're probably just a factor of those things, not an actual learning curve he needs to overcome. If he adjusts to the spotlight pressure and gets stronger, which every athlete who's only 21 inevitably does, he'll be good money.

 

This, from Ryan O'Hanlon, is very good on the subject:

https://nograssintheclouds.substack.com/p/psst-christian-pulisic-has-been-kinda

 

Excerpt:

[spoil]

Among Chelsea players with at least 200 minutes of game time, Pulisic is receiving the most passes in the attacking third and the most passes in the box. In fact, Pulisic’s playing profile so far spits out some pretty promising comps. Here’s the list of guys -- per 90 minutes, min. 200 minutes played -- with at least three balls received in the box, 15 received in the final third, one pass into the box, and one pass into the final third. That’s a mouthful, but it signifies players who help out in buildup play but also manage to consistently get on the ball in the most dangerous area of the field. OK, the list:

 

-David Silva

-Mohamed Salah

-Lucas Moura

-Heung-min Son

-Sergio Aguero

-Bernardo Silva

-Harvey Barnes

 

That’s one player in Barnes who I personally think has a ton of potential. Then it’s six of the best attackers in the league, and six players who Chelsea (and USMNT) fans would be happy to see Pulisic develop into.

[/spoil]

 

I really think the physicality is relatively minor for him to address. The pressure, well, that's a bitch for sure. The other factors to overcome are the old but proven wingers (Pedro + Willian) who he's actually out-produced offensively, his finishing slump, and whatever tactical deficiencies Lampard may have as a teacher/manager (if that's actually a problem; might not be). He's going to be good for them for a long time if they handle this right. It's Chelsea, so that's definitely not something we can take for granted. The US is another issue entirely and pretty much not worth thinking or caring about, if you can pull that off.

[soccer10k]

That’s good to see that he’s producing, even if it’s in limited time. I mainly want to see him play more. Last six matches in the EPL and UCL he’s played a total of 36 minutes.

 

As for Spurs, they’ve been garbage in the league since mid-Feb last year. I don’t know exactly why and I’m not sure a turnaround is coming. So many issues with the team right now.