soccer soccer soccer

[Transmogrified Tiger]

boy, that was a poor effort by USMNT last night. Hopefully that gets better because that was borderline embarassing.

 

Plenty of opportunity to improve, but I'm not too worked up about the performance as a whole, it was a better showing than it felt. Especially contrasted with Mexico's scoreless draw to open the tournament with their A team.

 

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Biggest problems to my eyes were Yueill continuing his really poor USMNT form and Lewis (again, imo) being a non-factor, which was exacerbated by Arriola's injury. Was pleasantly surprised with Zimmerman's line breaking passes and Shaq Moore's Reggie Cannon impersonation. Busio and Dike were a nice shot in the arm too.

 

We'll probably see a lot of rotation w/ Game 2 being the weakest opponent, if they don't win that one handily I'll be more concerned. With wingers scarce to begin with, Arriola's injury, and the comparative CM options looking good, I hope they give Roldan a look at right wing.

[stitchface]

yea, but mexico was way more dominant . . . that was poor against an opponent USMNT should dominate. Busio was impressive and agree on Yueill

[wolf stansson]

Everybody killing Southgate because he slotted Saka, the 19 year old, last. If the US were in the exact same position, I would be thrilled to have Gio Reyna close it. Mostly because he wouldn't miss, am i right, lads

[wolf stansson]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I liked the rumors he was headed to Fulham a lot better

[Thurman Merman]

Did I miss some weird shift of the tectonic plates where Qatar relocated to the Yucatan peninsula or something?

[shnsajax]

Everybody killing Southgate because he slotted Saka, the 19 year old, last. If the US were in the exact same position, I would be thrilled to have Gio Reyna close it. Mostly because he wouldn't miss, am i right, lads

 

I think its because Rashford, Sancho, Saka going 3-5 and not solely because of Saka. That said I would take Gio every day over Saka, but also Harry at #2 was question despite him burying his shot. Where was everyone else, and why did Sancho sit as much as he did?

 

I do wonder if this helps us at all with Folarin Balogun?

[shnsajax]

 

I want to see Forest back in the top flight like they were in the 70's and 80's. If he helps to get them their, he will be a god!

[wolf stansson]

Did I miss some weird shift of the tectonic plates where Qatar relocated to the Yucatan peninsula or something?

Gold Cup/CONCACAF often invites out of continent teams as a cash grab. Brazil, Japan, and S. Korea have played in it iirc.

 

 

I do wonder if this helps us at all with Folarin Balogun?

Haha wow...didn't think of that. Definitely has to help. FWIW, he posted a bunch of american flags on Musah's IG announcement that he was committing, so the path already seemed in place.

[stitchface]

Did I miss some weird shift of the tectonic plates where Qatar relocated to the Yucatan peninsula or something?

 

CONCACAF was looking to increase homophobia in the region

[wolf stansson]

I am at the same hotel as T&T. It’s triggering.

[wolf stansson]

Daryl Dike is our best striker, and it’s not close. He’s also improving rapidly. Especially his movement.

 

And apparently Man U scouts were there to watch him.

[imb]

Please not united

[stitchface]

much better last night! Stupid penalty costs them the tiebreaker. Dike looked good and Zardes looked motivated! I think Berhalter has taken the right approach in a large player pool and no guaranteed spots.

[wolf stansson]

 

I was going to get a Venezia jersey for fashion reasons, now I have a player to track.

[UMFan83]

USMNT show England how to hold a 1-0 lead for 89 minutes in a continental tournament.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That is a ton of money for Busio, sure hope Venezia knows what they’re doing.

[wolf stansson]

That is a ton of money for Busio, sure hope Venezia knows what they’re doing.

Yeah I don’t know if that’s all in with full incentives but I would value him at $4-5 mil. He’s very green.

[wvcbxl]

That is a ton of money for Busio, sure hope Venezia knows what they’re doing.

Yeah I don’t know if that’s all in with full incentives but I would value him at $4-5 mil. He’s very green.

 

According to their website, they also signed Tanner Tessmann from FC Dallas

[imb]

[stitchface]

USMNT show England how to hold a 1-0 lead for 89 minutes in a continental tournament.

 

Play a team that isn't very good?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That is a ton of money for Busio, sure hope Venezia knows what they’re doing.

Yeah I don’t know if that’s all in with full incentives but I would value him at $4-5 mil. He’s very green.

 

According to their website, they also signed Tanner Tessmann from FC Dallas

 

Yep, and they gave him the 4+ million Wolf would've figured for Busio, despite Tessman not getting consistent playing time at the club level. Venezia is either very prescient, the market for Americans is maturing rapidly, or they're overpaying/not going to get a ton of profit on them in the median case.

[wolf stansson]

Yeah I don’t know if that’s all in with full incentives but I would value him at $4-5 mil. He’s very green.

 

According to their website, they also signed Tanner Tessmann from FC Dallas

 

Yep, and they gave him the 4+ million Wolf would've figured for Busio, despite Tessman not getting consistent playing time at the club level. Venezia is either very prescient, the market for Americans is maturing rapidly, or they're overpaying/not going to get a ton of profit on them in the median case.

They also have found a ton of interest in their brand in America just because they embrace legitimately great fashion in their apparel and branding. Their jerseys look like Dior. It's very cool and soccer hipsters have been buying their stuff since they were in Serie C, so now I think they see this is as a big opportunity to establish their brand as a Serie A team to fashion conscious American fans who don't have a Serie A team. All of this branding and their climb up the table coincides with American ownership.

 

I don't know crap about Tanner Tessman, other than his parents are friends with Dabo Swinney. I do know Busio's value isn't his soccer and branding potential alone, it's his Italian dual-citizenship, which helps them a great deal by not taking up a foreign player slot.

[imb]

if they think im going to start watching Venezia games on ESPN+ and buy a Busio jersey just because they bought my favorite MLS player they are absolutely right god dammit

[stitchface]

So, thoughts on the proposed rule changes?

 

1. 30 minute halves with clock stoppages. Unsure on this one but I think I am in favor provided the clock stoppages are well managed. I think average playing time in a half is currently something like 27 minutes so this will actually increase the action. Plus it discourages time wasting. I think transparency on the time remaining would be good for everyone instead of the nonsense with added time and only the ref knows how much time is left. And run the clock backward for crying out loud - we have some good things here in the US and that's one of them.

 

2. Unlimited subs. Dislike. Not sure how it will play but hopefully still if you sub out, you are out for good. Do not need specialization in soccer. I think 5 is enough subs and more just advantages the larger clubs more unless they really restrict the roster.

 

3. Yellow card 5 minute sin bin. I think this does need change but this isn't the right thing or at least not enough. Most teams will shrug off playing short for 5 minutes though I suppose it hurts if you are behind. I would like to see an orange card where a player is sent off and the team can replace them after 15 or 20 minutes - would result in fewer "ruined" games. Players can't return and still get suspended. Reds still an option.

 

Things I'd like to see: orange cards for grabbing people or fouling people from behind - tactical fouls. Tactical fouls suck and suppress scoring. Yellow isn't severe enough.

 

Change the rule on penalties - too many stupid penalties for things that happen out wide. Maybe change the size of the box? Handling in wide areas is particularly stupid when it results in a penalty. Doesn't hockey have a rule for when penalty shots are awarded based on chance of scoring rather than where it happens? You could do something like that, which would also eliminate deliberate fouls just outside the box.