soccer soccer soccer

[philosophizer75]

He looks so much like Adam Levine to me in that picture.

[wekse]

Yeesh. He's been in Europe too long.

[wolf stansson]

Just crashed his dad's boat lookin ass haircut

[stitchface]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-espn-fc-united/story/4682645/what-makes-real-madridrobert-lewandowski-special-its-all-about-shot-quality

 

Interesting article though I think it misses the point. 1 - the person shooting isn't necessarily the one creating the opportunity and should be judged more on how many they convert compared to expected and 2. xG is pretty flawed if the implication of the article is correct since the whole point should be that they add up.

[wolf stansson]

Judging by ESPN’s production quality, you would think this game is in Grenada.

[wolf stansson]

Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a 4 goal performance where I’m like, “yeah he should’ve had 6” until tonight.

 

At least it gives GGG some cover to start him, even if he goes dry again. He’s our best forward by default because none of them score and Ferreira does the most without scoring.

[stitchface]

De La Torre seemed like the star of that game.

 

How would you rotate the midfield? MMA can't play all the games or not all of all the games - Acosta seems locked in at the 6 back so is it De La Torre and Aaronson? Or just go with 5?

[stitchface]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4684903/paris-saint-germain-star-neymar-makes-world-series-of-poker-debut-in-las-vegas

 

 

well, he is the master of the flop!

[wolf stansson]

De La Torre seemed like the star of that game.

 

How would you rotate the midfield? MMA can't play all the games or not all of all the games - Acosta seems locked in at the 6 back so is it De La Torre and Aaronson? Or just go with 5?

Gio remains the missing piece of the formula. If he’s healthy, and they never try Weah at center forward, Aaronson is the odd winger out. Moving him inside makes more sense to me than moving Gio inside, but that’s an option too. Everyone is impressed with LDLT’s ball control this window, but I can’t get past the quality of competition and defensive tactics he’s facing in order to even put him in the same conversation with Musah. Yunus is so much faster and stronger, which will matter a lot against both superior talent and athletic counter attacking teams. To me, LDLT is a perfect change of pace to break down bunkering opponents, but I don’t think we will see any of those in Qatar. I suspect MMA starts every game, and Musah’s positioning will depend on tactics, alternating between a double pivot to support Adams (which is what they’ve done this window) and operating slightly further up against counter teams like wales & Iran. Aaronson will be the first sub for either the box to box MF or the wing.

 

Not getting the chance to fully integrate and build around Gio has really been a problem when it comes to understanding our best lineup and shape.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Everyone is impressed with LDLT’s ball control this window, but I can’t get past the quality of competition and defensive tactics he’s facing in order to even put him in the same conversation with Musah. Yunus is so much faster and stronger, which will matter a lot against both superior talent and athletic counter attacking teams. To me, LDLT is a perfect change of pace to break down bunkering opponents, but I don’t think we will see any of those in Qatar.

 

 

I'm with you on what LDLT has shown, he's clearly pushed past others who haven't shown as much over qualifying(Lletget, Roldan, Acosta at the 8), but he's also had his opponents pretty carefully managed that I don't think he's starting outside of heavy fatigue or injury.

 

However, we will see a pretty bunkered Iran that isn't throwing a bunch of Champions League talent out there in the 3rd group stage game, so if there's yellow card accumulation or heavy fatigue/injury, I think LDLT could potentially get a start/significant time. But plan A in that regard should be Aaronson, especially if you do get Gio healthy so you have Pulisic/Gio/Weah rotating through 2 spots on the field so Aaronson isn't needed to spell them.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

MLS finally announced their new broadcast deal, 100% on Apple with no cable exclusives or blackouts: https://www.mlssoccer.com/apple/

 

Slightly concerned what that might do to the financial viability, but as an MLS obsessive this is a great deal. One more nail in the coffin of the OTT cable package.

 

EDIT: Apparently MLS is still negotiating with ESPN and Telemundo, so MLS is still likely to show up on cable in a diminished capacity but those games will all be available through the Apple service.

[stitchface]

Not getting the chance to fully integrate and build around Gio has really been a problem when it comes to understanding our best lineup and shape.

 

On the other hand, this allowed the emergence of Weah, which doesn't happen if Gio is available. Not sure that's worth it but at least it's a benefit to a crappy situation. I think more rotation will be needed than you guys are suggesting . . . what is the approach?

 

Try and beat Wales for sure and then adjust? If you do beat Wales, do you rotate for England (not punting the game but maybe not your best lineup?)

[wolf stansson]

This Apple TV deal is a huge overpay, so MLS is getting full benefits from the streaming content wars, and it lines up perfectly with the league leveraging a home World Cup and a hopefully deep run by the MNT to finally take off the single-entity shackles. New stadiums in Boston, Chicago, Miami, etc, as well.

 

 

I don’t know if they’ll pull it off, but everything is now in place for the league to take a huge leap to hit their goal of being right there with the Eridivisie, Portugal, Brazil in that third tier of global leagues by 2026.

[stitchface]

seems like maybe I'm not the only one not excited about the nations league (in Europe)

[wolf stansson]

I was hoping for an over confident England. Burning tire fire England will be fun too, I guess.

[Rex Buckingham]

Hoping for no injuries as they play on a crappy field in a monsoon.

[wolf stansson]

This field is a joke

[Rex Buckingham]

FS1 still doesn't know that Jedi's first name isn't Anthony

[wolf stansson]

Holy smokes golazo from ESL

 

Horvath napping

[squally1313]

I know this is all so stupid and dangerous. But it’s also fun as hell, like…going to six flags or something. Musah looks incredible.

[UMFan83]

Finally put one in

[wolf stansson]

 

This rocks.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't know if it would work out that way, but Musah getting to play his natural position because Valencia brought in Weah to play on the wing would be very welcome and fun.

[stitchface]

rumor says Dest going to Sevilla as makeweight for Kounde. Not the worst thing in the world soon long as he is playing.

[wolf stansson]

My condolences to the unfortunate teams that have to play a summer World Cup game in Miami. I will not be attending due to holy horsefeathers that is going to be a mess. The traffic is inhumane already. If a South American team draws there, they might as well declare a state of emergency for broward and dade.