soccer soccer soccer

[stitchface]

USMNT playing Panama in Austria this afternoon, and after conceding an early free header, Yunus Musah took a free kick that Gio Reyna buried and they quickly tied it.

 

And while I was typing that, the USMNT scored two more goals and it's quickly 3-1 very early in the match.

 

 

they seem to have a striker today. nice to take a concacaf team behind the woodshed even if it is a friendly in Austria.

[bukie]

Always nice to blitz Panama.

 

6-2 final including a missed penalty for Gioacchini in the 60th minute, 2 goals for Gioacchini, 2 goals for Soto in relief at striker, 1 for Gio, 1 for Lletget.

[stitchface]

Always nice to blitz Panama.

 

6-2 final including a missed penalty for Gioacchini in the 60th minute, 2 goals for Gioacchini, 2 goals for Soto in relief at striker, 1 for Gio, 1 for Lletget.

 

 

Let them back into it a bit in the second half but ultimately the pressure won out. Need to go for jugular at start of second half. anyway, will be good to watch later!

[stitchface]

Fun game to watch - definitely great to see goals being scored and the team on the attack throughout. Tons of great line-breaking passes and running at the defense. Hoping Musah signs on . . .

 

On the negative side, really let down at start of second half. The difference for me felt like they lost intensity and didn't play well as a team as opposed to prior teams who just didn't have the ability.

 

Young, athletic, talented and a chip on their shoulder. fun to watch.

[wolf stansson]

We need a striker so bad. Giaocchini and Soto with two each, but neither one of them are showing much more than all of our strikers in the pool. A game changing striker and Pulisic's papier mache hamstrings are the only things standing between the US and actually being elite for the next 10 years.

 

Unfortunately, I'm very worried about the long term possibilities for both of those issues.

[stitchface]

We need a striker so bad. Giaocchini and Soto with two each, but neither one of them are showing much more than all of our strikers in the pool. A game changing striker and Pulisic's papier mache hamstrings are the only things standing between the US and actually being elite for the next 10 years.

 

Unfortunately, I'm very worried about the long term possibilities for both of those issues.

 

What more should they be showing? I mean, bagging goals is a primary striker role. Hold up play can definitely improve but Soto is 18. Particularly if Musah comes over, the team has quite a few options running with the ball - Cannon looked good going forward and Dest was the most skilled player on the field. Obviously tough to judge against Panama, but I thought both 9s did well and looked like they had some promise.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm actually less worried than I've ever been about Pulisic given the development of other talent in the pool and how much of it is at its best in his spot anyway. Yes I want a 70 million dollar winger playing for the US, but the gap in quality between #1 and #3-4 at that position is shrinking as the weeks and months go by.

 

The striker thing for me comes down to club form. I thought Giaocchini looked good and Soto made the most of his time with some fine finishing(and that is a hallmark of his), but ultimately they're both playing in sub-MLS competitive environments so unless they were ripping up Wales it's difficult to extrapolate much to a future tournament lineup. Glad they played well and think they have promise, now let's get them(and Vassilev) replicating that and playing first division soccer and get the other domestic strikers in form(Toye, Ferreira) and making the next step(Akinola, Dike, Ebobisse) so one or two of these guys can push for 2022 competitive minutes alongside the Jozy/Sargent/Zardes trio.

[stitchface]

The US has two Barca players on its roster. Spain has 0

[soccer10k]

So, uh, that Germany-Spain score is a bit shocking.

[stitchface]

So, uh, that Germany-Spain score is a bit shocking.

 

yea, gotta wonder if Low is on thin ice. or are they smart enough to stick with the rebuild? Spain looks to be re-loading in a faster paced setup.

[stitchface]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4201745/usmnts-top-25-under-23-pulisicreynamckennie-among-list-of-youngsters-to-be-excited-about

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like Weah, but he has 1000 professional minutes, 7 pro starts, and 1 goal/0 assists outside the scottish premiership. He doesn't belong in a tier with Champions League regulars and a nailed on Bundesliga starter. Heck by new years Musah will be past him in pro minutes and starts.

[stitchface]

I like Weah, but he has 1000 professional minutes, 7 pro starts, and 1 goal/0 assists outside the scottish premiership. He doesn't belong in a tier with Champions League regulars and a nailed on Bundesliga starter. Heck by new years Musah will be past him in pro minutes and starts.

 

the injuries have hurt him for sure. He needs to get into a good club situation but totally agree with your assessment. He is not in a good place positionally with this team either but is a good wildcard to have.

[soccer10k]

I realize that Liverpool and/or Man City could easily rip off a long winning/unbeaten streak to open up a big gap, however...

 

This year seems like it's shaping up to be one of those weird years were 80-85 points wins the title. The last four years there hasn't been a lot of drama (18-19 there was but City/Liverpool were so far ahead). In 16-17, Chelsea went on a huge winning streak early and pretty much led wire to wire. Spurs were close but I don't think they ever got within 6 points. The next year Man City did the same thing. Last year it was Liverpool.

 

This year, injuries have depleted Liverpool's defense while Man City looks off so far. Then you've got the rest of the teams. Chelsea have a bunch of new players and that can take time (some of you have watched Chelsea this year for Pulisic and can give a better evaluation). ManU is still the same mediocre team as they have been for a few years. Ditto for Arsenal. Spurs have looked good so far but we'll know a lot more about them in the next month after they play @Che, Ars, @Cry, @ Liv, Lei. Plus you've got the ongoing Covid plus a full season packed into a month less of time.

 

Hopefully it turns into a good race where 4-5 teams are all close to each other and nobody really pulls away.

[stitchface]

I realize that Liverpool and/or Man City could easily rip off a long winning/unbeaten streak to open up a big gap, however...

 

This year seems like it's shaping up to be one of those weird years were 80-85 points wins the title. The last four years there hasn't been a lot of drama (18-19 there was but City/Liverpool were so far ahead). In 16-17, Chelsea went on a huge winning streak early and pretty much led wire to wire. Spurs were close but I don't think they ever got within 6 points. The next year Man City did the same thing. Last year it was Liverpool.

 

This year, injuries have depleted Liverpool's defense while Man City looks off so far. Then you've got the rest of the teams. Chelsea have a bunch of new players and that can take time (some of you have watched Chelsea this year for Pulisic and can give a better evaluation). ManU is still the same mediocre team as they have been for a few years. Ditto for Arsenal. Spurs have looked good so far but we'll know a lot more about them in the next month after they play @Che, Ars, @Cry, @ Liv, Lei. Plus you've got the ongoing Covid plus a full season packed into a month less of time.

 

Hopefully it turns into a good race where 4-5 teams are all close to each other and nobody really pulls away.

 

David Silva is so good. He has transformed Real Sociedad in Spain (well, put them over the top anyway). I don't think City is going to run off any long streaks as they have hit the same wall as Barcelona. The injuries will continue to mount. I would say this season is hard to predict for all those reasons.

 

Hard to watch Pulisic given that he never actually is healthy.

[imb]

i still dont know what to think about chelsea. they look completely different defending set pieces and just in general. People give a lot of credit to mendy and silva but both chelsea's wingbacks are new too (kinda.) Chilwell is good but reece james has been really impressive and he has so much size over Azpi that I think it has made a big difference.

 

there's gonna be interesting questions for the offense whenever pulisic is fit because with him out, they've gone to werner on the LW with abraham in the middle and those two have a ton of chemistry together. And havertz when he's healthy was really playing well with abraham too.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The homer in me is starting to think it’s not gonna matter that Liverpool lost their CB pairing. I mean today they had no Salah, Henderson, Thiago, TAA, Gomez, or Van Dijk and they manhandled Leicester. In practice they’ll probably have a dip in form or the fixture condition will add up, but at least at the moment they’re in pole position.

 

Chelsea v. Spurs next week will be really interesting, since I think those 2 are the other best bets among the contenders. Chelsea it’ll be good to see how they look against another contender now that they’re more fully operational, and Spurs I keep thinking will have a failure in the back but it hasn’t happened yet.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

On another note, MLS playoffs have been extremely bonkers in the most MLS way. Here’s a brief series of events from yesterday’s Orlando/NYCFC shootout.

 

- Orlando leads 4-3 heading to the 5th round

- Orlando’s keeper saves the PK, celebration ensues, including Orlando’s coach sprinting into the tunnel to celebrate with a player who got a red card

- VAR catches the keeper being off his line, calls for a re-kick

- MLS is on last year’s IFAB rules so this is an automatic yellow, the 2nd yellow for the keeper who is now sent off

- Orlando(after their coach gets told to come back from the locker room) tries to insert their backup keeper, but can’t since they don’t have a sub, so they put a midfielder in goal

- NYCFC predictably makes the kick, then Nani’s PK is saved to tie it after 5 rounds

- In the 7th round the midfielder saves a penalty and as you might guess goes nuts celebrating. The ref inexplicably blows the whistle to end the game even though Orlando needs to make their PK still

- After sorting that out Orlando makes their 7th round PK and wins the game to advance

 

This isn’t so brief, but the entire shootout took around 20 minutes given all the different moments of chaos.

[imb]

On another note, MLS playoffs have been extremely bonkers in the most MLS way. Here’s a brief series of events from yesterday’s Orlando/NYCFC shootout.

 

- Orlando leads 4-3 heading to the 5th round

- Orlando’s keeper saves the PK, celebration ensues, including Orlando’s coach sprinting into the tunnel to celebrate with a player who got a red card

- VAR catches the keeper being off his line, calls for a re-kick

- MLS is on last year’s IFAB rules so this is an automatic yellow, the 2nd yellow for the keeper who is now sent off

- Orlando(after their coach gets told to come back from the locker room) tries to insert their backup keeper, but can’t since they don’t have a sub, so they put a midfielder in goal

- NYCFC predictably makes the kick, then Nani’s PK is saved to tie it after 5 rounds

- In the 7th round the midfielder saves a penalty and as you might guess goes nuts celebrating. The ref inexplicably blows the whistle to end the game even though Orlando needs to make their PK still

- After sorting that out Orlando makes their 7th round PK and wins the game to advance

 

This isn’t so brief, but the entire shootout took around 20 minutes given all the different moments of chaos.

 

then today SKC takes a 3-2 lead on a Busio goal in like the 93rd minute. the celebration adds two minutes to stoppage time so instead of ending after 94 it keeps going. SJ has the ball and the ref does that thing where he's like im not blowing the whistle until your attack stops. So SJ kinda plods up the field an then Wondo heads in the equalizer at the last possible instant.

 

the teams eventually go to PKs and Melia, who I guess has never lost a shootout and has mutliple stops in like all 6 shootouts he's been in, stops all three SJ shots he sees and SKC wins

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MLS = MACtion

[soccer10k]

The homer in me is starting to think it’s not gonna matter that Liverpool lost their CB pairing. I mean today they had no Salah, Henderson, Thiago, TAA, Gomez, or Van Dijk and they manhandled Leicester. In practice they’ll probably have a dip in form or the fixture condition will add up, but at least at the moment they’re in pole position.

 

Chelsea v. Spurs next week will be really interesting, since I think those 2 are the other best bets among the contenders. Chelsea it’ll be good to see how they look against another contender now that they’re more fully operational, and Spurs I keep thinking will have a failure in the back but it hasn’t happened yet.

 

Well Alderweireld is going to be out a while with a muscle injury so if Spurs are going to break at the back, it’s going to happen now.

[wolf stansson]

MLS = MACtion

Nailed it.

[wolf stansson]

Dest is a true bad boy.

[stitchface]

Dest is a true bad boy.

 

 

Sergi Roberto is out several months so should be plenty of PT available for Dest. First Barca goal - did he have a CL goal for Ajax?

[stitchface]

oh, and Konrad got in as well!