soccer soccer soccer

[stitchface]

Good thing is it doesn't matter, but has Reyna passed Pulisic? I mean, the injuries are just endless for CP and Reyna scoring sexy goals is easier to appreciate for the average fan.

 

Not too surprised about Favre - they never quite seem to be able to get it together consistently.

[stitchface]

Hey, an American picked up an assist in that Chelsea-Wolves game - that's right Owen Otasowie set up the equalizer!

 

Pulisic looked good until Chelsea fell apart and stopped getting him the ball.

[wolf stansson]

CP on form is still more lethal and disruptive than Gio. Gio has moments of brilliance and definitely fits in, but he’s never tilted the field and grabbed the game by the neck like Christian has for both the MNT & Chelsea.

 

Speaking of lethal:

[stitchface]

CP on form is still more lethal and disruptive than Gio. Gio has moments of brilliance and definitely fits in, but he’s never tilted the field and grabbed the game by the neck like Christian has for both the MNT & Chelsea.

 

Speaking of lethal:

 

yea, I guess I meant just more on buzz. Good to have both. CP has been good but Chelsea not scoring much. Reyna has been Dortmund's offense since Haaland got hurt.

[imb]

CP on form is still more lethal and disruptive than Gio. Gio has moments of brilliance and definitely fits in, but he’s never tilted the field and grabbed the game by the neck like Christian has for both the MNT & Chelsea.

 

Speaking of lethal:

 

yea, I guess I meant just more on buzz. Good to have both. CP has been good but Chelsea not scoring much. Reyna has been Dortmund's offense since Haaland got hurt.

 

pulisic just got back into the team after like two months off for (yet another) hamstring tweak.

[wolf stansson]

I'm already at the point where I'd bet on Gio having the better career just because of his robust frame and Christian's recurring lower body injury issues.

 

By the time he's CP's age, Gio will be razor sharp as well.

[bukie]

Weston McKennie voted US Male Soccer Player of the Year.

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/18/weston-mckennie-earns-us-soccer-male-player-year-award-after-juventus-breakthrough#:~:text=US%20men's%20national%20team%20midfielder,Soccer%2C%20the%20federation%20announced%20Friday.

[stitchface]

Weston McKennie voted US Male Soccer Player of the Year.

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/18/weston-mckennie-earns-us-soccer-male-player-year-award-after-juventus-breakthrough#:~:text=US%20men's%20national%20team%20midfielder,Soccer%2C%20the%20federation%20announced%20Friday.

 

 

It's nice that this is now a debatable subject. I'm not going to because I think these awards are ridiculous.

[soccer10k]

Wonder how much longer Arteta gets. I know you don’t want to keep firing managers but Arsenal sucks right now. Plus you’ve got guys getting reds every other game. They’ve had 7 in the league since he took over a year ago, next worst team (at least as of a week ago) was 3. And at least three of those were for violent conduct.

 

They’re off to a worse start than Spurs last year when Poch got fired.

[bukie]

LAFC to the CCL final after getting super CONCACAF'd and still scoring 3 goals in the 2nd half against Club America to win 3-1.

 

Not playing the CCL during MLS preseason probably makes a difference, but that's 3 Mexican clubs LAFC has eliminated thus far in CCL in Leon, Cruz Azul and Club America. Tigres v LAFC in the final. First time an MLS team has defeated 3 Mexican teams in CCL, and first US team in the final since Real Salt Lake over a decade ago.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Increasingly, the difference between MLS and Liga MX at the top end is the power of the two Monterrey teams.

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[wolf stansson]

This is a cool scouting breakdown of the next American name getting the big club hype:

 

 

[bukie]

CCL final late tonight (10pm EST) between LAFC and Tigres. LAFC looking to become the first US CCL winner in over a decade.

[wolf stansson]

This is a cool scouting breakdown of the next American name getting the big club hype:

 

 

Sounds like Juve getting another Dallas product.

[soccer10k]

I’m starting to think that scoring one goal and then sitting back and defending the rest of the game isn’t exactly a good strategy.

 

Spurs have given up 15 goals in 15 games in the league. 8 of those came after the 80th minute, including 4 after the 90th (though one was in a 5-1 game). So the other 7 caused them to drop 9 points, costing them four wins and a draw, with the four lost wins coming against teams 10th or lower in the table. Maybe, just maybe, they should act like a big club and attack a bit more.

[stitchface]

I’m starting to think that scoring one goal and then sitting back and defending the rest of the game isn’t exactly a good strategy.

 

Spurs have given up 15 goals in 15 games in the league. 8 of those came after the 80th minute, including 4 after the 90th (though one was in a 5-1 game). So the other 7 caused them to drop 9 points, costing them four wins and a draw, with the four lost wins coming against teams 10th or lower in the table. Maybe, just maybe, they should act like a big club and attack a bit more.

 

The bad side of Mourinho ball coming out. Ultimately luck and fatigue are huge factors and when you sit back, sooner or later bad things will happen (unless you're athletico). Then, your attacking players start to get frustrated and don't work as hard. If you aren't deep, your starters get fatigued. Then everyone gets pissed off. If you're lucky, you win a title before it all melts down, but that isn't going to happen for Spurs. Though I will say Liverpool being held this weekend was rather shocking. I just have a hard time seeing any one other than them winning the PL this year.

[wolf stansson]

City better get that Haaland-Reyna combo pack while the price is still low.

 

 

https://twitter.com/tmusa_news/status/1346577760920117248?s=21

[wolf stansson]

Big Wes with the “watching out of shape middle aged White dudes commit acts of terrorism” consolation goal at the San Siro.

 

The lesson here being that all cool Americans must leave this country to thrive and be free.

[wvcbxl]

KRC Genk signs Mark McKenzie from Philadelphia Union.

Any thoughts?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

KRC Genk signs Mark McKenzie from Philadelphia Union.

Any thoughts?

 

 

Good player. Strong passer from the back, has some solid leadership qualities(he was the known leader of the US U-20 at the WC even with an injury), had interest from Brugge and Celtic.

[wvcbxl]

KRC Genk signs Mark McKenzie from Philadelphia Union.

Any thoughts?

 

 

Good player. Strong passer from the back, has some solid leadership qualities(he was the known leader of the US U-20 at the WC even with an injury), had interest from Brugge and Celtic.

 

Thanks. Genk could be a good way in to Europe for him - De Bruyne played his first 2.5 years as a pro there

[wolf stansson]

KRC Genk signs Mark McKenzie from Philadelphia Union.

Any thoughts?

 

 

Good player. Strong passer from the back, has some solid leadership qualities(he was the known leader of the US U-20 at the WC even with an injury), had interest from Brugge and Celtic.

I really like him. The US has some nice depth at CB so he’s not a big name yet, but I think he has all the tools to be a very good European pro. I think he’s looking for 2 seasons and a sale to one of the big leagues, and I think he’ll make it happen. Really good signing for Genk. Very strong, fast, athletic, & improving in his tactics/reading the game. Great passing range and closing speed.

 

 

 

You know we’re in a good place re: talent development, when an American teenager scores a hat trick in the Bundesliga and the highlights are the first time I’ve seen him kick a ball. Hoppe is from California but played at the Barca Arizona academy in Casa Grande. Anyone who knows what’s up with Casa Grande knows how weird it is. In the early days of MLS a bunch of clubs did spring training there because it had a bunch of empty hotels, was cheap, and had good enough weather for winter training. Barca took over the lease when the MLS clubs moved to better spots. It’s just a gas/food stop way out in the middle of the desert, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. Truly a wild spot for Barca to have an affiliated academy, but they’ve developed some really good players already.

[bukie]

I know almost nothing about Hoppe, and here the USMNT is devoid of striker depth while he puts in a hat trick in the Bundesliga. Should be at least worth a look in Gold CUp play, no?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I know almost nothing about Hoppe, and here the USMNT is devoid of striker depth while he puts in a hat trick in the Bundesliga. Should be at least worth a look in Gold CUp play, no?

 

Hard to say, there’s a lot of interesting younger strikers and the most clear cut chance for Hoppe(U20 world cup) was cancelled. If he keeps scoring Bundesliga goals that will solve itself, but right now it’s a bizarre blender of guys behind Zardes/Jozy with Sargent, Dike, Akinola, Gioacchini, not to mention guys like Weah, Ebobisse, Vassilev, or Ferreira who could force themselves into consideration. I’m pretty confident *somebody* will take a big enough step forward to differentiate themselves and put themselves in position to unseat the current starters, but handicapping the race is impossible.

[stitchface]

City better get that Haaland-Reyna combo pack while the price is still low.

 

 

https://twitter.com/tmusa_news/status/1346577760920117248?s=21

 

I don't think that price is low. Haaland may be the most valuable commodity in soccer outside perhaps Mbappe. Or is this irony?