soccer soccer soccer

[wolf stansson]

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/02/03/pulisic-new-position-tuchel-chelsea-usmnt/

 

Interesting comments from Pulisic about Tuchel’s plan for him at the false 9. That’s similar to how Berhalter sees him for the MNT, so if it works out, he’ll be deployed tactically the same for both teams. That’s a first for CP.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/02/03/pulisic-new-position-tuchel-chelsea-usmnt/

 

Interesting comments from Pulisic about Tuchel’s plan for him at the false 9. That’s similar to how Berhalter sees him for the MNT, so if it works out, he’ll be deployed tactically the same for both teams. That’s a first for CP.

 

Is that how he plays for the national team? With Berhalter I think he's been more of a wide creator or more of a pure 10. That said, if he can do that(I'd be a little worried about him getting hurt again fighting center backs every week) that would be an elegant solution to the USMNT's #9 dilemma, since the winger pool is a lot further along than the strikers.

[stitchface]

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/02/03/pulisic-new-position-tuchel-chelsea-usmnt/

 

Interesting comments from Pulisic about Tuchel’s plan for him at the false 9. That’s similar to how Berhalter sees him for the MNT, so if it works out, he’ll be deployed tactically the same for both teams. That’s a first for CP.

 

Is that how he plays for the national team? With Berhalter I think he's been more of a wide creator or more of a pure 10. That said, if he can do that(I'd be a little worried about him getting hurt again fighting center backs every week) that would be an elegant solution to the USMNT's #9 dilemma, since the winger pool is a lot further along than the strikers.

 

might be tough against top teams as he isn't much of a hold-up player, is he? that said, cbs won't be able to press him aggressively once he gets the ball.

 

How similar is that to how Hazard played (speaking of injuries Hazard now being mocked by Burger King)?

[soccer10k]

The Luiz red card yesterday was one of the most absurd reds I’ve seen given. I get that if you follow the letter of the law to a T, it was a denial of a goal scoring opportunity by the last defender who wasn’t making a play on the ball. But he also wasn’t trying to make a play on the ball or the attacker and it was an inadvertent clip. Giving the PK is fine because inadvertent or not, Luiz brought the guy down. But just give him a yellow and be done with it.

[imb]

on the other hand, horsefeathers arsenal

[Transmogrified Tiger]

might be tough against top teams as he isn't much of a hold-up player, is he? that said, cbs won't be able to press him aggressively once he gets the ball.

 

How similar is that to how Hazard played (speaking of injuries Hazard now being mocked by Burger King)?

 

Yeah I think the Hazard comparison is a sharp one. Both Chelsea and the USMNT plan on being on the front foot where being a target man probably is less important(and Chelsea will have better high targets on the field with Werner and/or Havertz), but I think he's good enough in tight spaces to be a back to the goal facilitator as much as you'd want in that position. Plus he'd be Deluxe Zardes in front of goal with his runs and finishing.

 

 

 

on the other hand, horsefeathers arsenal

 

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[stitchface]

Dest on for Barcelona in the 57th. Sergi Roberto is back and started. Hopefully not how this always plays out but better than being behind Mingueza as well. Not sure how he is doing although Barca came back from 2-0 down after he hit the field.

[stitchface]

Dest on for Barcelona in the 57th. Sergi Roberto is back and started. Hopefully not how this always plays out but better than being behind Mingueza as well. Not sure how he is doing although Barca came back from 2-0 down after he hit the field.

 

ugh, he just gave up a game tying penalty.

[stitchface]

watched this last night. Dest actually played pretty well in my assessment. Having Dembele in front of him limits him going forward but he combined well and moved the ball. Naive on the penalty give away - the forward beat him around the corner then cut in front of him and dove to the ground. Definitely a dive but backs can't allow themselves to be put in that spot. He'll learn from it I'm sure.

[wolf stansson]

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/02/03/pulisic-new-position-tuchel-chelsea-usmnt/

 

Interesting comments from Pulisic about Tuchel’s plan for him at the false 9. That’s similar to how Berhalter sees him for the MNT, so if it works out, he’ll be deployed tactically the same for both teams. That’s a first for CP.

 

Is that how he plays for the national team? With Berhalter I think he's been more of a wide creator or more of a pure 10. That said, if he can do that(I'd be a little worried about him getting hurt again fighting center backs every week) that would be an elegant solution to the USMNT's #9 dilemma, since the winger pool is a lot further along than the strikers.

It's not necessarily how he's been deployed, but it aligns with what Berhalter has been saying over the last year (a year in which he hasn't actually been able to play CP). Both managers have similar issues in an abundance of goal dangerous wingers and attacking mids, but weak forward play. They're both trying to find a way to get their max talent in their 11.

[stitchface]

Rigid position descriptions aren't a great thing really - the key is getting players the ball in positions where they can maximize their impact. So much tougher for a national team that barely gets to train together.

[imb]

Really eager to see Tuchel's lineup against Spurs. First real team Chelsea have matched up with since his arrival, probably the first actual glance at what he actually thinks of pulisic

[soccer10k]

Really eager to see Tuchel's lineup against Spurs. First real team Chelsea have matched up with since his arrival, probably the first actual glance at what he actually thinks of pulisic

 

Awfully nice of you to call Spurs a real team.

[stitchface]

Really eager to see Tuchel's lineup against Spurs. First real team Chelsea have matched up with since his arrival, probably the first actual glance at what he actually thinks of pulisic

 

Awfully nice of you to call Spurs a real team.

 

Aren't they on same level as Chelsea with the main difference that Chelsea tries to attack?

[soccer10k]

Really eager to see Tuchel's lineup against Spurs. First real team Chelsea have matched up with since his arrival, probably the first actual glance at what he actually thinks of pulisic

 

Awfully nice of you to call Spurs a real team.

 

Aren't they on same level as Chelsea with the main difference that Chelsea tries to attack?

 

Depends on what stats you put stock in. Points and GD shows they’re about the same. Expected goals has Chelsea as a topl4 side and Spurs in the 8-10 range.

[sneakypower]

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[Transmogrified Tiger]

the ole 6-2-2 feat. Mason Mount as a forward

 

 

 

 

I know CHO is really a winger but lemme have my dumb joke

[stitchface]

the ole 6-2-2 feat. Mason Mount as a forward

 

 

 

 

I know CHO is really a winger but lemme have my dumb joke

 

Alonso? WTF?

[wolf stansson]

I am no longer buying Tuchel's reasons for leaving CP out.

[stitchface]

the ole 6-2-2 feat. Mason Mount as a forward

 

 

 

 

I know CHO is really a winger but lemme have my dumb joke

 

 

I always think of Ryan Theriot with Mason Mount. Though to be fair, effort matters a lot more in soccer and he is probably a better soccer player than Theriot was baseball player.

[stitchface]

I am no longer buying Tuchel's reasons for leaving CP out.

 

What are his reasons? He already knows him?

[soccer10k]

Only surprising thing about that game was it was only 1-0.

 

Spurs play like a team that’s already gotten a red card and are just trying to limit the damage.

[stitchface]

Only surprising thing about that game was it was only 1-0.

 

Spurs play like a team that’s already gotten a red card and are just trying to limit the damage.

 

I expected 0-0. Especially after CP didn't start.

 

We'll see if City and Liverpool can play an interesting game.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It's been a couple years since CCL changed their format, so they decided it was time for a change starting in 2023: https://www.concacafchampionsleague.com/en/article/concacaf-champions-league-to-expand-with-innovative-new-format-starting-2023-24

 

- going back to group play, with group play happening in the fall

- Mexican/US/Canadian teams are all put into 4 groups of 5, with the top 2 in each group plus 3 third place teams(via a playoff) advancing to the knockout round

- Central America and Caribbean each have a separate group stage/play-in that gives them the other 4 and 1 spots in the knockout round respectively.

 

 

 

I think this is generally a positive change, it means CCL games are mostly going to be marquee matchups but without completely locking out the small country minnows. The date change seems to be with an eye on avoiding the problem with MLS starting their season with CCL and being way more out of form compared to Mexican teams. On the other hand, since this doesn't replace stuff like the Leagues Cup(in fact, Leagues Cup is tied to a spot(s) in the group stage), it means there's a lot more fixtures to go around, will be interesting to see how teams manage and prioritize.

[stitchface]

watched the first half of leipzig-schalke. Pretty impressed with Hoppe given that he is the entirety of the schalke attack. He gets to and holds on to the ball with no support.