wolf stansson

Good. I really missed giving a horsefeathers about USMNT games. I like Berhalter's style. They didn't go about the search the right way, but they landed on the obvious candidate I think.

Bravo is done for the year. I think he'll be ederson's back up for the year and then be loaned out in the summer window. They recalled Muric from his loan spell at NAC to fill the backup role. And then they bought Zach Steffen. While I don't watch a ton of Kosovan (Kosovoan?) or NAC Breda training sessions, I'm fairly confident Zach Steffen can compete and beat out a 21 year old with no first team experience at the senior level for club or country for the back up job until Bravo is fully fit. At which point Steffen probably goes to be the #1 at Breda or whatever the City group's affiliate is in Spain. Really appreciate your contributions regarding the keeper pool for city football group tho. Any thoughts on Sean Johnson or Mark Birighitti? Do I have to worry about them being ahead of Zach Steffen too? If you're trying to have a conversation about why Zach Steffen isn't a fit for Man City, I'm happy to go a tad deeper than just the players he's competing with who he is clearly already better than (Zach is probably the third best keeper in the City football group pool and as mentioned, the second best is out for a long time). My primary concern is less the competition and more the style. Zach is a potentially elite shot stopper, but that's not high on Pep's priority list for his keeprs. He's primarily concerned with distribution and the ability to go long periods without action while remaining focused and ready. I can't speak to the second part, but I know Steffen isn't close to being an elite distributor. I think it's the part of his game that needs the most work. I don't see him being a long-term fit for Pep's system unless he really improves on that, which he can, but is going to be a big hill for him to climb.

ManCity already have four keepers under contract; two of those are internationals (Ederson with the Seleçao, Bravo with Chile) - most likely Steffen will be loaned out initially (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) Bravo is done for the year. I think he'll be ederson's back up for the year and then be loaned out in the summer window.

It's a marketing gold rush for Americans who look like they might be somewhat worth the cost. Pulisic is about to move for like $20 million more than he should. Going to be the biggest transfer window for Americans ever. I think Steffen absolutely has the potential to eventually start for a team like City, unlike the keepers who were statistically better and obviously more consistent this year but it's a long shot. If we weren't 4 years away from the next world cup, id be more wary of this move. Makes a lot more sense why he won keeper of the year despite not being a top 5 guy this season. Bet the league have it to him to help his case for a work permit. Regardless of pointless awards and statistics at a difficult to quantify position, he's clearly the most talented keeper in the league and I'm happy he's taking such an ambitious hack at his career.

https://theathletic.com/677178/2018/11/26/zack-steffen-manchester-city-transfer-columbus-crew-mls/ The great Zach Steffen to Man City. Would love to find the posts deep in this thread from his u-20 cycle where we first saw his potential.

What a weird game. Glad they won, but other than really good young central defenders and the energy from the young midfielders, the whole camp lacked a coherent game plan. Very glad they beat Mexico in embarrassing fashion, tho. Miazga clowning Lainez and Yedlin clowning Neymar shouldn't be the best part of an international break but we'll have to take what we can get until there's a permanent HC.

I don't watch Toronto FC a ton, but I believe he did it in emergencies last year and more often this year. Probably because TFC has been hammered by injuries + fixture congestion so there's more times where that's been needed. Yeah they're much stronger at CM than they are CB and he's smart enough to pull off the position swap in emergencies.

The reason I became a soccer fan has retired. Bummer. One of my favorite athletes ever. [tweet] [/tweet] [tweet] [/tweet]

I recall how nuts American fans were about Julian Green not that long ago, and I see our relatively staid reactions to Tim Weah and I think maybe we're getting better as fans? He scored for PSG today, is a teenager, and has the best pedigree of any American player, ever, and the internet soccer community is pretty chill about it.

$80,000,000+ is truly a horsefeathers load of money for Christian Pulisic. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-target-christian-pulisic-but-wont-pay-62m-transfer-fee-unless-willian-is-sold-a3899206.html

I personally think Josh Sargent has everything he needs to be the best US pure striker of all time, but man oh man do we need to find more forwards in the next four years. https://sports.yahoo.com/23-22-predicting-next-usmnt-world-cup-roster-162933510.html

The Tyler Adams to RB Leipzig is done. $5 mil buy and loan-back that will allow him to finish the season with NYRB and still join the club in the fall rather than having to wait until January. https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/5/20/17373288/rb-leipzig-transfer-rumors-news-tyler-adams-usmnt The Jesse Marsch situation is interesting. He's "co-trainer" of RB Leipzig with RB's global director of football, a guy who is apparently a mentor and really invested in Jesse's future. So he's really the caretaker manager for the year and they're packaging it in a way that will let them get away with hiring an American unknown. The players and fans will have a guy they already respect involved and giving Jesse his credibility. I think it's a ballsy move and should serve him well. It's pretty much the opposite of the Bob Bradley at Swansea situation. The ownership really knows what it's doing.

So many club teammates just looking at each other and shrugging while Harry Kane hustles his way annoyingly to a golden boot-sealing hat trick.

CP definitely going to Liverpool [tweet] [/tweet]

Spurs bid $58M for Pulisic. https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/07/05/report-spurs-place-58-million-bid-for-u-s-star-christian-pulisic/ That would be an exciting attack. I mean, it already is, but moreso.

No thanks. He gets it wrong as often as he gets it right and I don't want a tinkerer. I just want someone who will get out of the team's way and let them grow and develop. Oscar Pareja. Gregg Berhalter. Jesse Marsch. This next hire, and everything else really, is all about 2026.

Oh wow, he didn't cry. Huge upset. Wild stuff.

CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP (this is pathetic salt but I'll take it) GIVE ME THOSE SWEET CHEECH TEARS BAYBEEEEEEE

Guys, this is a good world cup.

The one time I need Germany to be Germany and they roll over and die. FOH.

I've listened to the first two. I just listened to the first 3 this morning and was enjoying it. I've seen Men in Blazers hailed as one of the better sports podcasts a lot over the years; is it something a mostly non-soccer fan could get into like AF? Probably. I'm not a huge fan. They're very one note after a while. Listen and if you find them entertaining, it'll probably make you like soccer more. If you already know a lot about soccer, you're not getting much actual insight or analysis and you can only handle so much light sarcasm and references to things making Roger's nipples tingle before you realize there are way better podcasts out there.

I've listened to the first two.

I was trying to root for Mexico but then the first time they showed a slo mo of chicarito's stupid face rolling in agony trying to get a foul I just couldn't do it.

This is good, right? https://fbref.com/en/players/d70ce98e/Lionel-Messi

I don't think his start date will prevent him from hiring a European coach if that's the direction they want to go. I think that start date is more about when he's done in Philly than when he's going to start making moves for USS. That said, I agree, he's hiring American. It's going to be Jesse Marsch or Gregg Berhalter if I was betting. I'm actually OK with either. I think they've both shown a great mix of ambition and pragmatism. They both obviously know USS and the player pool. With such a young squad I don't think there would be any ego or chemistry issues. Marsch is rumored to be making the jump to Europe within the Red Bulls family. If that's real, he should probably do that. Berhalter was captain of a Bundesliga club, went to a World Cup, he's got enough credibility.