I think the US is legitimately better than Mexico. This Mexican team is bad (by their standards). You see it when you really root for them (vs Panama) and they are just incapable and incompetent. We can get 1 or 3 down there but it still will take us to play a great game because we aren't much better.
New US soccer thread
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I think the US is legitimately better than Mexico. This Mexican team is bad (by their standards). You see it when you really root for them (vs Panama) and they are just incapable and incompetent. We can get 1 or 3 down there but it still will take us to play a great game because we aren't much better.
I was listening to the ESPN guys and Don Garber talk about what to do with the surplus of money US Soccer has. You know what I'd do:
Instead of investing in rich white kids and immigrant kids who do the pay for play thing, I'd pick a few cities and have a tryout for 8 year olds. No soccer drills at all. Simply an athletic combine. Pick a team of 20 kids or so, train them, enter them in leagues, and guarantee a college scholarship. For the ones who don't develop and end up in D3 or whatever, pay for their education if they stick with the program.
The US has GOT to get its best American athletes to play. I cant believe its 2022 and we still don't.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
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Off the rails here...FK. 1-1 right now in the FA Cup. Pure domination by the Blues but Plymouth is playing solid and compact defense. Really cute goal by Azpilicueta to pull them even and Plymouth have been saved by the woodwork 3 times.
And ole Kidderminster is up 1-0 over the Hammers at the half. National League North, 6th division in England. I'm watching this one instead of Chelski and Plymouth for the 2nd half.
And ole Kidderminster is up 1-0 over the Hammers at the half. National League North, 6th division in England. I'm watching this one instead of Chelski and Plymouth for the 2nd half.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
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That sickens me, the thought of US Soccer with an overage of money. I'm sure it'll be spent haphazardly. In that way that you're talking about, I'd funnel money into the poorer areas for programs and youth clubs. Give some of these kids something to grab onto, another option.
I remember when I was a kid, I played at CV but couldn't afford to play for Beadling. I wasn't great but I wasn't terrible either, enough talent to get onto a Beadling Team, my parents just couldn't afford it.
If they come away with 0 points, I'll be nervous of a 2017 repeat because Panama. If CR and Panama get 3 and we come away with 0, that Panama match will be huge.
If we get 3 and Panama get 0, we are qualified.
I thought chelsea was a later match so I missed the first half but have it on right now.
all I’ll saw is get Hudson Odoi out of there!
by the way…let’s go Fulham!!
That’s interesting. But I think in suburban communities soccer is getting great athletes. But in those communities like in Florida that feed SEC programs and other P5 programs, that’s what you have to get and I don’t see it happening. Imagine going into Aliquippa and telling any mom there that US soccer wants to invest in her child and he will get an education if he goes the soccer route instead of football. Fat chance.
Another example for owtie. It IS an incredibly complex sport. I’m watching the Champions of Europe, which hypothetically makes them the best team in the world (even though they are not), in extra time now vs a club from Englands 3rd Division. Chelsea have had 75% possession, 35-6 in shots, and 18 corner kicks. They’ve served cross after cross into the box, but can’t find a way to break this team down. I wouldn’t call it a chess match, but it is going to take some kind of tactical and technical brilliance to score the goal to win this game.
I mean, if Plymouth set their team up to go toe to toe and just “play”, chelsea would win this game 10-0. But that’s not what happens in this sport.
I mean, if Plymouth set their team up to go toe to toe and just “play”, chelsea would win this game 10-0. But that’s not what happens in this sport.
Garber said in the interview it would be spent on youth development and other things but what does that mean? Kids have to start playing soccer in early elementary school to have "a chance." MLS academies don't charge anymore, which is good, but they start at 12 or 13, which is WAY WAY WAY too late for any elite athlete who decides to take up soccer.
I'd rather see a targeted program. Lets say they pick, I dont know, Philadelphia and Baltimore and publicize like crazy that college scholarships are guaranteed if their 8 year old makes this US Soccer Academy team. You'd attract the very best athletes in those cities. Instead, we'll use it for better concussion testing and nutritional options, important stuff but meaningless in terms of advancing in future World Cups
As for next round, as bad as we were last time (home losses to CR and Mexico), and as ok as we've been this time, its very hard to believe we may in the exact same position with 2 matches left:
- needing 3 points in Orlando vs Panama
- needing a draw in a 3rd world country
First FA Cup Game I watched in a couple years. Rooted hard for Kidderminster.
I was wondering what their US equivalent would be? Riverhounds? USL 2nd Division? ACC? Could Pitt beat them? The one dude they said was a St. Kitts International and those Caribbean dudes are basically just squad players in USL. Heck the Riverhounds had "good" Carribean dudes in 2 guys who played for the Jamaica National team.
Well my daughters boyfriend played in the big south conference during the school year, and then played USL2 in the summer for a
USL2 team that won the title. I would say that’s the same level considering he played in the National League this past year and was a starting forward.
Well, I was right as always it appears
Man though, West Ham didn't look much better. They didn't have your boy, Antonio and probably rested some others but still.
If you care to answer, how much do USL or non-league players make? I am guessing $5000-10,000 per year. Basically amateurs having to have real jobs and play soccer on the weekends along with trainings after work during the week
I don’t know. But I don’t think USL2 players make anything. Probably just get fed on game day.Well, I was right as always it appears
Man though, West Ham didn't look much better. They didn't have your boy, Antonio and probably rested some others but still.
If you care to answer, how much do USL or non-league players make? I am guessing $5000-10,000 per year. Basically amateurs having to have real jobs and play soccer on the weekends along with trainings after work during the week
as far as national league players in England, they make like $200 per game. And my daughters BF got goal bonuses. Lol. Guys play in that league to stay fit or chase a dream. But he only did it for the love of the game until he found a job. He just moved to the states a couple weeks ago.
There's a player on the English national team who was playing non-league football a couple years ago. Cant remember who.
Some of those new USL2 stadiums are magnificent (by USL2 standards). Birmingham built a joint stadium for UAB football and their USL2 side. Rio Grand Valley's stadium looks awesome. I guess don't tell the fans that the players are basically amateurs.
Checking on some old forwards. Their decline has been remarkable;
Bobby Wood (29) - plays for Real Salt Lake after having a decent run in the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga. Only scored 2 goals in 17 appearances last season but with Jasper Loefflesand providing service now, maybe that goes up
Aron Johansson (31) - wow, playing in Iceland (his home country) now. I am pretty sure the Iceland league isnt even a pro league. 31 isnt too old to go from the Bundesliga and Eredivisie to a rec league.
Tyler Boyd (27) - playing in a good league in Turkey but not doing much. Still, wouldn't mind giving him a shot.
As I said before though, maybe its time to move Pulisic to the #9, especially with Gio coming back. We are LOADED in the midfield now with Gio, Weah, Aaronson, Musah, Adams, McKennie.
BTW, Pulisic has a game in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Talk about a climate and temp difference.
Bobby Wood (29) - plays for Real Salt Lake after having a decent run in the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga. Only scored 2 goals in 17 appearances last season but with Jasper Loefflesand providing service now, maybe that goes up
Aron Johansson (31) - wow, playing in Iceland (his home country) now. I am pretty sure the Iceland league isnt even a pro league. 31 isnt too old to go from the Bundesliga and Eredivisie to a rec league.
Tyler Boyd (27) - playing in a good league in Turkey but not doing much. Still, wouldn't mind giving him a shot.
As I said before though, maybe its time to move Pulisic to the #9, especially with Gio coming back. We are LOADED in the midfield now with Gio, Weah, Aaronson, Musah, Adams, McKennie.
BTW, Pulisic has a game in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Talk about a climate and temp difference.
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I'm gonna say that's Jamie Vardy with Leicester. He started out in non-league football, worked his boots off and now he's a talisman of Leicester. One of my favorite EPL players.
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Kepa to the rescue! The beaten down dog comes through with the penalty save to keep it from PK's.
I switched over to the Kidderminster match at the half. I figured Chelsea would put 3 or 4 more on because they were dominating. The brief bit I did see of Werner, yeah he still stinks, gave up on a great thru ball.
Fulham got raw dogged by a cheap penalty by that whining little shit scunt Jack Grealish. Not many soccer players make my blood boil like this overrated, petulant little child. He's Neymar minus the massive amount of talent with the constant diving, whining and petulance.
My favorite moment during our 17-18 season was the playoff final when Denny Odoi put his boot right into his chest while going for a ball considering Jackie Boy shoulda went off early for a high boot on a challenge.
Once that penalty went in, it was over.
My personal opinion is City shoulda saved the massively overpaid price for Grealish and went for Haaland. If they get him in the summer, it's over. City will win the EPL for atleast the next 2 seasons and it won't really be too close.
Yeah well graelish costing 100 mil is just a drop in the bucket for City. And he’s a bench player who starts in Cup fixtures. It won’t prohibit them from spending on Haaland. And how I look at it, they win every year without a striker. They can’t do any better. Maybe with a striker they won’t be any better. Or shall I say worse?
I hope Barcelona gets Haaland.
as far as chelsea, they had 40 shots today. Lol. And almost lost.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
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How crazy is that, City can pull in the oil freighter to the Manchester docks and get $100 million just like that.
I'm actually not fan of Barca, I'd rather see him in the EPL or slide over to Munich. Heck honestly I'd love to see him stay at Dortmund and have Chelsea sell Puli back to them.
That would be awesome. I’d also like to see Puli in Liverpool.
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Gotta love Everton now. I don’t know how closely you follow it, but I’m wondering why he didn’t take Jody Morris with him as part of his staff.
March is the next international break when the last 3 World Cup US qualifying games will be played.
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anon_4dfwm2pijbr0a
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Copy, I'm sure there are a few. In fact watching one of the FA Cup games they were talking one of the players on West Ham. Now I'm gonna pause this post and Wikipedia it....
Jarrod Bowen is who it was I remember them saying, started with tiny Hereford United FC which is now dissolved. That may not be who you're thinking of either but that came to my mind just now.
I don’t know who it would be. Most of these guys grew up in the youth academies of top clubs, even if it’s clubs like Southampton.
the first player who came to mind though for me was Tyrone Mings. So I looked him up. He did play for a southern league team which is like the 7th tier of English football. But that was 10 years ago for only a year or so, and that was after spending his youth career at a premier league academy.
The explosiveness he exhibited out of lockdown almost single handedly propelled Chelsea to the champions league. He was electric and at an elite level. But he isn’t near that right now. I don’t know if he’s not 100%, or if his confidence is shot. There’s something missing. Part of it is him playing out of position at Chelsea and being soccers equivalent of a baseball utility player. But maybe he’s emotionally as fragile as his muscles are because even when he is playing on the wing he’s not lighting the world on fire. When I say I’d want him it Liverpool, I say that because I think he can be as dangerous as Mane is in Klopps system.
Gio Reyna came off the bench and played 29 minutes today in Dormund's 5-2 beatdown at the hands (or would it be feet?) of Leverkusen.
Look at this lineup vs Panama. We praise McKennie for being in top form and being our best player right now…but his selfishness cost us. And so did Berhalter’s selections. If we beat Panama in October, this qualification is over.
Panama 1-0 USA (Oct 10, 2021) Lineups - ESPN
Starting lineups for the Panama vs. United States Fifa World Cup Qualifying - Concacaf game from October 10, 2021 on ESPN.www.espn.com
we played that game without starting arguably our 4 best players (Pulisic, Dest, Adams, McKennie) and with Zardes as the #9.
To be fair though, he only played that lineup because he is smarter than everyone else.
Watching the Club world championship on FS2 right now. Chelsea vs Palmeiras.
Pulisic didn’t start, but came on in the 30th minute for an injured Mason Mount. In my opinion Christian is looking very good, is getting on the ball, and making things happen. He’s sitting underneath Lukaku in the formation with Havertz, and playing centrally. I think he’s impacted the game, dribbling at players, setting up scoring opportunities and drawing fouls. He even took a free kick shot at goal after he drew a foul. I can’t remember seeing Pulisic taking a free kick in a chelsea kit before. It wasn’t very good though. He tried to get it over the wall but couldn’t get it to dip and it sailed way over the goal. Hoping for a strong second half and more of the same.
Pulisic didn’t start, but came on in the 30th minute for an injured Mason Mount. In my opinion Christian is looking very good, is getting on the ball, and making things happen. He’s sitting underneath Lukaku in the formation with Havertz, and playing centrally. I think he’s impacted the game, dribbling at players, setting up scoring opportunities and drawing fouls. He even took a free kick shot at goal after he drew a foul. I can’t remember seeing Pulisic taking a free kick in a chelsea kit before. It wasn’t very good though. He tried to get it over the wall but couldn’t get it to dip and it sailed way over the goal. Hoping for a strong second half and more of the same.
This club World Cup final had me wondering SMF style that FIFA should hold this tourney every year in conjunction with our super bowl as an opening act. Instead of the final being today, it can be held super bowl Sunday afternoon every year. Or Maybe play a North American vs Euro champion game for a trophy. If done right, maybe it helps grow the game here domestically and if MLS can get to a point where their champion could feature in the match consistently, it would take off.
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