The Soccer/Football Thread

[2 For The Brew]

Best signing for MLS but there were a lot of signings in the NASL (mostly NY Cosmos) that were at least as big, starting with Pele. One of my classmates once marked Franz Beckenbauer.

Zlatan's debut appearance for LA Galaxy was legendary. "They wanted Zlatan, I gave them Zlatan."

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

USMNT looked fantastic against Mexico and Canada. Two straight clean sheets, easy wins--and without a full healthy roster either time.

Gio at the top of the midfield serving Weah, CP and Balogun looks really sexy. Chris Richards is a nice young add at CB. Matt Turner is coming into his own as an elite keeper.

This team can be very, very good.

 

[Green Demon]

USMNT looked fantastic against Mexico and Canada. Two straight clean sheets, easy wins--and without a full healthy roster either time.

Gio at the top of the midfield serving Weah, CP and Balogun looks really sexy. Chris Richards is a nice young add at CB. Matt Turner is coming into his own as an elite keeper.

This team can be very, very good.

Couldn't agree more this team still has tons of youth but they are starting to enter the stage of expecting results against some of the top teams. A good measuring stick should be next summer with Copa America, which should be a good test against some of the top teams in in the world with another year of this team growing individually and as a team.

One of the biggest things this summer is hopefully having a lot of the top guys finding good situation at their club level because it seems like a good amount of the 1st choice starting eleven and some in the 18 atleast are likely to be moving on from their current teams. It looks like Pulisic, Mckennie, Dest, Balogun, Adams, Aaronson, and possibly Weah off the top of my head are likely to be looking to other clubs for either more PT or moving on from a regulated club.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Couldn't agree more this team still has tons of youth but they are starting to enter the stage of expecting results against some of the top teams. A good measuring stick should be next summer with Copa America, which should be a good test against some of the top teams in in the world with another year of this team growing individually and as a team.

One of the biggest things this summer is hopefully having a lot of the top guys finding good situation at their club level because it seems like a good amount of the 1st choice starting eleven and some in the 18 atleast are likely to be moving on from their current teams. It looks like Pulisic, Mckennie, Dest, Balogun, Adams, Aaronson, and possibly Weah off the top of my head are likely to be looking to other clubs for either more PT or moving on from a regulated club.

Looking way ahead...

GK: Turner
FB: Dest, Robinson
CB: Zimmerman, Richards
6: Adams
8: Musah
10: Gio
Wings: CP10, Weah
9: Balogun

That's my too-early starting eleven... and it's leaving Weston out.

I'm sure we won't have everyone healthy and ready to go, but it's crazy--before this generation, the greatest players in the history of US Soccer were Donovan and Dempsey... and not only would they not even start on this team, they wouldn't even unseat bench guys like Aaronson or Pepi for playing time.

It's a good problem to have. I'm eager to see us beat Germany in the friendly coming up--mainly so I can rub it in the faces of the Germans I work with.

 

[N7RobBob]

Looking way ahead...

GK: Turner
FB: Dest, Robinson
CB: Zimmerman, Richards
6: Adams
8: Musah
10: Gio
Wings: CP10, Weah
9: Balogun

That's my too-early starting eleven... and it's leaving Weston out.

I'm sure we won't have everyone healthy and ready to go, but it's crazy--before this generation, the greatest players in the history of US Soccer were Donovan and Dempsey... and not only would they not even start on this team, they wouldn't even unseat bench guys like Aaronson or Pepi for playing time.

It's a good problem to have. I'm eager to see us beat Germany in the friendly coming up--mainly so I can rub it in the faces of the Germans I work with.

Just seeing Gio's ability to create for others on set plays was nice. That has been a trouble area for us in the Gregg era. I love Pulisic, but definitely not his strong point in set plays. Gio/Weston/Musah/Adams gives us the flexibility to attack teams differently. Sometimes MMA will be the play, other times we will need to adjust.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Beat Canada's ass

 

[Coyote]

Beat Canada's ass

Disappointing result vs. Panama but not surprising since they struggled so much v. Canada.

Mainly I look at the Gold Cup as a development project for World Cup USMNT reserves. The 2023 team on paper is better than the 2021 team that won the Gold Cup, but the Jamaica match was a sign this bunch either lack talent or don't mesh, or both. I'd be interested to hear what you and others think we learned from this year's version.

For me, it's that Ferreira and Vazquez are fine depth chart additions, but that's it. Cowell has a long way to go. James Sands can be a good backup. I'm not sold on Reynolds or Jones on the back line even as depth. I liked Chris Richards and Jalen Neal better. I never want to see Miazga, Jordan Morris, or Christian Roldan suit up for a USMNT match that matters.

I'm in Columbus and I'm a Crew fan and I wish the best for Aidan Morris, but he's a long way off even being a bottom-of-the-chart middie for USMNT. That said, his stoutness would have been useful v. Canada. I don't think it would've mattered much v. Panama.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Disappointing result vs. Panama but not surprising since they struggled so much v. Canada.

I'm not really upset--Panama outplayed us. Can't really point to anyone outside of Sands and Cowell and say they played well (Turner excluded)

Mainly I look at the Gold Cup as a development project for World Cup USMNT reserves.

Agreed.

The 2023 team on paper is better than the 2021 team that won the Gold Cup, but the Jamaica match was a sign this bunch either lack talent or don't mesh, or both. I'd be interested to hear what you and others think we learned from this year's version.

For me, it's that Ferreira and Vazquez are fine depth chart additions, but that's it. Cowell has a long way to go. James Sands can be a good backup. I'm not sold on Reynolds or Jones on the back line even as depth. I liked Chris Richards and Jalen Neal better. I never want to see Miazga, Jordan Morris, or Christian Roldan suit up for a USMNT match that matters.

I'm in Columbus and I'm a Crew fan and I wish the best for Aidan Morris, but he's a long way off even being a bottom-of-the-chart middie for USMNT. That said, his stoutness would have been useful v. Canada. I don't think it would've mattered much v. Panama.

I think Ferreira, Vazquez and Cowell will all get a chance to compete for the WC roster--I'm not positive any of them will make it. Ferreira probably has the best chance with his versatility to play 9, 10 or winger.

Our midfield was atrocious--it helped extinguish any thoughts I may have had that Busio would develop into a fine depth piece. However, I think Sands is going to be the leader in the clubhouse as Tyler Adams's backup. With Acosta's age and general lack of talent, that backup 6 position is ripe for the taking.

I thought Neal looked young, raw and promising. I've always disliked Miles Robinson and these last two matches were incredibly triggering. The dude is ass.

 

[Coyote]

I think Ferreira, Vazquez and Cowell will all get a chance to compete for the WC roster--I'm not positive any of them will make it. Ferreira probably has the best chance with his versatility to play 9, 10 or winger.

Our midfield was atrocious--it helped extinguish any thoughts I may have had that Busio would develop into a fine depth piece. However, I think Sands is going to be the leader in the clubhouse as Tyler Adams's backup. With Acosta's age and general lack of talent, that backup 6 position is ripe for the taking.

I thought Neal looked young, raw and promising. I've always disliked Miles Robinson and these last two matches were incredibly triggering. The dude is ass.

I always forget that Ferreira started our Netherlands WC match. I think that indicates what this Greggg thinks of him. Not saying even Berhalter would start him over Flo or Pepi, but I do think he's a lock as a sub. By 2026 I hope to see a better Cade Cowell. He has to make better decisions and finish. If only he'd scored that first-minute goal last night.

Midfield was bad, but overall, as a program, we have a lot of talent there for a while. I'm more worried about the backs than anything. Zimmerman will be 33 by the next WC. I'm not as down on Miles Robinson as you are, but I agree he looked bad the past two matches and wasn't quality much at all this tourney. Antonee Robinson, Dest, then...Richards or Neal (who is raw, yes) plus Scally and Miles? (I do think Zimmerman will be there in 2026 but won't start. Maybe.)

Also, speaking of Netherlands, does a 3-5-2 formation make better use of USMNT's strengths or does it expose the backs too much? I'd like Gregggg to experiment with that and other formations in the next year.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I always forget that Ferreira started our Netherlands WC match. I think that indicates what this Greggg thinks of him. Not saying even Berhalter would start him over Flo or Pepi, but I do think he's a lock as a sub. By 2026 I hope to see a better Cade Cowell. He has to make better decisions and finish. If only he'd scored that first-minute goal last night.

Midfield was bad, but overall, as a program, we have a lot of talent there for a while. I'm more worried about the backs than anything. Zimmerman will be 33 by the next WC. I'm not as down on Miles Robinson as you are, but I agree he looked bad the past two matches and wasn't quality much at all this tourney. Antonee Robinson, Dest, then...Richards or Neal (who is raw, yes) plus Scally and Miles? (I do think Zimmerman will be there in 2026 but won't start. Maybe.)

Also, speaking of Netherlands, does a 3-5-2 formation make better use of USMNT's strengths or does it expose the backs too much? I'd like Gregggg to experiment with that and other formations in the next year.

I think you're spot-on. CB is our weakest position by far. We have backups in the midfield and the front 3 that would arguably have been the greatest players in US history if they played before this current generation. And, even though Dest has had a rough time at the club level, he's been incredible every time he's suited up in the Stars and Stripes.

I don't think Gregggg will ever experiment with anything

 

[Coyote]

I think you're spot-on. CB is our weakest position by far. We have backups in the midfield and the front 3 that would arguably have been the greatest players in US history if they played before this current generation. And, even though Dest has had a rough time at the club level, he's been incredible every time he's suited up in the Stars and Stripes.

I don't think Gregggg will ever experiment with anything

Yeah, Dest is guaranteed to create two A-fib events for me per match w/USMNT, one bad, one good.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Yeah, Dest is guaranteed to create two A-fib events for me per match w/USMNT, one bad, one good.

I just wish Antonee Robinson had some touch and feel for the game. He's so good as an athletic specimen as a wingback... he just does nothing with those opportunities.

And.... some stupid sexy Dest:

 

[BMAN]

I still think we need to look better and get the result regardless if it’s a C team.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I still think we need to look better and get the result regardless if it’s a C team.

Sure, that'd be nice.

Panama played great--they outplayed us. We played a second 120 minute game in just a few days. We didn't have our head coach.

Making 8 out of the last 10 Gold Cup Finals, winning five of them is still pretty damn good.

As more of our players are good enough to play in leagues that don't release them for the Gold Cup, we're going to continue to dive deeper and deeper down the depth chart for players for this tournament.

 

[Green Demon]

Pretty cool start to Messi career with Miami