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I know very little about soccer. Is Messi still a top tier player?
I know very little about soccer. Is Messi still a top tier player?
He's no longer the best player in the world.I know very little about soccer. Is Messi still a top tier player?
He almost had the Golden Boot (most goals scored) at the World Cup in 2022 at age 35. He's obviously not as fit as he used to be, but he played all 690 match minutes for Argentina, too.I know very little about soccer. Is Messi still a top tier player?
He did make an adjustment to the formation that seemed to help against the Swedes. They looked better than they did against Portugal. That said, Morgan seems to have declined. Smith should replace her for starters. Yes, they do need to get younger.In a Women’s World Cup where the USWNT was largely unwatchable from a time-zone perspective, the team got the support they deserved.
With exception of Lavelle, most of the “stars” had pretty poor performances. The coach reminds me of when LeBron was bossing Blatt around. No strategy and no balls to make changes.
Rapinoe, Morgan, and Ertz we’re amongst the worst players out. Such a stark contrast to when Abby Wambach was near the end of her career but could still come in a physically dominate in the box and on set pieces. Carly Lloyd also would have been a big help.
Clean house. Can’t just “show up” in the WWC anymore and expect to be in the final. New coach, new philosophy, and hopefully no women over 36 by the time 2027 rolls around.
In a Women’s World Cup where the USWNT was largely unwatchable from a time-zone perspective, the team got the support they deserved.
With exception of Lavelle, most of the “stars” had pretty poor performances. The coach reminds me of when LeBron was bossing Blatt around. No strategy and no balls to make changes.
Rapinoe, Morgan, and Ertz we’re amongst the worst players out. Such a stark contrast to when Abby Wambach was near the end of her career but could still come in a physically dominate in the box and on set pieces. Carly Lloyd also would have been a big help.
Clean house. Can’t just “show up” in the WWC anymore and expect to be in the final. New coach, new philosophy, and hopefully no women over 36 by the time 2027 rolls around.
He did make an adjustment to the formation that seemed to help against the Swedes. They looked better than they did against Portugal. That said, Morgan seems to have declined. Smith should replace her for starters. Yes, they do need to get younger.
The Puma Messi, and Cheetah Gerda, are doing quite well, as well.Even with such high expectations for his arrival, Messi is performing better than expected.
I'd argue it's the first time ever that the MLS, or any alternative US soccer league, is near-appointment television for the mainstream and casual fan. I wasn't around for it, but I've Pele's book, and I feel like his journey to NYC in the 1970s is the only real comparison to the 'mania' around Messi being here. Similar to Messi's cut of the Apple TV money, Pele was famously paid as a 'recording artist' by Atlantic Records to help ease the financial burden of his, at the time absurd $1.4 Million salary on the team. Nearly every main stream sports commenter is at least acknowledging his prowess thus far.
If you would have told me, "Messi will just have more fun here", as a reason why this would work out, I wouldn't have believed you. He's really enjoying himself, and is still two or three notches above anyone else on the field. Behind only Taylor Swift, Messi is the next hottest ticket in the country when he comes to town.
Last night he had another two goals, and scored his PK in the shootout that brought them the win. Interested to see how he can uplift the team as the regular season moves on, as Inter Miami is in last place in the conference. I'm bought in!