Re: USMNT - 2026 Cycle - "Early Days"
Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:17 pm
His head looks photoshopped onto a too small body in that pic.
It's the sixth version of The Swamp. What could possibly go wrong?
http://www.sportsfrog.net/phpbb/
I don't view him as a super sub type. He is 90 minutes of wily & cunning. Super subs to me are very tall attackers (Connor Casey, Kenny Cooper Jr sized) or lightning fast counter attacking energy types. He does not fit either of those.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:11 pmWe are, but Rex is right, we do NOT have someone who has Lucho's skillset. He might be an excellent supersub especially if you are down a goal and hunting.Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:04 pm Yeah, I'm never going to turn down depth, but we are pretty stacked in the attacking midfield part of the pool right now.
So...agree to disagree. I have watched Lucho for three years now and his brand of creativity absolutely could play in a limited 15-30 if need be as much as all game.wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:23 pmI don't view him as a super sub type. He is 90 minutes of wily & cunning. Super subs to me are very tall attackers (Connor Casey, Kenny Cooper Jr sized) or lightning fast counter attacking energy types. He does not fit either of those.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:11 pmWe are, but Rex is right, we do NOT have someone who has Lucho's skillset. He might be an excellent supersub especially if you are down a goal and hunting.Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:04 pm Yeah, I'm never going to turn down depth, but we are pretty stacked in the attacking midfield part of the pool right now.
What is his skill set? I don't follow MLS, so I don't know anything about him. I'm all for bringing in new talent, just very skeptical of bringing in a 29 yo MLS player. If he can bring something we don't have, great, but I hate bringing in older players unless they are game-changing superstars, otherwise you are taking away opportunities from younger players with potential to develop and help longer term.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:11 pmWe are, but Rex is right, we do NOT have someone who has Lucho's skillset. He might be an excellent supersub especially if you are down a goal and hunting.Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:04 pm Yeah, I'm never going to turn down depth, but we are pretty stacked in the attacking midfield part of the pool right now.
A real life bobble-head. Surprised he can find a pillow to lay that massive head.The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:09 pmWikipedia says he is 5'3", so maybe that is what he looks like.
Such a height-ist.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:34 pm I don't have the soccer chops to have this conversation. I know that Acosta is a wizard on the ball, technically and tactically and always on the attack - his size makes him hard to dispossess and he annoys the fuck out of opponents. He's probably on the short list of MVP lists or whatever the equivalent of that award is in MLS for 2023 at the mid-point of the season. His game will age well, I would expect given his size and how he plays that he will be effective into his mid-30s. The fact that USSF wrote in support of his application for citizenship means they have an interest in him. I don't think we have someone as creative as Acosta is in tight spaces on the ball and in finding and working combos. I think they could use him over the next few years.
Then again, I may not know shit.
He did this on Saturday in Vancouver fwiw...
Well that was a world class finish! Great ball from the back, too. It's pretty rare for a men to continue playing international after they turn 30, but maybe MLS isn't as demanding as Euro leagues. OTOH, MLS must have more demanding travel.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:34 pm I don't have the soccer chops to have this conversation. I know that Acosta is a wizard on the ball, technically and tactically and always on the attack - his size makes him hard to dispossess and he annoys the fuck out of opponents. He's probably on the short list of MVP lists or whatever the equivalent of that award is in MLS for 2023 at the mid-point of the season. His game will age well, I would expect given his size and how he plays that he will be effective into his mid-30s. The fact that USSF wrote in support of his application for citizenship means they have an interest in him. I don't think we have someone as creative as Acosta is in tight spaces on the ball and in finding and working combos. I think they could use him over the next few years.
Then again, I may not know shit.
He did this on Saturday in Vancouver fwiw...
What? Is that really true? Or for mid level guys?The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:26 pmWell that was a world class finish! Great ball from the back, too. It's pretty rare for a men to continue playing international after they turn 30, but maybe MLS isn't as demanding as Euro leagues. OTOH, MLS must have more demanding travel.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:34 pm I don't have the soccer chops to have this conversation. I know that Acosta is a wizard on the ball, technically and tactically and always on the attack - his size makes him hard to dispossess and he annoys the fuck out of opponents. He's probably on the short list of MVP lists or whatever the equivalent of that award is in MLS for 2023 at the mid-point of the season. His game will age well, I would expect given his size and how he plays that he will be effective into his mid-30s. The fact that USSF wrote in support of his application for citizenship means they have an interest in him. I don't think we have someone as creative as Acosta is in tight spaces on the ball and in finding and working combos. I think they could use him over the next few years.
Then again, I may not know shit.
He did this on Saturday in Vancouver fwiw...
There are certainly exceptions like Ronaldo, Messi, Giroud, Ream… International players usually retire from international a few years before they retire from club. Club is where they make their money, and it’s a huge drain to travel, train and play during international breaks while others are resting. The packed schedules for guys at big clubs and playing international is insane. There is no off-season for them.A_B wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:04 amWhat? Is that really true? Or for mid level guys?The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:26 pmWell that was a world class finish! Great ball from the back, too. It's pretty rare for a men to continue playing international after they turn 30, but maybe MLS isn't as demanding as Euro leagues. OTOH, MLS must have more demanding travel.tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:34 pm I don't have the soccer chops to have this conversation. I know that Acosta is a wizard on the ball, technically and tactically and always on the attack - his size makes him hard to dispossess and he annoys the fuck out of opponents. He's probably on the short list of MVP lists or whatever the equivalent of that award is in MLS for 2023 at the mid-point of the season. His game will age well, I would expect given his size and how he plays that he will be effective into his mid-30s. The fact that USSF wrote in support of his application for citizenship means they have an interest in him. I don't think we have someone as creative as Acosta is in tight spaces on the ball and in finding and working combos. I think they could use him over the next few years.
Then again, I may not know shit.
He did this on Saturday in Vancouver fwiw...
Spoke too soon, game delayed because Mexican fans singing racist chants. At least that’s why my never studying Spanish had me thinking
I didn’t watch, but was there a possibility that the fans did it to get the ref to blow the whistle?The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 11:13 pm Now the ref calls the game 5 minutes early? Thrilled, but what happened?
I mean... Maybe?Rex wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 3:48 amI didn’t watch, but was there a possibility that the fans did it to get the ref to blow the whistle?The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 11:13 pm Now the ref calls the game 5 minutes early? Thrilled, but what happened?
Saw someone online refer to them as "L Tri" and I love it.Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 8:14 amI mean... Maybe?Rex wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 3:48 amI didn’t watch, but was there a possibility that the fans did it to get the ref to blow the whistle?The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 11:13 pm Now the ref calls the game 5 minutes early? Thrilled, but what happened?
Their team got walked. For most of them, they'd been drinking for approximately 6 hours - minimum - at that point. Then they came out of the half-time locker room with clear instructions to "be disruptive."
Just an ugly and embarrassing night for El Tri... Which, now that I think about it... They are the 3rd best team in the region. Fitting.
Well yesterday Viera was trying to toss his name in the ring.govmentchedda wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 2:31 pm I just can't get worked up about this re-hire. First, he wasn't fired, his contract ran out. Second, to be any kind of serious organization US Soccer HAD to properly investigate this issue, run it through the proper channels, etc. Third, fuck Claudio and Danielle. (I mean, I definitely extend them a bit of grace given that they lost a child, and can't fathom how protective that must make one about your other children, but their behavior through all of this was the absolute worst with Gio 2nd worst.)
Who else do we reasonably think would take this job? Marsch? Thierry Henry?
My choice, Carlo, appears headed to Sao Paolo if/when Florentino tires of him.
Question from a doofus who follows the USMNT solely by reading this thread...Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:04 pm Charlie Davies was the only one last night focusing on the reality of the situation at Soccer House: They don't have the money and/or the optics won't allow them to pay a proper coach to do this job because it would "look bad" to pay someone $10-15M to do the job when the WNT coach only gets $1M.
And here's what last night proved: Put the best players on the field and we are easily the best team in the region. I like CAN and we'll see what they have to say about that on Sunday, but the point is that we had a Soccer Dad from New Jersey coaching last night and we walked Mexico off the field. I know MEX is in turmoil, but still... That was easily the most lopsided game in our favor in my lifetime.
I have ppl on Facebook trying to argue with me about the talent of this team compared to, say, 2002. It's not even close. That team beat MEX 2-0 by sitting back and scoring in transition. I don't have possession stats in front of me for last night, but I'm sure it was ridiculous.
All GGG needs to do is not fuck things up. Unfortunately, he's part of the bullshit mindset that wants to keep plugging in MLS guys when they don't fit.
One of the reasons that team was machine last night is that ALL OF THEM are on the same talent level. They ALL train with clubs at the very highest level. There's no bullshit like there is in MLS where those guys can (and often do) take 4-5 touches to move the ball.
It's pretty maddening that we're going to return to the days of Zimmerman, Morris, Arriola and Ferreira. They just aren't up to last night's level. Period.
The way they were set up under GGG last year, you had Earnie Stewart who was something like the President of Operations and my understanding of that was that along with specifically helping with player "acquisition" and evaluation, he also was charged with trying to maintain (or in some instances establish) a cohesive approach to the game throughout all men's programs (U17, U20, U23/Olympics and full national team.)DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 6:30 pmQuestion from a doofus who follows the USMNT solely by reading this thread...Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:04 pm Charlie Davies was the only one last night focusing on the reality of the situation at Soccer House: They don't have the money and/or the optics won't allow them to pay a proper coach to do this job because it would "look bad" to pay someone $10-15M to do the job when the WNT coach only gets $1M.
And here's what last night proved: Put the best players on the field and we are easily the best team in the region. I like CAN and we'll see what they have to say about that on Sunday, but the point is that we had a Soccer Dad from New Jersey coaching last night and we walked Mexico off the field. I know MEX is in turmoil, but still... That was easily the most lopsided game in our favor in my lifetime.
I have ppl on Facebook trying to argue with me about the talent of this team compared to, say, 2002. It's not even close. That team beat MEX 2-0 by sitting back and scoring in transition. I don't have possession stats in front of me for last night, but I'm sure it was ridiculous.
All GGG needs to do is not fuck things up. Unfortunately, he's part of the bullshit mindset that wants to keep plugging in MLS guys when they don't fit.
One of the reasons that team was machine last night is that ALL OF THEM are on the same talent level. They ALL train with clubs at the very highest level. There's no bullshit like there is in MLS where those guys can (and often do) take 4-5 touches to move the ball.
It's pretty maddening that we're going to return to the days of Zimmerman, Morris, Arriola and Ferreira. They just aren't up to last night's level. Period.
Does USMNT have a separate talent evaluator who determines the selected players, creating a dynamic similar to coach and general manager?