We still talking soccer, right? If so, it doesn't effing matter who anybody's "got" because soccer effing sucks.
USMNT/Soccer Thread
- Thread starter BigBlueSean_rivals178247
- Start date
Qualifiers coming on the 8th and 11th of June. USA needs to roll T&T like 5-0 because I'm not so sure they can go down and beat Mexico in Estadio Azteca. Winning or even getting a tie in that game would be massive.
First reaction is to say Real Madrid. But I have to say I don't know much about Juventus.
So the US started the U20 WC 13 minutes ago....
Already down 2-0 to Ecuador
Gedion Zelalem starting for the US.
Already down 2-0 to Ecuador
Gedion Zelalem starting for the US.
Just watched DVR'd snippets from the game, but a series of gaffes on each of the 3 allowed goals by the US...Klinnsman's was easily the worst and I'm sure had Landon Donovan pondering a tweet about it. Overall a very hard earned point for the US in what could have been disaster, but a workman like comeback and even without the goal De La Torre was clearly MOTM. Sargeant continues to impress and Derrick Jones coming on for Zelalem in what looked like a nasty ankle roll for Zelalem ended up being fortuitous; Jones as a D mid seemed to change the tenor of the game and the US was winning first and second balls from that point forward.
The backline without Fossey would be bad enough, but not having CCV is rough along with no Glad. Fossey played big in CONCACAF qualifying.
@Roe07 @KentuckyBandit @CardHack
How would you like to see the USMNT line up for the friendly with Venezuela and the 2 qualifiers coming up? The development of Villafona I think could really help us put players in their proper positions. I'd go with this:
4-1-2-1-2
Altidore, Dempsey (Strikers)
Pulisic (CAM)
Fabian Johnson (LM), Darlington Nagbe (RM)
Michael Bradley (CDM)
Villafana, Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin
Howard
If They are all healthy. I think we do Fabian a disservice sticking him at LB. Villafana is a natural LB with a good final ball and pace along with technical skill. The front 3 of Pulisic, Dempsey and Altidore are very interchangeable. If either Dempsey or Altidore come short for support Pulisic, Johnson, Nagbe and fill the channels and spring us forward on the attack. I might even sub in Wood for Altidore. I have always thought Altidore is a perfect type of striker you bring on in the 65th minute to be physical and close games out.
How would you like to see the USMNT line up for the friendly with Venezuela and the 2 qualifiers coming up? The development of Villafona I think could really help us put players in their proper positions. I'd go with this:
4-1-2-1-2
Altidore, Dempsey (Strikers)
Pulisic (CAM)
Fabian Johnson (LM), Darlington Nagbe (RM)
Michael Bradley (CDM)
Villafana, Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin
Howard
If They are all healthy. I think we do Fabian a disservice sticking him at LB. Villafana is a natural LB with a good final ball and pace along with technical skill. The front 3 of Pulisic, Dempsey and Altidore are very interchangeable. If either Dempsey or Altidore come short for support Pulisic, Johnson, Nagbe and fill the channels and spring us forward on the attack. I might even sub in Wood for Altidore. I have always thought Altidore is a perfect type of striker you bring on in the 65th minute to be physical and close games out.
I have been slow to join the Burn-Bradley-to-the-Stake crowd but he has so much mileage that you ironically have to protect him with protection and Kellyn Acosta's time is drawing near. We have some dynamite options building up in the u20 ranks behind Acosta with Tyler Adams as well as Weston McKinnie at the least. I'm a slave to a 4-2-3-1 for the US because it returns us to our counter attacking roots when we hit that peak under Arena. Johnson as the LW Pulisic CAM and Nagbe as RM with that back four you had and Acosta flanking Bradley in more of a CM role. Altidore flying solo up top because I don't think Wood is fully healthy.
I am starting to come around to the thinking Bradley might not make it to the World Cup as a DM; Acosta may well supplant him by then and if he does you can go back to a setup with two up top from among Altidore, Wood and Dempsey.
Well said.
Bradley is in top form right now though. Playing his best soccer since coming to mls. Accost is playing great too.
I'd bet we go with the 4 man diamond midfield against t&t.
Jozy Wood
Pulisic
Johnson. Nagbe
Bradley
Jorge brooks Cameron yedlin
The question is,
How do we lineup vs mexico.
I bet we go with...
Dempsey
Johnson Pulisic Bedoya
Cameron Bradley
Chandler Brooks Gonzalez Yedlin
In the first game, if we get a lead we will take Cameron, brooks and Johnson off.
Arena has already said that he will have to make several changes for the Mexico game. Only 3 days rest.
Not sure if you saw the FC Cincinnati news, but their owners are putting up $250 million for the MLS expansion fee and the majority of a new stadium and have 3 possible locations picked out.
Saw this, but need to start winning. After essentially buying all of LCFC's best players LCFC still outplayed them in Nippert.
Yup. Outplayed them to a 1-1 tie. They only have 2 players that played for Louisville last year, anyway.
Louisville is just plain better right now, though. FCC is really struggling to finish scoring chances and Polak gambles and gives up breakaways 3x a match. (I bash him and he instantly gets on the USL team of the week)
If Djiby can play without biting anyone, they could be dangerous with both him and Konig attacking. They'll make the playoffs, but unless they really develop some chemistry and buy in to the new coach's system they won't go anywhere.
But winning/losing has absolutely nothing to do with getting an MLS team. You know this. None of the players on the current team would be on the MLS team. None of them.
The support they are getting is unreal. They are averaging over 19k a game. Nobody else is close. Louisville is 3rd at 8k. FCC will be an MLS expansion team.
I agree with ya man. But Dacres and Quinn were big contributors... And while it was 1-1, LCFC's style of play and execution was just better. I like LCFC's coach and his scheme 10x better than FC Cincy. I agree that winning means nothing when it comes to expansion. I just was expecting more out of FCC this year than what I am getting.
I hear ya. I was pissed when Berding forced Harkes out. Lowered my expectations.
Hard to keep something going when you change coaches at the very beginning of the season.
Okoli was a big loss for FCC. He has played quite a bit for NYC FC and even scored a goal, but David Villa's return has sent him to the bench.
FCC is creating more and more chances, just need to put some in the back of the net. Djibi and Konig playing together will be interesting.
Hard to keep something going when you change coaches at the very beginning of the season.
Okoli was a big loss for FCC. He has played quite a bit for NYC FC and even scored a goal, but David Villa's return has sent him to the bench.
FCC is creating more and more chances, just need to put some in the back of the net. Djibi and Konig playing together will be interesting.
I agree completely. I'm just tired of watching tons of wasted chances. As an Arsenal fan I have enough wasted chances to last a lifetime...
Stl and Sacramento are getting the next two mls franchises. Stl has the best stadium plan and has a void for another pro sports team.
And. Chandler is now out. Arena is going to earn his money in making decisions on how to setup the defense in the next two games with all the yellow cards we have. I think he has to play Cameron and brooks vs t&t and if we get a good lead early take them
Both off with 20 or 25 to go. We have to win that t&t game and jones could give us trouble. I just don't trust real and Gonzalez enough to sit brooks and Cameron.
And. Chandler is now out. Arena is going to earn his money in making decisions on how to setup the defense in the next two games with all the yellow cards we have. I think he has to play Cameron and brooks vs t&t and if we get a good lead early take them
Both off with 20 or 25 to go. We have to win that t&t game and jones could give us trouble. I just don't trust real and Gonzalez enough to sit brooks and Cameron.
They are expanding by 4.
The 2 you mentioned and Cincinnati are favorites. Detroit is making a strong bid as well.
FC Cincy is thinking 2020-21ish.
Uh...St. Louis (the skidmark on the underpants of America that it is) voted down a soccer stadium. I will never understand the boner some in the US soccer community have for St. Louis but I'd say their chances are not good at getting into the next round of MLS expansion. MLS ain't stopping at 28 though. If I had to handicap it, I'd say...
1. Sacramento
2. San Diego
3. Detroit
4. Cincy
They won't stop at 28 and leave Phoenix and other markets on the table.
CLEarly you have a personal issue with stl. But even with the vote stl is still viewed as the most desirable market by mls. Numerous reports say this.
NASHVIlle and charolette are both considered more viable markets and options than cincy for a mls team. Cincy and Louisville are in the same boat. Both towns with virtually no stadium plans and poor markets.
San Diego is more of a viable market because the NFL left.
Sacramento is #1 then you have San Diego, stl and then probably Nashville and Detroit with Detroit slightly ahead of Nashville
.
Getting a soccer specific stadium is the key. Stl has the most viable plan at this point but they need another $50 mil in funding.
Nashville is trying. BUt they don't want to do public funding.
St Louis doesn't have a stadium plan and voters just turned down a tax increase to fund one. They're in a little bit of disarray.
FCC probably has the best chance right now because the stadium plan was the only thing they lacked.
I follow this quite a bit and you're way off. Louisville is not even in the conversation. Cincinnati is one of the favorites. Nashville and Detroit don't even have teams, nor stadium plans.
I've not read a report that says that St Louis is a favorite and they're not getting in on this round. They may in the next round but not this one.
Favorites this round are: West (Sacramento, Phoenix, San Diego) and East (Tampa and Cincinnati). Tampa just figured out their stadium.
For the next round it's everyone else.
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1-0 FC Cincy over Louisville City.
Columbus Crew are coming to the Nati in 2 weeks.
Columbus Crew are coming to the Nati in 2 weeks.
goukcatsgo, you are way off on this one. Cincinnati is one of the favorites to land an expansion team.
Might as well accept it.
Might as well accept it.
Cincy doesn't have a stadium plan, much less a deal yet. Mls has said repeatedly that
Nipperrt isnt an option. Cincy has great fan support and a good owner but with the public backlash over paul brown stadium and the public rejection of public financing of stadiums mls isnt moving forward with cincy until they see a stadium plan and how it will be funded.
That's why cincy isn't st the top of the list. A simple Google search tells you that.
Towns that have actual plans and then, better yet a funding mechanism for the stadiums are getting the attention. Sacrmento, Tampa and San Diego lead the way in that regArd. Nashville is making up ground quick. Detroit is intriguing but their stadium plan is behind all of those. Cincinnati fans think they have a shot because they drAw so many. But that ignores what mls has said over and over. Stadium stadium stadium wins these deals. Not how many a usl or nasl team draws.
It's also why Nashville is such s popular option. The city of Nashville has shown over and over that they will fund public projects. LP field, Bridgestone arena, the new aaa baseball field, the new convention center etc... and all of those projects are wildly successful and popular. A 150 million soccer stadium is small compared to those.
Cincinnati just announced three possible sites for a stadium and submitted a plan with their MLS expansion bid. The stadium plan as a whole won't be made public until later this summer. The three sites are West End of downtown, Newport KY and Oakley. The team is paying $100 million for the stadium.
I honestly haven't followed Nashville but they've been pretty quiet. Detroit is trying to get a stadium set up near Ford Field. Tampa has a pretty decent stadium plan as well.
I'd say Sacramento is a 98% chance of getting in in the next four. San Diego has a solid plan so I'd put them as a strong candidate as well. In the east, I'd say Detroit and Cincinnati are in the lead but then again, MLS is going past 28 teams.
I honestly haven't followed Nashville but they've been pretty quiet. Detroit is trying to get a stadium set up near Ford Field. Tampa has a pretty decent stadium plan as well.
I'd say Sacramento is a 98% chance of getting in in the next four. San Diego has a solid plan so I'd put them as a strong candidate as well. In the east, I'd say Detroit and Cincinnati are in the lead but then again, MLS is going past 28 teams.
Agree on Sacramento and probably on San Diego.
In terms of the 28 teams. Garber has said repeatedly that they are stopping for a while at 28.
The facts are this. 25 & 26 were going to be sacrmenero and stl. Stl hasn't given up. If they can get financing together they will get the 26th franchise. After that it's a bit of a guessing game. So let's assume that it's not stl but instead San Diego. That's 26. Then there are two more spots. The thing that has been proven over and over is that they are not going to give a franchise to a town unless it has a rock solid stadium plan. Stl, despite the vote is still the closest to that because a. They have a site secured and b. They have actually plans and have 75% of the deal financed. It's still a bit of a long shot but so are they other spots. That makes them 27. Then you get to 28. Who has the best chance of doing a deal on a stadium. With the toxic attitude and with cincy and the two stadium deals that were done there I think it might be tough. Nky intriguing but do they have $50 mil to put into a deal?
The reasons cincy might be tough are why Nashville is viable. You have a billionaire owner in Ingram and a city that likes
Doing these types of deals.
I hate the idea of Detroit getting a team. And one has to wonder, without the guy who owned little ceasers are they going to find $$$ to put into downtown Detroit?
It's going to be tougher than folks think to get to 28. Financing these stadiums in today's environment is really tough to do.
You can google whatever you want. I am telling you what the MLS has told the team. I am not getting my info from the internet. I get it firsthand. My job directly involves FCC. Hell, I personally helped design their uniforms.
Having their own stadium would help their cause. Nippert isn't a permanent solution. Which is why they are moving forward with stadium plans. They are on top of it.
You know what is more important than the stadium? Ownership with deep pockets and a desire to do what it takes to succeed, community support and an environment where soccer can and does thrive from the instructional level and up.
The FCC ownership has been told by MLS what they need to do. They are committed to doing it. It will get done.
Having their own stadium would help their cause. Nippert isn't a permanent solution. Which is why they are moving forward with stadium plans. They are on top of it.
You know what is more important than the stadium? Ownership with deep pockets and a desire to do what it takes to succeed, community support and an environment where soccer can and does thrive from the instructional level and up.
The FCC ownership has been told by MLS what they need to do. They are committed to doing it. It will get done.
St Louis isn't even an option for this round of expansion because they don't have their **** together. They're even looking for another ownership group. It's Cincinnati or Tampa most likely (Detroit as the dark horse), unless things change over the next few months. If you're not aware of that, you're ignorant to the entire situation.
And Cincinnati has a stadium plan with $250 million in private money that I mentioned yesterday with a bunch of their own billionaires - maybe do your own Google search. I think they're all in on this round of expansion because their bids will likely be surpassed by bigger markets when the next 2 teams are selected.
And Cincinnati has a stadium plan with $250 million in private money that I mentioned yesterday with a bunch of their own billionaires - maybe do your own Google search. I think they're all in on this round of expansion because their bids will likely be surpassed by bigger markets when the next 2 teams are selected.
I'm excited about the future of US soccer if Sargent can keep improving. He'll probably play with the national team soon. Between he and Pulisic, we should finally have some world class creators.
Hell of a performance by the u-20's. If this team had a couple of decent fullbacks they would be the best team in our tourney.
Very exciting to think about the central part of the young usmnters. Miazga and ccvnat cb. Jones, zelalem, pulisic and Adams in the midfield and Sargent at striker. The u-17 group may be even better. They are loaded at striker with Sargent and weah. Akinola looks to be a beast too.
Sargent is rumored to be going to werder Bremen or schalke after the u-20 wc. He probably won't even play on the u-17.
I wonder if Bruce gives him a call up for the gold cup to play with Jordan Morris and a couple of the other younger strikers?
Very exciting to think about the central part of the young usmnters. Miazga and ccvnat cb. Jones, zelalem, pulisic and Adams in the midfield and Sargent at striker. The u-17 group may be even better. They are loaded at striker with Sargent and weah. Akinola looks to be a beast too.
Sargent is rumored to be going to werder Bremen or schalke after the u-20 wc. He probably won't even play on the u-17.
I wonder if Bruce gives him a call up for the gold cup to play with Jordan Morris and a couple of the other younger strikers?
I am optimistic with Sargent because he seems to have a high technical ability to expand on; it's one of the reasons Haji Wright has his skeptics and when you watch someone from 15 years old to 18 years old who towers over everybody you can see why. Everybody loves goal scoring strikers and there is a high number of Americans in Bundesliga youth squads right now (Haji Wright at Schalke being most hyped, but you also have Isaiah Young at Bremen, and McKinzie Gaines at Wolfsburg) but the high volume of quality holding and center mids right now in the youth pipeline is beyond impressive. Kellyn Acosta at 21 I think is poised to see a start for the USMNT with Jermaine Jones not in camp and has really impressed me not only as a box-to-box mid but with set pieces, Tyler Adams has emerged in a giant way as one of the younger members of the U20 squad and has had a dynamite tournament, and Derrick Jones made a big impact when Zelalem went down (sobering as that is). Weston McKinnie looks like he has emerged as the first of the three SchalkeAmericans as a 6 and almost certainly would be flanking Tyler Adams as a holding mid if Schalke released him to the US squad and may have relegated Adams to another position or the bench if he was in Korea. Among the attacking mids beyond just Pulisic, guys like Emerson Hyndman had quality years and it looks like Nick Taitague had a big closeout with Schalke yesterday with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win.
That roster for hopefully the 2022 and 2026 world cups will be fun to watch evolve with all the young talent. I always said we won't see the true effects of Jurgen Klinsmann until long after. What he did for our youth isnt quantifiable. Still wish he was involved with USMNT like as a technical director.