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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)

Brad Friedel writing his own Nutmeg News story, wishing more fans would beat up his players when they don't perform  :)

The Krafts clearly have other things to worry about and even when they are paying attention they are not paying attention but I struggle to see Brad getting through this season with out getting sacked.  Which would be fairly epic seeing as the Revs have had only two head coaches since 2002 before he took over last season.

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“The mentality of a player in this league, a lot of the players, when they lose, it doesn’t hurt enough. There’s not relegation, they don’t get fined, they don’t have fans waiting by their cars, they don’t have people beating them up. They don’t have the pressures they have in other leagues."

 
Sancho going to be way too overpriced, especially to go to an English club.  I'd say United should pass on him.  Sometimes we need to learn from mistakes of our past.  We needed a play making midfield a number of years back, so what do we do, go after Dortmund playamaka Kagawa.  Bust.  Then a few years later we need an attacking midfielder to compliment our strikers, so what do we do?  Of course go back to Dortmund to get Miky.  Bust number 2.  Sancho is really good, but I think he fits into the Dortmund system moreso than he is a great player in the making.  Lots of guys come over from Dortmund and their games just do not translate to the English game.  The guys that are best, go to Bayern.  Simple as that.
I agree that he will be overpriced.  I also agree that sometimes players are where they should be and not everyone fits every club or league.  Part of why calls for Depay and previously Chicharito to return are silly and fit into the lessons you should learn you mentioned.

But to call Kagawa a bust I think is a little harsh. He was 4th in goals his 1st season (behind RVP, Rooney, Chicharito) and his 2nd season was post SAF with Moyes destroying everything (and subjecting us to the  :fro: ). 

Mkhy is an interesting discussion as well.  Did he live up to the hype?  Probably not.  But who did look good under Jose?  Would I like to have him back instead of Alexis?  Yes.  Would be interested to see how he would fit on the right under Ole.  

 
Sancho going to be way too overpriced, especially to go to an English club.  I'd say United should pass on him.  Sometimes we need to learn from mistakes of our past.  We needed a play making midfield a number of years back, so what do we do, go after Dortmund playamaka Kagawa.  Bust.  Then a few years later we need an attacking midfielder to compliment our strikers, so what do we do?  Of course go back to Dortmund to get Miky.  Bust number 2.  Sancho is really good, but I think he fits into the Dortmund system moreso than he is a great player in the making.  Lots of guys come over from Dortmund and their games just do not translate to the English game.  The guys that are best, go to Bayern.  Simple as that.
Sancho is English.  He is buddies with Rashford and Lingard.  You'd think that he'd settle into the team right away.  

 
I've seen plenty of Sancho.  Hard pass for me at the price he is going to command.

Pass on Bale too.

It is going to be interesting off season for sure, and was mentioned, United need a director of football operations.  I like Ole.  But, truth be told, his pedigree in managing teams is not exactly successful.  He took a 1st place Molde team and drove them into seasons of 6th, 5th, and then 2nd. Molde is probably the second  Norwegian side, so this is not exactly a ringing bell of endorsement.  He certainly has little experience dealing with transfers of the caliber he will have at United's disposal.  All of  his success was obviously predicated on a side that Mourinho built - he need to continue the build though.  Was thinking about this quite a bit and there is really quite a bit of young talent at his disposal.  Greenwood, Chong and Gomes could all be the next round of starlets.  He still needs to fill in holes in the back.  

 
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I've seen plenty of Sancho.  Hard pass for me at the price he is going to command.

Pass on Bale too.

It is going to be interesting off season for sure, and was mentioned, United need a director of football operations.  I like Ole.  But, truth be told, his pedigree in managing teams is not exactly successful.  He took a 1st place Molde team and drove them into seasons of 6th, 5th, and then 2nd. Molde is probably the second  Norwegian side, so this is not exactly a ringing bell of endorsement.  He certainly has little experience dealing with transfers of the caliber he will have at United's disposal.  All of  his success was obviously predicated on a side that Mourinho built - he need to continue the build though.  Was thinking about this quite a bit and there is really quite a bit of young talent at his disposal.  Greenwood, Chong and Gomes could all be the next round of starlets.  He still needs to fill in holes in the back.  
Who cares about the price?

 
Who cares about the price?
Me?

I get it, United has near unlimited resources.  And I'm the first to congratulate Spurs for winning the transfer period with the best net spend.  

But I do feel that there is a pool of money allocated to the transfer period and United has really overpaid way too often on too many players.  Real held United over the proverbial bucket for the services of Angel DiMaria.  They paid it.  He ####### blew.  I don't feel like looking up all their bad deals, but I mean we sold Pogba for 9 million and bought him back for 105 million.  At least he's been a joy to watch.  

I'm not asking or thinking United will be particularly frugal, but their wage bill already is through the roof.  Spend money on a CB, ahem Toby.  There is plenty of talent in the pipeline at United, especially in the attack so I don't necessarily see it as a point of weakness.  

 
Me?

I get it, United has near unlimited resources.  And I'm the first to congratulate Spurs for winning the transfer period with the best net spend.  

But I do feel that there is a pool of money allocated to the transfer period and United has really overpaid way too often on too many players.  Real held United over the proverbial bucket for the services of Angel DiMaria.  They paid it.  He ####### blew.  I don't feel like looking up all their bad deals, but I mean we sold Pogba for 9 million and bought him back for 105 million.  At least he's been a joy to watch.  

I'm not asking or thinking United will be particularly frugal, but their wage bill already is through the roof.  Spend money on a CB, ahem Toby.  There is plenty of talent in the pipeline at United, especially in the attack so I don't necessarily see it as a point of weakness.  
United are making money hand over fist.  I really don't care if they overpay.  I don't understand why people get caught up in the financial aspect of these deals. Why does it matter what Spurs' net spend is?  Congrats to them?  

Don't get me wrong, I love rooting for home grown players and bringing talent up through the youth system.  I don't want a bunch of mercenaries.  But if there is a guy that will fit the team, I don't really care how much he costs.  Come on down.

 
I agree a director is needed.  Their biggest problem is Woodward is a poor negotiator on transfers.  He also doesn't buy for fit, position or to push his starter as Gill and SAF did.  He buys names.  Thats how United ended up with 8 left sided attackers and no right side to play on.  Di Maria, Martial, Rashford, Sanchez, etc all better on the left or up top and none on the right.
Part of that is the manager, part is woodward.  The Director needs to be on the same page as Ole in regards to style, fit and youth.

IMO, they need a right sided attacker - whether thats Sancho, someone else, or even a youth guy they need to find one.  Lingard is what he is and has no higher ceiling then what hes shown. Also probably better in the center.  Mata is better in the center.  Too bad neither fit better then Herrera.  Need that Mahrez type to balance.  

An improvement holding midfielder is needed.  McTominay showed promise, give him a shot unless you can get a world beater.  Matic has shown to pedestrian.  When he is good he is good.  But usually he is average.  He doesn't have the passing range Carrick did or Pogba does.  He doesn't unlock the d with any passes.

A CB would be good to pair with Lindelof if Bailley isnt the man.  I think he could be. But I understand improvements needed there. Depth at outside back.  Young is poor but can be a veteran who plays both sides.  Not a starter.

United are not far off the top.  They did finish 2nd last season and Since Ole came in they are the top EPL team in that time frame.  Some of that is Ole, some is no more Jose.  Hopefully Ole can keep it going and the players play for him and United and don't get complacent since he is no longer a caretaker.

 
The Reds have lost just one of their last 24 home Premier League games against Spurs (W15, D8, L1), with their sole blemish in that run coming in May 2011, when they fell to a 2-0 defeat under Kenny Dalglish.
Would never have guessed this.

 
I just watched some highlights.   Now I can see why they spent so long trying to get him.  He oozes class.  This goal is Zlatan worthy

https://streamable.com/0wf0x
He literally had over a dozen moments that made me chuckle.  His feet are insane.  And I have no idea if he's right or left-footed.  He posterized guys all night with both.  Jozy should have had at least a hattrick but his finishing was understandably rusty.  Jozy otherwise looked almost unplayable.  He's bigger and stronger than I've seen him.  Not sure he can stay healthy built like a strong safety, but he was flat out bullying the poor NYCFC centerbacks.

 
Geez these OCSC losses hurt more than any Gator losses Ive ever watched.  Even the ones to Georgia back in the 70s and 80s when I was a Gator fanatic.  What is happening to me?

 
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Not sour grapes but I really need someone to explain rules to me.  Lalas says that there does not need to be contact to be a foul.  So does that mean every successful tackle should be a foul.  Here is the foul called on Dom that led to Rooneys (the Devil) amazing free kick for a goal.

https://twitter.com/DonVanDemark/status/1112497988209909761
Do not believe anything that starts with "Lalas says".  Especially when Twellman said the same thing when Zlatan was given a PK in the later game.  There was contact by the keeper on Zlatan but Twellmen did say you don't need contact.

The funny thing is there was contact on the keeper on Rooney's goal that the announcers went on to say didn't matter.  Usually you touch a keeper and the whistle blows regardless of right or wrong.

 
Not sour grapes but I really need someone to explain rules to me.  Lalas says that there does not need to be contact to be a foul.  So does that mean every successful tackle should be a foul.  Here is the foul called on Dom that led to Rooneys (the Devil) amazing free kick for a goal.

https://twitter.com/DonVanDemark/status/1112497988209909761
IMO, this was not a foul.  

Much like basketball on shooting fouls, or football with holding calls...  fouls in soccer can be very subjective.  Lalas is probably right that you can have a foul w/ no contact, but he's an idiot so stop listening to him.  

 
Dom does go in out of control and studs up. Yes, Rooney gets out of the way.  I understand Orlando feeling aggrieved, not sure I’ve ever seen it called, but I understand the rationale. 

 
Dom does go in out of control and studs up. Yes, Rooney gets out of the way.  I understand Orlando feeling aggrieved, not sure I’ve ever seen it called, but I understand the rationale. 
That didnt look studs up or out of control to me.  He swung and missed everything.  I think Rooney jumping back may have made the ref think there was contact but thats the only rationale I can see for a call.

I don't see, though, how you can have a foul with no contact.  

 
With all consolation to Orlando and the revs, I feel like it's going to be a long season for NY area fans.
The biggest story in the East in the early season is David Accam for Philly remembering that he is a good player.   He had such a wasted season last year after the trade.

 
He literally had over a dozen moments that made me chuckle.  His feet are insane.  And I have no idea if he's right or left-footed.  He posterized guys all night with both.  .
I read an amazing stat yesterday about Pozuelo yesterday.

In his very first game he broke the team's all time record for most chances created in a single game.  And this is Toronto who had arguably the best offensive player in MLS history in Giovinco play 114 games for them.

 
I have given up on MLS this year... I gave it a real good try for the last 4+ seasons, but I dislike way more of then I like so I am not going out of my way for it anymore. 

 
The biggest story in the East in the early season is David Accam for Philly remembering that he is a good player.   He had such a wasted season last year after the trade.
watched some of the philly game- yeah... he looked like an absolute beast out there. skills, touch, positioning, strength... looked like he could do whatever he wanted.

 
MLS has pretty much been my lifeline since my kids have commandeered the TV during waking hours. I m really enjoying it. I don’t know if LAFC could stay up in a big European league, but I know they’re entertaining. 

 
I don't watch any MLS myself, simply a matter of time limitations with all the other options and a busy day-to-day.  Just based on the highlights, I have to say I'm very happily surprised with the way Rooney has seemingly embraced playing for DC and seems totally energized, committed and just seems to be really enjoying himself.  I did not expect it. 

 
Here's the VvD clip from behind Alisson.  You can see his thoughts in real time.  He damn near gets a foot in on the shot in the end too, though it's not show here.
Van Dijk: “I see Sissoko and I know he’s right footed, and Son normally finishes these chances, so yeah, I decide from that.”
I will keep reiterating that sissoko made a complete mash of it by not making vvd commit earlier. seriously half-assed it... which allowed vvd to waffle. not saying that vvd wasn't brilliant- really don't want to take away from his play here... but another attacker goes right at him or space and vvd is forced to pick one. or... another attacker half-asses it and still hits the shot on target to at least force a save. just shambolic by sissoko, as much as it was great by vvd.

 
I will keep reiterating that sissoko made a complete mash of it by not making vvd commit earlier. seriously half-assed it... which allowed vvd to waffle. not saying that vvd wasn't brilliant- really don't want to take away from his play here... but another attacker goes right at him or space and vvd is forced to pick one. or... another attacker half-asses it and still hits the shot on target to at least force a save. just shambolic by sissoko, as much as it was great by vvd.
Sissoko looks like he is going for a jog in the park instead of trying to get a goal.

 
watched some of the philly game- yeah... he looked like an absolute beast out there. skills, touch, positioning, strength... looked like he could do whatever he wanted.
I was there in that miserable rain. FCC  was thoroughly outplayed across the board. They looked a half step slow to everything, and every deflected pass seemed to drop right at the feet of a Union player on top of that. Hard to  tell if Philly was that good, Cincy was that bad, or  what, but hey, they gave out free brats and pretzels on the way out since so much went unsold.....

 
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