US Men's National Team (7 Viewers)

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I'm just happy they got the real Ronaldo in there.

Though maybe that nickname should be retired.  The other one has kind of made it seem kind of silly at this point I guess.

 

[gianmarco]

Going off-topic but France Football released their all-time best XI today. 
 

cR7.                   Ronaldo.            Messi

Maradona.   Matheus.    Xavi.    Pele

     Maldini.  Beckenbauer.    Cafu

                        Yashin

Xavi was named, hilariously, the best defensive midfielder of all time. 

No Zizou?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

No Zizou?

Nope. Apparently, the panel determined he lacked  avi’s steel in the center of the pitch. 

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Apropos of nothing, before I got my first timeout, my All-Time Soccer judging entry fir Ziziu was going to be an extended “Was he better than Cavi and Iniesta?” Post. Provocative. 

 

[TripItUp]

Going off-topic but France Football released their all-time best XI today. 
 

cR7.                   Ronaldo.            Messi

Maradona.   Matheus.    Xavi.    Pele

     Maldini.  Beckenbauer.    Cafu

                        Yashin

Xavi was named, hilariously, the best defensive midfielder of all time. 

French gonna French

 

[gianmarco]

Alternatively, I know he doesn't make many of these lists and I'm assuming it's because of longevity, but I'm not sure I've ever seen highlights of a more skilled/"wow" player than Ronaldinho. It's a shame he doesn't get more love among all time greats.

Jaw-dropping stuff

 

[TripItUp]

Iniesta and Pirlo are the best mids of the last 20 years IMHO.

 

[Sinn Fein]

No Zizou?

Seems like he is headed for a bench spot

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Iniesta and Pirlo are the best mids of the last 20 years IMHO.

Give me Paul Scholes, the Midfielder’s Midfielder

 

[encaitar]

Alternatively, I know he doesn't make many of these lists and I'm assuming it's because of longevity, but I'm not sure I've ever seen highlights of a more skilled/"wow" player than Ronaldinho. It's a shame he doesn't get more love among all time greats.

Jaw-dropping stuff

Career lengths and attitudes matter.  Randy Moss was the most gifted WR I’ve ever seen, but I’d never put him over Jerry Rice on an all time list.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Beard all gone, maybe Santa will reward him with good health in the new year

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpNd7fzXIAEu_x5?format=jpg&name=small

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Alternatively, I know he doesn't make many of these lists and I'm assuming it's because of longevity, but I'm not sure I've ever seen highlights of a more skilled/"wow" player than Ronaldinho. It's a shame he doesn't get more love among all time greats.

Jaw-dropping stuff

He falls out of my top 10 just for that horrendous Eurythmics remix. 

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Beard all gone, maybe Santa will reward him with good health in the new year

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpNd7fzXIAEu_x5?format=jpg&name=small

Giroud must have set him straight. “Look at me. I’m the beard daddy, now.”

 

[gianmarco]

Beard all gone, maybe Santa will reward him with good health in the new year

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpNd7fzXIAEu_x5?format=jpg&name=small

And maybe that extra weight he packed on will help too

 

[BassNBrew]

Going off-topic but France Football released their all-time best XI today. 
 

cR7.                   Ronaldo.            Messi

Maradona.   Matheus.    Xavi.    Pele

     Maldini.  Beckenbauer.    Cafu

                        Yashin

Xavi was named, hilariously, the best defensive midfielder of all time. 

Wrong thread unless you have Dest, Pulisic, Reyna, and Zardes listed.

 

[The Z Machine]

Pulisic -- Sargent -- Reyna

Pretty obvious to me. 

 

[El Floppo]

Seems like he is headed for a bench spot

Wha you did, I see.

 

[The Z Machine]

**** it, let’s make Pele a wingback. 

He'd probably be pretty good.  What are gonna sit fat Ronaldo, CR7, or Messi? 

Pele could dominate from that spot, just like Maradona on the opposite side.  Honestly though, I'm not sure anyone besides Xavi would pass the ball once past the midfield stripe. 

 

[El Floppo]

Give me Paul Scholes, the Midfielder’s Midfielder

Really good at hitting far away trees.

and the yellow cards.

But yeah, he was pretty great. Had it all.

 

[El Floppo]

Going off-topic but France Football released their all-time best XI today. 
 

cR7.                   Ronaldo.            Messi

Maradona.   Matheus.    Xavi.    Pele

     Maldini.  Beckenbauer.    Cafu

                        Yashin

Xavi was named, hilariously, the best defensive midfielder of all time. 

I love Xavi, and he would get that group purring, but I’d rather have Zidane.

interesting to see Matthaus...the best pure two way box to box guys I’ve ever seen ( he was with Inter when I lived in Milan...could nutMeg a guy with ease one second and then break his leg on a clean tackle the next)

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

He'd probably be pretty good.  What are gonna sit fat Ronaldo, CR7,  or Messi?

Yes?  I mean, if they want to be clear they don’t care about positions, fine. 
 

But if you’re going to designate positions and pretend this is an actual formation, then you don’t play four forwards, an attacking mid, a box to box mid and an advanced regista. 
 

It’s supposed to be hard. Great players are supposed to be left out. 

 

[Desert_Power]

Apropos of nothing, before I got my first timeout, my All-Time Soccer judging entry fir Ziziu was going to be an extended “Was he better than Cavi and Iniesta?” Post. Provocative. 

That would be interesting to read. Zidane is really in that next tier after the typical goat convo for me.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

That would be interesting to read. Zidane is really in that next tier after the typical goat convo for me.

My thesis is that is that no game has been more instrumental to player’s legacy than the 2006 WC quarterfinal against Brazil. 

 

[BassNBrew]

Yes?  I mean, if they want to be clear they don’t care about positions, fine. 
 

But if you’re going to designate positions and pretend this is an actual formation, then you don’t play four forwards, an attacking mid, a box to box mid and an advanced regista. 
 

It’s supposed to be hard. Great players are supposed to be left out. 

So unless you have a US player in the lineup, why is this in the USMNT thread?

 

[encaitar]

So unless you have a US player in the lineup, why is this in the USMNT thread?

Maybe it's just for historical reference for 20 years from now when Reyna is clearly the first name on  that list.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Some Yanks in action today, hopefully.

We might see the Pulisic return at 1:00pm as Chelsea play Wolves, where Owen often makes the bench but never gets in.

At 2:30pm, Gio takes on Sargent in Dortmund's first game sans Favre, which is obviously going to be interesting to see how much of a role Gio gets under the interim coach.

 

[El Floppo]

Some Yanks in action today, hopefully.

We might see the Pulisic return at 1:00pm as Chelsea play Wolves, where Owen often makes the bench but never gets in.

At 2:30pm, Gio takes on Sargent in Dortmund's first game sans Favre, which is obviously going to be interesting to see how much of a role Gio gets under the interim coach.

Thought Owen looked interesting in his limited minutes for the US. Covers a lot of ground quickly, good anticipation and size, seems to have a good sense of the game even if we didn't really get to see a full range of skills on the ball.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Pulisic starts today!  nice

 

[El Floppo]

Speaking of wolves, saw some nice pics recently of Jimenez smiling with the coach at the training ground (he wasn't training, just visiting).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Owen on bench as usual for Wolves.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Speaking of wolves, saw some nice pics recently of Jimenez smiling with the coach at the training ground (he wasn't training, just visiting).

I saw this too, was great to see him up and about.

 

[TripItUp]

Pulisic starts today!  nice

well, they lose when he doesn't play...

 

[NewlyRetired]

well, they lose when he doesn't play...

Chelsea has lost twice across 18 games.

Pulisic has missed 10 games so far.

 

[TripItUp]

Chelsea has lost twice across 18 games.

Pulisic has missed 10 games so far.

I was being fecetious to a degree...I think most would agree they are not as good when he doesn't play.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I was being fecetious to a degree...I think most would agree they are not as good when he doesn't play.

I can't wait to see Chelsea play a few games with both Pulisic and Ziyech on opposite wings.  Both have been hurt far too often this year.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Pulisic just had an explosive sprint.  the kind that would hurt a bad hamstring and he looks fine.

 

[BassNBrew]

Pulisic just had an explosive sprint.  the kind that would hurt a bad hamstring and he looks fine.

I just had an explosive ####. I’m not exactly sure how I could injure my hamstring from thatI just had an explosive ####. I’m not exactly sure how I could injure my hamstring from that

 

[NewlyRetired]

very good first 20 minutes for Pulisic.  He looks the most effective attacker for Chelsea so far and a ton of offensive play is coming through him.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Reyna starting for Dortmund today.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

That would be interesting to read. Zidane is really in that next tier after the typical goat convo for me.

My thesis is that is that no game has been more instrumental to player’s legacy than the 2006 WC quarterfinal against Brazil. 

I was wondering where you went, in the middle of the judging no less.

In terms of his legacy, its bold to put that game above the final.  Isn't there a statue somewhere commemorating the head-butt?

For my personal experience with Zidane, I'd have to consider the 1998 final against Brazil. A massive performance, leading the underdog home team at the Stade de France against Fenomeno and the heavily favored Brazilians.  That was his coming out party at least, but probably the reference point for how I most remember him as a player.

 

[Desert_Power]

I was wondering where you went, in the middle of the judging no less.

In terms of his legacy, its bold to put that game above the final.  Isn't there a statue somewhere commemorating the head-butt?

For my personal experience with Zidane, I'd have to consider the 1998 final against Brazil. A massive performance, leading the underdog home team at the Stade de France against Fenomeno and the heavily favored Brazilians.  That was his coming out party at least, but probably the reference point for how I most remember him as a player.

I agree the loss of composure in the final outshines it in the public consciousness, but Zidane was absolutely massive in that game vs Brazil in 2006. A one man wrecking crew.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Owen going in for Wolves

 

[CletiusMaximus]

CP goes down holding his hamstring and an entire nation of soccer fans winces in pain.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

CP goes down holding his hamstring and an entire nation of soccer fans winces in pain.

Pulisic is Croatian for Altidore. 

 

[NewlyRetired]

Owen looks good so far, even drew a yellow on a strong play out muscling Mount.

 

[NewlyRetired]

for people not watching, Pulisic switched to the right side after about 30 minutes in the first half and is still there now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

i think that was assist for Owen!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Owen is massive for a midfielder.  Pulisic had to mark him on a corner and he looked twice his size.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Reyna involved in Dortmund's first goal.  No assist but had a key play.

 

[NewlyRetired]

i think that was assist for Owen!

First American to get an assist in the EPL this year according to Paul Carr.