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US Men's National Team (8 Viewers)

The Z Machine said:
NewlyRetired said:
Meola was 4th on the depth chart with his resume. He would be neck and neck with Turner for the #1 spot today IMO.
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He wasn't very good with the ball at his feet though as I recall. But it was a bit before my time.
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That was Keller. Keller was a mess with his feet. Meola was a striker as a kid and switched to keeper relatively late. He had decent feet for a keeper at the time.
 
are we certain that was the Panama A team? A lot of folks are justifying the loss that way and we know that wasn't the US A team. But, how far from A was Panama. These tourneys mean way more to them than they do to us but is it enough to justify losing? We looked bad

Back line got caught out of position multiple times. Midfield was non existent. Can't get a read on the front players because we couldn't get the ball long enough to showcase them.

If it was B for B then I am ok. If it was B against A then I am OK.

If it was scrubs vs scrubs then we got owned.

We still should expect to win games like that. We ALL saw the midfieldfield domination by Panama. We don't get the luxury of a timeout like basketball to regroup. Painfully obvious that we should've mad annearly sub to change thenformation/strategy. I know subs are limited but the style and momentum could be easily changed. Seems very GGG to stick with a formation and force it to work.

My fear is that US based/grown coaches think like GGG and that's the hill he will die on. Half time adjustments and the improved play after play after makes me think it's all planned.
 
Dr_Zaius said:
NewlyRetired said:
Hmm, I don't know about this, I feel like overall Pulisic was given plenty of chances.

When he was playing well in the early years, he eventually got hurt and when he wasn't hurt in later seasons, his form dipped.

====================

Speaking to ESPN's Graham Hunter after signing his contract in Milan on Wednesday, Pulisic was asked if he could have been given more opportunities to prove himself at Stamford Bridge.

"Of course. I'd like to think so," he said. "Of course there are definitely times where I wish I could've gotten more of an opportunity and been that guy but yeah, for whatever reason, that's not the case and like I said, I'm just so excited for this new challenge and I'm definitely ready and up for it."
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Eh, to me the last two years at least it seemed to me like his leash was pretty short. Two or three solid sub appearances would get him a spot start and then unless he had a great game it was back to the bench. I don't recall him being given many opportunities to find his form with a solid run of starts. That said, there's no doubt his form dipped and he didn't make the most of the chances he did get. But I could see how he could look at how much slack someone like Havertz got (at a different position, to be sure) and feel a little hard done by.
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He was literally healthy most of this year and was relegated to super sub off the bench for a club with not many great offensive options in his role. So he was hardly a given a chance last 2 yrs.
 
encaitar said:
Dr_Zaius said:
NewlyRetired said:
Hmm, I don't know about this, I feel like overall Pulisic was given plenty of chances.

When he was playing well in the early years, he eventually got hurt and when he wasn't hurt in later seasons, his form dipped.

====================

Speaking to ESPN's Graham Hunter after signing his contract in Milan on Wednesday, Pulisic was asked if he could have been given more opportunities to prove himself at Stamford Bridge.

"Of course. I'd like to think so," he said. "Of course there are definitely times where I wish I could've gotten more of an opportunity and been that guy but yeah, for whatever reason, that's not the case and like I said, I'm just so excited for this new challenge and I'm definitely ready and up for it."
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Eh, to me the last two years at least it seemed to me like his leash was pretty short. Two or three solid sub appearances would get him a spot start and then unless he had a great game it was back to the bench. I don't recall him being given many opportunities to find his form with a solid run of starts. That said, there's no doubt his form dipped and he didn't make the most of the chances he did get. But I could see how he could look at how much slack someone like Havertz got (at a different position, to be sure) and feel a little hard done by.
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Don't even need to look at Havertz. His direct competition this year was Sterling at LW. Sterling scored 6 goals in the EPL, so you'd think he had a much better shout at starting than Pulisic, however.... those goals came against Leicester, Nottm Forest, and Southampton. That's where all 6 of his goals came... against the bottom feeders of the EPL. His only goal against a "decent" side this year was one in the UCL against Dortmund.

He also had an 800+ minute pointless streak and two other 400+ pointless streaks this year. Despite this, he started 28 league games and every single UCL game but one for Chelsea. When Christian talks about not feeling like he got the same treatment as others or the same opportunities... this is it. Sterling's leash was endless, while Christian had to score or be obviously the best player on the pitch or he was back to the bench and 10 minute end of game cameos.
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The English players got more of a leash than him. Hell most of the squad was given more than him. Anyone not bias to Chelsea or England saw it. I was talking to a few US supporting Newcastle fans in my area and they even said CP got a ****ty leash compared to others.
 
SpurrierisisGod said:
are we certain that was the Panama A team? A lot of folks are justifying the loss that way and we know that wasn't the US A team. But, how far from A was Panama. These tourneys mean way more to them than they do to us but is it enough to justify losing? We looked bad

Back line got caught out of position multiple times. Midfield was non existent. Can't get a read on the front players because we couldn't get the ball long enough to showcase them.

If it was B for B then I am ok. If it was B against A then I am OK.

If it was scrubs vs scrubs then we got owned.

We still should expect to win games like that. We ALL saw the midfieldfield domination by Panama. We don't get the luxury of a timeout like basketball to regroup. Painfully obvious that we should've mad annearly sub to change thenformation/strategy. I know subs are limited but the style and momentum could be easily changed. Seems very GGG to stick with a formation and force it to work.

My fear is that US based/grown coaches think like GGG and that's the hill he will die on. Half time adjustments and the improved play after play after makes me think it's all planned.
Click to expand...
I am not going to pretend to know the insides and outsides of the Panamanian team.

However, going into the tournament, all the reports were that the new Panamanian coach had selected what he thought were his best players as this was a crucial tournament for them in the hopes to prepare for WC qualifying in which they should be actively in the hunt for one of the 3 spots for WC2026.

They had a lot of international experience on the team.

The largest amount of caps going into tournament for Panama were: 130, 126, 86, 76, 71, 65, 63

Compare the same largest for the US going in to the tournament: 78, 52, 32, 32, 28, 23, 23 (our 3 biggest caps were Yedlin, Morris and Long and they did not play much throughout the tournament)
 
Last edited:
SpurrierisisGod said:
are we certain that was the Panama A team? A lot of folks are justifying the loss that way and we know that wasn't the US A team. But, how far from A was Panama. These tourneys mean way more to them than they do to us but is it enough to justify losing? We looked bad

Back line got caught out of position multiple times. Midfield was non existent. Can't get a read on the front players because we couldn't get the ball long enough to showcase them.

If it was B for B then I am ok. If it was B against A then I am OK.

If it was scrubs vs scrubs then we got owned.

We still should expect to win games like that. We ALL saw the midfieldfield domination by Panama. We don't get the luxury of a timeout like basketball to regroup. Painfully obvious that we should've mad annearly sub to change thenformation/strategy. I know subs are limited but the style and momentum could be easily changed. Seems very GGG to stick with a formation and force it to work.

My fear is that US based/grown coaches think like GGG and that's the hill he will die on. Half time adjustments and the improved play after play after makes me think it's all planned.
Click to expand...

I watched a different game than you did apparently - it was an even game where both sides didn't have a lot of quality out there - both had chances and neither really took them. That wasn't even our B team - it was realistically our C team. I have no clue if that was Panama's A or A/B side and honestly don't care that much - the whole point of this (IMO) was to find depth and we maybe found a little but not much. I think the formation change at half paid dividends even if no goals. Rarely do teams change formations and sub in a 0-0 game. Especially with limited options on the bench.
 
For kicks... here's where the players on the Gold Cup roster are ranked in the ASN 100 for the USMNT. There are plenty of these I don't agree with, but it's a reasonable place to start as far as the quality of the squad:

A/B
Turner - 12
J Morris - 15 (?!)
Miles - 21
Ferreira - 25
Vasquez - 27

C/D
Roldan - 34
Yedlin - 36
Miazga - 37
Zendejas - 38(-)
Mihailovic - 40
Sands - 41(+)
Tolkin - 42
Reynolds - 43
Jones - 49

E/F+
A Morris - 55
Long - 56
Sonora - 68
Gressel - 74
Busio - 76
Cowell - 87(+)
Yuell - 92
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Friedel is the correct answer. Amazing record for a Yank to hold. 8+ seasons.
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This type of record reminds me of many in American pro sports - it may never be broken because teams/clubs are becoming smarter and taking load management and small injuries more serious - as they should. Also, longevity records like Ripken's aren't as valued by today's generation as much as years gone by - it's a mentality, I think. Like the people who brag about never taking sick days.
 
My news feed is saying Barca cant make any RB signings (I guess because of their finances?), So are shifting Kounde to be starting RB and keeping Dest as backup.
 
El Floppo said:
My news feed is saying Barca cant make any RB signings (I guess because of their finances?), So are shifting Kounde to be starting RB and keeping Dest as backup.
Click to expand...
:loco:
And considering the need for a new right-back and the lack of financial muscle, it has been suggested that Dest could earn a chance to stay at the club.

Indeed, Xavi will reportedly take a close look at the USMNT international during the pre-season and make a decision on his continuity if the club are unable to sign a new right-back.

However, according to a fresh update from Javi Miguel on Culemania, Barcelona remain fixated on selling Dest this summer.

For starters, it is claimed that the club coaches are not at all convinced by the 22-year-old as they believe that he has tactical shortcomings to fit into Xavi’s setup.


Beyond that, there is also the issue of his salary. The defender is said to earn in excess of €10 million per year, which in Barcelona’s current economic climate is just not feasible at a time when they are looking to trim their wage bill.

As such, the main aim remains to offload Dest this summer, although it has not been easy finding suitors for him thus far.

But, as mentioned earlier, there may be a scenario where he ends up staying at the club if there are no convincing offers and the Catalans are unable to sign a new right-back.
 


Update as Bello goes from close to official

======

OFFICIAL
Weah - official to Juventus
Pepi - official to PSV
Aaronson - official to Union Berlin (on loan)
Pulisic - official to Milan
Jedi - re-signed to 2028
Bello - official to LASK

CLOSE


RUMOR
Musah - West Ham and Fulham interest, Milan maybe coming back to the table
Dest - Crystal Palace and Fulham rumors (Fulham would be fascinating as we could have 3 of our starters in the same club teams defense)
Weston - Aston Villa rumors
Adams - Nothing recent
Balogun - some mentions of Serie A, new mention of RBL in Germany, new mention of Milan specifically.
Tillman - Nothing since the loan was cancelled by Bayern
Reyna - Vague rumors at best, new mention that Dortmund is not looking to move him. He may be removed from list
Booth - I have seen the Man United rumor a couple of times but that is it
Vasquez - Gladbach is interested, Cincy is not
Jesus - Mention of possible PSV interest
 
El Floppo said:
El Floppo said:
My news feed is saying Barca cant make any RB signings (I guess because of their finances?), So are shifting Kounde to be starting RB and keeping Dest as backup.
Click to expand...
:loco:
And considering the need for a new right-back and the lack of financial muscle, it has been suggested that Dest could earn a chance to stay at the club.

Indeed, Xavi will reportedly take a close look at the USMNT international during the pre-season and make a decision on his continuity if the club are unable to sign a new right-back.

However, according to a fresh update from Javi Miguel on Culemania, Barcelona remain fixated on selling Dest this summer.

For starters, it is claimed that the club coaches are not at all convinced by the 22-year-old as they believe that he has tactical shortcomings to fit into Xavi’s setup.


Beyond that, there is also the issue of his salary. The defender is said to earn in excess of €10 million per year, which in Barcelona’s current economic climate is just not feasible at a time when they are looking to trim their wage bill.

As such, the main aim remains to offload Dest this summer, although it has not been easy finding suitors for him thus far.

But, as mentioned earlier, there may be a scenario where he ends up staying at the club if there are no convincing offers and the Catalans are unable to sign a new right-back.
Click to expand...

I took a look at Milan's wages a few pages back and was stunned to see I think he was their third-highest paid player. I know Barca was paying much of that and it highlighted what a difficult position they are in. His contract runs two more years. It's no surprise his agent is now saying he wants to fight for his place at Barca and prove himself to Xavi. Regardless of his career aspirations on the field, there's no way he's going to leave that much money on the table. This is similar to the situation Pulisic was in last summer, but I think in a sense even worse. He had two years left at a massive wage and there were no suitors who would pay for a transfer and pay him anywhere near the wages he was on. The result for CP was essentially a lost year at Chelsea when the club and everyone else knew he was a dead man walking. He left one year at a high wage on the table but got a 4 year deal at a decent wage at Milan and presumably has a better playing situation. For Dest and Barca, its worse imo because of the loan and public acknowledgment the manager had no role for him last year.
 
Another guy I forgot all about

============================




Brian Sciaretta

@BrianSciaretta

Report: Marseille manager Marcelino (just 4 days into his tenure) has already said American winger Konrad de la Fuente isn't part of the team's future "Marcelino has already made strong choices... Amavi, Lirola & Konrad de la Fuente will not be retained"
 
Update: Justin Che transferred to Brondby, official


======

OFFICIAL
Weah - official to Juventus
Pepi - official to PSV
Aaronson - official to Union Berlin (on loan)
Pulisic - official to Milan
Jedi - re-signed with Fulham to 2028
Bello - official to LASK
Che - official to Brondby

CLOSE


RUMOR
Musah - West Ham and Fulham interest, Milan maybe coming back to the table
Dest - Crystal Palace and Fulham rumors (Fulham would be fascinating as we could have 3 of our starters in the same club teams defense)
Weston - Aston Villa rumors
Adams - Nothing recent
Balogun - some mentions of Serie A, new mention of RBL in Germany, new mention of Milan specifically.
Tillman - Nothing since the loan was cancelled by Bayern
Reyna - Vague rumors at best, new mention that Dortmund is not looking to move him. He may be removed from list
Booth - I have seen the Man United rumor a couple of times but that is it
Vasquez - Gladbach is interested, Cincy is not
Jesus - Mention of possible PSV interest
 
I get Dest and Swag not having people knocking down doors for them. But Blaogun and Adams are a bit surprising... Especially Balo (Adams injury probably giving people pause).
 
El Floppo said:
I get Dest and Swag not having people knocking down doors for them. But Blaogun and Adams are a bit surprising... Especially Balo (Adams injury probably giving people pause).
Click to expand...

I am quite sure a TON of teams want Balogun. It is the ~50m tag that is going to make them think twice since he has really only one year under his belt. Teams are going to fear strikers who have not yet repeated that they can score over more than one season at that cost. If he was in the 20m range, he would already be sold IMO.

I agree about Adams. I think teams need to figure out the health of Adams before any thing can happen. He did not dress for a recent Leeds friendly so I have no idea where he is in his rehab schedule.
 
Dest checking in, via ESPN

==================

"I see myself staying," Dest said Friday, ahead of Barcelona's preseason tour in the U.S. "Obviously, I have to prove myself during the preseason. I'm fully focused on myself at the moment, so it's up to me and I feel like I can and I will prove it. My mindset is to stay here and to have a really nice season."

Dest didn't delve deeply into a conversation he had with Barca manager Xavi Hernandez about his future, but said he came away from it wanting to stay at Spotify Camp Nou.

"He just told me, 'I'll give you a fair chance to prove yourself,'" Dest said. "So that's what it is at the moment. He told me, 'I think you have qualities, but it's up to you, you have to show me,' and I fully agree.

"So I think that's all up to me. I think I have some qualities that can be good for the team, but I have to show it and be consistent."

Dest played just five matches the rest of the season for Milan in what he acknowledged was a challenging period.

"It's a really difficult moment in my career, in my life as well," Dest said. "And obviously when you get moments like that, you learn a lot from it. So for me, I got mentally way stronger.

"You can look at it at two ways. You can look at it in the negative way: Everything is going bad so you want to quit. Or you just try to find a positive way in the negative things that happened.

"So that was my kind of thing that I did. I always looked at it positive and I was like, 'OK, at the moment I'm not playing, not going so well, but at these times I can just work on myself.'"
 
El Floppo said:
I get Dest and Swag not having people knocking down doors for them. But Blaogun and Adams are a bit surprising... Especially Balo (Adams injury probably giving people pause).
Click to expand...
My understanding is that Arsenal have set a minimum price of 40 million Euros for Balo. So while Leipzig and Milan ( and Pslace) are supposedly interested, that’s a pretty big investment for them.
 
========

According to Matteo Moretto, Milan consider both Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah top priorities for the midfield. Negotiations with AZ Alkmaar are continuing for the former, with a distance of about €5m right now (but there is optimism to close).

As for Musah, Milan’s first offer of €18m was rejected by Valencia, who are asking for €25m. The Rossoneri are set to make a new offer, per Moretto, and it remains to be seen if the Spanish side will budge on their demands
 
NewlyRetired said:
========

According to Matteo Moretto, Milan consider both Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah top priorities for the midfield. Negotiations with AZ Alkmaar are continuing for the former, with a distance of about €5m right now (but there is optimism to close).

As for Musah, Milan’s first offer of €18m was rejected by Valencia, who are asking for €25m. The Rossoneri are set to make a new offer, per Moretto, and it remains to be seen if the Spanish side will budge on their demands
Click to expand...



Fabrizio Romano

@FabrizioRomano

Tijjani Reijnders to AC Milan, here we go! Verbal agreement in place with AZ after €20m plus add-ons bid sent earlier this week. Deal in place, player only wanted Milan — understand medical tests have been scheduled at beginning of next week. Done, sealed.
 
NewlyRetired said:
NewlyRetired said:
========

According to Matteo Moretto, Milan consider both Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah top priorities for the midfield. Negotiations with AZ Alkmaar are continuing for the former, with a distance of about €5m right now (but there is optimism to close).

As for Musah, Milan’s first offer of €18m was rejected by Valencia, who are asking for €25m. The Rossoneri are set to make a new offer, per Moretto, and it remains to be seen if the Spanish side will budge on their demands
Click to expand...

Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano

Tijjani Reijnders to AC Milan, here we go! Verbal agreement in place with AZ after €20m plus add-ons bid sent earlier this week. Deal in place, player only wanted Milan — understand medical tests have been scheduled at beginning of next week. Done, sealed.
Click to expand...
there's a very real chance we get all 3 of CP, Musah and Balogun at meelahn.

thanks for explaining Balogun valuation issues.. that's clearly going to be the major hurdle for him to go there. I'd guess if it was more like Musah's 20-25, it would be a go.
 
From the other half of Milan (translated)

===================

After having decided to interrupt the negotiations for the return of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea ( HERE the details ), Inter are evaluating new profiles for the attack. There are several players on the Nerazzurri list. From the young Folarin Balogun to experienced profiles such as Alvaro Morata, Mehdi Taremi and M'Bala Nzola : Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio are working for the new forward to be placed at Simone Inzaghi 's disposal .

Having decided to dismiss the Romelu Lukaku chapter, Inter aim for another striker after the arrival of Marcus Thuram on a free transfer . There are several profiles on the Nerazzurri list, as reported by Matteo Barzaghi .

Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio like Folarin Balogun . The US is preferred as a young investment for the present and the future. The Arsenal -owned class of 2001 enjoyed a great season on loan at Reims with 21 goals in 37 games.
 
Fabrizio confirms Inter's interest in Balogun

=====

Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano


◉ Lukaku-Inter off, Juventus bid and Chelsea stance.
◉ PSG will decide next week about bid for Vlahovic.
◉ Inter to ask conditions of Folarin Balogun deal.
◉ Liverpool-Al Ittihad working on Fabinho details.
◉ No #CFC for Vlahovic/Martinez
 
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