US Men's National Team (17 Viewers)

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Sargent’s coach

======

"I'm hoping Ben [Knapper, director of football] turns his phone off so we don't get any calls," Manning joked.

"Sarge role models everything you want. He's a top person, a top professional. You see his work rate and how he leads by example. He's top class."

That's the part thats so confusing for me, re Poch...what i asked about before. What, specifically, does Poch not rate from him? Poch is a guy who seems to like work rate, which is there along with a bunch of non ball-skill stuff. We all know Sarge isn't an elite athlete- but he does the little things well, including working hard and smart. If hes scoring goals on top of that, whats Pochs reasons for avoiding?

I really think it was going golfing during their free time in camp. I know Poch mentioned that and I'm pretty sure I remember at least Gio and Scally doing a golf outing in the camp that was before the Gold Cup camp. I can't remember is Sargent joined them or not. But I'm fairly certain, at least, that this isn't about what he's seen of Sargent with Norwich. It is 100% related to what he saw of Sargent in that earlier camp.

And I guess we can only hope that Poch has been in contact with these guys who he didn't call and has been entirely frank about what he didn't like about how they prepared or trained or whatever. Because we're just not talented enough to give up on guys who are definitely among our 30 most talented players because of a bad first impression. Poch knows more about management than I'll ever know, but that would crappy management.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sargent’s coach

======

"I'm hoping Ben [Knapper, director of football] turns his phone off so we don't get any calls," Manning joked.

"Sarge role models everything you want. He's a top person, a top professional. You see his work rate and how he leads by example. He's top class."

That's the part thats so confusing for me, re Poch...what i asked about before. What, specifically, does Poch not rate from him? Poch is a guy who seems to like work rate, which is there along with a bunch of non ball-skill stuff. We all know Sarge isn't an elite athlete- but he does the little things well, including working hard and smart. If hes scoring goals on top of that, whats Pochs reasons for avoiding?

I really think it was going golfing during their free time in camp. I know Poch mentioned that and I'm pretty sure I remember at least Gio and Scally doing a golf outing in the camp that was before the Gold Cup camp. I can't remember is Sargent joined them or not. But I'm fairly certain, at least, that this isn't about what he's seen of Sargent with Norwich. It is 100% related to what he saw of Sargent in that earlier camp.

And I guess we can only hope that Poch has been in contact with these guys who he didn't call and has been entirely frank about what he didn't like about how they prepared or trained or whatever. Because we're just not talented enough to give up on guys who are definitely among our 30 most talented players because of a bad first impression. Poch knows more about management than I'll ever know, but that would crappy management.

Poch HAS to know by now that the depth simply is not there to ignore players who are better than the rest. I am going to convince myself that even though Poch is a short timer, he does not want to embarrass himself.

I think we will have our answer shortly. If for some reason a healthy Sargent, Scally and god forbid, Pulisic, are not called up for the Sept window, then I think things could get really ugly, both on and off the field.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Stop penny pinching and take what you can get! (note the extra bit at the end of this tweet about Gladbach)

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

USMNT Otaku
https://x.com/USMNTOtaku
@USMNTOtaku

Contacts have been reactivated between Parma and Dortmund for Gio Reyna, but there is competition from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I just really hope Gio knows that this is his last shot. And that there are no excuses left. There's no more room for us to sit back and say, "he really needs to go somewhere that can play him as a 10." It's 2025. If you need to play as a 10, then you better be one of the 20 best 10s in the world. Because most teams don't play them. He has to commit to giving the effort to defend. Injuries are injuries, but he has to know now that he has to work to be in the absolute best shape he can be in. And he has to train his *** off. Every day. He's 22. He can absolutely still have a fine career. But he can't act like GIo Reyna, one of the most talented player the USA has ever produced. He has to convince himself he's Frankie Hejduk.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have no complaints about the opponent choices so far this fall. All could easily be in the WC next summer. Now we just need to get close to our full team out there for some of these

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

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku
USMNT Otaku

@USMNTOtaku


The USMNT will face Uruguay on November 18th in Tampa Bay.

The first friendly in the window is expected to be November 15th on the East Coast. The opponent and venue is tbd.

 

[The Z Machine]

Uruguay is a solid team every tournament. They often play to their stetngths and utilize well the handful of exceptional talent that they have at hand. They aren't likely title contenders but they aren't an easy out. Plus they will play a tempo and skill level that will serve the US well. Not to mention some CONMEBOL ****housery that the USMNT better get wise to if they face another CONMEBOL team.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Well this is weird in so many ways

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

Tom Bogert

@tombogert

BREAKING: The Colorado Rapids are in advanced talks to sign USMNT attacker Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt, sources say.

Final details now for Colorado. A number of European teams were trying hard to get him.

Potential club-record deal.

 

[El Floppo]

Well this is weird in so many ways

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

Tom Bogert

@tombogert

BREAKING: The Colorado Rapids are in advanced talks to sign USMNT attacker Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt, sources say.

Final details now for Colorado. A number of European teams were trying hard to get him.

Potential club-record deal.

Hes getting PT in europe for decent teams. But instead, he wants to go play in CO?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Well this is weird in so many ways

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

Tom Bogert
@tombogert

BREAKING: The Colorado Rapids are in advanced talks to sign USMNT attacker Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt, sources say.

Final details now for Colorado. A number of European teams were trying hard to get him.

Potential club-record deal.

Hes getting PT in europe for decent teams. But instead, he wants to go play in CO?

I can’t make sense of this from any angle.

It makes no sense for Paxton unless he is getting a HUGE deal. Even from the Rapids POV, why a club record deal on a guy 95% of your fan base probably has never heard of…..

 

[TLEF316]

Maybe he realizes his best chance of making the world cup squad is to be part of the MLS quota crew.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Maybe he realizes his best chance of making the world cup squad is to be part of the MLS quota crew.

I know this was a joke post but even if it was serious, unless there are a record amount of injured midfielders, there is a low chance he is making the squad no matter where he plays club soccer.

He is behind Adams, Johnny, Tessman and Morris at the 6
He is behind Tillman, Weston, Luna, and maybe even Gio should he start playing again, at the 8.

Most telling was that he could not even make a dent with Poch this summer with a B tier Gold Cup squad.

 

[NewlyRetired]

OK lets break down some possible reasons

1) Frankfurt told him he had to go on a loan again and he did not want to do that for the 3rd straight year

2) The bag of money from Colorado was too big to turn down

3) He believes he will only be getting limited minutes at Frankfurt and not only wants to play much more but also holds out hope that a bigger role will give him a chance at the WC next summer

What else could be involved here, I am sure I am missing a few ideas....?


As a side related note, I saw a good question asked yesterday: Has a US player ever gone from MLS -> Europe -> MLS -> Europe and have the second stint in Europe be successful? We have had the first 3 steps of this happen numerous times but my addled brain is struggling to come up with the 4th leg where it worked. I am not including Landon in this since those were always short term stays when he went back.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Please stop holding our players hostage for amounts that make no sense to anyone

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

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku
USMNT Otaku

@USMNTOtaku

Atalanta is interested in Yunus Musah, but AC Milan is heading towards a "no".

€30M or he stays, this is what’s coming from Milan. Max Allegri is betting on Musah.

 

[NewlyRetired]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku/status/1958136050863259915

 

[El Floppo]

Please stop holding our players hostage for amounts that make no sense to anyone

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

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku
USMNT Otaku

@USMNTOtaku

Atalanta is interested in Yunus Musah, but AC Milan is heading towards a "no".

€30M or he stays, this is what’s coming from Milan. Max Allegri is betting on Musah.

Its stupid money for him.

But again, i keep reading reports about how Allegri rates Musah for "the project". With the assumption that project means parking his *** on the bench until absolutely forced into playing him, and then trying to sell him in the next window for 10m.

 

[El Floppo]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku/status/1958136050863259915

Electric and exciting. Loved his decision making too.

Couple of nattering nabob comments...
- seems quick more than fast. not a terrible thing, but also setting himself up to he caught or cntained a lot at next level.
- relies on that quickness of feet more than his ball skills, which looked a little loose tbh (relative to velcro guys like CP or even Luna in their youth). Felt like loose touches force him to reach/zip into the ball to try to beat the opponent, which is a recipe for absorbing a lot of kicks.
- slight. Went down a lot under pressure from behind...sure, drawing fouls- but i didnt see one instance of him being able to hold the ball under pressure. Those are u19s- imagine grown men.

 

[NewlyRetired]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku/status/1958136050863259915

Electric and exciting. Loved his decision making too.

Couple of nattering nabob comments...
- seems quick more than fast. not a terrible thing, but also setting himself up to he caught or cntained a lot at next level.
- relies on that quickness of feet more than his ball skills, which looked a little loose tbh (relative to velcro guys like CP or even Luna in their youth). Felt like loose touches force him to reach/zip into the ball to try to beat the opponent, which is a recipe for absorbing a lot of kicks.
- slight. Went down a lot under pressure from behind...sure, drawing fouls- but i didnt see one instance of him being able to hold the ball under pressure. Those are u19s- imagine grown men.

all excellent observations.

I am hopeful that some of them will be handle by the normal maturing of his body as he ages from 16 to 19. Remember at this age, 2 to 2.5 years can be a massive difference in physical maturity. I am hopeful that he can get a few more pounds on him at the very least.

I can't speak to whether he will automatically be faster but there are very few players who achieve their maximum speed at just 16. It is different for every one, but I think the 22-25 age period is when soccer players achieve their peak sprinting speeds.

 

[El Floppo]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

https://x.com/USMNTOtaku/status/1958136050863259915

Electric and exciting. Loved his decision making too.

Couple of nattering nabob comments...
- seems quick more than fast. not a terrible thing, but also setting himself up to he caught or cntained a lot at next level.
- relies on that quickness of feet more than his ball skills, which looked a little loose tbh (relative to velcro guys like CP or even Luna in their youth). Felt like loose touches force him to reach/zip into the ball to try to beat the opponent, which is a recipe for absorbing a lot of kicks.
- slight. Went down a lot under pressure from behind...sure, drawing fouls- but i didnt see one instance of him being able to hold the ball under pressure. Those are u19s- imagine grown men.

all excellent observations.

I am hopeful that some of them will be handle by the normal maturing of his body as he ages from 16 to 19. Remember at this age, 2 to 2.5 years can be a massive difference in physical maturity. I am hopeful that he can get a few more pounds on him at the very least.

I can't speak to whether he will automatically be faster but there are very few players who achieve their maximum speed at just 16. It is different for every one, but I think the 22-25 age period is when soccer players achieve their peak sprinting speeds.

Forgot he was only 16...was thinking 18, and closer to senior squad or bust. Yeah- those two years can and hopefully will make a big difference. Hes obviously special at this level...and playing up.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

I've just seen he has 8g in 4 matches. So... yeah.

 

[NewlyRetired]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

I've just seen he has 8g in 4 matches. So... yeah.

The interesting thing from that one games highlights, I have no idea what position he is playing. He was on the left, he was on the right and he was in the middle.

Are they giving him the freedom to find his own space or does the team just switch and flow positions at will?

 

[NewlyRetired]

more details.....I got nothing................ Hope it works out for all involved.

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

https://x.com/tombogert
Tom Bogert

@tombogert

BREAKING: The Colorado Rapids are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt, per sources:

- Club record $7m fee + $1.5m add-ons
- DP deal for Aaronson
- Aaronson currently en route to Colorado

 

[NewlyRetired]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

I've just seen he has 8g in 4 matches. So... yeah.

I think he has been involved in 8 goals, not scored 8 goals.

His current stats are 3 goals and 5 assists in 4 games.

 

[TLEF316]

Kinda feels like if this kid was a year older and in line for first team minutes SOMEWHERE this year, he'd have a decent shot at sneaking onto the back end of the roster for the cup. He'll be 17 in May and plenty of guys close to that age have made it onto MUCH better squads for major competitions.

But that's obviously not going to happen if he spends the entire season with the academy team and MAYBE gets some mop up minutes in lower level competitions later in the year. Just not enough time to take the big jump.

No way to tell just how good he is at this point anyway, but it would be a cool story.

 

[El Floppo]

In case people are wondering why Mathis is popping so much recently, watch these highlights that are all from the same U19 game against Leverkusen. These players are all 2-3 years older than him that he is playing against

I've just seen he has 8g in 4 matches. So... yeah.

I think he has been involved in 8 goals, not scored 8 goals.

His current stats are 3 goals and 5 assists in 4 games.

And based on that games highlights- should have had at least one more assist (kid horribly missed a wide open goal), plus another 1 or 2 maybes

 

[NewlyRetired]

Kinda feels like if this kid was a year older and in line for first team minutes SOMEWHERE this year, he'd have a decent shot at sneaking onto the back end of the roster for the cup. He'll be 17 in May and plenty of guys close to that age have made it onto MUCH better squads for major competitions.

But that's obviously not going to happen if he spends the entire season with the academy team and MAYBE gets some mop up minutes in lower level competitions later in the year. Just not enough time to take the big jump.

No way to tell just how good he is at this point anyway, but it would be a cool story.

I believe both Pulisic and Gio made the Bundesliga leap during a winter after they had a great fall in the U19's. They already rostered this kid for the CWC so the main team clearly sees something in him. He just needs to keep producing and then hope for a call up.

I believe U19 is the top of the Dortmund youth system.

The U21's play in the Bundesliga 3 under the banner Dortmund II

I don't think either Pulisic or Gio played for the U21's, but I may be mistaken. I think they both jumped from U19 to the main club. Campbell did play for Dortmund II.

If we had any thing resembling depth at the attacking wings I would put his chances at 0.0% but with so little out there, who knows....maybe a 1% chance if everything works out perfectly. He would need to be called up to the main team, get minutes and have real production. Long shot at best but as Jim Carey once said......

 

[NewlyRetired]

For people wondering about production, before Pulisic made the jump, he scored 10 goals and had 8 assists in his first 15 games at the U19 level. A little over 1 goal involvement per game.

So Mathis's early 2g involvement per game production seems obviously positive but sample size is too small right now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Because he was the de facto leader of the 2018 disaster, he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

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

U.S. Soccer Federation to Honor USMNT Legend Michael Bradley ahead of USA-Korea Republic

 

[TLEF316]

Totally forgot that the September 6th game is at Red Bull

Just went and looked on Ticketmaster....cheapest seat in the building is $181 LOL...thanks, I'm good.

 

[El Floppo]

Totally forgot that the September 6th game is at Red Bull

Just went and looked on Ticketmaster....cheapest seat in the building is $181 LOL...thanks, I'm good.

I bought tix when they first came out...decently priced at that point (iirc, 80ish per for decent seats...although theyre all decent seats there).

 

[NewlyRetired]

<sigh>. Juventus took away Weston’s number and gave him Weah’s old 22. Every ****ing year.

Maybe he should not have joked about putting ranch dressing on pizza

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

 

[McBokonon]

<sigh>. Juventus took away Weston’s number and gave him Weah’s old 22. Every ****ing year.

Maybe he should not have joked about putting ranch dressing on pizza

At some point I think we should all realize that he and Gio are the common denominators, and maybe they were born talented but don't love the game at a level we want them to.

 

[El Floppo]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

As a former CMF, i can tell you Caillou constantly wowed me.

Anticipation/game-understanding, workrate, positioning and spacing was all elite. Decision-making on and off the ball and heart too. Had extremely high level ball skills and vision. Decent athleticism. Incredible on the field leader and scored some huge goals too.

People focus on the end of career decline when he lost a step and became an undeserved scape goat , but imo the best 8 the US has ever produced...some epic Germany Jones production not withstanding.

 

[SwampDawg]

<sigh>. Juventus took away Weston’s number and gave him Weah’s old 22. Every ****ing year.

Maybe he should not have joked about putting ranch dressing on pizza

At some point I think we should all realize that he and Gio are the common denominators, and maybe they were born talented but don't love the game at a level we want them to.

Maybe because I like Weston and don't really care for Gio but I don't really see them the same. Yes Snacks came into camp a year or so go out of shape and he had the incident with the USMNT in 2021. But for the most part he seems like a happy go lucky guy, he's taken the slights by club over and over and still shows up and produces and makes managers put him in the line up. Gio seems miserable, entitled and if he was treated like Weston I think he would have quit by now and he hasn't produced in forever and doesn't seem really liked by teammates.

 

[McBokonon]

he seems like a happy go lucky guy, he's taken the slights by club over and over

Right, but at some point you have to think it's not everyone else who is the problem. I'm not saying he's the same as Gio (miserable, entitled, etc.) but that whatever issues keep holding him back are his real, actual issues. It could be that he's too happy go lucky or something.

 

[El Floppo]

15 mins ago on ESPN...

- Atalanta are looking at AC Milan and USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, which adds that new boss Ivan Juric wants to sign a versatile midfielder. It would take a €25m bid to land the 22-year-old, with Napoli having offered a similar amount when they showed interest earlier in the window. Nottingham Forest have also made enquiries and spoke to Musah but never made an impactful offer. Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri reportedly likes the player, but already has plenty of options in midfield.

 

[NewlyRetired]

he seems like a happy go lucky guy, he's taken the slights by club over and over

Right, but at some point you have to think it's not everyone else who is the problem. I'm not saying he's the same as Gio (miserable, entitled, etc.) but that whatever issues keep holding him back are his real, actual issues. It could be that he's too happy go lucky or something.

oh yes, I agree with this. He clearly rubs coaches (many different ones) the wrong way and that is not on the coaches. Too many different people have issues with Weston when they first coach him for it not to be 100% on Weston.

What separates Weston from Gio is that he bounces back time and again from being in the dog house. Gio went into the dog house once and has not come out yet years later.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

McKennie's overall rating at Whoscored -- over a ****load of minutes across several seasons -- is 6.66. And it's been very consistent.

You can quibble with the ratings, but IMO the odds are that he's probably just not quite good enough to hold down a long-term spot at a top team and Juve want a better player. The just haven't had one, so he's gotten the minutes and done OK overall.

Still great for an American player, just more Chris Richards (6.67) or Johnny Cardoso (6.74) than Antonee (6.92) or CP (6.89) or Tillman (7.29*). IMO over a long period those ratings tend to be pretty dang good. YMMV

 

[B Maverick]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

As a former CMF, i can tell you Caillou constantly wowed me.

Anticipation/game-understanding, workrate, positioning and spacing was all elite. Decision-making on and off the ball and heart too. Had extremely high level ball skills and vision. Decent athleticism. Incredible on the field leader and scored some huge goals too.

People focus on the end of career decline when he lost a step and became an undeserved scape goat , but imo the best 8 the US has ever produced...some epic Germany Jones production not withstanding.

I guess I never really thought about who was in the middle of the 2018 disaster team, so I never really held it against Bradley. I do agree most focus on his fall off the cliff. I probably do as well. I think he was much better when he was training in Italy then playing in MLS. But don't fault him for chasing game time.

I will say I do not rate him as highly as the flop does, but he probably would be a part of my second XI.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The thing is that I've never found any correlation between what Weston the USMNT gets and how he's currently playing at Juve. At his best stretch at Juve doing the Mezzala thing, he came in to US camp and kind of stunk. But he was good at the World Cup. So, who knows? With Wes, at least, I don't have the same type of anxiety about whether he's starting. He's past the point where he's going to just get better. I think he kind of is the player he is.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

As a former CMF, i can tell you Caillou constantly wowed me.

Anticipation/game-understanding, workrate, positioning and spacing was all elite. Decision-making on and off the ball and heart too. Had extremely high level ball skills and vision. Decent athleticism. Incredible on the field leader and scored some huge goals too.

People focus on the end of career decline when he lost a step and became an undeserved scape goat , but imo the best 8 the US has ever produced...some epic Germany Jones production not withstanding.

I guess I never really thought about who was in the middle of the 2018 disaster team, so I never really held it against Bradley. I do agree most focus on his fall off the cliff. I probably do as well. I think he was much better when he was training in Italy then playing in MLS. But don't fault him for chasing game time.

I will say I do not rate him as highly as the flop does, but he probably would be a part of my second XI.

I think most of what caused Bradley's decline was the foot injury and resultant surgery. His foot was basically paralyzed.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

As a former CMF, i can tell you Caillou constantly wowed me.

Anticipation/game-understanding, workrate, positioning and spacing was all elite. Decision-making on and off the ball and heart too. Had extremely high level ball skills and vision. Decent athleticism. Incredible on the field leader and scored some huge goals too.

People focus on the end of career decline when he lost a step and became an undeserved scape goat , but imo the best 8 the US has ever produced...some epic Germany Jones production not withstanding.

For close to a decade, Bradley was the best and most consistent American player in an era where we also had Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. I think that, in addition to the decline years, people tend to underrate Bradley's play in the 2014 World Cup and maybe just remember Jones' highpoints (particularly the goal against Portugal) in that tournament.

 

[NewlyRetired]

he probably gets recognized less for his contributions than many other players

I think more soccer fans today appreciate what he was good at than did in ~2005-2010 -- I bet he could have the same career today and people would respect him more.

Regardless, he reminds me of Jordan Henderson. Just a really good piece you could plug into a bigger machine, but rarely someone that was going to wow you. And who was remembered more for what he couldn't do than what he did.

As a former CMF, i can tell you Caillou constantly wowed me.

Anticipation/game-understanding, workrate, positioning and spacing was all elite. Decision-making on and off the ball and heart too. Had extremely high level ball skills and vision. Decent athleticism. Incredible on the field leader and scored some huge goals too.

People focus on the end of career decline when he lost a step and became an undeserved scape goat , but imo the best 8 the US has ever produced...some epic Germany Jones production not withstanding.

I guess I never really thought about who was in the middle of the 2018 disaster team, so I never really held it against Bradley. I do agree most focus on his fall off the cliff. I probably do as well. I think he was much better when he was training in Italy then playing in MLS. But don't fault him for chasing game time.

I will say I do not rate him as highly as the flop does, but he probably would be a part of my second XI.

I think most of what caused Bradley's decline was the foot injury and resultant surgery. His foot was basically paralyzed.

I was just coming here to post this.

He had nerve damage in that left foot and never really recovered his mobility even though he was still in his prime. This was also at the exact same time he came back to MLS if memory serves.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The thing is that I've never found any correlation between what Weston the USMNT gets and how he's currently playing at Juve. At his best stretch at Juve doing the Mezzala thing, he came in to US camp and kind of stunk. But he was good at the World Cup. So, who knows? With Wes, at least, I don't have the same type of anxiety about whether he's starting. He's past the point where he's going to just get better. I think he kind of is the player he is.

The only concern would be conditioning. We can't have him coming into the WC next summer in "snack" mode.

It would behoove him to have a great WC because some MLS team is likely to back a truck up into his drive way if he pops off.

 

[McBokonon]

Come on!!!!! Get it done

=====

From Fabrizio

Understand Parma are now advancing on Gio Reyna deal from Borussia Dortmund!

Agreement getting closer as Parma board want Gio Reyna to join ASAP

But wait, there's more.

Reyna is moving away: the American is heading toward Monchengladbach. Tomorrow the final decision

 

[NewlyRetired]

Come on!!!!! Get it done

=====

From Fabrizio

Understand Parma are now advancing on Gio Reyna deal from Borussia Dortmund!

Agreement getting closer as Parma board want Gio Reyna to join ASAP

But wait, there's more.

Reyna is moving away: the American is heading toward Monchengladbach. Tomorrow the final decision

yes, we talked about the link to Gladbach yesterday. This is a nice development if it is moving forward.

 

[NewlyRetired]

It is amazing what just half a good season can do to your profile

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

USMNT Otaku
https://x.com/USMNTOtaku
@USMNTOtaku

Luca Bombino’s profile is one of the most attractive among young Americans and is being monitored especially in England, between the Premier League and Championship, and in the Netherlands, where AZ Alkmaar had already pursued him in the past. The first team to submit an official offer for him was West Brom, around €2.5M + bonuses. But San Diego's plan is clear: with the team battling for the title, only a very high offer could convince the them to let him go now. The club, which has a philosophy of developing young players and then selling them on, does not want to deprive him of this opportunity, and his transfer to Europe could come in 2026. Before that, there will be the next u-20 World Cup, where he will play in September and October with the United States, another opportunity to further increase his value.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Come on!!!!! Get it done

=====

From Fabrizio

Understand Parma are now advancing on Gio Reyna deal from Borussia Dortmund!

Agreement getting closer as Parma board want Gio Reyna to join ASAP

But wait, there's more.

Reyna is moving away: the American is heading toward Monchengladbach. Tomorrow the final decision

yes, we talked about the link to Gladbach yesterday. This is a nice development if it is moving forward.

It is weird because it doesn't sound like Gladbach is coming close to the 10 million euro valuation. But it would probably be an objectively better move for Gio considering he knows the league and the language.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Lalas doing something so very typically Lalas and slimy on his podcast.

He's answering a question about whether Tim Weah "would have even made it to Europe if he didn't have his father's name." And Lalas did the same type of thing he used to do about dual nationality players. Where he pretends to be magnanimous and supportive while he's really passive aggressively trying to poke at fault lines by suggesting they don't "love the crest" enough. And here, he points out that he's father and "probably thousands" of players have gotten advantages based on who they were related to. Essentially, passive-aggressively calling Weah a nepo-baby while saying it isn't that big a deal.

But he never even tried to consider what leg up that may have been. Weah wasn't really raised by George. Weah's mother was his first soccer coach. George was in Liberian politics by as early as 2005 when Tim was five years old. Tim was playing in the US Soccer youth system as a boy and moved to PSG's academy at 14. He did well enough there to get some first team stuff with PSG when it was one of the best teams in Europe. And then went to Lille and finally to Juve. And he's never been a star in Europe, but he's never seemed to have anything handed to him. And he's unquestionably one of the 15-20 best American soccer players, so yeah, he'd probably have made Europe if his name was Tim Jones.

It's impossible to believe that Lalas would have even entertained the question if Weah hadn't made those comments in the Pulisic documentary.

 

[El Floppo]

Step 1... Put yer **** in the box
Step 2... Listen to Lalas? No.