bagger
Footballguy
I feel like he used to but as he has become more of a “star” he’s backed away from that.
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
US Men's National Team (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter Premier
- Start date
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Pulisic’s injury was his hamstring according to Poch
The Z Machine
Footballguy
If he's maturing and turning that into commitment to his game, I'm all for it. That's likely why every off-season his Juve coaches hate on him for not putting in the work. Luka Modric he is not.
El Floppo
Footballguy
They got the win, and yeah thats the best revenge...but i didnt approve of the ticky tack foul response from the US players after it got hot, especially given the ref not calling anything. Get freaking stuck in.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Tillman also did not play because he hurt his hamstring in training.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Well at least the player who broke Donovan's record does not suck. Some good names on this list
========================
Leo Messi becomes the player with with the most assists in international football
59 - Messi
58 - Neymar
58 - Donovan
53 - Puss’s
51 - Kocsis
49 - De Bruyne
44 - Afif
41 - James
40 - Pelé
40 - Valderrama
========================
Leo Messi becomes the player with with the most assists in international football
59 - Messi
58 - Neymar
58 - Donovan
53 - Puss’s
51 - Kocsis
49 - De Bruyne
44 - Afif
41 - James
40 - Pelé
40 - Valderrama
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
hmmm, now this is kind of interesting.
==================================
Roldan = Beckerman
Beckerman was not liked and unappreciated almost his entire career until late when the fan base turned and learned to like him.
Beckerman was also an MLS lifer with below average athleticism but seem to have a good iq.
It took a foreign born head coach (JK) to appreciate what Beckerman was doing at club level, give him another chance at the international at an advanced age and be rewarded for it. Beckerman went from a complete afterthought to a WC starter.
Does Roldan get a similar happy ending?
==================================
Roldan = Beckerman
Beckerman was not liked and unappreciated almost his entire career until late when the fan base turned and learned to like him.
Beckerman was also an MLS lifer with below average athleticism but seem to have a good iq.
It took a foreign born head coach (JK) to appreciate what Beckerman was doing at club level, give him another chance at the international at an advanced age and be rewarded for it. Beckerman went from a complete afterthought to a WC starter.
Does Roldan get a similar happy ending?
Last edited:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Gio is back training with Gladbach.
His window is getting mighty close to being shut if he wants to make the WC squad.
His window is getting mighty close to being shut if he wants to make the WC squad.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Is anyone else a tiny bit concerned about Poch’s love of Freeman?
Now I don’t think Freeman is useless, but he doesn’t give us a ton offensively.
Yesterday was a game where he was asked to do very little defensively so he should’ve been much more involved on the offensive side of the game but I think at this point in his career, his skill set is too limited to be effective at this level.
Now I don’t think Freeman is useless, but he doesn’t give us a ton offensively.
Yesterday was a game where he was asked to do very little defensively so he should’ve been much more involved on the offensive side of the game but I think at this point in his career, his skill set is too limited to be effective at this level.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Love our depth at #9, but hopefully we can find a midfielder or two along the way.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It is extraordinary to think that just before WC2022, I was absolutely convinced that Gio and Musah would be two of our core players in 2026 and now I wonder if either will even make the world cup squad.....
Last edited:
El Floppo
Footballguy
He looked good offensively vs ECU. Not great, but the best ive seen to the point i thought...hmmm, ok- he'll do. Im hoping he's got a lot of growth left in his attacking game, because other than that one game, i agree- not quite there yet.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
My opinion of how Poch is currently ranking his DM's.
Adams
Tessman
Roldan
Morris
Johnny
Adams
Tessman
Roldan
Morris
Johnny
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I just kept thinking last night if Dest got that much time on the ball with so little to do defensively, that more chances would have come from the right wing.
Also, Weah is not a solution for the left wing back IMO. He clearly is uncomfortable crossing the ball on that side. I think last night may have looked better if they started Arfsten on the left (I am not a fan but we don't have a lot of choices) and Weah on the right.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Those two and Scally (core role player for rhe latter). I wonder if Poch even gives them a chance if they pull their seasons together between now and the spring. Scally is obviously SOL.It is extraordinary to think that before Wc2022, I was absolutely convinced that Gio and Musah would be two of our core players in 2026 and now I wonder if either will even make the world cup squad?Love our depth at #9, but hopefully we can find a midfielder or two along the way.
Add to that it feels like Swags ceiling is in the past...just too many almost/maybe guys floating around the MF. Need people to elevate.
But tbh, ive liked what ive seen of Tessman this wndow. France and health aeems to he agreeing with him.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I know my thoughts on the group will likely change dramatically after the draw, but it seems logical at this point to think this is how it will play out.
1 game will see the US on the front foot, majority of possession, trying to break down a low block and protect against a counter
1 game will see a very even match up, both teams attacking relatively equally
1 game will see the US have to defend first, second and third and try to scrape a point
1 game will see the US on the front foot, majority of possession, trying to break down a low block and protect against a counter
1 game will see a very even match up, both teams attacking relatively equally
1 game will see the US have to defend first, second and third and try to scrape a point
El Floppo
Footballguy
So... Goldilocks
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Those two and Scally (core role player for rhe latter). I wonder if Poch even gives them a chance if they pull their seasons together between now and the spring. Scally is obviously SOL.It is extraordinary to think that before Wc2022, I was absolutely convinced that Gio and Musah would be two of our core players in 2026 and now I wonder if either will even make the world cup squad?Love our depth at #9, but hopefully we can find a midfielder or two along the way.
Add to that it feels like Swags ceiling is in the past...just too many almost/maybe guys floating around the MF. Need people to elevate.
But tbh, ive liked what ive seen of Tessman this wndow. France and health aeems to he agreeing with him.
I was pretty happy with Weston this camp. I thought he ran his *** off, had some good touches, got involved a lot and most importantly, multiple people around the program commented that he appears to be taking things much more seriously. You could just look at him and see he is in the best shape since he was a teenager. His lack of chipmunk cheeks give his weight loss away.
I think he knows this may be his last WC and sees how ruthless Poch can be and does not want to screw anything up.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Panama may have saved its WC life with a 97th minute equalizer last night.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
I feel like the WC scenario you laid out is how it's been for a long time. And now the easy game is "should definitely win" and the tossup game is "favored to win". Assuming the team shows up next summer.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
A lot will depend upon seeding. If we get in pot 1, we should have some good match ups. If we are in pot 2 or 3, the difficulty level is going to spike.
Dr_Zaius
Footballguy
I thought host teams were always pot 1, or is the assumption they'll switch it up since there are three this year? Both the AI summary that popped up and an article from the Independent said US, Canada, and Mexico would be pot 1, but maybe there's been nothing officially announced?
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Freeman gave Japan fits getting in behind (even if the end product often wasn't there). I always find it hard to evaluate wingbacks because it's often very shape dependent on both sides. Normally only one is being asked to contribute much on offense. I don't think Freeman is a threat to win a role in the starting XI. If anyone were to take Dest's spot at RWB, I think it's likely to be Weah. But I do think Freeman has shown enough value to be a roster guy. We've had far worse backup fullbacks. Shaq Moore went to the last World Cup.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
The plus side is that the US has played pretty much like a Top 20 side in the world for 3 1/2 games now. Now, there's a big difference between that and a real top10 side in the world. I still don't find the transition defense confidence-inspiring. And it's still hard for me to know how everyone fits best with the 4-3-3 seemingly no longer in play.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Agree with all points.
The transition d is a problem, especially without a GK who steps up to make the big plays. Its not helped by Poch continuing rotating the central MFs who need time to gel with eachother and the CBs.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Nothing about the draw or the mechanics has been announced yet.
Host teams have been traditionally in Pot 1. Both South Korea and Japan were in Pot 1 in 2002, when neither were Pot 1 level teams, meaning 25% of the teams in Pot 1 that year were non Pot 1 level.
The same could hold true in 2026, where if all 3 teams from Concacaf are placed in Pot 1, that means the same 25% ratio will hold as in 2002 (3 out of 12 will be non Pot 1 level).
Now FIFA, in their magical ways, can smooth this out by simply "blind" drawing the 3 teams in Pot 2 that should have been in Pot 1 and match them up with the Concacaf teams. But if they have a fair drawing and the US is in Pot 1, there are a handful of group of life scenarios for the US.
Once the pots are confirmed, there will be a million simulators online that can crank all the possibilities although even then there will be some unknowns since the draw happens before the intercontinental playoffs have completed.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
============================
Chris Richards on the hard tackles committed by the Australian players: "They’re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go. And if (the ref) didn’t give me a **** yellow in the corner, I probably would’ve killed somebody."
Chris Richards on the hard tackles committed by the Australian players: "They’re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go. And if (the ref) didn’t give me a **** yellow in the corner, I probably would’ve killed somebody."
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Prospective pots...
Would be fairly hard for Pot1 teams to have a tough draw. Even the US is likely to be really competitive with the Pot2 teams, favored to one degree or another over Pot3, and then would need to avoid Italy and maybe one other play-in team from Pot4. Pot4 is the big wildcard here though. Assuming Italy go thru they'll gum things up for their group.
Would be fairly hard for Pot1 teams to have a tough draw. Even the US is likely to be really competitive with the Pot2 teams, favored to one degree or another over Pot3, and then would need to avoid Italy and maybe one other play-in team from Pot4. Pot4 is the big wildcard here though. Assuming Italy go thru they'll gum things up for their group.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I read today tat FIFA is contemplating expanding World Cup rosters from 26 men to 30 men. Which at least means that it's 26 and not 23. I can't even imagine how a team would use a 30 man roster in a tournament. It would seem to make "versatility" almost meaningless as a trait.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
first half of Pot 2 is no joke. The US would be under dogs to many of those in the first half. The second half of the perspective pot 2 teams would be equal match ups for the US.
Pot 3 does not look horrible. No one is going to want Norway. Haaland is playing the sport at a level that is insane for a pure goal scorer. But outside of that wild card, I would say at the very least it would be even matchups, with quite a few the US being favored.
A dream draw from those perspective pots would be something like: US-Australia-Tunisia-Scotland (I do not know yet how FIFA will balance the groups regionally. But I assume the normal we can't draw another Concacaf team will be in place. )
El Floppo
Footballguy
I was pissed at him for picking up such a ticky tack bs yellow. the whole team really. they had license to hit people, but they chose to do handsy bs fouls instead.
El Floppo
Footballguy
espn....
Australia defender Jason Geria, who was shown a yellow card for a foul against Pulisic, recognized the intense physicality of the friendly match but denied targeting the U.S. star.
"I heard he's hurt, so I hope he's OK. We weren't physical specifically with him. I think in general, we as a team, we as a country, we're a physical team, and we're up for a fight regardless of the opponent," Geria said.
"I wasn't specifically going out to batter [Pulisic] up or anything. I think all over the park, there were pretty physical battles everywhere."
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Reading between the lines, Landon may have alluded to in a recent interview that he was considering suicide when he took his sabbatical.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I saw on Reddit that Milan fear a "serious" issue with CP. I only saw the headline, and I'm not sure that's even after he's been evaluated. But I'm going to say we can't have nice things anyway.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
No one knows for sure yet but reports I am reading range from 2 weeks to a month out, the latter of which means he likely won't be available for the November friendlies.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I saw those headlines too....ime reading rhose sites, im taking them with a grain of salt the day after the match and injury, considering he may not even be back in Italy for an evaluation. The ones i saw referenced his ankle injury, and Poch mentioned hamstring.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Roldan is probably going to have to burn down Poch's house at this point to not make the WC squad
gianmarco
Footballguy
Looking back at 2022 roster, I had forgotten he made it on that WC squad as well. There's something to be said for players like him. He really did have an excellent game yesterday.
gianmarco
Footballguy
Or drive a golf cart funny.
El Floppo
Footballguy
And last game...and the MLS season.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Coaches love him. The other players on the team love him. The people who matter trust him. In a sane fanbase, that would be enough.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
We have arguably the dumbest fan base in the world. There is no other way to say it. It is probably not coincidental that discourse on the USMNT is about as useful as discourse on politics in the US.
Thank god for this thread. Almost everyone here only cares about the team just getting better, by hook or crook
Last edited:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
He has had by far his best season as a pro. Everything just seems easier to him. And this is not just MLS play. He played very well in the Club World Cup as well.
But as Scooby said, half the fans hate him because of “where” he plays, instead of “how” he plays. They still want Johnny, who has not played anywhere near as good for the US as Roldan has this camp, simply because he plays on a big name team.
A player playing for a big club should always get international opportunities but if they don’t perform at even a Concacaf competition level, then the coach has to be allowed to look for players else where. Most fan bases would encourage this, but not ours.
Last edited:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Morocco beat France in PK’s to reach the U20 WC final.
prefontaine
Footballguy
I don't know on Tessmann as he was good the other night but pretty meh to bad vs Australia. He hasn't really been good as a 6 and his success came further up the field.
I think people are sleeping on Morris. He was excellent last night. He definitely didn't hurt his standing. He didn't have the two assists of Roldan, but I thought he was miles ahead of Tessmann on the night (and Sands - though that's a pretty low bar as I thought he was pretty awful).
I don't mind Johnny getting more shots if his club form warrants it, but unless we try Musah or McKennie as a DM, I wouldn't bother with anyone outside this list any more. It's time to start building a roster.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Poch said something that made me think but in retrospect it is obvious. Pardon the paraphrasing but it went something like this:
Reporter: “Tell us how happy you were with Balogun tonight, specifically all the different areas he helped the team in”
Poch (laughing): “I liked that he scored, everything else is secondary”
======
As a fan of players who work hard to help a team in numerous ways, this answer disappointed me but then I thought about Haji against Australia. We could have had two different scenarios:
A) have a great all around game, help team defensively, link with players, run the channels, pull CB’s wide but don’t score
or
B) do almost nothing all game and bury the two chances you get
Any team is far far more likely to win a game with scenario B rather than scenario A. This may explain why Haji will make the roster and Sargent may not
Reporter: “Tell us how happy you were with Balogun tonight, specifically all the different areas he helped the team in”
Poch (laughing): “I liked that he scored, everything else is secondary”
======
As a fan of players who work hard to help a team in numerous ways, this answer disappointed me but then I thought about Haji against Australia. We could have had two different scenarios:
A) have a great all around game, help team defensively, link with players, run the channels, pull CB’s wide but don’t score
or
B) do almost nothing all game and bury the two chances you get
Any team is far far more likely to win a game with scenario B rather than scenario A. This may explain why Haji will make the roster and Sargent may not
Last edited:
The Z Machine
Footballguy
And I think it's the right call. A number 9 is not a number 6. You have 1 primary job and that is to put the ball in the back of the net. Be clinical.
Sargent has not shown the ability to do that at the national team level. Full stop. Haji has shown that.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I know we can’t get into the politics of the insanity but are you guys who are hoping to get WC tickets worried about the constant threats that some games are going to be moved from certain cities?
I received my email yesterday and was donuted. I won't pay above face so they could play in Tuscaloosa for all I care.
Similar threads
