Generic soccer thread
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
Down goes Tuchel! Zero surprise.
Wait, they fired Tuchel? Wow.
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Can’t figure out what’s wrong with Liverpool. The same club that scored nine goals against Bournemouth has to settle for draws against bottom-feeders Everton and Fulham. Then they get clobbered by an inferior Napoli side in the Champions League. All this from a team that was expected to be in the mix for multiple trophies this season.
Jurgen Klopp isn’t exactly on the hot seat like Tuchel was, but their play lately has got to be driving him nuts.
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I read a story about Liverpool yesterday. Basically called out some of the older guys for absolutely slacking on offense and defense. Alexander Arnold was hammered for his lack of give a shit on defense, or getting back to play and defend after his runs up the wing. I didn’t watch the game, so i can’t say.
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Guessing that Liverpool and the rest of the EPL teams won’t play at all this weekend after the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
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Pulisic came on as a late sub today vs Palace.
Made a great cutting running inside from the left, dished off and watched his teammate score. Assist!
Chelsea’s new manager started them in a 3-5-1-1 formation, which had my head spinning. I don’t understand the responsibilities in that formation. If you have Chilwell as part of the 3, isn’t he a wingback who likes to get forward? What do the outside guys in the 5 do? Just be in his way, right?
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Chilwell struggled a bit with defense. Enjoyed Silva hitting the ball “accidentally with his hand” to prevent a goal, then turning around immediately and assisting with a beautiful header in the box. Thats why hes Thiago Silva. Pulisic’s play assisted Conor Gallagher. It was a beautiful strike. One of the knocks against Tuchel was that he wasn’t using the academy talent. Gallagher is top of that list. All smiles in the post game interview. Good for him!
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Interesting weekend in the Premier League. Really impressed by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side. Today they went into London and took down Tottenham (with help from a couple of goalie mistakes). The win moved them into the top four ahead of Chelsea and Man United, who played to a draw.
Meawhile, Jesse Marsch’s hot seat as manager of Leeds just got hotter. They lost again, this time at home to Fulham.
And I still can’t figure Liverpool out. A week after beating defending champs Manchester City, they lose to last-place Nottingham Forest. Even with two-thirds of the season to go, it’s looking like the best chance they have for a trophy is the FA Cup, or maybe the Champions League.
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I watched a few minutes of the Leeds game. Noticed that Adams wasn’t in the lineup to start.
Bummer they lost. Really rooting for them this season with their American contingent.
Actually maybe my new “go to” team to watch in this year.
Before the season my impression of Aaronsen was that he’s pretty much a spaz. Just runs around like a mad man and gets involved all over the field. But, didn’t think he had much skill.
After watching a few Leeds games so far, my impression is slightly changed. Still puts in massive effort with his mobility. But I’ve seen a few instances of skill and vision that are inspiring.
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@rockchalkjayhawk https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4779936/will-marsch-follow-gerrard-out-of-job-as-fans-lose-patience/
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@nwhawkfan said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4779936/will-marsch-follow-gerrard-out-of-job-as-fans-lose-patience/
ouch. tough life being an EPL coach! Interesting tidbit from the story…Leeds may be weaker this season than the ended last year. Lost some guys to transfer, and didn’t spend to bring better guys in. Sucks.
It is a similar story at Leeds, where Marsch lost midfielder Kalvin Phillips (to Manchester City) and forward Raphinha (Barcelona) for fees totalling almost £100m, while club-record signing Daniel James also left on loan to Fulham. The Elland Road recruitment team replaced them with a variety of players with little or no Premier League experience, such as Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and Rasmus Kristensen. Having avoided relegation only on the final day of last season, Leeds arguably went into this season with a weaker squad after allowing three key players to leave in the summer, so it is no surprise that Marsch’s team would be struggling and now in the bottom three.
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Pulisic amazingly got a start today in UCL!
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
Pulisic amazingly got a start today in UCL!
He got an assist on the winning goal too !
Hope this means more playing time for him, though I’m not too optimistic based on past history. Graham Potter may still see him as one of “Tuchel’s guys.”
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@nwhawkfan i dont think the “Tuchels guys” label is a concern with Potter, but I may be wrong. I think Tuchel lost the lockerroom. I’m more concerned that Raheem Sterling is a better left wing.
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More injury problems for the USA squad with just over three weeks to go till the World Cup. Goalie Matt Turner was kept out of Arsenal’s Europa League game today with groin “discomfort.”
And Tyler Adams may not make the lineup again for Leeds this weekend, after missing last Sunday’s game with Fulham. Bad timing all around.
At least Gio Reyna is on the comeback trial after his latest injury (knock on wood). He scored for Dortmund last weekend against Stuttgart.
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Ugh. We need all our stars to be healthy, and quickly!
The semi positive is that i think we have at least three goalies who are semi interchangeable. Not too worried if Turner goes down. But hope he doesn’t.
Adams would be a bummer to replace. Need him.
Reyna: who knows. As others have said in the Chiefs thread, he’s a wildcard to me.
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Holy shit turds. Chelsea got boat raced today by Brighton.
They looked like absolute slugs. Defense? Ha!
Pulisic, until i stopped watching mid second half, was no help whatsoever.
In fact he missed what should have been a semi easy goal early on. his defensive effort was lethargic, like the rest of em.
Silva continues to look like he’s lost 10 steps of quickness. He made multiple mistakes today, then miraculously headed away his mistakes on the goal line.
Haven’t seen much of Christian lately, but he’s not helping himself with performances like today’s.
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I watched that Pulisic point-blank miss off the rebound. Ouch.
This is turning into a real mess for the USMNT. Other than Reyna (who’s still on the comeback trail and only played as a sub this weekend), I don’t know how many quality healthy bodies we’ll even have for the World Cup. The ones we do have are proving to be mostly ineffective in league play…when they get minutes, that is.
McKennie’s got a bad quad. De La Torre is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Turner? Groin. Our other goalie, Steffen, is still recovering from a knee knock. Then there’s Weah, Robinson and Musah.
This isn’t a national team, it’s a MASH unit.
Not sure how healthy he is, but at least Adams got minutes in that Leeds “upset” at Liverpool. (I almost hesitate to call it an upset, since the Reds seem to be making a habit out of losing to last-place teams this season.)
Wish it weren’t so, but it’s not looking good for the USA’s “golden generation.” At the very least, all this attrition is killing our depth as we get closer and closer to November 21st.
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@nwhawkfan said in Generic soccer thread:
I watched that Pulisic point-blank miss off the rebound. Ouch.
This is turning into a real mess for the USMNT. Other than Reyna (who’s still on the comeback trail and only played as a sub this weekend), I don’t know how many quality healthy bodies we’ll even have for the World Cup. The ones we do have are proving to be mostly ineffective in league play…when they get minutes, that is.
McKennie’s got a bad quad. De La Torre is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Turner? Groin. Our other goalie, Steffen, is still recovering from a knee knock. Then there’s Weah, Robinson and Musah.
This isn’t a national team, it’s a MASH unit.
Not sure how healthy he is, but at least Adams got minutes in that Leeds “upset” at Liverpool. (I almost hesitate to call it an upset, since the Reds seem to be making a habit out of losing to last-place teams this season.)
Wish it weren’t so, but it’s not looking good for the USA’s “golden generation.” At the very least, all this attrition is killing our depth as we get closer and closer to November 21st.
Man, I’ve been reading about the health of our players, or lack of.
Just getting worse and worse for our World Cup hopes. Crap.
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Well maybe England will look as poor without Reece James as Chelsea does
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
Well many England will look as poor without Reece James as Chelsea does
Love Reece James’ game! Hard nosed, strong player with skill.
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Paul Pogba was just ruled out of the WC for France. Can’t come back from knee surgery in time. One of the veterans of the Belgium team, Lukaku, is also questionable after injuring his hamstring.
You’ve got to figure that the compressed schedules caused by moving the tournament to late fall are mostly to blame for the rash of injuries. Teams have to play twice a week (plus Champions & Europa League matches) just to fit all the games in. Even younger stars like Pogba are having trouble staying healthy. At least MLS-based players have a slight advantage in that area, since their regular season only had to be shifted by a few weeks.
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@nwhawkfan said in Generic soccer thread:
Paul Pogba was just ruled out of the WC for France. Can’t come back from knee surgery in time. One of the veterans of the Belgium team, Lukaku, is also questionable after injuring his hamstring.
You’ve got to figure that the compressed schedules caused by moving the tournament to late fall are mostly to blame for the rash of injuries. Teams have to play twice a week (plus Champions & Europa League matches) just to fit all the games in. Even younger stars like Pogba are having trouble staying healthy. At least MLS-based players have a slight advantage in that area, since their regular season only had to be shifted by a few weeks.
yup, the entire Qatar WC is a joke. $$$$$$$$ rules the world. bribery and $. a winter World Cup? just ridiculous.
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While watching all the tributes to Pele over the weekend, it occurred to me that not many people know that he played a match in Kansas City back in 1968. On the 4th of July, no less.
His club team Santos was touring the US that summer to play against NASL teams, and among the stops they made was a friendly against the KC Spurs at Municipal Stadium. I was a ball boy for the Spurs that season and got a comp ticket to see him play. This was years before he would burst onto the radar of American sports fans as a member of the New York Cosmos.
I don’t remember much about the game, other than (a) the small contingent of Brazilian fans made LOTS more noise than the thousands of Spurs fans in the stands; and (b) he was by FAR the best player on the field.
Too bad the Spurs went out of business a couple of years later. (Ironically, it happened just months after Pele got his third World Cup win for Brazil in Mexico.) If they’d survived into the mid-Seventies, I might have gotten another chance to witness greatness in person.
https://funwhileitlasted.net/2018/03/11/1968-1970-kansas-city-spurs/
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@nwhawkfan said in Generic soccer thread:
While watching all the tributes to Pele over the weekend, it occurred to me that not many people know that he played a match in Kansas City back in 1968. On the 4th of July, no less.
His club team Santos was touring the US that summer to play against NASL teams, and among the stops they made was a friendly against the KC Spurs at Municipal Stadium. I was a ball boy for the Spurs that season and got a comp ticket to see him play. This was years before he would burst onto the radar of American sports fans as a member of the New York Cosmos.
I don’t remember much about the game, other than (a) the small contingent of Brazilian fans made LOTS more noise than the thousands of Spurs fans in the stands; and (b) he was by FAR the best player on the field.
Too bad the Spurs went out of business a couple of years later. (Ironically, it happened just months after Pele got his third World Cup win for Brazil in Mexico.) If they’d survived into the mid-Seventies, I might have gotten another chance to witness greatness in person.
https://funwhileitlasted.net/2018/03/11/1968-1970-kansas-city-spurs/
That would have been great, being a ball boy when Pele was playing. amazing.
I was fortunate to see him play with the Cosmos in NYC way back when, or actually i think the team was playing at the Meadowlands by then. I was just a kid, but still a memory.
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Leeds! So awesome that McKennie is joining the club.
Hoping the three amigos can keep them in the EPL. Aaronsen and Adams have to be excited.
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Im not so high on McKennie as i am on adams and aaronsen but agree its great that theres a team amassing high profile Americans we can root for several times a week
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For sure. I was on a Chelsea binge for awhile, but since Pulisic is hurt, and rarely plays, i need a new team to watch. Step right up, Leeds!
I like McKennie. he’s a great player in the middle. Defends, moves forward. box to box.
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@rockchalkjayhawk im still watching Chelsea
they just signed Enzo. Mgmt spending serious cabbage now.
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Jesse Marsch gets the axe!
Very odd timing. Give him a chance with the upgraded roster! Don’t you normally part ways with the manager before bringing in new players? Weird.
Anyway, sounds like he’s now clear to make a run for USMNT coach.
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Man, i’m rooting so hard for Leeds to succeed, but they just can’t win a match.
They gave up one of the shittiest goals i’ve seen today against lowly Everton to lose. It was like the goalie was taking a nap with the ball near the box. Zip, right by him.
Would suck to see Adams and McKennie (and aaronsen) have to find new teams after demotion.
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@rockchalkjayhawk Thierry Henry for USMNT coach maybe?
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Interesting. Big name for sure, with maybe not a full resume as far as coaching experience.
I’m open to all, except maybe Jesse Marsch. I think his style makes it hard for players to buy in to the system.
I don’t personally think that some of the BIG names from Europe are good fits either. They are used to a talent pool and skill level that the US probably can’t equal.
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
Interesting. Big name for sure, with maybe not a full resume as far as coaching experience.
I’m open to all, except maybe Jesse Marsch. I think his style makes it hard for players to buy in to the system.
I don’t personally think that some of the BIG names from Europe are good fits either. They are used to a talent pool and skill level that the US probably can’t equal.
Yeah, all good points. The revolution may be led by someone who is not televised.
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
Interesting. Big name for sure, with maybe not a full resume as far as coaching experience.
I’m open to all, except maybe Jesse Marsch. I think his style makes it hard for players to buy in to the system.
I don’t personally think that some of the BIG names from Europe are good fits either. They are used to a talent pool and skill level that the US probably can’t equal.
Yeah, all good points. The revolution may be led by someone who is not televised.
totally!
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I saw that Adams has to go under the knife with a hamstring injury. Poor Leeds. The three Americans may be looking for new jobs soon enough. Ugh.
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Well, Leeds, my recent favorite EPL team to watch, is looking at the bottom three with two games to go.
That sucks! I’d assume that all the American players would have to find new teams if they are demoted? Aaronson, McKennie and Adams.
If that’s the case, assuming Pulisic is also moved in the offseason, there will be pretty much one EPL team with a few US guys – Fulham with Ream and Jedi.
Love me some EPL, but it’s much more enjoyable to watch with some hometown guys.
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https://twitter.com/jamesbenge/status/1658449950320078850
This is a fairly big deal.
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@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
https://twitter.com/jamesbenge/status/1658449950320078850
This is a fairly big deal.
Yessssssssss! We’ve been waiting on this for awhile.
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Ahhh, stupid Leeds United. So disappointing.
They actually held a 1-0 lead in the first half. Needing a win to not be relegated, you’d think they’d put some effort into defending that lead, right? No. It’s Leeds.
So, looks like I’ll need a new EPL team to root for next season. I’m assuming Pulisic will be gone from Chelsea. Fulham here I come?
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@rockchalkjayhawk New Castle has been fun this year. Also, I think Burnley will be fun to watch (they are getting promoted) with Kompany at the helm.
I want to see if Pochettino can make it work with the pieces he has at Chelsea
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I just read the history of Burnley. Quite a 140 year long road https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/more/more-club/burnley-fc-club-history
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk New Castle has been fun this year. Also, I think Burnley will be fun to watch (they are getting promoted) with Kompany at the helm.
I want to see if Pochettino can make it work with the pieces he has at Chelsea
Ha. We should be able to co-manage Chelsea and make it work with all that talent!
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Well it’s official. Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are relegated.
It will be interesting to see where all the US players end up this summer.
Pulisic rumors are all over the place. I’d love it if he could remain in the EPL. Much easier to watch and follow his career. Same with McKennie and Adams. Both are quality players. Aaronsen I don’t think much of.
Summer drama!
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Everton escaped relegation. Congrats to the Evertonians! Would have been heartbreaking
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Everton seems to escape with regularity! They should do a little offseason upgrading to avoid next year’s regulation zone.
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I watched a few games of the U20 US team. They just got knocked out yesterday by Uruguay. I’m always surprised at how aggressive the U20 and under games can be. dudes wiping each other out all over the place, recklessly lots of times. And the refs let a lot of it go! ha. must be youthful exuberance!
Looks like the goalkeeper is a Chelsea signee. A few other entertaining guys to watch.
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@rockchalkjayhawk yeah Gaga has already played with the senior team. Hes solid. Couple others too have played up. Watched the game too. The own goal was tough, hope the kid bounces back.
Too early to pick up a custom Balogun 9 jersey?
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I coach soccer at my junior high. 2 teams simultaneously actually as we have a boys and girls team. So from early March to the end of May is a marathon of activity from managing 35-40 inner city kids academic and behavioral lives to ensuring refs show up, busses are scheduled, uni’s are distributed, and yes, even the coach is responsible for measuring and lining the field! It’s quite fun but exhausting, and sometimes involves sitting at school well after all the kids have gone home waiting for Leslie’s mom to show up! 7 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie combined, plus 2-0 in coed games to accommodate one school that could only field a coed team. So really 9-4-1 final record, not too bad.
Girls are totally raw but one scored 29 goals for me over the last two seasons! Needless to say she had some ability, but had never been coached so it was fun. Boys were more experienced but generally streetball type players that we see in basketball. Flashy moves, but team concepts lacking quite a bit. If I was the cheerleading sponsor or the boys or girls basketball coaches I would have made more but only had to coach one team, which is a discussion for the next contract negotiation. Equal pay for equal work!! But all that aside, I love doing it, love yelling at kids to spread out, attack from the outer edges, drop the ball backwards, defense push up, let that kid be offsides, don’t go cover them!
This is the non-glamorous side of soccer.
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@wissox beautiful. My soccer knowledge has grown up with the older 2 as theyve progressed. Maybe i will take a swing at junior high coach at some point too! My eldest was goalie for his and they went undefeated. Was story book. But 9-4-1 is def legit!
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@approxinfinity Bit of a long story here but here goes. I was hired in 2000 to teach at a rural Wisconsin school. They asked me if I could coach soccer as they were starting a new program. So I started my career as a varsity assistant coach. The head coach was someone who knew little more than I did.
A man named Mel stepped in and offered to help. He was a soccer dad who went full bore into learning. His rep was so immense that he actually interviewed at UNC as an assistant coach for their women’s team! I learned so much from that man and it’s allowed me to stay in soccer for over 20 years now. TBH, I haven’t gone full bore into it like him, so I’m in no way an expert, but competent enough!
