OT: All things US Soccer / Int’l Soccer Thread

[RUChet]

Thinking we start a new thread as the World Cup is long past!

let’s use this for all things about US Soccer and Int’l Soccer in general.

First off, news that UEFA and Concacaf want to merge their Nations League is the best thing that could happen to the USMNT program.

It’s a marriage made in heaven - Top Concacaf teams NEED more games vs. good UEFA teams and UEFA wants to tap more into the N. American market for the $$$$. Expand the fan base….

Next up I’d love to see Conmebol and Concacaf merge Copa America with the Good Cup but I’d do it in such a way that the weak Concacaf teams (and there are many) play in the Gold Cup to qualify for Copa where the top teams are automatically in Copa.

Do that and merge the Nations League and now we can develop vs MUCH better competition than the dreadful Concacaf.

 

[tico brown]

Didn’t see this posted anywhere else here.

First bit of news is…

Erling Haaland cut his hair lol.


Luckily for City, VAR is a thing as they got a winning goal in stoppage time that was originally called offsides to beat a tough Bournemouth squad 2-1. Hate to say this but they looked lost without Pep (and the players that left).

 

[tico brown]

Some upsets this weekend:
Hull over Man United 2-0
Brentford over Spurs 3-0
Brighton over Aston Villa 4-0

BUT THE CHAMPS STARTED THE SEASON RIGHT:
Arsenal over Coventry 3-0

 

[Zak57]

I wouldn't consider Brentford over Spurs an upset at all. Look at where they finished on the table last year. I don't care that Spurs spent all that money on all those average players.

 

[tico brown]

I wouldn't consider Brentford over Spurs an upset at all. Look at where they finished on the table last year. I don't care that Spurs spent all that money on all those average players.

Maybe not an upset but still a hell of a win for Brentford

 

[Erial_Lion]

Spurs picked right up where they left off…wow, did Brentford dominate that one. Spurs has to be better than they showed yesterday, but a terrible performance to start.

 

[seansherm]

Maybe not an upset but still a hell of a win for Brentford

Brentford looked good, 10 of 11 guys back and an excellent midfield pick up. Spurs playing wo like 7 eventual starters, they are a month away from beginning to look like a team.

 

[T2Kplus20]

Thinking we start a new thread as the World Cup is long past!

let’s use this for all things about US Soccer and Int’l Soccer in general.

First off, news that UEFA and Concacaf want to merge their Nations League is the best thing that could happen to the USMNT program.

It’s a marriage made in heaven - Top Concacaf teams NEED more games vs. good UEFA teams and UEFA wants to tap more into the N. American market for the $$$$. Expand the fan base….

Next up I’d love to see Conmebol and Concacaf merge Copa America with the Good Cup but I’d do it in such a way that the weak Concacaf teams (and there are many) play in the Gold Cup to qualify for Copa where the top teams are automatically in Copa.

Do that and merge the Nations League and now we can develop vs MUCH better competition than the dreadful Concacaf.

Soccer is still boring. Happy it's gone for another 4 years. Looking forward to the national team's next disappointing WC performance in 2030.

 

[RUChet]

Soccer is still boring. Happy it's gone for another 4 years. Looking forward to the national team's next disappointing WC performance in 2030.

Each to his own but wishing your national team to fail is awful dude

 

[Erial_Lion]

Each to his own but wishing your national team to fail is awful dude

As awful as coming into a thread and crapping on the thing that those in the thread obviously enjoy. I would never think to go into threads about comic books, cars, hunting, etc and tell people how stupid I find their hobbies. But I guess some are wired differently.

 

[T2Kplus20]

Each to his own but wishing your national team to fail is awful dude

Not wishing, expecting. Nothing has changed in 32 years, why now?

 

[RUChet]

Not wishing, expecting. Nothing has changed in 32 years, why now?

“Looking forward to the national team's next disappointing WC performance in 2030.”

that sounds pretty awful but where I agree with you as that I don’t expect us to be much better in 2030 but I HOPE we win it all becasue I root for USA

now if Poch does a good job injecting some of the exciting young players into our team then maybe with 4 years under a world class coach we can make something happen.

We have enough talent to get to the semis - S Korea did, Morocco did, it’s not impossible.

 

[RUChet]

As awful as coming into a thread and crapping on the thing that those in the thread obviously enjoy. I would never think to go into threads about comic books, cars, hunting, etc and tell people how stupid I find their hobbies. But I guess some are wired differently.

I never ever root against USA! Even when the USWNT went all in on social justice and seemed to not focus on being the best anymore, caring more about slogans and statements…. I still rooted for them 100%. Why wouldn’t I?

USA all the way baby!

 

[RUChet]

Check out this wonderful Cavan Sullivan goal. It’s time for Poch to call him up and get him cap tied asap along with Hall, Gozo, Miller, Megmeti, etc



Kid has nose for the goal like Dempsey and has an edge to him like Luna and Berhalter

 

[RUChet]

US Women out of U20 world cup in round of 16. We haven't won since 2012. Those that have said our men should be better because look at all the success our women have had, clearly don't understand the situation.

Our women were dominant for so long because of our huge participation rate and immense advantage and head start in funding and opportunity for girls and women over other countries due to Title IX. That advantage is gone.

We are no longer dominant at the senior level and clearly neither at the youth level. We still have the most depth but arguably not 1 of the top 10 players in the world (sounds like men's basketball....).

The same youth development issues we have for boys to men is now showing in girls to women as the funding and opportunity advantages are gone compared to other countries.

Our USWNT coach has been warning about this for years.

Our girls face the same "pay to play" problem and lack of development as the boys and it's going to continue to erode the gap between our senior team and the rest of world if it hasn't already.

I hope we get this fixed as somebody who loves the game and is a diehard US soccer supporter.

 

[Doctor Worm]

Check out this wonderful Cavan Sullivan goal. It’s time for Poch to call him up and get him cap tied asap along with Hall, Gozo, Miller, Megmeti, etc



Kid has nose for the goal like Dempsey and has an edge to him like Luna and Berhalter

The Guardian is reporting that he WILL be called up for the September-October friendlies.

Roster to be announced tomorrow.

 

[RUChet]

The Guardian is reporting that he WILL be called up for the September-October friendlies.

Roster to be announced tomorrow.

I want to see him and several other young guys - we gave to test them

but I also want to see Cavan in the Olympics in ‘26 as that tourney is important for our development - if I were US soccer I’d put Poch in charge of that tourney too as several guys may be on the ‘ 30 WC team

 

[Doctor Worm]

I want to see him and several other young guys - we gave to test them

but I also want to see Cavan in the Olympics in ‘26 as that tourney is important for our development - if I were US soccer I’d put Poch in charge of that tourney too as several guys may be on the ‘ 30 WC team

Unless - Cavan is considered good enough to make the 2028 Copa America roster! (Assuming USA gets an invitation.)

Teams are not required to release players for the Olympics. MLS probably will. But Cavan will be in Man City by then, unless he is loaned elsewhere.

 

[RUChet]

Unless - Cavan is considered good enough to make the 2028 Copa America roster! (Assuming USA gets an invitation.)

Teams are not required to release players for the Olympics. MLS probably will. But Cavan will be in Man City by then, unless he is loaned elsewhere.

Should be interesting to watch

let’s hope he’s not the next Adu and more like the next Donovan but better

 

[RUChet]

Love this roster! Nearly all of the young guys that should have been included were. I hope they get some playing time in the upcoming 4 friendly's although they won't count to "cap tie" them to USMNT. We need that for a couple of them. Most of them are also US reared which is always nice vs. relying on dual-nationals bred elsewhere. Of course want those guys too, but we need to move our program forward by developing players as well.

16-year-old Cavan Sullivan named to USMNT squad, Christian Pulisic left out

Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan, 16, headlines the 28-player roster named by U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino for the upcoming FIFA international window.

www.espn.com

 

[Erial_Lion]

Unless - Cavan is considered good enough to make the 2028 Copa America roster! (Assuming USA gets an invitation.)

Teams are not required to release players for the Olympics. MLS probably will. But Cavan will be in Man City by then, unless he is loaned elsewhere.

I really hope that we can work out agreements with clubs to get a relatively full strength Olympic team...while also giving those guys a shot at the Olympics rather than the Copa America (we've got plenty of guys over 23 to use at Copa America). Sullivan, Gozo, Albert, Kochen (though his stock has fallen a bit), Banks (if we can work that one out), etc. It's probably a pipe dream, but Brazil was even able to work it out with Neymar when they hosted, so I'd even love a few impact overage guys. We know that the Olympics aren't a big deal on the men's side, but it's another great opportunity on home soil to help pull in casual fans and progress forward.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Love this roster! Nearly all of the young guys that should have been included were. I hope they get some playing time in the upcoming 4 friendly's although they won't count to "cap tie" them to USMNT. We need that for a couple of them. Most of them are also US reared which is always nice vs. relying on dual-nationals bred elsewhere. Of course want those guys too, but we need to move our program forward by developing players as well.

16-year-old Cavan Sullivan named to USMNT squad, Christian Pulisic left out

Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan, 16, headlines the 28-player roster named by U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino for the upcoming FIFA international window.

www.espn.com

It's a great roster...perfect mix of young guys with some experienced guys around them to keep some continuity and set an example. Wish that Luna was healthy, but everything else looks good to me.

 

[RUChet]

It's a great roster...perfect mix of young guys with some experienced guys around them to keep some continuity and set an example. Wish that Luna was healthy, but everything else looks good to me.

Maybe just missing Benjamin Cremaschi

I really don’t want to see Freese in goal

 

[Doctor Worm]

Julian Hall has stated that while he is accepting the invitation, he remains undecided as to whether he will cast his lot with USA or with Poland.

 

[RUChet]

Julian Hall has stated that while he is accepting the invitation, he remains undecided as to whether he will cast his lot with USA or with Poland.

Well we gotta get this kid - I know his mom is from Poland , but we need him

 

[Erial_Lion]

Disappointing...I think he's one of those dual-nationals whose decision is a difference maker (ie Rossi, Balogun, etc).

Ex-U.S. youth defender Noahkai Banks picks Germany over USMNT

The German Football Federation announced on Friday that coveted dual national defender Noahkai Banks has pledged his international future to Germany over the United States.

www.espn.com

 

[RUChet]

Disappointing...I think he's one of those dual-nationals whose decision is a difference maker (ie Rossi, Balogun, etc).

Ex-U.S. youth defender Noahkai Banks picks Germany over USMNT

The German Football Federation announced on Friday that coveted dual national defender Noahkai Banks has pledged his international future to Germany over the United States.

www.espn.com

It is but he was raised in Germany so feels like we didn’t get another steal like Balogun, Jedi, and Dest, vs. “losing him” like we gave with a couple guys to Mexico and that 1 guy to Bosnia.

Now Hall is dual national but raised here so if she chooses Poland it’s a “loss” vs steal.

 

[Erial_Lion]

It is but he was raised in Germany so feels like we didn’t get another steal like Balogun, Jedi, and Dest, vs. “losing him” like we gave with a couple guys to Mexico and that 1 guy to Bosnia.

Now Hall is dual national but raised here so if she chooses Poland it’s a “loss” vs steal.

Agree...but hurts more since he's been playing with our youth teams, has been in a national team camp before, etc. Germany was later to the party. And I really thought that he was going to pick us up until today.

 

[RUChet]

Agree...but hurts more since he's been playing with our youth teams, has been in a national team camp before, etc. Germany was later to the party. And I really thought that he was going to pick us up until today.

He would be competing for a starters role with us but Germany is so deep, we will see how he does

 

[Erial_Lion]

He would be competing for a starters role with us but Germany is so deep, we will see how he does

Yea, this one reminds me a bit of Rossi...never played in a world cup as he was always a fringe guy on the Italy squad (though he had some big performances for them), but would likely have almost certainly been playing in World Cups for us.

 

[Zak57]

Cavan Sullivan is for real. Wow this kid is impressive.

 

[Zak57]

Team looked really good. I know a friendly but we have something with a lot of these guys.

 

[RUChet]

100% great win today except the PK was a bad call.

Kids looked great- many of them

Sullivan handled the ball and dribbles with intent

Hall, Albert, Ellis, Gozo all looked real good

Berhalter has developed

excited for this cycle!

 

[RUChet]

Another nice win over Chile last night and our 4-1 drubbing of Peru looks better now that Mexico tied them 1-1.

We had a shaky first half but once we put in some vets on D in the second half, we started to dominate

lots of guys looked very good and some guys were shaky

Reyna - great game with confidence in tbe all and nice passes. He has talent

Hall, Albert, Sullivan - All had good moments especially Hall who looks very good

Berhalter - Perhaps our team MVP right now. Solid as a rock

Richards - elite. We have to find somebody to play next to him

Jedi, Adams, Freeman - earl rock solid

Dest - Not a good match until his nifty run towards goal that set up our goal

GKs - All had good moments and some shaky ones. Who is out number 1?

Our biggest holes are CB next to Richards and GK.

Live the youth movement but let’s see how they do vs Mexico in likely a pro Mexican crowd in AZ

 

[seansherm]

The more I see Berhalter the more I like. Still have to watch 2nd half of last night.

 

[RUChet]

The more I see Berhalter the more I like. Still have to watch 2nd half of last night.

From minute 60-90 we were a different team. Literally the moment we inserted Richards, trusty, freeman, Adams, Tillman the game changed - all those guys play in a top euro league

 

[T2Kplus20]

From minute 60-90 we were a different team. Literally the moment we inserted Richards, trusty, freeman, Adams, Tillman the game changed - all those guys play in a top euro league

They play in a top league, but they are not the top players of any teams (which essentially sums up the problem).

 

[RUChet]

They play in a top league, but they are not the top players of any teams (which essentially sums up the problem).

Wait a sec. Richards and Adams absolutely are top level guys . Freeman too new to Europe, Trusty and Tillman are average at best in their league

But Richards and Adams are very very good pros

But S Korea got to WC semis with maybe at best 1 guy as best player on a team on a top league and fewer top league guys than us.

 

[seansherm]

From minute 60-90 we were a different team. Literally the moment we inserted Richards, trusty, freeman, Adams, Tillman the game changed - all those guys play in a top euro league

That makes sense, the starting group was young, and each one of those is an upgrade on the guy substituted. Wasn't a fan of either of the starting CB's. Pierre? seemed tall.

 

[RUChet]

That makes sense, the starting group was young, and each one of those is an upgrade on the guy substituted. Wasn't a fan of either of the starting CB's. Pierre? seemed tall.

He’s 6-5 but 18. Big upside no pun intended. The other was Miles Robinson who needs to never play for our team again