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Posted
  On 2/15/2021 at 7:08 AM, UDontKnow said:

So there is no automatic starter at striker? (Should be Sargent)

Hoppe is not listed as a striker. (Should be Tier 2)

Disagree on Reyna. (Should be Tier 1)

Disagree on Weah. He's showing up in limited minutes. (Should be Tier 1)

Green is not listed as a midfielder. (Should be Tier 2)

JMO, on Pomykal - has not been in full fitness for a while. (Should be Tier 3)

JMO, Cardoso - gaining more minutes for Internacional that is competing for league championship. (Should be Tier 2)

Ream is not listed a center back. (Should be Tier 2)

Yedlin is not listed as a fullback. (Should be Tier 2)

Hamid is not listed as a goalkeeper. Yes he's recovering from a sports hernia repair, but really need an older experienced GK in the fray. (Should be Tier 2)

Disagree on Johnson. Another option as an older experienced GK. (Should be Tier 2)

I'm sure I missed multiple names and can make additional arguments for Tier placements.

Expand  

Good points. And that’s what I like about this graphic showing tiers as there topics  open for discussion. 
 

our younger players are having some struggles. From dest admitting he’s lost confidence to Reyna and Musah not playing as well as they have been.  For national team both are better centrally. Who plays there next to mckennie?  Musah plays wing for Valencia and has been underwhelming. Reyna isn’t great at wing. Does Morris play wing over either of them?  It’s likely that Musah choose US if he continues to underwhelm. 
 

what the hell happened to dest?  He was starting and then there is a headline in late Jan. saying he’s lost confidence since the summer. 
These guys are young and good but that’s no guarantee. 

Andrew Carlton was rated as most talented us player at u17 World Cup a couple of years ago. Higher rated than Weah or Sargent. He ended up getting dismissed by Atlanta and then a USL team and now finds himself practically out of serious professional opportunities.  

  • Like 1
Posted

Hamid is a backup on a MLS only squad... maybe. 

There is no confidence in his being able to provide dependable play between the pipes for a national team squad.

That list has to be from last summer.

  • Like 1
Posted

FYI.  May be an uneducated, snap judgement but I turned it on in the 65th minute or so just in time to see Dest get absolutely used by Mbappe.  He was replaced a couple of mins later.  It could have just been a coincidence; however, I'm not so sure.  Barca was down either 2-1 or 3-1 when he was replaced by another true LB.  Not sure that would be the go-to if needing goals.

Posted
  On 2/17/2021 at 4:43 AM, Knoxtnhorn said:

FYI.  May be an uneducated, snap judgement but I turned it on in the 65th minute or so just in time to see Dest get absolutely used by Mbappe.  He was replaced a couple of mins later.  It could have just been a coincidence; however, I'm not so sure.  Barca was down either 2-1 or 3-1 when he was replaced by another true LB.  Not sure that would be the go-to if needing goals.

Expand  

 

That might be snap judgement. Mbappe went off yesterday, to the point everyone is ready to anoint him as the best player in the world.

Plus that was the goal for 2-1, if you watch it the ball takes a bad bounce off Bernabeu's deflection. His back heel sent it straight at Dest, but with spin. When it hit the ground it bounced to Dest's left and right onto Mbappe's lap for an easy goal.

If anything he looked lazy on the 3rd goal (the one Mbappe didn't score), which might have been why he was subbed off. I'm not sure WTF he's doing there.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
  On 2/17/2021 at 3:41 PM, Captain Ron said:

If anything he looked lazy on the 3rd goal (the one Mbappe didn't score), which might have been why he was subbed off. I'm not sure WTF he's doing there.

Expand  

I think this is the play I saw.  Shot crossed the front of the goal from the left side.

Posted
  On 2/17/2021 at 4:28 PM, Knoxtnhorn said:

I think this is the play I saw.  Shot crossed the front of the goal from the left side.

Expand  

3rd goal was off of a free kick. 

Two PSG players moving toward the goal and the shorter one angles from back post to near post to draw a CD off of the taller guy who went toward the back post and he headed it in. Don’t know where Dest was on the play, I was falling asleep as I was skimming through the highlights. 

Posted (edited)

The 2 goals are at 8:20 (2-1) and 9:33 (3-1). This is also a shot attempt at 9:20 that he is burned a little on.

To be fair, the entire back-line of Barca appears to be on their heels in this game, certainly in the 2nd half when PSG dominated.

 

Watch 3-1, I'm not really sure Dest is doing anything wrong. He doesn't have the height to match the size of PSG on that play. He might be there to play the short ball, but it never happens. The goal scorer isn't his man ever on the play.

Edited by Captain Ron
Posted
  On 2/17/2021 at 10:24 PM, UDontKnow said:

 

Expand  

Lille vs Ajax is going to be a really good match up.

It'll be cool to see how Marsch does against a top 6 La Liga side with RB.  

I expect Hoffenheim to destroy Molde hopefully Richards will get a lot of minutes in both games.

Posted
  On 2/17/2021 at 4:46 PM, Captain Ron said:

The 2 goals are at 8:20 (2-1) and 9:33 (3-1). This is also a shot attempt at 9:20 that he is burned a little on.

To be fair, the entire back-line of Barca appears to be on their heels in this game, certainly in the 2nd half when PSG dominated.

 

Watch 3-1, I'm not really sure Dest is doing anything wrong. He doesn't have the height to match the size of PSG on that play. He might be there to play the short ball, but it never happens. The goal scorer isn't his man ever on the play.

Expand  

Yeah. Barca's D has been porous for awhile now. I guess you could make the argument that if Dest really really shone then he could potentially cover up some of their issues, but were he capable of that and delivering on it he'd be bar none one of the best backs in the world. He isn't that yet. That doesn't mean he isn't really, really good. Him starting that game is a much bigger deal than him getting subbed off, imo. PSG is fucking nasty on attack. A couple of those goals are just shit that you can't really do anything about. 

Posted
  On 2/15/2021 at 7:08 AM, UDontKnow said:

So there is no automatic starter at striker? (Should be Sargent)

Hoppe is not listed as a striker. (Should be Tier 2)

Disagree on Reyna. (Should be Tier 1)

Disagree on Weah. He's showing up in limited minutes. (Should be Tier 1)

Green is not listed as a midfielder. (Should be Tier 2)

JMO, on Pomykal - has not been in full fitness for a while. (Should be Tier 3)

JMO, Cardoso - gaining more minutes for Internacional that is competing for league championship. (Should be Tier 2)

Ream is not listed a center back. (Should be Tier 2)

Yedlin is not listed as a fullback. (Should be Tier 2)

Hamid is not listed as a goalkeeper. Yes he's recovering from a sports hernia repair, but really need an older experienced GK in the fray. (Should be Tier 2)

Disagree on Johnson. Another option as an older experienced GK. (Should be Tier 2)

I'm sure I missed multiple names and can make additional arguments for Tier placements.

Expand  

This^^^!  Matthew Hoppe is being monitored by all of the big money clubs after scoring 5 goals in his first 8 starts for Schalke.  He is only 19.  Every player over 27 years old should effectively be dropped from the squad because we need to be focused on our youth movement for the 2026 World Cup in the US. This means our strikers should be in order: Sargent, either or Hoppe/Feirreira. Stop wasting time with Altidore and Zardes. Their time has past. Also, Reyna and Weah are CLEARLY Tier 1 (Automatic Starters in Critical games). We need to find formations that get Sargent or one of Hoppe/Feirreira on the field with Pullisic, Weah, and Reyna. That means Reyna or Pullisic moves to the free 8 position, like Kevin De Bruyne.

 

UMNT Tiers.png

Posted
  On 2/19/2021 at 5:13 PM, Ollie Slatt said:

Do Reyna or Pulisic play enough defense to play as an 8 for us against decent teams.  I suspect our core midfield going forward will be Adams, McKennie and either Musah or Aaronson.   

 

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I'm not sure what you mean. 8 is (traditionally) a midfield position that McKennie would fill. Maybe Adams depending on formation. Pulisic and Reyna will be at the 10 and 7 spots - likely respectively - but both of them can play each. We should be deep enough to where neither are ever in the middle of the pitch. I think whether either of them could line up at 9 is a more interesting hypothetical.

Posted
  On 2/19/2021 at 4:55 PM, UT Lax said:

This^^^!  Matthew Hoppe is being monitored by all of the big money clubs after scoring 5 goals in his first 8 starts for Schalke.  He is only 19.  Every player over 27 years old should effectively be dropped from the squad because we need to be focused on our youth movement for the 2026 World Cup in the US. This means our strikers should be in order: Sargent, either or Hoppe/Feirreira. Stop wasting time with Altidore and Zardes. Their time has past. Also, Reyna and Weah are CLEARLY Tier 1 (Automatic Starters in Critical games). We need to find formations that get Sargent or one of Hoppe/Feirreira on the field with Pullisic, Weah, and Reyna. That means Reyna or Pullisic moves to the free 8 position, like Kevin De Bruyne.

 

UMNT Tiers.png

Expand  

Lol where did you get that graphic? Who tf is putting Gio in tier 2 and not even lisitng Yedlin?

Posted
  On 2/19/2021 at 5:34 PM, ztejas said:

I'm not sure what you mean. 8 is (traditionally) a midfield position that McKennie would fill. Maybe Adams depending on formation. Pulisic and Reyna will be at the 10 and 7 spots - likely respectively - but both of them can play each. We should be deep enough to where neither are ever in the middle of the pitch. I think whether either of them could line up at 9 is a more interesting hypothetical.

Expand  

A free 8 is a more attacking, free roaming 10 position that Guardiola used with De Bruyne and David Silva. Silva and De Bruyne basicall divide up halves of the field (left vs right instead of offense vs defense). You clearly need a strong #6 defensive midfielder (Tyler Adams) as you push forward your free 8s on attack. Your free 8s can overlap and the wingers can go outside while the free 8s pushes out to the flank as De Bruyne frequenty does.

The issue for our core is that I don't like a false 9, so I want to squeeze a Sargent or Hoppe/Ferriera in with 3 natural wingers (7/11) in Pulisic, Reyna, and Weah. Yes, you could have Reyna or Pulisic play the 10, but a free 8 role would allow both of them to be more involved in overlapping on the wing where they are more naturally suited and also makes them much more difficult to mark.  

Free eights

One of the most important features of the City team that accumulated a record 100 points in the 2017/18 Premier League season was Guardiola’s deployment of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne together in central attacking midfield roles.

They worked in tandem as playmakers, operating in the two half-spaces to create chances for Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.

This role is often referred to as a free eight, which differs from an eight in that the players are not expected to arrive late in the penalty area or provide the engine in midfield.

Instead, they weave between the opposition lines, floating somewhere between the conventional eight and 10 positions. De Bruyne and Silva still play as free eights on occasion, although the Belgian drifts out to the right flank more regularly these days.

THE NUMBER 8s OR ARE THEY 10s

Manchester City has two of the best central midfielders in world football in David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. Trying to characterise their positions and roles isn’t easy.

Lee writes,

Pep Guardiola instructed his two number ‘8’s, typically Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, to play much further forward in positions that are more typically occupied by number ‘10’s.This positional concept was achievable at City because Pep Guardiola has complete trust in those who play in deeper positions to be able to progress the ball forward without relying on the two central midfielders.Lee Scott –        Mastering the Premier League

Speaking with Lee on twitter to try and understand how these two players actually play in real life, he says that they defend as 8s but only as part of the overall structure of the team. In possession, they are very much 10s.

Moreover, his book tells us that the key to the positioning of the two number 8’s is that they occupy spaces in the field known as the half-spaces. We know that under the hood, the Mezzala role is one which is coded to work this way. However, if you analyse and watch the positions of other players they too will work in these spaces.

So how do we get players to defend as 8s and attack as 10s? I’m going to need these pair far up the pitch when we’re building out from the back, but getting stuck in when we’re under pressure.

 

 

Posted (edited)
  On 2/19/2021 at 6:16 PM, UT Lax said:

A free 8 is a more attacking, free roaming 10 position that Guardiola used with De Bruyne and David Silva. Silva and De Bruyne basicall divide up halves of the field (left vs right instead of offense vs defense). You clearly need a strong #6 defensive midfielder (Tyler Adams) as you push forward your free 8s on attack. Your free 8s can overlap and the wingers can go outside while the free 8s pushes out to the flank as De Bruyne frequenty does.

The issue for our core is that I don't like a false 9, so I want to squeeze a Sargent or Hoppe/Ferriera in with 3 natural wingers (7/11) in Pulisic, Reyna, and Weah. Yes, you could have Reyna or Pulisic play the 10, but a free 8 role would allow both of them to be more involved in overlapping on the wing where they are more naturally suited and also makes them much more difficult to mark.  

Free eights

One of the most important features of the City team that accumulated a record 100 points in the 2017/18 Premier League season was Guardiola’s deployment of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne together in central attacking midfield roles.

They worked in tandem as playmakers, operating in the two half-spaces to create chances for Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.

This role is often referred to as a free eight, which differs from an eight in that the players are not expected to arrive late in the penalty area or provide the engine in midfield.

Instead, they weave between the opposition lines, floating somewhere between the conventional eight and 10 positions. De Bruyne and Silva still play as free eights on occasion, although the Belgian drifts out to the right flank more regularly these days.

THE NUMBER 8s OR ARE THEY 10s

Manchester City has two of the best central midfielders in world football in David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. Trying to characterise their positions and roles isn’t easy.

Lee writes,

Pep Guardiola instructed his two number ‘8’s, typically Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, to play much further forward in positions that are more typically occupied by number ‘10’s.This positional concept was achievable at City because Pep Guardiola has complete trust in those who play in deeper positions to be able to progress the ball forward without relying on the two central midfielders.Lee Scott –        Mastering the Premier League

Speaking with Lee on twitter to try and understand how these two players actually play in real life, he says that they defend as 8s but only as part of the overall structure of the team. In possession, they are very much 10s.

Moreover, his book tells us that the key to the positioning of the two number 8’s is that they occupy spaces in the field known as the half-spaces. We know that under the hood, the Mezzala role is one which is coded to work this way. However, if you analyse and watch the positions of other players they too will work in these spaces.

So how do we get players to defend as 8s and attack as 10s? I’m going to need these pair far up the pitch when we’re building out from the back, but getting stuck in when we’re under pressure.

 

 

Expand  

So.... one of them could be an 8 if you are putting 2 8s on the pitch? Sure. I don't think that's what Ollie meant. All I'm saying is that Pulisic or Reyna should never be playing behind McKennie in the midfield. If you want to put one of them side by side with McKennie and call them both 8s then go for it. That doesn't make Puli or Reyna our "8". 

(This is obviously mostly semantics)

Edited by ztejas
Posted

I was responding to UT Lax's earlier post about one of them being an 8 alongside McKennie.  I just don't see it because of their defense.  Reyna may develop his game where he could fill that role, but for now he should probably be a 10 (maybe even a false 9).  Pulisic should play on the wing.  

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
  On 2/19/2021 at 7:57 PM, Ollie Slatt said:

I was responding to UT Lax's earlier post about one of them being an 8 alongside McKennie.  I just don't see it because of their defense.  Reyna may develop his game where he could fill that role, but for now he should probably be a 10 (maybe even a false 9).  Pulisic should play on the wing.  

Expand  

If I was making a starting 11, I would set up a 4-3-3 with Reyna as my #10.  (Sorry about the shit quality on this).  I'm not including Musah because he still isn't cap tied to us.  Also I'm starting Dest at LB so we can put Cannon at RB.  Honestly RCB and ST are the two spots I feel like are still wide open.  

              Hoppe

Pulisic               Weah

            Reyna

Adams         Mckennie 

Dest Brooks Richards Cannon

            Steffen

Posted (edited)

.

Pulisic may need to move on if Tuchel is staying and going to continue to win.

Pulisic out for Southampton trip; Tuchel noncommittal on USMNT star’s future

[video on linked page below]


Christian Pulisic will miss Chelsea’s trip to Southampton this weekend (Watch live, 7:30 am ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com) with what Thomas Tuchel called “some little issues in the calf,” though the Blues’ new manager insisted it wasn’t yet an injury, but more of a pre-injury injury.

The 2020-21 Premier League season has certainly been a trying one — largely due to injuries — for Pulisic, who has made just 15 appearance (nine starts) with just one goal and on assist in under 1,000 minutes through Chelsea’s first 24 games. And yet, Tuchel says he is “not worried” about the 22-year-old’s growing injury history.

Tuchel, who gave Pulisic his professional debut when they were both at Borussia Dortmund, reaffirmed his confidence in the USMNT star and his belief that Pulisic will inevitably return to form once he moves past his injury issues — quotes from Chelsea’s official website:

“We are not concerned or worried but the medical department is on that. Now we have some little issues in the calf and he stopped training yesterday before it became an injury so I would not say that it is an injury at the moment. It’s risk management that relates to his history of having injuries so we do not want to enter in the same cycle.

“It’s sometimes like this and the main thing for Christian is to stay positive, keep his head up and be ready because he can have a big impact when he starts and he can have a big impact when he comes from the bench with his intensity.”

As for Pulisic’s longer-term future at Chelsea, Tuchel was about as committal as one can be without saying yes — or, is it as noncommittal as one can be without saying no?

“Yes, today, clearly yes, but it is not only my point of view. We have to see. For me, clearly yes because Chelsea bought Christian for a reason, for his quality and his potential so it’s our job to bring out the best in him. He proved in many weeks that he has the level to be a Chelsea regular player, to have a big impact at this club and it’s a challenge now to maintain the level and to keep improving.”

Pulisic’s ongoing struggles — the injuries, plus Tuchel’s tactical ideas and preconceived ideas about him as a player — were a main topic on this week’s ProSoccerTalk video series (see above video), so take 7 minutes, 36 seconds out of your day and let the PST staff break down why you should (or shouldn’t) be worried.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/pulisic-southampton-trip-tuchel-not-152515305.html

 

 

 

 

Edited by Napoleon
Posted
  On 2/20/2021 at 4:37 AM, Napoleon said:

.

Pulisic may need to move on if Tuchel is staying and going to continue to win.

Pulisic out for Southampton trip; Tuchel noncommittal on USMNT star’s future

[video on linked page below]


Christian Pulisic will miss Chelsea’s trip to Southampton this weekend (Watch live, 7:30 am ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com) with what Thomas Tuchel called “some little issues in the calf,” though the Blues’ new manager insisted it wasn’t yet an injury, but more of a pre-injury injury.

The 2020-21 Premier League season has certainly been a trying one — largely due to injuries — for Pulisic, who has made just 15 appearance (nine starts) with just one goal and on assist in under 1,000 minutes through Chelsea’s first 24 games. And yet, Tuchel says he is “not worried” about the 22-year-old’s growing injury history.

Tuchel, who gave Pulisic his professional debut when they were both at Borussia Dortmund, reaffirmed his confidence in the USMNT star and his belief that Pulisic will inevitably return to form once he moves past his injury issues — quotes from Chelsea’s official website:

“We are not concerned or worried but the medical department is on that. Now we have some little issues in the calf and he stopped training yesterday before it became an injury so I would not say that it is an injury at the moment. It’s risk management that relates to his history of having injuries so we do not want to enter in the same cycle.

“It’s sometimes like this and the main thing for Christian is to stay positive, keep his head up and be ready because he can have a big impact when he starts and he can have a big impact when he comes from the bench with his intensity.”

As for Pulisic’s longer-term future at Chelsea, Tuchel was about as committal as one can be without saying yes — or, is it as noncommittal as one can be without saying no?

“Yes, today, clearly yes, but it is not only my point of view. We have to see. For me, clearly yes because Chelsea bought Christian for a reason, for his quality and his potential so it’s our job to bring out the best in him. He proved in many weeks that he has the level to be a Chelsea regular player, to have a big impact at this club and it’s a challenge now to maintain the level and to keep improving.”

Pulisic’s ongoing struggles — the injuries, plus Tuchel’s tactical ideas and preconceived ideas about him as a player — were a main topic on this week’s ProSoccerTalk video series (see above video), so take 7 minutes, 36 seconds out of your day and let the PST staff break down why you should (or shouldn’t) be worried.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/pulisic-southampton-trip-tuchel-not-152515305.html

 

 

 

 

Expand  

I never liked Chelsea anyway!

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted
  On 2/19/2021 at 6:16 PM, UT Lax said:

A free 8 is a more attacking, free roaming 10 position that Guardiola used with De Bruyne and David Silva. Silva and De Bruyne basicall divide up halves of the field (left vs right instead of offense vs defense). You clearly need a strong #6 defensive midfielder (Tyler Adams) as you push forward your free 8s on attack. Your free 8s can overlap and the wingers can go outside while the free 8s pushes out to the flank as De Bruyne frequenty does.

The issue for our core is that I don't like a false 9, so I want to squeeze a Sargent or Hoppe/Ferriera in with 3 natural wingers (7/11) in Pulisic, Reyna, and Weah. Yes, you could have Reyna or Pulisic play the 10, but a free 8 role would allow both of them to be more involved in overlapping on the wing where they are more naturally suited and also makes them much more difficult to mark.  

Free eights

One of the most important features of the City team that accumulated a record 100 points in the 2017/18 Premier League season was Guardiola’s deployment of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne together in central attacking midfield roles.

They worked in tandem as playmakers, operating in the two half-spaces to create chances for Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.

This role is often referred to as a free eight, which differs from an eight in that the players are not expected to arrive late in the penalty area or provide the engine in midfield.

Instead, they weave between the opposition lines, floating somewhere between the conventional eight and 10 positions. De Bruyne and Silva still play as free eights on occasion, although the Belgian drifts out to the right flank more regularly these days.

THE NUMBER 8s OR ARE THEY 10s

Manchester City has two of the best central midfielders in world football in David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. Trying to characterise their positions and roles isn’t easy.

Lee writes,

Pep Guardiola instructed his two number ‘8’s, typically Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, to play much further forward in positions that are more typically occupied by number ‘10’s.This positional concept was achievable at City because Pep Guardiola has complete trust in those who play in deeper positions to be able to progress the ball forward without relying on the two central midfielders.Lee Scott –        Mastering the Premier League

Speaking with Lee on twitter to try and understand how these two players actually play in real life, he says that they defend as 8s but only as part of the overall structure of the team. In possession, they are very much 10s.

Moreover, his book tells us that the key to the positioning of the two number 8’s is that they occupy spaces in the field known as the half-spaces. We know that under the hood, the Mezzala role is one which is coded to work this way. However, if you analyse and watch the positions of other players they too will work in these spaces.

So how do we get players to defend as 8s and attack as 10s? I’m going to need these pair far up the pitch when we’re building out from the back, but getting stuck in when we’re under pressure.

 

 

Expand  

reposted plaintext for darkmode viz

+++

them could line up at 9 is a more interesting hypothetical.

A free 8 is a more attacking, free roaming 10 position that Guardiola used with De Bruyne and David Silva. Silva and De Bruyne basicall divide up halves of the field (left vs right instead of offense vs defense). You clearly need a strong #6 defensive midfielder (Tyler Adams) as you push forward your free 8s on attack. Your free 8s can overlap and the wingers can go outside while the free 8s pushes out to the flank as De Bruyne frequenty does.

The issue for our core is that I don't like a false 9, so I want to squeeze a Sargent or Hoppe/Ferriera in with 3 natural wingers (7/11) in Pulisic, Reyna, and Weah. Yes, you could have Reyna or Pulisic play the 10, but a free 8 role would allow both of them to be more involved in overlapping on the wing where they are more naturally suited and also makes them much more difficult to mark.  

Free eights

One of the most important features of the City team that accumulated a record 100 points in the 2017/18 Premier League season was Guardiola’s deployment of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne together in central attacking midfield roles.

They worked in tandem as playmakers, operating in the two half-spaces to create chances for Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.

This role is often referred to as a free eight, which differs from an eight in that the players are not expected to arrive late in the penalty area or provide the engine in midfield.

Instead, they weave between the opposition lines, floating somewhere between the conventional eight and 10 positions. De Bruyne and Silva still play as free eights on occasion, although the Belgian drifts out to the right flank more regularly these days.

THE NUMBER 8s OR ARE THEY 10s

Manchester City has two of the best central midfielders in world football in David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. Trying to characterise their positions and roles isn’t easy.

Lee writes,

Pep Guardiola instructed his two number ‘8’s, typically Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, to play much further forward in positions that are more typically occupied by number ‘10’s.This positional concept was achievable at City because Pep Guardiola has complete trust in those who play in deeper positions to be able to progress the ball forward without relying on the two central midfielders.Lee Scott –        Mastering the Premier League

Speaking with Lee on twitter to try and understand how these two players actually play in real life, he says that they defend as 8s but only as part of the overall structure of the team. In possession, they are very much 10s.

Moreover, his book tells us that the key to the positioning of the two number 8’s is that they occupy spaces in the field known as the half-spaces. We know that under the hood, the Mezzala role is one which is coded to work this way. However, if you analyse and watch the positions of other players they too will work in these spaces.

So how do we get players to defend as 8s and attack as 10s? I’m going to need these pair far up the pitch when we’re building out from the back, but getting stuck in when we’re under pressure.

 

 

Posted
  On 2/20/2021 at 7:06 AM, UDontKnow said:

I don't follow any European soccer leagues as closely as you guys do. How was Pulisic treated by Tuchel at Dortmund?

Expand  

 

Tuchel moved him down the pecking order behind Sancho. I think given Sancho’s form at the time it was warranted.

I didn’t watch Dortmund a ton, but I always felt Pulisic had trouble cracking any starting lineup or getting significant minutes. 

Posted

Guenduzi (sp? / French bitch) is such a whining flopping bitch. He is like a poor man’s Sergio Buckets (Barça/Spain) starter kit with David Luis’s hair. 

Adams steps in for the steal and the assist for RB Leipzig. 
 

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
  On 2/22/2021 at 2:42 PM, Captain Ron said:

This is bad news, sucks for Morris.

More information here:

https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/02/22/jordan-morris-knee-injury-swansea-city-usmnt

Expand  

 

  On 2/22/2021 at 3:13 PM, dogbreath said:

Aaronson against 2nd place team.  Two hockey assists for the energizer bunny and a nice uncalled foul. 

Expand  

 

1) Sucks for Morris, but fortunately we have about 3x as much depth as we've had in the past.

I'm thinking that if he has surgery soon and does well with the rehab, he may get games before Christmas 2021.

Even if he doesn't get back until early 2022, the World Cup starting in November rather than June is huge for his hopes for making it to the World Cup.


2) Aaronson is ridiculous.

I know that these are his highlights, but it wasn't just that he was involved, it's that he was hustling on defense (again, they're his highlights), but also his control, his fakes, his passes... they are closer to an 18/19 year-old CR7 than any American player I can recall from the past. He is shifty, sudden, and looking to be dangerous whenever he gets the ball.

I don't think that he'll be at Salzburg long (meaning I could see him getting sold this summer) and I definitely see him playing a major role for the national team this year. He might be too good for the Olympic squad, but I am sure that US Soccer is hoping that he can be a part.

  • Like 1
Posted

The Wizard of Turin strikes again!

 

PS- If Dest had gone to Bayern, then Dest, Chris Richards, and Pulisic could have been playing together on the same super team. Ay caramba!

But the city of Barcelona vs the city of Munich... it depends on what you want out of off-the-field food & fun.

Posted
  On 2/23/2021 at 6:30 AM, Napoleon said:

The Wizard of Turin strikes again!

 

PS- If Dest had gone to Bayern, then Dest, Chris Richards, and Pulisic could have been playing together on the same super team. Ay caramba!

But the city of Barcelona vs the city of Munich... it depends on what you want out of off-the-field food & fun.

Expand  

Understandable that the Dutch born player doesn't want to support anything German. Then again it worked out pretty damn well for Robben.

Posted
  On 2/23/2021 at 7:56 AM, shnsajax said:

Understandable that the Dutch born player doesn't want to support anything German. Then again it worked out pretty damn well for Robben.

Expand  


I took a few screenshots of local women on Tinder the last time I was in Barcelona (early June 2019) and there's a possibility that all types of scenery found in Barcelona are what convinced him to go there over Munich.

Slightly insane.

  • Like 1
Posted

Olympic Qualifying Preliminary Rosters for all are released.  No Pomykal.  Hopefully he's healthy for Olympics and US qualifies.

https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb...b461-387ad3f10f46/Preliminary_Rosters_MOQ.pdf

GKs:
Drake Callender, 97, MIA
Jonathan Klinsmann, 97, LAG
Matt Freese, 98, PHI
David Ochoa, 01, RSL
Brady Scott, 99, AUS

Defenders:
Julian Araujo, 01, LAG
George Bello, 02, ATL
Kyle Duncan, 97, NYRB
Marco Farfan, 98, LAFC
Justen Glad, 97, RSL
Chris Gloster, 00, PSV (actually unattached)
Aaron Herrera, 97, RSL
Aboubacar Keita, 00, CLB
Henry Kessler, 98, NER
Mauricio Pineda, 97, CHI
Donovan Pines, 98, DCU
Bryan Reynolds, 01, Roma
Miles Robinson, 97, ATL
James Sands, 00, NYC
Auston Trusty, 98, COL
Sam Vines, 99, COL (Listed as MF)

Midfielders:
Brenden Aaronson, 00, RB Salzburg (But listed as PHI)
Efra Alvarez (!), 02, LAG (Listed in Mexico's provisional roster as well
Cole Bassett, 01, COL
Gianluca Busio, 02, SKC
Caden Clark, 03, NYRB
Johnny, 01, Internacional
Hassani Dotson, 97, MNU
Brooks Lennon, 97, ATL
Djordje Mihailovic, 98, MTL (listed as CHI)
Keaton Parks, 97, NYCFC
Andres Perea, 00, OCSC
Brandon Servania, 99, FCD
Tanner Tessmann, 01, FCD
Jackson Yueill, 97, SJE
Eryk Williamson, 97, POR
Frankie Amaya, 99, FCC (listed as FW)


Forwards:
Cade Cowell, 03, SJE
Konrad De La Fuente, 01, Barcelona
Jeremy Ebobisse, 97, POR
Jesus Ferreira, 00, FCD
Jonathan Lewis, 97, COL
Uly Llanez, 01, Wolfsburg
Benji Michel, 97, OCSC (not listed in Haiti's roster)
Ricardo Pepi, 03, FCD
Sebastian Saucedo, 97, Pumas UNAM
Sebastian Soto, 00, Norwich City

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
  On 2/23/2021 at 7:31 AM, shnsajax said:

As someone who lightly supports Dortmund, give me this all fucking day over Chelsea.

Expand  

Yeah, well, Bayern might be my least favorite team in Europe. Maybe it's a great move for him personally but I'm throwing up in my mouth at the idea of having to try and cheer for him in that shirt.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

GKs: I am interested to see how Klinsmann's boy does - not sure how much he will feature.

Defenders: Chris Gloster and Bryan Reynolds need to see heavy minutes (duh!). I want to see if Sam Vines is truly an option at LB for the MNT. I also want to see if the George Bello hype is substantiated.

Midfielders:  Brenden Aaronson and Johnny Cardoso are the automatic picks here (duh!). Efrain Alvarez has a better path to international play with Mexico. I wouldn't mind seeing Djordje Mihailovic getting some burn.

Forwards: I feel that there is serious depth here. I think Konrad de la Fuente needs to start. I would like to see Sebastian Soto get a lot of minutes. You can't go wrong with Ulysses Llanez. Jesus Ferreira is solid, too.

 

I know he's already senior MNT material, but I was wondering whether or not Yunus Musah should have received an invitation to show US Soccer's continued interest in him and maybe have him train/play with other guys that are in the senior MNT pool. But he might be better served staying with Valencia. I dunno, what do y'all think?

Posted

federation agm this weekend....

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