The objective of this particular Gold Cup, imo, is to evaluate and integrate potential contributors for WCQ. I'd rather he makes mistakes and learns in Gold Cup than in a WCQ or WC game. Roldan is even less experienced than Acosta when it comes to MNT. So I am a little puzzled that you are not willing to let Acosta learn "at the expense of the USMNT in an important tourney" but are advocating to modify formation so that Roldan can, well, gain experience in an important tourney. (Not arguing who's better here. I haven't seen enough Sounders games to form any opinion on Roldan.)
He already has. I'm a little puzzled that your are not willing to let Roldan learn "at the expense of the USMNT in an important tourney". Care to help me?
The idea that the USMNT is going to be led in central mdifeld by two or three MLSers without big league experience is MLS.com fantasy. It might happen because our talent won't be good enough. But it's not exactly encouraging.
Yes, he should be learning in the off-year GC. That's the perfect time for it. I think Dax was the worst player on the field except maybe Villafana. Acosta had nothing to do with Dax's giveaways and that's been an issue with Dax for as long as he's been in MLS. It's been noted by plenty of people on this very board. Dax and Acosta played great against Ghana, they didn't against Panama. I think you, personally, like to pin the blame on the player you don't rate as opposed to simply accepting that the team as a whole played like shit. Guzan was the only player who wasn't bad. You have said before that you like Acosta going forward, I personally don't think that him and Dax are a great partnership because I believe Acosta should be paired with a more physical player. Is Roldan that player? I also don't think Roldan is a better player than Acosta this season in MLS. The roster setup is weird. I think the midfield should be Acosta/Roldan but BOTH need some type of creativity in front of them. That's where I think we're lacking on this roster overall. To the bolded: Roldan turned 22 last month.
Yes, time is running out. And we have not seen one minute of Bradley's partner in Toronto, Marco Delgado. Edit: Suppose we give Dax one other partner in mid, instead of Acosta, before we condemn him forever. Fair enough?
But we've seen what Acosta can do with another midfield partner, which is play well. Hell, he and Dax both played well together. Delgado doesn't deserve a call-up right now. Same with Trapp and Polster, imo.
Acosta gave up the goal against Mexico and the goal against Panama. Acosta always gives it up when it counts. Any good team is going to target him as the USMNT weak point on defense. I'm sorry but he's a donkey. You're not that stupid, Vexco. So what gives? Are you being paid, is it part of your job? Eurosnob? You work for NE Patriots? You can tell me. I wont say anything....
To fault him, alone, for either goal is laughable at best. Both goals came from what is clearly our weakest spot on the field: left side of defense. You've clearly lost all objectivity so I'm not sure why you can't just admit your biases already. Clearly people can see he had a bad game. That doesn't retroactively make every game he's played for us bad, or even the majority of them.
This is pure nonsense. Seriously, if you think Acosta is, in your words, "a donkey," then I'd suggest not watching USMNT games for the next 12 years or so. Not only do I think he's going to start in Russia, but also in the next two World Cups after that, depending on where he ends up in Europe and how he matures there (and injuries, of course). Acosta is the future of the US midfield behind Pulisic. Better get used to it.
I'm sorry, but I have a cease and desist order for anyone using the term "donkey" to describe anyone other than Gyasi Zardes. I actually have that registered. That being said, has Acosta delivered any good set pieces for the US, outside of the one he scored on which can only be described as a ball my grandmother could have saved?
You might want to hit the brake on that buddy. After what I've seen against Panama, he still got a lot of work to do to lock down a starting midfield position for the US. Consistency, if one of those things he needs to work on.
Fernando Clavijo told me Acosta "will probably go to Europe in the next 12 months," and that's a good sign for FCD. https://t.co/VnsFQGeQCq— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) July 17, 2017
That's what I've been expecting for a while and a big reason they were upset McKinnie left because he was being lined up as the replacement. So I guess there are three possible dates. Leave right now but be behind training for new team - might be OK if not to big of an upgrade. Leave in the winter - better find a place to get playing time right away or WC spot could be in real jeopardy. Leave after WC - makes most sense as it lets FCD have him for this years run and he stays in shape in the spring run-up to the WC.
It all depends on the others that come in.......................... If FCD gets a bid that's "too good to turn down," then they'll cash in right now. As FCD fans our preference of course would be to have him the rest of the 2017 season. The preference of Euro clubs, of course, is to get him now in pre-season. Come on. Blaming those goals on Acosta is total nonsense. Particularly the one against Panama. At this point your bias is so extreme that you can't see the forest for the trees. Kellyn Rowe is roasted on the left wing, Zusi is beaten badly to a ball by Gabriel Torres.......whose shot rebounds off Guzan right to Camargo. Camargo still needs to do a lot of work to beat some other defenders before slotting it home. And yet the goal is Kellyn Acosta's "fault" because he could have done a better job of defending Camargo? Yes, he could have defended Camargo better, but the primary reason was gave up that goal was our defense on the left side was badly beaten. Its one thing to criticize a player. Its another to just go out of your way to blame a player for things that are clearly team breakdowns. And also credit is due to Mexico and Panama in those situations. That Mexico goal was a fantastic counterattack. They had an enormous amount of work to do in order to get from where Kellyn lost the ball to the back of the net...............
Kellyn Acosta was released from@the #USMNT roster last night. I’ve also heard a significant bid for him from an English was also recently rejected— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 23, 2019
I assume it was "club" that was omitted. Probably a Championship side. Damn shame; he should have gone abroad years ago.
Almost surely a Championship side, he'd get these opportunities because of an over-abundance of them w/ the NT, to wit I don't think he'd be more than a guy there like he is in MLS, but I wish they would have allowed him to move. FCD would have been more amenable because they are a more player-friendly club and see the big picture. While Colorado is very short-sighted, enjoying their overpaid names, who give them a better shot at remaining competitive yearly theoretically (when in actuality it's about half the time).
Hmm, I do wonder if he was released because there could be an upcoming transfer. If there was one bid, could there be others? I have heard so little in the rumor mill other than this bshredder tidbit.
They certainly would if you were there general manager. But you're not. Their organization thinks it's a good idea to do things like pay Tim Howard several million dollars a year in his late 30's to join an aging squad that could be solid for a year playing insufferable soccer before disappearing from relevancy again.
The MLSPA seems to only care about TC and S. They wax poetic about how it would hurt player negotiation leverage in transfers. I guess that is what they babble about. Well, once again, here is something that is preventing a MLSPA member (Acosta) from moving to where he will undoubtedly be paid more money. A sell-on clause. Colorado/MLS needs more from the English team than they are willing to pay because they have to share the proceeds with FCD. The same thing is happening with the Kaku move. There it is the vigorish that MLS takes on non-HG sales is inflating the price NYRB needs for the player to go to a better paying gig. Has MLSPA ever made a peep about sell-on clauses? Of course not. They certainly could since FCD and Colorado are both covered by their CBA (unlike Dortmund and Chelsea or Seattle and Tottenham). All these things they are silent on but they will die on the hill of preventing TC/S. Makes you wonder who they are working for.
I'm quite certain they are working in the best interest of the players, as a collective of people with differing needs. I couldn't tell you the "why" regarding their decision with this aspect, but it's firmly rooted in their strategy for the best interest of the players as a whole. That interest may change in the future as the league continues to evolve.