Well I was not sure it was goal till VAR measured it carefully ... and then after that ruling we really don't know when the ball crossed the line did we?
Yes, at least approximately. Just remember, Pulisic is such a force, as in gravitational force, that he draws not only all the defenders, he bends the path of light both with respect to viewing his own position in time and space, as well as the location of the goal line. I used a cell phone app to re-image the play with AI-interpreted, retrospective power spectrum analysis and non-linear optics and it is clear that CP was offside by 0.13 m and that the ball never crossed the line, at least the computationally straightened line. But the goal counts, thank goodness.
Bats can finish and has good chem is Puli but yesterday called for Giroud's holdup play and overall superior skill to Bats.
What little physicality there is in La Liga comes courtesy of the South Americans. The referee was also German and Valencia only featured three SA’s all match which shoots some holes in your post. Back on topic. CP has really impressed me with his maturity. He took his lumps early on only to turn into one of the most dangerous attackers in England. It seems he gets more involved as the game goes on though I’m not sure if that’s by design. He was clearly frustrated when Jorginho looked him off a pass on the wing.
Chelsea attacking midfielders/wingers combined goals/assists this season:C. Pulisic (12) M. Mount (6)William (6)C. Hudson-Odoi (5)Pedro (2)R. Barkley (1)— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) November 28, 2019
Seriously... he has exceeded my early expectations by a pretty significant margin. He has been one of the best footballers in the world since his return from the bench. The fact that he is recently going the full 90 even with Odoi as an option on the bench speaks volumes.... they just paid that kid a lot of money. At any rate, 12 combined goals/assists before Dec 1st in all competitions is a fantastic stat.
Damn! He has to be the first or second name on the team sheet baring injury or illness. Although I would like Lamps to give him the occasional rest to keep him fresh for the business end of the season.
Sancho is a very talented player. Don't place too much emphasis on short-term form. If he learns how to (or is it *decides to*?) play basically any defense at all, he's going to probably be a top winger for many years. A team with both CP and JS would be lethal.
Gotta love the success he's paving for Americans. Let's marvel in this. 6 weeks ago, people were freaking out. Today, he's among their best players of the season.
I don't think he's paving the way for anyone. Global market rates highly talented players individually. No American paved the way for Puli. He was an exceptional prospect, then proved himself time and again, as other successes from various nations. The global market assessed him as an individual asset, as with all players. Other Americans will get chances as youth academies. What they do from there is on them as an individual.
Unfortunately, that is going to take a few more great players before a Brit will acknowledge we have good players.
Sometimes I think Alexi Lalas is right with his "inferiority complex" take. I would bet there are innumerable British Everton and Fulham supporters who would acknowledge we have had good players...
Their definition of "good" might be the questionable issue. Fulham's top two scorers in the PL are Americans but maybe only some fans would really confirms Dempsey's talent and being bigger than the club.
Why should Brits be the measuring stick by which we judge ourselves against in the first place? The EPL is a great league but British soccer players themselves are not the gold standard. The most technical players are not British, the best defenders are not British, the most succesful national teams are not the home nations. Even the supposed renaissance of the English team this past summer boils down to beating some smaller nations and losing to Croatia and Belgium twice.. Pulisic's greatest contribution in paving the way for other American players is what he did at Dortmund.
I agree and I disagree with your post. Yes the market rates highly talented players individually. HOWEVER, Pulisic's performance means that a player is capable of getting to that level from the American system. Outside of what 12-18 months he was born and raised in America until he was 16? That means with his success, as well as with some others... That more teams might be willing to scout American talent and/or sign American talent to youth deals. There has already been just a tremendous uptick in activity towards American youth from the Bundesliga in the past three years. Overtime the more players that can walk into doors more easily, by definition the road is being paved. That being said, without Americans walking through those doors and succeeding the doors eventually become closed doors.