The Odyssey continues: Erik Palmer-Brown at Panathinaikos

Starting midweek against Philly in under an hour. This is why they kept him instead of selling him at a discounted million.

 

Damn it I had a couple of unimportant things to do.

 

I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see him resign with SKC.

 

Don't utter those words.

For real though, he's too good for MLS, needs a new challenge.

 

It would be nice if he actually played regularly in MLS, to be able to say that. The p.t. would be good for him, wherever he gets it. So I wouldn't bemoan too much if somebody in MLS signed him, provided he actually played. Especially if it's as a destroyer 6 where he could raise his value internationally and professionally.

I think that would have been a good deal for both sides if Minnesota had acquired EPB from the start of this season, instead of 30+ year olds to fortify their d in a season where they're a long shot to even make the playoffs. To make it worth their while EPB could have extended his contract at least a year. Few teams in MLS are doing their jobs to provide a counter to the DP/allocation craze by acquiring and developing young, promising domestic talent, to have for the future.

 

I don't think he needs the PT to prove it. I'd prefer he got it, but its not needed. There are players who get more playing time who don't prove it. I've seen him play for Porto B, for the U-20's, he'd be one of MLS's best players of any age if he played regularly, IMO. At the same age, Miazga was one of MLS's best players, as was Yedlin, and I think he is a better player than both.

 

Thinking isn't knowing. You know I like the guy, but Miazga and Yedlin proved it first. With EPB you have to put a puzzle together. The pieces seem to fit, but we can't confirm it's tried.

 

Right, he does have to prove it for it to be true, but I don't know why its essential that he proves it.

If he's ready for the next challenge, he can leave without anyone knowing for sure if he would've been one of the best players in MLS. Thats not a prerequisite for leaving.

 

thats all he does. ruins a lot of quality conversations.

 

30 minutes in I'd say EPB has been one of skc's best players. Nothing fancy just a clean game and calm on the ball. Opara has been the one with a few careless mistakes.

The one criticism I have is EPB tends to force the long pass at times almost to show that he can fit the ball into a tight window but doesn't realize the the player who receives his pass has nowhere to go with it.

 

That's why we go up, back, and through. If the CB has the vision and technique to play an accurate penetrating pass on the ground that can bypass levels, it's someone else's job to provide immediate support underneath and it's the receiving players job to recognize where the support will come from and not lose possession. Assuming the pass is controllable of course, if it can't be controlled that's on EPB, if the receiving player receives and just can't solve the following problem that's on him or other players.

 

It's too bad the MLS system is what it is as the question should be, could he lock down a starting spot and help any team in MLS, rather than having KC as his choice as it's an awful situation.

So he's pretty much forced to go abroad as MLS isn't an option for him.

ATL has a shaky backline. That would be a pretty decent situation for him.

 

I only saw the second half and he looked solid. I'm not sure he did enough with his opportunity, though. He could have been much more aggressive offensively. He has it in him. He played as if he has one foot out the door.

 

It totally depends what that means.

I don't think he's going to leapfrog two of the best CB's in the league this year with one game, unless he does something incredible. At the same time, there's not a need to. Besler should be gone until like August, hopefully EPB's gotten a few games in by then, and is sold right in time for when Besler returns, which should be a win-win for everyone. EPB keeps sharp for the upcoming season by playing a few games, SKC gets a pretty similar quality to what they get from Besler for a month, and they also probably get a small transfer fee instead of getting none in the winter.

Philly posed no threat in this game, its pretty much impossible for a CB to have a great game when they aren't challenged all game. He had a pretty good game, no mistakes, most touches of any player in this game, but he also didn't face many attacks coming towards him. Maybe a CB can be great in a game like this if they score on a set piece or spring a goal from the back, but those are not every game occurrences for CB's.

 

I don't disagree. He had a solid game where he wasn't challenged much defensively. But you and I both know he can be dangerous both on set pieces and initiating attacks. It was commonplace for him to do so at Porto B. Doesn't really matter, I guess. He'll find a good gig either this window or next.

 

I agree, more or less. His demeanor was very, casual I'd say. Still went about his business, but didn't make the impact he could have on set pieces/offense. Better than Ellis, not as good as Besler-Opara normally. It's farfetched he would ever supplant them. But he should be doing it to Ellis, and he has another game while Besler is away to display he should be on the field somewhere, or in a rotation.

 

And to clarify, I agree he wouldn't displace Besler or Opara even if he had scored off a set piece. By not doing enough with his opportunity, I was referring more to stifling naysayers.

 

I don't think he could have done more unless Opara didn't stick to Sapong for most the game. Would have been good to see him play with an athletic forward. Though it was probably planned from SKC.

 

I disagree. He was playing CB. And even from there he was quite active. @Lookingforleftbacks is complaining he was too offensive in one way, and you are complaining that he wasn't offensive enough. I think he was pretty much right in the lane he was supposed to drive in. Snuffed out numerous attacks, was sharp on the ball, played safely when in traffic and played more offensive balls when those passes were into a position that wouldn't allow a breakout counterattack. I'm not sure what else he could have done in this game. He is simply smoother than all, and I mean ALL of the other CB's we have, at any level. Doesn't mean I'm saying we throw him in as a starter in world cup qualifying now, because experience is needed. But the smoothness/fluidity of his game and of his movement and his comfort on the ball out of the back is like no one we have. Even our best players back there are herky/jerky in how they move, panicky on the ball, or don't have the ability/speed to read and recover as easily as he does. He just needs experience.

 

That goes without saying. I just feel he is good enough to have impacted the game more.

edit: although I really did like how he got in Benny's face to prevent his ejection. It's like he's still wearing the armband from the U-20s

 

I think if you saw the first half you wouldn't feel that way. Skc very clearly shifted the attack from his side to Opara's at halftime. EPB was far more involved in the first half and even got forward a couple times.

@onefineesq I don't mean to say he was too offensive. @chrome_vapors is probably right and it's probably more of his teammate's fault for not adjusting when he makes those long passes. But there are times when he fits a 30 yard pass into a teammate who is surrounded by 3 defenders and the ball is often moving so fast and bouncing enough that his teammate has to take a heavy touch and loses possession.

But all of that is sort of nit-picking. I thought he showed very well. He had a ton of clearances, broke up some crosses and even blocked a shot. I thought the service on the set pieces was lacking from Feilhaber most of the night so I don't really blame EPB for not creating any offensive opportunities. Hopefully he gets a start Tuesday, too

 

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5' EPB already makes a big clearance to avoid a near disastrous turnover. #SKCvPHI pic.twitter.com/rpXFGYXyq5

— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) July 7, 2017

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Which one is the 32 year old captain wearing the armband and which is the 20 year old in his first start of the season?

Benny, how do you feel about that PK call? #SKCvPHI pic.twitter.com/XnSc2d8Tk7

— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) July 7, 2017

 

A picture is worth a thousand words. In a nutshell, why Feilhaber isn't a regular National team player and EPB will soon be. If only this clip would automatically pop up when Feilhaber's name is mentioned in the Nats forum.

 

To be fair, he did hit the crossbar on a corner that was called back.