I am predicting once/if the USMNT's standing in the Hex improves, Bruce goes younger pretty quickly. Judging by how I see people react, I get the impression many fans think Bruce doesn't like young players. In his first go-around, he was pretty proactive getting young players into the team. I don't think that will change.
The idea that sometimes better players don't score as much as other players can be true but generally when describing the absence or presence of a nose for goal, goal scoring is an important measure to look at. So Lletget should be punished for his versatility and the small amount of time he has been able to play in a 3 man CM, likely his natural role? When Emo got here the first positive to note was that he was being played in his best role, if he had to play LM or RM it's possible that things would not be going as well.
I don't think Lletget's natural role is a CM in a 3 man midfield. I think he's more the outside mid in a diamond but I'd also argue that it's much easier to score goals playing with Donovan and Keane against MLS defenses rather than for a bad Fulham team. My main point was simply that Hyndman is a better player, imo. We've seen Hyndman played at LM/RM. He was played there in the 2nd leg against Colombia and generally was our best player.
I just think right now Lletget is not in form yet, but he will be valuable later in the Hex. Hyndman is quite in-form, though. Even if in a weaker league. And that's why I'd take him. MLS has played only two games, most of our guys there are far from top form.
C'mon guys Lletget go. Caixinha gives first interview... https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...aixinha-europe-glory-rangers?CMP=share_btn_tw And Ranger's back room/financial circus continues albeit in a smaller (how could it be bigger) way... Gers desperately need a guy with straight up money to lose to get involved and burn some bucks to settle the club. Then put ni place a viable financial model, but up front they need real investment in players and it won't pay off (financially) for a while if ever.
Major reps for trying to steer the ship back to Emo.. beer is on me if i see you in San Jose or Panama game.
Probably for the best that Emo isn't sticking around there. But its cool to see the incredibly positive impression he left.
I know we're not stacked at all positions, but it's pretty reassuring that the USMNT's depth has reached the point at CM where a guy like Emo is not an automatic call up. I do however believe that once he gets his chance there will be no looking back.
We have a true embarras de richesses at CM, the problem is DM. That Kitchen didn't really pan out is bad, very bad.
I mean Kitchen was never gonna be the next Busquets. I'd argue his career is panning out exactly as forecasted at the club level. We haven't learned yet whether or not he can fill Beckerman's shoes at the NT level. That's about the ceiling I can remember being predicted for him.
I actually feel much better about DM in the coming seasons. I think Tyler Adams or Kellyn Acosta can both potentially be high quality #6's or #8's in the future. In the near-term, Dax McCarty is a high quality player who can hold that role down if needed. At the very worst, I see Dax as a Beckerman who is better in the attack. Also, it's likely we will continue to see Michael Bradley in the #6 slot, so I'm not too worried about our lack of immediate young talent in that role.
...No? How is Kitchen, a solid MLS player his whole career, a bad loss? Most players won't play for the NT. What matters is the cream of the crop, not the OK ones. Chad Marshall isn't NT caliber. Good MLS player, doesn't cut it for the NT. It happens. After reading again, you're lamenting a "lack" of DM options. May I present to you: Kellyn Acosta, Dax McCarty, Danny Williams, Tyler Adams, Erik Palmer-Brown (I know, he's generally a CB, but we have lots of those), JJ, MB, Bedoya, Roldan, Canouse. That's a lot of guys, from 18-35, that could play there. The older ones will fall off, and some of the young guys won't pan out. But you only need 2-3 to be good every cycle...
It's where he plays for Philly, no? I didn't say I like any of those guys there, just that they can play there.
IMO Trapp was always quite overrated and never an EMO level prospect. I don't see this "true embarras de richesses at CM". EMO could be very good, not there yet though. Acosta we'll have to wait and see although early on he seems to be having a breakout year. But I'm not seeing anyone currently at the prime Reyna/Jones/Holden/JOB levels. Nothing close to it, actually. From what I see at times, prospect/player hype often does a disservice to our historic greats. Seems some overrate the current crop while downplaying what previous generations offered.
I wouldn't call it embarrassment of riches but rather overstocked. The truth is that we have a whole bunch of flexible CM types and not that many dedicated AM and DMs. We have had that since last cycle and it looks like it will continue next as well since Hyndman, Acosta, Lletget and Nagbe are all natural CMs IMO.
In Russia, with no decent DM (and I hope against hope that Dax shows as well as Dreads internationally), we're going to get punked.
I think we'll have one that's serviceable by then. We've got a ton of CM's. It'll at worst be a matter of pushing the CM with the best defensive chops back there.
Emo is in a higher class of prospect. Acosta has made 102 pro appearances, I applaud your judiciously applied patience. It would be great if he pushes on.
Starts again in CM vs Hamilton @RangersFC XI: Foderingham, Tavernier, Hill, Wilson, Wallace, Holt, Toral, Hyndman, Waghorn, Miller, McKay