Man City thought he was better when they signed him. Whether Man City still think he is better is anybody’s guess.
Two sides to that argument. If he's naturally a Premier League-style player, being in that league will help him develop that to the fullest. If he plays in a different league, he might not ever become the best version of his natural skillset.
Yeah, did you see that? The Central American countries have more hatred toward Mexico than they do toward the U.S. It doesn't seem possible, but it's true.
Steffen has been the beneficiary of a lot of hype. He isn't a bad keeper and I am fine playing as our keeper. But even when he was in MLS he was never the best US keeper in the league when you actually look at the numbers. But he got the hype and the call ups and was able to move to Man City as their backup as a result.
Alternately, we can watch each keeper perform and make judgments based on the readily available evidence. Or, you could also wait a few months for a European club to sign Turner and then decide he's suddenly a much better keeper, worthy of replacing Steffen. He wouldn't have actually improved, but that's not really the criteria, is it? ... the inane USMNT/MLS conspiracy theories have utterly broken some people.
Steffen - 4 That goal was sooofffft. Charmin spokesman soft. Vaunted "distribution" meh. ARob - 5 Couldn't find anybody with his crosses Richards - 6 Nothing much to say but he did well as far as I could tell. Happy. MRob - 4.5 I dunno. Argggh Dest - 7.5 Holy shit. That goal. Half way to the net I was celebrating. What. A. Strike. Adams - 6.5 Job Done McKennie - 5 Spastic? Sloppy? Erratic? WTF? Goooood????? Who knows. Musah - 6.5 Sooooo, if he progresses how I'm hoping he progresses.... The most important player in USMNT history? Hyperbole at this point for sure, but the ability to stop and dictate positive play.... We've never had it at this level. Reyna Sr. was probably the closest, but Musah, at 18, doing this shit. It might not get there, might fade away, but my god, if it does... Weah - 6 Was not that impactful, then KABOOOOOM. Pepi - 6 This was understated a pretty good performance. Those couple lay offs were really nice countered with some misses. He's fine Aaronson -6 I like this guy. Not top bins tonight, but it was all there to see where he's going. Zardes - 6.5 Nice work Yedlin - 5.5 Hoppe/Busio - 5.5 Glad they finally paid for their air fare!!! GGG leeets gooooooo. Zimmerman - NR
I know that you guys who play/played the game appreciate what the team did against Costa Rica. In Brazil, the biggest achievement in soccer is to win "de virada" (coming back to overturn the result). It is the hardest thing to do in the sport and a real measure of character and mental toughness, in addition to all of the physical aspects.
Maybe I missed something with Aaronson. He’s an 8.5 minimum for me. He did all the hard work and pressing that Arriola did vs Jamaica that people were so excited about, but was also way more technical and made plays Arriola could never dream of playing. maybe I need to rewatch, but I thought BA was excellent.
or Miles, including on the score allowed for sure. Richards had a run-up. You're supposed to have the advantage as a CD. Miles was 5-6 on aerial duals, Richards was 2-6. In the 1st match, Zimmerman was 10-10 on aerials. Robinson was 4-5. And this flaw was not attributable much to nerves. That's just a weakness of his, comparatively. In %'es of aerials won in BL, he's bottom 30% at his position (which is an improvement for him). Whereas Robinson is top 5% in MLS, Zimmerman top 10 on major volume. BL doesn't have a monopoly on aerial strength. Those #'s aren't falling to near Richards' levels because they have to jump w/ Andre Silva. So you factor that into the equation when it comes to selection, as well as other things. His passing was already a plus. Probably only improves w/ comfort. The reception was an issue. He'll settle there. And defensively on the deck, he'll become less hesitant. But he's not a lights out. Solid to good, w/ a little more int'l experience. I think he should pick that up in the 4th window, not 3rd at home v. Mexico and a roadie. Miles & a combo of Brooks & Zimmerman should do in the interim. 4th on the top pairing may be Miles-Richards. We'll see.
Aaronson is forever going to be the kind of guy that, if you aren't used to watching him play, and he doesn't directly score/assist, you're going to think he played poorly. He looks so awkward doing everything he does, but he's really ********ing good. It just looks weird if you aren't accustomed to it, and that's going to affect perception of him.
Man City is not an average club and Pep doesn't keep players around for no reason. The players Steffen works with every day are at a far higher level than MLS. I have no idea what you are talking about here.
It's not that he was amazing it's that he offers a passing range and set play boost that we lack otherwise, especially when we are missing pulisic and reyna that can carry the ball forward. One thing I like about Musah, even tho he failed at it time and time again the other night in Panama, is that he wants to turn and run with the ball. Weston or Tyler usually wants to play a simple one touch pass, which I also like, but that's a collector's role in the midfield and isn't going to spring many dangerous attacks by itself -- Busio wants to play a long ball and Musah wants to go forward carrying it and those add danger especially on night's where getting caught forward isn't too much of a concern and you're at home looking to score a few goals.
If I had to do ratings (without a rewatch). Steffen: 6. Goal was not his fault, though it looked awkward. Good otherwise. Dest: 8. MOTM for sure after the 2nd minute. Cracking goal and nice assist. Miles: 4.5. Worst game in a while. Richards: 5.5? OK. Tad weak in the air. Lower if that was a PK. Jedi: 6. Perfectly fine. Adams: 7.5. Very good again. McKennie: 5.5. Extended goid minutes and a couple poor TOs & bad passes. Was that his man in the goal? If so, lower. Musah. 7.5. Ran out of gas or it would be higher. Aaronson. 7. That dude is everywhere. Weah. 7. Not as good overall as Aaronson, but still consistently in good spots. And the goal helps. Great near post shot first time. Nothing GK could do. Pepi. 6. Perfectly fine. ----------- Busio: 6.5 Yedlin: 6. Hoppe: 6.5 Zardes: 6.5. Zimmerman: 6.
I mean Steffen is a much better goalie for Man City and their style of play. Turner wouldn’t be a good fit there even as a backup. But Steffen is also just a backup there. If Ederson were to leave unexpectedly I don’t think they’d promote Steffen, instead they’d go out and find whoever the best goalie in the world is who fits their style.