Maybe the sweet assist colored my judgment, cuz I didn't see too much there outside of that and 2 or 3 other nice moments.
I would say that the Galaxy deferring to Ibra and allowing themselves to become so one dimensional hurt the team. That isn't on Ibra, however, that is on the manager.
I really like Aaronsson but I don't see it. I didn't see tonight's match but they do things differently. It's not just the fact that Havertz is better but they are different physically and they use their bodies differently. Aaronsson is more subtle than Havertz (IMO).
In addition to BA, I liked Bedoya's game. He got called out for not tracking Pulido on the back side run well enough. Fair enough - but the guy is not box-to-box, he's end to end. Made an assist at the 6, tracking back to cover a backside run. He won a few balls with his head, to flick them on, one setting up a dangerous run. I think they're playing for his midfield flickons. He makes good runs and good simple passes that are into players runs. Midfield is our deepest position, but I'd be happy seeing Bedoya in an NT 23.
He doesn’t see much of the ball, does he...what I think is actually impressive is everything he does off the ball at his age. I think that’s really why Europe is calling, they see the makings of a complete midfielder.
They see vision and execution if they saw that pass. That wasn't an easy player to see or to pick out with that lovely curling ball. I feel like his issues are mostly all tactical stuff that can be coached. Vision and passing along with his quick feet and skill aren't things they can teach so much. They can work with him on showing for the ball and improving his positioning.
If you watch that game, & you're confident in talent development, you're licking your chops at the prospect of working w/ Aaronson to put the finishing touches on. That's all it looked like he needed. 5 lbs of muscle here, a split second sooner decision to shoot there, etc. Fixable issues. I think he should want to go after this season, helping Union achieve success already. And Philly send him along, as should a prospective club pay a very sizable $5-10 million fee. Could potentially help said club in a capacity from the outset with his pressing, abilities in possession/creation off the dribble, & inconsistent brilliance from the outset. Then refine along the way where he could be a steal that could fetch them $50 million-plus, if he stays healthy & is nurtured properly. That fits the model of many of the upper-mid table BL clubs.
As I said earlier in this thread Aaronson is a very young player with a very high ceiling. As he develops we will see exactly the level of his ceiling. See Mix, Joe Corona, Julian Green, Lletget, Morris, Kellyn Acosta, Nagbe, ... Havertz is much more of a goal scoring Ozil at this point but if you squint hard enough you could see Aaronson getting there
Busio was very disappointing last night. A very high ceiling youngster who is starting to show his limitations. He has similar limitations as Freddy Adu; low work-rate, short legs, low knee lift, and low turnover rate. Low energy performance.
Orlando vs LAFC: Mueller(RAM) vs Blackmon(RB) 2 out of the starting 22 are US-eligible. You can get that in a B1 match.
I'm not too good at comparing styles but what I see with Aaronson is a player that has very good vision and uses his body very well (especially given that he isn't that big) and is very good at subtle movements and using the motion of the ball and the movement of the defender against him (I hope that makes sense)..... Havertz moves the ball more to beat the defender ....he makes the defender move by putting his foot to the ball. i really like Aaronson but, like you, I think it is best to just wait and see. Will he be in that top tier of players? Impossible to say but he has a lot of potential. Even with his phenomenal start, who would have predicted Pulisic would be at the level his is now...especially at his current age? Certainly not me.
The Powers that Be have seemed obsessed about getting Bradley back in the team for leadership. I want Bedoya back in the team for leadership.
a renaissance for bedoya, at 33 years old, who everyone complained about throughout his international career? yall crack me up, bigsoccer.
Example #8762592345 that coaching matters. People really shouldn't be surprised. He did it in Colorado and Dallas. Won the SS in Dallas with the lowest payroll in the league.................. Orlando's academy isn't in the great shape Dallas' was in, so it'll take a little time before he's using younger kids there. Of course, Pareja built Dallas' academy. He knows what to do....................
I'm hoping that in 5 years when he's built up Orlando City's academy program he'll get hired by Portland. And then move on to another team 5 years after that. The guy has a very proven track record at this point.
Isn't the problem with our current leadership the absolute failure or inability to try something new, something innovative, or different? Great, bedoya was the 2000s Paul arriola. What does that matter when right now he's playing well and leading well?
Bedoya was a crucial member of a World Cup team and had 87 appearances in a top-5. Not remotely comparable to Paul Arriola in such a manner.