MLS Flavors of the Week: 2021 edition

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Eleven Bravo, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    LAFC probably wins with VAR, Atuesta got red carded on pure Memo Ochoa simulation in the semifinal.

    The big difference is that in the last few years we’ve seen Liga Mx teams get boat raced a few times. I don’t remember that from 5-6 years ago.
     
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  2. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States


    Lewis is good at getting into dangerous spots. I'm not giving up on him as a dangerous sub attacker.
     
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  3. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  4. schrutebuck

    schrutebuck Member+

    Jul 26, 2007
    Justin Morrow retired today after a fine MLS career and 4 caps with the national team.

    I think he was a loser from the US failing to make the 2018 World Cup - he was a dark horse contender at sneaking into the 23 IMO, especially if Arena wanted a wingback.
     
  5. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pepi would seem to be a lock for the October roster. Ferreira, not so much. But, you've gotta wonder if Berhalter shouldn't just take the chance and bring both of them given how well they play with eachother. Of course, the flip side is will they be able to integrate their play with the rest of the team and the way it plays? That's a massive question mark for me, but I'd be excited if they were both called up given their results together this season.
     
  6. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Its not really taking a chance.
    Ferreira has been at the last two January camps, and Berhalter picked him to start both post-camp friendlies.
    He's been involved with the USMNT and the U23s. He's been part of this group.
    I don't think he's that massive of a question mark.

    Do I think he'll on the roster in October? I don't know. I'm not sure what position he plays for the USMNT. Just a versatile bench option that can play as a forward, winger, or attacking midfielder? Maybe.
     
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  7. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Ferreira is worth a shot. The team desperately need more creativity out of central midfield.
     
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  8. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think they’re a natural if he wants to do the 3-5-2 again.Although with more wingers there may not be a good reason for it.
     
  9. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    I think Aaronson and especially Hoppe are big reaches at that 8/10 spot.

    His real competition there is Lletget, Acosta, Reyna, McKennie, in no particular order. If Ferreira keeps on his current trajectory, I think he could eventually at least make rosters as an 8/10. And, we have no idea what his ceiling is. He's only young.

    Sorry for my argumentative tone.
     
  10. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    That would be cool, but since MLS plays through, I think it would be very unusual to call in 4 guys from one team. They could, but I don't think they would.
     
  11. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    For the 8/10 roles in the single-pivot 433, cadidates would be McKennie, Musah, Torre, Mihailovic, Ferreira, Reyna, Lletget.

    Acosta is a 6. Hoppe is a striker/inside forward. Aaronson is a winger(in terms of where he is effective).
     
  12. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    Totally OT, but OC (CA)! The Tustin Marine Air Base sits empty. Tustin has tried to lure the Angels to build a stadium there. It sits in the middle of the 5, 55, and 405 freeways, and an Amtrack line. It's also in the middle of a residential area. There are 1000's of homes w/in a mile walking distance. This wouldn't be Frisco, it would get a lot of people walking to games.
     
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  13. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #3838 onefineesq, Sep 17, 2021
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2021
    We shall see over time. Campbell, despite the 4-0 win, was quite shaky in the 1st half when I was watching (I did not catch the 2nd) But he is young and just starting to get games. Not sure how much playing time he is expected to get as this season rolls on, but it seems he will get some opportunities to prove himself.
     
  14. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    I left out Musah and Miha, you're right. Who is Torre?

    Acosta is a 6, but Berhalter sometimes plays him as an 8. Let's put it this way, he's played more 8 for the NT than Miha has. Hence, he's competition for a spot at that position.

    And, I still say that there isn't a perpetual permanent roadblock to Ferreira making the roster as an 8 (which was my original point).
     
  15. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    By that time FCD may be eliminated.
     
  16. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Worth pointing out that if the USMNT calls up players in the October window, the callups can't be declined. I know we want to maintain good relationships with clubs, but whatever. These are WCQers.

    Plus I would say FCD always accommodates international callups, even to the detriment of their first team.
    In the summer of 2019 their entire midfield was gone on international duty, including three central midfielders to the U20WC. No problem.

    I don't think Che's an option yet. He's not ready, nor is he needed with the pool we have. Pomykal? I'd still wait on him. And there are midfield options I'd call in ahead of him.

    Ferreira? Sure. He's worthy of a look.
     
  17. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Midfielder for Heracles.
     
  18. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pomykal is a very talented player, but I need to see some consistency in his fitness before he’s called up. He’s good... but he’s not ‘Christian Pulisic - it’s worth the gamble’ good.
     
  19. Shaster

    Shaster Member+

    Apr 13, 1999
    El Cerrito, CA, USA
    I rather evaluate Busio and Green at this point.
     
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  20. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    He needs to start playing more minutes regularly, unless we are just calling him into camp in the #30 on the roster role, which I'd be fine with.
     
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  21. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Neither of them are useful toward transitioning from defense to attack, which we need right now.

    And we just evaluated Busio. He wasn't ready.

    So onto a guy like Pomykal, who can get open, collect the ball from defenders, turn, advance the ball via the dribble, then outlet accurately.

    In this much needed style of 8, the only other sufficiently healthy options w/ a cap are Musah and LDLT. One of them could go down again. So Pomykal has utility on the roster, as long as he himself is healthy, which he is right now.

    There's no cost to putting him on an unlimited roster. If he maintains health then maybe you play him. If he doesn't you don't. The worst that could happen for our purposes is he gets injured during a game and you have to use one of 5 subs. It's not much downside. And if we wouldn't be playing him some, FCD would. So no need to worry about stressing his muscles by calling him up.
     
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  22. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Green is getting evaluated by BL2 for the last 8 years. Still sucks. That Green and the mysthical creature from BS boards are apparently to very different Greens.
     
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  23. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Busio showed some flashes of being able to turn and advance the ball. He’s 19, he could be a different guy from 3 months ago.
     
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  24. Shaster

    Shaster Member+

    Apr 13, 1999
    El Cerrito, CA, USA
    Then I hear a kid named Reyna is pretty good at this. Also a kid named Musah is pretty good. Also a guy named Williamson is not bad. Another kid named Caden Clark is also good (not currently).
     
  25. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We need more than flashes to trust him in qualifying. Overall he was poor at it. And he's not gotten significantly stronger nor more athletic during that time.

    Ball carriage off the dribble is never going to be a strength of Busio. The best you can ask is he makes a decision for an outlet before he receives the ball, or at least turns, threatens if the opponent is too aggressive, and is ready to play it to the next station.
     
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