Hoppe now Brough: Back at Middlesbrough FC

Speaking only for myself, I don’t consider him a “superstar,” nor am I aware of anyone here who would call him that. I do argue that he deserved a look at the CF spot earlier this year, and would deserve one in the future if he gets back on the pitch and plays reasonably well. I have also made specific statements about qualities he exhibits on the field that others in the pool do not. So there is a lot to disagree with there without pretending that anyone here thinks him a superstar.

 

Superstar is a subjective enough term I guess, but being a regular starter for a national team would typically make someone a star player, at least in the context of the players from that nation.

I like Hoppe's game, but if he continues to not be selected (when healthy), it's hard to justify him being called in to national team camps. The first thing has to change before the 2nd one does.

Tebow had a little early success at the pro level but kept getting passed over for starting jobs by multiple coaches. His fans continued to insist he was this great player. The analogy is not perfect and I really didn't have any poster in mind,.but in the end, if Hoppe is good enough, his club coach will pick him.

 

I don’t mean to belabor this but I don’t know anyone who is making the precise point you are still refuting. Saying he ought to have gotten a look at CF is not the same as saying he ought to be a regular starter for the national team. Rather, the point is he never got a look at the 9 (his position) when he was playing regularly for his club. Nor is it about being “great”. It’s about seeing what he can do for a position of need for the USMNT.

 

You've said in the very recent past that he should get called up in January, despite the fact that he hasn't been playing, or making the bench, or perhaps even training (due to injury?). I suspect that guided @YNWA Rob's comment to some degree.

You're obviously correct that he hasn't gotten a shot at CF for the NT. But I'm not following why this is pertinent now. He's gotten called up (more than once) and Berhalter clearly likes some things about him. He's not playing currently in any position, so he needs to get himself fit from whatever injury he may or may not have and get himself back into his club team. He's got competition at the 9 from Pepi, Dike, Pefok, Zardes who all have their plusses and minuses, but have all played recently for their clubs (some in better form than others, of course). He won't get a shot at the 9 unless he can beat some of those guys.

 

His record of 1 goal in 475 minutes played for the NT is not exactly impressive, either. I'm fine with him not being called, there are more deserving options.

But this thread is supposed to be for his club career, which at this point is nearly non-existent.

 

It’s always darkest just before dawn.

 

AKA the opening of the transfer window for a loan move

 

Dike: 8 goals in 10 games since 9/25

Hoppe: Hasn't played a lick

Rooting for Hoppe to get integrated and back on the field asap. Shame what has happened this season...

 

If he's not one of the Mallorca players with COVID, he might get some time against Barcelona just out of necessity...

 

Playing LW, scoring 3 goals while destroying that schmuck that they are replacing Dest with.

 

Don't get your hopes up too much. I saw a media report (linked on the previous page) indicating that he's not due back until late-January.

 

Have you seen any report that says what his injury is? Seems really strange that he's been injured for a few months now (with another one to go) and there's nary a word that I've seen about what the injury is.

 

Pride, maybe?

 

All I've run across in Spanish-language media (keep in mind my Spanish sucks nowadays so I'm largely depending on a translation tool) vaguely refers to a leg injury. I saw "severe leg injury" once, but that could be embellishment from one particular author. This could be anything from a strained calf up to a knee injury or full-on hamstring tear.

In general, injury reporting has become inconsistent in recent years, I assume due to the stricter data privacy laws in the EU that came into effect in 2018. I don't think there is any real legal precedent (i.e. tested in courts) of the legal ramifications of teams publicly disclosing health information about their employees (players), and how much the nature of "players as financial investments" impacts the application of these laws, so some are still pretty open with the info, some are very tight-lipped. But that's another topic...

 

This says thigh injury that occurred in training on Nov 6th and that as of report on Nov 17th, at least 6-8 more weeks of recovery. Who knows?

https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/11/17/matthew-hoppe-injury-usmnt-mallorca

 

Six weeks from November 17th gets you to . . . January 1st and the opening of the transfer window.

Just sayin'

 

In Spanish Hoppe is called a "delantero tanque" (Panzer-style forward, a big, strong striker) and several Segunda ("La Liga 2") teams want him, because such types are rare in Spain (you mostly got shorties and lankies).

As for his status, all that has been published is that he suffers a "lesión muscular" (muscle injury). However, in the continent clubs are under no obligation to release the specifics of a lesion (privacy laws), so in the injury table many figure as "unspecified lesion/nag."

https://www.infobiwenger.com/lesionados-y-sancionados

 

Hoppe and the dark arts.

 

This local paper says Hannover is the interested team:

 

How many Yanks have played there? I can think of 3 off the top of my head, but I have a nagging feeling I'm forgetting a 4th.

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Cherundolo obviously, Beasley, Mathis

 

The man the myth the legend...Conor Casey!

 

I did my research!