We just can’t have nice things as American soccer fans. Yes, these teams sharing FieldTurf with NFL teams is terrible. I get these injuries happen on grass as well like Josef Martinez (in another formerly shared stadium), but they seem to happen more on turf.
I hope we eventually get to a place where MLS stadiums have to have grass. If you can make grass work in Austin (where it will be 100+ almost daily for months), you can make it work anywhere,
He has been good for the US, very good even. He has been whatever for Atlanta for a long time and I genuinely am not concerned in a World Cup about Richards instead of Robinson; if anything, against better opponents that could help us in possession (hurts us in the air specifically). The big problem with this injury (and to be clear, I’m gutted for Miles — this sucks) as it relates to the WC is that I really fear that it will thrust Long into an actual role to play. Gregg has an awful blind spot for Long and views him (clearly) as a locker room leader. If we start a Long-Zimm battery at CB we can kiss advancing out of the group stage goodbye, as far as I’m concerned. I’m hopeful that Richards is ahead of him and am also hopeful that EPB and CCV will show quite well in the friendlies to come to cement spots ahead of Long (who I do expect to show well in MLS going forward).
Richards would have to grow internationally to the point he wasn't bashful in possession and had mental lapses defensively. Miles covered for more faux pas of the other center backs because of speed & assertiveness. And in possession, Miles was criminally underrated. This is backed up by MLS data. We don't have as much for int'l play, but look at how bad our build-up broke down w/ McKenzie at Panama or Richards himself at Jamaica. If we weren't winning balls up high, we weren't getting possession there. Miles broke lines with his dribbling and short to mid-range link-ups. Not everything is about pinging a 50-yard diagonal. Certainly Richards hasn't done that internationally. Miles was one of our most valuable players period because of his ball progression and defensive versatility to defend a ground or aerial game. Of course Richards has been a liability in the air. So this all needs to advance miles if we are to maintain let alone expand our level from that position now. Yesterday was a major blow to our chances as of this point.
Yeah this sucks because our central defensive pairing was ironclad. Those were our guys. Now we go it’s cycle through extensively Who works best with Zimmerman. No idea who what would be. Could be ccv or epb even if they’re not better than Richards individually. I care more about the chemistry and the pairing. Whoever plays most nicely with zimm gets the job not necessarily the best defender.
Yeah I don’t think you’re off with any of that. I’ve been disappointed with Richards with the nats compared to his best games with Hoffenheim. I’m optimistic that with another 6 months (assuming health by June) that he’ll make a jump internationally. There’s a lot of downside potential though, he could be hurt for the summer and then get kept at Bayern as depth — which would be very bad!
I don't think the evidence is there that more achilles injuries are happening on field turf. They seem very rare overall and NFL teams are playing tons of games on it. https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2019/1/7/turf-and-injuries-the-data-hurts
Go tell that to the Timbers, who've wanted to replace their artificial field for the real thing for years but haven't yet found a way to drain the water away from the field enough for grass to survive. If you didn't know, the field is about 30 feet below street level and has a creek that runs under it. Since they haven't been able to do grass, though, they replace the turf every 2 years so that it is always in very good condition. I can't speak to the condition of other artificial turf fields around the league, but Portland does put forth the maximum effort to ensure a high-quality playing surface, even if it can't be real grass.
I mean, our European players get hurt constantly, and they are all on grass. We should be a lot more concerned about players playing in front of the Yellow Wall than on Field Turf.
I saw an interview with Paulson where he said it would cost $8 million and he doesn't want to spend $8 million after the money he's already invested in the stadium.
How much could he recoup though with national team games if he did? Would instantly become one of the best placed for qualifying games. Of course now it will be a long time until we have any so he missed his chance 8-10 years ago. Always easier to spend others money though so I can see why he doesn't want to spend more.
To be fair to Merrick Paulson (and I rarely, rarely have any interest in "fairness" for very, very rich kids), he's put a shitload of money into the stadium that he doesn't own. The agreement that the Timbers have with the city is quite favorable to the city (which is GREAT! For once) so it would be understandable if he doesn't want to spend all that money alone. But, I think there are other factors involved. I don't remember reading about an $8M figure for fitting the stadium with grass, but I'm more than willing to take your word for it. I do remember reading that they might be able to fit it for grass, but the state, depth and location of the ducted creek below are all unknowns. I'm a carpenter, and I can certainly say from experience that there's no accounting for unknowns when there's a bunch of poorly documented, really old shit behind whatever it is you're about to tear out.
My job involves working a lot with building renovation and construction. We are doing a reno on a 100-year-old building, and the things we've uncovered for a reasonably small building that has been in use for decades is unreal. I could only imagine the variables present with Providence Park. It's completely feasible that the $8M price tag could be a multiple of 4, 5, or more given what isn't known about what lies beneath the park. It wouldn't shock me if the price tag of the feasibility study itself would be $8M.
Fotmob Team of the Week * = 23-and-under ** = 20-and-under -----------------------------Sapong(8.4)MOTM------------- ---------Mihailovic(8.6)2nd*--------------------Arriola(8.4)MOTM--- --------------Pomykal(8.2)2nd*------Delgado(8.5)MOTM----- --------------------------------Flach(7.9)2nd*--- -----Jones(7.6)4th--------------------------------------------Lennon(8.4)2nd --------------------Long(8.1)1st-------Hines-Ike(8.2)3rd---- --------------------Marcinkowski/Celentano(7.8)3rd/4th*------------- Player of Week: Mihailovic Arriola Lennon 23-and-under: Mihailovic Pomykal D.Nealis(7.9)2nd Flach(7.9)2nd Ferreira(7.9)3rd 20-and-under: Gray(7.5)3rd Berhalter(7.4)3rd CDuke(7.3)3rd
Quick Union thread: Leon Flach doesn't score goals. But when we talk about late midfield runs into the box, Flach can distort the defense without scoring. Let's illustrate this:— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) May 8, 2022 A really good thread about what Leon Flach does for Philly that doesn't fall onto the stat sheet.
Flach does so much well and has been a constant in the starting XI for one of the best teams in the league since he joined last year. His defense stats are great and Curtin won't shut up about how high his soccer IQ is and how much he loves him on the pitch. There is a lot of good stuff there that the focus on his offensive limits makes easy to ignore. But overall he is a 21 year old midfielder with a locked down starting spot on one of the best teams in the league for over a year now.
Weekly Bites Strong two-matches-in-a-round performances from Cincy's Celentano and Vazquez Vazquez(7.7)2nd* Vazquez(7.7)3rd* Celentano(7.8)4th* Celentano(7.5)9th* Is the Celentano the new gk crush? Vazquez is on 6g and 2a in 804 min. In terms of the service and the starting opportunities, Cincy is a great spot for him. Ferreira is on 7g and 1a in 814 minutes. Like Vazquez, he is in a great club situation, but also has the added benefit of playing the same type of false-9 role he'll be playing with the US. Mihailovic is on 5g and 4a in 823 min. He looks to have gotten improved help in the attack with the addition of Torres. He just needs a competent striker. Pomykal and Parks(7.8)MOTM continue to gain steam. Pomykal has gone 90' two games on the trot. Parks's movement and control in tight spaces is top-3 in the pool. #1 would be Reyna, of course. Brandon Bye(7.7)2nd has transformed his possession passing. What was once a serious weakness is now becoming a strength. Improving the passing was something another athletically gifted rb, Kyle Duncan, hasn't been able to do. Lennon's set piece and attacking qualities are top-class. But is he a good enough defender? Flach actually played lcm in the Union's diamond, but has played dmid before. And imo, that and lb are his long term positions.
If for no apparent reason it's betwen Slonina and Celentano it's no doubts Celentano. Not even close. Unfortunately for Celentano there are other contenders, but he is very talented and sure worth watching.
He certainly deserves credit for what he brings to the table.... but man o man he has been pretty poor when it comes to serving that final pass. I have seen him misplace relatively easy assists enough times to think that it might be in his head. It is strange. We are now looking at two assists (and one goal) in roughly 4000 minutes played for Union in all comps and most of that is at LCM in a diamond.
Don't look now but we have former homegrown academy signings leading both the goals and assists charts. Or tied for it anyway. Jesus Ferreira is proving to be worth every penny of his new DP contract. If he keeps playing this way, and FCD keeps getting results, then he'll become a legitimate MVP candidate. I'm still not totally convinced by FCD. They beat a "B" Seattle team this week. But hey.............not their fault that Seattle played their kids.
Yes, nothing to brag about other than beating a team you should which sometimes is harder than it should. Long season and there will be more call ups and unfortunately as Atlanta learned again - injuries.