Neal (from our U20's)is playing for Galaxy v. Guadalajara at the mom on ESPN. Just came on at the half and playing 3cb's in the back for anybody interested. Unfortunately they sent Ferkranus to Phoenix whom I rather prefered.
Vazquez is in the golden boot race so isn't comparable to a utility midfielder, like Roldan. Vazquez has been playing better ball in the same league Ferreira plays in. He's playing better ball than Pepi had in MLS.
Probably, but.......probably not above Mohammed. He's made Liverpool the fourth holy city of Islam. Why he picked Liverpool I will never know.
I wouldn't compare Vazquez to a guy who's dominated MLS and Liga MX for years either. Imagine comparing a guy with almost a season of good play to Cristian Roldan.
I have no problem with Roldan, but I just cannot find a role for him in this USMNT team. #6? You have Adams and Acosta, and possible DLT. #8? You have Reyna, McKennie, Aaronson, Mosah.
Let's not forget Vasquez also has the dual-national status issue that Pepi and Ferreira did. If he keeps playing like this, Mexico WILL come calling at some point. He'd have to make a one-time switch as he played for us at the 2017 U17 World Cup. Pepi's kind of a special case. He's ~4.5 years younger than Vasquez. So there was as much dreaming of ceiling and potential as there was an analysis of current impact. Mexico was calling in that case. [And of course Pepi paid us back. He was our 2nd leading scorer in the Ocho after Pulisic. Not saying a lot, but that's a fact. And its why he's in the driver's seat for a WC place.] True story: Leading #9 goal-scorers for the USMNT by year this cycle. At least Pepi and Ferreira have delivered. That's why they're in the driver's seat. 2022: Jesus Ferreira 2021: Ricardo Pepi/Daryl Dike tied 2020: Sebastian Soto/Nicholas Gioacchini tied (no.............really ) 2019: Gyasi Zardes
I have no reason to think Acosta is a better 6. The only things on a soccer field I think Acosta is notably better at is free kick delivery. I have no idea if LDLT can play 6, as I've only seen his USMNT games. Can he play it better than a guy with a hundred plus pro games there? Probably not.
I’ve been disappointed by Roldan most of the times I’ve seen him for the USA, but there’s no denying he’s one of the better players in MLS especially when it comes to being flexible. Acosta meanwhile isn’t even a top 15 player at his position and somehow sneaks into the USMNT
Like Roldan, Acosta racks up minutes in CM, and his teams are consistently at or near the top of the standings. He's not going to generate much G+A since he plays a defensive and deep distribution role for LAFC.
What games were you disappointed by and why? I've never seen him have a bad game for the US. I hear and believe he was bad at Canada in 2019 but I missed that one and can't find it on YouTube or Footbalia. That was also almost 3 years ago and before a good Gold Cup so if that's the one, seems like it's not in the grading period anymore.
Even taking out the goals, I don't think there is much argument that Acosta has been a better MLS player.
All players have there bad games so I won’t argue that Roldan has never had a bad game. I think Roldan is a very good player but I think he has two big problems: 1. There are players in front of him that are just better and will only get better as they mature. 2. He still has a lot of fans that hold a grudge because he was in front of their favorites. Many/some of those are inarguably better now but that was less clear at the time when those players were younger.
I can’t remember a game where I came away and though “Man Roldan was really good”. I can’t remember a game where I thought he was terrible either - he just seems like a high floor low ceiling guy. The thing is there are better players who can raise the ceiling even if it comes with less consistency.
People often throw around "low ceiling" but is best player in CCL really a low ceiling by USMNT standards? He was really good against Martinique. I know they stink but he was part of basically every good thing that happened. It's even obvious in the highlights.
I'm not saying he hasn't actually had a bad USMNT game, I'm saying I don't remember seeing it and the only consensus I found in game reports was the Canada away. People say he was bad in Panama, I don't agree. That game was dragging and he juiced it up, with the US looking a lot more dangerous in his time on the field.
After watching the U20’s championship, you prefer Ferkranus over Neal? I, respectfully, disagree based only on that tournament viewing. Ferkranus looked sort of out of water when he was paired with Craig. When Neal was with Craig or at the back I felt much more comfortable.
Because people seem to get fixed on Roldan a lot, maybe they could think about what I said about him for his first call up: Roldan is a good 1 v1 defender and he is a good finisher and creator around the box area but he doesn't play the middle third. He doesn't hold positionally on defense and his contribution on offense is good off the ball movement, not so much on the ball. That was the ideal mid in Berhalter's mind. Eventually he understood the international game was not MLS. He is at the stage where he has Musah creating from the top of the center circle with dribbles thru midfield. He even brought up LDLT to reinforce that option. Maybe he'll start adding other midfield skills if he gets reupped for '26 cycle.
Ferkranus played with Craig v. Honduras which was our big test. I get the feeling Ferkranus is more physical, Neal more technical, but I'm on a super small sample size. I could be wrong.
You must be watching a different Roldan. Here's the match log with middle third touches from his last 2 games at DM along with data on carries etc. https://fbref.com/en/matches/ccd7d0...C-FC-Dallas-August-2-2022-Major-League-Soccer https://fbref.com/en/matches/1cce64...-Sounders-FC-July-29-2022-Major-League-Soccer Here's the Opta passing networks. He's the 7 in green. https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2022/matches/seavsdal-08-02-2022/stats https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2022/matches/lafcvssea-07-29-2022/stats
Check out the one you cite above away at LAFC (passing network) LAFCvsSEA 07-29-2022 | MLSsoccer.com vs. say, #8 (away)for Galaxy here LAFCvsLA 07-08-2022 | MLSsoccer.com
Firstly, I think Delgado is one of the better ball movers eligible for the USMNT and should have more than ~1 cap he has. Secondly, what does that have to do with the idea that Roldan doesn't play the middle third?
I'vs spent so much time on it over the years, I just don't have the energy at this late date to re-hash so I'm just going to excuse myself, considering also that he is not likely to be used in the middle third by Berhalter. I think we can agree on that, no?
Gregg isn't going to play him at all from what I can tell. That doesn't really change my evaluation of the player. Shoot, Bruce didn't play Ale Bedoya at all and here it is 5 years later and he still looks like a player.
Harrison Heath a better spotter of talent than everyone who posts here Note: #MNUFC manager Adrian Heath shared club tried to trade with #FCCincy for Brandon Vazquez last year. Sixth-year vet has 13 goals in 2022 and was named #MLS All-Star on Wednesday. Heath said Harrison Heath saw breakout coming from Vazquez from time together at Atlanta United.— Andy Greder (@andygreder) August 4, 2022