Pre-match: Nations League: Grenada & El Salvador - 3/24 + 3/27

Future coach material right there.

 

Everything about Ream screams "future USMNT coach."

 

The Balogun situation:

1. He is in Orlando with his agent✅

2. He has not committed to the USMNT 🇺🇸 and won’t play this camp

3. He is meeting with US Soccer officials and he is expected attend the match on Monday against El Salvador 🇸🇻

— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) March 22, 2023

 

Yeah, the internets are going nuts with that bit of info.

My personal feeling on the matter? It feels like one of those episodes where a character was rejected or dumped or neglected, and they decided to flirt with the next-hottest thing available to them, in part to make themselves feel appreciated, and in part to make their SO/ex/crush jealous.

The thing is that we can't be shocked if he ends up saying "I do" for the richer, more established, better-looking partner, even if we're the better match, and he knows that we're the better match.

But there's a chance. He's thinking about it, alright. The next camp will seal the deal either way, I'm betting.

 

I wonder if he may stay in England and get his UEFA coaching license and get started as an assistant at Fulham (along the lines of Cherundolo). He's been there a long time and I could see him wanting to stick around even when he's done playing.

I could also see him coaching St. Louis one day given his ties there. When asked about playing there he said he was going to try and play at Fulham and try to retire over there. But I can't imagine he wouldn't want to be the coach there if it were a possibility.

 

FKNAAAAA!

 

They love him there. Even before this incredible season. They love him. More than Dempsey. From seeing how he is treated there, and seeing what the fans think of him I would wager he could stay if he wants.

 

I mean we don't have him in the fold yet, but it also means something that he got on a plane and came to Orlando. You don't do that unless you have real interest. If he was going to switch this is how it would look like and hopefully the guys can sell him on the team.

Or to put it in recruiting terms, don't let him get on the plane without getting his commitment. Don't even give Southgate the chance to make a run at him. This is like the secret recruiting trip where you get the guy committed elsewhere on campus without the other team knowing.

It's also sort of interesting that this is being kept fairly quiet thus far from the US Soccer side that he's in Orlando. Except for the bartender from the USSF meetings I guess.

A patron of the @scuffedpod apparently is a bartender in San Diego & served JT Batson along with other US Soccer people a week ago. It may or may not have been said that Flo would be in Orlando 😂. It’s in the general channel (it’s free) here https://t.co/abHGu6DOMw

— vince (@v_sospiffy) March 22, 2023

 

Or, if you know the field is going to be bumpy or muddy and not jibe with a ground passing game, then your training needs to be keeping the ball in the air and controlling it that way. I'm sure if Brazil played a game on such a field they'd just play keepy-uppy. Aerial crosses into the box help in such conditions, but the short game needs to adjust as well. While we're not Brazil, our pool is skilled enough now that we should be able to train for it.

As for "duplicating field conditions", well, that seems like a recipe for injuries. But the adjustments to type of play can be replicated in training even on a very nice field.

 

Come on USSF. Set up the VIP meet & greet with Minnie Mouse and seal the Balogun deal.

 

LaRon Landry 2.0. Gym'd his way out of a professional career, just like LaRon?

 

Very few people will get that reference but I got it.

 

My Man!

 

Vernon Davis = similar.

 

583-7562-63

Pretty awesome for a TE, I do agree he was a crazy freak of an athlete though, I think top 2 or 3 testing TE prospects of the last 35 years or so.

 

Curious, having Folarin Balogun to a team dinner, who sits on either side of him for you?

 

Musah and Turner

 

not unity-quote-machine tim ream?

 

Has your hatred for Berhalter seeped into Tim Ream?

 

Berhalter is imperious; Ream is impervious.

 

I'd rather eat Johnson.

 

It may come down to which team he feels more comfortable with. Apparently the US team has a great, firendly feeling about it and there's a few guys his age. I seat him between Jedi and Musah who have sort of similar backgrounds.

 

El Salvador 0-1 Honduras last night - Cartegena with an own goal at 34'

Romero

Roldan --- Dominguez (Clavel 71') --- Orellana (Martinez 63') --- Tamacas (Blanco 46')

Menijar (Reyes 46') --- Cartagena (Argueta 71') --- Henriquez --- Zavaleta

Gil ----- Hernandez (Landaverde 63')

4-4-2, apparently. 2 subs at halftime, 2 more at 63', last 2 at 71'​

 

Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them, can't do it. I want Winners!

 

This heat! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/N9C69NOLzm

— Balogun (@balogun) March 23, 2023