Yanks Abroad Flavors of the Week: 2022-2023 Thread

I watched most of that game. Luton were very lucky to come out on top (even aside from the fact that it went to penalties) because Horvath was really bad. He flailed at a ball that came over the 6 but the Coventry player couldn't convert on an open goal. Dawdled on the ball and nearly handed Coventry a goal off his deflected pass. Bobbled a few balls. There were at least two other actions I can't recall right now where he did very poorly. As is often the case when I watch him, he looks like a deer in headlights. I continue to have zero faith in him, and if Luton keep him on as the starter next season in the EPL (congratulations to the club, for sure!) then I suspect Horvath will be the lowest-rated keeper in the league by a solid margin.

 

It was hilarious when the announcers were talking about how tired the players were "after all the minutes they've played" (said in the 90th+4, not in the 120th) and because "it's a very hot day" (70 degrees!!!!!!!). Also, the announcer called it "Wembley City" at one point.

 

Groningen should just forfeit. This is honest to God one of the most pitiful performances that I have ever seen in the world of soccer in well over 30 years of religiously following the sport. I cannot believe these are “professionals.” All we can ask for is that Pepi gets pulled at the half, without injury, and Groningen’s unprofessionalism doesn’t rub off on him.

 

Dietz is a 21 year old CB that most recently played with the US U18s.

🇩🇪 2.Bundesliga

🧐🇺🇸 Julian Green's starting but the big news is 21 yr old former 🇺🇸YNT CB Max Dietz making his 1st professional start!👏🍻

🖥️--> 9:30 am eastern on ESPN+ https://t.co/woVX02eG6S

— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) May 28, 2023

 

Emmanuel Sabbi modtog med et kvarter igen en lækker fra Mads Frøkjær, og kunne herefter sende bolden i nettet for anden gang, da vi fredag slog AC Horsens 👏💙🤍#obdk #enafstriberne #obach #sldk pic.twitter.com/7PgZ9JDnrg

— Odense Boldklub (@Odense_Boldklub) May 28, 2023

 

Ah I see Leeds are phoning it in early fair play for making it easier on everyone lol

 

Understand Feyenoord have opened talks with Augsburg to sign Ricardo Pepi as new striker for next season. ⚪️🔴🇺🇸 #transfers

“I’d be happy to stay in Eredivisie, great league!”, Pepi said.

Timing will be crucial in this deal, that’s why Feyenoord are pushing — race remains open. pic.twitter.com/XhNDKVipZS

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2023

 

They have a serious lack of quality all over the pitch. It’s painful to watch how incompetent they are in all three phases of the game.

 

I refuse to believe Southampton is worse there’s just no way lol

 

A Leeds without Adams or Bamford (as meh as he is) is worse.

 

Just a quick look on Transfermarkt shows that Feyenoord hasn't spent more than €7M on a transfer over last 4 seasons.

 

Leicester are pounding on the door vs west ham too. Really should be 1-0 right now for the foxes at least

 

And there it is from Leicester, that was absolutely coming. 1-0. They picked up the lazy west ham side Leeds was hoping to get. As of now foxes survive

 

Been flipping through the channels, of Leeds, Leicester, snd Everton it seems like the only one who wants to stay up is Leicester. So according to transitive law Everton will get a late 1-0 win

 

They do have that Champions League money next year and I imagine this means they are planning on selling Giminez for a decent fee as well.

I’m sure they’d also try and find some way to structure the deal creatively in order to make the numbers work.

 

Never underestimate champions league fundage. That gives them much more elasticity for such a move

frankly, we need to reflect on how underrated Pepis goal scoring for Groningen was. That team sucked multiple asses, and the fact that he got the production that he did is incredible. That’s why PSV snd Feyenoord are willing to break the bank

 

buh-bye

 

2-0 Tottenham “that’s why you’re going down, that’s why you’re going down, that’s why you’re going down, etc etc etc”

god……. Gun to my head who do I want to stay up. Foxes or toffees. Foxes late in the season have absolutely played better , got a super soft spot for Everton tho. Like both clubs. Sad one had to go down. I worry FFP is gonna get Everton anyways.

I bet you’d need to cut the crap of an Everton fan with a diamond cutter at goodison park today though

edit: ooooohhhh goodness there it is. Everton 1-0. Park. The. Bus. Guatemala vs USA that one

foxes just got another too. Leeds are down

 

Ohhhhh my god Pickford literally just kept Everton in the premiership with that save holy mother of god. Multi million dollar save. Everton fans are going to offer their first born daughters to Pickford for that save

full time. Everton survive. Toffees better bring in 3-4 forwards this offseason with no exaggeration. That’s two seasons in a row playing with fire

 

Oh apparently Julian green scored too, pretty wild last day of 2BL season too. Heidenham scored deep in injury time fir auto promo. Hamburg thought they were up automatically. Stuttgart vs Hamburg playoff will be a good one

 

Worth noting he was injured in the game which may have played a role.

I didn't get into the Steffen vs Horvath debates in the yanks abroad forum, but a month ago I finally decided to dig through the metrics for goal keeping in championship to see where they ranked across the seemingly most valuable, revealing markers, and was shocked to see that these 2 top championship team level keepers were near the bottom of the potential starters in the league with lots of minutes. It confirmed something I was fearing.

Neither are good or great or even average goal keepers when it comes to elite leagues. Both are basically below replacement level, at least this past season.

Considering we have Turner who is good, but getting rusty as a backup, Gaga, whose the best keeper in the world according to the scouts from his birth year cohort, and a damn good one in his former Chicago teammate Brady, plus have some other dudes, and even gray bear Johnson, its my firm belief that the Coach should totally ignore the 2021 pecking order, and instead install Turner, and Gaga as the starter and backup for now, and let guys battle it out for 3. If Horvath and Steffen want to be in the picture they need to be better than like 19th and 23rd in the Championship League in England according to the metrics.

We need to move on from both of them until/or IF they actually play better for an extended period. Steffen was crap in '21-'22 and '22-'23, Horvath has been on the bench for years beyond a legit good vet keeper and just had a below average season, they need to be relegated from our depth chart, so to speak.

 

Well Leeds basically kept a hold of all the championship players they had last promo. I still feel Leicester will be favorites to go straight back up. One of those seasons that a team that might not have deserved to go down did. I don’t think burnley, Sheffield, or Luton Are better than even Southampton so league should be easier for the survivors

 

Kinda played out how I thought it might. I've been arguing Leeds would go down after Adams injury, when you looked at very basic markers like GD, they just looked like easily the second worst team, particularly since September, and were much worse without Adams. Everton and Leicester City always had the potential to climb out, Leeds didn't seem like it, and Southhampton was screwed. I forget which other team or two stunk but they were all better positioned than Leeds. They sucked with Marsh, sucked worse with the new guy, got a little better w/the old vet dude whose name I have forgotten but in the end, the last two seasons they were complete and utter ----, particularly their defense, and then this year their attack got worse too.

I don't think they get promoted next year either, there is too much of a mess there, better, more high floor teams in the Championship probably trump them. I have a feeling they fall off like Norwich did.

It's also, btw, something I wanted, as it became obvious by the winter that this squad was ----, and that we did not want our players stuck there. It sounds like Aaronson is trapped for now but that Adams and McKennie are going to escape which is vital. Hopefully Aaronson can get out either this summer or next. Getting 2 out of the 3 out is a big win, and hopefully they sucked enough under Marsh that he doesn't get hired, instead of getting hired because he's available because they did suck under him.

 

I was definitely someone who was wondering why he seemed to be laboring after coming back on defense in like the late 70s or early 80s of the game. Why would he be that tired after only playing 15-20 mins? Not great. But maybe I'm reading too much into it. That being said, he created several chances 1 of which was put away, that's absurd, regardless of the poor crosses and the corner late on that stunk. When he creates that much xG after coming on in the 65th or whatever, way more than nearly anyone else in a full 90, its ridiculous. Again 7 goals 4 assists in 1000 minutes is absurd. He needs to get match fit for 90 and then we've got a ridiculously talented player on our hands (assuming that's possible, I hope).

 

Thats the thing with PSV and Feyenoord. How on earth do they afford him? The only thing I can imagine is a giant sell on percentage for Augsburg.