Yeah, this is a nuts thing to suggest. MLS is a physical slog. Turf, wild weather, various altitudes, and INSANE flight travel. This is all before the physicality of the league.
The sports science here is superior. But I agree on the travel, wide spectrum of surfaces, worse refs, CCL….what do Euros who come over always say, it’s not tactically demanding it’s physically demanding. He’ll do what he wants but MLS won’t be easier on his body that’s for sure.
I'm not at all sure about the claim that he never performs at tournaments. I'm not defending his performance in this WC, but that claim is a bit hyperbolic. Look at all of his intl. tournament performances. Up and down, to be sure, but far from horrible.
In 30 career tournament matches (I’m counting the Nations League finals here), he has 9 goals and 10 assists. That includes the winning goals in the 2021 Nations League and against Iran in the 2022 World Cup, a brace against Mexico in the 2023 Nations League semi, and a goal and assist (against Bolivia tbf) in the 2024 Copa America opener. Seems fine to me tbh
Milan is supposedly signing Mario Gila from Lazio for 30m + bonuses. That will be a huge upgrade for them at a really great price. Frustrating as a Juventini, he's been one of the only bright spots for Lazio. Gila and Ramos is a good start to the market for Pulisic and Milan.
Per the Athletic: Puli picked up a microfracture of his tibia and a bone bruise during the Belgium game, which will keep him out until early-to-mid August
Belgium dude stepped in front of puli as he kicked at the ball... shoulda been a yellow imo and a free kick for usa. That's not a safe play in anyway
I don't agree as he has a right to the ball also. It was just very bad luck for Pulisic. I wonder what would have happened had he been able to get off that shot / pass? Alternate Universe is he scores and the team is energized. Sports are both fickle and cruel.
Very interesting. Amorim said in his presser that he imagined Pulisic playing on the left wing and cutting into his stronger right foot. Does this mean Leao is as good as gone? Seems like it will be Pulisic on the left and Nkunku on the right.
Leao is as good as gone, he annouced his intention to leave before the WC. If they keep him, he will be a very unhappy camper, and the club does not need that vibe after last season. He gone, it is just a matter of where to now.
I have been a big supporter of CP (and also a critic at times), but it may be time for me to trade in some of my stock. I hope he does well at Milan this season, and maybe the club can muster a title-contending run, but I probably won't watch as closely. He is currently at his peak (27-28), production will probably continually decrease over the next season or two, but he can still play a valuable role for many clubs I think, including Milan. Likely a supporting role. The 2026 WC was meant to be a culmination of all his efforts and his growth from BvB > Chelsea . Milan, I expected him to shine, but it was a disappointing moment for him (and teammates) this summer. I am not going into full slander and hate mode like many pundits seem to be doing now, as they pile on after the Belgium loss and his injury - but I also proabbly will not follow his club career with the same amount of exuberance
I was really on the fence about this call. Did a little research into the actual laws and what they say about a kicker's right to strike the ball vs. a defender's right to put their body between the kicking leg and the ball. It just seems dangerous to me to do so--looking for something in the rules that states so. There seem to be 2 considerations: 1. Was it legal shielding? e.g., did the defender establish position, getting their body clearly between the other player and the ball? In this case, not at all, not for me. 2. Careless/reckless/dangerous play by the defender--in terms of a late step-in. I think it's a foul. The defender sticks their foot in between a kicker's in-process swinging leg and the ball without establishing position. It's dangerous--and clearly legitimately, Pulisic fractured his leg. The actual language: "If the defender makes physical contact with the kicking player without winning the ball first, it is penalized as a Direct Free Kick (or a Penalty Kick if it happens inside the penalty area). If they step in but don't make contact, it is penalized under Playing in a Dangerous Manner."
IIRC Pulisic kicked the bottom of the defenders boot which means the defender was to the ball first. I liked the no call but if it was a foul, Puli kicked dude not the other way around.
Thanks. Glad it wasn't just me. The discussion was whether he's comparatively a lot worse at the NT level, and I just don't think that's true. It's just that, coming off of the second half of the Seria A season he just had, it's hard to see how his performance at the NT level can be seen as a dropoff. This is in no way a defense of CP. He hasn't been consistent enough at NT or at club level. I think he (and Milan) were mismanaged this year, although that only goes so far--he needs to pick it up. Let's see what he can do for an entire season out on the left.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sidGP-4T0UQ This is within the context of his National Team performance, but I'm curious if the Italian press feels similarly about Pulisic... somewhat ironically, this is what people were saying about Weston when he was at what might be his career low point (coming off the Leeds loan).
People were saying Wes' "handlers" weren't letting them get close to him? I also question that LD is talking with Poch's coaching staff and getting this inside info. Maybe he is referring to other or previous coaching staffs?
More in the abstract: that Wes was getting bad advice from "handlers" / his "entourage", which was causing him to make bad decisions both on and off the pitch.