I believe this cycle is a warm up for 2026. Just like 2014 was a warm up for Belgium's 2018 squad. Can the US make the leap into being a top side every time in the future or is this the next (for us) golden generation? Anyway no matter who the coach is the best players could almost all play in the Olympics and that means they probably will struggle against the really good experienced sides. This experience will with 2026 and that's when you go for the b est coach you can corral.
I see this a lot, but when WC are 4 years apart, we should never think of any cycle as a warm up. Yes, expectations will be higher for 2026, but it's too infrequent and too much can happen to even think that way.
The part about needing to address defense is reasonable, though. Interestingly I'd say all of Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, ManU, and Spurs could use an upgrade at CB. Hell, Liverpool could use a reliable partner for van Dijk. So there's going to be an interesting CB market this window. If you want one, you're going to have to pay thru the frickin' nose. Which of course Chelsea can do. Chelsea is set up really nicely for years to come. I didn't have them anywhere near the Champions League places when the season started. I thought it was going to be a rebuilding season. Lampard has worked wonders. It was a rebuilding season that also will likely result in a Champions League place. He now has an exciting, young nucleus that can be augmented. Pulisic is just a part of it. There's so much going on....................
There is never a good reason to get anything less than the best coach you can. Well, unless you consider nepotism a good reason. Even if we consider this cycle practice for the next cycle, you would still want the best coach you can get to ensure the players are guided in the right directions. There is never an excuse to hire someone less than the best you can find and stick them in charge.
I think it is becoming hard to find defenders who can do traditional defending and also pass like Pirlo and dribble like Messi. I’m exaggerating of course but just in the degree. The few who can do it are valued very highly. It will be interesting to see if a bunch more young defenders are able to do both or if it will continue to be hard to find those types.
I mean, yes, the defense can obviously be better, but Lampard plays a crazily aggressive system with insane hyper pressing and doesn't like resting players. Jury is very much still out on Lampard - we're awful on set pieces (and so were Derby), his rotations are not great, and it's not at all clear how he'll adapt tactically. He's been very good at substitutions and getting a lot of out of younger players (though I think people are overrating some of them). Then again, I thought we'd have no trouble challenging for 4th this year given all the talent we were bringing in (our loan players) despite selling Hazard. You can't argue our youth players are great (and we bought Pulisic) but then say we were going to be bad despite bringing a bunch of them back! Anyway, my real banter comment was about Kante. Too good - lol. The whole problem is that Kante is very clearly slowing down! If we can flog him to Real on the basis that he's still the same Kante (kind of what we did with Hazard), we absolutely 100% should. Our defense is always going to look questionable because we're pressing up the pitch like crazy half the time. Also, Kepa is awful.
Among all this fascinating conversation about Chelsea's defense, Puli just scored another goal... and Chelsea promptly conceded one to make up for it :-|
This thread is a lot less fun for me to follow now that every other poster isn't telling me how bad this move is going to be for Pulisic
Well if he'd moved to Liverpool he would have had a Premier League Champion's anal beads by now (or whatever they get instead of rings).
It's fascinating to watch the magnet effect of Pulisic in action. So many times, he's able to play a little square pass off the outside of his foot to a runner with acres in front of him because 3 or 4 defenders instantly collapse on Pulisic as he starts to take on lines. It's really a small miracle he doesn't have more assists. Thought Lampard had him dropping back a little deeper than we've seen in recent matches today, which does highlight his defensive deficiencies a bit. Still, when he can collect to counter with a speedy partnership from that position, it's a thing of beauty. That one late sequence between Pulisic and Willian in particular (think it ended w/ Willian blocked shot) was soccer porn.
His finishing has not just been better it's also more diverse. He can apparently cut inside or outside and finish with either foot towards the near post. That makes him unbelievable in that left wing spot. Add in that classic soft finish on the counter and you have the makings of a star.
It really does seem like he's gotten much better somehow. The counter goal against MC was very nice, but that was taking advantage of a couple real poor defensive efforts (not diminishing CPs effort). This goal today was more impressive to me. I had no idea he had that type of cannon attached to his left leg, and if that's something that can be even relatively common, look out. Was watching those two ridiculous goals Greenwood hit for ManU the other day, and I thought "if CP had that kind of shot, he'd be unstoppable". Now I'm wondering if he already does have that shot!
I'm watching the replay of the Chelsea game as I type this. There's little doubt that Pulisic is the engine of this team offensively. He is playing all over the pitch, and Chelsea is trying to get him the ball in spaces where he can directly attack. No doubt that other teams will scheme ways to slow down Pulisic's direct attack. However, right now he is lighting things up nearly every game.
Pulisic's WhoScored ratings throughout the EPL season. Definitely at a high level (Best XI-esque) in the last 5 games, but he's also been at this level before. Question is if he can stay consistently there. pic.twitter.com/sBGL2YF7kM— Tutul Rahman (@tutulismyname) July 8, 2020
getting dayot upamecano would make chelsea twice as good as getting kai havertz would is all im saying. hell, loris karius would be an upgrade on kepa.
he had three really good passes to willian in good positions, but two were @20 yards out, one for a volley in the box. willian wasnt exactly fluffing tap-ins out there is all im saying.