Things get weird here after losses. I am all for recognizing performance in the shirt. But TBF, despite CP’s heroic efforts, the Couva disaster has shrunk his WC match opportunities. And not Top 4 in terms of club career performance? I confess that the logic of that conclusion escapes me.
Puli is not above Timmy, Brad, Duece, or Landon. Brad and Tim were on Prem teams of the year. Tim won Confederations Cup Golden Glove. Duece is co-leader in international goals. He won Bronze Ball at the Confederations. He finished 3rd in voting for Player of the Season in the Prem. Landon is co-leader in international goals. He won the Young Player Award for the 2002 World Cup. Puli hasn't had those kinds of careers at international or club level.
He did say that, and that is probably true in general, but from what I am seeing I have to believe that his hip is hindering him. He did miss games and have reduced minutes this year because of hip bursitis in his left hip, his goal contributions dropped off the map, and I can see it in his movements. He is favoring his left side, he is not as quick as he was. Do you remember in the game around 50' when he skyed a shot to the left and over the bar in front of the Belgian goal? That was a very bad, uncharacteristically bad miss, and I believe it was a direct result of the pain in his left hip.
Roberto Baggio once skied a shootout penatly in a world cup final over the crossbar into the upper deck. I too feel this was an uncharacteristically bad miss and i believe it was a directvresult of hip pain even though baggio and the foctors said he was fine.
It is a logical fallacy to characterize my comment as "anyone who skys a ball over the crossbar has a hip injury". Pulisic has just gotten over hip bursitis in the past few weeks, he had it last season and last summer, he had it at Chelsea. What a stretch it is to believe he still has it now. What a stretch indeed!
Well, the hip let him dribble three guys to get to the spot where unfortunately it decided to flare up, and that’s when he skied the shot. The hip made him miss? Isn’t it a thousand times more likely bad form made him miss? Pulisic has always been streaky.
Look. It’s fine to cherry pick the facts that best support your conclusion. But don’t keep suggesting that those weigh other factors — like CP’s important role on two legendary clubs, career club goal totals, and important contribution to a Champions League winning Club — are somehow ignorant. Reasonable people can disagree. And only reasonable people can acknowledge that.
He didn't lose all his abilities. His muscles and brain did not stop working. He's not crippled. He can still play. Hip pain is an irritant, not a crippler. "Bad form" is a British phrase and I think is largely not a thing for the top players. They don't lack for confidence or skill, they just get injured. They carry niggling to serious injuries that bother them. His shot was terrible because he was off balance. Was this just poor body mechanics or did his hip pain get to him as his bodyweight shifted and his leg swung through. Only he knows. Breathe deep the gathering gloom Watch lights fade from every room Bedsitter people look back and lament Another day's useless energy spent
Pulisic was complementary player in Chelsea's UCL-winning campaign. He started 2 of the last 5 knockout matches and didn't start the Final. For the season, across EPL and UCL, he got 22 starts and 15 subs appearances. And legendary or not, AC Milan didn't qualify for UCL, or any European, competition for this season. EPL Goal Contributions Deuce: ---57 goals----20 assists-----16,695 min----0.42GA/90min-- Landon:----2 goals------6 assists-------1,278 min----0.56GA/90min-- Pulisic:---20 goals----11 assists-------5,563 min----0.51GA/90min-- Despite being on a much better team, Puli's per-90 numbers were only in line with Deuce and Landon's
OK, which club is catching a stray here, Dortmund, Chelsea, or Milan? Please say Chelsea. I hate those ********ers.
Pulisic wasn't always playing offensively that season was he or was it the last season with Chelsea where he was playing as a rightback?
It’s close but he could probably claim the number one spot if he skips the World Cup, rests up, and improves his skills even more.
Indeed. Pulisic has been great in spurts for the USMNT. Scored a critical goal for us at WC22. [For which he paid a heavy price.] He already has that on his resume (unlike a guy such as Jozy Altidore). ..............but he's also scored one goal against a decent team since the fall 2023 friendlies. That was the free kick against Brazil prior to Copa America. His only other goals since then have been against Jamaica, Bolivia, and New Zealand. Both arguments can be true. He can be one of the most naturally talented players in the history of the program, and has achieved as much in Europe as any American ever has. ........................while at the same time we need to see MORE from him in a US jersey. If we're going to beat GOOD TEAMS, we need our most talented players to be elite. We need Pulisic, McKennie, Antonee, etc. to be difference makers at that level. This is a player who is already top 5 all-time for the USMNT in both goals and assists. He'll be considered an all-time great for the USMNT when he retires. We'll look back and plenty on accomplishments. But if he wants to be held in esteem HIGHER than Donovan and Dempsey, he needs to "do it" more on the biggest of stages against the best teams. When you look at games THAT MATTER on the World stage, Pulisic's only goal is against Iran. Maybe we can give him credit for a goal against Bolivia at Copa America. That's the list. Yes, there are goals (a bunch of them) that matter against Mexico. If he's going to be THE GOAT of USMNTers, and held in higher esteem than Donovan and Dempsey, then this World Cup is the time to cement that legacy. Based on his comments to the press, he seems to know it.
What I fail to understand: Some are dissecting Pulisic to death. He's only scored blah blah blah. I watched him a lot during the Belgium game. He had several very good moves on the dribble to open up space for a shot. Yes his shots were off. Guess what. Who else even gets in a position to get open for shot? Is Pulisic playing his best right now? No. Is there anybody else in the pool who is better right now? Hell no.
It’s all about expectation. We’ve set a bar for Pulisic and rightly or wrongly anticipate a certain level of performance. It’s the nature of sports at this level. On a human level, I support all our players and recognize they have pressures and limits just like the rest of us. As a usmnt fan, I implicitly want these guys to overperform relative to their talent. Especially now, in this World Cup, in the USA.