George Bello at LASK (Austria)

Was he though? For me, based on the eye test, I’d say no.

 

Not long ago Bello was getting hyped up because his athleticism made him look decent in MLS. Now players like Wiley and Cowell are getting hyped for their athleticism making them look decent in MLS, until they also get exposed in Europe, then thrown away by the fanbase. Rinse and repeat.

 

Bello had some hype early based on his time as a 15 or 16 year old. Whatever hype was gone long before he left for Europe.

Bello had some good games when he first came up to Atlanta's first team. But he stagnated pretty quickly. I don't think people thought he was a star when he left. He wasn't really looking great in MLS.

Atlanta United can be hard negotiators but they didn't even haggle much for Bello. A $2 million price indicates they were just trying to unload him.

Bello is actually still eligible for the U.S. U-23 team next year and I don't think anyone is considering him an option.

 

Getting relegated twice in a row is not common. I consider it a rare achievement, not as rare as going as an unused healthy #10 in a World Cup (Mix) or going 90 in a competitive international game without a single shot, not on goal, not blocked, not on target, not deflected (vs. Argentina in Copa Centenario), but still noteworthy enough.

Up there with becoming a garbage minutes sub when you wear the #10 and cost 70 million bucks, though.

 

Bello subs in at the 73rd minute, like-for-like with Oczipka. They were already down 3-0 in this first leg before he came on...

 

This season is ending like a nightmare.

 

I‘ll never forget before playing Panama, when I had enough of posting here for a long while, some clown on the US board was saying how Andrade (the guy who could make Danny Cone Califf look like a gazelle) was much better than any US center back.
Why? I think we were starting MLS backs and Andrade was in the Bliga. Admitted he never watched the guy. Went on and on. No one called that a**hole out. That‘s why I can be a d**k here. I didn‘t sign on and actually regret it.

Well, he and Bello are heading to the right level. I apologize for those who will be offended.

 

Bello gets the start today as, after playing poorly and having their traveling fans disgrace themselves in a 4-0 road leg loss, Arminia Bielefeld return home seeking a miracle to avoid 3.Bundesliga play next year. High percentage chance it's Bello's last match for the team with or without a miracle. Against Wehen Wiesbaden.

 

They scored early but it's still 1-0 after 30'.

Bello may be a good fit in the 3.Liga.

 

Playing on the left, got a yellow, Wehen scored 2 (not Bello's fault) and they're losing 1-2 at the end of the first half. It's over.

 

It finished 2-1 to the opposition, so Bielefeld lost their playoff 6:1 on aggregate.

The higher-division side very rarely loses the playoff, so this is an absolute humiliation for them.

 

there's a mental aspect of the game that (most) American players seem totally unaware of or at least find very difficult to access....I think it is cultural...but cant be sure.

OTOH, nowadays, with the emphasis on positional play and discouraging players to take liberties and express themselves....it's no wonder that many promising players dont seem to grow much or develop any personality whatsoever on the field.

 

This was not a great move

 

Harsh but fair.

 

Rumored to be in talks with RSL, though no deal agreed.

https://theathletic.com/4661309/2023/07/02/real-salt-lake-george-bello/

 

He needs to come back to MLS.

 

thats why picking their destination is uber important....go to a club that develops players not simply the highest bidder.

in theory, going to europe is to accelerate development and improve...not merely to face a harder test.

i disagree with anyone who thinks a player's level is static and unchangeable.

 

disagree. (international) career suicide.

 

If he's got interest from the Championship, i'd reckon he should head there rather than return to MLS then again I mean he's still quite young.

 

If he doesn’t find a place to play and soon, he’s already six feet under. He might be able to resurrect enough to become a fringe MLS-heavy option / alternative to the A team if he comes home.

 

I’m confused.

In the USMNT forum you go on and on about too many MLSers playing for the Nats. Those comments seem to me to contradict what you’re saying here, that coming back to MLS would be suicide for his international career.

DC United badly needs a left back.