Giovanni “Gio” Reyna US National Team Discussion

I don't understand "if players and managers around the world thought MLS was a net positive on a pathway to playing in big games".

The "big games" are in the UCL, EPL, BL, La Liga and Serie A. Playing in MLS precludes playing in big games. You have to move to Europe first. We were screwed by continental drift.

 

You have to bear in mind that Berhalter's press was anemic and moving Gio out of attack and into progression makes sense if he is used to recover balls produced by a real press. For that to occur, there are players who would have to sit in favor of players who can press. BS would be in melt down mode.

 

Agreed. The question is whether playing games in MLS is considered a viable pathway for eventually achieving the goal of playing in the big games in those leagues or internationally.

Seems to me that the answer is yes if you’re just getting started, maybe for a few older guys with unique national team situations and a definitive no for young guys already on the radar/payroll of teams in those leagues, but striving to break through to the top tier.

I personally enjoy MLS and wish it were different, but the soccer world seems pretty united in their assessment of the league. It’s for beginning, ending and can be a nice place for mid-level guys to have a solid, good paying, career in soccer. On the plus side for MLS, it seems that the hockey world had a similar view about college hockey until recently.

 

There was this guy who came from some puny club in Spain, who became the best player for the MLS Cup champions.

True story.

Rickey Pouch, or something?

 

Sure.

But, like, ACTUALLY PLAYING >>>>> watching, regardless of where it is. The pitch >>>>>>>>>>>> the bench.

Perhaps.

See, there's a difference between those two and Reyna.

Those guys, like, ACTUALLY PLAY the game.
Reyna's a highly-compensated spectator and Balon D'Or injury list member.

Celtic have a 2 game league season, and then a few games in Europe. The Dutch league >>>>> the SPL, by a country mile.

I have it as:

1. Get healthy
2. Get hole shut.
3. Get off the socials
4. Don't fvkcing wave your hand around, Bobby Convey/Justin Mapp-style, and then act like a whiny fvkcing b!tch when the entire team does pass every ball directly to your foot.
5. Respect your club
6. Respect your manager.
7. Work your b@lls off in training.
8. Work your b@lls off, whenever you get the splinters out of your @SS, and get some game time.


Then, maybe some (desperate) team will take a chance on him/his mom & dad/his whiny ways.

Reyna to Chicago fire. Ya heard it here first.

 

"Reyna to Chicago fire. Ya heard it here first."

We have a comedian here.

 

If I could will one transfer into existence it would be Reyna to Chicago. It would interest me from a footballing perspective, and getting to witness all the reactions would be icing on the cake.

 

I think Toronto would be pretty amusing too.

 

I think you misunderstood my point. Gio was always a poor choice for the argument but watching/listening to the whole segment he mentions Gio and playing but he talks more about young players wanting to go to Europe. Gio much like Pulisic was always a dumb argument because they broke in at Dortmund as teenagers and Gio's lack of playing time is injuries and MAYBE stuff like attitude and workrate but the last 2 are pure speculation.

My point was more if the points Donovan made was made for a player that is of a similar age to Gio that said Europe at all cost like a Justin Che the points he made are fair. But yes using it for Gio or Puli is poor.

 

Gio to Nashville. He likes country music, right?

 

Puig is a good comparison. If Gio sticks it out in a top 4 league we can compare their resumes after the 2030 World Cup.

 

Shyte, if I'm Pochettino, I'm asking Puig if he's interested in an international career. When healthy, he's a better player and better team mate than Reyna. He'd walk right into a starting role for the USMNT; unlike many European sides, he'll get paid for international play, without having to donate the proceeds.


Hes never ever gonna get capped by Spain; just from his boyhood club, there are at least 3 or 4 players that are better than him, and already in their setup. Whats more, I don't think he's ever had a senior cap for Spain as yet, so I'm not sure if he'd even have to file a 1-time switch.

Of course, he'd have to get citizenship, although his injury may keep him out of the transfer shop window and in MLS longer.

 

Its actually a better fit than him continuing his spectating career.

His playing career is hanging by a public hair.
Chicago's manager's career has taken a hit from his previous gig.
They've seemed to have "made nice," and the manager has reliably selected him, even though Reyna's been rotting on the bench for his clubs for years.
Chicago's barely MLS quality, and they need talent at pretty much every spot on the pitch.
Section 8 can get their jollies off such a move.
MLS can boast them landing a USMNT player.


Reyna can continue his waving/whining act to his heart's content in MLS.

 

We'll see if Puig ends up back in La Liga. If he wants to compete for a spot in the WC he'll have to consider offers. If he wants to continue to be a star player he's possibly better off where he is.

How the hell is he not nominated for MVP?

 

At his position:

He's not better than Pedri, Gavi, Olmo, or Fermin, just from Barça.

He's not better than Merino at ARSEnal.

He's not better than Ruiz at Q$G.

He's not better than Oyarzabal at Sociedad.

And hes probably not better than others I cant remember for Spain at the senior level, plus a handful at Spain's youth national team setups.



TL/DR: Puig's chances at an international career for his home nation are finitu.

 

Puig makes $2.4-2.5 million at the Galaxy.

According to Capology, Gio Reyna makes about the same amount at Dortmund.

I'm sure there are other bonuses and incentives in these contracts..............................but the point remains that they have relatively similar salaries if the internet is to be believed.

..................Gio Reyna would do great financially if he comes back to MLS. Just fine. Would he be out of the USMNT picture? Not at all. We're not Spain. Cade Cowell and Alex Zendejas were in the last USMNT squad.

I don't think that's what is going to happen.
When he was healthy, he proved he could impact Bundesliga games.
Some club in Europe will roll the dice on him. Not Real Madrid, of course. He needs to go to some club a step down the ladder and re-establish his value.

Gio Reyna is only 22 years old.
He's YEARS YOUNGER than Riqui Puig, who is 25.

And lest we forget, Gio was the "Player of the Tournament" for the USMNT during the 23/24 Nations League. That wasn't 5 years ago. That was THIS effing year. Anybody that thinks he doesn't have the ability to be a key player for the USMNT, has some sort of bizarre agenda. Living in some sort of delusion.

 

I doubt anyone doubts his ability.

 

Well, if he can't get on the field then it doesn't matter.

................but he went cold into the 23/24 Nations League and was named Player of the Tournament.

[We remember Berhalter and Marsch/Meola getting into a spat about that callup.]

We were actually quite healthy for that 23/24 semifinal/final camp. So healthy that Tillman, Aaronson, Musah, Johnny, and Balogun came off the bench for the final. It was Reyna that was named Man of the Match. Lest we forget, Pulisic started that game. Weah started that game. McKennie started that game. Antonee started that game. Tyler Adams scored a golazo in that game. Le's repeat, it was Gio Reyna that was Man of the Match. And it was a real central midfield role too. Not really as a #10. He dropped deep into midfield at times. That was not 2021. That was THIS YEAR. I'm not some kind of Gio Reyna apologist. But I do think that there's a small handful of folks that have forgotten how good he is when healthy. If folks want to question him due to his health history, be my guest. But question his quality, and I have a problem.

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One of these doesn't belong...

 

He missed Bobby Charlton's Scotland.

 

Might I suggest that "bad attitude" is the new excuse shorting Americans on playing time since "not good enough" is no longer realistic? Not that it doesn't exist with Reyna. But it's not tolerated in Americans the way it would be in Europeans.

 

I don't think that he has been immature, I think that he is immature. Its fine. Some people are late bloomers.

Like I have said previously, he needs to find a coach or mentor who will confront him about specific things that are keeping him off the field. That person will need the ability to be frank but still build him up with information that helps him add to his game.

Right now I see an intuitive player who is mentally underage. He is tactically blonde...happily ignorant.

It will be interesting to see how Pochettino handles him given that Berhalter was the only coach in his career to give Gio trust and a prominent role.