MLS 2024 Flavors of the Week

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by OWN(yewu)ED, Feb 7, 2024.

  1. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    I think so, but mostly outside if I'm not mistaken.
     
  2. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I only remember him playing as an 8 under Gregg. I always remember a more defensive mid on the field.
     
  3. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Poch brought him back into the fold,people would probably assume he got better since Poch called him . I have no idea what Poch wants at this time.

    Morris is probably closer to the team if I were guessing. His qualities are not subtle, big, fast, jumps high, scores goals.
     
    Mahtzo1 repped this.
  4. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    I definitely wouldn't be surprised to see Morris.

    As to Roldan, I definitely was not suggesting it was likely that he get called in but the comment was made and the first thing that came to mind was the difficulties some posters would have with the decision by a manager that by consensus (I think) is considered to be good to excellent choosing one of the most criticized players (behind Lovitz and few others) of Berhalter's tenure.

    That being said, is it possible that he gets called in to January camp? Maybe? I don't know, but I wouldn't be completely surprised.
     
    Winoman repped this.
  5. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    #2030 Clint Eastwood, Dec 1, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2024
    For the first time in 16 years, NYRB is head to an MLS Cup final. A chance to win their first title. Metros Playoff Fever!!! As USMNT fans, NYRB is of much greater interest than Orlando. A lot more USMNT-eligible influence in their starting XI with the Nealis brothers, Tolkin, Edelman, Stroud, Harper, etc. Will MLS Cup be Tolkin's final game with them before a Europe move? It would be kinda nice to see an MLS original franchise win its first MLS Cup. They are thus tied with two other originals, Dallas and New England, for the longest MLS Cup droughts. 28 years. They have some kind of crazy record of MLS playoffs heartbreak. They've made the playoffs 25 of their 28 years. Something like that. I'll be rooting for them to finally get it done.
    1863090650553385389 is not a valid tweet id
     
    Marko72 repped this.
  6. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    NYRB's opponent in MLS Cup final, and the prohibitive favorite, is the LA Galaxy.
    Almost nothing of interest with them for USMNT fans. The two former FC Dallas players in their starting XI. That's it. Former FCD homegrown, and 2019 U20 World Cup midfielder, Edwin Cerrillo. Also former FCD draft pick, and 2013 U17 World Cup defender, Johnny Nelson. Not much to be interested in unless Jalen Neal plays, and he's seemingly rooted to the bench. It would be nice to see Diego Fagundez actually win something. He's been in the league since 2011 and has won squadoosh. Still somehow only 29 years old, by the way. Next season he'll move into a very exclusive club of 400 MLS career regular season games played. Currently that list is 12 players. Exclusive territory.
    1863135230711701748 is not a valid tweet id
     
  7. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I love these games are being played in warm climates, hate they weren't broadcast outside Apple. The final will be on Fox at least.

    The Championship game featured 2 originals is fun. I'm also definitely rooting for the Metrostars to get over the hump. They're an American-centric team to boot.

    From what I've seen, one, Tolkin, has been a star these playoffs. Here was his moment last night. Can't believe he doesn't take free kicks when he's with our teams.

    1863038058846642672 is not a valid tweet id
     
    Yowza repped this.
  8. melatoninlol

    melatoninlol Member

    Seattle Sounders
    United States
    Oct 27, 2019
    Near Boston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Galaxy are heavy favorites but if Red Bull can take lessons from the Seattle match and Coronel continues his playoff heater they could definitely steal it 1-0 or 2-1.

    We just ran out of legs and even bodies in the end and lost on a heartbreaker. RBW was injured (calf injury), Rothrock out for the playoffs and even worse Rusnak went down with his recurring hip issue (he missed one of the Houston matches because of it) mid game. We were subbing on Leo Chu (who hadn't played in months) and Josh Atencio in our time of need (Atencio to play cb so we could push Nathan up more) which should indicate how bad off we were injury wise. There are rumors that Puig tore his ACL in the match but even without him they should be favored.

    USMNT wise, Roldan is almost certainly going to be a 6 or at least a CDM for the Sounders going forward, with Joao Paulo being older and Obed will absolutely be leaving pretty soon (winter wouldn't shock me but maybe summer window is more realistic?) plus we just play well with him on the pitch. Morris had crap for service most of the match and hopefully PDLV can level up to where we need him to be for more attacking power next season and to give Jordan the service for him to bang in another 10+ goals next year
     
    IndividualEleven and largegarlic repped this.
  9. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Riqui Puig tore his ACL yday. He won't be playing v. RedBull. That changes odds, I'm sure.
     
    IndividualEleven and jaykoz3 repped this.
  10. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Turns out Cristian Roldan is also a great 6. This guy has had great seasons in at least 4 different roles. Gregg was absolutely right to keep him around as cover. I think he should have played him more but there’s not that many guys in the pool who can be a real deal 10/7/8/6 and a decent RB to boot. In the two years since the World Cup, we’ve had youngsters emerge who can do it but I wouldn’t have trusted Malik Tillman or Busio 2 years ago.


    Ragen has looked more athletic than I previously thought, maybe he could be fringe member of the USMNT. He looks like he can be at least Miazga class.
     
    don Lamb and IndividualEleven repped this.
  11. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    What we do know is that Pochettino wasn't in the stands for either MLS conference final on Saturday.

    He was hanging out in London watching the USWNT.
    My personal unsubstantiated opinion based on scant evidence? Pochettino will be the most "Yanks Abroad" manager the USMNT has ever had.
    1862903891592966323 is not a valid tweet id
     
    deejay and keller4president repped this.
  12. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It’s going to be hard to beat Gregg for love of Europe. He gave Konrad a start in WCQ and brought in a bunch off guys from Euro second divisions.
     
  13. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But Daniel Lovitz, Will Trapp, Kellyn Acosta, Jesus Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, etc......
     
    porkrind repped this.
  14. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    All I'm sayin' is that Tolkin, for instance, had a really nice game in that conference final for NYRB. Wonderful assist on game-winning goal. It would have been nice if Poch was around to see it. Either that or being in LA to watch the yanks on Seattle, etc.

    I get it. I get it. He and his staff can watch video of these things.

    As I said, my unsubstantiated opinion based on scant evidence is that Poch will be as "Yanks Abroad"-focused as we've ever had. When the "A" team gets together, he'd rather call up no natural backup LB than call in John Tolkin.

    Luna, for instance, has said recently that he's had NO contact from the USMNT staff. Not even a phone call to say hi. If Luna hasn't, I suspect most of the young domestic pool hasn't either.

    So far its been status quo. Basically taking the "A' team under Berhalter and putting them in a position to succeed. That's fine as a starting point. Let's see how he expands the pool.
     
  15. keller4president

    Jan 5, 2006
    Poch should be watching the MLS semis and finals. Kind of messed up that he isn't.
     
  16. keller4president

    Jan 5, 2006
    With Greg Vanney's playoff run, I think he's putting himself in the conversation for USMNT coach if Poch leaves after 2026. Already won one MLS cup with Toronto.
     
  17. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lovitz hasn’t been seen since 2019. Those other guys are all good players and performed for club and country.

    Konrad got a start in WCQ before he scored a senior club goal, there’s no way any MLS player would have even made a bench with that record.
     
  18. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tell that to some of the loudmouths and mouthbreathers who cannot let it go because they Hate Gregg just so dang much......

    I was being sarcastic in the previous post too....
     
    50/50 Ball and Clint Eastwood repped this.
  19. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He still can, whenever he wants. The games are all there for re-watching on MLS Season pass......
     
    50/50 Ball repped this.
  20. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    It;s true.

    What would normally happen under previous coaches was that they'd exit January camp with a couple of guys they'd want to involve moving forward.

    Lovitz was one of those guys after 2019 January camp. He was evaluated in that cycle along with others like Vines, Bello, and Robinson. At the end of the day, Robinson emerged. I don't know why people get their panties in a twist about things like this. Lovitz was evaluated and set aside. By the time the games mattered, Robinson was the entrenched choice. [Lovitz started 5 games for the USMNT in 2019 and we won 4 of them. That was Panama, Costa Rica, etc. level. People act like he was some atrocity, which he wasn't.]

    But anyway, it'll be interested to see which players Pochettino is impressed with following January camp. You don't spend a month with guys, working with them day-to-day, without walking away wanting to keep some involved. What would the point be otherwise? We have certain positions that are more open to competition from MLS than others. Fullback being one. John Tolkin, if he doesn't move to Europe in January, is certainly one that has a chance to make an impression.
     
  21. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    this list
    https://i.imgur.com/Uwecnw2.jpeg
    [​IMG]

    Also let's not forget Cristian Roldan and his 0 goals in 40 caps who people around here will praise while bashing Malik Tillman because he's never done anything for the national team in 400 minutes over three years lol
    1863405418548285888 is not a valid tweet id
     
  22. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    I'm no big Cristian Roldan lover, but the endless discussion about him is bizarre.

    He's literally started two games for the USMNT (whether A team, B team, whatever) since the re-opening from COVID. A 6-1 win over Martinique in the 2021 Gold Cup and 6-0 win over T&T at the Gold Cup in 2023. That's it. Under Berhalter (or interims) he wasn't even starting for the B team since COVID, and people act like he was some Gregg favorite. I don't get it. Basically, the coaching staff came to the same conclusion as the board.
     
  23. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #2048 xbhaskarx, Dec 2, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2024
    Roldan went to the World Cup at the end of 2022 lol and plenty of people here defended it at the time including probably (almost certainly) you :laugh:

    Edit: Do you not listen to yourself either, because this is from DECEMBER 2022 (when was Covid?)

    https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/m...icked-the-usmnt.2120945/page-15#post-41061651

    Superdave:
    Clint Eastwood:
    Superdave:
    I admire your ability to completely abandon positions you held just like a year prior with no shame, my favorite was when Arriola deserved to start over Weah until the precise moment Arriola got injured in the pregame and replaced by Weah and immediately outplayed him, defending the regime no matter what "I support the status quo!"

    I would have directly quoted from the thread but mods had to lock it because it was too embarrassing :laugh:
     
    TheHoustonHoyaFan repped this.
  24. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    I'm sure he can get the soccer equivalent of All-22 footage from the teams / league themselves.

    Some things are helpful to see in person, but tape shows things you'd never be able to completely process live from most angles.
     
  25. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The way people have no problem with Poch hobnobbing with the USWNT or going to Argentina to watch his old club or making comments about not actively recruiting dual nats you'd think we had more than like 9 windows until the biggest World Cup in the history of the program... call me crazy or unreasonable but maybe it would be preferable for the USMNT coach to be watching our guys in Europe, or meeting with dual nats like Chase / Brown / Koleosho / Downs, or watching MLS playoff games (although idk for who besides Tolkin since Neal isn't playing), pretty much any "doing actual job" would be preferable to "not doing job while getting paid insane amounts of money"...
     
    onefineesq repped this.

Share This Page