Should I want Jozy to have a big year? Or should I want him to fall flat? If he has a big year, it is good in the short term for the National Team. But it also means that the league is miles behind England. Basically it would mean that no American forward is even near the low end of the EPL.
What about if Jozy's production this year matches or exceeds Defoe's production last year (11 goals in 19 games) at TFC? I'm not saying that it's likely to happen, but if it did, would you then concede that Jozy's problems at Sunderland were due to a lack of fit rather than a lack of quality?
Of course! Let Jozy's PL failure go. This is the US, where our all-time leading goalscorer is Landon Donovan, and in European soccer, he managed only 2 goals in 29 career appearances. Bottom line: Jozy is absolutely critical to our national team this cycle. We need him to be in top form.
Defoe's numbers at TFC break down as 11 goals and 2 assists in his first 13 games, followed by 0 goals and 0 assists in his last 6. Whether he was disaffected or injured or something else, he wasn't the same player after mid-season.
Disagree, It means USA players need to wait if needed and find a club that best fits their playing style and skills over just moving for a pay check.
Altidore was terrible at Sunderland. He won't have the space he got in Holland and no one on Toronto is really serving up assist.
Ireland have interest in Lamar Neagle, who may be getting an Irish passport. Just registering this on the thread - it's the first I've heard of an Ireland connection for Neagle.
that is interesting, dont think any of us had a clue on that. good player, would like to see him get some looks on either national team.
That would be pretty cool for Ireland to call him up. I don't think he'll ever get capped with the USMNT, but he's one of those players that will probably always be close but just never good enough. He might be good enough for Ireland.
Neagle was/is definitely worthy of a January Camp call up.. Still deserves a call up not like usmnt are deep in wingers tbh
Agree he gets up and down and was able to chip in and score. I wanted to see him get a look in the Jan camp
I'm starting to get a bad feeling that Delgado and Hagglund are not going to be playing much for TFC this season because they brought in mediocre European veterans that could take their place. Would hate to see two promising young American players bypassed just because Toronto thinks almost every player on their roster has to have played in Europe at some point in their career. If this happens, they will become the new NYRB to me, the MLS team I dislike the most.
Hagglund is #3 on the CB depth chart. Given Caldwell and Perquis are made of glass, he'll defo see plenty of game time this season. Given what's been coming out of camp, i'd be more worried about who's behind him than in front of him. Draft Pick Simonen has been impressive as has been Zaveleta. Delgado is tougher to predict as the positions he plays there is plenty of depth. One thing working in his favour is that he is Vanney's boy, he'll work him in somewhere.
I just think both players have played well enough last season to be starters somewhere in MLS. To come into this season not being starters is something I don't really like, regardless of which team they are playing for. I rated both of these players as close to be USMNT players with another good season, and for them to now start it off as likely back ups, its not a good start to that season. I get what Toronto's trying to do and all that, but with Hagglund its aggravating that TFC had CB depth problems last season that were clearly not involving him and he gets passed over now just because a few of their other CB's have European clubs on their resume. With Delgado, I get that its probably easier to get playing time at Chivas USA than most clubs, but I was hoping he'd go somewhere with less depth in the central midfield. Now that they've brought in that guy from Marseille, it gets even tougher for him. I get he's versatile and all that, so he definitely should see playing time. I'd just like to see him establish himself somewhere rather than just playing wherever they have a player out of the lineup.
I have trouble believing Lamar Neagle is NT quality. Fast hard worker, sure, but the touch and the technical skills are not up to standard. Didn't Lamar line up at ST for SEA too? From what I have seen, he is not good enough on the flanks or up top. Decision making is iffy as well.
I think the debate between Ibarra and Neagle are about their ceilings, not their current status as a player.
All gormless handwaving aside, Neagle's per-90 productivity for position has been fairly elite over the past two seasons. He is disadvantaged by essentially having to be a utility attacker. If played consistently in his two best positions, right-mid and striker, his talents would be more discernable.
Than the Sounders coach must feel he is not better then Seattle's RM or Striker (That's an obvious one given their roster), I really don't see any reason for Neagle to ever get a call up. Some guys are just league good and that's it, no shame in it, etc.