PBP: MLS N&A Running USMNT and other International Games Thread {R}

He’s been out with a knee injury and got a really bad flu or something in the offseason that set back his fitness. The team was extra careful bringing him back to avoid reinjuring his knee.

I kinda figured he had a leg up on Aidan Morris or Cardoso.

Oh well.

 

Poch isn't going to play him if he's not fully fit.

 

Morocco has been declared the 3-0 winner of the AFCON finals. Senegal is now the runner up.

 

Not really fighting for the same spots on the team though.

 

Has he played well for RSL last season?

 

He was good enough to keep getting called up by Pochettino.

 

He did well the first half, but the whole team sucked the second half, and the opposition figured if they marked Luna out of games, we were toothless. And they were largely correct. He still led our team in goals and assists last year with 9g/7a.

The main reason I felt he had a good chance as a bench player for this cycle is how he helped the culture of the team. If he is fit, it would seem weird to leave him off.

 

Exception that proves the rule: Gio “Break Glass if Needed” Reyna.

Thx,

Jay!

 

Unlike some others he always have good attitude. Nor sure whether it's that infectious, though. I think the team is worse with him on the field. He is like poor people Pulisic, they both often trying get more involved than needed, but Pulisic has reasons for that, Luna doesn't.
He gets in other players spaces and just crowds the field.

 

Under Poch, he has the 2nd most goal contributions of all players.

Still, I think he is a fringe player at best. Just bummed he didn't get the call up here. It's OK. It doesn't necessarily mean that he won't make the team for the WC, but it looks bleak for him.

 

He's injured.

 

That’s good question. I don’t know. Tim Team is 38, perhaps he’s picked for bench vibes.

 

What is the point of you?

 

Tim Ream is somehow a lock starter on this team - he started as the captain 12 times in 2025.

 

Poch has a habit of not selecting players who are recovering from injury. I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

Is it just me or was that league cup final really boring?

 

Arsenal - City matches are never exciting.

 

Arsenal are reverting to the George Graham era... successfully.

 

Something I just learned is that Seattle's Danny Musovski has been called up to the North Macedonia national team.

Wikipedia mentions he is of Macedonian descent.

 

That's funny...I thought he was Cervid

 

Screw Pochettino. He missed out on a promising young 30 year-old.

 

World Cup Qualifying is underway to determine the last 6 countries to make it to June.

Turkiye defeats Romania, 1-0.
Romania is eliminated. Turkiye advance to next Tuesday's playoff final at either Slovakia or Kosovo.

 

NATO member and secular democracy (despite recent efforts). Just the sort of fan base we want.