“Guardiola normally prefers to play his reserve goalkeeper in the FA Cup and League Cup, to ensure they get games under their belts in case they are needed to step in, and also as a reward for long hours on the training ground without much matchday action. Steffen has played in every domestic cup game this season when fit, but Guardiola admitted he may stick with Ederson for the clash with Jurgen Klopp’s team.”
Would yo play him after watching him for the US last cycle? Against Liverpool? I wouldn‘t. I rarely think like this, but if he doesn‘t play maybe it will light a fire under his a** to get the hell out. I‘m a true international footballing type guy. Club over country, but Steffen needs a kick in the nuts. Selfishly for the US, and for his club career.
I heard on Sirius yesterday that Steffen has already asked MC to loan him out next season so he can be in form for the WC. Really hoping that becomes a reality. As far as today is concerned, I would be pretty surprised if he started. If it was any other opponent then I think he plays but Liverpool is the one club that team/coach fears.
To put a little clarity to this thread... Starts: 📋 TEAM NEWS IS IN! 📋XI | Steffen, Cancelo, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Jesus, SterlingSUBS | Ederson, Dias, Gundogan, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Delap, Lavia#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/St02EGyzIv— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 16, 2022 Liverpool up 2-0 in the 17th. Match is on ESPN+.
Ugh. I think Zack Steffen probably shouldn’t be the #2 goalkeeper for Manchester City. And I know he should be #2 for the U.S. MNT.
Here's the 2nd goal: This is….not great for Zack Steffen pic.twitter.com/Tl5h2ZdOTo— American Hooligans 🇺🇸⚽️ (@AmericanHoolis) April 16, 2022
Steffen ain't gonna be at City next season, but at this point he had better hope it's due to being on loan. Yikes. Poor guy.
That's what happens when GKs rarely play actual matches. I'm surprised that Pep started him in this match.
I don't want him at GK for the USMNT. Not #1, not #2, and not #3. Mentally, he is not up to it. He seems distracted. He is a disaster waiting to happen.
Shaping up to be another one of those weekends when most of our guys don't play, and the ones who do make us wish they didn't.
There does seem to be something amiss here. He’s capable of way better than he’s shown for club and country lately. Gosh.
He seems much weaker than usual but stats don‘t lie. From Columbus to US Nats to Dusseldorf to Citeh his stats are average to below. Add his numerous unforced blunders over the years, and his lack of command of the box and you have a keeper that has always flattered to deceive. Folks need to wrap their heads around what he has been, and still is, which is not very good. That is the reality. The only other answer is taking a ship called DENIAL.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was unable to start Kevin de Bruyne and had Kyle Walker out injured, preferred Zack Steffen to Ederson in goal, a move that back-fired spectacularly. From the BBC. Look, I am not happy this happened, but better now than this winter. It‘s clear Zak is maybe the most over rated player on our team. hope the Manc Citeh name can get him a starting shot somewhere decent. I won‘t hold my breath.
He is a phenomenal athlete, he has good skills. The problem is mental. There may be something going on in his life. I have been there. Divorce, girlfriend troubles, insomnia, unhappiness at being #2 at the club, not feeling like you belong, parents are ill, legal troubles, etc., etc. Something is going on. I don't know what it is, but I don't think it is just rust. I hope it will work itself out by November.
Poor Zack. Needs to focus on fixing his club career now before it crashes n burns. The media there is cruel and will have it out for him going forward.
The comments on his socials are tough to take too. He'll rebound but his career took a big hit today. It would be funny if him, Turner, and Horvath all did MLS loans in the lead up to the World Cup