To be fair, he did not have a great 2025. I believe RSL picked him up to do what he is doing right now, play in a back three. He does have size but not a physical presence but he has great vision, is an above average passer, and has some skill on the ball. I think with some reassurance from the staff to build his confidence he could really turn into a more than solid asset in the back. I agree with 15, he has been a top defender back there. The best defender? Maybe. I think Glad has also had better 2026 than 2025 so far. It has been a great team effort.
One thing we sometimes forget and I recently was reminded of, on Tim Howard and Landon Donovan's podcast, is that in this league teams spend on the attacking players not the defenders. I think the defenders have been good when viewed with that lens.
USMNT performance today sucked if you were a US fan. But it did indirectly raise the profile of Luna given how next to nobody took the opportunity to impress/jump him
On both sides of the ball. Once Belgium adjusted tactics to skip the midfield, our attackers let the Belgian defense have way too much time to pick their passes. Luna disrupts that sort of thing.
Your analysis here seems to be what the smart people are saying. I marched instead of watching the game. Couldn't get the wife and kids to join though.
I appreciate living in an earlier time zone from y'all so when I log on, there's already activity. So when I'm in the east on business, do I take that role for you all? No, I am sad for me to not have you doing it.
I worried this US window had several guys who could pip Luna for a World Cup roster spot, but it was a crap show instead. Here's hoping he's 90 fit and it's within his reach.
The thing most glaringly lacking in both games - energy and giving a ******** - is what Luna excels at
Wasn't there some concern that the best players that didn't play last summer weren't going to fit with the guys out there (ie they don't bring the grit and energy)? I'm reminded of something I heard a bit ago about world cup teams. It's not the best players that win, but the best teams. I wonder what Poch will do to get the best team out there.
My thoughts on the USMNT is like 15. The "best" players on the team just don't give a flying ********. You can say it's pay to play or no Pro Rel but I really think with this generation of players its money. They have it. It's what they're focused on. They might be the first generation of US players with life changing contracts where they are set for life if done right. That's what their are trying to protect. Their checks. Unlike most of their predecessors who made good money but not I never have to work again money if they don't want to work. I was watching the post game and was wondering what a Brian Dunseth might think about these guys. Not that he was USMNT type player but a guy that loved the game and has had to work his butt off to have a post mls career in broadcasting to create a living. You could hear the contempt and disgust in Beasley's voice. And I am here for it. This group wants nothing to do with playing on the National Team. They don't want it. It looks like it annoys them that they have to even be there. The USMNT is the Tottenham of National Teams. You can change the coaching all you want but they never actually fix the issue. The players. This USMNT may turn it around but it not be from the top. It won't be Pulisic leading the motivational charge. It will be from players that actually care. A guy like Luna. This team is full of talented front runners and not enough, maybe any, Kyle Beckerman's.
IDK. I think the grumpy old man "kids these days!!!" takes by the guys that led the team 12+ years ago are more than a bit silly. Pulisic is in terrible form right now, and he is NOT the leader that we need him to be. Tyler Adams wasn't there, and he is basically the team leader and definitely in the Kyle Beckerman mold. Chris Richards wasn't there. Dest wasn't there. 38-yr-old Tim Ream was left to step to too many 1v1s. The list can go on.... I think it is more that we have little depth, lots of injuries, and the guys on the fringe (like Cardoso) who could/should be difference makers are just following orders instead of taking risks to change the game. Add to that the improvement in overall standard of fitness and professionalism of the average soccer player makes xdawg less of a factor. The fact of the matter is that previous USMNT were ALWAYS the underdogs. And now they are expected to get to the quarterfinals. IMO, I've seen our teams play with purposeful possession much more than ever before, where we largely relied on athleticism and hero ball.
Perhaps. But I still maintain that the drive to actually play for and win with the USMNT is not like it was in the past. At least in the moment. They can be better players. They can be more talented. They can play better at soccer but if they don't care then what's the point? I don't see any xDawg out there, regardless of talent. Until proven otherwise the US will always be an underdog. They aren't good enough not to play that way. It is a lot of old man stuff and back in my day for sure but you can see it on the pitch. I think that Beasley just wasn't having any of the excuses. Time will tell if they can "turn it on" in a 100 days or so but from what I have seen they wont. Definitely want to be proven wrong.
I think it’s a little of both 1. The USMNT isn’t the only national team that has players who show better talent with their club than at the national team level. It’s pretty common with big countries, in fact. 2. The push for player development neutered a lot of risk takers, imo. Where the US has found success in developing more top end talent is in the guys that connect games, not the guys that change games. This generation of players is better than Donovan and Dempsey on a pure talent level, but none of them carry their ability to turn it on
I'm looking forward to the documentary on Italy's team. Three straight World Cups that will not include Italy. They win at the youth level, they won the 2020 Euro Cup, but they have failed where it matters most. It's so bizarre for a nation that has historically been a powerhouse to have missed out on three straight tournaments.
Solid joke that honestly can’t tell if true or not in this stupid world ran by man babies and incompetent people