Richards(dm in 4231) and Palace lost 2-0 to Bournemouth. I watched the first half. Richards was competent on the ball. Nothing too adventurous. The crowed moaned on one occasion when he passed back to a centerback, instead of turning to attempt to play forward. It was mature of him not to get intimidated into making risky plays that'll get him sent back to the bench. And Palace's transition game was non-existent 47/51 passing 3/5 long balls 5/6 duels 7 recoveries 0/0 fouls/fouled Fotmob(7.0)4th
Giving up 5 against an XG of 2.5 would get pretty much any non-European keeper sent to the depths of the depth chart……
OK, he's playing. Not well, or even average. But he's more than breathing. And most importantly for our purposes, he's been poor w/ the USMNT in practically any relevant situation. So we acknowledge that, and marginalize him accordingly. Hope clearly better options emerge, thru nat'l team trials and club emergence. Use him only as a fallback.
Reyna not even getting a cup game in a losing cause to Stuttgart is certainly grounds to encourage a move. I do like the Ajax idea. I always like the idea of taking on a project with a sleeping giant when they are down (unless its Sunderland or Hertha Berlin). Id even be intrigued with Lyon, who I feel is eventually going to get out of that mess.
NF keeper got a SOFA score of 5.9. Tied with Hudson-Odoi for worst player of the 22 on the field.....LOL
For everyone worrying about Gio Reyna, he did not dress for Borussia Dortmund's #DFBPokal match due to a cold. #USMNT— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) December 7, 2023
Vlach already had a -.64 psxg+/- a game over his first 4. I'll be interested where he grades out when they tabulate it. But SS had a -1.52 goals prevented for this match. It's probably pushing -1 a game. Turner's was -.16. His save was 69. Vlach's is 45%. It's the difference between mediocre starter and youth keeper. So change has to happen. Then, Matt's going to have about a month to prove himself again, before they could sign another keeper. Hopefully he doesn't start as tenuous as last time, which led to Vlach's arrival. Matt was superior, but I think he's capable of much better. Thankfully he'll get a second shot to prove that.
I've watched the guy since he was a U20. I've always thought he was solid enough, I've never thought he was "good". I think its pretty obvious. He has some "good" performances, but his overall profile, when you watch him play, the breadth of sample size, is of a solid professional good enough to get by in a big 5 league as a part time starter. That's great, I think he's maxing his potential. He's gotten farther than I expected, but he's still a limited player, physically, athletically, and in that final third, he's always gonna be useful as depth, but I don't think he's more than that. What matters to me is when a guy like him is probably your #3 8, your fifth or sixth CM at best, that speaks to some solid depth in central midfield. In the past we had nothing remotely like that, that's a win. I just don't see anything special, I see a worker bee, which is fine, just limited.
Johnny Cardoso’s final appearance with Internacional before heading off to Real Betis in January 2024. 💪🇦🇹[🎥: @CarolinaGiaco16] pic.twitter.com/trvjSkSoPq— USMNT Otaku 🇺🇸 (@USMNTOtaku) December 7, 2023 Johnny has quietly risen up our depth chart. I'd rate him currently our 6th best mid, ahead of LDLT and behind Reyna, McKennie, Adams, Musah and Tillman.
as ldlt rose into that top 6 after one better than expected match. whos going to have one surprisingly solid match and push cardoso back down the ladder?
I think we're all basically on the same page about de la Torre, but arguing anyway. There was a period of time on these boards when he wasn't getting called up and the Bashing Berhalter Brigade decided to use him as a weapon. Then when we actually started calling him up, people were like "Meh. He's fine. Nothing special." I think both Reyna and Tillman have the ceiling to be special. I don't know if they'll make it, but they have that ceiling. De La Fuente is fine. He's soon-to-be 26. He's in his prime. He gets minutes for a really poor La Liga team. They were lucky to escape relegation last year, and are in the relegation zone as we speak. 9 points from 15 games. They're just one of those La Liga teams that exist to be punching bags for the big teams. La Liga exists to support 3 teams. No, seriously. Look how the tv money is distributed.
Adams, McKennie, Musah, Torre, Johnny, Tessmann, Busio, Morris, Richards, Maloney We could have 10 CMs in the Top-4 come next season. Incredible stuff. Reminds of the time we had 4 goalkeepers strarting in the EPL.
Kellyn Acosta is also out of contract. Right? If he decides to give Europe a shot, it'll be interesting to see where he goes. If he signs some sort of long-term contract with MLS, he has at least some chance to break field player appearances/minutes records in the league. He's 28 and is at 252 appearances already. The top 3 field players in career appearances are all central midfielders. Beckerman, McCarty, Larentowicz. Darlington Nagbe, by the way, is hunting down the top 10 in career appearances. He's at 413. With his new contract, he might reach those top 3. He's signed thru 2026? In his prime, Nagbe's the kind of guy who I think could have done well in Europe.
starting is a really important word in your post- weve technically got 4 goalkeepers in the epl* now...none starting (*slonina on loan). and any of adams, luca and/or richards could easily go down (and richards as cm is still speculative).
That Johnny move could be huge. They finished 6th last year, and they're having a similar season now. Pellegrini is really having an impact. We'll see. Let's just keep the pipeline moving. Not all moves are going to work out. I'd also love to see Aidan Morris move. He's 22 now. Like Johnny. If he's going to move, now's a good time. Go out with an MLS Cup. Jack McGlynn..................... We actually do have a glut of central midfield prospects. It was such that Noel Buck didn't get in our U20 cycle, which led to him having a tantrum. We need some of those guys to take the "next step." McGlynn, Vargas, Edelman, and those guys. One of our U20 midfielders from that cycle has totally fall off the map. Alvarado of Vizela in Portugal. Was loaned to a team in the Portuguese 3rd division and has barely played. Maybe a Uly Llanez or Kobe Hernandez-Foster-style disappearing act. Oh, Alvarado is former LAG too. Ouch.
I meant to write de la Torre. Soon-to-be 26. He's in his prime. This is who he is. That's what I was trying to say. De la Torre..................of the Tower. Right?