actually didn’t watch was out n about thus morning just saw the lineup. But that’s what it looks like rent it? flo starting for Monaco against auxerre Venezia and busio choked an easy one away today don’t kind that at all
He played wide left, end line to end line in typical Wes fashion. When Locatelli went out he moved to the central midfield spot before he was subbed off himself a bit later.
Wes held his own against Denzel Dumfries and played a key part in a goal. Balogun picked up an assist. 0 goals on an xg of 0.34 Agyeman picked up an assist Wright nabbed another goal but had an xg of 1.57. Leeds couldn't case in on BAaronson's xA of 0.32.
Musah makes his Atalanta debut, coming on as a sub in the 75th minute. Plays centrally a 3-4-3. He very nearly had an assist on a nice break, but he was just a step offside. There was some miscommunication on the Lecce goal, and Musah was involved in that a bit. Otherwise, I thought he looked pretty good. He helped hold possession and showed for the ball consistently. Encouraged that he is playing in the middle of the field.
Gio Reyna starts in the middle for BMG, Scally on the bench. This is what you've been waiting for my guy, go make your mark.
There are currently 18 players in top 5 leagues or Champions League clubs who have made a USMNT appearance in the past year: Dest Scally Robinson Lund Richards McKenzie Adams Musah McKennie Cardoso Tessmann Pulisic Tillman Aaronson Weah Reyna Balogun Pepi 17 of those 18 have already started a league game in the first few weeks of the new season. (Robinson is the one who is yet to start a game, and he is obviously going to start plenty when he's fully healthy.) Some of those starts have been a little surprising and not necessarily indicative of the amount of playing time I'm expecting to see from them for the rest of the season. But it still seems like a positive sign that everyone at that level is getting playing time early on in the season. The one player who has started in a top 5 league this season who hasn't been called up by Poch yet is James Sands. He has started all 3 of St. Pauli's games so far.
Half time thought Reyna has looked pretty good so far, as good as anyone on his team. Probably could (should?) have had an assist and looks assertive finding the half spaces, receiving, turning and trying to play positive. Had a couple aggressive passes that did not come off, but he's willing to try.
It's really difficult to watch overseas games in the UK, other than Serie A. I'd need Sky, Discovery, DAZN, Premier Sports, Prime, Ligue 1 Pass, Apple and Triller. BMG is on Prime but it's PPV.
Private message me and I’ll give you a good solution to watching games. I don’t login often so it may take me a bit to respond
Yaaaaaay we got Gio to a club we don’t gotta worry about relegation with ……..right…….? Riiiiiiiighhhttt??????
Sands really hasn't been available for Poch since he moved to Germany in the January window. His injury was in February. He wasn't available for the Nations League, and likely wasn't available for the Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Berhalter did fine at the Gold Cup. So we're just talking about the September window. Maybe the staff was uncertain of his fitness. I certainly was.............uncertain. That particular position ain't easy to break into with the USMNT. Particularly when the top two options are Adams and Johnny. The options in central midfield grow. Particularly if Musah is playing there as he did for Atalanta this past weekend. Aidan Morris can't get back in, and I like Aidan Morris. Lennard Maloney has played this season for Mainz. He hasn't even gotten a callup with the USMNT over the past calendar year. I don't know what his standing is with the USMNT right now. But yes, we're at the point where just playing in a top 5 league doesn't get you into the USMNT. In some positions anyway.
Outside of Dest, Adams, Jedi, Pulisic and maybe Balogun, the difference between the rest of our players playing in the top 5 leagues and our best players in second tier Leagues (Eredivisie, Championship, MLS etc) isn't that great, which is why maybe Poch is looking at synergy/chemistry rather than just badges. I think he'll end up with the players that most of us could have predicted a year ago. Pretty much the core of the 2022 squad.
I just don't see how a relegation fight really impacts Gio's chance to play hard and show what he can do for the WC. Sure it would suck for next year but it MIGHT get him to actually work hard this season.
Or............it could be Nottingham Forest 2.0. Gio had made enough of an impression on the coach at Gladbach to earn a start. And then the coach was fired the next day!!! EEESSSHH!!!
additionally, Weah starting for Marseille v Real Madrid. Weston starting for Juventus vs Dortmund Additionally, EFL hero Horvath and Wednesday are playing against mighty Grimsby Town. Richards starts for Palace against Millwall.
Pepi starts Champions League in style with a thunderous left foot into the knee of a Royale Union SG attacker, resulting in a penalty kick and early 1-0 deficit for PSV.