What's your priority? The employer that feeds your family or the non-profit you occasionally volunteer for, because that's essentially what a national team is. Of course, there's patriotism and the opportunity to market yourself on the world's biggest stage but you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
The national team is an unpaid volunteer exercise? That’s new. Also, the idea that playing during legally-mandated, legally-enforced, universally-observed international windows is “biting the hand that feeds you” is shockingly weak-minded and subservient in a way that offends every American sensibility. How’s that indentured servitude working out for you?
We're not in the 1950s where professional players are being paid $20 a week. If someone pays you $6 million a year you're going to work pretty damn hard for them. That's not indebted servitude.
Neither do I but on Wikipedia it looks like they have 2-3 players in Egypt, one at Loudoun United and the rest of the pool is domestic based....can't claim to be an expert on the Ethiopian League but I'd be surprised if the USLC isn't a significantly higher level of play
Cable/satellite TV, streaming services, and the internet have been detrimental to the international game in 2 big ways. First, TV money funneling into the EPL and to a lesser extent other top European leagues has drastically widened the gap between those leagues and the rest of the world. Second, European clubs' personnel can scout leagues across the world digitally without setting foot on a plane--both watching the actual games and running players' metrics through databases to quantify their performance relative to the level they're playing at. In decades past great players outside Europe and Brazil/Argentina would be playing in their domestic leagues and counting on using the World Cup or a youth WC as a showcase to get a big move, but now those same promising young players are on everyone's radar at a young age and are snapped up by European clubs the instant they turn 18/16 depending on passport.
The disbursement schedule is irrelevant. They are obviously NOT being paid for national team work. The national team is paying them.
Peanuts compared to their club salaries. England's players are getting paid £2,000 each tonight, which they donate to the England Football Foundation.
Again, none of what I wrote was a "view," whether mine or any player's. It was a set of basic facts about the relationship between clubs and national teams. Those facts can't be made to disappear through an act of individual will. Beyond that, the national team has an obvious longstanding demonstrated interest in fielding players who prioritize their actual professional career over their side gig with the national team, as that describes almost everyone who has played for the team. These guys are quite literally mercenaries. They play in exchange for money.
Maloney starting center back Mainz v hoffenheim again. Plz dont say it’s too late……mot exactly busting at seams at center back
Maloney is starting at CB in a back-3 for Mainz. Strong performances will get him into the National Team picture. Weah is starting at RB in a 4231 for Marseille. Could be an option at wingback for the US.
Own goal by his colleague early on. Mainz 05 0 - 1 Hoffenheim⚽️ 8' Andreas Hanche-Olsen (KK)pic.twitter.com/nsHhRkqWbQ— KONTRA FUTBOL (@kontrafutbolik) November 21, 2025
Maloney(CB in 3421) was subbed out at the half. Wynder continues to make the bench for Benfica Weah(RB in 4231) got a goal in a 5-1 win over Nice. Marseille move into 1st. I'd love to see him get consistent minutes at fullback 1 goal 25/28 passing 7 recoveries 3/4 ground duels 0/0 fouls/fouled FM 8.1(4th)
I've nothing against Maloney but since everyone is constantly harping that Ream is too slow and CCV is also slow and they don't want them it's odd too see a push for another CB that is likely slower than either.
Huge game for Pulisic and Milan this weekend. USMNT and AC Milan star Christian Pulisic loves the big stage - and the Milan derby may be his next signature moment | Goal.com US
Tim Weah with a stunner. 🚀 Serious question: Is Weah a starter in the #USMNT current setup? pic.twitter.com/aW7oYN5FrM— herculez gomez (@herculezg) November 21, 2025
Weah is in contention to start at: 4231: Right FB: with Dest & Freeman 3421/343: Right WB: with Dest & Freeman 4231: Right Mid: with Dest, McKennie, & Tillman. 433/343: Right forward: with Tillman & McKennie If we are playing 3421, with the AMs more in a box with the CMs, he fits better at WB. If the attackers,are playing wider,,more of a 343, then, yes. But most times in 3 back, it has looked more 3421 than 343 with wingers. ATM Freese, Richards, Jedi, Adams, Pulisic, and Balogun seem like starters no matter the shape. Ream & M. Tillman are close. I would have said Dest two weeks ago, but Freeman is really coming on.
2 early am BuLi matches that impacts USMNT players. I assume Scally retains his starting RWB slot for BMG. Will Gio get match time based on his play for the Nats? Tillmann is now recovered from his injury, will he get back his starting slot for Leverkusen given that they have been on a tear?
If we play like we did this last window -- which is a 4231, and it's like we've played most windows -- Weah is almost certainly in contention with Dest for RW. That's what Dest played in the window. The other spot he's actually played is the left CAM slot that Pulisic has played. I also imagine he'd be in the mix for LW if we sort of flip the assymetry. I think he's probably up for WB in a real 3 ATB as well, but I don't think he's in contention for RB in a 4 ATB without it being an emergency. That's what Scally and Freeman played. Even if we flipped it and it became the FB playing more consistently forward, I don't think Weah is in line. Even if we went more traditional of a set up ... it's likely to be Dest and Freeman. I don't think we've seen any sign Poch is going to play Weah there, especially at this point.