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Cackalacky2.0

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Oh man RM had a 92' min equalizer disallowed. Shaktar was missing 10 first team players and beat RM at home.
 

Rogue219

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Man City down to Porto. This season is just silly

Aguero PK ties it, followed by three City Yellows in a span of eight minutes.

Liverpool lead 1-0 on an Ajax own goal, and James Milner gets a yellow after his 20th foul of the first half.
 

Rogue219

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Hate to blame everything on Covid, but you have these guys playing in front of empty stadiums and being totally out of whack like everyone else. Yes, they're highly paid athletes, bada beep bada boop. They're still human fucking beings. The home away results are weird, goals everywhere, finally had a 0-0 draw in England, etc. It's going to be weird for a while. No other way around that.

Carlo Ancellotti yesterday said James had a bruise and was injured from contact with Virgil Van Dijk last week. Suddely today James is cleared to play this weekend. Looking forward to when Everton is mid table in April where they belong.

In Champions League, shots already fired:
Porto manager Sergio Conceição on Pep Guardiola: “I’ve got a lot to learn from Pep Guardiola, in the way he pressures referees, talks to opposition players and opposition dugout. He’s a fantastic example. I have to learn this. We were angels compared to the other dugout.”

Porto should just hope they get through and not stir up the hornet's nest.
 

NorthDakota

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Don't look now but Madrid is looking at being in last place after 2 champions league games. Getting out if the group gets a bit harder without wins lol
 

Cackalacky2.0

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IDK if you have been following Dest but he has been really good for Barca. He has filled in at LB for Alba and when Alba returned moved back to RB.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y9zv87ndiPE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

Old Man Mike

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can we please get all these young US guys together on a pitch and see if they "fit" and can play soccer as well as, say, Mexico?

... he!l I'll take as well as ANY decent team.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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If Berhalter doesnt have Gio Reyna, Pulisic and Dest as DEFAULT starters moving forward I dont think Ill watch another USMNT game. These guys are levels above any MLS guys already. I'd take Sargent over Zardes as well.
 

notredomer23

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can we please get all these young US guys together on a pitch and see if they "fit" and can play soccer as well as, say, Mexico?

... he!l I'll take as well as ANY decent team.

Wales friendly next month Mike. It will be only our Euro based players.

I expect a 4-3-3 of

GK: Steffen (Man City)
RB: Dest (Barca)
CB: Richards (Bayern)
CB: Brooks (Wolfsburg)
LB: Cannon (Boavista)
CM: McKennie (Juventus)
CM: Adams (RB Leipzig)
CAM: Reyna (BVB)
LW: Pulisic (Chelsea)
ST: Sargent (Werder)
RW: Weah (Lille)

I think outside of Brooks and Steffen, the oldest player listed is 22.
 

notredomer23

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If Berhalter doesnt have Gio Reyna, Pulisic and Dest as DEFAULT starters moving forward I dont think Ill watch another USMNT game. These guys are levels above any MLS guys already. I'd take Sargent over Zardes as well.

Any line up that doesn't feature McKennie, Adams, Pulisic, Reyna, and Dest going forward is a fireable offense in my mind for Berhalter. The difference in quality and development between those 5 and the rest of the outfield players in the pool is a massive difference.

No more Zardes. The only MLS players in mind that deserve call ups still are Morris, Arriola, Long, Nagbe, Roldan, and maybe some GKs. That doesn't include some players such as Brendan Aaronson who is moving to Europe in January, and some other young guys like Sands, McKenzie, and Ferriera whose best days are ahead of them.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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Wales friendly next month Mike. It will be only our Euro based players.

I expect a 4-3-3 of

GK: Steffen (Man City)
RB: Dest (Barca)
CB: Richards (Bayern)
CB: Brooks (Wolfsburg)
LB: Cannon (Boavista)
CM: McKennie (Juventus)
CM: Adams (RB Leipzig)
CAM: Reyna (BVB)
LW: Pulisic (Chelsea)
ST: Sargent (Werder)
RW: Weah (Lille)

I think outside of Brooks and Steffen, the oldest player listed is 22.
This is a good lineup.
 

Old Man Mike

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Sargent please. Plus one million. (finest passing touches in tight places of any of our alleged spearpoint strikers. "9's?"--- I obviously don't think Pulisic belongs in competition for the Sargent/Zardes etc role, just to head-off conclusions that I think Josh is a better passer than Wunderkind.)


The listed line-up looks good even to amateur me. I don't think that I see a defensive midfield player in there since I think it's really hard to convince McKinnie to ease up on all-out attacking.
 

fightingirish26

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Wales friendly next month Mike. It will be only our Euro based players.

I expect a 4-3-3 of

GK: Steffen (Man City)
RB: Dest (Barca)
CB: Richards (Bayern)
CB: Brooks (Wolfsburg)
LB: Cannon (Boavista)
CM: McKennie (Juventus)
CM: Adams (RB Leipzig)
CAM: Reyna (BVB)
LW: Pulisic (Chelsea)
ST: Sargent (Werder)
RW: Weah (Lille)

I think outside of Brooks and Steffen, the oldest player listed is 22.

If Antonee Robinson isn't playing LB, it would probably be Dest. He's played on the left numerous times for Ajax/Barca.
 

notredomer23

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If Antonee Robinson isn't playing LB, it would probably be Dest. He's played on the left numerous times for Ajax/Barca.

I forgot about Antonee somehow. I know he's been starting for Fulham. Cannon is a natural RB, so it would probably be Robinson over Cannon. Dest is a natural RB. I know he can play on the left, but I would like the US to play players at their best position if they can.

For a Euro-based lineup, not so much this season since Yedlin is on his way out at Newcastle so he likely isn't fit to start. But I would love a right side of Dest and Yedlin that was interchangeable between RB and RW.
 

fightingirish26

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I forgot about Antonee somehow. I know he's been starting for Fulham. Cannon is a natural RB, so it would probably be Robinson over Cannon. Dest is a natural RB. I know he can play on the left, but I would like the US to play players at their best position if they can.

For a Euro-based lineup, not so much this season since Yedlin is on his way out at Newcastle so he likely isn't fit to start. But I would love a right side of Dest and Yedlin that was interchangeable between RB and RW.

Saw this idea floated around the other day. I'm a Union fan and I think McKenzie is fantastic but I'm not ready to pencil him in as a USMNT starter just yet, but there are a number of intriguing CB options including him. I'm very much not sold on Weah and playing Dest in a 5 gives him more attacking/less defensive responsibility.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">convince me that the 343 isn't the best formation to get the most out of the USMNT pool.<br><br>you get McKennie and Adams in midfield<br>get the most out of your best attacking fullbacks in Dest & Robinson<br>get your best passing CB in the middle of a back 3 with speed next to him<br><br>@ me <a href="https://t.co/wt13wKqu8g">pic.twitter.com/wt13wKqu8g</a></p>— Arthur Kogan (@TheRealArturK) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealArturK/status/1320193714002821120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Cackalacky2.0

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McKennie got 60 min in this weekend. He was by far the best MF on the pitch. He got an assist and also almost had another plus a goal. Very active and very involved in buildup.
 

notredomer23

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McKennie got 60 min in this weekend. He was by far the best MF on the pitch. He got an assist and also almost had another plus a goal. Very active and very involved in buildup.

He could have easily scored on his assist too. Was as unselfish as you can be. Very smart play for the easy Morata tap in. I think Pirlo is having a big impact on him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">McKennie ➡️ Morata<br><br>After a VAR review, Morata finally picks up his goal 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/raEugeLZPq">pic.twitter.com/raEugeLZPq</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1322907523016400897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Old Man Mike

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McKennie is a real roughneck as well as a real talent. It would be ideal if the coaching staff could find the magic middle ground of allowing him to rock and roll like a wild bull, while moderating just a bit his tendency to get involved with "fights." I know that everyone on here hates Michael Bradley,(I do not), so would it not be an acceptable compromise to name Bradley to the coaching staff instead of the squad (USMNT) and work with our young wildman on keeping his cool? (I think that Bradley has much to teach all the youngsters anyway, especially the midfielders.)
 

Cackalacky2.0

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He could have easily scored on his assist too. Was as unselfish as you can be. Very smart play for the easy Morata tap in. I think Pirlo is having a big impact on him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">McKennie ➡️ Morata<br><br>After a VAR review, Morata finally picks up his goal 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/raEugeLZPq">pic.twitter.com/raEugeLZPq</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1322907523016400897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I think Pirlo is to. In this game Juve used a 3-1-4-1 with WM in the central 2 midfielders. He was very offensive. His first few games they used him as a DM alongside Rabiot in a 4-2-3-1.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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McKennie is a real roughneck as well as a real talent. It would be ideal if the coaching staff could find the magic middle ground of allowing him to rock and roll like a wild bull, while moderating just a bit his tendency to get involved with "fights." I know that everyone on here hates Michael Bradley,(I do not), so would it not be an acceptable compromise to name Bradley to the coaching staff instead of the squad (USMNT) and work with our young wildman on keeping his cool? (I think that Bradley has much to teach all the youngsters anyway, especially the midfielders.)

I have always liked Bradley but his time has come and gone as a USMNT player. He needs to be a coach for sure at some point. I agree he has a ton to offer the team as far as playing tough and smart.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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Ledezma came on as a sub for PSV and got an assist.

Also seeing where USMNT are courting Musah who is playing for Valencia. Don’t know much about him but sounds like people are excited.

USMNT camp roster also comes out soon.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">17-year-old Gio Reyna earns his first <a href="https://twitter.com/USMNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USMNT</a> call-up for the games against Wales and Panama this month <a href="https://t.co/188I72KVqj">pic.twitter.com/188I72KVqj</a></p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1323643050002886663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Cackalacky2.0

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DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 4/0), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City/ENG; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 17/0)


DEFENDERS (7): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 38/3), Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 10/0), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona/ESP; 3/0), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht/BEL; 18/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 40/1), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich/GER; 0/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 10/1), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 0/0), Richard Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 19/6), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 0/0), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton/ENG; 0/0)



FORWARDS (8): Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona/ESP; 0/0), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA; 0/0), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 34/14), Uly Llanez (Heerenveen/NED; 1/1), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 0/0), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 12/5), Sebastian Soto (Telstar/NED; 0/0), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 8/1)
 
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