Major League Soccer 2023: Now With League-On-League Violence
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
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The Revs are thoroughly handling DC United at home, up 3-0 early in the second half. Ian Harkes has scored a brace and looks good. Adding Harkes + Kaye and shipping out Blessing could be a nice boost to the midfield. Now we just need the new Argentine loanee to work out as a Borrero replacement at winger.
A bonus: Noel Buck is healthy enough to be on the bench.
A bonus: Noel Buck is healthy enough to be on the bench.
Made it four plus a couple of posts, just dominated them. I like Blessing as a player but didn't seem like he fit into the system (and he'd been awful lately anyway). Hard to argue with what Harkes has done so far and glad Buck seems close. I think some of the shine may be coming off Ema a bit, so hopefully the new guy is good.
Now time to half ass Leagues Cup and get some rest.
Now time to half ass Leagues Cup and get some rest.
There were a couple efforts at 3-4-2-1, but the fullbacks were getting devoured (because they aren’t wingbacks). So this whole run has been 4-2-3-1 with Shaq at the 10 and Guti on the left. Herbers is paring well with Gimenez as the double pivots in very conservative roles, which means Guti is doing a lot of the progression/connecting work. He’s been really efficient with it.
And the kid Koutsias has started to settle in nicely. He has a pro physique and moves really well, which has smoothed his transition. And it lets Kamara slide back into the super-sub role where he can go all out for 30 minutes instead of pacing himself for 70.
But the biggest factor is that the schedule has been pretty soft - Toronto, Montreal, KC, Portland, and Nashville without Zim & resting Muhktar.
The schedule on the other side of the Leagues Cup isn’t all that scary, but who knows what kind of momentum & health the Fire will have a month from now. But as of today, it’s playoff contention baby! Been a really fun month.
Edit: Shouldn’t overlook Brady. He’s been really solid after 3 really bad flubs early in the season. He’s controlling the box very well and showing some real athleticism stepping out to sweep up occasionally.
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Tyler Miller (who Wayne Rooney named as a player for the MLS All-Star side) is starting to become an issue. Third or fourth time in the last couple months that he's made a major error in his sweeping responsibilities directly leading a goal (the weak pass to an under-pressure Russell Canouse, who isn't exactly Sergio Busquets on the ball, directly led to the Revs' second goal). Coming out for the Bou header on the first goal probably wasn't the greatest decision either.
@rguilmar Is doble amarilla legit? That account is reporting Iniesta to Inter Miami.
If they somehow manage to wrangle Suarez it's going to look like a tribute side.
If they somehow manage to wrangle Suarez it's going to look like a tribute side.
It’s a collection of journalists who are from or more connected to Argentina. I don’t know too much about them, but I don’t rely on them much unless a player from Argentina is connected to a La Liga team.
I did see some Inter Miami fan accounts claiming the deal was in place last night, so that could be the source of their info. I’ll wait for a “Here We Go” or similar. Iniesta is an all time favorite of mine, probably my favorite midfielder ever, so it would be irresistible for me to get to an Inter Miami game of this were true.
RE Suarez, I thought he was on the verge of retirement due to a knee problem. Or is it way to get out of his contract in Brazil?
Iniesta would be a bad idea. It's one thing to get these older dudes who were at least playing regularly or semi-regularly at Barca last year, but Iniesta is older still than all of those guys and is coming off a 4 appearance J-League season. If Miami has Messi, Alba and Busquets coming in they don't need more of that, they need grinders who can do all the running.
I think the J-League is very underrated on the whole, but if he can scarcely make it on the field as a substitute in Japan, then I don’t think he’s going to make an impact in MLS, even on a last place club.
Until this year, Iniesta has had an idyllic second career in Japan, making over 100 appearances, winning trophies, and being named to the best XI. He has certainly exited the European stage more gracefully than peers like Andrea Pirlo. I don’t question his work ethic, but he may not be physically capable to play at an MLS level anymore.
Right, it's the "4 appearances" part that concerns me much more than the "J League" part.
Everybody on both teams just standing around while Taylor dribbles wherever and shoots it through 5 defenders to the inside of the post.
If you can bring Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Josef Martinez on the pitch at the same time, that’s pretty damn good!
Major assist in the plot to the ref who gave the fairly 50:50 fk and more importantly let him take the kick 7 yards deeper where he could easily get over the wall.
It took Busquets about 10 minutes to decide he was only passing to Messi. Miami will be fun to watch because Busquets to Messi offers instant danger but Martino is going to have to find a RCM and RB who can cover that defensive right side because Messi had no intention of doing anything and Yedlin kept getting caught upfield and walking back.
It took Busquets about 10 minutes to decide he was only passing to Messi. Miami will be fun to watch because Busquets to Messi offers instant danger but Martino is going to have to find a RCM and RB who can cover that defensive right side because Messi had no intention of doing anything and Yedlin kept getting caught upfield and walking back.
The last two football matches I watched were Leo Messi winning the World Cup and then this. He's having a good 12 months.
Holy crap, Leon just beat Vancouver 15-14 in PKs!
View: https://twitter.com/LeaguesCup/status/1682619497650311168?t=nsKlGGOqv9TAxBvH3b8cyg&s=19
View: https://twitter.com/LeaguesCup/status/1682619497650311168?t=nsKlGGOqv9TAxBvH3b8cyg&s=19
Is this near Fulton Market?
Came here to comment about Messi. What if he rips through MLS rest of the season and proves CR7 right?
Just the other side of the highway - Desplaines & Lake.
Messi is unreal. After becoming an instant club hero, he’s out here talking about a 20yo teammate’s injury struggles.
Good riddance, A-Hole.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/21/dc-united-fires-trainer-gesture/
So, the MLS All Stars were drubbed by the Gunners, and the All Star Game MVP was awarded to a non-MLS player?
Isn't an all star game supposed to make the home league look good? Perhaps choose a newly promoted team or Wrexham? Does Boehly have a better all star game plan for MLS?
Isn't an all star game supposed to make the home league look good? Perhaps choose a newly promoted team or Wrexham? Does Boehly have a better all star game plan for MLS?
Leagues Cup is apparently a really, really big deal to some teams.
Edit to add: It's translated if you click on the image.
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1683499461836767233
Edit to add: It's translated if you click on the image.
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1683499461836767233
That first goal 8 minutes in was just hilarious.
Messi just running completely unchecked through their back line and even has time to recover and hit the tap in on his right. Busquets probably thought he was imagining things when he looked up.
Messi might score 70 goals in a full season next year.
Messi just running completely unchecked through their back line and even has time to recover and hit the tap in on his right. Busquets probably thought he was imagining things when he looked up.
Messi might score 70 goals in a full season next year.
Worth noting that Atlanta this season are specifically bad in the MLS context in defense, not just "a typical example of bad MLS defense". I'll be interested to see what it looks like when Miami play the other teams in the east who do actually competently press, Busquets was deadly with time but did also have a few goofy giveaways that nothing came of.
Broad point is still correct though, Messi's gonna score a crapton of goals. Probably not 70 unless he gets to play Atlanta every match though.
I saw a stat that said no fouls were committed against Messi last night. Hopefully at some point the glory of playing against Messi goes away and defenders start actually challenging him. Where was Ozzie Alonso to chop him down for the hell of it?
Ozzie would need to reach him, which is a challenge at this stage in his career.
Giacomo Vrioni is now tied with Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) for the 2023 Leagues Cup golden boot with three goals, although Vrioni did it in 34 fewer minutes.
Club America running St Louis City out of their own building. CA up 3-0 early in the second half. Probably should be 5-0 at least.
When I first learned about Leagues Cup, I took the news with a healthy bit of skepticism. I was especially worried that Liga MX clubs would treat these games like preseason friendlies. Wow was I completely wrong. So far, both clubs and fans have taken this seriously. The MLS vs. MLS games have admittedly been pretty lame, but the cross-border matches have been incredible theater. This is far from a scientific measure, but every time a Liga MX side posts a losing score graphic on their Twitter platform X account, their fans get furious and bombard the post with QTs and replies. Today Chivas fans are particularly sour about losing to FC Cincinnati thanks to some close calls that went against them.
The Leagues Cup group stage is done, with one team being eliminated from each group.
9 of 28 MLS teams are done, and 6 of 17 Liga MX teams were eliminated.
Clutch win from SKC to send Chivas packing at the bottom of the group after Chivas already lost to Cincinnati.
As noted, this competition feels like a keeper. Teams are taking it seriously, it’s been pretty evenly matched, and the games have been entertaining.
MLS had acquitted itself well on the whole, as the two leagues have been evenly matched. The favorites are still the top Mexican clubs like América and the Monterrey teams. And of course all the games are in US / Canada, but going forward the Leagues Cup will be about the most comprehensive benchmark for comparing leagues that you could possibly create.
9 of 28 MLS teams are done, and 6 of 17 Liga MX teams were eliminated.
Clutch win from SKC to send Chivas packing at the bottom of the group after Chivas already lost to Cincinnati.
As noted, this competition feels like a keeper. Teams are taking it seriously, it’s been pretty evenly matched, and the games have been entertaining.
MLS had acquitted itself well on the whole, as the two leagues have been evenly matched. The favorites are still the top Mexican clubs like América and the Monterrey teams. And of course all the games are in US / Canada, but going forward the Leagues Cup will be about the most comprehensive benchmark for comparing leagues that you could possibly create.
Club America are coming to Bridgeview LOL.
This is a visiting club that could have brought a ton of fans to Soldier Field, opened up some of the upper decks. Not sure why they can’t squeeze it in between Chelsea Dortmund on Weds and Bears Family Fest on Sunday.
sadly, I’ll be out to town. Seat Geek is sure to be rocking, even if it’s more like an America home match.
This is a visiting club that could have brought a ton of fans to Soldier Field, opened up some of the upper decks. Not sure why they can’t squeeze it in between Chelsea Dortmund on Weds and Bears Family Fest on Sunday.
sadly, I’ll be out to town. Seat Geek is sure to be rocking, even if it’s more like an America home match.