Lose Remerswaal said:
....what? MLS might not be the best league in the world, but I'm pretty sure they can handle throw-ins. Perhaps this was an issue of sample size?
MLS 2014: The U$MNT Comes Home
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
....what? MLS might not be the best league in the world, but I'm pretty sure they can handle throw-ins. Perhaps this was an issue of sample size?
Lose Remerswaal said:
The Revs are pretty grim right now. Lost 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and the only win was against the Rochester Rhinos in the US Open Cup. It's hard to believe this is the same team that got 19 points from 21 in April/May and dropped 5 on the Sounders.
Jekyll/Hyde. We've gone from suck to an epic hot streak back to suck again. But when you replace Agudelo with a draft pick and decide to rely on Andy Dorman at DM, you're going to have to accept a certain inconsistency of quality and results.
cromulence said:
of the 8-10 throw ins I saw, I'd be surprised if more than a couple that were longer than 8 yards or so actually maintained possession.
finnVT said:
I think there's a decent chance he comes to MLS, but I don't think there's a decent chance that Jones will come to the Revs. He'll command more money than they will likely be willing to spend. I would be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong about this. Don't be shocked if you hear quotes from Mike Burns about how we "almost" landed him.
The Revs FO likes to tout their "almost" signings when the team inevitably struggles due to roster holes that were patently obvious during the offseason.
The Revs are the MLS version of every "We Tried" franchise in the history of sports, and they probably have the least talented roster in the league right now. I honestly feel bad for Fagundez, who apart from everything else appears to be thinking of things on a level just not reached by the rest of his teammates. Time and time again he plays a ball that Feldman will call as just a bit too far for somebody, but those passes are completed through balls if someone had thought to start to run before he made the pass. Nguyen is basically the same way. There are a few guys on the roster with some creative ability, and the rest are a bad stereotype of what the United States produces from NCAA soccer. Even guys that have shown some ability are a mess: Goncalves looks bad, Mullins looks bad, Bunbury looks bad. I've never been a huge Caldwell guy, but he showed more the other night than Dorman has in weeks.
The Revolution will never sign Jermaine Jones or any player if his caliber in a million years, and that's just what we have. I struggle with this because I love our little fucked up league, and I love the Revs. But there is no impetus to change, and the rest of the league passed us by long ago.
The Revolution will never sign Jermaine Jones or any player if his caliber in a million years, and that's just what we have. I struggle with this because I love our little fucked up league, and I love the Revs. But there is no impetus to change, and the rest of the league passed us by long ago.
I take issue with the classification of Bunbury as having shown ability, with the Revs anyway. (Yet he appears to have achieved binky status with Heaps.) That aside, well put. Diego's been a bit selfish at times this year but I can't really blame him for the reasons you said.
Classic headline here:
Despite sudden slump, New England Revolution pledge to avoid panic buying during transfer window
In other news, I'm also pledging to not get in a panic and nail Scarlett Johansson.
Despite sudden slump, New England Revolution pledge to avoid panic buying during transfer window
In other news, I'm also pledging to not get in a panic and nail Scarlett Johansson.
No surprise based on how bad it looked, but Dorman is out 10-12 weeks with an MCL sprain.
http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2014/07/revolution-places-andy-dorman-disabled-list-sends-donnie-smith-loan-rochester
http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2014/07/revolution-places-andy-dorman-disabled-list-sends-donnie-smith-loan-rochester
Jermaine Jones makes way too much (sense) for the Revs. I hate being a spoiled fan of a big-market team like the Red Sox/Celtics/Bruins because the lack of effort from ownership hurts even worse.
Replace Tierney and Soares while we're at it and we've got the makings of an exciting team. With a few personnel additions, the Revs could move into a 4-3-3 and really see Fagundez uncork his potential.
Replace Tierney and Soares while we're at it and we've got the makings of an exciting team. With a few personnel additions, the Revs could move into a 4-3-3 and really see Fagundez uncork his potential.
Pxer said:
Scotty Caldwell is a lot cheaper!
In other news, Atlanta has 4,430 season ticket account deposits for 12,700 season tickets in total. Not all of these will be converted, but we're still a long ways away from Atlanta's 2017 start. Time for the Revs to slide one more spot down the MLS pecking order!
Also, this:
https://twitter.com/RobbHeineman/status/489417925128777728
Seems like we'll learn what's happening with Besler one way or the other.
Titans Bastard said:
Or not:
Robb Heineman @RobbHeineman · 14m
let me put your mind at ease....there's nothing regarding besler and zusi happening today.
And regarding Jermaine Jones:
Robb Heineman @RobbHeineman · 5m
there's been tons of Jermaine chatter. we're so far down the allocation order; teams in front of us have interest; likelihood is low.
My recollection is that our Calvinball league rules make designated player acquisitions not subject to allocation, which I think would leave any team with an open DP spot (like the Revs) able to acquire Jones if they were willing to pay for the privilege (unlike the Revs).
Mike Magee's Day Off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfI4_Ay_Cxc#t=169
(Featuring Thierry Henry as the snooty French maitre d, Michael Bradley as the parking lot attendant and Hope Solo as Jeanie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfI4_Ay_Cxc#t=169
(Featuring Thierry Henry as the snooty French maitre d, Michael Bradley as the parking lot attendant and Hope Solo as Jeanie)
soxfan121 said:
The fat Fire assistant coach on the right at the beginning is Clint Mathis, by the way.
DrewDawg said:
As promised, KC made two moves that had nothing to do with Besler and Zusi.
First, they signed Honduran international Jorge Claros from Motagua, which has long been rumored to be in the works. Claros is a replacement for Uri Rosell, the defensive midfielder who was sold to Sporting CP last month. They also signed another midfielder, Martin Steuble, a Swiss-born guy who plays for the Philippines (managed by Thomas Dooley, no less). Steuble comes from FC Wil in the Swiss Challenge League.
Claros looks like a solid signing - Steuble, not so much. A 26 year old from the Swiss second division doesn't really get the blood flowing, although he's almost certainly not expected to be a starter.
There's a "How did Klinsmann do?" roundtable article on ESPN FC today, with Lalas as one of the contributors. He was pretty complimentary all things considered.
Perhaps an understatement right now. 5-1 dismantling at the hand of the Galaxy last night. Some really, really fundamental type breakdowns on the defense.Titans Bastard said:
robssecondjob said:
Halfway through the season, they've given up nine fewer goals than they did in all of 2013. The strange thing is that it's basically with the same personnel. Something isn't clicking right now with the formation. I don't think the Revs are that good -- the loss of Agudelo was killer and we've been needing a top DM for some years now. But the team does have talent; they really shouldn't be this poor.
I fell asleep at halftime, and I suppose I'm glad I did. No pressure on the ball defensively, and teams that have actual attacking talent will continue to pick them apart.
I watched the first half. First time I have watched a Revs game in a while. I gave up after the second LA goal. The difference in class between the two teams was vastly apparent. Revs looked discombobulated while the Galaxy looked fluid and precise.
Also I never would have recognized Clint Mathis in a million years if I hadn't been told that was him.
Also I never would have recognized Clint Mathis in a million years if I hadn't been told that was him.
I never would have thought that Juan's departure would have made that much of difference, even given how explosive he could be, but it has. Bunbury is simply not a replacement, although I thought he looked better last weekend at home. Sadly Mullins looked lost.Titans Bastard said:
Two weeks in a row Farrell has made horrific mistakes. Last man back making a little half-hearted toe poke attempt is something I expect from my U10s. And don't even get me started with Goncalves not playing to the whistle...
The Timbers won their second match at home tonight thanks to this golazo from Diego Valeri.
https://vine.co/v/MQ2xYDx9PlY
https://vine.co/v/MQ2xYDx9PlY
Titans Bastard said:
Great news. Excited to see them stay home and continue to help MLS improve.
soxfan121 said:
Besler did have some quotes addressing how Klinsmann might see this:
[quotes]"Of course, [Klinsmann] wants his players to go over and try and make it and develop and eventually play for an Arsenal or a Manchester United," said Besler, who has spent his entire five-and-a-half years as a pro with Sporting KC. "But the thing to realize is he doesn't want a player to just go over to Europe and go to a team at the bottom of the standings, and you're sitting on the bench and you're not happy and you don't like the coach. He doesn't just want that.
"[Klinsmann] wants a player to go over there and succeed, and so what's really important to me is if I'm ever going to go anywhere, it's got to be the right situation. I'm not just going to go over there just because it's Europe and just because it's a lot of money, and Jurgen has told me that. He understands that Kansas City is a very, very good club and it's a very good situation and I've developed just fine over here. I would say he hasn't put any pressure on me."[/quote]
Going to Europe hasn't worked out for a lot of guys, so I wouldn't write Besler off at all for staying in MLS.
Titans Bastard said:
Eh, fuck that. Landycakes earned himself that name with lots more than his club and career choices.
Besler is topped out in MLS; he isn't playing against world-class competition. He's in the top 5% of MLS talent and few, if any, players will challenge him with their athleticism, technical skill, etc. He can comfortably rely on a starting slot, MLS All-Star teams (name recognition has its perks) and local endorsements. MLS using DP slots on NT players gives those guys real financial security and incentive to stay home. It also gives them geriatric has-beens to occupy the remainder of that top 5%; Thierry Henry hasn't been internationally relevant for almost two WC cycles and he's still near the top of the talent pool in MLS. It is a small pond and it isn't helping anyone "get better" on the field.
Yeah, any club needs to be the "right situation". Yeah, trying to move to ManU (or wherever) and secure a starting spot is hard and there is a risk you end up on the bench or not liking the coach. Besler seems like a nice guy and Leo Durocher summed them up a long time ago.
I will be both disappointed and horrified as a NT fan if Besler is prominently involved in the 2018 WC squad. As depth? Sure, the pool ain't that deep. But if he wanted to be a starter, a key contributor, a guy who GREW his game over four years and competed against world-class competition to improve his game...he blew that chance.
John Brooks, stay healthy and play a lot. Every game where you play against Thomas Mueller or Arjen Robben is worth 50 games competing against the New England Revolution and the rest of the MLS "all-stars".
Your hatred of the MLS is a thing of beauty. I love you Euro-soccer snobs. I suppose MLS will never be good enough in your eyes, but for those of us who love the league, it's great seeing guys like Zusi and Besler stay home. Good for them and good for the league.
ThePrideofShiner said:
In the future? Anything is possible, I suppose.
Right now? Pretending MLS is anywhere close to the level of competition offered by the Bundesliga or the EPL is delusional.
You can like MLS and still think that the best clubs it could offer would be in a relegation fight in the English Championship or the Second Division of the Bundesliga. And you can support MLS and still think that guys like Besler choosing to stay as a big fish in a little pond is unambitious, bad for his potential as a NT player (because of missed reps vs. Mueller & Robben, etc.) and a sign he won't be a serious option in 2018 (when he will be physically past his peak and more reliant on positioning/awareness/experience to be effective).
Basically, you can like MLS and still think Besler staying home is a bad thing for the NT. Or you can carp about "euro-snobs" and hold a pep rally cause 'MURICA.
soxfan121 said:
I'd agree with all of that, but you in particular don't seem to like the MLS based on posting history.
I love the national team, but in off years I'm more interested in what is better for the league that I get to watch live and follow locally. So, for that to get better, it needs people like Besler to stay home rather than chase Europe.
You say yourself he will be on the older end in 2018, so if he is not going to be an impact player in 2018, why do you care where he plies his trade in 2014?
ThePrideofShiner said:
In off years, I'm far more interested in what is better for the NT and the players.
If you don't think Matt Besler learns more, grows more, experiences more and develops more playing against top competition like Mueller or Huntelaar or Robben or Reus or de Bruyne or Rooney, Sturridge, Costa, Ozil, Sanchez, Lamela, Barkley and van Persie...
With top flight experience, with effort, with ambition, Besler might have been much better than he will be in four years. That will be the difference between an aging defender having the "smarts and experience" to handle international talent and an aging defender who hasn't seen a blazing run, perfectly-timed pass or world-class play except during NT assignments. Besler chose to continue playing on the "Easy" setting instead of trying to move up and grow.
Speaking of MLS quality... Look at 'em go! Seven in a row! The Revs haven't won in MLS since... May 
For tonight against Dallas they made a few noticeable changes, since they played midweek against LA on Wednesday, including Charlie Davies up top, Scotty Caldwell in midfield, and Steven McCarthy in central defense.
For me, the only one that really worked was Caldwell- I thought we were able to keep possession better with him than we were with AJ Soares during his stint at DM. I like Caldwell- he's a product of the University of Akron, where he played with a bunch of guys who are on Titans Bastard's list of players to watch in MLS for the USMNT's future, including DeAndre Yedlin, Darlington Nagbe, and Wil Trapp. I believe at Akron he played as a box-to-box mid, while Trapp was the dedicated DM like is now for the Crew, but with the Revs Caldwell has been asked to play at the base of the midfield by himself. He's definitely still adjusting, but with Dorman injured for a few months, I'd be happy to see more of him.
Other than that, pretty dreary match. They looked a little more potent in attack once Fagundez and Rowe came on, but still not as threatening as Dallas, who are in great form right now. Seven losses in a row ties the club record. Great way to capitalize on the World Cup exposure, team.
For tonight against Dallas they made a few noticeable changes, since they played midweek against LA on Wednesday, including Charlie Davies up top, Scotty Caldwell in midfield, and Steven McCarthy in central defense.
For me, the only one that really worked was Caldwell- I thought we were able to keep possession better with him than we were with AJ Soares during his stint at DM. I like Caldwell- he's a product of the University of Akron, where he played with a bunch of guys who are on Titans Bastard's list of players to watch in MLS for the USMNT's future, including DeAndre Yedlin, Darlington Nagbe, and Wil Trapp. I believe at Akron he played as a box-to-box mid, while Trapp was the dedicated DM like is now for the Crew, but with the Revs Caldwell has been asked to play at the base of the midfield by himself. He's definitely still adjusting, but with Dorman injured for a few months, I'd be happy to see more of him.
Other than that, pretty dreary match. They looked a little more potent in attack once Fagundez and Rowe came on, but still not as threatening as Dallas, who are in great form right now. Seven losses in a row ties the club record. Great way to capitalize on the World Cup exposure, team.
Guys like that in MLS helps the League grow, look who the fans voted into the all star game, mostly USMNT players. KC has sold out what 46 straight home matches? Good for those guys wanting to show loyalty and be a part of that.
soxfan121 said:
If he's one of our two best CBs in 2018, he'll start. If he isn't, he won't - it's as simple as that. Besler developed into our best CB while playing in poor old MLS, so he and the league have that going for them. In 2018, he'll be 31, so a lot can happen. But he just acquitted himself well against Ghana, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium, so as long as he doesn't lose much physically I think he'll be okay.
You've expressed concerns in particular about Besler's ability to read the finer points of the game without experience in a top Euro league, but his ability to anticipate plays and cut out passes is the actually strongest part of his game.
Lastly, I need to double-check with a guy I know who often has inside info, but from what I last heard his best real offer was from Fulham. Besler is a local boy who has an opportunity to establish himself as a one-club player and local legend who can push SKC forward on and off the field. I think it's pretty reasonable to opt for that over life in the Championship. Building the league isn't everyone's ambition, but it is an ambition.
Snakebauer007 said:
blueline said:
Do you have a link? I've never seen it debunked, but certainly could have missed something.
Here's a recent interview with the Guardian:
The incident was more a matter of bad taste and horrble timing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1558855.stm
Sporting Kansas City's president responds to the folks who think Besler and Zusi won't improve and help the national team by staying in MLS:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/07/19/aggressive-sporting-kansas-city-get-their-men-new-deals-matt-besler-graham-z
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/07/19/aggressive-sporting-kansas-city-get-their-men-new-deals-matt-besler-graham-z