floydgator

This was another match where I watch our midfield and think, "this just isn't good enough to compete for the premier league." What am I missing with Jorginho? Yet again, I thought he brought absolutely nothing to the table. Is it possible that this formation with 2 midfielders is never going to allow for a strong midfield? Kai and Mason were invisible (it's a trend for Kai) but I thought the biggest problem was the group behind them. I want defenders who defend so that leaves the midfielders to control and create for the forwards (or allow the forwards to create). I never see that out of our midfielders, with the occasional exception of Kovacic. Maybe Jorginho and Kante in this formation are just never going to allow that to happen.

A guy who is a reliable defender and available for his price? Uh, yeah. He's the kind of player we should be signing.

Dear god, this. They've been dreadful all season. Not sure why Rudiger plays anymore. I understand that James has looked horrendous recently, but come on. I'd get Tagliafico in here ASAP and then spend money on a reliable center back. Hope like hell Tomori grows quickly.

Will take the win. Much better in the 2nd half. Great work by their keeper kept this from being 4 or 5-1.

Nicely played by Tammy

Yes!!!

Why is Christensen in there instead of Tomori? Did we not see enough of that sh*tshow pairing last Wednesday?

Yeah, not putting that goal on Reece. Two separate thoughts combined into 1 post there.

I tuned in late. Why are we stuck with a Christensen-Zouma back 2 again? And Reece James may eventually be a superstar but he's a disaster defensively right now.

And pretty much assisted on the goal as well

Just scored for Leicester early vs. Southhampton

Whatever we do, I hope we spend big on a couple of world class starters rather than spreading the money around on 6 guys who are no better than what we have now. I don't view depth as our biggest problem. If we assume Dave returns to something resembling past form, we've already got 13-15 quality, Premier League starter-quality players (setting GK aside). We have probably 6 across the back line, 5 in the midfield and 4 at forward. At the moment, the problem is that none of them are among the best in the league at their positions, except for Kante. As I look at what we have in-house, money spent in the midfield would be wasted - unless Kante leaves. Kante is the best there is, RLC and Mount may well grow into studs and Jorginho, Kovacic and even Barkley excellent depth players. That leaves forward and the back 4. I'll be interested to see what James can bring after he's healthy. If it's positive, center back looks to be the biggest place for a major upgrade (and we could even recoup some of that money by sending 1 or 2 of the existing, capable CBs out). If James does not look like an immediate replacement for Dave, maybe that spot is where you spend the money. One place we likely will need a depth player is behind Emerson. Can't see Alonso sticking around for no play. Up front, it all depends on Tammy. If he's a 15+ goal guy, we can spend the money on a winger. A world class wing to go with CP and CHO and a 15+ goal striker makes for an excellent offense (and set for the future as the three young forwards continue to develop). If Tammy isn't that guy, the money needs to go a world class, sure thing 20 goal striker. In that case, Mount and RLC and formations can be used to supplement CHO and Pulisic. Small dollar amounts on depth at left back and maybe wing. Contend for titles.

I'd like to see us not spend any of the money on Zaha. Best case scenario, we get relief from the transfer ban in time for winter and Icardi's value will be so low we can get him on the cheap. That would allow us a half season to evaluate him without impacting the youth (who we need to see play for evaluation purposes). Then we would know even better what our needs are by summer. As it stands right now, I'd be willing to spend every dollar on a striker.

I'm hoping CP learns to play as hard as Pedro does. Just, you know, better.

Chelsea v Liverpool in mid-September is not being televised by NBC (or its myriad of channels). They have pushed that one to the NBC Sports Gold subscription. They've only listed the TV schedule through September, but I'm assuming that NBC is going to push some key matchups there to force people to pay extra. Very frustrating, but I'm a sucker who subscribes anyway. Champions League is far worse. UEFA made a truly horrible deal with TNT. Immediate dollars over actual exposure. Fox Sports showed pretty much every interesting CL game. TNT shows very few and forces you to pay for matches on B/R Live. Add to that, their coverage is awful.

Report out there that Fiorentina is interested in Miazga (b/c they are now American-owned) and Chelsea wants 20M euros for him. If this gambit works for Chelsea, I've got a lot of wild demands I'm going to make of my wife. :fingerscrossed:

As long as they don't rush him back too quickly just so he can start the season on time.

His skill set reminds of Hazard but he's not nearly at that level yet, and probably never will be (no shame in that, Hazard is a top 5 player in the world). Biggest difference to me is that Hazard is able to play very physically for a guy with his skill level. That's my biggest concern for CP right now. He's going to struggle to handle the physical play of the premier league.

US played well in the first half and should have been ahead going into the half. CP couldn't convert on one really good opportunity, Altidore bungled a beautiful chance (that he created). The 2nd half was a bloodbath. Mexico completely dominated.

Pulisic was excellent Wednesday night, as was McKennie. Jamaica isn't a strong squad, but they were a step up in competition and they have some dangerous players like Leon Bailey. Nice to see our stars play like stars. Sunday is going to be a real test. Berhhalter has played a lot of different guys, will be interesting to see who he trots out there vs. Mexico. Really hoping Miazga isn't one of them. He was terrible again vs. Jamaica. He's behind, at least, Brooks, Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman in the pecking order and he's going to get past by a few of the U-20s as well. He's still young enough to improve, but he's never playing for Chelsea and he's likely to fade from USMNT consideration.

Another opportunity to see Pulisic in the semifinals of the Gold Cup vs. Jamaica tonight. Can't imagine this is televised in the UK, but it's on FS1 here in the states.

Ah, I knew he was on the provisional roster and a part of the team for the pre-cup friendlies. Thought he got left off the final roster. Missed opportunity for him, Adams and Brooks.

USMNT was dreadful last night. OK in the first half, could have had another goal or two and never was in any danger on the defensive end. McKennie was brilliant in the first half. Then the 2nd half started and it was pathetic. The effort was abysmal. Team definitely played like the game was over. Jamaica will be a tougher challenge, but even with stiffs like Zardes, Arriola, Bradley and Ream out there, we should be able to get by them relatively easily. Doesn't change the fact that any success that group has is relatively meaningless. Those guys (and a lot of the others on this squad) are not and never will be good enough to compete at a serious international level. Boyd and Zimmerman have impressed, but it sure would be nice to see Pulisic playing with some potential talent around him (like Holmes, Weah, Sargent and a few of the under 20s) and building some rapport rather than the hacks Berhhalter insists on running out there. I still can't believe Sargent and Holmes aren't on this squad. I really believe the development of the national team is being held back by US Soccer's emphasis on the MLS. The quality of play there is poor. Our better players need to be challenging themselves in Europe. That's happening a lot now but some of these guys are being punished for it in terms of the national team. There is absolutely no reason at all for Jonathan Lewis to have spent a single minute on the national team. He's never done anything, even at the MLS level. Other guys are doing something on the actual field (in Europe) but they get left off in favor of MLS guys. Not good MLS players, mind you, b/c very few of the better players in MLS are Americans. Develop the league, but not at the expense of the success of the national team.

I hope that dude is right. If there is one thing that will get me excited about the season, it's a 3 headed striker monster of Giroud, Morata and Batshuayi. The last thing I want to happen is to have some hope in a young striker. Better to stick with guys we know aren't worth a sh*t. God, if Morata comes back I'll shoot myself.

Hope you are right. As I said before, I'd like to have him back at a reasonable value. I think that you are in pretty good shape if you are bringing guys like Kovacic in off the bench.