40 minutes ago, RMH said:

The funny thing for me about this Pulisic and American thing is that being Spanish, I should be all over the Kepa, Azpi and Alonso topics. However, if they don’t play because they don’t deserve it, I get it and don’t care because I want Chelsea to be the best no matter the nationality of the players playing. Ffs, I didn’t get my knickers on a twist with Torres, Morata or Saul! Had they been American, we’d have all our American friends up in arms! I think that they need to grow up a bit and understand that a football club is bigger than the individual players, but I understand that that feeling of defending anything of the same nationality it’s quite common in “new” countries (and now I’ve released the beast, there you go).

And I don’t think that Puli is the worst of our attackers, I think that he’s got the dribbling skills we require, but somehow he’s as inconsistent as other players but quite prone to injury.

Guess you Spanish and us English just ain't as passionate about our home country players as those Yanks.

I mean you just have to see the obscene amount of money involved in advertising alone for the super bowl half time adds to see that.

And that is just a bunch of blokes in armor playing a bastardised version of Rugby...

15 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Guess you Spanish and us English just ain't as passionate about our home country players as those Yanks.

I mean you just have to see the obscene amount of money involved in advertising alone for the super bowl half time adds to see that.

And that is just a bunch of blokes in armor playing a bastardised version of Rugby...

Now when I think about it it's probably even easier for Brazilians, even if some players might be flops for them it doesn't even matter since every club in Rio has had some huge players, e.g. Fluminense while not being as decorated as for example Palmeiras or Flamengo, casually had at some point Thiago Silva and Marcelo playing for them so even if they have some versions of Morata or Torres it doesn't really matter...

So the problem is that Pulisic is the only one, he's Captain America, the one and only, he must be allowed to manifest destiny or else

The US has many young players under 25 playing across all the major leagues in Europe today — several on CL teams. Pulisic is probably the highest profile at the moment, but there are others that may have a higher ceiling. In short, the future of USMT is not dependent on Pulisic being the man at Chelsea. He’s just a talented player who’s a little ahead of other talented youngsters in their career progression.

3 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Now when I think about it it's probably even easier for Brazilians, even if some players might be flops for them it doesn't even matter since every club in Rio has had some huge players, e.g. Fluminense while not being as decorated as for example Palmeiras or Flamengo, casually had at some point Thiago Silva and Marcelo playing for them so even if they have some versions of Morata or Torres it doesn't really matter...

So the problem is that Pulisic is the only one, he's Captain America, the one and only, he must be allowed to manifest destiny or else

 

 

Before Pulisic, there was Jozy Altidore, and before that there was Freddy Adu...etc.

The problem is in the US, we don't have enough soccer talents so when we see a guy with natural talents like Pulisic emerges; we immediately crown him as our version of Pele or Messi. 

When in reality, he's a got a very long way to go before he can even achieved half of what those legends were able to accomplished.

It's not fair for these kids. We expect too much from them, and put too much burden on their shoulders.

 

And no matter where Pulisic plays, if he wants more minutes he simply needs to earn it. That's all

I am sure CHO, Ziyech, and others want more minutes too.

 

2 hours ago, jbdiver said:

The US has many young players under 25 playing across all the major leagues in Europe today — several on CL teams. Pulisic is probably the highest profile at the moment, but there are others that may have a higher ceiling. In short, the future of USMT is not dependent on Pulisic being the man at Chelsea. He’s just a talented player who’s a little ahead of other talented youngsters in their career progression.

As a person who used to live in states I agree. Some of the player is too overhyped, my friend used to talk about Clint Dempsey like he was a  wc st.

However my biggest problem especially with usmt n the media is that their obsession with "offensive football". 

US want to do well in tournaments especially in wc but they keep talking about wanting be more offensive. 😱😱😱

It is international football, who care about being offensive. Your 1st, 2nd and 3rd priority is not to concede. Portugal won euro by drawing all the way to the final. 

 

Edited May 7, 20224 yr by Bob stark

Holds onto the ball far too long at times. Needs to lift his head and appreciate who is in around him, quick ball got him the assist today.

21 hours ago, RMH said:

The funny thing for me about this Pulisic and American thing is that being Spanish, I should be all over the Kepa, Azpi and Alonso topics. However, if they don’t play because they don’t deserve it, I get it and don’t care because I want Chelsea to be the best no matter the nationality of the players playing. Ffs, I didn’t get my knickers on a twist with Torres, Morata or Saul! Had they been American, we’d have all our American friends up in arms! I think that they need to grow up a bit and understand that a football club is bigger than the individual players, but I understand that that feeling of defending anything of the same nationality it’s quite common in “new” countries (and now I’ve released the beast, there you go).

And I don’t think that Puli is the worst of our attackers, I think that he’s got the dribbling skills we require, but somehow he’s as inconsistent as other players but quite prone to injury.

Well to be fair to our American friends, Spain produces more than two players per generation who are capable of competing at the top level.

Understandable that they'd get their knickers (or "panties" I suppose) in a twist about Pulisic rarely starting.

3 hours ago, charierre said:

Holds onto the ball far too long at times. Needs to lift his head and appreciate who is in around him, quick ball got him the assist today.

Yup he always kept it too long and wasted various attacks. Unlike Werner who just mish*t everything after his goal was robbed from us.

I thought overall he looked good today playing more central.  If that Werner goal counted he would have been MOTM for me. First real game in a month. He and Lukaku combine well. 

2 hours ago, jbdiver said:

I thought overall he looked good today playing more central.  If that Werner goal counted he would have been MOTM for me. First real game in a month. He and Lukaku combine well. 

Yeah not too bad, he did a few nice things today but definitely needs to go up a gear or two. He still doesn't have the same acceleration that he had before the FA cup final injury. 

The saddest thing for me though was that assist - a simple, quick through-ball that, most importantly, was well weighted. That is such a rare sight this season. We've mostly seen delayed passes or definitively overhit/underhit. 

On 06/05/2022 at 16:35, RMH said:

The funny thing for me about this Pulisic and American thing is that being Spanish, I should be all over the Kepa, Azpi and Alonso topics. However, if they don’t play because they don’t deserve it, I get it and don’t care because I want Chelsea to be the best no matter the nationality of the players playing. Ffs, I didn’t get my knickers on a twist with Torres, Morata or Saul! Had they been American, we’d have all our American friends up in arms! I think that they need to grow up a bit and understand that a football club is bigger than the individual players, but I understand that that feeling of defending anything of the same nationality it’s quite common in “new” countries (and now I’ve released the beast, there you go).

And I don’t think that Puli is the worst of our attackers, I think that he’s got the dribbling skills we require, but somehow he’s as inconsistent as other players but quite prone to injury.

 

Spain hasn't been treated as the backwoods the sport.  Spain has more than one player to play significant minutes for a team that makes the Champion's league every year.  In fact Real Madrid has more Champion's league trophies than anyone.

 

No American has appeared in the Champion's league final EVER before Pulisic.  One other American has won in '97 with Dortmund but he only made one Champion's league appearance for 8 minutes plus stoppage in the group stage.

 

So one should be able to understand why Pulisic is a much much bigger deal to Americans than Azpi, Kepa or Alonso is to the Spanish.  

 

1 hour ago, Valpo said:

 

Spain hasn't been treated as the backwoods the sport.  Spain has more than one player to play significant minutes for a team that makes the Champion's league every year.  In fact Real Madrid has more Champion's league trophies than anyone.

 

No American has appeared in the Champion's league final EVER before Pulisic.  One other American has won in '97 with Dortmund but he only made one Champion's league appearance for 8 minutes plus stoppage in the group stage.

 

So one should be able to understand why Pulisic is a much much bigger deal to Americans than Azpi, Kepa or Alonso is to the Spanish.  

 

What changed in the US that more people from your country seem to care about football now?

I mean you always have had the NFL, NBA, MLB ans NHL and you used to be more than happy with your own niche group of sports and left the rest of the world to other sports.

The tv coverage in the US has made a grEat impact.  That, and people here being totally pissed off by the wokeness of the NBA as well as the Baseball fanBase inevitably getting older (I presume the same is happening for cricket in England?).  

31 minutes ago, Phillip said:

The tv coverage in the US has made a grEat impact.  That, and people here being totally pissed off by the wokeness of the NBA as well as the Baseball fanBase inevitably getting older (I presume the same is happening for cricket in England?).  

Ah the woke movement has hit the NBA eh? Yeah I guess cricket and Baseball as seen as older fan sports. 

And snooker and darts!!😀

1 minute ago, Phillip said:

And snooker and darts!!😀

Not sure on Darts, they seem to have added a lot of showman elements to that. Very Las Vegas 

Yeah, like what they are trying to do with bowling in the US.  Fans Cheering and the like.  Good luck with that!  I can’t imagine what they would do if golf ever got poor ratings, well, actually I could imagine what they would do. Allowing fans to heckle and whatever.

Edited May 9, 20224 yr by Phillip

3 hours ago, Valpo said:

 

Spain hasn't been treated as the backwoods the sport.  Spain has more than one player to play significant minutes for a team that makes the Champion's league every year.  In fact Real Madrid has more Champion's league trophies than anyone.

 

No American has appeared in the Champion's league final EVER before Pulisic.  One other American has won in '97 with Dortmund but he only made one Champion's league appearance for 8 minutes plus stoppage in the group stage.

 

So one should be able to understand why Pulisic is a much much bigger deal to Americans than Azpi, Kepa or Alonso is to the Spanish.  

 

Maybe I didn’t explain myself very well, and I apologise if you or others have felt offended. Some of you understand that football is a team sport and comment on match threads, other platers’ threads, possible transfers, etc and follow Chelsea. But then, there’s a late influx of some people whose sole interest and comments are about Pulisic and how bad Chelsea is for not playing him. My comment was intended for those, but obviously didn’t do it very well. Sorry to the American Chelsea supporters.

9 minutes ago, RMH said:

Maybe I didn’t explain myself very well, and I apologise if you or others have felt offended. Some of you understand that football is a team sport and comment on match threads, other platers’ threads, possible transfers, etc and follow Chelsea. But then, there’s a late influx of some people whose sole interest and comments are about Pulisic and how bad Chelsea is for not playing him. My comment was intended for those, but obviously didn’t do it very well. Sorry to the American Chelsea supporters.

Speaking of Spanish and Chelsea, while you don't have the same reaction some of the US visitors to this site have with CP as you mentioned for the likes of Kepa or Alonso, am sure you did when Rafa was managers right? 😉

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Speaking of Spanish and Chelsea, while you don't have the same reaction some of the US visitors to this site have with CP as you mentioned for the likes of Kepa or Alonso, am sure you did when Rafa was managers right? 😉

Tuchel out, Rafa in!! 

20 hours ago, axman2526 said:

What changed in the US that more people from your country seem to care about football now?

I mean you always have had the NFL, NBA, MLB ans NHL and you used to be more than happy with your own niche group of sports and left the rest of the world to other sports.

 

Well soccer always used to have a niche following.  When I started watching during World Cup '98 when I was 16 though it was very much a niche group of people who watched at the time.

I'm not sure I can point to one thing that has increased soccer's popularity.  Immigration would be one but it's far from the only one as I've known many people who were born and raised in the US to parents who were also born and raised in the US have favorite soccer teams.

I would say increasing exposure has helped.  The MLS really helped increase exposure and then that took off into US networks picking up EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A.  

Honestly I have to say I think streaming has helped quite a bit.  Thanks to streaming I can get every EPL match and Champions league match.  If I was willing to pay a bit more I could also get the FA cup and EFL cup.  I've also noted before that because of streaming there is more and more British made movies and TV being watched in America.   In fact there is an entire streaming service here called "Britbox" that you can pay for to get a bunch of British made TV.  When I was a kid, British made TV wasn't a thing we saw in the US.  

So I would have to say a big driver is just exposure.  Soccer just didn't get much exposure in the '90's.  How do you create soccer fans if there is no soccer on for them to watch?  Now soccer is seen as the sport that young people like while the older generations still watch baseball.   And for the record we still all like the NFL and American football.  

But it's certainly night and day difference now from when I was a kid.  

18 hours ago, RMH said:

Maybe I didn’t explain myself very well, and I apologise if you or others have felt offended. Some of you understand that football is a team sport and comment on match threads, other platers’ threads, possible transfers, etc and follow Chelsea. But then, there’s a late influx of some people whose sole interest and comments are about Pulisic and how bad Chelsea is for not playing him. My comment was intended for those, but obviously didn’t do it very well. Sorry to the American Chelsea supporters.

 

It's a team sport we get that.  I'm just trying to point out that Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie (Juve), Gio Reyna (BVB), and Sergino Dest (Barca) are really the only representatives the US has or ever had at this level the sport. (By this level I'm talking about playing significant minutes for a team that can reliably be expected to make the Champion's league most years.)   You could maybe also count Zach Steffen with Man City but he's been a career 2nd choice keeper with them thus far.  

 

And Pulisic was the first to get there.  

So we want our players to play and do well.  Some are more emotionally level headed about it then others.  But we all want to see them play and do well.

 

I mean hopefully in the future the amount of Americans playing at that level couldn't all be counted on one hand and it will become less of a big deal.  

 

 

 

Edited May 10, 20224 yr by Valpo

This guy has so much potential but I just think he’s exposed as being a bit too lightweight for this league!

Tim's already logging in....