jeffk said:

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Haha, none taken. I was bossing the kids I was coaching on my son's U7 team pre-COVID, so at least I have that going for me.

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American kids.

Being a college town, we had a really diverse group of kids. Reminded me a lot of my teams in Houston.

Any guesses on starting a lineup for tonight?

jeffk said:

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Any guesses on starting a lineup for tonight?

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Zardes playing all 11 positions.

jeffk said:

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Any guesses on starting a lineup for tonight?

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I want to see if Aaronson and Dike can handle being concafed. I'm not all that interested in seeing Arriola, Acosta, Lletget anymore, even Yuell to some degree, b/c we know who they are at this point but I'm sure Gregg will insert them (somewhere, anywhere) to give a little stability and experience. I wonder if Gregg will actually give Soto game minutes considering he wasn't going to be released by his club originally, iirc. Those types of club v. national team v player exposure v. injury politics always fascinate me.

Get to know the kids as many of these will likely be playing in the Olympics in the summer.

Dike is out with an injury, so you won't get to see him.

Here's who Brian thinks will start:
Predicted XI: Hamid: Araujo, Long, McKenzie, Vines: Yueill, Aaronson, Lletget: Mueller, Akinola, Arriola

http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/mckennie-s-super-strike-yanks-advance-in-ucl-seattle-superb-amp-usmnt-updates

Look guys... said:

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I can't stand the MLS with their artificial surface, football lines on the pitch, the over the top use of VAR, etc.

So that being said, I really don't know a lot about these kids.

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Perfect time to learn about them as there will be a ton of meaningful USMNT games for the younger players in 2021.

Also, letting turf and football lines (which only affects a couple clubs nowadays) and VAR (which I think has been used better in MLS than in the EPL this season) is a shame. I understand not having the wavelength to follow all the leagues all the time, but those are things I think you can get past if you want to.

Dammit didnt know that. He's kind of my new forward crush. I think he potentially more versatile than guys like Sargent, Morris and maybe even Soto. I really enjoyed watching him play in the NCAAs last year and frankly I wonder if players like Dike could add some legitimacy to college ball again (not unlike baseball players that need some maturity but dont want/need to grind it out in the minors)

Also I wouldn't surprised if we see the Long + McKenzie centerback pairing a fair amount over the next decade or so.

Yeah, most teams are in soccer specific stadiums now and overall quality in the league is really improving too. A lot of the European names we're seeing as up and comers for the US squad were MLS players not that long ago.

jeffk said:

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Look guys... said:

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I can't stand the MLS with their artificial surface, football lines on the pitch, the over the top use of VAR, etc.

So that being said, I really don't know a lot about these kids.

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Perfect time to learn about them as there will be a ton of meaningful USMNT games for the younger players in 2021.

Also, letting turf and football lines (which only affects a couple clubs nowadays) and VAR (which I think has been used better in MLS than in the EPL this season) is a shame. I understand not having the wavelength to follow all the leagues all the time, but those are things I think you can get past if you want to.

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I hate turf in football, abhor it in soccer and baseball. It's not natural. Literally.

I'm using tonight to learn about these guys.

But if I turn on an MLS game and they're on turf, i turn it off.

Well, good for you for having principles then.

jeffk said:

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Well, good for you for having principles then.

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Exactly. I'm a simple man. Play on grass as god intended.

I really want to see Efrain Alvarez play. People have been raving about him.

what's up with Aaron Long? He's always been pretty solid, and then we just haven't heard much about him in a while.

Pahdz said:

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what's up with Aaron Long? He's always been pretty solid, and then we just haven't heard much about him in a while.

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Didn't really have a good year in MLS. Not sure if the distraction of not getting moved to Europe over the winter affected his play this year.

Look guys... said:

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jeffk said:

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Well, good for you for having principles then.

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Exactly. I'm a simple man. Play on grass as god intended.

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I don't think that many teams play on turf anymore

New Atlanta stadium (should have been built with the ability to play on grass, new stadiums can do that now)
Cincinnati's team will start on turf, but its new stadium will be grass
New England plays on turf now
Portland plays on turf, but apparently the new owner wants to switch to grass
Seattle plays on turf in the Seahawks stadium
Vancouver plays on turf

Which is strange because many college football teams in these areas are able to play on grass with no issue

I HATED playing on turf, and while I understand the technology has increased it will never be the same as grass.

Just cause I was curious, I looked this up :

Teams currently playing on turf:

Atlanta
Cincy (although their new stadium will be grass)
New England
Portland
Seattle
Vancouver

Teams currently sharing a stadium (non soccer stadium)
Atlanta (with Falcons)
Chicago (with bears)
Cincy (with Unof Cincinnati)
Nashville (with titans)
Nycfc (with Yankees)
Toronto (with argonauts)
Seattle (Seahawks)
Vancouver (bc lions)

Cincy and Nashville are building new stadiums with grass. Boston and nycfc are supposedly trying but can't seem to make it work.

Stefen is starting for City in their CL match today.

I'm excited to see Akinola. Might need to get him cap-tied asap in 2021.

Complaints about turf always remind me of all the indoor places (including playing intramurals at the Rec iirc) that made you play with a softer ball or felt-covered ball. I guess to protect the walls, etc. Hated those things.

jeffk said:

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Stefen is starting for City in their CL match today.

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You didn't see the big ass picture I posted?

6(5) too many.

Starting lineup tonight:

Legal Custodian said:

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McKennie with the world class goal for Juventus against Barcelona.

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Damn.

Completely lost touch with the sport this year and have no idea who or what the hell is happening. Will have this game on tonight.

Well, up 4-0 in 25 minutes

Really enjoying my return to the sport.

5-0.

"The way game is going they may get further chances, actually."

Is this the greatest side in USMNT history? They're unstoppable. All MLS all the time from now on!

Love The Saviors managers hair. So rad.