2323 replies to this topic

[Mashed Potatoes]

Going to do this very thing once they announce the camp for the two March friendlies.

Here's a short near term thought. Watch who sees minutes in the last couple of club matches. If guys aren't playing for their club we know that's an issue for Pochettino. Guys who miss out on the March camp (unless its a mainstay who ends up missing due to injury) will find it to be very, very difficult to make the final WC roster.

Guys to really look for over the next two weeks in this regard:
Reyna, Zendejas, Musah, Horvath, Morris, Lund.

Here's my current plan for stuff for the upcoming WC.
March - Pre friendlies writeup and expectations for the final roster.
May- Pre WC article discussing all the groups.
June - Pre WC article focusing on the US and Group D.

♥️ Can't wait

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Two weeks before camp and the crap is already hitting the fan.

 

Dest subbed out yesterday with a hamstring injury. Dammit.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Two weeks before camp and the crap is already hitting the fan.

Dest subbed out yesterday with a hamstring injury. Dammit.

Whatever happened to Dest's club career? Why has he fallen in stature every year? His ceiling used to feel so high

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Whatever happened to Dest's club career? Why has he fallen in stature every year? His ceiling used to feel so high

Injuries. When he's healthy he's still getting plenty of club minutes.

 

Update: So I just looked up Dest's game log. PSV has had 35 matches so far this season between Eredivisie, UCL, and the two Dutch cups tournaments. He has averaged 80 minutes/match across those 35 matches. 

 

And if you take out the 5 Dutch cup matches and look at just Eredivisie and UCL which he has averaged 82 minutes/match. Those are pretty stout minutes and show he's a key cog for PSV. According to transfermarket Dest is the 5th highest valued player for the club. By comparison he's played 86% of PSV's total minutes this season. Their highest valued player, Joey Veerman, has played in 91% of PSV's total minutes.

 

So not sure I'd say his stature is falling at all.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Injuries. When he's healthy he's still getting plenty of club minutes.

 

Update: So I just looked up Dest's game log. PSV has had 35 matches so far this season between Eredivisie, UCL, and the two Dutch cups tournaments. He has averaged 80 minutes/match across those 35 matches. 

 

And if you take out the 5 Dutch cup matches and look at just Eredivisie and UCL which he has averaged 82 minutes/match. Those are pretty stout minutes and show he's a key cog for PSV. According to transfermarket Dest is the 5th highest valued player for the club. By comparison he's played 86% of PSV's total minutes this season. Their highest valued player, Joey Veerman, has played in 91% of PSV's total minutes.

 

So not sure I'd say his stature is falling at all.

 

Thanks for that research. I'd argue regularly starting for PSV is still a fallen stature relative to starting for Barca while super young and Ajax when they were still at peak powers.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Thanks for that research. I'd argue regularly starting for PSV is still a fallen stature relative to starting for Barca while super young and Ajax when they were still at peak powers.

Well can't argue with that but the Barca mess was cause their manager was an idiot....lol

[BSLSteveBirrer]

[BSLSteveBirrer]

So out with injuries:

Dest, Adams, Wright, and Luna.

Not called in:

Musah and Zendejas

Turned down call up:

Banks

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Roldan says competitive U.S. midfield has huge gap without Adams

https://www.espn.com...-huge-gap-adams

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Here's a look at the two upcoming friendlies and whats on the line.

 

https://baltimorespo...cup-starts-now/

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Camp Update: UGH!

 

Miles Robinson out for both matches.

Chris Richards out for tomorrow and likely also out Tuesday.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Starting lineup out and a couple of key notes:
1. Matt Turner is back in goal. Clear sign that the starting decision for this summer is still open.
2. Poch wants to see how Tillman and Mckennie handle the middle of the field together. This could be huge for this summer if they pair well.
3. Weah starting at RB is a good test to see if Timmy can handle world class attackers. Gives us so many options for this summer and a way to really crush the opponents left side of their defense.

I love this lineup. Let's go boys!!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Solid first half. Attack looks very good. Midfield solid. Weah getting eaten alive at RB.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Trash second half but did determine some things.
1. Weah can not defend against a quality winger.
2. Turner not commanding the defense. Maybe since its been so long but not good.
3. Jedi is back and looks good.

Let's see how they regroup and come out on Tuesday??

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Key to the game tonight against Portugal- how well Aiden Morris and Seb Berhalter manage Bruno Fernandes.

[DuffMan]

That second goal allowed was awful! How in the world do you leave two players unmarked at the top of the box on a corner!?!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

That second goal allowed was awful! How in the world do you leave two players unmarked at the top of the box on a corner!?!

This is why fans shouldn't get too distraught over these last 2 matches. Yes we had the same general problem in both matches. The defense got too compact and deep. This is pretty fixable and its called Tyler Adams.

Yeah if he's not available come June thats a problem they need to address.

But here's the good news.
1. Both of these teams are significantly better than any team in our group.
2. Go look at the xG for these games. Much closer than the actual score. Case in point that second goal last night. Inches out of Matt's reach and went off the inside of the post. That is like a 1 in 5 chance.

To me the key issue is still our finishing. We outset Portugal 8 to 3 in the first half. Put one or two in the back of the net and its a way different match. Same thing against Belgium. Poch said that the first goal of the match that McKennie scored should have been our 3rd goal.

The margins for scoring goals is just razor thin. We are close guys.

Now I am not saying we don't have some real issues to work on. We absolutely do. But these 2 matches aren't quite as bad as the scoreline looks.

[BSLChrisStoner]

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I respect Doug Macs opinion. And I think this is close. But I'd have Tillman at attacking mid and Dest AT RW. I do like Dest and Weah together but if you want to go that way then for me its Weah at RW and Dest at RB

[Mashed Potatoes]

Yea, flip em for sure, Weah at RB is very scary. Crazy that Ream is still starting. Smart veteran presence but just does not seem like a world cup starting caliber player at this point in his career