Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

[studbucket]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Can someone refresh my memory.

What happened first… did Berhalter tell Gio he wasn’t going to play much and then Gio trained poorly or

Did Gio train poorly and then Greg said he wasn’t going to play much?

I could be remembering wrong but I think it was a bit of both. Something like:

1. Berhalter sets Gio's expectations ahead of camp about his likely role due to tactical fit as well as injury/fitness concerns.
2. Gio is a big baby about it and the entire team considers sending him home for not trying in practice.
3. Gio shapes up a bit, but doesn't play much in World Cup, likely influenced by his behavior

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Ripped from a comment on reddit which I think sums it up well:

"When Gio’s been healthy, he’s played for GGG. Gio had been in in and out of injuries for a year (and has had depression because of it) during WCQ (which started 3 months after Gio played in the Nations League finals). When GGG took the role of the USMNT manager, he was told he would never have all his best players together at once, and to prepare alternatives to this (hence why some of the players we didn’t prefer had been apart of the team for so long when everyone’s preferred starters were hurt, not playing, etc). So while Gio was hurt during an absolute need to qualify for the World Cup, GGG did exactly that, found alternatives, we qualified and got chemistry with others. Fast forward to the September friendlies (post WCQ) Gio returns from injury although has limited minutes with Dortmund. Gio plays against Japan and barely touches the ball or makes an impact. Gio then plays against Saudi Arabia and pulls himself out of the game 30 minutes in for “muscle tightness” and walks to the locker room upset. Gio goes back to Dortmund and repeats the same process of heal/work to limited minutes. It’s now World Cup time. What does GGG do? Start his former USMNT players son who’s injury prone/depression prone/not fit, or go with someone who’s proven themselves in WCQ, fit, and not to mention, isn’t a bad player. The team only had a week (not the normal 30 days before the WC), so GGG went with the inform players, which he told the players and public 60+ days before the World Cup.

Gio could and mostly likely would have been one of the first attacking players off the bench. But then he threw his temper tantrum before the World Cup started. And when the coach tried to cover for him and mentioned his muscle tightness (which Gio admitted to), Gio blew it off and tried to make it seem like there was more to it, which there was, Gio acting like a brat."

[Suntan Superman]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

In less dramatic news, USMNT eligible forward Folarin Balogun is expected to make his choice soon. Currently tearing up Ligue 1 with Reims on loan from Arsenal. Balogun is eligible for England, Nigeria, or the US.

[Brahvocado]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

In less dramatic news, USMNT eligible forward Folarin Balogun is expected to make his choice soon. Currently tearing up Ligue 1 with Reims on loan from Arsenal. Balogun is eligible for England, Nigeria, or the US.

Where did he grow up?

I'm sure if its a question of playing time he'd be choosing US or Nigeria, but most of the time a player will already feel one way or another.

[dickey1331]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Where did he grow up?

I'm sure if its a question of playing time he'd be choosing US or Nigeria, but most of the time a player will already feel one way or another.

Born in the states. Grew up in England. I believe Musah said it would be difficult to get him to play here cuz he likes England.


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[jb12780]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Where did he grow up?

I'm sure if its a question of playing time he'd be choosing US or Nigeria, but most of the time a player will already feel one way or another.

Born right here in NYC.


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[ggsimmonds]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Born in the states. Grew up in England. I believe Musah said it would be difficult to get him to play here cuz he likes England.


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Probably so but there is an allure to the idea of helping build something and standing out.

At least I'm hoping that sales pitch can work.

[Brahvocado]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Probably so but there is an allure to the idea of helping build something and standing out.

At least I'm hoping that sales pitch can work.

There's also Kane and Rashford ahead of him in his normal position, not to mention the other forward spots.

He'd walk into a starting forward spot for us if he can find the back of the net like, any amount of times.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

There's also Kane and Rashford ahead of him in his normal position, not to mention the other forward spots.

He'd walk into a starting forward spot for us if he can find the back of the net like, any amount of times.

Yeah thats the standing out bit. Many athletes would prefer maybe not going as far but playing a big role vs going further and just being along for the ride.

On the other side of it though, can Kane keep his first team spot through the next world cup? Not that I'm saying Kane will fall of a cliff once he goes over 30, but Balogun is only 21 and typically athletes enter their prime between 21 and 24. Just how confident is Balogun? Declaring for England would be a definite gamble on yourself type of move (setting aside that he grew up in England and probably identifies more as an Englishman)

[Brahvocado]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Yeah thats the standing out bit. Many athletes would prefer maybe not going as far but playing a big role vs going further and just being along for the ride.

On the other side of it though, can Kane keep his first team spot through the next world cup? Not that I'm saying Kane will fall of a cliff once he goes over 30, but Balogun is only 21 and typically athletes enter their prime between 21 and 24. Just how confident is Balogun? Declaring for England would be a definite gamble on yourself type of move (setting aside that he grew up in England and probably identifies more as an Englishman)

Yeah, the reality is that he might just feel way more English and there's nothing we can do about that.

[KG]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Yeah thats the standing out bit. Many athletes would prefer maybe not going as far but playing a big role vs going further and just being along for the ride.

On the other side of it though, can Kane keep his first team spot through the next world cup? Not that I'm saying Kane will fall of a cliff once he goes over 30, but Balogun is only 21 and typically athletes enter their prime between 21 and 24. Just how confident is Balogun? Declaring for England would be a definite gamble on yourself type of move (setting aside that he grew up in England and probably identifies more as an Englishman)

I’d say that 21-24 are prime years for them physically but I’d argue that players are actually at their peak in the 25-28ish ranges, maybe even higher now given the advances in sport science. That’s beside the point though.

100% agree on the risk for declaring for England too early given how steep the competition could be at the ST position. I always try to put myself in the athletes position and if I was him I think I’d wait a few years. He ain’t getting called up to England anytime soon unless he makes some noise in the PL. keep those options open because we (US) will certainly take their leftovers [emoji23]


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[Brahvocado]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Even if Kane was leaving sometime soon he'd still have Rashford, and then there's a bunch of young English forwards right now already performing pretty well at various clubs.

Definitely a risk.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

De la Torre just missed scoring for Celta. He's actually getting meaningful minutes now and looks confident. Before the World Cup and Celta's managerial change he was just making garbage time showings for like 1-2 minutes each appearance.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

I’d say that 21-24 are prime years for them physically but I’d argue that players are actually at their peak in the 25-28ish ranges, maybe even higher now given the advances in sport science. That’s beside the point though.

100% agree on the risk for declaring for England too early given how steep the competition could be at the ST position. I always try to put myself in the athletes position and if I was him I think I’d wait a few years. He ain’t getting called up to England anytime soon unless he makes some noise in the PL. keep those options open because we (US) will certainly take their leftovers [emoji23]


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Ah okay, in NFL and NBA prime years are shifted earlier. Tend to start around 23ish and last 5 years or so. Is the "wrong side of 30" drop not as common in soccer?

[KG]

Re: Official USMNT/USWNT Thread

Ah okay, in NFL and NBA prime years are shifted earlier. Tend to start around 23ish and last 5 years or so. Is the "wrong side of 30" drop not as common in soccer?

Not as much anymore considering how much sports science has improved. Chelsea used
to have a stupid policy of not signing new contracts for guys over 30 and then we shifted it to yearly re-ups because of guys like Terry, Lampard, Chelsea Legend Ashley Cole, and more lol

Keepers have always been an outlier though

NFL yeah….after 30 for certain positions and you have to an alien like AP or TO.

Just gotta take care of your body. Now excuse while I preorder some wings for todays playoff games lol


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