I don't have a good feeling about this game.
But if Canada can win on Sunday, I'll probably still be high enough on that that I won't notice.
Watching LAFC, I'm starting to see teams apply the same blueprint to beat them as us: quick switches of field to the high winger, then flood the box; defend with a higher line to prevent us setting anything up in their end.
LAFC hasn't won in six games now, despite seeming a dominant team in this league. Champions League headache, sure, but that's been a total of three extra games this year so far.
I hate to say it, but people who said Ben Olsen was much better than DC's record because of what he had to work with are looking pretty sensible right now. He not only has Houston clicking, he sussed out LAFC for a joke. They didn't get a look offensively. Whenever they did manage to work the ball deep, Houston dropped 10 behind the ball and... surprise, surprise, they couldn't figure a way past it.
Some notions out there that Vela has lost a step, and that's all it has taken.
^
One trick pony? Maybe the reason why Cherundolo is entertaining getting out; while that getting is good?
True. Seems I missed Cherundolo's clarification-statement that it was fake news shortly after that chatter began. However he is then quoted offering this gem; IMO, not someone very confident in his standing within the club...
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JustinRuderman_/status/1670267197409861632
Maybe, if some of the reporting is accurate, and CMNT does go next gen for the GC, TFC then gets Oso and Richie back sooner rather than later than expected for the MLS regular season?
He didn't say this. It's a made-up quote.
If a quote seems too outrageous to be true, or career suicide, copy and paste it into a Google News search. If it's a real quote, multiple articles from actual news outlets will have it. No news organization would sit on this if he'd actually said it.
Tried doing my homework on the poster before I quoted him. Understood him to be a Michael Singh local type club journo.
Believe @ circa 3:00 min. mark...
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/LAFC/status/1670279718237773824
DUDE! He edited the quote!
Pretty goddamned significantly, too. What he actually said was "The only thing holding us back are the rules and regulations OF ROSTER BUILDING."
He didn't cut it after regulations, which makes it sound like the guy wants to break the rules.
With "of roster building" in there, it's just another quote about MLS' arcane rules.
According to Molinaro, Oso and Richie available for Wednesday's match?
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JohnMolinaro/status/1670834127589851140
Guess since Canada's first game is in Toronto, the CMNT will be here, so makes sense that Oso and Richie can play. Herdman is probably going to ask that they play 45 minutes max though.
Follow-up tweet. Gavran to be on a short-term.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JohnMolinaro/status/1670834466602860544
I put it in the CMNT thread but will add here:
Gold cup roster out:
Canada’s full 23-man squad is below:
GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
GK- Tom McGill | ENG / Brighton & Hove Albion FC
GK- Dayne St. Clair | USA / Minnesota United FC
CB- Moïse Bombito | USA / Colorado Rapids
CB- Scott Kennedy | GER / SSV Jahn Regensburg
CB- Zachary McGraw | USA / Portland Timbers
CB- Steven Vitória | POR / GD Chaves
CB- Dominick Zator | POL / Korona Kielce
FB- Samuel Adekugbe | TUR / Galatasaray SK
FB- Zachary Brault-Guillard | CAN / CF Montréal
FB- Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
FB- Kamal Miller | USA / CF Inter Miami
M- Ali Ahmed | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Porto
M- Victor Loturi | SCO / Ross County FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- David Wotherspoon | Unattached / sans club
F- David Junior Hoilett | ENG / Reading FC
F- Charles-Andreas Brym | NED / FC Eindhoven
F- Lucas Cavallini | MEX / Club Tijuana
F- Liam Millar | SUI / FC Basel
F- Jacen Russell-Rowe | USA / Columbus Crew
F- Jacob Shaffelburg | USA / Nashville SC
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
So I’ll be at the game. Current options are
1. Excited and engaged (TFC win)
2. Falling asleep (Draw)
3. Intoxicated (Cincy blowout)
I’m planning on taking the next day off work due to hangover
This has been a bad couple of days/months on the question of “Our Soccer Relevance” (eg TFC as a solid MLS franchise, Canada as an emerging soccer country)
Seems like there is a cap on our ambitions, for now
Cincinnati 3-1
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I’m impressed with the amount of engagement Canada is getting. However, it’s a shame the team is hidden in the nether regions of subscription services and commentated over by the local dunce.
We’ll see if it lasts and if the CSA is forced to clean up its act when it has so much pressure over it.
I wonder if this is why this year feels worse than other downturns in the club’s trajectory. It’s as if we are watching TFC blow its chance to be a big dominant club in North America just as the game is in its ascendancy here. Other teams are better run, the new stadiums being built are fantastic and we still have the same issues-an academy that can’t produce, the same stadium issues of a North stand and Argos, and our go to solution of find an Italian….
I’m thinking more 2-0 for Cincinnati-our defence is okay but I don’t see us scoring.
This is why it feels worse to me. Previously we just sucked, I've supported far worse teams than us at our worst so whatever, that was fine and cab be fun. But this is the opportunity cost. We may never have another shot at what Manning and Bradley absolutely blew up, and that is so demoralizing to me.
Any specific bars/pubs/locations in Toronto dedicated to showing the game tonight with sound on??
(It's embarrassing that this even needs to be asked, just 3-5 years ago it was much easier)
Things I'm going to be watching for tonight
How are the backup GKs?
Mabika progress
Can Berna get integrated with the attack?
Will Insigne continue his quality work of late?
How does MAK respond to the CanMNT situation?
How does BB react to game states in terms of formation changes & tactical adjustments & subs?
i.e. watching the process rather then the actual result
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff