***Official Soccer Thread***

[POND_OF_RED]

Creating a new thread for soccer discussion since the Euro’s are done.

Most leagues are in preseason and Sporting KC are currently in a battle for the best record in the league to win the shield. We just sent Busio who’s a young Sporting youth academy player and possible future American star to Venezia to compete in the top division in Italy for a 6.5 million dollar transfer fee with up to $11 million with incentives and a 20% future sell-on rate if they sell him to another team. Not to mention another past youth academy player from Lee’s Summit and another possible World Cup starter Erik Palmer-Brown looks to be joining him at Venezia soon as well. If you’re looking for an Italian team to start rooting for with your new Paramount+ subscription they would be a good candidate with some local flavor.

The U.S has built a little power shift in the CONCACAF region with their wins over Mexico lately in Nations and Gold Cup finals and look to be in really good shape heading into the World Cup qualifiers next month.

Messi looks to be on the move as well. Let’s hope it’s not a worthless one to PSG for everyone’s sake.

Ok, CP feel free to remind me how gay soccer is now. Don’t care. Sporting is kicking ass and so is the USA. It’s a good time to be following along. Discuss…

Spoiler!

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Mike Burns has come on as GM.

And honestly has done a really good job and has done good business.

I think Vermes is good at taking scrappy players at a certain level and raising that level and that worked a for a long time but there are more talented players in the league and I think he does a poor job of putting really talented players in a position to do what they do best.

The big problem with SKC is there is this constant thing where other teams just play. It’s instinctual they go and they do things.

Our guys need so much to happen to score it’s like building a plane in midair and if one of those small steps don’t happen it all falls apart.

They have spent some money and at the end of 2025 they have a ton of leeway to spend more and transform the team. I do not think Vermes has very long...just too many bad losses and a team that is worse than the sum of its parts.

I hope you're right, winning matters and as of right now I'm not inclined to spend money to watch this team because I'm not sure home field advantage gives them the oomph they need to win a game.

I'm glad others will go, they're good people, but I'm not confident yet that the team has made the moves they need to make to win many games.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I hope you're right, winning matters and as of right now I'm not inclined to spend money to watch this team because I'm not sure home field advantage gives them the oomph they need to win a game.

I'm glad others will go, they're good people, but I'm not confident yet that the team has made the moves they need to make to win many games.

If it makes you feel better nobody knows who you are or cares if you go or not so you have that going for you.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

If it makes you feel better nobody knows who you are or cares if you go or not so you have that going for you.

Ha, it's all good...

[Al Czervik]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

If it makes you feel better nobody knows who you are or cares if you go or not so you have that going for you.

^^^^^^

How to be a dick....and be completely oblivious to being a dick....

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

^^^^^^

How to be a dick....and be completely oblivious to being a dick....

He's just Zach being Zach...

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

^^^^^^

How to be a dick....and be completely oblivious to being a dick....

Not oblivious at all. Conversations go two ways and both people establish tones.

[Titty Meat]

Soccer is gay

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Soccer is gay

I agree.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Ocotillo

Are you a Colorado Rapids supporter?

I don't know how one could support MLS... But yes they are the home team.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Salah is in top form and it’s nice to see. He deserves it if it is his swan song with Liverpool. The Man City fall off this season has been fun to watch as well. Liverpool should have this wrapped up by spring.

For about 45 days there I expected City to turn it around but they haven't.
Liverpool blew the FA cup, had a tough draw with PSG in champions League (Salah was tripped twice in the box but whatever), and they botched the EFL cup. As long as they hold it together the next eight games though they'll win the premier League. They still have arsenal and Chelsea on the schedule.

[TripleThreat]

So USA really is just that shitty at soccer.

We lose to Panama. Lose to Canada.

We don’t have a true #9. Englands bench players would be stars on this roster. Pulisic isn’t some next level star for this team, he’s proven he’s a good player that is overrated and needs people around him to succeed, not an elevating player.

You look at other teams #9’s, they all have star guys playing overseas with double digit goals.. even look at the guy who scored canadas goal, 60 goals for his foreign club and he’s 25?? Maybe 24, can’t remember.

Our keeper was a backup for arsenal… this team has nothing exciting going for it tbh.

[carlos3652]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

So USA really is just that shitty at soccer.

We lose to Panama. Lose to Canada.

We don’t have a true #9. Englands bench players would be stars on this roster. Pulisic isn’t some next level star for this team, he’s proven he’s a good player that is overrated and needs people around him to succeed, not an elevating player.

You look at other teams #9’s, they all have star guys playing overseas with double digit goals.. even look at the guy who scored canadas goal, 60 goals for his foreign club and he’s 25?? Maybe 24, can’t remember.

Our keeper was a backup for arsenal… this team has nothing exciting going for it tbh.

While I do think the USA has gaps. Pulisic, Robinson, and a load of others are playing in the premier or second division leagues in Europe (English, Italy, France, Germany)

My favorite upcoming forwards are Pepi, Balogun, Haji Wright. (none available for this game). Also their best player, Antonee Robinson was also out due to injury.

This is a raw team. New coach.. they will figure it out. They have the talent to compete - I just think they need a lot more time together.

[carlos3652]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

So USA really is just that shitty at soccer.

Our keeper was a backup for arsenal… .

So was Emiliano "Emi" Martinez. and he's Argentina's #1 because Aston Villa gave him a shot.

Turner needs a shot with someone and min, he will get better, but that goal was on him (vs Panama)

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by carlos3652

While I do think the USA has gaps. Pulisic, Robinson, and a load of others are playing in the premier or second division leagues in Europe (English, Italy, France, Germany)

My favorite upcoming forwards are Pepi, Balogun, Haji Wright. (none available for this game). Also their best player, Antonee Robinson was also out due to injury.

This is a raw team. New coach.. they will figure it out. They have the talent to compete - I just think they need a lot more time together.

Oh I know, during the tournament with the South Americans, I think 9 of our 11 starters were all playing over in Europe, didn’t matter. The other point to that is that really none of our players are stars on any of those European teams. Yea Robinson is great, he’s probably my favorite on the team, but I personally think Weston is overrated and at the very least washed.. pulisic got booted off his team to go to arsenal because he couldn’t perform.. we don’t have any one guy that people fear. Respect? Maybe 2-4 players, but none are feared.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Oh I know, during the tournament with the South Americans, I think 9 of our 11 starters were all playing over in Europe, didn’t matter. The other point to that is that really none of our players are stars on any of those European teams. Yea Robinson is great, he’s probably my favorite on the team, but I personally think Weston is overrated and at the very least washed.. pulisic got booted off his team to go to arsenal because he couldn’t perform.. we don’t have any one guy that people fear. Respect? Maybe 2-4 players, but none are feared.

When did Pulisic ever play for Arsenal? Define not performing. Last I checked he was AC Milan’s top scorer this season. The problem isn’t Pulisic it’s the position they put him in. They need to stop trying to find him a different position. He’s a winger. Robinson is arguably the best fullback in the premier league this season so not sure how you’re saying we don’t have any stars. Poch hasn’t had much time with the full squad to get people into their best spots yet. I think the losses to inferior teams is honestly the best thing for this team going forward. Will hopefully wake them up and realize they can’t just coast through these concacaf matches because we’re better on paper. I think these players definitely think they’re better than they are simply because they’re playing for big Euro clubs now. They definitely need to be humbled a bit.