October 16, 20223 yr 9 minutes ago, DaEagles4Life said: I know I'll get two paragraphs of him with RM but the firepower of Vinicius Jr., Antony, Neymar, and Rodrygo will win the World Cup. Helps having two of the top 5 GKs in the world in Alison and Edeson, then Casemiro holding down the midfield. To me, Brasil are clearly the favorites. France is injured and they are just sending witches curses to each other Messi is Messi in the WC Southgate is terrible for England Spain is forever a striker away Ronaldo has lost his legs and Portugal still needs him What about Germany?
October 16, 20223 yr Author 3 hours ago, DaEagles4Life said: I know I'll get two paragraphs of him with RM but the firepower of Vinicius Jr., Antony, Neymar, and Rodrygo will win the World Cup. Helps having two of the top 5 GKs in the world in Alison and Edeson, then Casemiro holding down the midfield. To me, Brasil are clearly the favorites. France is injured and they are just sending witches curses to each other Messi is Messi in the WC Southgate is terrible for England Spain is forever a striker away Ronaldo has lost his legs and Portugal still needs him I kind of think Brazil’s offense is unbalanced, despite the talent. They play Neymar as a 10 and Vini on the left, but they don’t really have a WC striker. It will be Gabriel Jesus up front. Solid player, but not the normal world beating striker Brazil historically sends out. Raphinha will likely be the starter at RW, and he’s overrated IMO. Antony has talent but is too inexperienced. Rodrygo has been on fire to start the season but I’m not sure he’s ready to be more than a super sub for a WC. Ancelotti is expected to bench him for Fede at RW in el Classico in a few hours, for reference. To be fair, he’s been very good as a false 9 while Benzema was injured, and is basically a starter at this point at RW working in a rotation, but that doesn’t really work if Neymar is sitting between the midfield and attack. Casemiro is a great destroyer, but they’re playing a 4-2-3-1. I don’t think Brazil have a good compliment in the double pivot for him. With Casemiro you need one of two things: either 2 great midfielders to do anll the progression work (like Modric and Kroos) OR you invert the lineup and have him press high up the field as a disrupter. I don’t see either approach working well with Brazil. And the defense is weird. First time in 2 decades they haven’t had an all time great at wing back. Militao at RB is a plus defender but doesn’t offer much in attack, so that left wing is going to have to carry them offensively. I actually still like France. Tchouameni might already be the best DM in the world — he’s been incredible this season. At this point I consider him an upgrade for France over Kante. He’s just way more dynamic in the air, on the ball, passing and going forward. The big question is with Camavinga. He’s so young still . A world beater off the bench but has been pretty average as a starter for Madrid this season. France’s defense is incredible talent wise. Theo and Mendy on the left give you top tier tactical options of offense/defense while Pavard is a very solid starter on the right. Throw in an endlessly deep pool of players at CB and they have the best talent in the world on defense. Then on offense you have Benzema, Mbappe and Dembele which is clearly the most talented and well rounded starting front line in the world. Throw in the likes of Nkunku, Coleman, and Greizman… they have the best offensive and defensive lines in the world, and it’s by some distance in my estimation. Their only issue might be in midfield. /paragraphs worth of response
October 16, 20223 yr Author Nice win in el Classico for Madrid. Kroos is MOTM and was absolutely flawless both offensively and defensively. If not for him, Fede and Militao each put in a performance worthy of the honor. Carvajal, Mendy, and Modric also had great games. Vini was involved in two goals yet somehow it seemed like he underperformed. Benzema with a nice goal off a deflection, but much the same didn’t seem to influence the game as much as his opening goal suggests. Fede had a low shot laser which was the goal of the game. This kid is truly becoming a world class player. I think when he retires people will look back on him as one of the great players of his generation. Ancelotti has compared him to Gerard. I would say he’s like a faster, harder working, more athletic Gerard, but without being an all time great captain.
October 16, 20223 yr Always fun to watch a big game from Anfield. The energy is up there with the very best. Liverpool needed that win. Arsenal now with a little cushion though very early.
October 16, 20223 yr Author 21 minutes ago, JohnB said: I feel so out of touch with the sport these days. La Liga moving to ESPN+ was a game changer for me. Can now watch while traveling/remotely and no need for BEIN Sports which was a sh** show of a channel.
October 16, 20223 yr 18 hours ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said: What about Germany? A lack of striker for me and options are very meh
October 20, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, DaEagles4Life said: Ten Hag doesn't care who you are Good! You've got to stamp your authority there and if you don't then you will just look weak.
October 20, 20223 yr Author Fede had another long range rocket over the weekend. He isn’t being talked about nearly as much as he should be, but Fede Valverde is a top 5 midfielder in the world right now. Limitless energy, speed, impossible to stop as a ball carrier, and now one of the best long range shooters in the world. This kid is so, so good. Great head on his shoulders, humble, hard working, and a team player willing to do the dirty work. When he hangs up his boots I think he will be remembered as a legend. Rodrygo with 2 more assists. He’s really coming into his own. He’s not as flashy as Vinicius, and teams will naturally fear Vini more because of his ability to beat defenders 1v1, but Rodrygo is turning into every bit the player. He’s so versatile and was playing as a striker while Benz was injured. I saw an article that Madrid have the youngest average recruitment age, and it’s really showing. There are so many young guys coming into their own at the same time. Madrid will need to find a striker and some defenders over the next couple of years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we win a bunch more UCLs over the 2020’s.
October 22, 20223 yr Author Fede Valverde with his third straight game scoring a long range screamer. At this point in the season I’d say he’s the best player in La Liga. Asensio had a beautiful through ball to Vinicius on the counter attack, who then laid it off to lord Vazquez for an easy open net goal. Toni Kroos is having his best season in some time. Rumors are he might retire after this season, but he surely has plenty more left in the tank if he wants to continue. Modric had the opening goal. What is left to say of the Croatian magician? Best midfielder the world has seen since Zidane, and truly an all-time great. Vinicius and Rodrygo were electric, but a bit wasteful this match. Should have had at least one more goal. The fact that they are creating such chances without Benzema bodes well for Madrid’s European campaign. The gala 11 is going to be so difficult. One of Modric, Kroos, Valverde, and Rodrygo are going to have to come off the bench. I suppose it has to be Rodrygo, but that’s through no fault of his own.
October 31, 20223 yr Philadelphia Union are in the MLS Finals!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, MLS....blah blah blah. No one cares. But, like I have posted before, again and again, their Goalkeeper is my neighbor. That's kind of cool, right??!!
October 31, 20223 yr 2 hours ago, LacesOut said: Philadelphia Union are in the MLS Finals!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, MLS....blah blah blah. No one cares. But, like I have posted before, again and again, their Goalkeeper is my neighbor. That's kind of cool, right??!! I didn't get to watch this game, however, I caught NYCFC against Montreal CF the week before and it looked like a pretty packed stadium. I would hardly say "no one cares." You could argue that no one gives a crap about baseball, or football, or anything for that matter. Someone, somewhere, cares. It's just a matter of the audience you're speaking to.
October 31, 20223 yr ^^^^'^^ Should have been more clear with my post. I meant to say that no one 'on this MB' cares about MLS. But yeah, the local fans of the teams sure do care. Packed stadiums all over the place for the playoffs. And every time I go to a Union game, the stadium is like 85-90% full.
November 5, 20223 yr On 10/31/2022 at 5:58 PM, LacesOut said: ^^^^'^^ Should have been more clear with my post. I meant to say that no one 'on this MB' cares about MLS. But yeah, the local fans of the teams sure do care. Packed stadiums all over the place for the playoffs. And every time I go to a Union game, the stadium is like 85-90% full. Stadium is packed in LA but quality just isn't good.
November 5, 20223 yr 6 minutes ago, Dave Moss said: Also, LA fans were throwing a lot of stuff onto the field. Was happening a lot of the game. I thought security was extremely light for the game
November 5, 20223 yr 20 minutes ago, Dave Moss said: Also, LA fans were throwing a lot of stuff onto the field. So what, Phily fans booed Santa clause 300 years ago
November 5, 20223 yr 13 minutes ago, Joe Shades 73 said: So what, Phily fans booed Santa clause 300 years ago Because he was skinny instead of fat and most likely intoxicated.
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