Americans Abroad 2022-23

Jimy Hendrix

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Jun 15, 2002
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I don’t want him near the national team on current form (although that can change, who knows?), but I very much want him to get his bag.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
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He's so fun. He breaks the model by which professional footballers are used to interacting with opponents, much like Robert Williams on the Celtics.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Jul 2, 2006
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Beast mode strength but terrible decision to shoot from that angle when he has a teammate in space on the spot who could have a free header with the right cross plus multiple guys coming in for cutbacks. You've got to thread this pass or take the ball to the byline and open a new angle for a left footed cross/cutback.

59638
 

cromulence

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Aug 25, 2009
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How exactly is he supposed to thread a pass there? Yeah, he could have tried lofting a cross, but it doesn't seem that much higher percentage than the shot.
 

InstaFace

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I guess there's a cutback angle out to the 18 line, but that will be closed down so fast that you probably don't even get a shot away unless it's somehow one-touched. I agree with MMS that most coaches would want him to take another touch to the end line and keep his head up for better cutbacks, but it looked like PNE had them pretty well marked. As it was, it's a narrow angle, but his righty shot curls toward goal, and he wasn't that far away from getting it to the back post with a tough bounce that's hard for a goalie to get. I don't really mind my striker trying his luck there, it's not like a high-percentage alternative went begging.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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How exactly is he supposed to thread a pass there? Yeah, he could have tried lofting a cross, but it doesn't seem that much higher percentage than the shot.
If you look a split second beforehand he could have easily played the ball back to the guy standing by the 18 (who might have been able to slip it further to the runner behind him for a shot) or to take this ball to the byline for a really good crossing opportunity with multiple men crashing the six yard box. Instead, he does a pointless stepover and then takes a shot that probably has an xG of .01 or something.

59642
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
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Apr 15, 2006
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Somers, CT
I can't get a screenshot, but a blast at the roof of the net over the keeper's head would have been interesting. For the actual shot, the keeper doesn't get his hands up by the time the ball is past him. He may not have been able to defend it. It's a great place to shoot from close range and no angle when the keeper is in a low set position.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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Love the heavy analysis of whether or not Darryl Dike could have squared a ball during a January Championship game that he bossed and his team won.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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If you look a split second beforehand he could have easily played the ball back to the guy standing by the 18 (who might have been able to slip it further to the runner behind him for a shot) or to take this ball to the byline for a really good crossing opportunity with multiple men crashing the six yard box. Instead, he does a pointless stepover and then takes a shot that probably has an xG of .01 or something.

View attachment 59642
*Insert IT Crowd monologue about how Arsenal always try to walk the ball into the net here*

(not that I think you're particularly wrong, that play is more fun to watch than it is percentage ideal)

On the other hand though, I do think of this one improbable goal and think "what the hell Daryl, have a hit"

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFvtOxDI9Vk
 

InstaFace

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Love the heavy analysis of whether or not Darryl Dike could have squared a ball during a January Championship game that he bossed and his team won.
I mean, it kinda matters to a lot of us whether one of our top CF prospects is improving his skillset and decision-making or not. Because USA fans are generally rooting for the player moreso than for his club laundry.

At least, it does for those of us who can spell his first name. :p

But if you're not being sarcastic... there's definitely no shortage of striker candidates to follow and dream on. Here's one in a Big 5 league:

View: https://twitter.com/dis_possessed/status/1608953879093477376


...very classy volley for that first goal, way harder than it looks.

In other good news, Luca de la Torre is starting for Celta vs Espanyol (and against El Tri's Cesar Montes).
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Aug 12, 2009
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Pulisic got the start against City but came off in the 22nd minute with a knock. Bad timing as he had been getting consistent starts since the World Cup break, hope it isn’t serious.
 

rguilmar

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Jul 16, 2005
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Luca De la Torre has worked his way into the Celta Vigo starting lineup today. He had a very nice second half last weekend.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
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Dec 15, 2002
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Chris Richards is making his second consecutive start for Crystal Palace.
And it went well. I watched part of the game and Richards was pretty locked in. There were some moments that reminder the viewer that Richards is far from aerially dominant, but he wasn't punished for this. Overall Richards has had a tremendous week and has catapulted himself into a position where he'll get a lot more playing time for the rest of the season.

View: https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1617085959941591043
 

ragnarok725

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Nov 28, 2003
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Somerville MA
And it went well. I watched part of the game and Richards was pretty locked in. There were some moments that reminder the viewer that Richards is far from aerially dominant, but he wasn't punished for this. Overall Richards has had a tremendous week and has catapulted himself into a position where he'll get a lot more playing time for the rest of the season.

View: https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1617085959941591043
I watched a bit too and he did really seem to stand out, especially his speed at the back.

It will be interesting to see what Vieira does when Andersen is back. Palace reddit seems to think they'll try a 3 ATB or slot Richards in at RB. Neither of those seem particularly likely to me. He's still in a scrap for playing time when everyone is healthy. These types of performances help, though.
 

allstonite

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Oct 27, 2010
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Gio with his 2nd game winning goal in as many games. This one off a deflection from a corner
 

rguilmar

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Jul 16, 2005
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Not nearly as exciting as those goals, but John Brooks is apparently headed back to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.

Any else finding Gio’s goal celebrations interesting? He again looked to be doing the Memphis Depay celebration.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Aug 12, 2009
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So how do we get Musah there too, and then maybe have Marsch double as manager of both Leeds and the USMNT?
 

InstaFace

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John Anthony Brooks gets the start today for Hoffenheim
Also notice the "Che" among the bench names. He's only 19. Didn't make it off the bench today but if the club is putting him there, it's because they think they could put him on the field if they needed to.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
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67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Dest left off Milan’s UCL roster.

Chicago still has a DP slot and all that transfer money…