USMNT roster for June qualifiers

[businesslawyer]

And.... This type of post is why I struggle to take you seriously.

To say that Donovan was not at least a top 3 American soccer player is just being stubborn to admit the truth. And I'm being generous when I say "top 3" because the third person likely isn't close. Maybe McBride? Reyna? Ramos?

None of those players had the career he had. Please stop the random hatred of him. It makes you sound like JSM with Pulisic...

Wisky is a perfectly rational and human poster on almost all topics. Landon Donovan isn't one of them.

For the record, I see every possibility that Pulisic's career will surpass Landon's, and I'm rooting for it. But to take it as a foregone conclusion at this point ....

 

[Waquoit]

Pulisic has already had a more notable European career than Donovan. He made the hardware-winning play in the Cup final.

 

[ZooCougar]

Thank you for complimenting me when trying to insult me. I tee off on par 5s with driver because I still need to make 3 good swings to reach in regulation.

Ahh I figured you for the play it safe type. Can't wait for Alexi Lalas to tell us how Acosta is World Class. He's not even rated as highly as Hyndman but because of MLS affirmative action due to Garber/MLS tampering we can look forward to his call up never.

 

[ZooCougar]

Pulisic has already had a more notable European career than Donovan. He made the hardware-winning play in the Cup final.

He surpassed Donovan by the winter break.

 

[SubbaBub]

Morris has a long, long way to go before anyone is fairly comparing him (favorably) to Jozy Altidore. Wood is a totally different type of forward, but I have no problem with someone saying he's better. But my view is that Jozy's overall good and valuable play for the national team is totally ignored because he flamed out in the Premier league, and some here can't forgive that. Just like there are some who can't accept that Landon Donovan was, by far, the best career national team player we ever had because he wouldn't stick with Europe and make a mark there.

My problem with Joy is his inconsistency in the one element of his game that is any good and he is prone to injury. He is a specialist that doesn't fit with the way we want to play going forward.

Dempsey too, but he is still an elite trigger man inside 18 if you can keep him there.

I agree Morris isn't ready and it is unclear where to play him. Wood makes so many positive things happen for a US squad that needs a volume of opportunity to maximize it's success.

Wood and Pulisic work well interchanging and stretching the defense. Need a third leg of the triangle. I don't think it can be a static player. Maybe it ends up being Sargent. But for 2018, it looks like Dempsey. Or maybe a rotation.

 

[businesslawyer]

Ahh I figured you for the play it safe type. Can't wait for Alexi Lalas to tell us how Acosta is World Class. He's not even rated as highly as Hyndman but because of MLS affirmative action due to Garber/MLS tampering we can look forward to his call up never.

Could you let Hyndman start one game in the Premiership before you crown him? He played very well from what I read in Scotland. But the Scottish Premier League is not as good as MLS.

 

[ZooCougar]

Could you let Hyndman start one game in the Premiership before you crown him? He played very well from what I read in Scotland. But the Scottish Premier League is not as good as MLS.

That's fine. Let's just hold Acosta to the sand standard then.

 

[ZooCougar]

Could you let Hyndman start one game in the Premiership before you crown him? He played very well from what I read in Scotland. But the Scottish Premier League is not as good as MLS.

And I disagree about the SPL. Different style for sure, but it is not a step down.

 

[UConnDan97]

And I disagree about the SPL. Different style for sure, but it is not a step down.

Its a step down for sure. Not Celtic or Rangers, but the rest are absolutely a step down. Aberdeen's average salary is 1/3 of the MLS average salary, and then it gets worse from there. Hearts is 1/5 the average salary. Dundee is 1/6 the average salary. And that's the top 5 teams in that league.

I know you hate the MLS with every fiber of your being, but let's at least be honest with their place in the world. Better than Scotland. Worse than Mexico, etc...

 

[businesslawyer]

And I disagree about the SPL. Different style for sure, but it is not a step down.

On this you are way, way off. Just because the football is being played on the other side of the Atlantic does not make it automatically better than MLS (well, at least in anyone's mind but yours). Celtic and Rangers (once it finishes shaking off the dust from its front office relegation) -- sure. The rest of the league -- not even close.

And hold Acosta to what same standard? I've designated him as the USMNT's 10 -year starter? I don't think so. I know he showed more in his national team appearances last week than we saw from Hyndman in his cameo, and I know he's carved out a role where he's very well thought of in a better league than Hyndman has, but do you really think if Hyndman becomes a Barclays starter (or regular contributor) this year almost everyone won't be screaming for him to get a call up? Please. I certainly will.

But Europe blah blah blah. Tell me again how we can't succeed without Julian Green and Zalalem?

 

[SAMCRO]

Top to bottom MLS is a stronger league. SPL's top is stronger (but that's really just Celtic). SPL has Celtic................then Aberdeen, and now Rangers clawing their way back up after recovering from their financial relegation to the bottom league in Scotland years ago. After that it is very thin. It is something like the 30th rated league in Europe, and that doesn't factor in the second divisions of Spain, Italy, or England.

 

[ZooCougar]

On this you are way, way off. Just because the football is being played on the other side of the Atlantic does not make it automatically better than MLS (well, at least in anyone's mind but yours). Celtic and Rangers (once it finishes shaking off the dust from its front office relegation) -- sure. The rest of the league -- not even close.

And hold Acosta to what same standard? I've designated him as the USMNT's 10 -year starter? I don't think so. I know he showed more in his national team appearances last week than we saw from Hyndman in his cameo, and I know he's carved out a role where he's very well thought of in a better league than Hyndman has, but do you really think if Hyndman becomes a Barclays starter (or regular contributor) this year almost everyone won't be screaming for him to get a call up? Please. I certainly will.

But Europe blah blah blah. Tell me again how we can't succeed without Julian Green and Zalalem?

He started and featured in one of the two teams in that league that are better than MLS teams.

Green and Zelalem are easily behind him.

 

[ZooCougar]

Its a step down for sure. Not Celtic or Rangers, but the rest are absolutely a step down. Aberdeen's average salary is 1/3 of the MLS average salary, and then it gets worse from there. Hearts is 1/5 the average salary. Dundee is 1/6 the average salary. And that's the top 5 teams in that league.

I know you hate the MLS with every fiber of your being, but let's at least be honest with their place in the world. Better than Scotland. Worse than Mexico, etc...

I don't hate it. I hate what the league has done to hijack the national team since they believe that it exists to serve their interests. Also since MLS owned Soccer United Marketing controls the marketing of the team there is clearly a conflict of interest. The USMNT is the league's only penetration into the mainstream since the TV ratings are still in the tank.