Messi will play the final 45, I assume.
Yeah, I don't think he'll sit to start. Tata won't want to place any undue risk on the outcome. He'll be in until they have a two-goal lead, then he'll pull him after 50-plus.
Sure would be nice if we just stuck with the direct, quick style that worked against Philly. Trying to catch Montreal high to break out by playing through the center halfs was just daft. I mean... it worked. Once. Then they just adjusted and we were hosed, without alternatives.
2 MLS records in this game
Most amount of salary on a pitch
Biggest gulf in coach quality
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Surely this means something tomorrow …. Lionel Messi once lost to a team whose winning goal was scored by Chad Barrett, assisted by Marvell Wynne
https://www.transfermarkt.com/argent...ericht/2410269
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Since there is nothing else to talk about… that scoresheet from 2005 is wild.
In total, 7 former TFC players played in that game.
Westberg was the US GK! (Who knew?!)
Argentina's number 9, who went the full 90, was Pablo Vitti (Kun Aguero never got off the bench!)
But no MB. He went from not even being in the 23 on the US U20 team in 2005, to a starting spot on the senior mens team at the 2007 Gold Cup. (BB took over the USMNT in late 2006, in perhaps a not unrelated development…)
Last edited by ensco; 09-20-2023 at 06:07 AM.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Could it be the case that the single international game in history in which the most one time TFC players appeared, was a game Lionel Messi lost?
I spent a few minutes looking at various Canada v US games, which I would have assumed would have the highest, but the highest I got to was 6, in the 2019 Nations League game (Bradley and Lovitz for the US… Laryea, Oso, Fraser and MAK for Canada)
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
We had both Vitti and Piatti from the 2005-2007 Argentina u20s, I believe.
Vitti had been nicknamed "The Dead One" by Argentina fans after his game collapsed in the domestic league. When he came to us, that continued. But if he isn't incorrectly called offside on a Danny Dichio throughball and scores that goal, maybe that all would have changed.
It dawned on me that we have a bunch of young kids on our team who like most young kids playing soccer grew up idolizing Messi and are now about to face, and for some defend, him. That's kind of wild.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/WakingtheRed/status/1704513998367175050?s=20
So the remit tonight is to shut down the middle. But we can't forget the wings completely, or they camp in our end all night, because Tata likes the quick switch to advance the ball in two or three rapid passes.
Ideas anyone? Ibarra as a six, shutting down the middle? I say that recalling a column in Atlanta by one of their regular writers that his stats as a six -- even though he wants to be an eight or 10 -- were his best, and he looked most natural there.
Coello is a solid defensive player, but I still think he lacks initial quickness, which was probably the knock in Spain (because his pitch intelligence and technique are pretty first class. He's the best passer on our team by several country miles). He's more an eight to me, because when he has time, he can pick out something long, but when he doesn't he can still hold on in traffic and dish the ball.
He plays the eight role Osorio has often played but is more suited to it. I think Oso was always a number 10, just never going to get a shot behind Pozuelo, and then we stopped using a 10.
So maybe....
-------------Romero-------------
Franklin--O'Neill--Rosted--Petretta
--------Ibarra----------------
--------------------Coello---------
---Fede-----Oso-----Insigne
------------Kerr
(Or what I'd really like to see)
----O'Neill--Pearlman--Rosted--
Franklin---Ibarra---Coello---Fede
-------Osorio-----Insigne---------
-------------Owusu----------------
Bernardeschi can be a workhorse when he chooses to defend as well as attack, and he was never more productive in his career than when he played as a left winger at Fiorentina.
This is basically the formation Forest used for much of last year, only they typically played with two up top and one in the hole instead of the reverse. But Owusu is a good target man as well as a decent poacher.
I just think trying to be a possession team the way we do, the Italians constantly trying to force possession until they see a hole, just isn't going to ever work with this team. We'd be much better having narrower lists of tasks for them all, cutting down the possession time in favor of shooting time, and having a more transitional offense, sort of like Nashville's, where the front three are largely cooking their own meal.
Last edited by jloome; 09-20-2023 at 03:57 PM.
If Messi starts I'm of the opinion Vazquez should as well
Who does Messi give his jersey to, I hope somehow the club makes sure it gets to Ibarra.
We get the B team broadcasters tonight
Twellman is in St Louis for them vs LAFC.
I think that's the first Messi MLS game he has not called.
Messi starts.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1704626633317957704?s=20
If they don't a pic at some point of VV & Messi....
Ibarra gets taken out for VV. Michael Bradley starts because he is Michael Bradley. Is this the slowest team in the league?
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1704627344759988729?s=20
Love that VV is starting but not for Ibarra. Props to Dunfield for the feel good moment.
I completely get Vasquez but How does Ibarra not start?
Check out this tweet at [COLOR=#000000]https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1704627344759988729?s=20[/COLOR]
The Barca trio start for Miami.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1704627469540573498?s=20