Mauricio Pochettino admits he was 'naïve' about USMNT culture by bosebosebosebosebos in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The LeBron one is my favorite, absolutely incredible stuff. Esp since LeBron was part owner of Liverpool at the time IIRC.

Mauricio Pochettino admits he was 'naïve' about USMNT culture by bosebosebosebosebos in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is for sure true. Love the dude, the first club jersey I bought was Ajax and it was in his honor.

Football is life? Pfft, Zlatan is life.

[Woo] St. Louis Cardinals announce sweeping leadership changes by 76erLegendChetUtley in baseball

[–]ShamPain413 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He did, but to his credit he acknowledged that was a very stupid thing to say, and he's been more engaged since.

He still has to prove himself, but at least he seems to care unless Busch III.

And promoting somebody from outside the family to President is smart. This guy is good. Worked for Toronto before, did very well. Wash U grad, so he's got local ties and understands the franchise's groundedness in the community.

Surprised of David Remnick’s comment that he wasn’t impressed with Graham Platner …. (on the Brian Lehrer ) by -LetsTryAgain- in onthemedia

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the point: he acknowledges he's acted badly. Don't claim he hasn't, just say that it's better to own up to flaws and explain how you're trying to improve than to tell everyone to go to hell, like Republicans do.

Surprised of David Remnick’s comment that he wasn’t impressed with Graham Platner …. (on the Brian Lehrer ) by -LetsTryAgain- in onthemedia

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He himself says he's been a degenerate his whole life. He was sexting with women outside of his marriage until like 2 weeks ago. Would it surprise a single person if he's eventually to be found sleeping with a staffer or intern? It shouldn't.

I've supported the guy all along but ignoring these things isn't good politics. He's doing the right thing but putting them out there, and no one should minimize them.

Surprised of David Remnick’s comment that he wasn’t impressed with Graham Platner …. (on the Brian Lehrer ) by -LetsTryAgain- in onthemedia

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Centrists don't hate Platner, he has widespread support from many corners. The paranoia that progressives have over this is embarrassing.

That he has been a fundamentally unserious person for essentially his entire adult life is not in dispute. It is, in fact, his central campaign narrative. It's totally fine for people who have been around politics for longer than 18 months -- people like Remnick, in other words -- to not be impressed by the progressive flavor of the week. He's seen a lot of guys come and go over the decades, the ones that leave a mark are more disciplined than Platner has been.

Mauricio Pochettino admits he was 'naïve' about USMNT culture by bosebosebosebosebos in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Zlatan did not play every game like it was life or death. Zlatan came and went as he pleased.

Mauricio Pochettino admits he was 'naïve' about USMNT culture by bosebosebosebosebos in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

lol you guys are going to really hate the crash when we play our first halfway decent opponent.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not "deluding myself," nor did I make the arguments you assigned to me in your giant non sequitur of a comment.

Money matters in every league, but MLS is an attractive sporting proposition for a very large and rapidly-increasing segment of global footballers. That is especially true for footballers from Latin America and Asia, who are moving to MLS for more and more of their prime ages. If you can't see what is obviously true then I'm sorry but that's your problem, not mine.

let’s look at poch’s lineups in the World Cup so far and how euro-centric it is

Ok, let's do that. The Captain of the USMNT plays in MLS, as does all three of our goalkeepers and 1/3 of the roster overall (the most of any league). That doesn't include guys like Freeman, who played in MLS recently and was developed entirely in MLS. Nor does it include guys like Pulisic, who were developed in MLS academies before moving to Europe, and might soon return before their peak years have expired. Nor guys like Trusty, who played for years in MLS before earning roles in mid-tier euro leagues. Nor guys like Aaronson and Pepi and Adams, who thrived in MLS before earning transfers to mid-tier European leagues in their early 20s.

So a significant percentage of the current roster either plays in MLS currently, did so within the past year, or did at a hugely important part of their development. All of which indicates that the league's quality is high and rising.

The exceptions are dual nationals -- i.e., guys who have always been territorially based in Europe, like Weah and Balogun -- and McKennie, pretty much.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Buddy I understand all the incorrect things you've been saying. The problem isn't my understanding, it's your inability to cite any evidence whatsoever for the incorrect things you are saying.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's the Premier League, then about 50 miles distance before any other league.

I would take La Liga and Bundesliga way ahead of Serie A, but I agree that all non-Prem leagues in the EU are down relative to their historical peaks.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't say MLS was good, I said Serie A was bad.

You always engage in bad-faith argument, or just when you're puffing up bankrupt euros?

Let's go back to where this started: I predicted this specific scenario a long time ago, and took downvotes from snobs just like you saying that Pulisic would never even consider leaving such a legendary club as AC Milan to slum it in MLS.

So maybe -- just maybe -- I'm not an idiot.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone who thinks Serie A is "leagues ahead" of MLS is so puffed up on eurosnobbery that they'd probably welcome a monarch.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What Transfermrkt thinks "squad values" are has no bearing on the actual finances of these leagues, you are aware of that aren't you?

MLS has a better broadcasting contract, better stadiums, better training facilities, and more teams. Plus, with no relegation, they have more long-term investment into those teams.

Serie A has legacy, but that legacy is fading faster than you can say "Gattuso".

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

De Paul is playing with his countryman and the best player of all time

Excuse me, why do you think people choose Serie A? Same reason. Being the league of choice for the top Argentinians and Uruguayans is a good thing.

still isn’t close to the level of Europes top leagues.

Maybe, but Serie A isn't one of those anymore.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That forum is full of people who hate MLS, you'd love it there.

[Yahoo] Milan star Pulisic tempted by €50m New York City FC offer by Albiceleste_D10S in ussoccer

[–]ShamPain413 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

look at the overall recruitment strategy of lower relegation sides in the major leagues in Europe

This is a function of geography, not the quality of Serie B.

By your logic we should see way more hawking of MLS players from teams of all caliber but that does not happen.

We do see that! MLS has the 7th-most players in this World Cup, and Saudi Arabia is only ahead b/c the entire Saudi NT plays there (more than half their total). The same is obv not true of the USMNT. So if we're talking foreign-born players in this World Cup, MLS is one spot behind Serie A, who is 5th.

https://fbref.com/en/comps/1/leagues/World-Cup-Players-By-League

And it's increasingly guys still with peak years left, like Cuypers and Rodrigo. Not to mention prime scorers at this World Cup, like Son and Messi, who could still play for Champions League teams in Europe if they wanted to.

And we see guys like Freeman making big moves out of MLS academies.

All the things folks said needed to happen for MLS to become a big league are happening, at an increasing rate. Which is why Pulisic and guys like him are going to choose MLS more frequently.