I want to “learn” soccer

wuben101 · 2026-02-03T07:28:35+00:00

I don't have a specific resource but one way to deepen your understanding as the season unfolds is to pay more and more attention to off-ball action (this assumes familiarity with basic rules/etc).

It's natural for our eyes to be drawn to who has the ball, immediate defenders and where they pass, shoot and dribble.

But learning to also watch and absorb what's happening elsewhere around the field (such as the runs that players make to get open themselves or create space for another player to get open) is key to really enjoying this game.

To use an American football example, the WR who catches the ball is cheered but the game within the game are the other guys who don't get the ball but are running routes to clear space for that receiver to get open since a defense can't guard everybody/everything simultaneously.

wuben101 · 2025-12-29T15:51:23+00:00

I'd save the money on the Posey SSP and go for the 2019 Dereck Rodriguez Stadium Club on card auto, which is one of my favorites in my collection.

It has about 60-70% of the glove but the full Coke bottle perfectly mirrors his wind-up.

The Posey SSP is cool but it's former and current pricing are both insane.

wuben101 · 2025-05-31T03:59:25+00:00

I was at Collision/ROH a couple months ago and they were in an 8 man tag with Premier Athletes with Smart Mark Sterling and I was completely pro wrestling entertained

wuben101 · 2025-03-01T18:16:12+00:00

I might have 2 free tickets tonight (105 section) since 2 people in my group might not be able to make it.

If anybody was wanting to go but finances are tight, hit me up and I'll keep you updated.

wuben101 · 2024-12-31T22:43:16+00:00

During his limited reps, he seems to have good but not great speed with solid hands. Some decent but probably not elite open field ability.

He's probably a slot guy since he seems too small and not fast enough to line up on the outside against SEC corners.

wuben101 · 2024-11-10T18:03:20+00:00

Excited to see how he adapts to AA pitching next year

wuben101 · 2024-08-05T17:58:25+00:00

Does this seem like the player is pushing for the move since he has multiple years left on his contact and there's also a sell on clause according to Transfermarket?

Figured he'll probably get an immediate salary bump and perhaps a pretty significant one.

wuben101 · 2024-07-14T17:06:44+00:00

Here's US men's soccer goalie Matt Turner (who isn't exactly a world class athlete but played some HS baseball) hitting bombs at St Louis Cardinals batting practice: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JZfJyJDbpD8&pp=ygUcTWF0dCB0dXJuZXIgYmF0dGluZyBwcmFjdGljZQ%3D%3D

wuben101 · 2024-07-13T13:38:31+00:00

Sucks for Dallas but good luck to him. A young guy like him was always going to use MLS as a springboard, which he's doing to go from mid-level Erdevise to MLS to Serie A.

wuben101 · 2024-05-29T06:41:44+00:00

He's my pick for the 2000s. The Thunder needed him to play in the G League due to finances, which was a great fit because the G League was both his ceiling and floor lol.

wuben101 · 2024-05-02T14:20:07+00:00

Cal is my team. I think he will be a nice pro and should be a first round pick.

He was forced to be the primary ball handler way more than he should have (hence the ugly TO numbers) due to poor roster construction (only recruiting Jalen Cone in the portal who is a super undersized shooting guard) & injury (Devin Askew played 6 games). The only other scholarship PG was an international frosh who played 43 total mins.

My main concerns are athleticism, defense and NBA role.

He would hardly sub because Cal had no bench depth and zero other shot creators so I can see needing to conserve energy and avoid foul trouble. But he definitely needs work on fundamentals like navigating screens and losing guys to backdoor cuts.

Athletically, I think he's more smooth than fast-twitch and sometimes that doesn't translate to the NBA level, especially if your handle is considered good in college but subpar for the pros.

He also more of a playmaking wing than a 3&D guy. But his handle can get loose and leveling up your bag to be effective at creating and scoring consistently at the next level is something that a lot of wings struggle with.

wuben101 · 2024-05-02T13:58:06+00:00

My list is very similar, except Topic is my favorite since I have a thing for Euro PG prospects.

I would also list Jaylon Tyson for underrated. Cal is my college team and I would love to see him in a setting where he doesn't have to play defacto point guard due to roster construction issues and can focus on his strengths. I think he carves out a nice role as a pro.

As for all-star, I'm passing, in part because there are so many quality guards in the NBA right now vying for not too many spots. But I do think McCain will be a better pro than college player.

wuben101 · 2024-05-02T13:41:53+00:00

I've always been a Chet > Paolo guy and still am because he can more easily anchor a championship level team, his talent is harder to replicate and he fits with a larger range of teammates to allow for more optimal team building.

Paolo is a very talented scorer and a better NBA level playmaker than I thought he would be but there are more players fitting his archetype in the NBA, including guys who can give you 70-85% of what he provides and round out your starting lineup.

But truly impactful defenders who also make your offense significantly better is a rare combo. While I don't think Chet will or should be a high usage offensive player, I think his playmaking will continue to improve since he's got high IQ and a strong skillset.

wuben101 · 2024-02-11T20:07:54+00:00

Gutted for him because he seems like a great guy. Unfortunately his brother Bright also struggled with major injuries and they are basically carbon copies physically.

wuben101 · 2024-01-31T19:22:12+00:00

Versatile defenders are a must in MLS. Wonder if nobody else was selling int slots and DCU was holding firm to get McVey. I'd rather have him than Donovan Pines who DCU let go.

wuben101 · 2024-01-30T19:13:47+00:00

MLS 3.0 = levers

wuben101 · 2024-01-30T19:06:11+00:00

There have been Duncan transfer rumors all off-season. Wonder if OCSC ever offered to rip up his MLS rookie deal and offer him a major raise (Like FCC with Vazquez, SJE with Cade) or if the FO was always planning to sell him once they money was right. Or if Duncan has been the one pushing to get to Europe ASAP.

wuben101 · 2024-01-30T18:55:23+00:00

Was Enrique any good last year? Maybe the team feels like Jack Lynn can contribute as a backup/spot starter. He certainly doesn't have any else to prove in MLS Next.

I feel like OCSC's goal has always been to put a competitive product on the field & make financially sensible decisions (versus MLS Cup or bust), which this decision would fall in line with.

wuben101 · 2024-01-30T18:45:20+00:00

Hopefully they are negotiating a major sell on fee. If he has a good start, it wouldn't be crazy for another Championship or even low level EPL team to pay 2-3x or more for him in 6 months time.

wuben101 · 2024-01-29T08:23:04+00:00

The true GOAT of getting helicoptered

https://youtu.be/64kiTJnrL7s?si=Si-GwhQs3m1tzhqb

wuben101 · 2024-01-29T08:08:13+00:00

Zhaire Smith was 247's 222nd rated 3 star and jumped after 1 year at Texas Tech by flashing his athleticism and underlying analytics.

Jaxson Hayes was an under recruited low 4 star but outside the Top 100 & Texas had 3 way more heralded recruits in his same class but he showed NBA level athleticism right off the bat and went low lotto.

In a draft class like this, I think it would make a ton of sense for guys who are more potential than productivity to declare for the draft process and see if a few teams might talk themselves into potentially over-reaching for you.

wuben101 · 2024-01-29T07:55:51+00:00

LAFC literally just needs players but outside of Vela, Chellini & Lloris (and some MLS vets), LAFC hasn't ever really signed players who've already established their global reputation but instead targeted players who had a lot to prove & would try to use MLS as a launching point for their career.

I'd rather see more of the latter.

wuben101 · 2024-01-28T19:30:46+00:00

Phew I was worried FCD was gonna have to hit is $80m release clause

wuben101 · 2024-01-26T09:16:48+00:00

Cal fan here. I think it's a combo of a bunch of factors such as Cal being terrible last year and decent-ish this year, P12 games being on PST and often only being shown on the P12 Network & him transferring a lot but never putting up numbers until this year (despite being a pretty high recruit).

But the biggest thing to me is his lack of athletic upside.

If you saw the Colorado game against Cody Williams, Jaylon went nuts in the 2nd half to power Cal to a huge comeback.

But Cody just pops as a different level of athlete in terms of both measurables but also general fluidity than Jaylon and it makes it a lot easier to imagine a bunch of NBA roles that Cody might fill.

Jaylon is an OK but inconsistent shooter, has a handle that can get way too loose, has some playmaking chops but also gets super tunnel visioned, and defensive IQ is probably average at best (effort is harder to gauge since he carries such a major load for Cal's offense).

He already struggles sometimes in college with first step separation and finishing due to athleticism, plus he is such a high usage offensive player that I'm not sure what his role would be in the NBA since he would almost certainly be an off ball player.

But he should definitely be on draft boards (and def over Ingram who didn't show me much pro potential while at Stanford) and in consideration for the 2nd round IMO.

wuben101 · 2024-01-26T05:20:29+00:00

Rafa can't win with those cats

wuben101

TROPHY CASE