The All Things MLS, NWSL, USMNT/USWNT et al Thread

[What party?]

During his introductory LAFC press conference, LA Councilwoman Heather Hutt asked Son Heung-Min about helping the USA get a win at the 2026 World Cup​

Confused LA councilwoman\u00a0asks Son to help USMNT win World Cup

A very confused LA councilwoman told Son Heung-min that she's expecting him to lead the USMNT to World Cup glory.

prosoccerwire.usatoday.com

Maybe he can get two touchdowns as well!!!

 

[ucsdguy1]

During his introductory LAFC press conference, LA Councilwoman Heather Hutt asked Son Heung-Min about helping the USA get a win at the 2026 World Cup​

Confused LA councilwoman\u00a0asks Son to help USMNT win World Cup

A very confused LA councilwoman told Son Heung-min that she's expecting him to lead the USMNT to World Cup glory.

prosoccerwire.usatoday.com

Maybe he can get two touchdowns as well!!!

I saw this. Hilarious.

So if I'm understanding the hundreds of formulas right, if the Galaxy win by 2+ goals in regulation tonight and Cincy/NYRB don't win by 4+ goals in regulation, we would overtake Portland and go through. But who the hell knows.

Game time has been moved to 8:45 PM tonight. Are they nuts? Apparently is due to the double header with Colorado/Cruz Azul playing first, and giving field crew time to manage/water after it. So I imagine we'll be starting way later than normal and probably playing on a messed up pitch. Should go real well. This tournament man.

 

[Moog]

 

[ucsdguy1]

this year

 

[ucsdguy1]

That’ll do G’s. That’ll do.

 

[Moog]

Brutal loss at home against the Sounders.

G’s defense is bad….really, really bad.
Slow, old, plodding. Zanka&Yoshida combo is ….woof! Garces really missed at CB.

Nasci is a miss. No need to keep after the loan.

G’s are bad in the back.
G’s are bad up top.
G’s are bad in the center midfield
G’s are bad in goal.

A roster with wingers…that’s pretty much it.
G’s cannot attack or defend.

No way the G’s go far in the cash grab tournament.

 

[Moog]

BTW....I only watched the highlights of the Sounders game.

On a serious note:
How much of a roster change will happen this offseason?
Last season Kuntz turned over quite a bit of the roster.
Looks like he is going to have to do it again.

By position (IMHO):
Goalkeeper: cut 'em all loose, get legitimate serviceable goalkeepers. No more projects.

CB'S: Keep Garces, cut the rest. This position is abysmal currently (and has been for years)

Fullbacks: Keep Cuevas. Yamane is 31 becomes backup. Aude can be sold...so much promise, but it's either the system or something else, but he never reached his full potential. Nelson can be a backup. Need starting LB.

CM's: Keep Cerrillo, Puig.
Reus has to come off the bench - no way he can start next year.
Fagundez, Sanabria, Wynder cut 'em loose - loan em out. Keep the kids Miller, Parente..et al.

Wings: We are good.

Forward: cut 'em all loose. I don't even think G's have a player that I would want on as a sub.


Clearly I could be missing some players....but ,boy......that looks rough for the winter window this offseason.
Tons of work to do.


Kuntz record is .500 on roster builds: 1 Championship & 1 Wooden Spoon (coming soon)
He clearly missed on pretty much everything this past offseason.

Vanney is going to keep doing Vanney things.....so there's that.


Let's assume Puig comes back 100%....that would be great.
However, the G's tactics would revert back to: Give the ball to Puig. Give the ball to Puig. Give the ball to Puig. It works, until it doesn't. If Puig plays hero ball, andhas to drop deep and dribble though the entire midfield, then the G's are cooked. If the opponent fouls Puig continually until he gets another injury, then the G's are cooked. This worries me.

The only "solution" I can think of for issues with "Riqui-ball" is that the G's need an EXCELLENT #8 to be an option in the midfield. Sanabria is NOT it. (no quality) Reus is NOT it (too worn out, too old). Riqui needs somebody to play off of / with in the center midfield, so he does not have to be the target all the time.


Honestly, Kuntz is going to have to have a miracle of an offseason this winter considering how much he has to change, and understanding Vanney is still his coach.

 

[ucsdguy1]

I was there last night, it was worse in person than however highlights make it look. All that goodwill from the leagues cup games gone instantly.

Ring giveaway was another trainwreck. They let season ticket holders in early. We waiting 15 minutes to be let in, and once in saw a line that wrapped about the inside of the stadium almost twice. Said forget it and just went to eat. Just give them to the season ticket holders separately AEG.

Reus looked either slow or exhausted, or both.

Midfield was awful. Paintsill and Pec still doing the dribble into 4 guys thing (but really they had nothing else to do). Seattle shut them down fast and early.

Nascimento - he still exists right?

Half our section left at halftime, and about 25% more after the 3rd goal.

Have to keep Cuevas. Have to keep Pec (but hammer in his stop falling and complaining and passing earlier). Paintsill I don't know, but I'd say yes once we get Puig back. I'm not even sure how Puig and Reus will work together but I assume it'll be Puig doing the running and Reus doing the placing. Everyone else I'm indifferent and that's a bad thing.

We need a good target forward badly.

I wouldn't mind Bouanga imploding with Son at LAFC and forcing his way out to us

 

[Moog]

Yea...simple solution: Give the giveaways directly to STM.
The fact that they still don't do this shows how much they "value" STM.

 

[ucsdguy1]

 

[Moog]

Why are the Galaxy the worst — and also somehow among the best — in MLS this season?

The Galaxy are the worst team by record in MLS, but they're in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Why is the team delivering such conflicting results?

www.latimes.com

In between there were no trades, no acquisitions and no major lineup or strategic changes. Nor are there likely to be any for the reason of the season; although there are 10 days left in the MLS summer transfer window, Kuntz said “I don’t foresee us doing anything.”

...as if you had a reason before, but no reason now to go to any matches in person.
Save your $$$.
Don't reward AEG.

 

[ucsdguy1]

Why are the Galaxy the worst — and also somehow among the best — in MLS this season?

The Galaxy are the worst team by record in MLS, but they're in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Why is the team delivering such conflicting results?

www.latimes.com

...as if you had a reason before, but no reason now to go to any matches in person.
Save your $$$.
Don't reward AEG.

I mean at this point just save $$$ and start planning for next year.

 

[Moog]

I mean at this point just save $$$ and start planning for next year.

Yea, however the summer window is the "big-better" window, and the G's have no money.
Winter transfer window just isn't as good.

 

[ucsdguy1]

Yea, however the summer window is the "big-better" window, and the G's have no money.
Winter transfer window just isn't as good.

Honestly I feel like next season is going to come down to the Puig/Pec/Paintsill show and how they manage anyway