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#1444726 Emil Forsberg lack of synergy

Posted by McSoccer on Yesterday, 03:59 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Ah, a public message from the wife of our top player was posted that he ditched her and his family 3 months ago to play soccer for our team.  

 

I think that definitely is an acceptable topic of discussion.

 

It ventures into TMZ/tabloid BS, but its not like it was triggered by shitty work from the Sun or paparazzi.... it was an instagram message purposely sent out into the world. 

 

Now, I hope no RB journalists publicly ask Forsberg personal questions, but on a small dedicated message board about Metro, I think we can discuss a public message and not feel like we are prying.   

I'm not saying to isn't fair to talk about, I'm just asking why anyone cares enough to talk about it?




#1444718 Emil Forsberg lack of synergy

Posted by McSoccer on Yesterday, 01:27 PM in MetroFanatic.com

I cant believe were discussing this. Until it becomes an issue on the pitch, who cares? Its a personal matter.



#1444281 Let's continue to complain about average players who are no longer here

Posted by McSoccer on 19 March 2024 - 10:39 AM in Beat The Dead Horse Forum

You have a point there. I am just amazed how incredibly incompetent Schnider has been as a GM. I thought Thelwell was bad, but on top of the damage Thelwell did, Schnider further downgraded CDM (CCJ), RB (Edwards) RW (Luq) by replacing the players he lost with inferior ones. Did not improve biggest weakness (striker). The only major positive is that papa Red Bull gave us Forsberg, who wanted to come to US, but seems like synergy more so than Schnider's brilliance. If he had just maintained the level of what we already had (not by keeping these players but replacing with equivalent ones or dare I say improved?), adding Forsberg via synergy would have made us so much better. Just frustrating to see, that's all.

CCJ and Edwards both wanted to leave. CCJ to try Europe and Edwards bc he had a baby and wanted to live on the same continent as his child. Better to sell CCJ last summer and than to let him leave on a free this winter. And with Edwards, its life. Luq had skill on the ball, but he wasnt able to translate that to anything effective in the pitch. Not a big loss.

That said, Schneider does need to sign a striker and until that happens he wont get a passing grade.




#1443847 NYCFC is owned by slavers

Posted by McSoccer on 07 March 2024 - 06:24 PM in MetroFanatic.com

A cube?  Ok...

 

https://www.mlssocce...eate-wow-moment




#1443807 Random Player Name Thread 2024

Posted by McSoccer on 05 March 2024 - 01:35 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Marco Reus is looking to come to MLS.  He's 34, and has been injured a lot lately.  I think he's more of a goalscorer than Forsberg, although he's not an out and out striker.  I guess you could put him up top with Vanzeir or Manoel, or he could drop into midfield depending on substitutions and injuries or whatever.
 
If he's healthy and would take a two year deal, he would be a good pickup.  Although ideally I'd rather get someone who is younger.

Reus is hurt a lot. Hed be perfect to bring in for a playoff run though. Sign him in the summer window, let him build fitness with sun appearances through late summer, early fall and then start him when the playoffs begin. You just cant expect too many minutes out of him.



#1443340 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 27 February 2024 - 09:24 AM in MetroFanatic.com

I am seeing Gil as top 5 with 2.44 chances created. Luq is top 50 with 1.48. That's not less than half, so the above premise is simply inaccurate. Top 50 is not a low number. Agreed we want a DP to be higher, but I have not seen where this is below average when there is 150+ attacking's players with qualified minutes. This is not even considering free kicks won, where Luq is top 5. The contribution is certainly significantly better than say Manoel, which is the replacement value. I am not saying Luq is some sort of amazing player, but he is a solid player, replaced by borderline MLS player. Schnider needs to do better.

I was looking at total, not per 90.  Gil had something like 88 and Luq was under 40.  No matter how you measure it, he's still on the bottom half of AMs.  And I 100% agree that he can dribble and get fouled/dive as good as anyone in the league.  It's literally what he's best at.




#1443322 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 09:56 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Who said free kicks won = chances created? Luq was top 50 in MLS in chances created. Period. And in addition to that 3d overall in free kicks won in MLS. You brought up chances created stat to put Luq down, but now that it actually turns out Luq did decent there, trying to minimize it.

Im not trying to minimize Luqs free kicks won. I just dont think it makes up for his low numbers in other attacking stats.

What's the average? This is top 50 overall, not just AMs.

LuqS numbers are less than half of an elite AM like Gil, I think that puts him below average.



#1443318 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 06:34 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Did you actually check the stats? He was top 50 in chances created, top 3d amongst MLS attacking players with 900+ minutes. So, do stats matter or not?

Top 50 is not good for an AM. Its below avg for a starter.



#1443316 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 06:32 PM in MetroFanatic.com

For those hanging their hats on Luqs free kicks won = chances created, Stroud won 2 yesterday. Thats on track for 68 free kicks won. Luq won 73 last year. Only 5 off the pace!

And he did that without diving, he had to take a kick (or almost) to the face!



#1443314 At some point, Tolkin will leave

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 06:28 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Duncan was better on the left than I expected, but still just average and contributed little going forward.

Yea He didnt look horrible defending, whereas in the past he has looked a little lost even on that side of the ball.



#1443306 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 05:47 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Not top 25, but he is #49 in chances created in MLS. Every team has about 4-5 attacking players, plus with injuries, about 5-6 players getting major minutes. Times 29 teams. In that stat there are players with 900+ minutes. He is right there next to Insigne, who has the same # as him, in top 3d. Plus one of the top players fouled. So, thanks for bringing it up and proving my point, looks like he does create chance at above average rate and top at drawing fouls. Certainly someone we could have used and really need to replace.

Free kicks should be a supplement to normal chance creations for an attacking mid, not the primary way a player creates chances. And comparing him to Insigne? BC hat guy lit MLS up last year.

I dont dislike Luq. Its was kind of entertaining to watch his sribble skills, I just never saw it translate into anything much other than fouls.



#1443299 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 05:06 PM in MetroFanatic.com

The answer is going to be something like "chances created is a flawed stat because every free kick is a chance and he got fouled a lot, they just aren't counted as chances and we didn't take advantage of them."

Even if its not perfect hes nowhere near the top. He wasnt in the Top 50 for key passes. The only stat he was near the top was Fouls Suffered, he was third.

If we count the free kicks he won then Ill stand by my point earlier that he really just dribbles until he fouled bc he didnt create chances in any other way.



#1443296 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 04:52 PM in MetroFanatic.com

I think there difference between Luq and Manoel/Stroud IS by all that much. Quite huge difference actually. Stroud to me should be a CDM back-up to Amaya/Edelman, and Manoel very end of the bench at best or out of MLS at worst, while Luq was a solid attacking starter, even if not great DP level. We need to fill that void and also we need to strengthen the bench. With Forsberg there is a real shot to contend, but Schnider needed to improve the supporting cast, not make it worse.
 
I will agree though that if we do get a higher quality player, who is better than Luq, even in the summer, it would still be worth it. It would have to be a really good player though, and possibly more than one. The point is not really about Luq: it's about quality around Forsberg that is lacking without him and must be addressed. Morgan is not enough, and high injury risk anyway.

Can someone show me the stat that suggests Luq was even an average attacking mid in MLS? He wasnt even in the Top 25 of chances created last season.



#1443289 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 02:53 PM in MetroFanatic.com

 
Regular season last year Luquinhas had same number of goals as Manoel, as a midfielder. Stroud hasn't had a professional goal or assist yet. Yes Luquinhas dove too much but its exaggerating to say its all he did. I'm confident he would provide a better offensive spark and connect with Forsberg just fine compared to the alternatives that played yesterday. 
 
And we did play very well yesterday, but that doesn't mean that's our ceiling. More attacking talent pushes that ceiling. Selling Luquinhas and replacing him with an empty DP spot was a mistake imo, that was not addition by subtraction.

I just dont think thats Sttouds spot long term . Itll be Morgans or the incoming player if Morgan plays on top. But yea, if the argument Luq is better than Manoel, sure but I its not like its by all that much. And even if Luq was sill here, Manoel would have started yesterday bc Morgan wasnt ready to go 90.

We still have to wait and see if they leave the DP spot open or if they fill it before the end of the summer window. If they fill it now or the summer window, selling Luq while they could was the right decision.



#1443284 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 02:13 PM in MetroFanatic.com

Did I miss all of Luq's chance creations and goals last year?  The team looked really good in midfield yesterday, I don't think we missed him.  Not sure how he would mesh with Forsberg either.  Forsberg seems to play with intent, Luq just kind of dribbled until he got fouled.  The biggest argument for Luq yesterday was that maybe one of his dives could have won a PK.




#1443251 We buy an international roster slot

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 10:56 AM in MetroFanatic.com

And much like many of the short term loan agreements last season it seemed like a waste. Not sure who he was the emergency backup for.

Waste? Isnt it good he didnt play? If he had it probably would mean someone got injured.



#1443250 Metro - Nashville Game Thread

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 10:53 AM in MetroFanatic.com

I sort of felt the fact that Stroud also was high kicking may have played a part in the reversal?

It shouldnt. Stroud could see no one was in front of him when he went for the ball, Davis knew Stroud was there when his boot went high. Two completely different plays.



#1443242 Metro - Nashville Game Thread

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 10:26 AM in MetroFanatic.com

The soccer yesterday was actually enjoyable to watch, especially compared to the dreck Struber had them playing the last few years.  Still the same issue though, poor finishing.  I'm not going to get too concerned yet.  We created a decent amount of chances against a team that was set up defensively, something we struggled with even under Marsch.  And yea, the finishing wasn't optimal, but we were inches from it being great, so there's hope.

 

The best sign to me was that all the areas we upgraded (Forsberg, Schwarz, and I guess Eile) looked really good.  Too bad they didn't upgrade Manoel's spot.




#1443239 Some people think Luquinhas didn't suck that much

Posted by McSoccer on 26 February 2024 - 10:13 AM in MetroFanatic.com

:) Yes, he would have gone down for sure and we would likely win this game, and from what I remember of this play, it was a legit foul that clearly impacted Forsberg: by the time he regained balance he was not in as good position. Going down here would cement a PK, but I will wait for iced1776 to post that play, which he said he will do later.

 

Speaking of Luq, I think he would have greatly helped in this game. We now have a situation where we finally got bona fide star player at 10, but the other 3 attacking skilled  guys are just not good enough: Stroud, Manoel, and Dante. If Luq played yesterday instead of Stroud or Manoel, I think we punch one in. Either he draws a pen or helps create just a few more chances to put over the hump.

 

It just felt like we just do not have enough bullets. We needed another skilled guy on offense (in addition to Morgan) to ensure we win this game, and we just don't have one. And  the bench looked VERY weak. We need another DP, and if some of you don't like Luq, that's fine, but it would be a shame to waste Forsberg by not getting a few more good skilled players to help.

Luq did get the call in the final regular season match last year, but he wasn't getting calls in a lot of matches prior, even if deserved, bc he dove so much.  So not sure he gets that call.  Also not a guranantee he gets into the position Forsberg did when the foul occurred.

 

Luq would not have helped this match.  Our issue was putting the ball into the net, not chance creation.  And Luq would not good at scoring when he was here.




#1442992 NMR: Other MLS games

Posted by McSoccer on 23 February 2024 - 09:56 AM in MetroFanatic.com

Yeah, I think it would be fun from a story-side for Miami to be a Goliath, but they looked fried. If the non-Messi players can't figure out how to keep possession for 5 mins when ahead, they are going to be beatable - particularly for an energetic, pressing team like our own 

Tata won't have them playing like that against us.  They'll either be playing better or he'll switch up the tactics.




#1442909 No MLS in 2024 Open Cup

Posted by McSoccer on 21 February 2024 - 01:06 PM in MetroFanatic.com

if thats the case, I didnt think of this before, but maybe there is a tinge of MLS getting back at USL? You didnt want us in your league, so how about we hold Open Cup hostage. 

Or it's about dollars...




#1442790 Season Predictions

Posted by McSoccer on 19 February 2024 - 11:15 AM in MetroFanatic.com

If Morgan can get fit, stay healthy, AND play to 75% of the level he did two seasons ago, I think we can finish Top 4 in the East.

More likely were around 6-7. Forsberg is the most talented player weve had since Henry. Hell get our forwards a lot more quality looks at goal. Theyll still miss too many, but overall our total goals will go up.



#1442442 Do we have a forward?

Posted by McSoccer on 11 February 2024 - 10:13 AM in MetroFanatic.com

I don't care if it's a ST or attacking mid or winger but we need an MLS best XI talent in one of those front 4 positions.

Forsberg could be Best XI.



#1442440 Do we have a forward?

Posted by McSoccer on 11 February 2024 - 10:10 AM in MetroFanatic.com

 
Of all stats you can just toss out there in a vacuum I think xG is one of the better ones. I've almost never seen an xG stat for a striker's finishing and been like "holy shit no way", it usually aligns with the eye test over the course of a decent number of games. 

Agreed, good strikers dont continually underperform in terms of XG. We havent had a good striker since White was traded. When you have bad finishers up top you need to create higher XG chances, not a lot of poor quality chances that add up to decent XG totals.

I think well have higher quality chances with Forsberg. Based on yesterdays match Dante & Manoel are still going to miss too many of them, but they should score more than last season.



#1442424 Do we have a forward?

Posted by McSoccer on 10 February 2024 - 10:01 PM in MetroFanatic.com

yes but I think our xg was kind of gamified by Struber as we took a lot of low percentage shots which will drive xg up even if the quality isnt great. We need to finish better but some more tap ins wouldnt hurt

100%. XG is one of the most misunderstood stats. You cant just look at the total, its too simple.