Shway

Bell is out injured and I think he'll be short of match fitness if he does return last minute. Same reason why Kasey Palmer isn't in the squad. Reid has played everywhere in attack for Jamaica. But definitely has played as a CAM. I think if Antonio isn't in for whatever reason, than Nicholson slots in. Nicholson and Antonio do the same thing imo, and it's only likely to see both of them unless they are trying to "go for it". EDIT: wasn't sure, but confirmed Nicholson and Antonio have never started together.

What I would do based on our reality is exactly what I stated. The reason is the Japan game gave me a different perspective, and it's not just because they are quality, but more so that we looked completely out of sorts and the fact that our best IX hasn't played together in 5 months showed that. Meanwhile, our upcoming opponents have played 14 games this year with the majority of their first-choice players. So for me, it makes sense to go back to the status quo of things even considering a lot of our guys just aren't in form - continuity is vital. Formation wise, the 352 works because it gets all our best players on the field, our best players are familiar with it, and the majority play the same position at their clubs (aside from AJ). If we switch to a 442 I just see a lot of imbalance, and it gives the potential for Jamaica to win the battle in the midfield (where we should be stronger). Jamaica plays a 433/4231 and they most likely will look like this baring any injuries. (I could see Bobby starting but wouldn't be surprised to see Lambert start in his place and drop in.) This Jamaican team is strong in attack, and they are getting better defensively. The game will either be lost or won in the middle because it's been stated that we match up well with them as you can see, but their wide players aren't strong defensively like our wingbacks. This is the reason why I think the 352 is best (or a 451). The difference is that we are or have been a better transition team especially when we can absorb an attack. I suspect that we get scored on from 3-4 passes. A direct ball is played over our midfield to Antonio who holds up play and connects with Bailey or Gray.

Majority of times, it's just that initial opportunity. Like you said, I hope he continues to get minutes, because right now I think it's a bit overzealous the way I see some people adding him to their 23's..... I guess it's to keep him out the clutches of the cap and stashers aka England?

At this point, I don't care who's on roster spots 17-23. Chances are they won't play. As long as we have our best 11 players available I'm happy. I'm also at peace with our "interim manager" not changing anything at all in order to get the results we need. There's no need to experiment with the interim manager (Rafa Benitez voice). Knowing this, the status quo lineup should be.... --------------Borjan------------ --- Johnston-Vitoria-Miller--- Buchanan---Staq---Kone---Davies ----------------Osorio----------- ------------David---Larin-------- Subs: Hoilett, Laryea, Piette, Choiniere, Ugbo. We go to Jamaica and we draw 2-2. We come back home and win 3-1. And onto the bloodclot Copa we go!

I don't have any "recent" comparisons of league start ups other than MLS. But in their infancy, DC United was in all 4 MLS Cup finals of the leagues first seasons. Winning 3 of them, while also doing a double twice (Cup & Shield). My point is, in young new league's it's easy to be a dynasty once you are the team/club that initially establishes items first aka wins. It's easy to be sour and say they are at an advantage, but when you truly look at the roster composition of the squad, and recognize this as a great team that was initially built off of the same "nobodys" (Henry, Samuel, Metusala, Pacius, Achinoti Jonsson, Borges) and they were able to keep and build off their squad..... it's a no brainer. Cavalry are not a dynasty, only because of the turnover of key pieces from their squad.. even with that, they are still successful. Its only not a good look for the league when you have clubs that are consistently horrible like the Valour.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy7P_S0sLr3/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy7TbEUMXxC/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Well here's CMNT players promoting the CPL final. Which could ease tensions/dispel rumours.

I thought my berthing algorithm was pretty accurate based on Concacafs club rankings, and performance. But on second thoughts I would change Costa Rica having the same amount of berths as Canada (3) and taking one from Guatemala (2 instead of 1) due to historical performance in the past iterations. And the fact that Canadian teams are in a regional tournament. Canada, and Costa Rica are the only clubs in previous years outside MX, US to make it to either (CCC->CCL->CCC) final.

I thought Forge defence was the best. Thought James should've won the best defender.

Trophy is so nice. I'm shocked it's that good. Well done.

Wow....Klopp getting all this praise, so then Carducci should've won the GK award no?

It's bullshit. Concacaf is bending over for MLS/Liga MX (can't even say USSF because they don't control MLS) by allowing them to control League Cups, and then allowing sooooooo many teams from two federations. It's crazy to think that of the 27 teams, 55% of the teams are coming from 2 leagues. I thought that's what the Leagues Cup was for? In this setup, getting rid of the Concacaf League was more of a detriment to all the clubs outside of MLS & Liga MX. We haven't even started this iteration but the breakdown of the clubs should look to similar to below: North America (2) Leagues Cup Winner League Cup Runner Up Mexico (4) Liga MX Apertura Winner Liga MX Clausura Winner Liga MX Apertura Runner-Up Liga MX Clausura Runner-Up USA (4) MLS Supporters Shield Winner MLS Supporters Shield Runner-Up MLS Cup Winner US Open Cup Canada (3) CPL Shield Winners CPL Champions Voyageurs Cup Central America (2) Central American Cup Champions Central American Cup Runners-Up Costa Rica (2) Liga FPD Apertura Champions Liga FPD Clausura Champions Honduras (2) Liga PDN Apertura Champions Liga PDN Clausura Champions Panama (2) LPF Apertura Champions LPF Clausura Champions Guatemala (2) Liga NDG Apertura Champions Liga NDG Clausura Champions El Salvador (1) Primera Division Grand Final Champions Caribbean (3) Caribbean Cup Winners Caribbean Cup Runners-Up Caribbean Cup 3 place winner

I'm saying, you can't understand all of that, and then compare it to England/Europe as being the same or parity not existing in MLS. I don't think you can say penny-pinching when the average league salary for senior players is 500K. That doesn't include DP's so essentially everyone's on a level playing field. How you structure your roster is where the separation happens, and you can't overpay (which happens a lot) for senior players who simply aren't that good. Whether a DP is paid 4M or is paid 15M each, that team has that option. But because it's capped at how many times you can do that, it levels the playing field as you have to be really strategic and overpaying doesn't result in results. But this is a separate conversation because I don't think MLS penny-pinches on salaries especially when you compare it leagues of debatable comparison like Ligue 1, Eredivise, Bundesliga etc.

You haven't changed much to the starting lineup. What I did notice is that you essentially dropped Laryea or Osorio for Millar, and pushed Davies further back to get him on. If we were doing this formation I would swap Millar for Laryea, and swap him with Davies. Millar is part of the future, I just don't think he's a starter just yet, especially in a front three. ------------Larin-------------- Davies-------David------Buchanan -------Kone-----Eustaquio------- Laryea--Miller--McGraw--Johnston ------------Crepeau------------------- Or if you are adamant about Davies playing at LB, than Hoilett goes in that spot for me with super sub Millar, Brym, Nelson, Corbeanu, Shaffelburg, as options for the wide players.

This is a multi-layered discussion so I'll try to separate them by your points. Spending: MLS has salary mechanisms that allow teams to be on the same level playing field regardless of how rich their owners are. The DP & TAM Rules only account for a few players that allow owners to flex their muscles. Europe has FFP to control how teams spend based on their club's overall revenue performance. As we see with Newcastle, they have one of the richest owners, but they can't display their financial power until they have the books to show for it. Owners can't freely pump their own money into the squad like they can in MLS. Players: One of the biggest arguments about the increase in competitions for MLS teams is that they don't have the depth required. Because everyone has the opportunity to be in win-now mode after every season, very few have plans to incorporate academy players into their systems like you see in Europe where the clubs that do are looking to sell players on for a profit. The business models are different across European top teams to the bottoms in the same league. Plus the draft is very hit or miss. It's easier to rotate in top leagues, by giving academy players opportunities in games against lesser opponents. In MLS every game is possible for teams to win. Performing/Winning: Within the past 10 years, MLS has had 9 different winners. Within the past 10 years, EPL has had 5 different winners, LA Liga 3, Bundesliga 1, Ligue 1 3, and Serie A 4. When you win the league, it earns revenue. When you perform in the league or win, it earns you additional revenue potential through the Champions League. Winning/performing in the Champions League can fund your club. All of that puts clubs at a greater advantage than the rest of the teams that don't perform well. Whereas in MLS if you win the league you are the Supporters Shield champion, if you win MLS Cup you are the MLS Cup champion. Winners get a 300,000 bonus. If you suck so badly in the MLS you are given allocation dollars to better support your season next year. You are given better draft picks. All in all, parity does exist in MLS for all the reasons stated above. There are a lot of rich owners in the league I don't think there is a valid argument to say teams don't have the liberty to spend lots of money...they have the option to not, and go with the status quo of the salary rules while staying relatively competitive. As you can see there's not much of a difference between Colorado and Toronto FC, their payrolls are completely different, but their owners are on par.

Of course he could. But is Laryea and Buchanan better in that position? For me, most definitely.

It is...and it isn't. I get it because teams spend differently, and with less restrictions on free agency it has changed this. But parity to me is equal opportunity. And every MLS club has this, whether they take advantage of it or not doesn't dispute the reality of what parity is.

I'm going to repeat some of @Kentpoints and add some... - They don't play through the summer which affects calls ups(Continental tournaments, and FCWC) quality drops when teams are missing there key players. - UEFA competitions only involve 35% of the teams, and it's stretched out over 10 months. Leagues Cup takes a month break from league play to include 100% of the teams. (Some teams were off for almost two weeks). CCC while doesn't have 32 teams (24), and a group stage it takes place over 5 months. - EPL has 20 teams balanced schedule, MLS has 29 (and growing) teams and besides it being unbalanced, some teams don't play each other at all. - EPL has a shorter off-season allowing the schedule to be a little more stretched, whereas MLS has a longer offseason causing the season to be more condensed. - EPL doesn't play during international windows, MLS does. - EPL doesn't have parity and they have relegation so team expectations vary based on clubs. MLS is built off parity and clubs will have the opportunity to have a second season halfway through. (inter Miami). So ultimately it very much so is different from the EPL, as there isn't a lot of overlap of tournaments outside of the top 7 clubs, where MLS has it from the jump with 10 clubs. Depth isn't an issue in the EPL as it is in MLS. Im also not saying they will split the schedule, but I won't be surprised if they did. I think what's stopping that from happening now is Messimania.

A F$%^&* men brother @red card. I couldn't agree more. This year MLS team's are going to experience a cluster fuck of a schedule, and we might see teams picking and choosing which competition they want to compete in as a result. US Open Cup in May (all teams) CCC in May to June Copa America from June to July (will they pause?) League Cups from July to August. Garber will probably split the schedule into 2 and teams will only play their conference opponents.

Geeze February start, this will be very interesting. Can't wait for the draw . @shermanator have you heard what the plans are for rink, I mean grass lol.

Disagree. The World Cup is second to none regardless where it is... it's the biggest sports tournament in the World...Copa America would make #10 (I wonder what Russia prices were like).

Agreed. I think a lot of you have red leafy glasses on. There's really just not a lot of keepers under 6ft in Europe. He may play bigger than he is, but to the scouts and analysts it's not good enough.

And this is the most important point. If they focus on the experience and prestige they could organically grow the product to where they could charge what they do. Currently, it's not there. Concacaf WCQ gave me different perspective in regard to support for nations like Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala who came out in numbers. Was it the price? Probably because it was $40-$60 for decent seats. I'm not saying don't charge the crazy prices they do for premium seats, but it's typically the people who pay the cheaper prices that create the atmosphere's at games. So why price them out in 60k stadiums... for the greed. I just really, really, really hope they don't overprice these games, because like you stated the vast comparison between Qatar and NL tickets shouldn't be.

We've had several discussions in regards to this. 30k higher priced tickets vs a sellout lower priced tickets. That could've played a factor to why their wasn't sellouts, but I hope these tickets/packages are priced properly. I thought about this too.. Majority of those stadiums aren't used regularly during the summer so it could allow for a trial of the temporary grass situations.

By the looks of it, she's probably 3/4 months pregnant. So he should be alright.

For reference, here are the venues of the last iteration of this style tournament: And here are the venues selected for the 26 World Cup: Concacaf will want to use this as preparation for the real thing, so I expect these fields to be used.