That Aud Smell

Sure. It’s a policy that is impeding our best players’ development.

because they're hiring a 24 year-old, whom they'll pay so little that he'll have no choice but to move on in 2-3 years.

I had a good explanation given to me on the Twitter over the weekend. I lapsed into my familiar "yeah, just wait until the next Steph Curry and Russ Westbrook are soccer players, not basketball players" thing, and someone else politely, and I think correctly, chimed in to say: That doesn't actually matter. The USMNT athletes are plenty athletic. It's their lack of technical acumen that holds the team back. Most elite American players don't become world class technical players. Pulisic is the exception that proves the rule -- and, critically, he was allowed to play in Germany at a tender age because of some loophole I do not comprehend.

I am missing some (much) of the context of what they're squabbling about.

Graham and Harrington with a beef. https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/1008760752231067648

Glad to hear that, Eleven. Glad to hear it.

Terrific game plan and execution by Mexico. Germany didn’t look themselves — not as strong in the attacking mid as we’re used to seeing. Twitter going crazy over Landon Donovan’s pro-Mexico ad — but I always pull for CONCACAF in the World Cup.

I can’t figure out what’s crazier: That the Hoffmans did that stuff and are denying it, or that they didn’t do it and are being falsely accused.

Messi? More like Missi. (Saw that one on Twitter.) Also: I feel badly for the guy.

This is a good take. There’s perhaps this fundamental difference between FGMTM and JBOT: FGMTM thought he *knew* who could get it done and he went and got them; JBOT wants to bring in several candidates and see who can win the job(s). Maybe the difference between trusting your own judgment and trusting a process (!!!) of competition?

Okay. For the attentive fans who nonetheless know dip squat about the rest of the league: Why’d MTL get hosed?

BUST!

Sort of a weird take. My recollection: There was a combination of excitement and trepidation surrounding a guy who seemed to be taking a ZFG approach to a rapid rebuild. In a physical expression, I am thinking of eyes widened, eyebrows arched, teeth gritted, and a breath being taken in through those teeth.

Taking a contract, as in the league max? (Not money, right?) The guy had 40-something points in 60-something games in the A last season -- that's someone who will help Roch. Really well-put. JBOT reminds me of Beane in that his deals and moves seem focused on roster structure, value, and the like. They're well-informed by a business rationale. Of course, you have to evaluate talent effectively as well. But I think it's a good sign that the deals often seem "smart" -- maybe even shrewd.

/They see pi trollin’ .../

Seems like a fair deal, for both teams. Nice that Fasching also garnered a top-6 AHL asset. Go, Roch!

Geez. May God visit him with peace.

Graham is a pretty exceptional talent. I am sure he has a landing spot.

That’s my recollection as well. They wound up “good” on turnovers at season’s end, but they were fairly torrid there in the first half. I also think this year’s D could be better than last year’s — turnovers aside, maybe.

Fair enough. But the bro (bro! BRO!) vibe is overwhelming to this middle-aged dude. It's true. And for reasons I can't articulate, I really don't want any blowback on or fallout from this -- it's been so pure. But I'm braced for it. Sometimes they do.

FTFY. :P :ph34r:

I am ashame.