Ghoat

I think this team might actually be more successful if they were qualifying in Europe. These kids, as talented as they are, aren't built for the shitshow that is CONCACAF

I think this window we had no choice, there was nothing of consequence to spend until we freed up some funds. Frustrating, but when you look at us spending $60-70M "proactively" on bringing in 3-4 #10's in 2017, that we lost our ass on, none of which are on the current roster, it could be worse...

I think this window we had no choice, there was nothing of consequence to spend until we freed up some funds. Frustrating, but when you look at us spending $60-70M "proactively" on bringing in 3-4 #10's in 2017, that we lost our ass on, none of which are on the current roster, it could be worse...

I think this window we had no choice, there was nothing of consequence to spend until we freed up some funds. Frustrating, but when you look at us spending $60-70M "proactively" on bringing in 3-4 #10's in 2017, that we lost our ass on, none of which are on the current roster, it could be worse...

I think this window we had no choice, there was nothing of consequence to spend until we freed up some funds. Frustrating, but when you look at us spending $60-70M "proactively" on bringing in 3-4 #10's in 2017, that we lost our ass on, none of which are on the current roster, it could be worse...

I think this window we had no choice, there was nothing of consequence to spend until we freed up some funds. Frustrating, but when you look at us spending $60-70M "proactively" on bringing in 3-4 #10's in 2017, that we lost our ass on, none of which are on the current roster, it could be worse...

The list of lads who looked good and scored the winner against us at Goodison last year is pretty lengthy

The list of lads who looked good and scored the winner against us at Goodison last year is pretty lengthy

The list of lads who looked good and scored the winner against us at Goodison last year is pretty lengthy

I do think most Americans, left/right red/blue wanted to see us continue to scale back our involvement and withdraw combat troops. 
 
However, I don't think any Americans wanted to see our embassy overrun, the Taliban encircling the city in American humvees, civilians falling to the deaths off C-17s, and thousands of American citizens trapped outside the perimeter being told to "Shelter in Place" while we ask the Taliban nicely if they will let you through. 
Unmitigated. Cluster. Fuck. 
There are failings at many levels, State Department, Joint Chiefs etc, but ultimately, as he said "The Buck Stops With Me". This will rest at the feet of Joe Biden. He is completely over his head at this point and it looks like his party is abandoning ship on him. 
He has been sheltered quite a bit since he took office, I do not think he is competent to lead or hold the office, and this seems to be bearing that out. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Biden is a bad guy in the least, and I don't hate him, but I don't think he's driving the bus at all. I personally feel he is far more the face, not the power, of the executive branch from day one. And now he is being left to bear the responsibility for other's (advisors, administration et al) inept foreign policy acumen. This is the first real backlash this administration has faced (besides from the opposition party), and it's a biggie. 

The list of lads who looked good and scored the winner against us at Goodison last year is pretty lengthy

The list of lads who looked good and scored the winner against us at Goodison last year is pretty lengthy

But when The Orange Man did exactly that he was accused of xenophobia, and of wrecking all of our alliances. That was literally the policies behind Make American Great Again - balancing out trade tariffs/imbalances, and leaning more on regional allies to hand regional issues. I'm not saying he was totally successful, or not a bull in a china shop in his approach, but he had a some wins for sure, despite all his MANY failings and fucked up demeanor. He was the one that actually pulled almost all of the combat troops out of Afghanistan, leaving the contingent of special forces and advisors, instead of infantry and armor.
 
"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" is about the only way you can deal, IMO, with the Taliban and such - but it only works if they know good and damn well you will wield said Big Stick. Point in case, look at what's happening today. The Taliban has zero fear of Biden wacking them with a stick. What should have been a long overdue tactical withdrawal has turned into a dumpster fire. This could be our worst foreign policy disaster in years. And regardless of who is in the White House, NO ONE should be happy that we have created in International shitshow.

In which case, get rid.

Especially since we are about to lose a significant amount of interest from South America. I've heard/read around $5M, but even that if true, is a bargain, even if it's only to sign and place on a Championship loan. 
Selfishly I'd of course like a Yank on the team, but there is the off the field considerations mentioned above, vis-a-vis a largely untapped US market. 

Especially since we are about to lose a significant amount of interest from South America. I've heard/read around $5M, but even that if true, is a bargain, even if it's only to sign and place on a Championship loan. 
Selfishly I'd of course like a Yank on the team, but there is the off the field considerations mentioned above, vis-a-vis a largely untapped US market. 

I do think most Americans, left/right red/blue wanted to see us continue to scale back our involvement and withdraw combat troops. 
 
However, I don't think any Americans wanted to see our embassy overrun, the Taliban encircling the city in American humvees, civilians falling to the deaths off C-17s, and thousands of American citizens trapped outside the perimeter being told to "Shelter in Place" while we ask the Taliban nicely if they will let you through. 
Unmitigated. Cluster. Fuck. 
There are failings at many levels, State Department, Joint Chiefs etc, but ultimately, as he said "The Buck Stops With Me". This will rest at the feet of Joe Biden. He is completely over his head at this point and it looks like his party is abandoning ship on him. 
He has been sheltered quite a bit since he took office, I do not think he is competent to lead or hold the office, and this seems to be bearing that out. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Biden is a bad guy in the least, and I don't hate him, but I don't think he's driving the bus at all. I personally feel he is far more the face, not the power, of the executive branch from day one. And now he is being left to bear the responsibility for other's (advisors, administration et al) inept foreign policy acumen. This is the first real backlash this administration has faced (besides from the opposition party), and it's a biggie. 

I do think most Americans, left/right red/blue wanted to see us continue to scale back our involvement and withdraw combat troops. 
 
However, I don't think any Americans wanted to see our embassy overrun, the Taliban encircling the city in American humvees, civilians falling to the deaths off C-17s, and thousands of American citizens trapped outside the perimeter being told to "Shelter in Place" while we ask the Taliban nicely if they will let you through. 
Unmitigated. Cluster. Fuck. 
There are failings at many levels, State Department, Joint Chiefs etc, but ultimately, as he said "The Buck Stops With Me". This will rest at the feet of Joe Biden. He is completely over his head at this point and it looks like his party is abandoning ship on him. 
He has been sheltered quite a bit since he took office, I do not think he is competent to lead or hold the office, and this seems to be bearing that out. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Biden is a bad guy in the least, and I don't hate him, but I don't think he's driving the bus at all. I personally feel he is far more the face, not the power, of the executive branch from day one. And now he is being left to bear the responsibility for other's (advisors, administration et al) inept foreign policy acumen. This is the first real backlash this administration has faced (besides from the opposition party), and it's a biggie. 

I do think most Americans, left/right red/blue wanted to see us continue to scale back our involvement and withdraw combat troops. 
 
However, I don't think any Americans wanted to see our embassy overrun, the Taliban encircling the city in American humvees, civilians falling to the deaths off C-17s, and thousands of American citizens trapped outside the perimeter being told to "Shelter in Place" while we ask the Taliban nicely if they will let you through. 
Unmitigated. Cluster. Fuck. 
There are failings at many levels, State Department, Joint Chiefs etc, but ultimately, as he said "The Buck Stops With Me". This will rest at the feet of Joe Biden. He is completely over his head at this point and it looks like his party is abandoning ship on him. 
He has been sheltered quite a bit since he took office, I do not think he is competent to lead or hold the office, and this seems to be bearing that out. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Biden is a bad guy in the least, and I don't hate him, but I don't think he's driving the bus at all. I personally feel he is far more the face, not the power, of the executive branch from day one. And now he is being left to bear the responsibility for other's (advisors, administration et al) inept foreign policy acumen. This is the first real backlash this administration has faced (besides from the opposition party), and it's a biggie. 

But when The Orange Man did exactly that he was accused of xenophobia, and of wrecking all of our alliances. That was literally the policies behind Make American Great Again - balancing out trade tariffs/imbalances, and leaning more on regional allies to hand regional issues. I'm not saying he was totally successful, or not a bull in a china shop in his approach, but he had a some wins for sure, despite all his MANY failings and fucked up demeanor. He was the one that actually pulled almost all of the combat troops out of Afghanistan, leaving the contingent of special forces and advisors, instead of infantry and armor.
 
"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" is about the only way you can deal, IMO, with the Taliban and such - but it only works if they know good and damn well you will wield said Big Stick. Point in case, look at what's happening today. The Taliban has zero fear of Biden wacking them with a stick. What should have been a long overdue tactical withdrawal has turned into a dumpster fire. This could be our worst foreign policy disaster in years. And regardless of who is in the White House, NO ONE should be happy that we have created in International shitshow.

Even their badge is a star!

My favourite obscure European club name is Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

I’m inclined to agree with that in the last 24 hours we will buy 1 or 2 who haven’t been mentioned in any of the threads, I know that seems nye on impossible due to nearly every player available having a mention at one time or another, but we are Everton and usually find away. 

moved up 10 spots to 10th in FIFA rankings, which may be a little high, but I'll take it. Now I don't understand how Mexico moved up 2 spots to 9th, ranked a head of us. I mean they lost to both our A team and our B team

1 week after our 11th anniversary,  we got confirmation today of my wife's visa approval after 6 months of fighting. I am currently an emotional mess. 

That is a drum I will beat with you all day long. Be it engineered or natural, the Chinese government treated the situation like the USSR did Chernobyl, they tried to handle it quietly internally until the genie was literally out of the bottle and had to be acknowledged.  Fucked up the world six ways to Sunday.