30 Comments
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Bob Lowe's avatar

What a match. Mendy will never do that again. When Aaronson is in sight, he'll boot it in the future. Tuchel have second thoughts about not serving suspension?! Great job by NBC/USA to go to natural sound after the match. Leeds was joyous and nobody left. The Man of the Match, Jesse Marsch, soaked it in. This is the best of the Premiership!

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Grant Wahl's avatar

It seems like the entertainment value of the Premier League is even higher than usual so far this season. Maybe that's because of the US aspect, but still it has been so much fun to watch.

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Lou Hudson's avatar

Grant, Christian sifting his way through the United dumpster fire would be better than him rotting away on Tuchel’s bench. The only reason he’s still there is to sell #10 Chelsea shirts in the US. Tuchel didn’t really respect him at Dortmund, obviously doesn’t now, and won’t going forward. Time to go.

Great game from Leeds. If you’re a USMNT fan, or a “homer” American, Leeds have got to be your “side chick” team, no matter who your favorite team is.

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Not sure I agree with your first sentence, definitely disagree with your second and pretty much agree with your third. Tuchel and Pulisic didn't have some amazing relationship at Dortmund, and that's not the case at Chelsea either. Bummed out about it.

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Lou Hudson's avatar

Thanks for the reply! Do you think that Christian will go or stay this window?

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Theodore Morehouse's avatar

Aaronson is becoming America’s “best” player. That makes us all terrified that he’ll get injured just as the World Cup begins. Nonetheless…..

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Grant Wahl's avatar

You're right on the first part, though I thought Adams was terrific against Chelsea too (in a different way). It's interesting that the best US player in Europe last season wasn't Pulisic (but rather McKennie), and so far this season it isn't Pulisic either.

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Matthew J Cardillo's avatar

I assume, b/c Marsch and his staff are engrossed in fitness details, that he gives his team plenty or rest. It's a long season.

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James S's avatar

Oops, Jesse Marsch called Cagliari, “Cag-lee-ar-ee” at the press conference.

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Must not be an Italian speaker yet! (Until someday he coaches a team in Italy.) Honestly kind of surprised by it, since it's a huge thing to him to be on top of different countries.

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James S's avatar

Hope I haven’t jinxed him!

Fancy a trip to Sardinia to report on the reverence of Gianfranco Zola and Gigi Riva and if anyone remembers Julio Dely Valdes?

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bill's avatar

It doesn't matter

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Vincent Stravino's avatar

"heavy metal football." Wonder if that moniker catches on. Well played, Grant.

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Matt Skinner's avatar

Grant, is there a chance Christian would move out of the EPL? I would love to see him get playing time even if it means changing leagues. I previously saw rumors of Italian clubs being interested - are Newcastle and Man U the two most likely destinations?

Thanks and great work as always

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Grant Wahl's avatar

I think he'd consider it, especially if it was the right team. He's had experience playing outside of England, obviously.

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Chris Malik's avatar

# Marsching On Together !

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Think he really started winning over the fan base with this game.

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Eve's avatar

I’m desperate to see Pulisic unleashed like Aaronson has been at Leeds. We need him amd all his talent at USMNT; I want him away from Tuchel.

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Yeah. I do wonder if Pulisic would consider Leeds as an option, though I haven't seen any reporting that suggests it would even be a possibility at this point.

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Eve's avatar

When I see Aaronson and Adams seeming so happy and thriving (Adams wrapping himself in the flag at game-end!!), it makes me want the same for Pulisic. Even when he comes off the bench, he’s not got that spark that you see in the Leeds men. He deserves more!

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bill's avatar

My comment is motivated by the unfortunate head-on-head contact that occurred with 75' showing on the clock.

The NBA protects players' ankles by making it a foul for a shot-defender to encroach into the jump-shooter's landing area. (The shooter's "cylinder")

Soccer could protect players' brains by making it a foul to jump in sideways to head a ball that the opponent has better position on.

In other words, use your feet in advance to pre-locate your sorry ass where you can jump vertical. Otherwise, you have pre-lost the header. If you can jump really really high straight up, good on ya'!

I'm thinking of the Chinese young lady at iirc (?) World Cup '99 closing her eyes and grimacing her face and coming in sideways to injure iirc (?) Abby Wambach.

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Ken Robinson's avatar

The loss of Rudiger hurts. TT’s system needs the dominant defender.

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Could be the case. Koulibaly and Thiago Silva are just getting used to each other, though, so I'm willing to give them some time.

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Alan Hinton's avatar

Jesse Marsch did a Mick Jagger impersonation when his impressive Leeds scored today. A very confident enthusiastic Marsch and his team are the main soccer conversation around the world today, well done I say. As a former Derby player we hated Leeds in my day. Congrats.

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Grant Wahl's avatar

It's a pretty cool story, right Alan? Love Jesse's energy, and obviously his team's.

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Andrei Markovits's avatar

LOVE IT!!!!! And this from an inveterate United fan who always disliked Leeds for traditional reasons!!!

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Grant Wahl's avatar

I'm really looking forward to the Leeds games against Man United this season!

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Andrei Markovits's avatar

me too!!!!

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Rich's avatar

Great thoughts. Marsch’s strategy is insightful if not brilliant. Seems (much) easier to score in transition before the opposition’s defense is in place than passing the ball sideways and backwards to make sure your team is in perfect formation before your team starts its attack (which some clubs still do).

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Grant Wahl's avatar

Many of the best teams still do it that way. The word you hear most often from Guardiola teams is "control." They want to completely control games, and they do that with possession. (Though obviously they have the talent to strike quickly too.)

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