KICK OFF |
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JAMES RODRIGUEZ'S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT ISSUES
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Let’s talk about James Rodriguez, who doesn’t believe in love....at least with teams. The Colombian playmaker has an unwavering loyalty to his national team. But his clubs? Not so much. James has played for six different clubs in the last six years. An all-but-sealed deal with Minnesota United will make it seven in seven. And the specifics are interesting. James should be among the highest-paid players in MLS, and nailed down to a multi-year deal. Instead, he’s here for way less, and just a few months' agreement. It reeks of a player setting up a temporary pre-World Cup situationship. But what’s behind this fling? And will it actually work? GOAL got way too deep into an extended metaphor about a footballer who just wants to play in the World Cup…
Hindle: “Welcome to football as a situationship, where both parties know what they want, everyone stays happy, and, crucially, no one leaves with any hard feelings. Yet for all of its contradictions, this is an ideal agreement. There isn't a lot of romance here. This is simply a convenient arrangement between two parties with specific needs. The good news? Those needs are complementary. Rodriguez wants to play football for the next few months to ensure that he is sharp for the World Cup. Minnesota need a star man to rally the side, sell a few kits, and give them an early-season boost. No one loses.”
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REFLECTING ON A WEIRD TRANSFER WINDOW
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It did truly feel like a dry January. It was an odd transfer window, where very few teams did the spend-big-retool thing that brings some real excitement. Instead, there was quite a bit of penny pinching going on. You had Endrick to Lyon here, Marc Guehi going to Man City there. Good deals? Sure. But nothing that can truly break the internet. Yet it still leaves us with some clear takeaways. Man City got their signings right - clear winner. Liverpool missed out on three separate targets - clear loser. Luckily, GOAL’s Mark Doyle was on top of things throughout and broke down the winners and losers of the window:
Doyle, on Liverpool: “When you factor into the equation that Liverpool are having to play midfielders at right back because Conor Bradley's campaign is over, Jeremie Frimpong is being plagued by hamstring problems and a late January move for Lutsharel Geertruida failed to come off, it's hard to be optimistic about their hopes of finishing in the top five of the Premier League - let alone winning a trophy. The bottom line is that Liverpool's squad is actually weaker now than it was when the window opened a month ago.”
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INSIDE ALEX FREEMAN’S MOVE TO VILLARREAL
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So, American readers may recognize Alex Freeman as the son of a guy who used to play the wrong kind of football (the type that involves helmets and throwing things). I’m not quite sure what any of that substantively means, but Freeman is good at the kind of football that involves feet. So good, in fact, that he has moved from Orlando City to La Liga powerhouse Villarreal, which is a pretty big deal. It’s been a bit of a wild ride, and GOAL’s Ryan Tolmich talked to him about it…
Freeman, to Tolmich: “It's kind of hard to comprehend. You know that things can change so quickly. A year ago, it was, 'Oh, I have to prove myself. Now, it's 'I've gotta take my level up another notch'. It's knowing I have to fight for my position, for a World Cup position. That switch, it's different. It's not the same, but I think it gives you more reason to push yourself. It's knowing that you have different expectations than you did before. I think it's good for me because not only did it help me grow up a little more, it helped me realize that life can change so quickly, so be grateful for every moment."
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CRYSTAL DUNN, ULTIMATE HYPE WOMAN (AND USWNT LEGEND)
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It was a sad day when Crystal Dunn announced her retirement. But it also made a little bit of sense. She is 33. She has played less and less every year. It is clear, at this point, that she doesn’t have a future with the USWNT. And so a seminal figure in the women’s game in the U.S. has walked away. Everyone is going to miss her. GOAL’s Celia Balf talked to some of the current USWNT crop about what Dunn meant to them…
Trinity Rodman, to Balf: “She was really good at connecting with younger players, but also having that relationship with older players, so setting the standard while also empathizing with the newer players. The Olympics were so much fun with her. And yeah, she's like, just like the cool aunt."
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RANKING MLS'S BEST...NO. 1 IS OBVIOUS
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Alright, so we know that Lionel Messi is the best player in MLS. If you don’t agree there, then it might be best to stop reading right here (kidding, please keep reading). But who comes after him? Turns out there’s a lot of talent spread around the league these days, with plenty of teams either willing to spend big or well-equipped enough to develop talent. So, if you were to make, say, a top 25, how would you fill out spots 2-25? There are a few obvious ones: Muller, Son, and Bouanga all spring to mind. But what about deeper cuts? GOAL ranked the best 25…
Hindle, on Messi: “Does this even need intellectualizing? Messi had the best season in MLS history. Ever. Irrefutably, undoubtedly, and perhaps entirely expectedly, the little Argentine absolutely dominated the league last year. His 48 goal contributions in 28 matches were the second most in league history, but achieved in fewer games than the previous mark. He also smashed pretty much every playoff record available, too.”
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BLACK PLAYERS FOR CHANGE CONTINUES TO PUT IN THE WORK
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Black Players for Change was born in the worst of circumstances. The non-profit organization started as a discussion group that lobbied MLS after the killing of George Floyd. That was almost six years ago, and they have stuck around. Now, it’s time to think about the World Cup, the future, and how this thing can last for generations. As part of its Black History Month coverage, GOAL talked to Allen Hopkins, Executive Director of Black Players for Change, about what’s next for the organization…
Hopkins, to Hindle: “We're still doing the work. And I think in a climate, and atmosphere in environments, that are what they are, I think it's a testament to how the organization has started, stayed, and has now built new momentum that's going to allow it to be sustainable for a lot longer now.”
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VIDEO REVIEW |
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Poetry in motion from Dom Solanke…
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AROUND THE GROUNDS |
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A few other things you need to know to impress your pals at the bar, ruin your social feed or generally be a snob about this sport:
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THE WORLD CUP IS ALMOST HERE! |
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Want to know where to learn pretty much everything you could possibly need to know about the World Cup? Turns out we’ve provided it with the snappily named World Cup HQ. Enjoy. |
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CHECKING THE MONITOR |
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Sometimes you’re getting fouled so blatantly that all you can do is laugh
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POSTMATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
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Let’s build France’s World Cup roster…
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MATCHES NOT TO MISS |
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February 7: Premier League, Man United vs. Tottenham, 7:30 a.m. — USA Network
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February 8: Premier League, Liverpool vs. Man City, 11:30 a.m. — Peacock
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February 8: Ligue 1, PSG vs. Marseille, 2:45 p.m. — beIN Sports
- February 8: La Liga, Real Madrid vs. Valencia, 3 p.m. — ESPN+
That’s all for this edition of The Rondo. Irritate me directly with questions/comments/insights/incorrect opinions @tom_Hindle_
Cheers for reading! |
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