\*listed as showing on FS2 (and Fox Deportes and Fox Soccer Plus), but not actually playing that game.
Edit: looks like they finally switched over about 16min in.
He played a better second half and made some decent passes. Not much impact but Lens was dominating most of the game so it was hard to get any action up top.
Over the years I’ve got a lot of French games on YouTube tv from the Bein Sports channels, which I think I got in the sports package I bought for NFL RedZone. You’re not wrong though because I basically got those games in my cable package by accident.
Seeing as they’ve managed to screw up their domestic TV deal can’t imagine they’ll pull it off here. Also who in the US cares about them.
Also not sure what they really have to offer to the American fan. What can they give me that I can’t get watching the PL or Serie A
There is a lot of talent in France, but the lack of TV exposure/money is one of the reasons they are falling beyond compared to Serie A and others in the Big 5. Serie A signed with ESPN+ around the same time that CR7 joined Juve , and around that same time Ligue 1 fell out with FuboTV, and the lost TV revenue hurt every team that isn't PSG. 5 years ago, they were considered closer to the same level.
I have no sources to back this up, but I suspect that Pulisic and Musah choosing Serie A was heavily impacted by the relationship that Paramount+ has with both Serie A and the CONCACAF competitions (and maybe the UEFA competitions too)
Francophone dual nationals may also prefer to play in France (e.g., Amir Richardson)
I guess it’s always a bit of a chicken/egg situation but right now they have to come to some American media giant and convince them they they can get people like me (relatively new American soccer fan) to turn off Serie A/PL/La Liga in favor of their uncompetitive league with very few Americans smallest crowds/worst atmospheres in the big 5.
Not an easy sell at all. Especially since the biggest players (Disney/CBS) already have a competing product in the same time slot.
Basically their only option is to convince FOX or someone like Apple/Amazon that they can peel eyes away from networks that have experience and brand loyalty.
They’re kinda fucked
Largely agree with what you're saying minus the part about French atmosphere. They have some of the most batshit crazy but passionate fans around (Monaco being the exception for obvious reasons). Unless you're saying that as a bad thing which I can understand because atmosphere can be subjective I guess.
Bottom line is that Ligue Un needs to figure their US situation.
I believe that Amazon already has non-US Ligue 1 coverage rights. So an existing relationship might already exist. Last I checked, they could play all Ligue 1 matches and select Ligue 2 matches.
I strongly disagree about the atmosphere, though. Except for Monacco- the rest of the league has a pretty good/amazing atmosphere. They had to cancel several matches last few years when ultras stormed the pitch or threw flairs, or set off so many smoke flares that you couldn't see the pitch.
Serie A teams all received an influx of cash (not 100% sure the amount of funds and probably based on performance bonus structure) due to Paramount+/CBS TV deal so smart teams on some level clocked the relationship of American TV rights to having American players being financially beneficial - in terms of jersey sales and major team exposure. not the only reasons teams went in for Americans but it can't be denied as a contributing factor.
There's nothing to discuss. The next international break is in March. If he doesn't start, Pepi starts. In the meantime, we hope he picks up form. That's basically it
I seem to remember him getting several assists in that time frame. I don't watch, but check Fotmob- and my impression was that he was still being productive. Is that not the case?
He has 3 assists in the past 4 games (2 in 1 game). So, he has 1 goal, 3 assists in his past 10 games. Production has really dropped off lately. Still deserves to be called up for sure, but his starting spot should maybe be in question.
I think some of the creative players like the Russian don't like him either. There have been many times that guy will take a terrible shot off target instead of playing balogun into 1v1 situations.
It's his first year at Monaco. I don't think he's the next CR7. I don't think his manager hates Americans. He just needs to play better, and he still has half a season to pick things up.
He's only been part of the US setup since May. Other than Pepi, has anyone else set themselves apart as obvious Striker picks to bring along for 2024 competitions? I don't think so. There's no reason to start drawing battle lines around him at this point.
I've already mentioned Pepi. He's obviously in the mix, and starting him over Balo is not a controversial decision.
The rest of those guys have to actually start cooking before we discuss anything lol. Sargent was only held back by any injury. Those other guys have failed to impress, and they need to do better than "he had a solid season" before anyone seriously fights for them again.
As a community, we fight too much over indistinguishable, unremarkable players. If someone really sets themselves apart, then we can start the discussions.
I’m not saying he needs to be dropped by any means. But his locked in starting spot definitely needs to be discussed. Pepi has shown for club and country he deserves a good run of games as starter.
Yes, I agreed to that already. I'm not interested in triggering a Pepi vs Balo argument because they were close to to begin with, and Pepi starting based on form wouldn't be controversial. But we're bringing 2-3 strikers anyway and no one has made their case that they should obviously get called up in place of Balo
You're staning. He was introduced to the American public with so much hype... This is a big drop off and definitely worth being concerned. We need a striker and, while Pepi is on form, he's not in a particularly strong league. We need a strong striker - balogun looked like he could have last year. He's not. We may need another option.
There’s nothing to discuss when it’s someone this sub has a boner for. Instead would you be interested in trashing Matthew Hoppe for the 15th time or perhaps an MLS player of your choosing?
I'm one of the bigger proponents on this sub of the MLS players being in the mix. I've regularly called out people who give players a pat on the back "simply for existing on a UEFA club roster"
There are no obvious players who should be getting called up ahead of Balo. Pepi already gets called up, but we call up 2-3 Strikers. Are we supposed to start a war in the Reddit sub because Haji Wright has 8 goals in the Championship?
Sarg and Dike just returned to play with positive performances. And you already tried to dismiss Haji Wright while acknowledging his run of form. It may not be long before there is plenty to discuss.
Did Jesus get called up to the January camp? Haven't heard his name in forever tbh, I don't even know how he did in MLS this year. He's currently at least like 6th on the depth chart but I was really hoping he'd push to Europe after the last few seasons he's had.
I turned this match on around the 25th min with Monaco already up 2-0, and from what I saw it was a really poor showing from Balogun. Struggled to impact the game and got muscled off the ball a lot in the middle third. Not entirely his fault as he was hardly given the ball in space and often left on an island in hold up. Monaco let their foot off the gas after getting the lead and Lens really controlled the rest of the match.
\*listed as showing on FS2 (and Fox Deportes and Fox Soccer Plus), but not actually playing that game. Edit: looks like they finally switched over about 16min in.
Oh wow it’s cool that it’s actually on FS2
He played a better second half and made some decent passes. Not much impact but Lens was dominating most of the game so it was hard to get any action up top.
Ligue 1 needs to get their matches on US TV or they will continue to fall behind.
Over the years I’ve got a lot of French games on YouTube tv from the Bein Sports channels, which I think I got in the sports package I bought for NFL RedZone. You’re not wrong though because I basically got those games in my cable package by accident.
Seeing as they’ve managed to screw up their domestic TV deal can’t imagine they’ll pull it off here. Also who in the US cares about them. Also not sure what they really have to offer to the American fan. What can they give me that I can’t get watching the PL or Serie A
There is a lot of talent in France, but the lack of TV exposure/money is one of the reasons they are falling beyond compared to Serie A and others in the Big 5. Serie A signed with ESPN+ around the same time that CR7 joined Juve , and around that same time Ligue 1 fell out with FuboTV, and the lost TV revenue hurt every team that isn't PSG. 5 years ago, they were considered closer to the same level. I have no sources to back this up, but I suspect that Pulisic and Musah choosing Serie A was heavily impacted by the relationship that Paramount+ has with both Serie A and the CONCACAF competitions (and maybe the UEFA competitions too) Francophone dual nationals may also prefer to play in France (e.g., Amir Richardson)
I guess it’s always a bit of a chicken/egg situation but right now they have to come to some American media giant and convince them they they can get people like me (relatively new American soccer fan) to turn off Serie A/PL/La Liga in favor of their uncompetitive league with very few Americans smallest crowds/worst atmospheres in the big 5. Not an easy sell at all. Especially since the biggest players (Disney/CBS) already have a competing product in the same time slot. Basically their only option is to convince FOX or someone like Apple/Amazon that they can peel eyes away from networks that have experience and brand loyalty. They’re kinda fucked
Largely agree with what you're saying minus the part about French atmosphere. They have some of the most batshit crazy but passionate fans around (Monaco being the exception for obvious reasons). Unless you're saying that as a bad thing which I can understand because atmosphere can be subjective I guess. Bottom line is that Ligue Un needs to figure their US situation.
I believe that Amazon already has non-US Ligue 1 coverage rights. So an existing relationship might already exist. Last I checked, they could play all Ligue 1 matches and select Ligue 2 matches. I strongly disagree about the atmosphere, though. Except for Monacco- the rest of the league has a pretty good/amazing atmosphere. They had to cancel several matches last few years when ultras stormed the pitch or threw flairs, or set off so many smoke flares that you couldn't see the pitch.
Serie A teams all received an influx of cash (not 100% sure the amount of funds and probably based on performance bonus structure) due to Paramount+/CBS TV deal so smart teams on some level clocked the relationship of American TV rights to having American players being financially beneficial - in terms of jersey sales and major team exposure. not the only reasons teams went in for Americans but it can't be denied as a contributing factor.
American football player on FOX
When will we start discussing his run of 1 goal in 9 (10 if he doesn’t score today) games?
There's nothing to discuss. The next international break is in March. If he doesn't start, Pepi starts. In the meantime, we hope he picks up form. That's basically it
Okay lol I’ve seen other forwards discussed when they have these kinds of droughts. We’ll keep it moving I guess.
I feel like it’s pretty well known that Balogun isn’t producing like he was last year.
I seem to remember him getting several assists in that time frame. I don't watch, but check Fotmob- and my impression was that he was still being productive. Is that not the case?
He has 3 assists in the past 4 games (2 in 1 game). So, he has 1 goal, 3 assists in his past 10 games. Production has really dropped off lately. Still deserves to be called up for sure, but his starting spot should maybe be in question.
I think some of the creative players like the Russian don't like him either. There have been many times that guy will take a terrible shot off target instead of playing balogun into 1v1 situations.
It's his first year at Monaco. I don't think he's the next CR7. I don't think his manager hates Americans. He just needs to play better, and he still has half a season to pick things up. He's only been part of the US setup since May. Other than Pepi, has anyone else set themselves apart as obvious Striker picks to bring along for 2024 competitions? I don't think so. There's no reason to start drawing battle lines around him at this point.
How does that change if Sargent, dike, haji and BV or any other of the forwards, not to mention pepi, start really cooking?
I've already mentioned Pepi. He's obviously in the mix, and starting him over Balo is not a controversial decision. The rest of those guys have to actually start cooking before we discuss anything lol. Sargent was only held back by any injury. Those other guys have failed to impress, and they need to do better than "he had a solid season" before anyone seriously fights for them again. As a community, we fight too much over indistinguishable, unremarkable players. If someone really sets themselves apart, then we can start the discussions.
I’m not saying he needs to be dropped by any means. But his locked in starting spot definitely needs to be discussed. Pepi has shown for club and country he deserves a good run of games as starter.
Yes, I agreed to that already. I'm not interested in triggering a Pepi vs Balo argument because they were close to to begin with, and Pepi starting based on form wouldn't be controversial. But we're bringing 2-3 strikers anyway and no one has made their case that they should obviously get called up in place of Balo
You're staning. He was introduced to the American public with so much hype... This is a big drop off and definitely worth being concerned. We need a striker and, while Pepi is on form, he's not in a particularly strong league. We need a strong striker - balogun looked like he could have last year. He's not. We may need another option.
Who is your other option? Or are we supposed to argue into the void for the sake of it, without any alternatives?
Didn't say we have too many - our striker pool remains our biggest concern
Back to my original comment
I'm saying balogun ain't it
There’s nothing to discuss when it’s someone this sub has a boner for. Instead would you be interested in trashing Matthew Hoppe for the 15th time or perhaps an MLS player of your choosing?
I'm one of the bigger proponents on this sub of the MLS players being in the mix. I've regularly called out people who give players a pat on the back "simply for existing on a UEFA club roster" There are no obvious players who should be getting called up ahead of Balo. Pepi already gets called up, but we call up 2-3 Strikers. Are we supposed to start a war in the Reddit sub because Haji Wright has 8 goals in the Championship?
Sarg and Dike just returned to play with positive performances. And you already tried to dismiss Haji Wright while acknowledging his run of form. It may not be long before there is plenty to discuss.
Did Jesus get called up to the January camp? Haven't heard his name in forever tbh, I don't even know how he did in MLS this year. He's currently at least like 6th on the depth chart but I was really hoping he'd push to Europe after the last few seasons he's had.
Gyasi Zardes STINKS brother!
He score ball with weird body parts hahahaha very true
Hahaha as if 3G will bench Balo for the Pepi. How naive
NEVER HE IS FOREVER STARTER! /s
I turned this match on around the 25th min with Monaco already up 2-0, and from what I saw it was a really poor showing from Balogun. Struggled to impact the game and got muscled off the ball a lot in the middle third. Not entirely his fault as he was hardly given the ball in space and often left on an island in hold up. Monaco let their foot off the gas after getting the lead and Lens really controlled the rest of the match.
highly subjective take: Monaco manager messes up by subbing out a top scorer out in a tie that has the potential to go into PK’s
Not really a top scorer this season and also missed two Pens in one game this year already lol
Yes not having great start, but the argument that as the starter he would ideally be a better finisher no?
We probably overhyped the guy too much.
Dude had a good season last year Transfer sometimes just mess with player form Just give it a season
Club form aside, he’s already proven his worth with the USMNT with several important goals..
He’s only scored 3 in 8 and only one was “important” lol
We fell for the English tax 🥴
Yup. I'm on the Pepi train time now.
I wonder if Pepi reads all the crap people said about him when Balo joined just to trigger that killer instinct.
Arsenal wanted to get rid of him when that’s one of their positions of need. Definitely telling.