Stephen Thomas

Data and AI Professional. Supporter of Set Piece FC and PTFC. Sad Vikings fan. Golden Gopher at heart. Oregonian by choice.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@ILongoria_96 @gmijaresv Ricardo Pepi doesn't like his Mexican roots? His entire family roots for Mexico and he'd have happily played for them we just gave him the biggest opportunity the quickest.

This is a sad, self-own of a post.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 and man, I'm sorry to say, but Italy has gone from excellent to complete shit.

3 missed World Cups man.

It's not like Beating Bosnia was some massive task. You didn't have to go thru a major NT.

The league is in decline. Deeply in debt. Horrible stadium economics.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Once again, we are not. MLS is RAPIDLY improving internal talent development. Both selling on to Europe, and internal.

MLS is focused on youth development AND increasing externeal spend.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Once those investments are out of the way, and revenue continues to grow, there's only one area left to invest heavily: players.

It's coming.

It's going to be faster than you think.

Just this season MLS has several very solid teenagers playing real minutes + record transfers.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Here's what's happening.

MLS owners have been throwing money at infrastructure. Building stadiums and academies. With NYCFC's new Queens stadium (self funded) and Chicago's being built, there are basically 3 clubs in less than solid stadium situations (NER, SEA, VAN).

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Because MLS is ALSO investing in incomings, heavily.

Go look at the net spend in Trasnfermarkt for Serie A and MLS.

Serie A has a MUCH higher volume, but the total figure?

It'll surprise you.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 This was the worst season Serie A has basically ever had in Europe. The idea that they're going to take that decline head on by... investing less in transfers tells you one thing CLEARLY.

Serie A will continue to decline.

Again, crushing debt, 3b worth. Horrid stadium econ.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 That's not what we're comparing, is it?

We're comparing trajectory of leagues and National Teams.

Serie A is in a massive debt crisis while MLS and USL are growing rapidly.

The economics of Italian soccer have, frankly, never been in a worse state.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 The VAST majority of professional MLS players that came through the academy system, came through via the free to play system. Most of them DID play in MLS Next, but you don't really understand what that means.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@DumpChase21 IMO this is VERY likely to be our formation against good teams.

I think we may we may see Wes in the double pivot with Tillman starting next to Puli against bunkering sides like Australia.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 LOL, every single MLS academy is free to play. It's rapidly expanding, and we're setting records YoY in producing talent sold to Europe, and playing MLS minutes.

Serie A clubs are under a massive debt crunch playing in rented out stadiums from the 1980s.

You are ignorant.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@BibleBaggins46 We didn't need to use modern slavery to build our stadiums. We already had them all.

We didn't ban alcohol a month before the tournament.

I'm as anti-Trump as it gets, and unless you're an undocumented immigrant, not much has changed day to day for Americans or tourists.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@Paul_R_McDonald The reality is most Americans interested in soccer are actually rather knowledgeable, simply because it was a choice and not just something they were born into.

I take it back.

About half our fanbase got interested via FIFA and think the game is like Ultimate Team.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@MarioNawfal Why in the good fuck would Rogan do this? He's got unlimited money and unlimited freedom.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Can you? They can't even make the WC. You have to make it first.

Serie A is in decline, struggling, financially in deep shit. Net spend massively reduced vs. 5, 10 years ago.

US is massively improving domestically, youth development.

Italian NT has never been less talented.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@NSC_Guru I see people on my timeline hemming and hawing about supporting the USMNT because of Trump.

If there's a single national sporting culture that best represents America, it's a team full of the sons of immigrants and whiteboys from the burbs.

USMNT represents the best of USA.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@hgeyeyye @Jadentheman1 Matters for fuck all when you miss WCs with consistency.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@ShedainaD I would suspect Malik or Wes are starting next to Puli.

Ream is very likely starting at least the first two group matches against defensive opponents.

I know this will upset you all, but it's VERY likely we see a lot of Berhalter next to Adams.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@ColbyA_10 @ShedainaD Ream will very likely start against opponents like Paraguay and Australia that are very likely to be setting up in a low/mid block and defending in numbers. Against Turkey and knockout sides, I suspect we'll see Trusty there more often.

[Stephen Thomas @SkyPointSteve]

@Timebandit_NSC @rvillicana7 You got owned so hard that you've literally been community noted.

Unless you were born in the 1960s and grasp on to an era where the US didn't even have a D1 league, there's very little glory to shout loud and proud about.