Hot Take: Vancouver Whitecaps are the best in the west CURRENTLY. I am aware, that as a caps fan, this can change easily. I know all too well. Yet the form we have been on, is nothing less of amazing. Call me biased, call me delusional, but Gauld has be one of, if not THE best player in the MLS. 3 CANMNT players, you could include Ali as a 4th, Speaking of which, Ahmed is so slept on. I don't care, he is one of the best young players in the league. Berhalter, Cubas, Blackmon, etc. have all great defensive features. The one small issue might be more depth in the attack. Brian White would have over 20 goals if he was just a smidge bit better at finishing. If we buy a good striker, Gauld will cook. Don't sleep on the Whitecaps. We ARE the dark horses in this last stretch.
Hot Take: You are sleeping on Brian White. Per ASA, this season he has 11 G on 14.44 xG. His xG+xA (17.86) is good for fifth in the league, behind his running mate Gauld (VAN, 19.38), Mukhtar (NSH, 18.93), Acosta (CIN, 18.35), Cucho (CLB, 18.21). Looking at American Soccer Analysis's goals added (g+) model, White is first in the league. Most of his goal-positive contribution comes from his ability to receive the ball, serving as an outlet and positioning himself in good areas of the field, making good runs. (He's absolutely miles ahead of everyone else this season in this category. To put some perspective, only one player in the last 5 seasons has a higher level of goals added from receiving. Zlatan in 2019, LA, 30 goals scored. The only other player in the last 11 seasons? Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2014, NYRB, 27 goals scored. White still has 6 games left in 2023. Other top-but-slightly-worse-than-White receiving seasons of the last 11 seasons: Kei Kamara 2015, CLB, 22 goals. Ola Kamara 2018, LAG, 14 goals. Adam Buksa 2021, NE, 16 goals. Bradley Wright-Phillips (again) 2015, NYRB, 17 goals.) The guy is getting the ball in VERY GOOD spots. In fact he's elite at it. Also this season he's fourth in the league in g+ shooting, behind only Cucho (CLB), Bouanga (LAFC), and Almada (ATL). That's pretty good company. Show the man some love! Caps've got a great attacking duo. I'm gonna say it. Brian White Golden Boot.
I only watched the Portland portion but your comment in Claudio Bravo cannot defend is completely wrong. He has consistently been in the upper half of the league in different defensive metrics. Granted we need better metrics but the assumption that Bravo can't defend is wrong. Diego Chara is considered one of the best defensive midfield and he has 37 tackles while Bravo has 32, Bravo has 33 interceptions and so forth.
Probably not. It's not just Messi, the entire team is tired both mentally and physically. Don't forget most of them don't have a lot of experience in back-to-back matches.
Personally I just love how yall Doubt Bongi🇿🇦 only for him to score a brace against LAFC😂😂, let's not forget the only person to outscore him in leagues cup was messi. Still more to come just watch!!!!
For LAFC I think the Galaxy have a seriously imbalanced squad riddled with injuries has a lot to do with the LAFC looking like their old selves. Galaxy were doing okay until Mavinga's terrible back pass gifted them their third goal. Wouldn't be surprised to see them return to their slump in form on Wednesday.
They were not doing okay, they had two single moments where they took advantage of LAFC's lapse in concentration (mostly thanks to the keeper who had spent over a year out up until yesterday). Bond might have let 4 in but he had to save a few throughout the game.
@@footyanalytics305 I mean the score was 2-2 before that back pass and I didn’t see LAFC looking that dangerous before it happened. Galaxy could have got out of there with a draw or maybe even snuck in a third as LAFC opened up to go for the winner, but that massive unforced error really killed the morale of the team and it’s not surprising Galaxy gave up a 4th before the match was over.
Doyle corrected Reed Baker-Whiting to “Reed Whiting-Baker”. Gass was right and Doyle incorrectly corrected. Shame! Shame! Shame! I love Doyle, but do like him being wrong. He hates it and it doesn’t happen a lot.
it's messi he wouldn't play on turf. Him agreeing and affirming he has no problem with turf, it was him being modest gents. Even the team management wouldn't support the idea of him playing in harsh conditions of Atlanta
@@brando7266 he can play given the nature of the situation (playoffs), though, the recent game with Atlanta you can tell they were prepared to drop points. They have a final that they are preparing for.
