MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

Ethan Jones5 said:Looks clear to me. He jumps from a blatant offside position; there's nothing controversial about it. If he hadn't gone for the ball, fine, but once he jumps, it's textbook offside.

I wouldn't go that far regarding Istra. They've picked up some damn good players. If Erceg hadn't pulled off what he did, we'd be laughing at them right now.

As for Varazdin, yeah. A lot of those guys play that slow, old-school style of soccer. But if you get caught up in their tempo, they're freaking dangerous.

Let’s be real—these aren't "tactical geniuses," they're just second-tier players who look decent on paper. You look at the roster—Postonjski, Kolaric, Urata, Pellumbi, Ba, Elezi, Sego, Jelenic, and even that washed-up Brodic—it’s all mid-level stuff. On paper, this squad is basically playing at the level of an Inter Miami reserve side or some minor league outfit from the Midwest.

The best thing about Varaždin right now isn't a player—it's Coach Kovacevic. He’s managed to turn a pile of scraps into a gourmet meal, and anyone who falls into his trap ends up getting eaten alive.

Hey, greetings everyone. Honestly, if someone starts calling you Bozo, there's a 90% chance you're headed straight for a career as a clown—but this guy actually managed to make it as a pro athlete instead.

boldbadger1 said:Let’s be real—these aren't "tactical geniuses," they're just second-tier players who look decent on paper. You look at the roster—Postonjski, Kolaric, Urata, Pellumbi, Ba, Elezi, Sego, Jelenic, and even that washed-up Brodic—it’s all mid-level stuff. On paper, this squad is basically playing at the level of an Inter Miami reserve side or some minor league outfit from the Midwest.

The best thing about Varaždin right now isn't a player—it's Coach Kovacevic. He’s managed to turn a pile of scraps into a gourmet meal, and anyone who falls into his trap ends up getting eaten alive.

I wouldn't put Postonjski in that category, though. It's hard to say how he'll be once he's fully recovered, but before the injury, the guy was playing like a tactical genius.☕

stormyangler32 said:Hey, greetings everyone. Honestly, if someone starts calling you Bozo, there's a 90% chance you're headed straight for a career as a clown—but this guy actually managed to make it as a pro athlete instead.

It sounds like something a commentator would say, but Bozo is actually 😬

Ethan Jones5 said:I wouldn't put Postonjski in that category, though. It's hard to say how he'll be once he's fully recovered, but before the injury, the guy was playing like a tactical genius.☕

No, you just don't get it. Look, they all play great now, sure, but before that match against Varaždin, they were absolutely nothing. It was only after joining Kovacevic's system that they actually became something—or, more accurately, finally hit their ceiling.

Before his injury, Postonjski was easily the best defensive midfielder in the league; I mean, honestly, he was neck-and-neck with Misic in terms of pure impact.

boldbadger1 said:It sounds like something a commentator would say, but Bozo is actually 😬

So instead of some clown, they just throw an influencer in there... 😁

Thanks for the expert analysis, but there was absolutely no reason to wait until the 94th minute to pull out that sixth yellow card...

boldbadger1 said:No, you just don't get it. Look, they all play great now, sure, but before that match against Varaždin, they were absolutely nothing. It was only after joining Kovacevic's system that they actually became something—or, more accurately, finally hit their ceiling.

Before his injury, Postonjski was easily the best defensive midfielder in the league; I mean, honestly, he was neck-and-neck with Misic in terms of pure impact.

I don't know, I don't see much of a distinct coaching style or any set patterns from the Varaždin squad. To me, they look like a team that just walks out of the locker room after Kovac gives them a "hey guys, let's just go out there and wing it" speech.😁

They absolutely crushed those guys from Tupola, both on the field and up in the stands.

SOPIC: "It’s just that classic mentality we have over here—you know, how things always work. They’re gonna spend the whole bus ride getting hammered, completely oblivious to the fact that practice doesn't even start until 1 AM once we roll into Greenwich."
REPORTER: "Wait, you're saying practice starts at 1 in the morning?!
SOPIC:"Exactly. Because obviously, they’ll be too busy getting wasted on the bus to worry about anything else."

🤣🤣

Fireworks really do bleed too much energy.

Sopić after the game.😁

I actually feel bad for that clumsy reporter out there having to deal with interviewees like these.🤣

So, looking at the upcoming schedule—Gorica is facing off against Dinamo, while Sibenik takes on Hajduk... man, it would be wild if both those games ended up being deciding matches for the relegation battle. I can't help but wonder if we're about to see some absolute chaos or maybe even some games getting postponed if things get too intense.

stormyangler32 said:SOPIC: "It’s just that classic mentality we have over here—you know, how things always work. They’re gonna spend the whole bus ride getting hammered, completely oblivious to the fact that practice doesn't even start until 1 AM once we roll into Greenwich."
REPORTER: "Wait, you're saying practice starts at 1 in the morning?!
SOPIC:"Exactly. Because obviously, they’ll be too busy getting wasted on the bus to worry about anything else."

🤣🤣

🙏 🙏

stormyangler32 said:So, looking at the upcoming schedule—Gorica is facing off against Dinamo, while Sibenik takes on Hajduk... man, it would be wild if both those games ended up being deciding matches for the relegation battle. I can't help but wonder if we're about to see some absolute chaos or maybe even some games getting postponed if things get too intense.

To who? To the highlights crew?🤣

I’d love to see them holding a lead until the 95th minute—only to collapse so miserably that even the most incompetent coaches in the league would be embarrassed by them.

Ethan Jones5 said:Yet another top-tier prediction from our buddy bluebison47☕

I mean, come on, you were actually way closer to the final score than that 4-0 call you made earlier. 😬

stormyangler32 said:SOPIC: "It’s just that classic mentality we have over here—you know, how things always work. They’re gonna spend the whole bus ride getting hammered, completely oblivious to the fact that practice doesn't even start until 1 AM once we roll into Greenwich."
REPORTER: "Wait, you're saying practice starts at 1 in the morning?!
SOPIC:"Exactly. Because obviously, they’ll be too busy getting wasted on the bus to worry about anything else."

🤣🤣

Now this is a coach who actually understands how people work.☕

Gregory Ramos3 said:I mean, come on, you were actually way closer to the final score than that 4-0 call you made earlier. 😬

So, did it end up being a four-goal blowout or what?☕

Even if one were to undergo rigorous training for two full years, 🤣

I’m pretty sure Sopić was the only one there who actually had a drink in his hand--maybe even more than just one, if you ask me.😁

Alright, let’s talk about Sopić. He’s always been that guy, hasn't he? From the moment I can remember, he's had that intense, focused stare—completely locked in. He’s one of those teammates you know you can lean on no matter what. There’s zero lack of backbone there.

As for the club, I actually think Gorica is a solid outfit. Honestly, I’m pretty easygoing about teams like Belupo too, so maybe my take isn't the most profound, but hear me out. Ever since they stepped up to the big leagues, they've truly held their own. They’ve brought some fresh energy to the table, they fight hard, and they certainly aren't just drifting along aimlessly. It would be a real shame to see them relegated; even during their more chaotic seasons, their roster hasn't been inherently destined for failure. They still have a wealth of top-tier talent. But you know how it goes—a rocky start, organizational hiccups, a bit of aimless wandering, and suddenly you're fighting just to keep your head above water.

Now, let’s be clear: I’d feel just as bad seeing Šibenik go, though for entirely different reasons. To me, they’ve always been a constant. They haven't changed much since the 90s. Football-wise, they aren't exactly a powerhouse—I rarely find myself itching to catch one of their matches—but you have to respect their sheer survival instinct. They’ve managed to endure while existing in an environment that feels like scorched earth for everyone else, with one notable exception. While teams like Zadar or RNK Split have effectively passed into history, this entire region—a massive area of millions where people live quite comfortably—has the potential for so many more clubs to thrive. If Šibenik drops out, we risk being left with just one single representative in a region that deserves so much more.
If that's the reality of the situation, and if you folks from the coast are genuinely content with that outcome, then who am I to pass judgment?