MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

hiddencyclist112 said:So, who’s your pick: Mierez or Petković?

If you had to make an instant decision right now—the kind of split-second choice that jolts you awake at 3:00 AM—who would it be?

Petković, no question about it.
Even with all his flaws and that annoying attitude he carries on the field...
When he’s having one of those days, he can do so much more than Mierez ever could.

Michael Jackson10 said:Impossible choice: Mierrez wants to but doesn't know how, while Petković knows how but just won't do it.

It seems we have hit a bit of a linguistic wall here, doesn't it? I find myself staring at that phrase, "Ok, Mierez to znači," wondering exactly where our conversation drifted. Are we attempting to decode a specific term, or perhaps navigating a bit of slang that hasn't quite made its way into my lexicon yet? I truly want to follow your train of thought, but without a little more context, I feel like I'm trying to read a map in the middle of a fog. What exactly are we defining here? If you could provide a bit more detail or clarify the intended meaning, I would be absolutely delighted to dive into a proper discussion with you. What is the heart of the matter? 👍

I have to say, I am a massive admirer of El Toro. There is something truly captivating about that raw hunger, that relentless work ethic, and that sheer force of will he displays on the field. It’s honestly fascinating to watch how much physical effort he can squeeze out of himself when the pressure is on. And look, I simply cannot bring myself to agree with anyone suggesting he doesn't "get it." How can we pretend he’s some unknown quantity? This is a player who was the league's top scorer just two seasons ago—Ramon certainly isn't some unproven underdog or a question mark. Does he need a structured system? Absolutely. Does he need the team to adapt to his style? Of course. But make no mistake: he is the kind of man who will deliver if you give him the right platform. If you provide the tactical framework, his fighting spirit, his commitment to the squad, and those crucial defensive contributions, he will perform. Beyond the physicality, his high football IQ is exceptional, and isn't mental sharpness just as vital an asset to any striker's arsenal as pure speed or strength?

Michael Jackson10 said:Impossible choice: Mierrez wants to but doesn't know how, while Petković knows how but just won't do it.

Honestly, that’s a pretty spot-on way to put both of them. 👍 😁

Wow, just look at those stunning jerseys in the stands! 👍

hiddencyclist112 said:It seems we have hit a bit of a linguistic wall here, doesn't it? I find myself staring at that phrase, "Ok, Mierez to znači," wondering exactly where our conversation drifted. Are we attempting to decode a specific term, or perhaps navigating a bit of slang that hasn't quite made its way into my lexicon yet? I truly want to follow your train of thought, but without a little more context, I feel like I'm trying to read a map in the middle of a fog. What exactly are we defining here? If you could provide a bit more detail or clarify the intended meaning, I would be absolutely delighted to dive into a proper discussion with you. What is the heart of the matter? 👍

I have to say, I am a massive admirer of El Toro. There is something truly captivating about that raw hunger, that relentless work ethic, and that sheer force of will he displays on the field. It’s honestly fascinating to watch how much physical effort he can squeeze out of himself when the pressure is on. And look, I simply cannot bring myself to agree with anyone suggesting he doesn't "get it." How can we pretend he’s some unknown quantity? This is a player who was the league's top scorer just two seasons ago—Ramon certainly isn't some unproven underdog or a question mark. Does he need a structured system? Absolutely. Does he need the team to adapt to his style? Of course. But make no mistake: he is the kind of man who will deliver if you give him the right platform. If you provide the tactical framework, his fighting spirit, his commitment to the squad, and those crucial defensive contributions, he will perform. Beyond the physicality, his high football IQ is exceptional, and isn't mental sharpness just as vital an asset to any striker's arsenal as pure speed or strength?

I actually see it the other way around. When Petković is on his game, he makes everyone else better...
So... if you're talking about tailoring the system to fit a player, Petković is worth way more to us....
One good season isn't a metric for me; every mid-tier team in the US has stars like that. Mierez is an absolute beast... but then again, Sahiti is a wild horse too, and half the time he looks lost on the field.

How did Thomas mess up the lineup and lose all our depth just because he pulled Jurčević out? Honestly, Lovrić is one of those overpriced busts you see all the time.

After that disgraceful blunder, he shouldn't be allowed on the field ever again... the man is nothing more than a fraud—and this entire group actually welcomed him with open arms🤣

I guess Kmenad really rattled Dinamo by bringing that heavy hitter on board.

Let’s actually hear it then—industrial-grade furnaces right in the heart of downtown Chicago. ☕

And they’re doing it in collaboration with the central grandstand. Good grief, folks...

Which goal 🙏

How did he even get a starting spot?—sitting on some cheap, overpriced sofa in the dugout almost every game 🤣one of the absolute worst keepers I've ever seen

It would be absolutely preposterous if the folks from Pula actually started rooting for Rijekka in this final round, just to see them take down Osijek so they could snag a spot in Europe.

In the final round, Osijek and Rijeka are going head-to-head to decide who grabs that second spot in Europe—since whoever wins gets a ticket to face either Istria or Varaždin. Actually, looking at the standings... maybe they both go. ☕

boldbadger1 said:In the final round, Osijek and Rijeka are going head-to-head to decide who grabs that second spot in Europe—since whoever wins gets a ticket to face either Istria or Varaždin. Actually, looking at the standings... maybe they both go. ☕

Well, Indianapolis would have to beat Portland first, wouldn't they?

Thomas Hayes said:Well, Indianapolis would have to beat Portland first, wouldn't they?

Oh, absolutely. And once they've done that—naturally—they'll move right on to the LA Galaxy, and finally wrap things up against the Portland Timbers.

boldbadger1 said:Oh, absolutely. And once they've done that—naturally—they'll move right on to the LA Galaxy, and finally wrap things up against the Portland Timbers.

And then the little guy just wraps up the chocolate bar😁
I’d love to see Varaždin make it into European competition, but let's be real—it's much more likely that Osijek or Rijeka will grab those spots
The debated Tomas really pulled things together for Osijek, and Rijeka has been solid all spring
The only thing working in Varaždin's favor is that Rijeka has to face Dinamo right after them—so if Rijeka slips up twice, Varaždin might actually have a shot at catching up

Thomas Hayes said:And then the little guy just wraps up the chocolate bar😁
I’d love to see Varaždin make it into European competition, but let's be real—it's much more likely that Osijek or Rijeka will grab those spots
The debated Tomas really pulled things together for Osijek, and Rijeka has been solid all spring
The only thing working in Varaždin's favor is that Rijeka has to face Dinamo right after them—so if Rijeka slips up twice, Varaždin might actually have a shot at catching up

Forget about what's "realistic"—this is football, for heaven's sake. If everything were predictable, every league would just be a pre-written formula.

I don't see any reason why Varaždin shouldn't crush Rijeka at home this Sunday; even Istra managed to beat them away from home in front of a packed stadium.

boldbadger1 said:Forget about what's "realistic"—this is football, for heaven's sake. If everything were predictable, every league would just be a pre-written formula.

I don't see any reason why Varaždin shouldn't crush Rijeka at home this Sunday; even Istra managed to beat them away from home in front of a packed stadium.

And let's be real, the home side hasn't exactly been playing like champions lately either.
They only just scraped a win against the bottom-of-the-table team, and before that, they were stuck in a pretty rough slump.

Bees in a tiny little hole ☕

Thomas Hayes said:And let's be real, the home side hasn't exactly been playing like champions lately either.
They only just scraped a win against the bottom-of-the-table team, and before that, they were stuck in a pretty rough slump.

Well, even that bottom-tier team wasn't playing great, which is exactly how they managed to knock Dinamo out of the Cup.