The thing is, though, couldn't he do a bit more? At least in
by BillyGoat 
, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Monday, July 13, 2026, 07:13 (8 days ago) @ HCE
terms of off-ball movement? He's clearly athletic, and he understands the game. I'm sure he could do it -- at least sometimes, when his team really needs it. Based on the talent difference between his teammates and elite national teams, he will need to start doing that if he cares at all about his standing in soccer's pantheon.
I don't care if he plays any defense. And it doesn't matter if he can't create. He just doesn't seem complete in his role. He looked like Shaq, if Shaq just stood in the middle of the lane and let the defense surround him.
Complete thread:
- FU - Weekend Questions for our soccer-forward folks... -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 06:43
![[*]](themes/default/images/complete_thread.png "Open whole thread")
- I’ve been thinking (& reading) about this for a bit -
Mark,
2026-07-14, 05:37
- I was rooting pretty damn hard for Egypt. - Grantland, 2026-07-14, 06:23
- I can't recall where I read it but there's a few articles... -
Domer99,
2026-07-13, 13:28
- Some more links -
bobbywal,
2026-07-13, 14:05
- Is this another hot dog joke at my expense?
![[ [ No text ] ]](themes/default/images/no_text.png "Empty posting / no text")
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BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 14:07
- haha - bobbywal, 2026-07-14, 10:43
- this was funny. -
Grantland,
2026-07-14, 07:26
- Funny like how? Like I'm a clown? Like I amuse you? -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-14, 07:27
- O fuck. I'm sorry. Are you Italian? I didn't say you were -
Grantland,
2026-07-14, 07:31
- Lordy, I'm taking fire in multiple threads. Tough board. And -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-14, 07:43
- We only tease the ones we love. - Grantland, 2026-07-14, 08:08
- Lordy, I'm taking fire in multiple threads. Tough board. And -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-14, 07:43
- O fuck. I'm sorry. Are you Italian? I didn't say you were -
Grantland,
2026-07-14, 07:31
- Funny like how? Like I'm a clown? Like I amuse you?
- Is this another hot dog joke at my expense?
- Some more links -
bobbywal,
2026-07-13, 14:05
- Yes, that's what it's like to watch Haaland -
HCE,
2026-07-13, 07:05
- IMO, Haaland was also totally cooked -
hobbs,
2026-07-13, 07:24
- In fairness, maybe not just fatigue, either. The combination -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 07:57
- That's a really good point. -
hobbs,
2026-07-13, 08:26
- And storms had apparently just gone through, which only - BillyGoat, 2026-07-13, 09:05
- That's a really good point. -
hobbs,
2026-07-13, 08:26
- In fairness, maybe not just fatigue, either. The combination -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 07:57
- The thing is, though, couldn't he do a bit more? At least in -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 07:13
- HCE is exaggerating a bit. - PMan, 2026-07-13, 07:23
- IMO, Haaland was also totally cooked -
hobbs,
2026-07-13, 07:24
- I am less knowledgeable than you. -
Grantland,
2026-07-13, 06:54
- The Haaland push was a dumb move by him. He got baited -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 07:03
- Agreed. What about my more general q? Is it just -
Grantland,
2026-07-13, 07:18
- Yeah. It seems like there is incredible emphasis on nuances - BillyGoat, 2026-07-13, 07:23
- Agreed. What about my more general q? Is it just -
Grantland,
2026-07-13, 07:18
- The Haaland push was a dumb move by him. He got baited -
BillyGoat,
2026-07-13, 07:03
- I’ve been thinking (& reading) about this for a bit -
Mark,
2026-07-14, 05:37