Ben Estes
@nbutyllithium.bsky.social
Inorganic chemistry professor 👨🔬🧪⚗️
Youth soccer coach x 2 ⚽🦖💙 ⚽🐺🩷
Tottenham Hotspur FC 🤍🇬🇧
One Knoxville SC 💙🧡💛🇺🇸
I'm here to connect with creative scientists, intelligent soccer fans, parents, teachers, writers, and interesting people.
Youth soccer coach x 2 ⚽🦖💙 ⚽🐺🩷
Tottenham Hotspur FC 🤍🇬🇧
One Knoxville SC 💙🧡💛🇺🇸
I'm here to connect with creative scientists, intelligent soccer fans, parents, teachers, writers, and interesting people.
I think the 442 💎 fits our squad very well aside from Bert/Kudus. Udogie & Porro provide offensive width. Tel & Johnson would be a good fit as part of a front 2 (but not together). Perhaps Odobert or Kudus could play in Xavi's 10 role, or we switch to a 433 when they sub in. Spence as RB cover only
November 29, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I think the 442 💎 fits our squad very well aside from Bert/Kudus. Udogie & Porro provide offensive width. Tel & Johnson would be a good fit as part of a front 2 (but not together). Perhaps Odobert or Kudus could play in Xavi's 10 role, or we switch to a 433 when they sub in. Spence as RB cover only
I like the 4-4-2 diamond. Porro and Udogie can shine in this system. Let's go!
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I like the 4-4-2 diamond. Porro and Udogie can shine in this system. Let's go!
Your work schedule is intense! I hope you enjoy your evening off!!
November 29, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Your work schedule is intense! I hope you enjoy your evening off!!
"if we have another league game with sub-0.2 xG, let's build a giant slingshot tethered to the stadium roof and try to launch him to the sun." I liked TF, I swear I did. My patience has since worn thin. I think I may be part of the "entitled", "impatient" fan base at the heart of Spurs problems. 😂
November 26, 2025 at 10:57 AM
"if we have another league game with sub-0.2 xG, let's build a giant slingshot tethered to the stadium roof and try to launch him to the sun." I liked TF, I swear I did. My patience has since worn thin. I think I may be part of the "entitled", "impatient" fan base at the heart of Spurs problems. 😂
From the day prior to the Chelsea loss to today, I have evolved from "we need to give him two or more years to show what he can do. Patient building is the key to success!" into...
November 26, 2025 at 10:57 AM
From the day prior to the Chelsea loss to today, I have evolved from "we need to give him two or more years to show what he can do. Patient building is the key to success!" into...
I'll be gone for the day (3pm kickoff here in eastern US). I can usually stay away from spoilers and arrive home without knowing the result. In those situations, I'll send a message to my local Spurs group chat asking if the game was in any way worth watching. I predict that tonight they'll say no.
November 26, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I'll be gone for the day (3pm kickoff here in eastern US). I can usually stay away from spoilers and arrive home without knowing the result. In those situations, I'll send a message to my local Spurs group chat asking if the game was in any way worth watching. I predict that tonight they'll say no.
I think he's most likely keeping the seat warm for Poch. Unless Frank figures it out, Dad's coming home in fall '26!
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I think he's most likely keeping the seat warm for Poch. Unless Frank figures it out, Dad's coming home in fall '26!
I do feel like he's most likely going to get the axe, but there's still a chance he can turn it around. Maybe we'll all be surprised with the style of play in a few months. I DOUBT IT but there's not much to be gained by not giving him a few more months to try.
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I do feel like he's most likely going to get the axe, but there's still a chance he can turn it around. Maybe we'll all be surprised with the style of play in a few months. I DOUBT IT but there's not much to be gained by not giving him a few more months to try.
Can I assume it's players wanting to try a higher level?? I hate to see so much talent leaving Knoxville, but if these great young players want to try a higher level, I would understand. I guess we'll have to see where everyone lands in order to make sense of it all. 😢
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Can I assume it's players wanting to try a higher level?? I hate to see so much talent leaving Knoxville, but if these great young players want to try a higher level, I would understand. I guess we'll have to see where everyone lands in order to make sense of it all. 😢
I don't blame the squad as much as the coach. I think he's picking the wrong midfield and not getting the best out of the ones he's picking, so there's no chance to connect the front three to the back four. It would be great if Maddison and Deki were here, but I think Xavi and Sarr could be okay.
November 24, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I don't blame the squad as much as the coach. I think he's picking the wrong midfield and not getting the best out of the ones he's picking, so there's no chance to connect the front three to the back four. It would be great if Maddison and Deki were here, but I think Xavi and Sarr could be okay.
I think we'll stumble along in tenth this year, possibly with an interim coach to finish the season, and bring Poch in for next season. I think TF has several more months to show progress, since no obvious candidate is waiting in the wings, but right now I'm not too optimistic that he'll succeed.
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I think we'll stumble along in tenth this year, possibly with an interim coach to finish the season, and bring Poch in for next season. I think TF has several more months to show progress, since no obvious candidate is waiting in the wings, but right now I'm not too optimistic that he'll succeed.
I agree that we have good defenders. We lack balance, which is why we concede goals. We force the defense to do too much because we have no possession or attack. As @nathanaclark.bsky.social says, you can't fix one without fixing both. I'll gain optimism when it looks like TF realizes this.
November 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I agree that we have good defenders. We lack balance, which is why we concede goals. We force the defense to do too much because we have no possession or attack. As @nathanaclark.bsky.social says, you can't fix one without fixing both. I'll gain optimism when it looks like TF realizes this.
Both USL-C and USL-1 had baseball field finals this year. There are lots of teams that have built stadia in recent years, with more in planning stages. I imagine this will be much less common in a few years.
November 23, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Both USL-C and USL-1 had baseball field finals this year. There are lots of teams that have built stadia in recent years, with more in planning stages. I imagine this will be much less common in a few years.
Did you catch what the commentator on CBS said? "Dick was in the right place at the right time!"
I laughed out loud because I'm still 12 years old.
I laughed out loud because I'm still 12 years old.
November 23, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Did you catch what the commentator on CBS said? "Dick was in the right place at the right time!"
I laughed out loud because I'm still 12 years old.
I laughed out loud because I'm still 12 years old.
It has been a rough day. I'm on 18 points with 3 left to play. 😭
November 22, 2025 at 10:53 PM
It has been a rough day. I'm on 18 points with 3 left to play. 😭
I assume you're talking about the #USL USL Championship final? 😉
It's been a bit cagey this far, but I think the RiverHounds will find a way through Tulsa's defense in the second half.
It's been a bit cagey this far, but I think the RiverHounds will find a way through Tulsa's defense in the second half.
November 22, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I assume you're talking about the #USL USL Championship final? 😉
It's been a bit cagey this far, but I think the RiverHounds will find a way through Tulsa's defense in the second half.
It's been a bit cagey this far, but I think the RiverHounds will find a way through Tulsa's defense in the second half.
VDV for Caicedo already, so it's Woltemade
November 22, 2025 at 3:45 PM
VDV for Caicedo already, so it's Woltemade
I've got Micky VDV coming in for Caicedo already, so it's Woltemade in for Solanke. I'm glad I have a strong bench, but I don't think I've ever played a 5-2-3 in FPL before. I started with a 4-4-2 this morning.
November 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I've got Micky VDV coming in for Caicedo already, so it's Woltemade in for Solanke. I'm glad I have a strong bench, but I don't think I've ever played a 5-2-3 in FPL before. I started with a 4-4-2 this morning.
So I've always taken the view that those people, places, and the associated companies and football clubs of today bear no responsibility for the actions of their grandparents.
That said, I have only a foreigner's understanding of the culture there and have no idea of the regional nuances that exist
That said, I have only a foreigner's understanding of the culture there and have no idea of the regional nuances that exist
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
So I've always taken the view that those people, places, and the associated companies and football clubs of today bear no responsibility for the actions of their grandparents.
That said, I have only a foreigner's understanding of the culture there and have no idea of the regional nuances that exist
That said, I have only a foreigner's understanding of the culture there and have no idea of the regional nuances that exist
I didn't know that specifically about Wolfsburg, but I did know that Hitler had "the people's car" designed by Porsche.
Every German that I've known well has been quite liberal and compassionate in their views compared to US standards, and there seems to be a deep national shame regarding WW2...
Every German that I've known well has been quite liberal and compassionate in their views compared to US standards, and there seems to be a deep national shame regarding WW2...
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I didn't know that specifically about Wolfsburg, but I did know that Hitler had "the people's car" designed by Porsche.
Every German that I've known well has been quite liberal and compassionate in their views compared to US standards, and there seems to be a deep national shame regarding WW2...
Every German that I've known well has been quite liberal and compassionate in their views compared to US standards, and there seems to be a deep national shame regarding WW2...
It was so beautiful! I'll definitely be back to see the other 99% of the country someday.
I picked Wolfsburg because I've owned several Volkswagens. 😄
I didn't meet anyone else that supported them. The only player I recognized was the American John Brooks, though several have risen to prominence.
I picked Wolfsburg because I've owned several Volkswagens. 😄
I didn't meet anyone else that supported them. The only player I recognized was the American John Brooks, though several have risen to prominence.
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It was so beautiful! I'll definitely be back to see the other 99% of the country someday.
I picked Wolfsburg because I've owned several Volkswagens. 😄
I didn't meet anyone else that supported them. The only player I recognized was the American John Brooks, though several have risen to prominence.
I picked Wolfsburg because I've owned several Volkswagens. 😄
I didn't meet anyone else that supported them. The only player I recognized was the American John Brooks, though several have risen to prominence.
Your commitment to US soccer is impressive! I tried to get into German ⚽ (Wolfsburg) when they were the first to start playing again during COVID. It's tough to start with a new league, new players. I gave up when other leagues started back up.
I spent a few lovely days along the Rhein in '24.
I spent a few lovely days along the Rhein in '24.
November 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Your commitment to US soccer is impressive! I tried to get into German ⚽ (Wolfsburg) when they were the first to start playing again during COVID. It's tough to start with a new league, new players. I gave up when other leagues started back up.
I spent a few lovely days along the Rhein in '24.
I spent a few lovely days along the Rhein in '24.