USMNT New Era

[HuffyCane]

It’s happened or rumored to happen a couple of times over the last year or so.

CP clearly waved off the gaffer when he tried to pull him just prior to a direct free kick against Canada. In the replay he appears to concede the sub then sees it was going to be Tessmann coming in and waves it off. He was eventually subbed off for Tessmann several minutes later.

 

[HuffyCane]

 

[TU_BLA]

Couple things on this. Pulisic waves off the substitution but only to take the DFK. Who else is really taking that and going to be more dangerous than Pulisic? With that, it is exceedingly rare to make a substitution in that type of attack situation or on corners. I have refereed many a game where there are subs waiting to come into the game and I look and call for them and the coach doesn't want them in the particular situation and will wait for a goal kick or throw in. And I should remind everyone, the actual laws of the game say a substitution can occur on any stoppage of play at the referee's discretion. It doesn't have to be on your throw in or restart in your favor. HS and college rules are slightly different in that it has to be your throw in or corner to make that substitution.

And everyone needs to start to realize you can have five or six elite international players and they may not complement each other on the pitch. England had perhaps the best two midfielders in the world for the better part of a decade. Neither could fully service Wayne Rooney in their preferred style of play. Neither could play with the other effectively despite years of trying and unlimited coaching resources. One of them left the back exposed with his decisions and demands for freedom. It made England dysfunctional for 10 years. Great players. Bad team.

This is important to note and it is true for any team sport. You can have a great collection of talent but if they don't mesh and actual work together they're going to struggle. The biggest problem with the US right now is there is no big personality who can also be a leader. McKennie is a big personality but I've never viewed him as a leader type. ream could be that leader but you don't even know if he's going to be part of the squad going into the WC. Really, it needs to be Pulisic but he has issues getting himself pumped up for games so it's hard to see him being the guy that gets on others for not playing with enough focus and intensity. He almost sort of checks out of games if he is not able to get involved early on. Adams....maybe but he needs to stay healthy. Not Weah. Musah has the intensity but not the discipline to lead. Quite honestly, the person I constantly think of as an actual leader in terms of US players is Christian Roldan but he's not likely to be used on the USMNT again.

 

[HuffyCane]

In friendlies, teams often discuss the amount of minutes each player will play in exchange for release from their club.

He was selfish for wanting the kick and it was weakly and ineptly taken imo.

it’s an indefensible and incredibly bad look for a star play to short a sub, defy a coach, and possibly frustrate the program’s arrangements with a releasing club who quite possibly has paid an insurance policy based on appearances/minutes played.

Your excuse for him ignores the obvious: if CP wasn’t defying him, then he was frustrating what Poncho was trying to do: see how the team reacts if it needs a set piece to win in a game that counts and Pulisic is hurt or suspended.

It’s spoiled bush league or low awareness. Or both.

I am almost certain Ream will have the Roldan role moving forward. But that’s a very good call by you.

 

[HuffyCane]

Couple things on this. Pulisic waves off the substitution but only to take the DFK. Who else is really taking that and going to be more dangerous than Pulisic? With that, it is exceedingly rare to make a substitution in that type of attack situation or on corners. I have refereed many a game where there are subs waiting to come into the game and I look and call for them and the coach doesn't want them in the particular situation and will wait for a goal kick or throw in. And I should remind everyone, the actual laws of the game say a substitution can occur on any stoppage of play at the referee's discretion. It doesn't have to be on your throw in or restart in your favor. HS and college rules are slightly different in that it has to be your throw in or corner to make that substitution.


This is important to note and it is true for any team sport. You can have a great collection of talent but if they don't mesh and actual work together they're going to struggle. The biggest problem with the US right now is there is no big personality who can also be a leader. McKennie is a big personality but I've never viewed him as a leader type. ream could be that leader but you don't even know if he's going to be part of the squad going into the WC. Really, it needs to be Pulisic but he has issues getting himself pumped up for games so it's hard to see him being the guy that gets on others for not playing with enough focus and intensity. He almost sort of checks out of games if he is not able to get involved early on. Adams....maybe but he needs to stay healthy. Not Weah. Musah has the intensity but not the discipline to lead. Quite honestly, the person I constantly think of as an actual leader in terms of US players is Christian Roldan but he's not likely to be used on the USMNT again.

I’m not worried about personality. If anything they all seem to have decided that they are all friends and they are the ones that are going deep next summer.

They aren’t as great as they think they are. And they have inflated views of their teammates.

I think the problem is their skills just don’t always compliment each other.

Sargent can’t get service to save his life is a good example. Not that it matters. You get one chance against the teams we aim to beat and you must bury it. Sargent has shown he is pretty amazing with multiple opportunities at the club level. Hes repeatedly had games where he has only had one chance and has not taken advantage or been unlucky. Hes off my list for that reason, barring injury,

Charlie Davies after he got hurt said a player was added to the WC roster that was going to be left off because the player was in an elite league but simply couldn’t give him over shoulder service in some situations that was vital for what they were trying to do. And so other players from lower leagues were given a chance and while they could provide the service, they knew it would create problems on the back end that would catch up with them in the later rounds. Him being injured hurt the offense but improved the defense in terms of skills complimenting each other. And it may have meant they did better than if he had not had the accident.

We have a bunch of good players, but are they the best we can get when they are all together.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I always thought the coach had the absolute say on subs, and if a coach insisted they would force a player to come out. If it is not that way, it should be. The only time it gets in the way is when a coach's abilities are incompetent.(Phillips and the NIT come to mind.) When you give the players that much power it becomes a nightmare. Too many chefs in the kitchen. One BOSS.

 

[HuffyCane]

I always thought the coach had the absolute say on subs, and if a coach insisted they would force a player to come out. If it is not that way, it should be. The only time it gets in the way is when a coach's abilities are incompetent.(Phillips and the NIT come to mind.) When you give the players that much power it becomes a nightmare. Too many chefs in the kitchen. One BOSS.

Exactly.

The look on the gaffer’s face at the end of that clip says it all.

 

[TU_BLA]

I always thought the coach had the absolute say on subs, and if a coach insisted they would force a player to come out. If it is not that way, it should be. The only time it gets in the way is when a coach's abilities are incompetent.(Phillips and the NIT come to mind.) When you give the players that much power it becomes a nightmare. Too many chefs in the kitchen. One BOSS.

So soccer is weird in that the player of record is the one that's actually on the field which is why you see subs come to the sideline before the substitute is allowed onto the pitch. If CP doesn't come off, he's still the player of record and the only power the referee and 4th official have is to ensure the game isn't delayed. They can't force the player to leave. The reason this is important is for the purpose of issuing cards if something happens between the time the player is leaving the field and before he gets to the sideline and his substitute comes on and becomes the player of record. If CP were to get pissed and punch a guy out of frustration before he is off the field, he gets the RC and his team plays down a man. If he makes it to the sideline and gets into it with a player or coach and gets a RC, he just gets an earlier shower (BTW, this is different for both HS and college soccer...the substitute becomes the player of record the moment the referee waves them on the field).

 

[DuderMcduderson]

Word on the street is that Gio can bounce this summer according to Dortmund.

 

[HuffyCane]

Word on the street is that Gio can bounce this summer according to Dortmund.

Yeah. He’s headed to Scotland, probably Rangers who love USA players, unless LAFC pay through the nose.

What’s really interesting is two things: the people in the media suggesting/floating very subtly his Dad maybe wasn’t as good as we remember (which is laughable) and the idea that maybe Berhalter’s son gets the spot on the WC team Gio will likely be vacating. Drama.

 

[quincy101]

C. Pulisic, over the past 2 Serie A seasons...with 3 or 4 games left in this season, is 2nd only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter, in total goal contributions. CP, as of today, has 17 goals and 10 assists plus the 15 and 10 assists last year for totals of 32 goals and 20. His 52 goal contributions are 1 behind Martinez with 53. Martinez is widely considered the best player in Serie A.

Martinez scored twice vs. Barcelona in a wild 2 leg Champions League semi-final set. The 1st leg finished 3-3 in Spain, and yesterday in Milan, Inter won 4-3 in extra time. Wow! That was some fine futbol.

Pulisic & Co. play Bologna, who they beat today, next week in the Coppa Italia final. Likely Milan's only chance for Euro futbol is to beat them as the winner gets an auto bid to the Europa League next season. If they don't, Milan with CP & Musah will miss out, although they may or may not choose the Conference League tourney of mostly losers in Europe. If Bologna beats them, Pulisic might rethink his choice of staying at Milan although his contract offer, if signed, runs through 2029 for almost 5 mill. euros per year and he says he loves it in Milan.

 

[DuderMcduderson]

Sounds like cardoza is headed to Spurs

 

[drboobay]

C. Pulisic, over the past 2 Serie A seasons...with 3 or 4 games left in this season, is 2nd only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter, in total goal contributions. CP, as of today, has 17 goals and 10 assists plus the 15 and 10 assists last year for totals of 32 goals and 20. His 52 goal contributions are 1 behind Martinez with 53. Martinez is widely considered the best player in Serie A.

Martinez scored twice vs. Barcelona in a wild 2 leg Champions League semi-final set. The 1st leg finished 3-3 in Spain, and yesterday in Milan, Inter won 4-3 in extra time. Wow! That was some fine futbol.

Pulisic & Co. play Bologna, who they beat today, next week in the Coppa Italia final. Likely Milan's only chance for Euro futbol is to beat them as the winner gets an auto bid to the Europa League next season. If they don't, Milan with CP & Musah will miss out, although they may or may not choose the Conference League tourney of mostly losers in Europe. If Bologna beats them, Pulisic might rethink his choice of staying at Milan although his contract offer, if signed, runs through 2029 for almost 5 mill. euros per year and he says he loves it in Milan.

I have watched neatly every match and he had been terrific. But he is surrounded by world class players like Leao and Reijnders and Theo. Even not at their best it is a better squad than the USMNT. He does not have to be "THE guy."

Musah has been generally unimpressive and spent a couple of weeks without seeing the field.

Side note. I have watched Busio against Milan and liked how he played. Would like to see him back.

 

[TU_BLA]

Sounds like cardoza is headed to Spurs

 

[quincy101]

Well, this sucks for Pulisic. Milan loses Coppa Italia and have virtually no chance for Europe tourneys. He may sign for a 4 yr. extension @ 5 mill euros each but regret it. If he stays at Milan, it will be under a new coach and likely on the right wing with the same pathetic back line and Rafa Leao and Hernandez getting all the service on the left. 3 Prem sides showed interest last winter and he'd best jump at the first one that ponies up.

 

[drboobay]

Looks like they are 4 points out of the last Euro league spot with two matches left. Not impossible with two wins.

 

[TU_BLA]

Huge game for Tyler Adams today vs Manchester City. A win for Bournemouth and it pushes them closer to Euro football for next season while all but eliminating city from Champions League for next season.

Also, Chris Richards and Matt Turner won the FA Cup on Saturday with a Crystal Palace 1-0 win over City. Turner didn't play and I'm assuming Richards played a full 90 like he has most of the season. Dean Henderson always gets the preferred treatment from English clubs although he's avg at best. He did have an absolute stunning save on a PK late in that game though. Palace should be higher in the table but Henderson has had some clunkers.

 

[quincy101]

Palace should be higher in the table but Henderson has had some clunkers.

With Palace's win in the FA Cup, I believe they are in the Europa League next season, despite their Prem finish. Yes, Richards played the full 90. Pulisic's agent is shopping him around throughout the big 5 in Europe. He must exit the absolute dumpster fire that is Milan, particularly to a club which qualifies for Ch Lg.

 

[TU_BLA]

With Palace's win in the FA Cup, I believe they are in the Europa League next season, despite their Prem finish. Yes, Richards played the full 90. Pulisic's agent is shopping him around throughout the big 5 in Europe. He must exit the absolute dumpster fire that is Milan, particularly to a club which qualifies for Ch Lg.

Yes they have qualified for the Europa League play-ins for next season. They're also going to finish the highest they've ever finished in the Prem. So good season for them. I wonder what Turner is going to do or where he might be next season. I expect several of the top GKs to be moving around this next transfer window. Emi Martinez is most likely moving to Spain from Aston Villa and I would not be surprised to see Henderson or Sels on Villa's radar. David Raya might be on the move but that's going to be harder to pry him from Arsenal. If he's not going to be a FT GK in Europe, Turner needs to come back to MLS so he's at least playing on the regular. There is a shortage of quality GKs in MLS. Miami needs one, Portland needs to move on from Crepeau, Charlotte could use a higher level GK as well.

 

[HuffyCane]

Wouldn’t surprise me if we have a Klinsmann or Berhalter on the World Cup roster. Maybe both.

 

[TU_BLA]

Wouldn’t surprise me if we have a Klinsmann or Berhalter on the World Cup roster. Maybe both.

Berhalter's kid can play and has been one of the reasons why Vancouver has been one of the best teams in MLS this season and has them paying in the finals of CONCACAF Champions League. He is a true box to box MF, really solid defensively and a decent creator. He would be for depth as I don't see him supplanting McKennie.

Klinsmann's kid is actually a really really good GK. I'm disappointed he hasn't been brought in to one of the camps where Poch has gone to look at the younger players looking for depth. I've liked Klinsmann for a while and he sort of fell off the radar when he moved to Europe away from LA Galaxy. He's better with his feet than Turner is, way better than Steffen is. It will be interesting if he gets a call in soon. Turner hasn't been playing and it showed in Nations League.

 

[quincy101]

Who we won't have are Pulisic, Musah, Jedi, McKennie, Weah and Reyna, among others, for various reasons. Kind of sucks vs a couple of world heavyweights (Turkey & Swiss, a good sammy-also). I guess it will be good experience for the 16 MLS guys of 27 called up. Among these, we'll see who can hack it, if any.

 

[HuffyCane]

They were both recently added to the official pool.

And Daddy K has started doing US based interviews and speaking engagements. That’s no accident.

 

[TU_BLA]

They were both recently added to the official pool.

And Daddy K has started doing US based interviews and speaking engagements. That’s no accident.

I saw that. He said Jonathan was hoping to get back into the USMNT mix. He's a good player and our current pool of GKs has shown their games to be incomplete. Turner's lack of PT at Palace and his most recent USMNT performances have shot his confidence and I can tell you that a GK who lacks confidence is not a GK you want between the pipes. A GK lacking confidence results in poor decision making and that is probably the #1 thing I want my GK confident with. It literally impacts every other aspect of the GKs game as well as that of his teammates.

It's apparent Slonina isn't the answer either.

 

[HuffyCane]

Stallone is still young enough to contribute but maybe not a full game. He will let you know at halftime.

 

[HuffyCane]

Josh Sargent, Joe Scally, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tanner Tessmann Left off gold cup roster in what was called “football decisions” by U.S. Soccer.

Berhalter jumped in and out of the pool on to the roster.

 

[HuffyCane]

Watch out for two new names in the pool maybe upcoming rosters.

Damion Downs and Noahkai Banks. Both 6’4” big bodies. Can fly. Interesting challenges posed by both very young players.

Downs a forward who could be a difference maker.

Downs added to the Gold Cup roster. Follow me here for all your USMNT news. Click like and subscribe.

 

[TU_BLA]

Downs added to the Gold Cup roster. Follow me here for all your USMNT news. Click like and subscribe.

Some real questions here. No Weah. But we get Dest back so maybe that helps the attack some but again, another window without the full complement of best players.

 

[drboobay]

Weah still playing.

 

[HuffyCane]

 

[TU_BLA]

New US Kits Dropped yesterday:

The light jersey harkens back to the 1994 WC host jersey. Not as crazy with the denim coloring, a little more subtle. It's not terrible but not my favorite. The dark jersey...apparently the background color is navy but looks black. It's a very Euro style jersey IMO. Again, it isn't great. Not the worst thing I've seen but it's not great.

I honestly think the US needs a new crest as well. It's way generic and lacks creativity. Look at Brazil and Argentina's....very simple as well, classic, but has character and both have been largely unchanged (some minor tweaks here and there but very stays consistent to the design and intent). Germany and England also have tremendous crests. US could easily adopt something that adpated the Seal of the US with the eagle, olive branch and arrows with the flag shield on it

 

[TU_BLA]

BTW, the image of the US jerseys above is from WeGotSoccer.com. My son and I happened on this store when visiting colleges in the northeast. Before headed to one of the schools one day, I wanted to take a side trip to Gillette and Patriot Place since it was built after I moved away from MA. This store is right off the same exit and just up the road from Gillette. We popped in for a look see. They've got everything soccer. Every line of soccer cleats from the top of the line adidas, Nike, Puma, Mizuno, etc. to their entry level lines. They have jerseys from just about every major world league out there. England, France, Spain, Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie, Portugal, Saudi, Liga Mx, MLS plus a full line of international jerseys PLUS warmr-up/training tops for most of those clubs as well. Soccer balls, regular training gear for players, etc. And they always seem to have a great sale going on. You can order online. They do have other brick and mortar sites in Houston, Miami (?) and maybe one in CA. If your kid plays or you know anyone who is a jersey afficianado like my son, this place is great. Last trip up there he picked up a Manchester United retro jersey circa 1980s, as well as a Portugal 2002 jersey with Luis Figo's name/#. In the past he has picked up a Japan int'l jersey that was pretty hard to find outside of the internet and it was like 60% off.

 

[quincy101]

Josh Sargent, Joe Scally, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tanner Tessmann Left off gold cup roster in what was called “football decisions” by U.S. Soccer.

Berhalter jumped in and out of the pool on to the roster.

Isn't young Beer?halter's Uncle Joe still lurking around the USSF? Might help explain those er, um "football decisions".

 

[HuffyCane]

New US Kits Dropped yesterday:

The light jersey harkens back to the 1994 WC host jersey. Not as crazy with the denim coloring, a little more subtle. It's not terrible but not my favorite. The dark jersey...apparently the background color is navy but looks black. It's a very Euro style jersey IMO. Again, it isn't great. Not the worst thing I've seen but it's not great.

I honestly think the US needs a new crest as well. It's way generic and lacks creativity. Look at Brazil and Argentina's....very simple as well, classic, but has character and both have been largely unchanged (some minor tweaks here and there but very stays consistent to the design and intent). Germany and England also have tremendous crests. US could easily adopt something that adpated the Seal of the US with the eagle, olive branch and arrows with the flag shield on it

That would pretty much readopt the creat from the 1990 cycle.

 

[HuffyCane]

Isn't young Beer?halter's Uncle Joe still lurking around the USSF? Might help explain those er, um "football decisions".

Yep. Kid can play though. Remember part of the controversy with Reyna and Gregg was related to Gio supposedly getting special treatment vis a vis Seb at the youth level.

 

[HuffyCane]

New US Kits Dropped yesterday:

The light jersey harkens back to the 1994 WC host jersey. Not as crazy with the denim coloring, a little more subtle. It's not terrible but not my favorite. The dark jersey...apparently the background color is navy but looks black. It's a very Euro style jersey IMO. Again, it isn't great. Not the worst thing I've seen but it's not great.

I honestly think the US needs a new crest as well. It's way generic and lacks creativity. Look at Brazil and Argentina's....very simple as well, classic, but has character and both have been largely unchanged (some minor tweaks here and there but very stays consistent to the design and intent). Germany and England also have tremendous crests. US could easily adopt something that adpated the Seal of the US with the eagle, olive branch and arrows with the flag shield on it

Adidas owns the denim kit. That’s as close as Nike can get and it was intentional.

 

[HuffyCane]

Some real questions here. No Weah. But we get Dest back so maybe that helps the attack some but again, another window without the full complement of best players.

But also no film to show how we line up against Turkey etc.

 

[quincy101]

Sargent can’t get service to save his life is a good example. Not that it matters. You get one chance against the teams we aim to beat and you must bury it. Sargent has shown he is pretty amazing with multiple opportunities at the club level. Hes repeatedly had games where he has only had one chance and has not taken advantage or been unlucky. Hes off my list for that reason, barring injury,

Poor Sarge, he scores for the MNT last out & Tim Weah doesn't even try to get back on-sides. Goal disallowed. He needs a mid table Prem side to pick him up & we'll then see if he can score consistently in a top league. I still believe he can but needs to move up from the EFL and show everyone else.

 

[TU_BLA]

US down 3-0 to Switzerland 33 minutes in. It’s time to move on from Turner. Just dreadful today. Backline dreadful. Berhalter is not at the international level. Just getting torched.

4-0, 35 minutes in. Fans in Nashville booing the US. It’s just apparent that the guys out there in this group are not the same level as the guys left at home for this cycle.

 

[HuffyCane]

The program is in disarray. You begin to wonder if the opt outs are pay related and this is industrial action.