2348 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

Im generally not in favor of returning managers for a second WC cycle, and it sure hasn’t worked out when they’ve done it recently. But I like the style of play Mauricio employed more than any recent coach so I think I’m good with it.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Im generally not in favor of returning managers for a second WC cycle, and it sure hasn’t worked out when they’ve done it recently. But I like the style of play Mauricio employed more than any recent coach so I think I’m good with it.

I am with you Mike. However, in this case remember that Poch only got 2 years this past cycle. Pretty good argument to be made that most of that time was spent trying to figure out just who the players were and how to fit the pieces together. Given the play they demonstrated during the last two friendlies and the WC it was pretty clear to me he accomplished a couple of key things.

1. Got the team to get over the mentality that they were auto on the team just because and that every one had to earn their spots and playing time.

2. He figured out how to actually get the team to play to at least if not better than the sum of their parts. This had been missing for years.

3. Got the team to play attacking and entertaining football.

 

I am excited to see what he can do with 4 years especially since it sounds like he will be much more involved with the youth national teams. Can't wait for Spain and 2030. Now lets hope we actually can keep him here all 4 years.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

The fall window for the team has been announced. This is the first time the FIFA September and October windows have been combined into one window. I think this is WAY better.

1. More continuity for training and playing matches with a longer window.

2. Less travel which is nice for our Euro based players.

 

Here's our schedule:

 

• Sept. 26: USMNT vs. Peru, 4:30 p.m. ET - Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, FL
• Sept. 29: USMNT vs. Chile, 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) - Energizer Park in St. Louis, MO
• Oct. 3: USMNT vs. Mexico, 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) - State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ
• Oct. 6: USMNT vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) - Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Just some general updates:

 

1. Lots of players getting attention for transfers from MLS to Europe and several have happened already. More to come over the next several weeks for sure. Also a number of players already in Europe getting interest in moving to other clubs. Lots of talk about Adams and Jedi in particular.

 

2. The US will host COPA America 2028. That's really terrific news. Hosting it is great because it gives us a chance to attend but even more importantly its a major competition we get to play in. With Nations Leagues its just really hard now to schedule tough competition. We are pretty much stuck with CONCACAF opponents. So getting to play in COPA is huge. Now the dumb part. They are considering expanding to 20 teams. They haven't said how that would structurally play out. IF its a system where 3rd place teams from Group Stage gets in then I don't like it. Some discussion groups are saying 4 Groups of 5. That would be decent as you'd get 4 games guaranteed instead of 3. The flip side of course being that it makes advancing tougher. Interesting to see how this shakes out.

 

3. The U20s have qualified for next summers U20 WC. They are currently playing in the CONCACAF U20 tournament and have been clicking along. Won all three group stage matches and never allowed a goal. Won their first knockout match over Honduras 3-1. They play their semi-final match tonight against Costa Rica. The rest of the matches are just for this tournament. The 4 semi finalists all qualified for the WC.   Now the really interesting thing. This tournament is not a FIFA event therefore clubs don't have to release players for this. The US team has been heavily impacted. Most of our better U20s are not even at this event. Most of our U20s fit into 3 categories:

a. MLS academy players. Most of the roster is composed of these guys.

b. MLS players. Several of the guys are currently seeing first team MLS minutes. And once they beat Honduras to qualify for the WC were already called back to their club teams.

c. Players in Europe who are in preseason camps. None of these guys are on the roster.

 

All this is a long winded way to say that we are doing really really good and with a very limited roster. They may make some noise at the WC next summer!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

U20s won 2-0 over Costa Rica and play Mexico in the final tomorrow. Yes tomorrow. When the semi-finals were last night. Stupid.

[Pedro Cerrano]

U20s won 2-0 over Costa Rica and play Mexico in the final tomorrow. Yes tomorrow. When the semi-finals were last night. Stupid.

This ruins my whole weekend

[BSLSteveBirrer]

This ruins my whole weekend

You need help...lol

[Mashed Potatoes]

Teenage bodies don't need rest

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Well as predicted. On one of the soccer forums I said the US would be a big underdog in the final.

1. Most of our better U20s were not there.

2. It was being played in Mexico.

3. The refs have shown for many years that they do all they can to kill the US.

 

Now yesterday Mexico was the better team. So they deserved the win. But it was 1-0 right before the half when this happened.

 

https://x.com/USMNTT...603386938409399

 

This was initially a yellow to the US player.

Then VAR review was conducted and the "referee" changed it from a yellow (correct) to a direct red (wrong). It should have been a yellow on the Mexican player for simulation. There was no contact between the two players at all. This would have been the Mexican players second yellow so they should have been playing a man short instead of the US for the entire second half.