I love kick saves!

USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

PatAg said:

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USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

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What's wrong about his take? He's saying we should play better teams in friendlies to get better.

Or are you disagreeing with his take that we might have advanced further in Brazil if Donovan was on the squad?

Legal Custodian said:

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PatAg said:

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USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

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What's wrong about his take? He's saying we should play better teams in friendlies to get better.

Or are you disagreeing with his take that we might have advanced further in Brazil if Donovan was on the squad?

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We cant play those teams because of the Nations League basically taking up the windows we would have played them in the past.
We aren't choosing to stop playing friendlies against European competition.
Ian knows that too

For anyone wondering: No, U.S. Soccer wouldn’t have to increase the salary of #USWNT coach Emma Hayes to match what any new #USMNT coach (if Gregg Berhalter isn’t retained) might make if it’s more than Hayes currently earns. They aren’t linked at all.

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) July 2, 2024

Interesting, he would know more than any talking head on a show as well.
Could still be misinformed, of course. Never know what public pressure will do to USSF.

I think we could probably look to SK, Japan, or some of the better African sides for some of these windows. Not as good as Europe, but better than CONCACAF minnows.

the USWNT winning that massive equal pay litigation coincided with USMNT rehiring a guy they had previously fired despite all these high profile names that had been linked with interest in the position. That's why I think the USSF is broke and had to bring greggg back. That, or timing didn't add up for their real target so rehiring ggg was an interim 1 year trial he just failed.

PatAg said:

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For anyone wondering: No, U.S. Soccer wouldn’t have to increase the salary of #USWNT coach Emma Hayes to match what any new #USMNT coach (if Gregg Berhalter isn’t retained) might make if it’s more than Hayes currently earns. They aren’t linked at all.

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) July 2, 2024

Interesting, he would know more than any talking head on a show as well.
Could still be misinformed, of course. Never know what public pressure will do to USSF.

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Legal Custodian said:

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PatAg said:

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USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

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What's wrong about his take? He's saying we should play better teams in friendlies to get better.

Or are you disagreeing with his take that we might have advanced further in Brazil if Donovan was on the squad?

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We should only play concacaf teams (other than mexico) in tournaments. Every friendly should be against euro or south American teams.

Just playing harder competition doesnt help, if we're not building towards something. If our roster/scheme is a mess, and undefined (which it has been), it doesnt make us better. It just gets us beat in friendlies.

There needs to be a purpose and direction, and then you play tougher competition to get better and measure your progress.

Agthatbuilds said:

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Legal Custodian said:

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PatAg said:

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USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

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What's wrong about his take? He's saying we should play better teams in friendlies to get better.

Or are you disagreeing with his take that we might have advanced further in Brazil if Donovan was on the squad?

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We should only play concacaf teams (other than mexico) in tournaments. Every friendly should be against euro or south American teams.

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The problem is there aren't that many international breaks in the next two years, and our hands are tied with concacaf obligations in a bunch of them, as are the hands of conmebol and UEFA teams in many of those breaks. We can't just tell concacaf no we won't play in this gold cup or nations league BS and in the few other windows, options will be limited.

This copa America tournament, and the two warm up friendlies leading up to it, with all these squads wanting to come here and play in the USA ahead of the WC coming to USA were our best 'get ready' opportunities, and instead, we get an early exit and will be looking for a new coach who will have to play some nobody friendlies in the few chances over the next two years.

just go win all the concacaf stuff- beat mexico, panama, and the traditional hex/oct teams when you play them. and schedule the best you can when you can. that's all you can do.

McKennie quote from The Athletic:

Quote:

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"I believe we all have a comfort with Gregg and we all understand him and we've had him for a long time," he told The Athletic. "He's progressed the team very far from where we started off four or five years ago.

"I think the connection that we have with him is what's important, in having a coach that players that would run through a brick wall for him, players that listen to him. And so I think whatever happens, happens, but I think if he's the coach, we're all happy, get up, dust off, learn and keep moving forward. That's the only thing you can do now.

"You can't really try to live in the past, not think too far in the future, just trying to be in the present and improve little by little and see where it takes us."

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I gotta say I've never gotten that "run through a brick wall" vibe from this squad.

Wes is more of a "jog leisurely at a brick wall" guy at the moment.

jeffk said:

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Wes is more of a "jog leisurely at a brick wall" guy at the moment.

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more of a "run to a hookah lounge" type now.

TRM said:

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I think we could probably look to SK, Japan, or some of the better African sides for some of these windows. Not as good as Europe, but better than CONCACAF minnows.

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I could be wrong on this, but believe those African sides are also in their own Nations leagues often during these times

Quote:

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"I believe we all have a comfort with Gregg and we all understand him and we've had him for a long time," he told The Athletic. "He's progressed the team very far from where we started off four or five years ago.

"I think the connection that we have with him is what's important, in having a coach that players that would run through a brick wall for him, players that listen to him. And so I think whatever happens, happens, but I think if he's the coach, we're all happy, get up, dust off, learn and keep moving forward. That's the only thing you can do now.

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A. In what way have we progressed?

B. Dusting yourself off, after a disappointment, and 'moving forward' is ok. it's sports...disappointment happens. But that cant be the norm and needs to be the exception.

C. These are the same talking points Greg keeps repeating. They have worn off at this point.

D. I dont really expect Weston to say anything different. He's not going to publicly drag his coach. I just hope he doesnt actually believe it...but I kind of think he/they do.

oh no said:

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Agthatbuilds said:

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Legal Custodian said:

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PatAg said:

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USA have to find a way of playing more top teams more often. Only way to improve and prepare for a World Cup. Prior to 2014, the Klinsmann team played away and won in Italy , Germany, Netherlands … and went on to advance from a Group of Death in Brazil. Might even have gone…

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) July 2, 2024

Very dumb tweet by Ian Darke

---

What's wrong about his take? He's saying we should play better teams in friendlies to get better.

Or are you disagreeing with his take that we might have advanced further in Brazil if Donovan was on the squad?

---

We should only play concacaf teams (other than mexico) in tournaments. Every friendly should be against euro or south American teams.

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The problem is there aren't that many international breaks in the next two years, and our hands are tied with concacaf obligations in a bunch of them, as are the hands of conmebol and UEFA teams in many of those breaks. We can't just tell concacaf no we won't play in this gold cup or nations league BS and in the few other windows, options will be limited.

This copa America tournament, and the two warm up friendlies leading up to it, with all these squads wanting to come here and play in the USA ahead of the WC coming to USA were our best 'get ready' opportunities, and instead, we get an early exit and will be looking for a new coach who will have to play some nobody friendlies in the few chances over the next two years.

just go win all the concacaf stuff- beat mexico, panama, and the traditional hex/oct teams when you play them. and schedule the best you can when you can. that's all you can do.

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Great summary. The players are going to have to keep improving with their clubs, and we need to make the right hire to replace Gregg

I don't think Gregg is getting fired. I'm not saying I personally agree with that. But the spineless leaders we have are going to hide behind Weah's red, the awfulness of that ref, and probably just stay quiet for the remainder of Copa and Euro and let it blow over.

fig96 said:

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McKennie quote from The Athletic:

Quote:

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"I believe we all have a comfort with Gregg and we all understand him and we've had him for a long time," he told The Athletic. "He's progressed the team very far from where we started off four or five years ago.

"I think the connection that we have with him is what's important, in having a coach that players that would run through a brick wall for him, players that listen to him. And so I think whatever happens, happens, but I think if he's the coach, we're all happy, get up, dust off, learn and keep moving forward. That's the only thing you can do now.

"You can't really try to live in the past, not think too far in the future, just trying to be in the present and improve little by little and see where it takes us."

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I gotta say I've never gotten that "run through a brick wall" vibe from this squad.

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There here is the root issue, the bolded part. As for the rest of the first paragraph, its kind of a "no duh." Of course the team progressed from 4 or 5 years ago because all the young, 20-22 year old talent from then are now 25-27 years old, with multiple seasons of club play under their belts. Giving any kind of credit to GGG for the improvement of these guys is over the top.

FULL answer from Tim Ream to me @Univision @TUDNUSA

Worth every word, every second. https://t.co/ksWHtGLZKy pic.twitter.com/SoIZIxJhT3

— Michele Giannone (@MicheleG3) July 2, 2024

Full video reply from Ream, excellent stuff

It would shock me if GGG is fired. It is too late in the cycle and we are not appealing to a top candidate, so I just don't see a multi-million dollar decision being made.

Honest question - what is the appeal of the US job other than hosting the WC in less than 2 years?

Texan_Aggie said:

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It would shock me if GGG is fired. It is too late in the cycle and we are not appealing to a top candidate, so I just don't see a multi-million dollar decision being made.

Honest question - what is the appeal of the US job other than hosting the WC in less than 2 years?

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1. If America makes a deep run then chance at advertisement $$
2. International soccer is less demanding then club soccer
3. You aren't going to be critically judged until WC
4. Talented, younger squad that has tactical flexibility.
5. Low expectations but strong support

Man I just heard some of the clips of Pulisic. I love CP10. But my god man. Why do you sound like you are delivering a bad quarterly earnings report?

More drama.

Eric Wynalda and Herculez Gomez 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/VSQOngPWs0

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 2, 2024

Sign of the times. Bet we see a lot of old guard infighting in the next few months.

TRM said:

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More drama.

Eric Wynalda and Herculez Gomez 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/VSQOngPWs0

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 2, 2024

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Eric is such a ****ing clown. The fact her carries water for this abomination of a coach is disgusting

Morocco last World Cup was a bit of an anomaly, I wouldn't bet that it'd repeat. The US job is more than a 2 year gig, and viewing it as a 2-year gig would be a mistake.

I don't see a highly competitive coach coming at a discount for a two year deal. I think our issues will take more than two years to fix, but I hope I'm wrong.

He says a lot of crazy stuff. He is no fan of Berthalter though at all.

RebAg13 said:

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He says a lot of crazy stuff. He is no fan of Berthalter though at all.

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Then why is he attacking gomez and Lexi? I used to listen to his Sirius show, but dude was too annoying. Gomez and lalas went in dry on the team and Gregg, as they should

Wynalda can get bent.