my biggest excitement for a poch hire will be the immediate respect level the players will have for him and the ability to attack in the final third with a lot more than just a hope and a prayer like we had to watch with GGG ball. I hope he has our players passing and setting up opportunities, rather than just relying on athleticism and wide open opportunities that rarely present themselves.

OregonAggie said:

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oh no said:

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we do have some full backs with speed, fitness, and attacking skills that will get forward and make effective overlapping runs. just not that many of them. Dest and Antonee for sure. We just don't have that many of them. At all. ....and then I think most of our CB depth is too slow to allow playing with wing-backs or having a full back get too high.

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Weah is also a good option there too, no? I know he's a winger for the USMNT but he's played quite a bit as a wing back for Juve. Dest should start but we do at least have him as an option there.

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Weah is absolutely an answer at wingback.

oh no said:

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Yes. at RB, Weah could be an option.

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I'm pretty sure Lille played him at LWB because I remember thinking it was doubly odd.

AgEngr12 said:

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OregonAggie said:

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Thank god they're hiring a capable coach. He's going to command respect from our guys.

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Capable is an understatement. Poch probably walks in the door a top 5 international manager.

INSANE we're going from the likes of Arena and Greggg to him.

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I view this as the Jimbo Fisher higher. Has the potential to upgrade our team; improve us (hopefully); and make us better overall, brings instant credibility.

Also shows other coaches that we want to be thought of as a higher stakes player in the world arena. Like, "Oh shoot, the USMNT is actually serious now". Which will pay off in the future as well.

deadbq03 said:

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oh no said:

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Yes. at RB, Weah could be an option.

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I'm pretty sure Lille played him at LWB because I remember thinking it was doubly odd.

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He played WB at both Juventus and Lille.

Yeah but not just on the right was my point.

SpreadsheetAg said:

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AgEngr12 said:

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OregonAggie said:

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Thank god they're hiring a capable coach. He's going to command respect from our guys.

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Capable is an understatement. Poch probably walks in the door a top 5 international manager.

INSANE we're going from the likes of Arena and Greggg to him.

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I view this as the Jimbo Fisher higher. Has the potential to upgrade our team; improve us (hopefully); and make us better overall, brings instant credibility.

Also shows other coaches that we want to be thought of as a higher stakes player in the world arena. Like, "Oh shoot, the USMNT is actually serious now". Which will pay off in the future as well.

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That was my initial thought too, but thinking about it more, I think it's a splurge and a deviation from the norm in light of WC2026 being here. If Poch flops, I suspect we'll see a bargain hire, especially if we have to fire him with a ton of time left on his contract.

That negativity aside, the more I read about Poch, the more I think he's a fantastic fit (and I already really liked him).

His stints at Espanyol and Southampton don't get talked about, but to me they're a key factor that makes him unique. He unquestionably did more with less in those gigs. A lot of coaches have a lot of reputation, but never had to go through the slog of coaching underdogs (Zidane as the prime example of this, but there's plenty).

Mathguy64 said:

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akm91 said:

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Quote:

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Well he did flunk at PSG. I won't hold Chelsea against him. He got Boehly'ed there.

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Who hasn't flunked at PSG?

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Ironically Timmy Tickles almost had them winning it.

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For about two years and then he wears out his welcome and the players hate him and he gets fired.

Quote:

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He unquestionably did more with less in those gigs.

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I'm excited about this hire as well but the difference between club and international futbol is the time you have with the players. Does his ability to do more with less require a lot of practice to achieve success?

deadbq03 said:

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Yeah but not just on the right was my point.

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Sorry. Carry on.

akm91 said:

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Quote:

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He unquestionably did more with less in those gigs.

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I'm excited about this hire as well but the difference between club and international futbol is the time you have with the players. Does his ability to do more with less require a lot of practice to achieve success?

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Only one way to find out.

And compare it to the guy who did nothing anywhere he coached prior to taking the job.

Man, F Todd Boehly.

Also from ESPN: Chelsea still owe Pochettino money, and he cannot sign his #USMNT contract until that situation is resolved.

Todd Boehly is holding up the process. https://t.co/buFr4VUC5q

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 15, 2024

akm91 said:

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Quote:

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He unquestionably did more with less in those gigs.

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I'm excited about this hire as well but the difference between club and international futbol is the time you have with the players. Does his ability to do more with less require a lot of practice to achieve success?

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It's a sample size of 1, but he led relegation-risk Espanyol to a 0-0 draw with Barca in his first game on the job. And evidently changed their style to a high press with just 2 practices.

deadbq03 said:

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Man, F Todd Boehly.

Also from ESPN: Chelsea still owe Pochettino money, and he cannot sign his #USMNT contract until that situation is resolved.

Todd Boehly is holding up the process. https://t.co/buFr4VUC5q

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 15, 2024

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That makes no sense. I owe you money so you can't get another job?

Edit: I get it. He's not taking another job until he gets paid and Boehly is the hold up.

Yeah, it's not really Boehly's fault, per se, but I'll blame him anyways.

Maybe USSF can get in cahoots with MLS and offer Boehly a creative deal so if he pays Poch his money then Chelsea gets something in return. Like maybe any MLS transfer it wants for a maximum fee of $10MM or something. Lord knows he loves transfers.

Should we be worried there's been no formal announcement yet?

No, but I'm gonna worry anyways.

OregonAggie said:

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Yes. Until then I'm assuming GGG is coming back for round 3

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same

zgolfz85 said:

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Should we be worried there's been no formal announcement yet?

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No.

It'll happen or it won't happen no matter how much you worry.

zgolfz85 said:

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Should we be worried there's been no formal announcement yet?

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The espn article said that Poch is still in a contractual issue with Chelsea who still owes him money. He can't officially join or sign until that is resolved. But the "agreement" is in place.

Great article from Howard.

The USMNT is a top-five coaching job in international soccer. They had to get this right and I’m delighted with Mauricio Pochettino… but here’s why it went wrong the last time the US hired a foreign coachhttps://t.co/q9VYH4OiBD

— Tim Howard (@TimHowardGK) August 15, 2024

Long but well worth the read.

ROG ON POCHETTINO AND THE USMNT 🇺🇸🧵

Rejoice, America! What a day this is for all who love the sport of soccer and its growth here in the United States. Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino, 52, is going to be the new manager of our US men's national team. (1/9) pic.twitter.com/9DZFkYOoLx

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 15, 2024

That's a great read. As a Chelsea fan I thought it was a travesty he left after a year. I just hope he can get his system installed and get enough time with the team to make it effective, but that aspect does make me nervous.

deadbq03 said:

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It's a good sign that Poch's not gonna just sit around and wait for the paperwork to get settled. Tremendous work ethic.

Mauricio Pochettino Officially Submits List Of Players He Wants The USMNT To Signhttps://t.co/UyTaf987Uo

— The Nutmeg News (@TheNutmegNews) August 15, 2024

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Now that's funny!

Anything else we need?

jessexy said:

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The more and more I think about it, Oscar Pareja is the right man for the USMNT.

He played on the Colombian NT back in the day. Sucks he backed up some all-time greats during that period and didn't make the 1994 World Cup roster (also some soccer politics going on there too with the Narco wars and soccer ownership).

He coached in the USYNT system and in MLS and he has a track record with some of these young players. He's very adept at playing the style of play this team needs to be playing:
-Hard-working
-High-pressure
-Counter-attacking
-Turnover creating
-Speed oriented

And his teams in MLS have been very crafty with high soccer IQ. Combining some of that South American soccer IQ he brings with that American grit and determination would be a great mix.

We don't need that possession-based style GGG was trying to force into this team. We need the style Pareja would bring.

I wouldn't mind Bielsa (Leeds was super fun to watch when he was there) or Miguel "Piojo" Herrera either.

Alas, I still think it's gonna be an Englishman or someone with extensive EPL connections. The guy hiring is too basic to think of what the USMNT actual needs.

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So USMNT GM Matt Crocker didn't hire an Englishman, but he did hire someone with extensive EPL connections. Looks like Crocker and Pochettino worked together at Southampton back in 2013, so they have connections with each other as well.

You don't like the hire?

Meh.....

I think I would've preferred Henry over Poch, but it's a good hire. Better than some of the other names thrown out like Cherundolo and Pellegrini, and even David Wagner. I do like that it's an international coach.

But I think Oscar Pareja would be a perfect fit for this USMNT cycle and should've had more consideration.

So here is my concern with Poch.

United have a bad season and sack Ten Hag in April. They pick up the phone and call Poch's agent. Is he turning that down?