So what skills/background does one need to be GM of the USMNT? I mean, I love McBride. But he's been a soccer player and TV analyst, right? Is that supposed to qualify him for the position?
I'll take it a step further... what the hell does the general manager of a national team DO in the first place?
He... you know.... in general.... manages... things... Totally spit-balling here but thinking... maybe the GM of the USMNT oversees the different groups that run the day-to-day stuff. Brian has background in playing (understanding players' needs in camps and tournaments), TV (understands how to handle media scheduling of players/coaches), and was both domestic and abroad (familiar with MLS and European organizations). Not sure that he has management experience but he does have experience in aspects of USMNT life. So he oversees what others are doing and could be in a position to identify gaps for different departments to address.
Agreed. Also, I admittedly don’t understand the power structure in USSF anymore, but can anyone really imagine these guys holding each other accountable? The Berhalter & Berhalter situation is ridiculous enough on its own.
Uh, I usually “get” USMNT references like this, but this one isn’t ringing a bell. Do you mean Mike “can’t guard the near post” Burns? Help a brother out.
When I hear “US in the World Cup 2006,” I have terrible flashbacks to yelling at my screen (Bruce) to take out Eddie Pope at halftime. History will show he did not, but the ref did shortly after.
I had to check Wikipedia, and then watch the highlight video of that USA-Italy match on YouTube--I had forgotten that Pope was our other ejection in that match. My recollection of Eddie was that he was a pretty level-headed, steady, reliable CB--not like him to get one, much less two, yellows. Not sure that I would have subbed out a CB at the half for sitting on a yellow. At the time (and to this day), the biggest crime in my mind committed by Pompous Man in that match was that, playing a man down from just after halftime, he NEVER USED THE THIRD SUB!!! Get some fresh legs on!! Italy was gassed also--from playing with 10 men themselves!!
Yeah, Pope was getting old. Heck, most of that 2006 team was old. But who would you pair with Gooch? The choices were Berhalter (32) and Conrad (29). (Or bring somebody younger to Germany in the first place.) Doesn’t change the fact that, unless injured, you generally don’t sub out a center back during a match, but rather sub out a winded midfielder (or a striker).
What I hated about that match, afterwards, was the fact that FIFA allowed the player that took out McBride to come back for the final, when they dropped a game off the original suspension.
I had the team specific 6 game ticket to follow the USA at the 2006 World Cup. It was a once in a lifetime 30 day vacation. The only downside was after the USA was eliminated during the group stage we had to follow Italy and watch them squeak by all comers. I was an eye witness to them knocking out Australia, Ukraine and Germany on July 4th, before heading home to watch them win the final too. That trip would have been at least 25% better if any of those teams had beaten them.
I've seen neither official retirement announcements nor hints that they have signed for another club for Meram and Higuain. Any idea where they ended up?
Saw rumor posted somewhere yesterday that Meram is signing with an Asian club. No other details. And a couple sentences at the end of a dispatch article yesterday said Higuain is currently rehabbing and focused on getting back on the field, or something along those lines. Doesn't sound like he's ready to retire at all, but I'm trying to figure out what the market for his services looks like and I'd have to imagine it's pretty dire.
Technically both are currently free agents. There was a note in the article about LZ's arrival stating that Higuain was working towards a comeback but with no destination listed. Appears he's still in Columbus but I can't imagine him fitting into the Crew roster so who knows with him. Meram will probably find a roster spot once every MLS team gets into Training Camp and some team realize it needs some wing depth. Can't imagine that would be the Crew even if the wing depth is a still a question. I guess there's a chance either of them head to another country's league, probably more likely for Meram as it seems Higuain has settled here in Columbus. So my speculation will be that Higuain remains a free agent unless injury bug gets bad here in Columbus and Meram finds a team somewhere.
That makes sense to me. Not sure what kind of deal he'd be able to get on a MLS third (possibly fourth) chance.
While we never won much of anything while those two studs were here, I will always think highly of both.
Here’s the tweet I saw... Per #MLS/#USL sources, Adam Jahn is set to join #ATLUTD pending the completion of his paperwork. I'm hearing #PHXRisingFC would bring in a $100,000 transfer fee for the striker.Jahn knocked ATL out of the 2017 playoffs with #Crew96 and made USL Best XI last season (17g, 7a). https://t.co/RHswqhQ2T9— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) January 14, 2020
I'm hoping Meram goes to Asia, and snags a job with a high profile team over there, gets significant playing time and at least one more big(ish) payday. For Higuain, I hope hes still hanging around here because hes going to stay around here. Since we never had some big sending off goodbye moment, I could see him joining the coaching staff, academy, or front office in some capacity.