By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
  1. Dan Loney

    Dan Loney BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 10, 2000
    Cincilluminati
    Club:
    Los Angeles Sol
    Nat'l Team:
    Philippines
    #1 Dan Loney, Dec 6, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2018

    US Soccer: Hold My Beer

    By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
    It doesn't actually matter how Gregg Berhalter was hired, unless for some reason you buy the theory that Jay Berhalter is the Cardinal Richelieu of American soccer, and Earnie Stewart his catspaw. Sometimes soccer runs in families. Here's some interesting trivia – former US men's national team coach Bob Bradley actually coached his son Michael. And no one ever said a word about that.

    For our younger readers – that's a joke. It was brought up once or twice.

    Either he wins, and it's a good hire, or he loses, and it isn't. The past is provolone. But wondering why the Berhalter hire took so long has agitated our finest minds since at least Carlos Codeiro's election, and certainly since Stewart's hiring. Not that agitating our fine minds is what you'd call difficult.

    And you know what? There might be a good reason why this hire took forever and a day.

    Usually when a hiring process takes this long, it's because the job is so undesirable that only someone truly desperate would take it. But we're not hearing about coaches rejecting the offer, or even using the US opening as leverage against other clubs or nations. We are hearing, off the record from Tata Martino's and Julen Lopetegui's camps, and on the record from Peter Vermes, that polite inquiries were shot down like the Red Baron taking out Snoopy's Sopwith Camel.

    It's easy to conclude that Stewart was uninterested in hiring a non-American coach. I would listen patiently to those who say this is unwise. I would listen less patiently to those who say this wasn't Stewart's decision – until there's evidence that Earnie is not what his title says he is.

    But if you accept the premise that the US men's national team coach has to expand the available talent pool as well as win with whatever talent is available, then you pretty much need a person who is completely familiar with the talent pool. Very few non-Americans answer that description.

    You may believe the talent pool for American soccer is in Europe, and not the United States. Couple of things to keep in mind, though. Gregg Berhalter coached in Europe. And Earnie Stewart was just about the original European-born pro who chose to represent the United States. I don't think we're going to close off dual citizens from the national team, and I don't think we should.

    I've also never really believed that people who were saying the national team should be fully "American" were saying anything more insidious than "Timmy Chandler sucks." But Bruce Arena, Landon Donovan and Abby Wambach are not in power, and I find it difficult to believe that Gregg Berhalter and Earnie Stewart would turn down the next Gregg Berhalter and Earnie Stewart.

    Now, just because the coach is an American doesn't mean he's going to get every American player. Latino and African-American outreach up and down the soccer system has – I really am trying to come up with something classier than "sucked," but sometimes the mot is just too juste. The USSF has paid lip service to making greater efforts here, and if Berhalter and Stewart don't belatedly fulfill some of their predecessors' promises, well, they damned well better make up for it by winning literally all the time. Making players rich and famous is one way to recruit, after all.

    Fine, we had to have a Yank, but why this Yank? Berhalter hasn't won anything.

    Well, here's where we get into his previous position. I don't think the coaches who have won Cups and Shields recently are noticeably better than Berhalter on their own terms.

    Don't believe me? No, you don't, do you, you miserable little – sorry, overreacted. Okay, fine. Let's look at the coaches who have won things in the US in the past ten years:

    2009: Jason Kreis, Sigi Schmid and Robert Warzycha.

    2010: Gary Smith, Schmid and Bruce Arena.

    2011: Arena and Schmid.

    2012: Arena, Peter Vermes and Frank Yallop.

    2013: Vermes, Ben Olsen and Mike Petke.

    2014: Arena and Schmid.

    2015: Caleb Porter, Vermes and Jesse Marsch.

    2016: Brian Schmetzer and Oscar Pareja.

    2017: Greg Vanney and Vermes.

    2018: Either Tata Martino or Gio Savarese, Wilmer Cabrera and Chris Armas (unless you want to give Marsch credit for this year's Shield).

    So, how many times did you audibly shout "Nope!" If we were truly going by accomplishment, we'd demand Sigi Schmid finally get his shot. I actually think it's a little poignant that Schmid will (probably) never get his shot, but the national team job isn't a lifetime achievement award.

    There are some names we shouldn't rule out, but we should also keep in mind how many popular heirs apparent in the past ten years have vanished from the wish lists. We were about to carry Oscar Pareja to the sidelines on a litter there for a hot minute. Heck, we still might.

    And Vermes, who seems so disappointed that it wasn't his time?

    Well, now we're back to Earnie Stewart. Berhalter, of course, was not the only candidate with a distinguished national team career. Stewart and Vermes were contemporary teammates. If the one doesn't want to build a working relationship with the other, there's not a lot we as outsiders can do about it. Other than, of course, assume that Berhalter was forced on Stewart by Jay Berhalter ahead of a player and coach of greater qualifications and personal rapport.

    Seriously, so much conspiracy mongering, at this point, assumes that Earnie Stewart is the most easily pushed around figure in the history of American soccer. I hate to hang the jury, but I'm going to need a little more to go on.

    I might as well stop dancing around this – I haven't asked if Peter's now long-ago DUI probation played a part in the decision, mostly because there's no way I'd get anything in response besides a stony denial. That's the sort of thing a few more MLS Cup wins can counterbalance – and Vermes has kept out of trouble since then, of course.

    But as of right now, are you truly more impressed by Vermes' Open Cup win and an MLS Cup (at home, after penalties, and Collin should have been red-carded in the first half, easily the least impressive MLS Cup win since 2010 and only slightly downstaged by Seattle a couple of years ago)? More how Gregg Berhalter guided the Columbus Crew to the second round of the playoffs during a season when their owner was trying to kill them?

    Well, if you are, Earnie wasn't.

    Fine, Berhalter's the guy. But why did we need to whiz away the entire Year of Our Lord 2018?

    Well…why not? Let's say we had gone undefeated, untied and unscored on this year, winning every game by multiple goals, each one a highlight reel classic. Would we be any closer to the World Cup? We would not. No game was going to count this year. I'd have cancelled all the games if it had been up to me.

    Besides, I don't think it was a wasted year. Or to be more precise, I think it was wasted for very good reasons.



    DJ's point is extremely well taken. Every American fan should be delighted that Berhalter was around to coach Columbus this season.

    The #SavedTheCrew effort – to me the story of the year in American soccer, and there is no close second – might have succeeded even if this year's Crew had been horrible. But there was no way Berhalter could have known that the Crew would be saved. It was much more likely he was signing his name on one of the all-time dog acts. Even if Berhalter was the initial choice, a season of Chivas USA Ohio would have been a hell of a resume risk.

    Not only did Berhalter not join the US men's national team before now, he didn't even skip out on Columbus. I don't want to overstate the attractiveness of my favorite mediocre team, but Berhalter was a near-permanent candidate for the LA Galaxy job.

    As it turned out, around the time Earnie Stewart was officially hired by the USSF, the Red Bulls job was available. Berhalter grew up in New Jersey. Chris Armas seems like the right hire, and maybe he was always next in line. But Armas might have crashed and burned.

    That's two teams, out of over twenty. Once Anthony Precourt announced his candidacy for Jerk of the Year, Berhalter was the biggest flight risk in the league.

    But he stayed at his post.

    Why?

    This is another question I wouldn't expect a straight answer to, at least until Precourt is far enough away from MLS and USSF that he couldn't even reach them with a writ – and that might be a long time, since apparently suing USSF is the cool new thing all the kids are doing.

    But there are two possible answers, given the facts in evidence – an interview process from at least August, probably far longer, that nevertheless took in a pool of maybe one and a half candidates. For a highly desirable job that had been open since October 2017.

    I think Berhalter stayed in Columbus to help save the Crew. Or at least, to not cause further damage to the Crew. I think he stayed out of loyalty to his players and the club's fans. Unlike most of the team's players, staff and fans, he had options outside Columbus he could have acted on at nearly any point. Instead, he took what I consider to be a considerable risk in staying. I don't think he wanted to be the last coach of the Columbus Crew.

    If this is the case, well, as you can tell, I consider this to be hugely admirable by both Berhalter and Stewart. This is the sort of loyalty you dream about in any sport.

    Or. Berhalter may well have concluded for selfish reasons that the appearance of loyalty would serve him best. Through Machiavellian calculation, he stayed at a position where disaster would carry no blame, and success would seem miraculous.

    Well, if this were the case, then Berhalter is a visionary. Waving off all other offers, risking that Stewart would wave off all other candidates, and gambling he wouldn't be the forlorn guide of Austin FC, indefinitely trying to coach teams built by the power and genius of Anthony Precourt? If Berhalter was guided by self-interest, he bet on a beagle to win the Kentucky Derby. Whether lucky or ingenious, this man has to be our coach.

    Only Stewart and Berhalter know for sure. I realize I'm spinning a glorious fantasy out of a federation that deserves absolutely no benefit of the doubt, but I don't see too many other scenarios – and none that don't involve Earnie Stewart being astoundingly lazy and easily manipulated combined with a strange lack of interest from other qualified candidates. Dave Sarachan seemed pretty resigned to his fate, didn't he? Did it seem like he was coaching for his job?

    Or, Earnie Stewart is the biggest Carl Yastrzemski fan who ever lived. Maybe there are plenty of potential reasons we haven't thought of, who knows.

    MLS CUP PREVIEW:

    MLS turns out regular season nobodies as MLS Cup winners with disturbing regularity anyway, and the Timbers seem like an unusually good candidate to join that club. Seattle was the hottest team on the planet before the playoffs. Kansas City isn't the easiest out in the league by any means – I think Peter Vermes had something to prove? I'll try to follow up. I think that was a tougher path than what Atlanta faced – tough enough for me to take the Timbers seriously. Savarese may be a first time MLS coach, but unlike Armas he's not a first time coach. Martino has both feet out the door, and he's probably not the only one who won't be around Atlanta for First Kick 2019. Call it contrariness if you like. I just smell an upset. Portland, 2-1.
     
    Ismitje repped this.
?

Should Atlanta United give up on this AC Milan crap and go peach full-time?

  1. Falcons colors, though, and Blank owns both. It's SYNERGY!

    3 vote(s)
    25.0%
  2. You think printers and apparel makers have all this peach ink and fabric sitting around? Dumbass

    9 vote(s)
    75.0%

Comments

Discussion in 'Articles' started by Dan Loney, Dec 6, 2018.

    1. Beau Dure

      Beau Dure Member+

      May 31, 2000
      Vienna, VA

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      I was thinking this would be about the Foundation suing the Federation.
       
    2. Bill Archer

      Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

      Mar 19, 2002
      Washington, NC
      Club:
      Columbus Crew
      Nat'l Team:
      United States
      #3 Bill Archer, Dec 7, 2018
      Last edited: Dec 7, 2018

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      I think that, as you say, Berhalter staying in Columbus when every indication was that the team was gone and done, is the most under-remarked aspect of the entire saga.

      Team "management" (to use the term loosely if not laughably) was either a) absent or b) running around telling anyone who would listen that those #savethecrew guys were on a fools' mission, that nothing could stop Precourt from shuttering the place and relocating to Texas.

      The smart thing would have been to get while the getting was good, but Berhalter stayed and made a remarkable run with a low budget, modestly talented side playing in a stadium where a third to a half of the field lighting bulbs were burned out and ownership refused to pay to replace them. Who needed that shit?

      Loyalty? Integrity? We just don't know. We may never know since Berhalter is about as open and chatty as, well, Bruce Arena.

      Whatever the case, except for a personal desire to escape the Precourt circus (which not even Precourt himself has any interest in, having set foot in Columbus maybe 6 times since 2013) the US team might as well have taken the year off anyway. He served a purpose in Columbus, whereas there was literally no purpose in the games the men played under Sarachan.

      Well, except for making money, and we could have had Dan Loney run those practices for all the difference it would have made. And the media conferences would have been a hell of a lot more entertaining.
       
    3. SteelyTom

      SteelyTom Member

      Mar 21, 2007
      Boston, MA USA
      Club:
      Pumas UNAM
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      The reason 2018 was a lost year has nothing to do with results, as DL suggests. It has to do with pissing away six or more months during which Berhalter (or someone else) could have spent evaluating our young talent and implementing his vaunted system. As it is, GB will have little time evaluating/integrating the Europe-based players before the Gold Cup begins.

      Then again, arguably the hapless Crew is far more important that USMNT.
       
      H48omer repped this.
    4. Mateofelipe

      Mateofelipe Member+

      Mar 10, 2001
      Spokane, WA
      Club:
      Seattle Sounders
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      Our choices to answer your poll seem to be "no" and "no." I am inclined to "yes." Then, why mess with success.

      Much as I would enjoy seeing the Granola Tweakers, er, I mean the Dead Trees, er I mean my team's esteemed Cascadia rivals get pummeled, I agree with you the result is much in doubt. "St. Valeri" and Portland's other aging core members will be highly motivated to get what could be their last shot at hardware.
       
    5. MarioKempes

      MarioKempes Member+

      Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
      Aug 3, 2000
      Proxima Centauri
      Club:
      Real Madrid
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      This is your best work to date.
       
      deejay repped this.
    6. an1310

      an1310 Member+

      Jun 2, 2003
      Atlanta, GA

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      Call me crazy, but since Berhalter removed that 3rd arm from his forehead he's looked like a very astute and flexible coach with a clear tactical plan. After 8 years of Left Back Yahtzee and Arena of 2006, I, for one, welcome our new USSF overlords.
       
    7. rocketeer22

      rocketeer22 Member+

      Apr 11, 2000
      Oakton,VA
      Club:
      DC United
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      They just wanted to make sure they could land a manager that not only had the top U.S. coaching credentials, but the sexy UEFA one as well ;)

      Much has been made of him coaching at Hammarby. However, it should be noted that he served as an assistant at LA Galaxy before going to Hammarby (both owned/operated by AEG).

      (Note: It seems Jesse Marsch also has the UEFA certification).
       
    8. Paul Berry

      Paul Berry Member+

      Notts County and NYCFC
      United States
      Apr 18, 2015
      Nr Kingston NY
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      So has Brad Friedel.
       
    9. deejay

      deejay Member+

      Feb 14, 2000
      Tarpon Springs, FL
      Club:
      Jorge Wilstermann
      Nat'l Team:
      Bolivia

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      Very good points here. In the end, this 2022 cycle will run half a year late anyways. What is the rush?
       
    10. Paul Berry

      Paul Berry Member+

      Notts County and NYCFC
      United States
      Apr 18, 2015
      Nr Kingston NY
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      I think it's important to make the 2021 Confederations Cup. Without 2026 qualifying the new generation needs as many competitive games as possible. Plus it's a chance to raise the awareness of the American public.
       
    11. Martininho

      Martininho Member+

      Feb 13, 2007
      Chicago
      Club:
      --other--
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      "DJ's point is extremely well taken. Every American fan should be delighted that Berhalter was around to coach Columbus this season."

      Yessindeederinio! Saving the Crew is the story of the year, and hopefully certain other cancers...I'm looking at you, Andrew Hauptmann and your [largely] clown car front office in Bridgeview, as the next disease to be eradicated from the league.

      Lots of work still to do. I hope Berhalter fully justifies Stewart's selection.
       
      Honore de Ballsac repped this.
    12. Honore de Ballsac

      Oct 28, 2005
      France.

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      As far as assessing the pool goes, how can being an MLS coach and readying for battle against a big chunk of those players - the base really - be discounted?

      Bet GB checked the score on a couple of those US friendlies too.

      Maybe we could have hired a Lopetegui last summer, but they'd still be trying to gain GB's knowledge of the players ...well into next year.
       
    13. mschofield

      mschofield Member+

      May 16, 2000
      Berlin
      Club:
      Union Berlin
      Nat'l Team:
      Germany

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      Seriously? A Vermes DUI might have had something to do with this? How about
      "What I want to hear and you want to hear and we all want to hear is, what is the plan? What are we doing? I would agree that you don’t have to blow the whole thing up and start all over again. But you do have to realize there have been some major failures and you have to evaluate it and come up with a plan. And to come up with a plan you have to have a goal. I want to know what the goal is.
      The goal has to be something more than to qualify for the World Cup. "
      Just canoodling here, but maybe expressing the notion that the US soccer setup is "run" by egoist halfwits who can't have been overly pleased to hear criticism about their expensive new clothes might have had a bit more to do with Vermes staying at SKC than a DUI.
      Berhalter is a fine manager. His teams play quite nicely. I don't think there's any validity, however, in diminishing Vermes champtionship or Cup wins (two) to make this point. Berhalter, after all, did not win those exact things, so it is advantage Vermes in that sense.
      All said, as as SKC fan, I couldn't be happier than to see Vermes stay, and Berhalter take the job. I think he will do well. And, if he doesn't, that's, what, 10 competitive games a year to fret about?
       
      KC96, Honore de Ballsac and russ repped this.
    14. Nacional Tijuana

      Nacional Tijuana St. Louis City

      St. Louis City SC
      May 6, 2003
      San Diego, Calif.
      Club:
      Seattle Sounders
      Nat'l Team:
      United States

      US Soccer: Hold My Beer

      By Dan Loney on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:42 PM
      #teampeach
       

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