Looks like it’s officially official. Thanks for playing, we’ll get them next time boys. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...halter-named-us-mens-national-team-head-coach
Some things I have heard and believe: This was done months ago There were no other candidates seriously considered USSF - especially Garber - did not want another coach bashing MLS (Klinsmann), so Europe was off-limits The player block strongly preferred an American get the job, and was part of them voting for Cordeiro Garber did not want Berhalter to leave while he was selling Columbus, which is why we wasted a year on Sarachan
All believable. I'm curious why our players strongly prefer an American. I would doubt someone like Pulisic would think an American coach is a necessity. Why would his viewpoint differ from the previous generation. Best coach available should be the preference. I fully believe the SUM/MLS powers that be wouldn't risk a coach who doesn't prop up MLS publicly. Garber's hysterical hissy fit shows how they think.
Instead of engaging a poster who seems to prefer taking shots at other posters, I will try to talk about the subject at hand. I like what Berhalter did in Columbus. This past year was remarkable. I like that he creates clarity in his system, and that castaway players seem to improve under him. The question will be whether Berhalter can adjust his system for players with different skill sets. He does not have an Higuain in the pool, so I am interested in seeing if/how he tries to duplicate that role. The strength of Berhalter’s system is getting the ball wide. What does he do with a pool lacking in wide players? If he can figure these things out, his structured and disciplined approach could be great for the US team.
At this point I have to question whether or not this federation is even interested in you know, Soccer. Berhalter? Really? Uhhhhh.
He is a defense first coach, so at least we are not going to get blown out of games. We have a good crop of young attacking players that can play one-touch. How is a defense-first coach going to develop these kids? I hope he gets good help, as in non-MLS help.
Nicely played. We need to get behind our national team if we are the supporters we claim to be and support the team and its coaches. We can still be unhappy with results and even direction, but we need to supporter OUR national team.
This passage by Grant Wahl's article is telling: "But it’s also crystal clear that Jay Berhalter had a major role in the process that resulted in U.S. Soccer hiring Gregg Berhalter, a process that did not view Martino, Vermes, Marsch, Ramos, Osorio, Bradley or Lopetegui as serious candidates. Being Jay’s brother should not have disqualified Gregg from being a candidate for the job. It should have absolutely disqualified him from appearing to be the only serious candidate." Not because it is true, but because Grant actually wrote something of substance for once. What does that tell any person with even a little bit of guile? It tells you that there is already a major split in this hiring and it means that one of those guys: Martino, Vermes, Marsch, Ramos, Osorio, Bradley or Lopetegui Had and has serious backing within USMNT. A house divided, just split in four.
Hmmm, I remember that big match up between him and rbny against marsch. Marsch kept Dax on the pitch and stasha and grella..basically 3 guys who can't run but lope around the pitch. Beerholder countered by putting in a very athletic, very pressing midfield. Results were that RBNY couldn't match the speed or intensity and Columbus wins.
I am hopeful that while these things seem to ring true...Berhalter may still succeed. The fact that the USSF is seemingly hopelessly corrupt, insular, whatever doesn’t mean they couldn’t run into a good coach almost in spite of themselves. I think I’ll just continue supporting the team (not with my money) and hoping they do well, while regarding the federation with contempt.
can i just point out that in 2017 lee nguyen had 11 goals and 15 assists as a playmaker for new england? and that higuain has only had double digit assists once (2017) with 14......(meanwhile, lee's done it 2015, 16, 17 - and he also had 18 goals in 2014 - higuain's highest in one season in mls is 11) oh and by the way lee is 2 year's younger than federico.
I ask this question from a standpoint of ignorance, honestly: What is the predictor of success for international managers? I guess it has to do with the national team that one manages, as "success" is relative. I would think that "success" for Berhalter would be, from a brass tacks standpoint, qualification for 2022, and progression from the group stages. As negative as I am about the recent USMNT, I am willing to look at a long horizon and say that the struggles in the last cycle were more of a large conflux of bad circumstances that culminated with us being 1 goal short of qualification. I still think our "success" should not be just based on qualification. Therefore, what was the body of work from Berhalter, that suggest to those that hired him that he would be the most qualified candidate out of the deep list of candidates? What calculus did they use to hire Berhalter that told them he was the most likely to be successful? His international management track record? Nope. His European record of success as a manager? Nope. His pedigree of outstanding results as an MLS manager, his multiple domestic trophies? Nope. What's left? I guess the question is, why set the bar so low in an era that suggests that we need an awful lot of help from the tactical aspect of the game as we don't have a ton of technical help from the players? I'm with Phil Schoen from this morning on The Football Show, "Something doesn't smell right."