Post-match: Thank You Greg Berhalter

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by FoxBoro 143, Dec 3, 2022.

  1. FoxBoro 143

    FoxBoro 143 Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know we will see all the usual negative posts on here, but I want to make this an exclusive thread to thank GB for his contributions over the course of this cycle.
    He managed to transition to a new generation of young players, something that national team managers around the world routinely fail to do.
    We showed very well during this tournament, but had two major downfalls. Youth and a reliable goalscorer. Neither of those weaknesses could have been fixed by anyone in the pool. Our experienced players were not nearly as good as our young stars, and we have no true goalscorer who has shown any consistency whatsoever.

    I'm pleased with GB. The other popular choice on Big soccer at the time was Tata Martino, who I'm not convinced would have managed to bring all of these young players on board. Likely he would have brought an older team and flamed out of the group stage like he did with Mexico. Tata also failed to beat us in a meaningful match.

    Thanks Greg!


    (I know that this forum is famous for the poorly thought out, automatically negative posts about anything and everything. Let's keep those out of this thread)
     
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  2. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think he did a very good job and and proud of the team and how they played. But it’s definitely time for a new manager - two cycle managers never work for us.
     
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  3. Guinho

    Guinho Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes, bless their hearts
    Estonia
    May 27, 2001
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Yay. He managed to do roughly what the US normally does and delivered a strictly middle of the pack performance. Woohoo.
     
  4. FoxBoro 143

    FoxBoro 143 Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Absolutely agree. My assumption is that his job is done. We have a fairly deep pool of viable American managers now, either in Europe currently or in MLS. Also, with the talent in our pool, plus being the host in 2026, I'd imagine plenty of top-tier foreign managers would also line up for a shot at this presumptive opening if the federation is willing to consider an international hire.
     
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  5. FoxBoro 143

    FoxBoro 143 Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for your well thought out response that ignores everything from the post you responded to.
     
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  6. An Unpaved Road

    An Unpaved Road Member+

    Mar 22, 2006
    Club:
    --other--
    Despite the talent I don’t think it was a given we automatically get back to expectations after a disastrous cycle. And as someone who remembers well Mexico fans absolutely reveling in their 09 and 11 Gold Cup wins as well as the Concacaf Cup I don’t discount the regional titles we recently won.

    Time to move on but before that thanks to Berhalter and the work he put in.
     
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  7. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Gregg brought through a strong core of young players who will be around to contribute in 2026. And he helped to restore a strong degree of camaraderie that had been missing from the 2018 group.
     
  8. don Lamb

    don Lamb Member+

    mine
    United States
    Aug 31, 2017
    What the US "normally does?" How did 2018 work out for us?

    Great cycle from Gregg.

    Key Accomplishments:
    - Completely turning over the player pool
    - Winning two regional trophies
    - Advancing out of the World Cup group stage
    - Instilling a more sophisticated identity in the way the team played than we have seen in the past

    There is room for growth in these areas whether it's Gregg or a new coach who comes on board. However, Berhalter has the program is a very good position moving forward.
     
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  9. theboogeyman

    theboogeyman Member+

    Jun 21, 2010
    Too many people take integration of youth and positive team culture for granted. There are A LOT of coaches out there who would keep trotting out guys like acosta and Roldan, and not giving guys like booth or Paredes a look. Im confident that berhalter would keep giving youngsters chances.

    I do think there are guys out there who can bring what GB does while improving on some weaknesses, but I don’t trust US Soccer to hire the right guy.

    I don’t like bringing coaches back for a second cycle, so I’m ready to move on from GB, but I don’t think it’s a sure bet that our next guy is an improvement.
     
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  10. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Or 1998 and 2006 for that matter?
     
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  11. RossD

    RossD Member+

    Aug 17, 2013
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    We, the US fan, were in a blackhole 4 years ago. No one would have realistically thought 4 years after that implosion we would be where we are now. This team is loaded for the next decade and the pipeline is full of young players. Greg got that up and running. Thank you.
     
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  12. Kilmer17

    Kilmer17 Member

    Mar 29, 2001
    I gove him thanks for bringing in the players who could have chosen other countries.
     
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  13. chad

    chad Member+

    Jun 24, 1999
    Manhattan Beach
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I’ll thank him for leaving gracefully if he does that. Otherwise he’s just an insider who got paid a ton and didn’t ******** up so much that he ruined the team.

    If he stays, he will achieve that.
     
  14. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Everyone who’s knows me and knows my history knows that I’ve been critical of Berhalter. And I still am.

    But I credit him for being great in the defensive third (although not today). If he’s not the coach moving forward, I would like to see him retained in some way as a defensive advisor to the next coach.

    Similarly, this is two points, he’s a great scout and recruiter, which is more indicative of this more important point, he seems to be great at building morale within the team. It’s a positive sign when players seem happy to play for the national team. And I definitely credit him for that.

    As someone said before, this program was in disarray in 2018, and he’s managed to get us back to where we at before, where we weren’t there yet, but we could sense that the it was possible to knock on the door of being in the big boy club.
     
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  15. mbar

    mbar Member+

    Apr 30, 1999
    Los Angeles, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don’t know what the ratio split was on berhalter before the cup. Let’s say it was 50/50. I wonder what it is now as far as support for another cycle?

    I was supportive of Gregg during this cycle but I do hope we have a new coach for the next 4 years. I think fresh eyes and ideas and clean slates for the player pool is really important for national teams.

    I wonder how many people here think he should stay on?
     
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  16. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This might sound like an insult to Berhalter, but it’s not meant to be. In college football terms, Berhalter reminds me a lot of a coach like Mark Richt at UGA. Incredibly nice guy. Phenomenal at player relations. Good enough to get some good results. But not quite good enough to get you to that next level.

    I say that, not to insult Berhalter, but to stress that even if you’re frustrated with him, as I am, he’s certainly been a good influence on many of these young players. And it seems obvious that these players look up to him as a role model and as a mentor.

    For that, I think he should receive a lot more credit.
     
  17. dlokteff

    dlokteff Member+

    Jan 22, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    I think that is very few. Could start a poll.
     
  18. RossD

    RossD Member+

    Aug 17, 2013
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    I too thought he did a good job but 8 years is a long time to be a head coach so I think we need new blood. The problem with national team coaching is the time frame is so long. You can't just go year to year. Its 4 or nothing.
     
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  19. jond

    jond Member+

    Sep 28, 2010
    Club:
    Levski Sofia
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    While I disagreed with G a lot and still do on a number of items, there was no ill-intent from him.

    He gave what he could and did his best. I'm not gonna kick a guy on his way out.

    Hope he gets a decent club gig and continues his progression as coach.
     
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  20. RossD

    RossD Member+

    Aug 17, 2013
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    I think we can all agree that whoever the new coach is, US fans will set unrealistic expectations for them then call for them to be fired when those expectations aren't met. :laugh:
     
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  21. The Clientele

    The Clientele Member+

    Portland Timbers
    Jun 25, 2005
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #21 The Clientele, Dec 3, 2022
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2022
    Per usual, realism, appreciation, respect and hope in the same post. Agree with you here 100%.

    I believe part of how we get better is through a culture of respect while maintaining a critical eye. We won’t get better with a toxic fan culture.

    Well done.

    I’ll say it again, we qualified for the World Cup, we went through our group with zero non-penalty goals, we held England’s superstars to a draw, we were in the round of the 16… for those of us who were around in the 1980s, we have come a long way!
     
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  22. Bajoro

    Bajoro Member+

    Sep 10, 2000
    The Inland Empire
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A lot of thoughtful and respectful posts here. Good job Gregg, good job USA supporters. I agree with many posts here, it's almost always better to change managers after a WC.
     
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  23. pirozhok

    pirozhok Member+

    United States
    Jul 20, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Gregg Berhalter, thank you in advance, coach, for resigning your post after WC, i hope Ernie Stewart won't make you to change er mind about quitting.
     
  24. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes- it will be especially dangerous with this squad because they are so young- there’s a common misconception that we have already seen the 2026 roster. In no way is that true. We need a coach that isnt invested in this roster so they have an open mind to new talent that might be better.

    Need a coach that also gets it right- keeping those that deserve to and adding new talent where it is legitimately better.

    anyway, kudos to Gregg for a good job, but please let’s not make the same mistake again.
     
  25. dlokteff

    dlokteff Member+

    Jan 22, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    For sure. He did an ok job, the whole of his tenure and in this tournament. He got us back to where we were and put a foundation to continue to build on.

    Hope Gregg can get a job in the Championship and then lead them to promotion. That would be awesome. If not come back to MLS and grind like he like to. He'll enjoy that more than the US gig I think, anyway.

    His time with the USMNT is hopefully at a close
     

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