Soccer, sports and politics (R)

I think Berhalter was perfectly serviceable. He met, but didn't exceed, the expectations that were given to him. I don't really understand the hate (other than a peculiarly American self-loathing of any soccer figure that doesn't have an English accent.) The spirit of the team was fine, the results were fine, and the tactics were fine.

Is Berhalter the second-coming of Rinus Michels? Probably not. Is he as awful as Klinsmann? Gawd, no. In a way, he's a Bidenesque figure. He's not a transformational savior but rather he represents a return to normalcy, a leader who's defined more by what he ain't than what he is.

 

So we should replace him with Brad Friedel?!

 

He's not even the 2nd coming of Linus Van Pelt.

Spirit, yes. Cause we're plucky!
Results were meh. About what I expected.
Tactics also meh. D broke down in this game but we're not up to the elite talent.

 

Berhalter as a coach reminds me of Berhalter as a player: adequate, but I’ll be happy when we have someone better.

 

Who's up next? Ted Lasso?

 

I know I am preaching to the converted, but I just about chucked my phone after reading a post-match article about how Berhalter was complaining that we lack a world-class striker, with the writer implying that was the difference between the two teams.

WTF?

1) Dutch goal #1 - A better set-up than any U.S. set-up all game. Yeah Pulisic had a good opportunity from a fluky play, and we scored a goal on a funky play, but we never deliberately put one of our forwards in such an attractive scoring position.

2) Dutch goal #2 - Ditto

3) Dutch goal #3 - Ditto

Anybody reading that article who either missed the game or who doesn't understand soccer well will be totally misled by its argument. It is true that the U.S. doesn't have a world-class striker. But that was not the difference in this game.

 

I’m pretty sure you are missing the point I’m alluding to. And the people calling out are taking me way too seriously.

Nobody is (seriously) calling for the US not to have the World Cup in 2026. That would be preposterous because the US, despite its shortcomings, is one of the best countries in the world when you look at most of the metrics on which you judge a country (at least as far as its domestic policies are concerned). Not the best, but one of.

And yet it has done things in its recent history, both to its own citizens and especially abroad, which are truly beyond the pale. There is a long list on which people should reflect on, and I’ve no doubt many here have and will continue to do so, but again, those are not real reasons to suggest it can’t host a global sports event.

Qatar is similar. There is a lot you can criticise it for, but none of that makes it go on a sporting blacklist for a global sports event. Many Muslims will see Qatar like most westerners see the US - positive country, towards the top of the list in the world, much still to improve.

This is a World Cup, not a Western Cup. If Qatar is on a sporting blacklist, so is the US and Britain etc and the only places the Cup can be held (if anywhere) are the Scandinavian countries.

 

i think he’s under contract right now, don’t know if he’s gonna leave his high paying gig

 

Calm down and check your blood pressure. Going off on a rant lake that is not good for you.
I don’t remember saying any of that. I mentioned looking in there and it seemed like they watched a different game.
You must be a poster there.

 

Your English envy is showing in almost every post that involves football.
How long did you live in England and which team did you follow there, you seen very knowledgeable.

 

RDP plays a very different role than Lautaro. He is in midfield and touches a lot of the ball. He can get his game back from there, build his confidence as well and he has been doing so. A forward is definitely different, you do not get the ball that often, you need to take advantage of opportunities, score or create for others.
He is not doing that missing relatively easy chances. He looks shaken and mentally shot. The knock out stage is not the best situation to rebuild a striker's confidence and Scaloni needs to play with the ones in form. He should keep Julian and if needed give Correa a shot. The Lautaro experiment in this WC can't continue. At the end of the match, even Messi basically refused to pass him the ball. He is a liability.

 

I think it has more to do with being benched by a pasty faced English coach (of dubious quality and/or experience) hired for the summer to coach at his local town rec league, when he was a kid

 

I am nominating Julianne Sitch for the USMNT head coaching job. She just led our local boys, the University of Chicago men's soccer team, to a national D3 title, with a 22-0-1 record. As the team's only draw was against another squad that had a women's coach, she boasts the attribute of never losing to male coaches. That should be an advantage when competing in a men's World Cup.

 

Hmmm...sounds sus

 

If only the best athletes in America participated in Olympic long track speed skating, there would definitely be a trickle down to soccer

 

You're mistaking envy and loathing.

Now that's not too far off the mark actually.

 

nope. they wrapped up filming and they say this is the last season. we will see, doing a season as him coaching USA leading up to 2026 could be fun way to drum up extra interest... We could do that, or we could just force our coach to wear cheap Nike t-shirts on the side line.

 

Especially in Las Vegas
Oh, wait, that was fear and loathing