Jeez, were there really? I don't have the time to look back through that thread but would love to know who though Tata wasn't suitable, as opposed to people who thought the USSF didn't think Tata was suitable, so that I can keep tabs on those...unfortunate opinions.
Wanting to hire one coach (who isn't Berhalter) over another (who isn't Berhalter) isn't the same thing as "not wanting Tata as coach". It's having a preference. (by the way, I don't remember taking sides in any of that, but if I did it was likely to Tata, because the guy plays dynamic football and Marsch's time will come, soon)
I know there’s a difference. I remember a few parroting the USSF stance. And a few that thought we could do better than Tata tho I think when they won that changed but at the start of it I remember people talking ish saying ATL didn’t win it all in the first year of existence. And that they lost to I believe GB and Columbus in the playoffs. Marsch’s time hopefully won’t come any time soon. As it stands he’s on the rise. Coming back to coach the US would be a step down for him and his career trajectory. Hopefully we won’t see him until the later stages of his career.
Eh, I'm a Berhalter defender, at least compared to the rest of you. I also understand the advantages of a coach speaking English when that's the only language all of his players speak. But I still would have been very, very happy with Tata Martino. He's a good coach, even if he's stayed in one place for four years exactly once. That said, the word around Atlanta was that he was leaving because his wife didn't want to live in the US anymore (or an English speaking country) and with Carlos Bocanegra both being an Atlanta United employee AND a member of the search committee, I find it hard to believe that there was no backchannel of anything.
Yeah, of course. Kid had to decide. At what age, if he is still showing this problem, still running 15 miles but only getting 30 touches, so we deem Philly a failure in this? He is 19, they have had 9 years. 21? 25? How long do we take a great prospect and experiment here? I doubt Philly sells him as American players are just not sold in MLS. So, probably 3 more years at least. Then he can leave for free and find a club that will teach him.
His pass map was 43 passes sideways or back, 0 passes forward. You are not press resistant doing that. Just letting team mates do all the work and take all the risk.
I agree that Sargent wasn't in a great environment this year. But Bremen have developed world class players, quite a few.
Sure, Bremen has done so in the past, but how has Sargent's game changed over the last year? I haven't seen the player I'd thought I'd see, even with the dearth of quality attacking play around him. I still have high hopes for the guy because he's showed flashes that have impressed.
I think he works hard and effectively defensively for 90 minutes. He wasn't doing that in March, added that after the break. He has become good at winning 50/50 aerials. Things you have to do to start for a relegation threatened team. Not that different than what Zardes did in Orlando.. Playing with that enormous pressure of relegation is a learning experience. I only brought up Sargent because he would get the same touches per game as Aaronson. And he was a striker on a terrible team. Aaronson does not get in position to get the ball most of the time. In January, Lletget and Yueill touched the ball twice as much as Aaronson in the same midfield.
I like the rest of the story on Ngabe's perfect passing. Stats can be so misleading Its nice to complete 100% of the passes you attempt. But its meaningless if those passes don't do much to help the team.
None of them has Aaronson's goals+assists per 90. I'm sure Bremen would have preferred from Sargent fewer touches but a higher goals + assists per 90.
FWIW, Jordan Angeli of the MLS Assist Podcast ( a good listen btw) and a former pro is impressed by his ability and willingness to take the ball under pressure. I think players value the outlet and the bailout. I don't know if it actually helps the team win.
That does not mean it works for the National Team. Some guys rise to the occasion and play over their percelved ceilings when they play tougher competition. Some go the other direction.
I appreciate the data driven analysis that you provide. that being said, the main point is that we lost and he was one of our two CMs. I tend to give players a pass for having to cover for Bradley as it's really apparent looking backwards that Mike doesn't make his USMNT partner look good. who was the last player to excel there? Jones and Beckerman? It's different for club because TFC always had elite players that the team was built around rather than around Bradley.
jones with beckerman behind them, and feilhaber before that under bob. thats actually the entire list of midfields that have excelled with bradley.
IIRC, Jones was told that he was there to support Mike and he wondered why it wasn't the other way around. it worked obviously even though they had to have a strong defender behind them.