What I would dispute is this idea that Pulisic or Weah were given free reign. And I think on Twitter it’s even worse in terms of what people are saying about Weah. Just because he said he wants Berhalter back. Weah in particular really did have to earn his spot and it definitely wasn’t handed anything by Berhalter. And Berhalter was also very willing to work with him and review film and help him work on his game, which I’m sure Weah appreciated. We know Miazga is not a fan. We assume Reyna is not. Scally made comments that he’d like a simpler system. But it’s otherwise pretty clear a large number of the core guys on the team liked Berhalter and wouldn’t mind having him back. I still don’t think Berhalter will be back though. Mostly because if that was what they were doing I think they would have just done it already. One of things I do think is pretty clear is that Berhalter built a very good environment and that’s something that’s pretty important to maintain from pretty much anyone we’ve heard from.
I didn't mean Pulisic and Weah in particular. I mean in general terms in regards to any players for any coach or any employees of any manager/business leader.
what stood out to me about weahs comments was "hopefully, yeah, hopefull (he) comes back". how does everyone insisting that berhalter is out of the picture square that with pulisic and now weah saying they hope hes back? i get that his contract ran out, but no ones ruled him out- in fact every comment from anyone in the fed is that he is still an option. are you saying you know more than cone, bateson, crocker and now those two guys about the nt manager situation? i dont see how the (nine month at the very least) search is any more than a "lets ask zidane or whoever" before going right back to gregg. try not to spin everything for once in your life and tell me how now multiple players arent saying berhalter is on standby?
For one Berhalter has not been rehired yet. And if they were planning on doing it they just could have done it already as opposed to sitting around and letting his entire staff leave for no reason. If they wanted Berhalter back they’d have no reason to wait or to let Callaghan coach the Nations League. It also won’t be a 9 month search given that Crocker started last month. They said they’d hire a coach by August but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen before. They originally said no sporting director until the women’s World Cup and it came much faster. If Berhalter ends up getting rehired I feel freely admit I’m wrong and criticize the process they went through to get there. But don’t you think it’s possible that they are conducting a real search? As for the players a lot of them do like Berhalter. But I take that more as them saying that they want to build on what was started next cycle as opposed to a new coach coming in a tearing it all down.
so sticking with spinning everything against all common sense and evidence, got it. doubling down, in fact- you can take what theyre saying as meaning they like pineapple on their pizza, i guess, but two of our core players have literally said they hope he comes back. not building on anything, not finishing what he started, not terrible taste in toppings.
It does mean something that the two most professional guys in the squad have publicly supported Berhalter’s return.
They have also at different times (especially Pulisic) said they want to build on what they did last cycle and they don’t need someone to come in and tear it all down. Zimmerman said something similar this week without any reference to Berhalter. I think there’s clearly a number of guys in the locker room who want Berhalter back. And it’s a factor for Crocker to consider, but it’s not the only factor for him to consider. He has access to information that they don’t have (like the list of other candidates). And we’ve seen this across sports, but players aren’t always right in terms of who their manager should be. In the end all we can do is wait and see who they hire. What I don’t like is this idea that seems to be percolating on twitter that guys who want Berhalter back are players who don’t have the mentality to make it. When in reality it’s not particularly relevant to their mentality.
You can see how the hate just distorts everything. Back when Weah first came back from injury, he actually talked about how Berhalter helped him with certain things and how it was a new perspective to come to camp versus the club set up. Pulisic, I believe, mentioned the latter as well. He listens to his players. He's organized and clear, even if a couple of players struggled with the press and would like perhaps less instruction. The idea that he's arrogant seems to stem from him not "listening" to people on here, but he's a guy who travels to other teams in the offseason to learn from their coaching staffs. He's far from perfect, but people have this idea that Pulisic and Weah couldn't possibly like Berhalter because he doesn't play a 4231 or that he calls in MLS guys. I guarantee no USMNT player is longing for Emmanuel Sabbi. I'm sure they have guys who they think are better than others, but I also think you might be surprised at who they appreciate and don't on the squad. But it shouldn't be ridiculous that Weah likes him. For US fans, Weah playing behind Arriola was sacrilege. But for Weah, Berhalter worked with him out of camp -- and a LOT of national team coaches don't really do this -- to help him improve on certain things he wasn't bringing -- and then he took the role. That's what a player wants. If you need something more from me, be clear, help me, and I'll do it. This shouldn't be a shock. But remember -- if Pepi is mad he didn't get put on the World Cup squad, Berhalter is terrible. And if Weah and Pulisic said they like him, they are clearly lying.
I think it's ok to think that there are a lot of things Berhalter was very good at and yet still want the US to move into another direction for this next cycle. Definitely don't think the two ideas can't go together.
Don't tell that to twitter lol you know have people demanding Weah lose his spot to Taylor Booth because Weah "doesn't want to be challenged" because he wants Gregg back.
Folks are avoiding the discussion of the reality that Weah earned the right wing role at the World Cup by beating Reyna outright for the position. Even should Reyna have been healthier, he would have played as an substitutional alternative to Weah, who was featured in the game plan as what was essentially Pulisic’s attacking partner. Weah + Pulisic was very good at the World Cup. It was Weah who benched Reyna, not Berhalter. Weah damn well earned it on and off the field…even outside of his obvious leadership disposition the guy earned it with his play. In some warped way a false memory has been created in the minds of some that Reyna was stifled by Berhalter when in actuality Berhalter bent over backward to put the kid on the field even when he should have been left (or sent home). Weah won the wing role outright and demonstratively.
Well, I am pretty sure it's now going to be Pep Guardiola. He's won the treble with two different teams now. There's no challenge left for him to cement himself as the best ever....except for one thing! World Cup winners with the USA
Who wants the best coach in MLS to get the USMNT job? Tonight was the quickest Steve Cherundolo post match press conference of all-time. He was unsurprisingly upset. The only quote he gave on what went wrong..."A lot. Didn't show up to play tonight. Just got beat."📸: @TheStrikerNews pic.twitter.com/BtP3j6psle— Justin Ruderman (@JustinRuderman_) June 11, 2023 Dolo was fuming. Said 31 total words, by my count. Might be a record for tersest presser in MLS history? https://t.co/d79SlANfvT— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) June 11, 2023 #LAFC first half passing networkAbsolutely no progression through midfield with everything played in wide channels pic.twitter.com/ch24j3HcOI— Justin Ruderman (@JustinRuderman_) June 11, 2023
Every coach has a bad game. It's more about the season as a whole. LAFC has hit a rough patch and the test for Cherundolo is how they handle it.
By comparison Remember the USMNT vs. Netherlands Round of 16 WC match? Here's where the 16 Dutch players who played in that match ended their seasons. pic.twitter.com/KCRTnaucHl— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) June 10, 2023
I really thought they would rotate midweek but they didn't. This game was bad, no doubt about it. A little bad luck on the first goal (deflected) and then two self-inflicted goals and yeah the team looked dejected. The last one, a golazo, added insult to injury.
LAFC have one win in their last seven games... 2-1 against an Earthquakes team that had not won away from home in like a year.
👀 USSF is interviewing former US international and current LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo for the open USMNT position per @heathpearce on @ISWTPod #USMNT #LAFC #Concacaf #NationsLeague #Hannover #Cherundolo pic.twitter.com/0hXvn5C7ln— State of Football (@St8ofFootball) June 11, 2023
I actually do think Dolo has shown himself to be a very good candidate though the CCL final was not a shining moment for him... though in fairness to him as well, some players you'd expect to play well just didn't. Clearly the experience is something worth talking about but a congested MLS season having a lackluster run in form doesn't really bug me. Though again the CCL performance (which to me wasn't about roster restrictions) is a head tilter
I would expect Dolo and Marsch to both be interviewed. My hope is the coaching search extends beyond just those two and includes other international managers etc. I still wish Low would get an interview.