Yea, LD is and was 100% in the right on this the whole time. Mark Pulisic was wrong. Like Donovan said he took his sabbatical at 31 almost 32, not 26. He also had played 140 games for the usmnt… basically playing every game for a decade +. He also only missed two games and he also took a ton of criticism for it and paid a terrible price. Pulisic and Donovans situations aren’t comparable at all and it’s just an ill informed knee-jerk cheap shot.
This program is in a bad spot and Pulisic is just vibing across social media and jumping on podcasts to tell us how "great" he feels right now. Like.. wtf man. I don't recall Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard or Landon Donovan skipping Gold Cups to play golf. I would imagine those guys would show up, play through things and possibly get injections if necessary to be there for their country. Pulisic is putting on a really bad look.
I didn't watch, did Pulisic really say one bad result when the team is currently in the middle of a four game losing streak? Pulisic said in the interview that everyone needs to stop being negative after only one result...Bad results since Gregg was rehired:- 0-4 home loss against Switzerland (Friendly)- 1-5 home loss against Colombia (Friendly)- 0-1 home loss against Panamá (Nations League)-…— USMNT Report 🇺🇸🇹🇷 (@USMNTReport) June 12, 2025
It’s clear after this incident that the USMNT top guys are a leadership drain on the team. Tyler Adams needs to be able to get in Pulisic’s grill. Diego Luna needs to feel free to do the same. There needs to be a new leadership core, and I don’t think that Pulisic or Weston should be a part of it. Pulisic, with his behavior, is saying “hey, I don’t want to be leader of this thing. I really don’t want to even be committed to it all the time.” Okay then. We get it. It’s time for fans and team staff to move on from the idea of Pulisic as a leader.
Insecurities and ego could really mess up roster selection for WC 26 if the principals let them. And I am including Poch in that.
Dictionary definition of "soft": Tim Howard also revealed that in the past, Christian Pulisic had DMd him privately saying his comments were ‘out of order’ after he had criticized him. Tim Howard reacted to Christian Pulisic’s father Mark’s callout of Landon Donovan.He revealed both Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic were invited to join the show. Tim Howard also revealed that in the past, Christian Pulisic had DMd him privately saying his comments were…— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 12, 2025
I agree. The media and podcasters all trying to boost views and instigate will contribute to it, I fear. Pulisic is in the doghouse right now. According to Pulisic, Pochettino has called him once. That’s it. The more Christian talks, the worse it will get. It’s not too late to fix this mistake. Cherundolo can still come in and right this ship.
Let's call this what it is - pressure. The pressure is now ramping up - the former players are calling out any current players that are not blooding themselves for the USMNT jersey. Just the way it is ... We all know 2026 is right in front of us - on our home soil. After Couva I thought the situation would change (the entire mindset of the current USMNT generation) because a chunk of it was the coaching situation. I am not so sure now. Regardless - those that have worn the jersey through thick and thin have a right to ask the tough questions ... Christian Pulisic will have to deal with that pressure - and if his response hurts the team - then it is his responsibility. Two things we had clearly in the past - good goalkeepers, and solid leadership to keep the team together. I question if we now have even 1 of those 2. Without those 2 we will get hammered next year, and deservedly so.
I don’t think Pulisic is the leader the team needs, but he’s damn sure the player they need next summer. He’s the one guy that, against any competition, you expect to score or create a goal. We have one of those guys, that’s it. All the bluster will disappear when he gets back on the field and everyone remembers he’s indispensable. I do think this will cost him the captaincy, and I also think it’s valid. Puli may not take it well but he’s not Lewandoski level to Poland important so he’s going to have wear that. I don’t know what he’s like in training but he’s never struck me as the captain type anyway.
If a man needs some time away from the grind, get some rest. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all."---Old Military Saying
Pulisic worked his tail off in the run up to the 2018 WC when many of the senior players at that time half-assed it to a summer vacation. I get “what have you done for me lately” but it’s not like he’s never shown heart for the national team.
Maybe that just means we need another hungry teen from Dortmund to work his tail off in the run up to the WC... call up Mathis Albert or Cole Campbell
Pulisic is driving the cart. You can find videos out there on the USMNT social media feeds of several golf outings during national team camps.
Look, we’re all Pulisic fans and appreciate what he has done. HOWEVER, this is a clear and obvious mistake that he has made. It’s really kind of shocking how big of a mistake that all of these guys just made. Pulisic, Weston, Weah, Reyna, etc. It’s an embarrassing own goal. Reyna’s only out may be that he was not called in in the first place, but the rest of those guys…there is no excuse. Their absence affects the mentality around the whole program. It’s a cancerous loser mentality. Guys like Johnny Soccer may have had some struggles in preparation, but he is there. He is there suffering in the wake of what those guys left him to have to clean up. The same goes for Tillman and Luna and the rest. Tillman, Luna, LDLT, Richards, McKenzie, and Johnny are already big winners from this because they are not associated with the USMNT vacation club.
Not really. This was their only real opportunity to map a course to the World Cup. Major mistake by Pulisic, Weston, Weah, Reyna, Antonee, and the rest of the USMNT golf vacation club. Pathetic.
We know your stance. They should fake injury in Jan to leave their clubs for a 3 week non FIFA camp. Very reasonable and even keeled take.
They are choosing to play for their clubs in a meaningless tournament during a FIFA window. They are every bit as derelict as Pulisic.