The team that was put out against Switzerland in the first half was the worst soccer I have seen from us since BJ Callahan. Pochettino definitely is not inspiring confidence with his teams.
I agree. Some say the Switzerland game is proof that the “big names” are safe but I think it’s too early to assume anything based on one friendly. Plus Poch can likely afford some controversial decisions—he was probably never going to be here long term and I doubt anything that happens with the U.S. will affect his ability to go back to a good Euro job.
The whole summer of '25 USMNT experience- which, granted, is far from over- has to this point massively empowered the Euro-based A listers some think are lazy and entitled. It's precisely the opposite result of what Poch intended.
Yes but BJ could at least point to his NL Performance in June '23, which was the best we've probably played since Window 5 of WCQ minus the 2nd half against Costa Rica, and I'll always be mighty curious about that roster. Looks like Berhalter didn't pick it and yet, it was a near replica of the stupidity Berhalter foisted on Kreis for the U23 Qualifying campaign of '21. Regardless, that Gold Cup was the byproduct of terrible roster construction, period, there's a reason why I predicted we wouldn't make the semi's (in my view they actually overachieved in taking a solid Panama to penalties with that horror show of a roster).
2023 was a mess, though. That was the spring summer that we decided to hire a new USMNT coach, needed an interim for the spring schedule, that interim coach then resigned meaning we needed another interim coach, but before that 2nd interim coach guided us at the Gold Cup...........we rehired the same guy we had to start with thereby undreaming the inteim. We rode some serious luck for much of that spring/summer. After that, people seemed to expect the ride to be easy. Oh, we can win a Nations League while being an absolute shambles!!!!!!!!! Anyway, back to Pulisic.
What you're calling "serious luck" was the only convincing win of the era? Beating Mexico 3-0 and then Canada 2-0 to win Nations League, with neither outcome ever in doubt. The team was firing on all cylinders in both games. What was even the closest either team came to threatening the US? This is actually a hilarious statement because all three other trophy wins of the era were *beyond luck* to really being fluke wins. First Nations League: two PKs, Steffen injured so Horvath enters to make the save on theirs. Gold Cup: the Qatar game but every game was on a knife's edge. Third Nations League: Jamaica timewasting leads to an own goal with seconds remaining. But yeah sure thumping Mexico and Canada in 2023 was "serious luck" LOL
The best case for BJ is he seems like he’s doing ok with Nashville. The worst case for him is the Gold Cup following the winning the Nations League.
Double goes for this! The only thing I would add is: don’t be two-faced. If, if, if it’s true what Pulisic said on the CIWYW podcast that ex-USMNT guys privately messaged Pulisic showing support and then criticized him in public?!?! Yikes. If an ex-USMNT has a problem with something Pulisic says or does, at least have the guts to be consistent, whenever/wherever, instead of being two-faced. Again, that’s if it’s true this was done to Pulisic.
You mean like prioritizing your career over your hobbies? I understand it well, as does Jedi (and the entire world of professional soccer).
I would love to talk with BJ because he's implemented a possession style system that has done well there when most people, at first glance (me included) would not have guessed guys like Mukhtar or Surridge thriving in that system. This has nothing much to do with the US, but I'm really curious if that is just his preference or if he saw something in them that thought it would work.
More from Tim Howard “The decisions that they make are garnered by the culture that’s created.” pic.twitter.com/tx29TZiqDu— UnfilteredSoccer (@UnfilteredSoccr) June 13, 2025
The guys who came in in the second half (Tillman, Luna, etc) looked a lot better, but yeah the guys who were blooded looked pretty bad.
When did I say he would have trouble? You said he would be "right up there [with Donovan]" which I don't believe is true.
The main reason those guys in the second half looked better is because the Swiss took their foot off the gas and the Swiss coach instructed his team to focus on keeping a clean sheet. If the Swiss had wanted to, they would have torched that U.S. team in the second half as well.
If he needs/needed surgery when should he have it? Fulham pay him a lot of bucks because he is contracted to that club. They have a right to his playing time as they are paying for it. So, he helped get them through the season, but with diminishing returns as the season wore on (at least IMHO). If the surgery waits until after the Gold Cup, he probably misses all the preseason activities and some games at the beginning of the season. If he waits, plays in the friendlies and Gold Cup, his injury still needs surgery and he is not likely able to play at his best level. The timing of the surgery will always be debatable, but the club should do what is best for the future of its investment, especially if Robinson is going to depart Fulham this summer.
The Antonee one is completely different. He was rather obviously "playing hurt" much of the second half of the season. Right when the season ended, he had surgery. That's what you're supposed to do. That's what NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, etc. players do too. It sucks for the USMNT, because we don't have a like-for-like replacement anywhere near Antonee's level. The surgery was the right thing to do, though. Pulisic just wanted to take the Gold Cup off to rest. I personally don't have any issue with it. Others do. There's no right or wrong answer, so people are debating it in circles. Even former members of the USMNT have taken different sides on it. And of course, few are talking about Musah. Let's not forget he's talented enough that the reigning Serie A champions have submitted a transfer bid for him. A 22-year-old with 47 caps. [He hasn't been some bit player for the USMNT.] That's because the microscope is always on the star. The microscope was always on Donovan to a greater degree than anyone else.
Yeah basically he’s only chance to get the surgery and recover before the World Cup. I don’t have a problem with it given there seems to be a genuine medical issue to get taken care of).
This is wrong, earlier GC helps guys have breaks. Players can not/do not take their post season break until after the summer tournament. They maintain fitness after the end of the season into the tournament. Pulisic could have gone to the GC, taken his two weeks of full rest and then had 5 weeks to rebuild fitness and train in preseason.
I think these performances are consistently overrated. Mexico performed horribly. Canada also laid a dud. We did not create a high volume of chances, we just finished very well.
I will not respond directly to the obvious sock puppet and it’s surprising how many people liked his bullshit but it’s wrong. Club and Country minutes per year: Donovan (14.5 years) 37,888 Club + 12,872 USMNT = 3,500.7 minutes per year. Dempsey (15 years) 38,944 Club + 11,074 USMNT = 3334.5 minutes per year. Pulisic (10 years) 24,249 Club + 5,572 USMNT = 2,982.1 minutes per year. Donovan and Pulisic both have reserve/youth club minutes included starting in the seasons they made their pro/USMNT debuts, I did not include either of their first purely youth season in their totals. I also did not include any of Donovan’s post 2014 minutes. I did include Clint’s last season/year, he played 1,169 minutes that year.