Bushnell continues to be one of the better writers out there. Good summary. I'm not shocked that Poch is focusing on the counterpressing right now. I do think there's a couple of other big differences -- one is mentioned obliquely. He spends a lot of time working on the right angles to get open and get good passing lanes. Less tactics than teaching, but it's vital to executing how he wants. Our teams tended to be far too static without the ball, and I think he'll help but also be a bit frustrating with a lower level of tactical instinct. The other is his focus on central overloads and attack. But he has mentioned ANY of that in his pressers, so I wonder if we will see more of that on Saturday or if it is coming later. I think we will see it.
Yeah, I think the focus on players showing for the ball and moving into spaces to receive passes is a good one. This team has been pretty terrible in that regard for a while now. If he can bring an increase in intensity and get players moving to receive the ball better those two factors alone would improve this team quite a lot. Of course, getting players to both buy in and to understand where and when they should be showing for the ball may or may not work out in the end. Some of that sort of movement is something we seem to struggle with in general. It's definitely not as simple as a coach telling them to do it.
I thought this was also good https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41702811/playing-mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-expect-new-manager
We never lost to Mexico between August 2011 and October 2015. We dominated them. Did the also look bad then?
Reality and sanity has returned to the USMNT. thank you, thank you, thank you. They also began, of course, with “basics,” with rudimentary movements, with introductory meetings. “The most important [thing],” Pochettino said last week, “is that we need to set a few principles, few concepts” — rather than “spend two, three hours talking about tactics.” https://sports.yahoo.com/mauricio-pochettinos-vision-for-the-usmnt-160020964.html
This probably belongs in the other thread, but I am 100% on board with dropping anyone who doesn't buy in. We are not talented enough to win without full commitment. And I'm not sure ANY team is talented enough to win without buy-in -- you all have to be on the same page. It's as simple as that. And we're dead in the water if a Home World Cup plus Mauricio Pochettino can't get you to buy in. At that point, it's absolutely an issue with the player and you move on. Ain't no one special enough here, and if they are, that's Poch's call, not the player. I feel this way in general, but it'd be especially absurd in the beginning of a two year run to a home world cup with a top manager. If that doesn't get you motivated, what will?
It seems the intensity is more about getting across the ideas, techniques, and tactics, rather than tearing about phone books.
Who wouldn't be fully committed Poch's methods? Effort hasn't been a problem with the program. Mediocre coaching has.
"He was a game changer. He was very demanding, but in the right way," former Tottenham goalkeeper and current LAFC No. 1 Hugo Lloris told ESPN. "He wanted us to play with intensity. We used to train so hard so then games would feel easier. We would press so much, recovering the ball so high to attack straight away." The lack of tactical work is a criticism that resurfaced during his time at Chelsea, too. Moisés Caicedo publicly said training was pretty much all about running and largely bereft of tactical work. Other players in the Blues squad told ESPN the same thing. Pochettino relied on the physical ability of his players at Stamford Bridge. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41702811/playing-mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-expect-new-manager
An Open Letter to Fire Fans from Gregg Berhalter pic.twitter.com/JiqLiobn8i— LAFC Fan TV ⭐️ (@lafcftv) October 10, 2024
It's nice there was thought to have a letter to the fans. It says most of what you'd expect but obviously the proof is in the taste of the pudding.
Platitudes suck, but one of the truest I've ever heard in my life is the bit about youth being wasted on the young. These guys know that there's a big moment coming up, but I'm not sure they really, really understand just how privileged they are to be their age with their body at this particular point in time. Dempsey and Donovan would both probably run through fire if it meant being able to have their 26 or 28 year-old bodies back, in time for this World Cup, with this manager, at home. Eric Wynalda, too, dislikable though he is. Or Jermaine, or Bradley, etc. They'd buy-in in a heartbeat if they could. But they lived through less opportune times for us. Everybody is on their first go-around, and it's human nature not to fully appreciate it when it's your turn.
Yes. I think he'll get great buy in and the crappy Copa America will help. But I think there's no doubt this generation has a larger focus on their club career than many of the priors. And so while I think we'll see the intensity rise in play, I wonder how much further Poch can ask of them and get a response. Some of them will want it badly enough, and some of them will see the benefits of working on the things Poch wants them to even independently. But others will likely not value it as much, as focus more on the paying job. Or to your point, they won't realize how fleeting this chance is.
Pochettino can get also away dropping a bigger name player in way Berhalter never could just because of who he is.
I think it’s eminently clear that Poch watched the tape, saw a lack of commitment, intensity, and competitiveness, and made that the focus of his first set of sessions.
No kidding. Obviously, going off the most recent, meaningless friendlies. Sure. Great. Again, for many years, the US has been top-3 in distance covered per match. OK? So, effort isn't a problem with this team. Great, Poch saw the crappy friendly. So what? The players won't have an effort adapting. Hopefully, he has something more useful than more effort. I suspect he will.
I took his spiel to be about maintaining focus and practicing at game intensity. I am not sure ground covered suggests they were already doing that. Certainly we had our share of flat performances under Greggggggggg.
Yeah I'm sure there will be plenty that he wants to do beyond "more effort"... but for now we're getting stories like this and I can't help but think "that's so Klinsy" At Southampton, Pochettino was having players run 12 laps every Monday, sometimes 24-48 hours before a game. Rickie Lambert confronted him about it one day and so Poch made the players run 24 laps every Monday instead 😂😂😂 (ESPN) pic.twitter.com/2b00UoQ6Nb— USMNT Nation🫡🇺🇸 (@USMNTvsHaters) October 10, 2024
We are experiencing growth in fan/media knowledge of the game which is absolutely essential to progress on the pitch. Pochettino is the perfect manager for USA. Explaining the elements of his game before moving to molecules. Seems logical. At this rate he'll be calling in Delgado. (relax, guys, just trollin' my fans for fun...for Delgado it's "too late, too bad").
Yeah, Poch definitely has his teams runs and fitness is super important. But also, when he's talking about that he's also talking about focus and precision. You can be physically putting forth effort but if you aren't putting the mental effort forward, that's an issue as well.
Effort and intensity is a problem with this team because we've had issues far more often than just last window, and it's been more common, more recently. He will bring more than just intensity, effort and focus, but those are issues that are problems, have been bigger problems recently, and most likely need to be solved first.
Tactics depend on the players you have. You don't know what players you have until you see if they have the elements required to carry out the manager's plan in the various areas of the pitch in different situations. Remember Hugo Perez' advice during Berhalter's term? He didn't worry about how we play Pulisic, he was concerned about who would get Pulisic the ball in a good position to do something.
These players don't have problems with intensity with their clubs. Imo, this is a tactics and instructions issue. Hopefully, Poch brings the clarity to improve the execution, which will improve the intensity. Otherwise, Klinsmann and the phonebook could've been returned.