Coaching Philosophies and the Mauricio Pochettino System

EXCLUSIVA de @cantogoles con el nuevo DT de @USMNT Mauricio Pochettino🧑‍🏫🇺🇸

"Nunca me tomo los partidos como un amistoso, SE JUEGA MUCHO MÁS QUE UN PARTIDO DE FUTBOL"

🔴 #LineaDe4 en vivo por TUDN pic.twitter.com/AM03D1vhf1

— Línea de 4 (@Lineade4TUDN) October 15, 2024

Poch clearly doesn’t believe that friendlies should be treated like a scrimmage.

 

It's no accident that our goals against Panama were scored by Spanish-speaking players.

 

One of the few problems I saw with his approach in his first game is if we coughed up the ball in the midfield, our lack of speed in the back could be costly against a better opponent.

So far I love this guy. We need to get back to being a very difficult team to play against and to fight to the end. Cmpbine those traditional US attributes with a higher overall skill level through the squad and we could be on to something here.

As Poch says, it is important to set the highest goals. You will not get there if you don't.

The Mexico game in Mexico is going to be very interesting.

 

Good article on what Poch is doing so far with the US:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/insider/story/_/id/41815337/what-learned-usmnts-first-games-pochettino

 

I will say there was one thing I disagreed with in it. When he says "I mean, sure, Pochettino could have rolled out some super-conservative underdog tactics and tried to nab a result, but that's a waste of a friendly." I disagree. There will be game son the biggest of stages where we are the underdog and learning to play as an underdog is not worthless. Sometimes it is your best chance for a result and it doesn't just happen without planning for it.

 

Obviously, the team didn't get that message last night...

 

Pochettino slams field conditions after USMNT defeat in Mexico

 

Yeah, I don’t like this. Suck it up, buttercup.

 

His quote itself was fine

“I thought it was a magnificent stadium," he said in his post-match press conference. "The only thing is that both teams suffered with the pitch. It was very difficult to play on.

"We are not going to complain that the ball ran better and that we could have had a better performance. I think it was the same for the teams. The risk of injuries was also very high, both for us and for Mexico.”

 

There was another part of the press conference where he was asked about the midfield, which he understood to be a question about Busio and Morris. He tried to shield them from criticism a bit in his response by noting briefly that the field conditions didn't play to their strengths, but we need to find a way to adapt to the pitch in those situations. That and the quote above I think were the extent of his thoughts on the field.

 

Obviously the players had other ideas yesterday...

 

Or how about Mexico spends some money on pitches. If Poch doesn't say anything, who will? When somebody else complains, the Mexican oligarchs will just say that the pitch is fine "Poch never complained". Poch doesn't have to put himself out there in defense of players who get injured on bad pitches. Our American soccer media doesn't give a fig for them since $$$ is their first concern.

 

True, but is the time now? We are preparing for a home and away series v. Jamaica in 3 weeks.

 

I'm sure there could be other priorities, but I just find it funny how dismissive many are of the idea that in some games we will not be the team who keeps most of the ball and controls things. And that somehow everyone will just know how to play tough defensive soccer against the ball so we can just ignore learning al that in favor of increased sophistication. I'm sorry but we are still a good, not great team that will need to rely on physicality and defense to at least some degree and in some moments against top teams. I don't think we need to be embarrassed to admit as much and plan accordingly.

 

I don't personally think there's any team in the world in which we need to give the ball away or completely concede control. I'm not saying we'll have control, but we can make anyone work for it.

But there's no situation against even a good team where we're not going to have to play with intensity and physicality. Doing so is like playing with one hand tied behind your back.

 

The important thing here is that Poch is taking responsibility to help the players through their current funk.

 

On Pochettino’s initial month in charge

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/58...e-pochettinos-first-month-in-charge-of-usmnt/

 

True, but I think England in June (and maybe whomever else we are able to schedule in that window) is probably a better time for that sort of match than Mexico.

 

If Balo is still unfit in Nov window (expected), Poch should consider bringing in Jordan to play 9 or sub in at end (scores with right, left, head). He should be on fire coming off games in MLS playoffs where he is playing 9 (I assume he's still doing that?).

Also, Jordan likes a hard pitch (I believe) which is what they have at the Office iirc (given it has time to bake in a particularly hot sun every day, even if it rains a little. Kinda like making bricks.)

Jordan has the strength to split and shake off cb's in midfield if that's the game state. Poch can talk to Klinsmann about Jordan. It takes one to know one. (Striker, that is).

 

We have to get more physical in midfield, and that is basically Adams and Mckennie. Yes we have to find more physical midfielders. The back line has to get healthy (and play at their clubs). The strategy of just not letting Turner pass the ball seems okay...but Turner has to play somewhere. I'm sure he was nudged in that direction by Poch.

If Poch at least identifies the physicality in midfield weakness during the next camp (not saying if his solutions work...he may not have the players capable) I will be fine with him so far.

 

What Jordan are you talking about. I assumed Pefok, but you mention MLS, so I'm guessing there's a Jordan in MLS I'm not familiar with. Or is it Jordan Morris? Is he a 9 now?

 

Yes, it's Jordan Morris. And he's been playing the 9 all year as far as I understand.

 

And if I say Morris people will think I mean Aiden.

I don't watch Seattle but my understanding from what I read is that Morris is playing 9 now and everybody is suddenly wowed. I've said forever that Morris would score more if he played the 9 but RuiDiaz can't play the full spectrum of football like Morris can so RuiDiaz gets the 9 and Morris takes the wing.

 

I wonder why the media were not complaining about the players who, unlike Pulisic, did not show up for Sep window. Pulisic should probably stop being a nice guy with the media who follow the rule that "no good deed goes unpunished".

 

Pulisic gets the most clicks. Pulisic should ignore them - they were stupid takes.