Pochettino has hopefully done his US soccer homework and knows that the key is to pressure USSF for an unnecessary extension before the World Cup, and to only unleash a full array of idiocy once the bag is secured.
lets end things amicably. thanks for one win over a remotely decent side, fly away on your private plane full of good feelings.
I listened closely to the entire pre-game interview with Poch. I thought it was excellent and was a good explanation for what we've been doing these last several windows and what's ahead. He does know what he's doing.
I get the Poch skeptic logic, but this was a step forward even if it was vs a weakened opponent. The back 3 formation seems to free up our attackers, and it is possible that Poch will not take this as an indication that Roldan and Arfsten and Freeman and Blackmon are WC material. If he does, then isn't there a decent chance he will be disabused of that in the friendlies to come? So maybe the glass is half full?
You can only look at last night as glass half full. Japan is a team with good depth. They didn't start key players. We also didn't start key players. Poch is still building his pool, and the depth in the pool looked much better last night than against previous opponents. As if they're starting to figure things out. It'll be really interesting to see what he does with the October roster. From his comments, it sure sounds like this was the last "window to experiment." Getting a freakin' center forward that can be counted on to score goals against good opponents helps A TON. So those Pulisic passes actually are finished off once in a damn while. This team will look SOOOOOOOOOO much better with a healthy and match-fit Balogun and Pepi.
One place where the experiments are already done is in goal.Its Freese. I'm OK with it and hope it works out for us.
I feel like this game does a good job of highlighting how silly we are as fans and hostages to the now. It's good to feel for a moment like Poch may not be a complete disaster.
He mostly earned my trust with the Gold Cup despite not winning the final so this was always going to just be two more friendlies to me.
One thing I learned about socia media football fans especially with the American posters on this board. - MLS fans are level headed and good conversationalists (even if a little out there) except when a team like Miami exsist (see reddit MLS boards) - On these boards USMNT fans seem to be the smartest and most conversational. Also the discussions are excellent, especially when compared to other international boards that level on bias, bigotry or emotion - Except (Continue from above point) when it comes to USMNT coaches, you guys lose your heads
Yep - and there's a good chance we will run into a wall again in the next couple friendlies as Poch continues to tinker and figure things out and we play even better teams - and if that happens the doom will return faster than a summer rainstorm blowing across a midwest lake... lightening flashing and thunder echoing with self-righteous anger. "Vanney could lose like this for half the price!!!" Always travel with rain gear.
One positive for Poch after the Japan match, whatever you make of it, is that the next camp could feature the kind of intensity he wants. Bring -- Freeman and Scally behind Dest -- Zendejas and Weah and Aaronson and McGlynn behind CP -- Pepi vs Downs along with Balo -- And the crowded contenders at MF (hopefully including Wes, Musah, and Johnny -- and Reyna if he has found his groove by then) along with Tyler and Tillman and whichever of the lesser players from this camp Poch still wants. -- Turner v. Freese Could be intense.
i think, after watching months and months of poch going in one direction (as a response to a group of players), counting on him suddenly making a dramatic turn back to the original direction, to that same group of players is silly.
There's a subset of MLS fans who are like WNBA fans with Caitlin Clark. It's insanely overemotional and self-defeating. The actual, literal GOAT is playing in your league. You don't have to root for him, but the nutso reaction to everything Inter Miami reeks of WNBA fans and player hating someone who is only going to elevate the league and other players' salaries. Jealousy and hipsterism, really.
Nor to me. But you should see the irrational vitriol to anything Messi of a large minority on r/mls. MLS fans are generally very rational and easy going crew. And then there's Messi and Co. It's even odd when they they don't win. Like the vitriol over the fight after the Sounders beat totally obscured how the Sounders absolutely dismantled them, but you couldn't tell for all the anger over the fight. About half of them were screaming mad that Messi should be suspended for ... standing by and watching? A lot of Sounders fans not the least bit happy their team won silverware but instead frothing mad that Luis Suarez was Luis Suarez. If I were a Sounders fan, I'd be laughing that I frustrated all times greats so much they couldn't keep composure. That's an accomplishment!
Obed Vargas made the right choice in how he handled the situations and the sucker punch from Busquets. Too bad he and Esmir always had Mexico and Bosnia in their national team aspirations. Hard to sway.
No, I know banter. This is spittle-at-the-mouth level anger. This is righteous indignation. It's weird. I get that everyone is angry nowadays, but there's just a whole lot of MLS fans who I think resent the idea of anyone new coming in -- they like their own little spot of the world. It's hilarious to watch someone whose team didn't exist 15 years ago call an Inter Miami fan a plastic. But this with Messi ... just undeserved levels of anger.
Vargas is really good. He might be our first real loss to Mexico. Esmir is also talented, but I have more questions about his style of play as he moves up the ladder. It's a tough one to excel in if you don't have the physical edge.
Downs, Wright, Sargent, Dike and Agyemang are all in the same division now. May the highest scorer win! Dike could be West Brom's the squad this weekend against Derby.