Here’s how I would put it. Under Berhalter, in possession, he didn’t like it if a guy made more than one probing move; players would probe the D either with a pass or a dribble, it worked, but then we’d reset. So to score, we had to make that “one play” every 25 yards, and against set defenses that got more compact the further we progressed up the field. Now, when we pull off that One Play, we immediately make the next play, if it’s on. And then the next.
Time for a thread title change maybe. You never know how things will play out. We could go out in the group stage at WC. But right now the thread title is a bit embarrassing.
And despite concerns about US attendance numbers, I expect the US to have strong support. We've now had 2 months where US fans have the advantage of knowing our 3 group matches for purchasing tickets when our opponents do not.
Of course Poch has his most combative press conference as a USMNT manager coming off a 5-1 win over Uruguay. He snapped at the first two reporters who asked questions, because one asked him about achieving this result without most of his regulars available and the second asked him about achieving this result after such heavy rotation from one game to the next. In both cases, Poch got offended by the use of the term "regulars," because he thought that was extremely disrespectful to our players on the field today. (In actuality, the second reporter --Paul Tenorio -- was just asking him whether the result here proves his point from a minute ago that there are no "regulars" on this team. I think that first question set him off, and Tenorio kind of just got caught in the crossfire there.)
Team looked prepared. More squad rotation than I’d have thought best, but it was a reasonable choice and it worked great. Pochettino certainly wanted to impress his mentor. Not sure the US can play this way successfully against a Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark type, but he got ‘em in good spots against Uruguay and deserves credit. Looking forward to seeing his reaction to the draw.
I could’ve kissed this ref. Bone crunching tackle by Tillman that leads to Freeman’s wonder goal, proper technique and well executed. And even though the Uruguayan frantically gestured for a foul (while rolling around no doubt legit because that had to hurt), ref didn’t even bother to wave play on, just ignored him! And when the guy goes over the ball studs up trying to break Berhalter’s (the new Cobi Jones as far as opponent’s desire to murder him) leg, takes a minute, gives the red. Is this how it could actually work next summer? The US with an iota of respect from competent referees?
Who cares. I’ve criticized Poch but when you get results you can answer questions however you like. Plus our soccer media is largely terrible.
Its kind of keeping in line with how he's been with this group. He was asked some time ago about the depth chart, and he essentially said "there is no depth chart." I'm sure if we looked back on this thread, we mocked him for that. We insisted that there must be a depth chart. We on this board talk about our squad in terms of A team, B team, C team. Its clear that Poch doesn't think that way. I am starting to think he might leave off some of the perceived "most talented" players from this pool because he thinks the collective will be better with others.
Ironically as the designated Poch guy, I went off on the 11 pregame lol. There is a madness in this method.
All of our US national team managers try to use rhetoric like Pochettino is to minimize the distinctions among national team players, but it's more real when that manager can conjure up strong results even with heavy squad rotation. We had prior managers who could get big wins with some squad rotation, but they were usually reliant on at least a few names at the top even if everyone else was rotated. Some of that is improvement in the US player pool, of course, and I've always been a triumphalist on that. It's been a bad few months for the "We're just not that good " crowd.
The mind-blowing thing is that he may be right. But, he really, really, has to get those decisions absolutely right when up against a top-15 team at the WC. I think we already see it when an American player at Atleti cannot even earn a callup.
We did win a lot of trophies even with lesser talent on some of those Gold Cups but compare how we played to win and how we're playing now. We were defense first with the "B" team and played for a goal and to hang on or even play for a tie and win on pk's. We're dictating and swarming now. Can we keep it up? Will teams be able to scout us now and counter what we're doing? Will it work against top 10 teams?
Well then we’ll be in the final. I also wonder what the crowd makeup would look like for something like that given the way all the finals tickets have already been sold and will be going to exorbitant fees. Will probably feel like a more Super Bowl crowd I’d guess and have lots of people who aren’t necessarily fans of either team.
I think what Pochettino has successfully done is create a sense of competition in the pool. Such that we don’t have the games where guys switch off, don’t play with intensity, etc. Which creates the desperation across the pool you have to show out if you want to make the team.