I don't think you can really compare performances 30 years apart. The Portugal the US beat had lost 4-1 at home to Finland and lost their final group match to South Korea. But generally, international soccer is a lot more competitive than it was 20 or 30 years ago. The Nations League and the expansion of major competitions have seen to that. There's also much more of a club feel to international teams. International coaches used to meet a bunch of strangers every couple of months, put them in a formation and let them play. Now you have computer analytics and Whatsapp chat groups, so there's a much closer connection between coach and players.
So that's what the last 7 USMNT coaches? And the only two even in the same ballpark of badness are Steve Sampson from Santa Clara University and Dave Sarachan who parlayed his interim stint into a job with USL North Carolina followed by Puerto Rico? That can't be right can it?? I'm sure one of the many geniuses lurking in this thread will jump out and explain to you why ackshually you're wrong and Poch is brilliant, looking forward to it....
Oh and how has Poch done in tournaments, he must be racking up the trophies in those for you to be making this big distinction between competitive games and friendlies... Alexa how many trophies has the Mighy Poch won us? https://share.google/aimode/dnSovdvdjkVBYaAIS
I am not a Poch apologist but he clearly didn’t care that much about getting results in Friendlies and it’s a really silly way to judge him. The only reasonable basis for judging him is the upcoming tournament and he will always have the excuse of middling goalie and center backs. It’s why many of us didn’t get worked up about Berhalter either. There is no savior out there.
So he "didn't care" about friendlies he lost, and he's done nothing in the tournaments so far... so the only reasonable basis for judging him is FUTURE tournaments where he can't have already shit the bed... but even there he ALREADY HAS EXCUSES for when he ********s up... makes sense! How much money are they paying him to do this Dave Sarachan impression again?
I wouldn’t have hired him personally but I get why they did. Name someone they should have hired instead.
Poch has one job. Not sure what the actual desired outcome is but his one job is to navigate the US as far as possible in the World Cup.
That's what they paid Matt Crocker the big bucks to figure out before he fled to Saudi Arabia right before we were due to host the World Cup... I on the other hand am just a random person on the internet with no power who gets paid zero dollars for soccer related thoughts. Having said that if Cindy wants to hire me for a few million bucks I'm willing to come up with a list of names... one thing I can say in my favor is I have absolutely no desire to live in Saudi Arabia!
In other words you have no one. If you can think of another coach that would be better and a realistic option - let’s hear it.
I don't think he "fled". He was brought in to reform US soccer. He took a look at the challenge and as soon as a better offer came along he took it. I should apply for the job. The way to improve US soccer is to get schools playing longer seasons under qualified coaches, with meaningful competition and regular combines, with a pathway to free to play academies. You just need to get 50 states, 3,143 counties, 19,429 municipalities, hundreds of academies, amateur leagues and professional clubs to sign off on the plan. Oh and there's a very small budget.
Sure, do you want my Venmo? I could always use a few million Sigh... ALEXA Top-Earning Men's National Team Managers National team coaching salaries are not always officially disclosed, but industry reporting highlights that Pochettino ranks third overall in men's international soccer. Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil): ~ \(\$11.0\) million annually. Thomas Tuchel (England): ~ \(\$6.7\) million annually. Mauricio Pochettino (USMNT): ~ \(\$6.04\) million in annual base salary. Women's National Team Managers Emma Hayes commands the highest salary in women's international football, but it falls on the lower end compared to the top-tier men's coaching positions. Emma Hayes (USWNT): ~ \(\$1.1\) million in annualized base pay
Just one question for all the Poch defenders (whether they identify as "not a Poch apologist" or not): The USMNT is FOUR DAYS AWAY from playing their first match at a World Cup they're hosting for the first time since 1994... How much buzz is there in your area? You seeing lots of excitement out there on the streets? With the kids (probably grandkids for most of you)? I'm in a World Cup city over here, halfway between Inglewood and Seattle the two cities where the USMNT will be playing, and there is close to zero. Nothing like 94. Maybe it still hasn't recovered from the deflation of the USMNT failing to qualify for Russia but it sure seems below South Africa and Brazil at least. Not great... This is what the third highest paid coach (plus highest paid women's coach) is getting us?
In hindsight? Maybe Lampard would have been interested in the job. He’s not without his flaws, but he’s having some success as a manager and I like his experience as a midfielder. Though our issues are more player related than anything to do with the coach. Poch is doing fine for someone who really hasn’t ever seemed invested in the position.
That would be the worst appointment ever. Things were so bad at Chelsea that he had to get communicate with players through Peter Cech.
Would it be very hard to attract a coach to the USMNT gig given it's the third highest paid coaching job in all of international soccer?
You're right on the first part but on the second part we can start doing that right now. There's no need to wait until we have a name.
Jesus, dude. You were constantly mocking the last coach for winning trophies, and now you're mocking this coach for NOT winning the same trophies. You and @adam tash should go get a room somewhere and organize a double-standard festival.
Very little buzz where I am (NOT a WC city, and 7 hr drive from the nearest game). The coach isn't responsible for that, though.
Constant passive-agressive negativity, no matter who the coach is/has been. I used to appreciate the infoblasts from the twitterverse, but it's no longer outweighing the complete lack of joy expressed for any of this. People are different.