PBP: MLS N&A Running USMNT and other International Games Thread {R}

A few (looking at you USA Men forum) will still blame MLS in general for "holding the sport back."

 

It would be because the players can't get out of the habits instilled in them by Berhalter.

Even though that wasn't a problem in Vegas last summer.

 

I've already seen at least one person blame the Copa America failure on playing too many MLS players. I'm not sure how we're supposed to play a negative number of MLS players. I've also seen several blaming it on too many former MLS players, as if playing in MLS for a season or two ruins a player for life, or blaming the MLS players on the roster for poisoning the team culture.

I'm just trying to put an over/under on how long it will take before they decide that Pochettino is also part of the MLS/USSF cabal. Probably not very long. Being employed by USSF is disqualifying because it's too much of a connection to USSF.

 

Queen Elizabeth II appointed Jay Berhalter to run the anti-American soccer cabal. Berhalter secretly met with King Charles III at Windsor Castle upon his succession to the throne. It was at that meeting that the Monarch suggested USSF appoint Matt Crocker who had helped him ensure Southampton's relegation. Chuck hates Southampton.

The anti-American cabal has been operating since 1862, when the Palace was alerted to the activities of Oneida FC and decided that association football was the one thing that America would never be best at.

 

Would explain the NFL as well. Veered off early from rugby and became essentially a one-country sport where all our best athletes strive to play. Crown fingerprints all over it.

Thx,

Jay!

 

He will call AMorris developed in England.

 

Nick Markanich, who has been in MLS and scored no goals in 9 appearances (1 start) in his only MLS season. But he's a dual national, so... maybe someone's afraid he'll go play for the Philippines?

 

The analysis by the fellow writing that piece . . . I would move it to General here on this site. It's not good. Improve the opposition (then lists who the USSF is already lining up for 2025 regardless of coach)? Use his Argentine connections to recruit unnamed dual nationals from - where, and if not Argentina, how will his Argentine connections help? Argentine American dual nationals such as who exactly?

 

I feel really old, but wasn't writing better back in the day? Who is the author competing with to get these takes out so fast that they lose the audience or is it just to drive engagement.

 

Media in general at this point is "engagement" driven. Saying preposterous things that you now people that are on that side of the fence will agree with while making the other side so angry they respond is the name of the game. Sports, politics, movies, they all are driven by the same cycle these days.

And somehow this is Berhalter's fault:

That's not one that American goal keeper Ethan Horvath is going to want to watch back 😰 pic.twitter.com/3VieWf1WfT

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 17, 2024

 

WST already planting the seeds to not hold Poch accountable if he doesn’t succeed here.

 

Marcelo Balboa and Pablo Mastroeni, obviously. Two (almost) MLS career players that contributed to some of the biggest wins in USMNT history.

 

I looked at U20s. 3 are eligible for Spain, 2 are of Italian descent, one is eligible for Chile and one for Mexico. None appear to be eligible for the US despite millions of impoverished US refugees fleeing to work as ranch hands on the Pampas.

Not sure how this helps in 2026.

 

If they bothered to do any research (doubtful since they don't give any names, just hand-waving ideas), then it went about as far as Transfermarkt, which lists Esequiel Barco and Cristian Espinoza as dual nationals.

They aren't, they only have (probably had in Barco's case) green cards, and neither spent enough time in the US to be eligible to play for us anyway.

So if you see those names come up as potential candidates, that's where it came from.

 

Tournament so good they rigged it to keep Germany in the top tier.

Thx,

Jay!

 

You mean when they increased the number of teams in Group A?

I don't think they frigged it for Germany, otherwise they would have frigged it this year for England.

 

You would think if Frigg was so important, they would have had the Scandinavian teams at the top.

(Too obscure a reference?)

 

New USMNT roster dropped.



Thx,

Jay!

 

I see the folks in Kansas City are as excited about attending this one as I am to watch it. If it weren't 96 and smoky outside, I would be elsewhere. Same players as in the Copa America flameout, no new coach, Canada as the opponent in a friendly all equals meh.

But ultimately, here I am, wearing my 1995 Blue NT jersey.

 

Nice pass early from Pulisic. Great save early from Schulte.

 

It’s been one-way traffic. No one wants to be there. Friendly against a CONCACAF yawn.

now Shaffelberg scores. 0-1