I have heard that Poch’s exit package from Chelsea makes it hard for him to manage other big clubs but not a national team.
Had the same thought as soon as I saw this. This is as good as we can get on the coaching front. I trust his player evaluation, I trust his tactical knowledge, and the worst feature of his club career (running teams into the ground over the course of a season) is mitigated by the nature of international soccer.
Shooter Fabrizio here, inside sources tell me Greggg Berhalter will be named for a record 3rd stint as USMNT coach. Sources say the 4-3-3 with the striker on an island and relying on Puli to produce magic is what Crocker wants to see more of as the comfortable squad has just not had enough time to gel. Sources also say GB will be ruthless this time cutting two-faced players like Adams who was the loudest supporter of Berhalter until he was axed for not being ruthless enough.
I'm pretty sure I mentioned this after Gregg was fired, but since I'm old, I get to have a senior moment and mention it again... Like the hire or not, happy with results or not, happy with rosters or not, if Poch is the hire, then Poch is THE HIRE... As in, he's not getting replaced before the World Cup for anything result related. For better or worse, this is the guy. Now...I've been here 26 years. I know SOMEBODY will start a "Fire Poch" thread 24 hours or less after the hire is announced. That's just the nature of this place...but I'll still shake my head sadly.
I’m not sure what you mean by no excuses? I may be one of the least excited people about this hire but I’ve said my peace on my issues with him. The fact that he is taking the job sorta proves my point. At the end of the day, all that matters is getting some results in the World Cup and he carries the kind of the reputation the players should respect. I hope there’s time for him to learn enough about the team and create the strategy and culture he desires.
🚨🚨🇺🇸🇦🇷 POCH TO USMNT 🇦🇷🇺🇸🚨🚨FORMER SPURS, PSG & CHELSEA MANAGER MAURICIO POCHETTINO HAS AGREED TO BECOME THE NEXT USMNT COACH.🙌🦅 OUR RECRUITING IS DONE. REJOICE AMERICA. WE HAVE A REAL COACH. 🦅🙌 pic.twitter.com/0VJyHhlzW0— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 15, 2024
Go Pooch. I wish him all the luck. Fresh eyes and clean slate is something desperately needed in our program.
I'm not confirming or denying. Simply trusting Iván, his work and his sources. He would not put this out without legit information. Now we wait. https://t.co/qIee8Gw2Rl— Michele Giannone (@MicheleG3) August 15, 2024
Sure. I'm not talking about that though. That happens everywhere... bsky or whatever his name is harping on MLS over and over as if an official MLS bus ran over his family, that's not the real issue. You can put one or two or 10 trolls on ignore easily enough, after all. I'm just saying the USSF getting a top 10 or so manager, and evidently paying him serious money... if that indeed happens tomorrow, these criticisms about a lack of organizational ambition surely hold no weight anymore. Right? Almost everyone, I hope, could agree on that through 2026 at a minimum. And if (when IMO) the US goes out to a side they're supposed to go out to, I'd hope we can talk about the largest reason why... the players. If this appointment happens, we will no longer have that hypothetical "well we'd need to see them with a real manager in charge!"
It is wild to me that people think this hire matters. It may increase our relative odds to win a random knockout game by a percentage point or two. He’s not going to revolutionize the program nor have some tremendous impact on our style. He’s a solid hire for sure but if you’re looking for Christ keep looking.
Putting aside questions as to how good a coach he is I don’t think there is an obvious club move for him right now. Neither he nor Tottenham seem like they want to revisit that relationship given how it ended and he’s never going to Arsenal given the Tottenham ties (and neither need a coach). Liverpool just hired a brand new coach, no one knows what Pep is thinking at City and I would not want to be the coach who follows him there (as there’s nowhere to go but down). He was just at Chelsea and he’s gotten close to the Man U job a few times and not gotten it so he may feel burned there. And outside the big 6 I don’t seem him taking another job in England outside maybe Newcastle and Howe is pretty secure there. He’s also never going to coach Barcelona given his time at Espanyol and Real Madrid is going to Xabi Alonso if/when Ancelotti leaves. Simeone also doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. He’s not going back to PSG and Bayern just hired a new coach who they seem committed to. So his options are basically taken an international job or wait and see if Dortmund or one of the big Italian jobs opens up anytime soon. So it makes sense he might take an international job and wait a couple years till the coaching landscape opens up a bit.
No excuses me must way out perform having the 17th most talented national team roster in the world!!!
No, they will just say "Poch can't adjust to tournament/international soccer and needs day-to-day exposure to the players". It will never be the players fault. Richards, for example, rarely plays well for the USMNT but will get a pass along with Mckennie, Adams etc.