The Coming ‘Golden Generation’ Will Not Accomplish What the 2002 Team Accomplished

I don't watch the women's side as much as I watch the men's side of soccer.
Whenever you watch YouTube videos of the women's side or read on X. You would think the EU has the best players, even when it comes down to Ballon d'Or.

 

I watch a little champions league and I use to watch some wsl when there were Americans there. (Have watched like one game to see Fox)

What I see is a more technical and tactically sophisticated game with the best euro sides, but…

The US league has more parity and more of a focus on speed and athleticism. The US has missed the boat letting players like Caceido, Bunny Shaw, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr etc land in Europe.

 

UCL is a big part for why they don’t play in the NWSL. That’s one of main reasons why Fox left the NWSL..

 

Understandably. The next 10 years will be interesting to see who can actually monetize women’s football.

 

The original Angel City investors monetized out pretty well.

 

Next 10 years are also going to be very telling on youth soccer development. For both men and women

 

Depends. One could argue that the USWNT has the best goalkeepers and defenders in the world. Naomi Girma was unbelievable at the last Olympics. Emma Hayes called her "the best CB she's ever seen." The goalkeeper Naeher stood on her head throughout the knockout rounds.

[I'll be very interested to see who wins the women's ballon d'or. Like Virgil van Dijk in his prime, Naomi Girma should be a real candidate.]

We look at their games in the knockout round of the Olympics.
1-0 in extra time over Japan
1-0 in extra time over Germany
1-0 against Brazil in the final.

Outplayed for long stretches in those games actually.
On the offensive side, not much going on.

This is what Emma Hayes decided she could do to win matches. Ride that defense and goalkeeping..

It's called coaching. Understanding the pool and what gives you the best chance to succeed.

Mauricio Pochettino is going to look at our talent pool and determine how we can win. We can't ride defense and goalkeeping like that. That's not the strength of this iteration of the USMNT.

There are previous generations of the USMNT that really did ride or die with defense and goalkeeping. The 2002 team is one of them. Cuz Brad Friedel stood on his head in the group phase of that World Cup. Tim Howard stood on his head in 2014. Throughout the last 30 years we have been bailed out by goalkeeping and luck at times. The line between success and failure at that elite international level can be paper thin. In 2002, we were 6 inches from being dumped out in the group phase. It was out of our hands as we were getting blown out against Poland. Portugal was throwing the kitchen sink at South Korea, and just barely missed a deciding goal on several occasions. So when people say this group won't achieve what the 2002 team did, I'm skeptical.

Seriously what did Claudio Reyna ever win? Literally zero trophies in a US jersey.

Christian Pulisic has won 3 trophies with the USMNT. Won the Champions League. Won the Club World Cup. Won the UEFA SuperCup. The list goes on. Won the German Cup with Dortmund. Reyna won squadoosh in Germany.

Tab Ramos won squadoosh. Not a single trophy in his entire career. Club or country.

Weston Mckennie is out there lifting trophies for effing Juventus.

 

Most likely another Spain player will win the Ballon d'Or.I don't understand why but NWSL is underrated when NWSL is a top 3 league. USWNT has the best defense in the world and also had a good defense game in the 2023 WC. USWNT doesn't have too many good wingers or CF, especially in the mid-20-year-old.

Poch doesn't get the opportunity to call up our best players, most of whom play in the midfield. I also think many people are falling victim to "On Paper" As we all know international soccer isn't all based on paper. There are players that for the club play well and for a country they are bad.

 

This generation at least is going to have a World Cup Docuseries on HBO.
U.S. Men’s Soccer Team World Cup Docuseries Set At HBO

 

Adams needs to play more. West could

 

Could I say that we are about the same or worse with Poch? When we had Gregg.

The issue is that he doesn't know the player pool, and I question if he ever watches them. Most players interviewed say Poch hasn't talked to me after camp.

 

We’re a bit worse. The Copa America doldrums continued into Nations League and for a variety of reasons the Gold Cup had to be de-emphasized again despite being the only competitive games before the World Cup. But still a decent chance Poch could turn it around. Next window could be interesting if the better Gold Cup performers can help reboot the full team mentality.

 

What can we say has changed?
Turner is not the man anymore. There is a Keeper competition now and Freese has established himself as a contender. Steffens may have a chance too since nothing is set in stone at the moment.

Richards has established himself as the foundational rock of our defense. The next 10 friendlies before the World Cup should be all about building our back line around his abilities and finding him a proper CB partner who is not a Senior Citizen.

We have decent options like Luna and Tillman we can rely on as role players off the bench.

That is pretty much all I got.

 

I just don't see any new players other than Luna, making the final WC roster. If others do, is because Poch or the federation has an MLS agenda to fulfill.

 

Wasn’t talking about just MLS players. But even then I disagree about an agenda, unless the agenda is to add depth and fill a few holes from the lackluster performance of the A team. Freese or another keeper from MLS will certainly be needed even if Turner gets his club career back on track. In addition to Luna I saw enough from Freeman and Berhalter to make the next A roster and stay there provided positive club play continues.

 

Freeman has the size and enough speed, but he is not going to beat out Dest or Scally.
For Berhalter to sneak as a backup he would have to beat out Johny, Tessman, and probably Musah. I just don't see it.

 

I could easily see it. I don’t think Poch has nearly the amount of auto picks as fans do right now.

 

Interesting question. I frankly think everything is a massive question mark right now. Some players appear to be, rather surprisingly, on the decline. Adams, Gio, and I suspect even Weston (more for psychological reasons - I just sense he's lost the hunger to perform for the national team) appear to be on the decline. I wouldn't have expected this storyline, but Adams isn't the same after all his injuries. Gio has disappeared. And, again, I just suspect Weston has made a ton of money and feels like he's already made his mark in the club game and doesn't feel the same drive as before.

My point?

Some of the players we thought would be coming into their prime right about now will probably show up as lessor players than before.

Do we have new players on the scene to make up for it?

Doesn't see like it. We don't seem to have a NEW transcendent talent that is going to raise the level of the team in a big way. I'm glad we've got Luna, Richards, Tessman and Tillman on the ascendancy, but I'm not sure we'll be any stronger at the World Cup next year. I do personally feel we're playing a little more dynamically than before, but I have strong reservations about how we'll show up against a team like France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Brazil or Argentina. Those guys are ruthless. We're the furthest thing from ruthless.

 

Do the likes of Schulte or Slonina have a shot at being named to that roster? What would it take?

 

Maybe. Moreso Schulte if Columbus continue to do very well in both League and CONCACAF Champions Cup.

 

I personally think that there are a couple that could make the roster. Bolded players were not in Nations league rosters but have a chance to make roster based upon gc.


My view is that there are somewhere around 10-15 players that are all but locks for the roster. At this moment in time, assuming no injuries, my 12 are Turner (not necessarily as a starter), Ream, Richards, Jedi, Dest, McKennie, Adams, Tillman, Pulisic, Weah, Balogun, Pepi.

After those that I consider virtual locks, come my 7 probables: Freese, Steffan, Scally, Luna, Tessman, Musah, Brendan Aaronson.

If Sargent and Johnny can show that their club form with the national team, they will go but that is still a very big if in my opinion.

Not counting Sargent and Johnny, that brings the running total up to 19. Five spots left. Just for sake of argument, Berhalter took 3 gk, 4 cb, 5 outside backs (four on the right), 10 m/am/w players and 4 forwards. I'm going to use that as a starting point for completing the roster.

CB: 2 spots wide open. I really have no idea who Poch would take right now but it i probably between McKenzie, Trusty, CCV and Miles Robinson. My guess is McKenzie and Trusty. I don't think he likes CCV and Robinson didn't get any love at the gold cup.

Outside backs 1 open: My guess is that Poch won't bring 4 right backs like Gregg. I think he will probably bring 1 left back and 3 right backs or 2 and 2. If he brings 2 and 2, it would likely be Arsten on left and Scally on right. If he brings 1 left back and 3 right backs, it would probably be Dest, Scally and Freeman as the right backs. with 2 and 2, There is less flexibility. If it is 1 an 3, Dest would move to the left where he is better than Arfsten both offensively and defensively while Poch can decide whether he wants Scally's strengths or Freeman's. He could take five, like Gregg did, but I don't see that as likely.

M/W/AM: 1 spot open between Berhalter, Johnny Aidan Morris, Busio, LDLT. Imo, Johnny goes if he begins to produce for the NT but if not, Berhalter is possibly next in line.

Forward: 2 spots open. IF he can start scoring with the NT, Sargent is in. No doubt in my mind. If not, it's wide open. Poch obviously likes Agyemang but his lack of production in the gc has to give him pause. Competitors are Sargent, Wright, Agyemang, Downs and....? If I had to bet on one of them, I think the safest bet would be Sargent. The dark horse surprise might be Downs. He doesn't have a track record with the NT and we didn't get to see much but I liked what little I saw of him. Of course Wright is a possibility too. I was not at all impressed with Agyemang; he does some things extremely well but he is lacking sooo much right now. If we take 4 based on current level, I think the safest bet is Sargent and Wright. The higher ceiling lower floor bet might be Downs and either Sargent or Wright.

It's also possible that he will take one less forward. if If so, it could be for extra insurance at a position or as a luxury. Luxuries could be a risky flyer or a specialist. A specialist that might get a look would be Berhalter. a risky flyer might be a guy like Reyna (of course he could rise above "risky flyer" status if he gets time this year...).