Pre-match: US v Ecuador, Oct 10 2025

Funny. The minute by minute recaps are my favorite thing they do. I love it, and am disappointed when they forego them. Kinda bummed they're ignoring the U-20s, as that was classic Scuffed.

 

I feel like they used to just preview them with their youth insider dudes? Did they break down any games? I can't remember.

Hopefully you understand what I mean re: minute by minutes. I don't mind them breaking down the games, I do mind them sticking so tightly to a script to describe individual actions minute by minute. I just want to hear what they think, their insights, and if its a particularly play they want to talk about it, go for it, but I don't want them, for me anyway, hemmed in so tightly by a script of the minutes and the particulars of all of them (or all that have anything of minute importance or relevance. I want them free to talk through their perspectives, and not be tied down. I get that they'll have a show sheet, that's fine, I just don't want like the play by play you get in game logs, and it feels super mundane.

 

I saw the first few minutes of a US Soccer press Q&A featuring Ream and Roldan, McIntyre (who mentioned Yunus and Joe right out of the gate) and Goff with the initial questions.

Perhaps someone else can provide the link.

 

Here is the article from US Soccer with 2 embedded videos with that I can't seem to get to work.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...a-tim-ream-cristian-roldan-usmnt-october-camp

 

Here's a direct YouTube link for the q&a with Roldan and Ream

 

Feels like he’s competing with Roldan for the vibes/last man on the roster spot. For now Roldan seems ahead but the free kick ability might be a distinguishing factor given it’s generally lacking in the pool. Though probably also depends on where McGlynn stands also.

 

How Ream talks about his place in the team here solidifies my thought that he won't be on the 2026 WC squad.

 

@gogorath don't start listening to Scuffed again this week. 45 minutes of Belz and Vince talking about Landon's hairpiece and the US soccer cultural ramifications/implications of it, and U-10 girls flag football. Personally, I enjoyed it (kinda), but steer clear.

 

They definitely used to do full game recaps of U-20 World Cups. They've stated why they don't anymore, cause those players (Weah, Reyna,...) were much more relevant to the immediate future of the full Nats 6 years ago, than Nolan Norris et. al. is today. It's logical, and since they are putting out more content now, it makes since it's less of a priority. I just reminisce about those early podcasts. Good (BAD!) times.

I know what you mean about the minute by minute. Yep, I love it. It's not really minute by minute, but rather like the top 25 moments of the match, just chronologically.

Not Ecuador related. Maybe we should have a dedicated Media/Podcast thread?

 

Here's a legit question - does Poch have the stones to tell Pulisic to let Berhalter take free kicks? If he doesn't there's no reason to bring him unless you think if you're behind you'd actually sub on Berhalter for Pulisic.

 

I feel like he’s almost certainly there absent an injury or dramatic drop off.

 

I mean.............he's been a starter AND CAPTAIN in our last 8 games straight.

He's served as captain in 14 of Poch's games as manager.

Tim Ream is going to be on the WC roster.

Whether he's the starter or not is TBD. That's what the next 6 months are going to work out.

Tim Ream and Chris Richards will be on the World Cup roster of 26 (if healthy). Who else will be? We don't know.

Poch has called up a big group of CBs, and he continues to rotate thru them. CCV is back at this camp. We'll probably have guys like Zimmerman and Blackmon back for January camp.

I guess what we can say right now is that somebody else is going to have to WIN the job from Ream. To wrestle it away with good play for club and country.

 

That’s a good question.

That’s where you need guys like Richards, Ream, etc, who want to be able to score on set pieces to step up and let Pochettino know.

 

Poch knows....................

There's a reason Berhalter was in the team in the first place, and a reason that he was taking the free kicks at the Gold Cup.

The better question is whether Berhalter is going to make the World Cup roster. Central midfield is crowded, with both Tessmann and Morris back at this camp

Berhalter scores goals that we don't tend to get from central midfield. Adams sensational goal against Mexico in the Nations League final aside...........................

[That seems like eons ago but was just March of 2024. Berhalter was still coach.]

 

Berhalter is not likely to start or play much, but if he is, i don't doubt he will take them. He's incredibly good with FK and corners.

 

Unless behind the scenes Poch has been having the same conversations that Klinsmann was having with Boca that most were unaware!

I remember when the forum melted down when JK finally dropped Captain Boca. Boca dropped the mike by letting everyone know that Klinsmann had been very clear with him to his face for some time prior.

 

Eh, Boca never disputed the report that he was shocked when he found out on match day that he wasn't starting in San Pedro Sula (as reported in the very well sourced Struas piece). However, he did issue a very diplomatic/classy statement after he wasn't even included in the squad for the next group of fixtures in March.

 

In the real world:

"During the last 18 months, Jurgen has introduced a lot of new ideas to the team and has a vision of how he wants to grow the program," he wrote. "Every coach around the world has his own style and methods. He has always been up front with players about where they stand and where he sees them going.

"Not every player is going to be happy with all of the decisions and methods, but he will tell you to your face where you stand. From a coach, that is the best thing you could ask for. One of the greatest strengths of this team has always been our unity and spirit, and we all remain committed to the cause of qualifying for the World Cup."

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/carl...gen-klinsmann-usmnt-omission-twitter-facebook

 

Yeah, that's the statement from March of 2013 I was referring to. Nothing in that classy/diplomatic statement contradicts the Straus reporting regarding what happened in Honduras a month and a half earlier (not surprising he took the high road because 1) he's a classy guy and 2) he sill harbored ambitions of coming back to the team).

Worth noting he expanded on that statement on twitter by saying "Unfortunately sometimes your club situation directly affects your national team career. I appreciate all the friendly messages & would love to be in camp. Its an honor and a privilege to represent the USA. Lets all get behind the team for these 2 big games”. He hadn't played a single minute for his club in the 6 matches after returning from Honduras and before the next group of national team fixtures. Conversely, he had started and played 90 in 5 of his 7 club matches immediately preceding the Honduras match.

Finally, I have to include Jurgen's own words from the Straus piece which certainly are not inconsistent with the reporting of what happened in Honduras...“I can only get to another level by bringing in new players and challenging the older players. By challenging them in every training session, by giving them uncertain feelings here and there—‘Do I play or not play?’—and so on.”

 

You need to be willing to play the guys you bring to the World Cup. They need to have a ready-made role to some degree. Berhalter, as a player, has multiple applications.

He and McGlynn are both superior to Pulisic or anyone else in the pool on set pieces. Unfortunately, McGlynn has suffered an injury. Berhalter continues to grow in his play and influence within his club, which is also having success as he grows into a star player in the league.

Berhalter was a difference-maker for the US in the Gold Cup and ended the tournament with his strongest performance against Mexico in the final. He has subsequently played better and better with Vancouver. He is making a statement for himself that is hard to deny.

When you have this kind of consistent string of growing performances, it exemplifies exactly the kind of player profile you want to take with you into a tournament. It helps that he has also been reliable in a tournament. He’s making it easy for the coaches to select him.

 

He’s not Beckham. You don’t play someone in a WC and take up a roster spot just because they are good at free kicks.

 

Yes you do.

That’s exactly what you do.

When a player is dominant in a certain skill set, it makes them stand out in evaluation. It just so happens that set pieces are incredibly important and have been a glaring weakness for the US for multiple cycles now.

When you can bring in a guy who reverses that weakness to a strength, it’s a no-brainer. Coaches are looking to solve their own problems and create problems for other coaches. They aren’t worried about whether the player is Badge FC or the son of a former coach.

 

Did you say set pieces?
1:08 1:37 plus all sorts of run of play bangers with both feet.
Tanner Tessman

 

Exactly. You can’t call a timeout and bring in your designated free kick taker. Bringing someone in just for free kicks is a waste of a roster space.

 

You bring him in for a centerback when you are desperate for a goal it’s not complicated goals are king.