St. Louis CITY SC at Minnesota United FC US Open CUP, Round of 16 Wednesday May 21, 2025, 6:30 PM CT Allianz Field, St. Paul Paramount+ and radio broadcast on KMOX It's the Avenue of the Saints derby for the Round of 16. CITY faces Minnesota United FC in the USOC Round of 16 on Wednesday May 21, just four days after facing them on their pitch in an MLS regular season match. Note the one hour earlier start time.for the USOC match. Discuss.
I'm concerned listening to the pre game presser from Olof. (Full disclosure, I'm heartened by Durkin.) But back to Olof. When asked about how do you deal with the frustration and disappointment in the group, his response, "Win games." That is the complete wrong answer. I am fond of saying you can never tell how good a coach is when their team is winning, it is easy to manage a group who is being successful, but the true mark of a great coach is how they handle the group when things aren't going well, when they are losing. When teams get that new manager bounce, everything seems hunky dory, but how do you manage when you lose a game or two, pick up some injuries, that's how you can tell a good coach. The response, "Just win" is the wrong response. Your team is devoid of confidence and belief, the pressure is obviously getting to them. If your response to that is "Just win" it only adds more pressure and strips away more confidence and belief. You have to find ways to bind the group together, inject confidence and belief back into a group that clearly lacks it. A good coach can do that. A good coach has strategies for how to handle the mental side of the game. It always amazes me how even at the highest levels, sport is so mental. Look at Man City earlier this year when they couldn't win a game to save their lives. Did Pep suddenly become a horrible tactician. Were the players magically stripped of all their technical abilities. No, they lost it mentally, and they struggled to get that turned around. Now our players and coach - who are nowhere near the levels of Man City - are dealing with it, but the coach has to be able to lead the group out of it. Based on his comment, "Win games" I don't think he has the leadership capabilities to turn this around. Back to Durkin...his comments of we have to come together and do the little things right, and hold each other accountable, we have to work for our teammates, and concentrate on our individual jobs...were far closer to hitting the mark than Olof's. He has the right blueprint here, now I don't know if he has the strategies to do those things, but he's on to something. Olof's comments will only dig the hole deeper.
I'm posting this for two reasons. First, it's one of the best lines ever on TV, and pretty much summarizes our season. It's been a perma-meme for years on BigSoccer. Second, actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on Cheers, died today.
This is definitely a USOC lineup where the coach knows if he loses he's out of a job. I am very surprised Lundt doesn't get the start here. Where is Kessler? He got a sniff against kansas. Then he was in the pregame presser for Minnesota, didn't get on, and now didn't make the trip. I'm guessing back 3 as you were. Horn and Wallem as the wing backs. JGR and Durkin as holding mids, with Hartel as a 10 and Teuchert and Klauss up top. Actually seems somewhat of an attacking lineup.
I think we got a goal. It sure looked like a goal. And it looked like we scored it. I forgot what they looked like.
For everyone who has been on the Xande Silva bandwagon, why isn't he starting? Why isn't he playing? You got your answer!
Here is the Post-Match Press Conference video. Olof's comments are useless, but Burki's comments are telling. They are worth a listen.
I read a lot on sport psychology (see if you can spot the differences between Olof and what should be happening, and why his response is so wrong): This is from Dan Abrahams, I tried to get his post to copy over here, but it didn't work, so old school cut and paste: A team in a slump...low on confidence. Players: Distracted - Lacking intensity - Executing skills with little or no intent. So what to do? Maybe it's complex...maybe it's not! But let's do the obvious...let's strip it back. To change this we’ve got to control the narrative. We’ve gotta take charge of the narrative (because when you’re in a slump or low on confidence, you’re not driving the narrative...it’s driving you!) So an approach we can take is to hold an appreciative inquiry: get the team together and have a chat... -When we've played well what does that look like? -What are our strengths? -Given our assets, if we're playing at our best, what does this look like? Strip things back to create a team performance process that relates to the things we can control (or gain greater control over) Not what we have to do to beat the next opposition. Not what we have to do to guarantee a great performance. Simply this: “All I want to see is what you players have told me. You've told me about us at our best. You've broken it down into three simple keys. These three keys are controllable...we simply need to do these...as individuals and as a team. Now, I want to see these keys. You have permission to lose. You have permission to make mistakes. You have permission to register an average performance. But I want to see those three keys...I want to see this performance process… …the captain and his leadership team are driving this...they are making sure every player is accountable to these keys." Emerging from failure requires a performance process! It requires taking charge of the narrative. It requires taking control. And all the information you need...all the competencies you need are right there. Right there inside of you. You just have to draw them out and focus on executing them like crazy…
House of Cards, appreciate your efforts on the Abrahams piece. From my standpoint, there is really nothing new to say about Olof. In fact, aside from going the remainder of the season undefeated, I am not sure there is anything he could say or do that would change my belifef that he is ill suited for City and MLS.