What's next for the USA? Trecker

for once he did not kick us while we were down. I don't think it was a change of heart but people woulde be making death threats if he started running his trap this early.

 

It's challenging to question Trecker's reasonable observations, but has a point been reached when Gulati himself should no longer be in a USSF leadership position? Under Gulati's tutelage, how much has the USSF actually acomplished? Has USSF, particularly the men's team and development teams, met reasonable expectations?

 

do you really think gulati, an unpaid president of a non profit organiztion has the power to do the things that you say?

There are people in the USSF that have power, but I don't think the president (whether it is gulati , doctor bob, or whoever you propose should be the next one) has what we need to make the necessary changes.

There is a big old boy network behind the scenes, I think.

 

Apparently not a life without Trecker.

 

Predictable but Trecker was nearly spot on, on his Netherlands and Brazil score predictions.

 

Trecker. Forget who the messenger is and think about the message. He was pretty much spot on.

 

Monday morning quarterbacking always sounds good. That is why he is a writer and not a coach.

 

Gulati is not going anywhere.

At least not until we find out if the USSF World Cup hosting bid is successful

Gulati leaves, our bid fails. He's the head of that.

 

One of the few Trecker articles where I wasn't angry at myself for reading. So let's noodle this ...

Imagine, the 3rd USA goal isn't disallowed versus Slovenia. The USA comes into the Algeria game needing only a tie to advance. Do the Americans run themselves ragged versus Algeria? Probably not. Do the Americans possibly have some legs left in OT versus Ghana? Maybe.

Also imagine the first goal versus Algeria isn't disallowed. Or imagine the elbow Dempsey took to the face is called and US is awarded a penalty. So instead of a gut-wrenching victory in the 91st minutes, the US coasts to a win, resting Donovan and Dempsey for the final part of the Algeria game. Great win? Sure, but draining the battery past empty? Probably not.

So where I'm at is to assess why the US doesn't have good depth in defense and at forward. I am al for that - needs to be done. But let's also acknowledge the USA is loaded for bear in midfield (Don't forget that Jermaine Jones might still be a contributor). In the past I would agree that individual effort was required for the US score goals in the past (I immediately think of Preki's goal versus Brazil in the Gold Cup). However, many of the US goals are made by terrific teamwork and passing combinations. Sure, there is great effort involved, but often involving four or five players. I am thinking of some of the Confed Cup goals - spectacular teamwork, or the Algeria goal, which required playmaking from Howard, Donovan, Altidore, Dempsey and Donovan. Or the 2nd Algerian goal. I could go on. So let's mix in what is working when we evaluate what isn't.

 

Problem is he has been writing this since qualifying began. This is not Monday morning quarterbacking. He has made very valid points throughout Bob's tenure but people can't get past the messenger.

 

Quote:
The Americans have now won four World Cup matches since 1990; in 22 matches the record over six Cups is 4-12-6

(I assume that he's counting Saturday's game as a tie. Otherwise, I don't get his math. Or I can't count, which is entirely possible.)

This nicely lumps twenty years together as if it were one season.

Another way to look at it.

Record in the 90s: 1-8-1 (W/the win and tie being on home soil.)

Record in the naughts: 3-5-4. (Including a tie with the soon to be world champs, down a man most of the second half, in Europe.)


So clearly, no progress has been made.

(With less sarcasm: Negativity isn't a form of analysis w/Trecker. it's his writing style. He simply doesn't have the vocabulary to say anything else.)

 

Even if we had advanced to the semi's, Trecker would be writing the same things. We all would love for MLS to have a fully functioning reserve league. That ain't happening until the bottom line improves.

Trecker is one of those guys who can't seem to say anything positive about soccer in the US. That is why I don't care for him.

After the last WC, Sunil and Bob rectified one of our biggest problems. They made sure we played top teams. We also played games in Europe.

Progress does not happen overnight. This World Cup suggests the US is moving in the right direction. People like Trecker have only one goal and that is to belittle the program. Guys like him refuse to accept that the Fed's budget is not unlimited. We can't just throw money at every possible solution.

 

Fully agree with him on the notion of one coach, one cycle. When a coach takes for a second cycle, Lippi, Sven, Arena, whomever, he stays too close to the guys who got him there last time. WC is a young man's game. Need a fresh view to cut the oldsters and stay young.

 

Who exactly is Gulati's boss? Who has the power to actually remove him from leadership? This are honest questions because I really don't know.

 

I have to concur with what Trecker Jr says in this piece. He nailed it, plain and simple. And I've always hated the guy.

 

Surprisingly un-Trecker-esque. More realistic than negative.

No glaring erroneous "facts"/lies. A step up for the bastard.



And yeah, he's the one who keeps killing Kenny.

 

Or the totally weird

Europe: 0-8-1
Not Europe: 4-4-5 (2 second rounds, 1 QF)

Honestly, when you think about our pro league age and infrastructure and so forth the fact that we've been a .500 team outside of Europe is pretty darn impressive. Outside of Europe we've also always advanced.

 

We beat Portugal; tied Italy, England, Slovenia

 

damn...sounds like an england fan after that 4-1 whooping...what-ifs are for the weak and a convenient way to mask failures.
i'm still optimistic though with hope of upcoming talents popping up in the next few years.

 

That's kind of the way I see it.

We've made it to the knockout stage 2 of the last 3 Cups, and there are much more storied, respected teams out there than can't claim the same. There is an obvious need for improvement, but once again, Trecker points out the obvious negatives and offers no suggestions on how to improve any of it. Saying we need to get better is like clubbing baby seals.