Also, apparently the incident from Berhalter's past was reported to the Federation on Dec. 11, which is the same day The Athletic's story about Gio came out. Holy shit.
Of the assistants, Luchi Gonzalez would have been my pick, but he's already gone to the San Jose Earthquakes. I'm assuming it will be Anthony Hudson, which will make for a real Dave Sarachan 2.0 era, albeit a much briefer one.Apparently there will be a January camp manager named tomorrow that is a current assistant, but that won't preclude a new contract with Berhalter.
View: https://twitter.com/thegoalkeeper/status/1610399063555334146
We just need a catchy “Wagatha Christie” tabloid style name for this and we’re there.Does this type of controversy mean that we truly are becoming a proper soccer nation?
So the timing of all this is going to be real interesting. We have Gio being told he'll have a limited role, Claudio telling USSF about Berhalter's past and Berhalter making the public comments about a player nearly being sent home. I'm not saying that's the order but if it is, that's potentially retaliation times two.ESPN reporting that it’s Claudio who tried to blackmail USSF.
Fucked up on many fronts - for Gregg, for Gio’s future, for Claudio’s career, for the Berhalter-Reyna families…
I believe the reported timeline is:So the timing of all this is going to be real interesting. We have Gio being told he'll have a limited role, Claudio telling USSF about Berhalter's past and Berhalter making the public comments about a player nearly being sent home. I'm not saying that's the order but if it is, that's potentially retaliation times two.
I'm not married to Berhalter continuing as the coach by any means, but what in this situation makes you feel like he shouldn't be involved? Kicking his then-girlfriend and now-wife 30 years ago? Just curious, because it is the Reynas who should be getting all of the scorn, in my opinion.My take on this is that Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter should not be involved with USSF in any way going forward.
You can't have a coach involved in this level of drama lead one of the best USMNT players going forward. In isolation, that's not fair to Gregg, but it's still the truth. You think he's going to treat Gio fairly? There is no way he can be impartial.I'm not married to Berhalter continuing as the coach by any means, but what in this situation makes you feel like he shouldn't be involved? Kicking his then-girlfriend and now-wife 30 years ago? Just curious, because it is the Reynas who should be getting all of the scorn, in my opinion.
His handling of Gio's case at that conference is disqualifying, in my opinion.I'm not married to Berhalter continuing as the coach by any means, but what in this situation makes you feel like he shouldn't be involved? Kicking his then-girlfriend and now-wife 30 years ago? Just curious, because it is the Reynas who should be getting all of the scorn, in my opinion.
I mean, I don't think he should be punished because Gio's parents are pieces of shit. Just like Gio shouldn't be punished. I don't know, maybe Claudio and his wife should have thought about that.You can't have a coach involved in this level of drama lead one of the best USMNT players going forward. In isolation, that's not fair to Gregg, but it's still the truth. You think he's going to treat Gio fairly? There is no way he can be impartial.
Gregg also doesn't deserve to continue on his own merits, in my opinion, but that is separate from this spectacle.
He didn't name Reyna and that conference was supposed to be off the record. Naive perhaps, but I don't think disqualifying. And I'm someone who's ready to move on from Gregg anyways.His handling of Gio's case at that conference is disqualifying, in my opinion.
Not sure how you can just declare this.At the same time, he isn't actually that special of a player
It's disqualifying for me. He displayed absolutely horrendous judgement to say what he said. Like you, I wanted him out anyways, but the conference incident should clinch it in my opinion.He didn't name Reyna and that conference was supposed to be off the record. Naive perhaps, but I don't think disqualifying. And I'm someone who's ready to move on from Gregg anyways.
Regardless, there was enough smoke around Gio that both The Athletic and ESPN had articles ready to go about his behavior during the WC. The only reason those were pushed back by a couple of days was due to Grant Wahl's death.
He's obviously one of the brightest young prospects in US soccer but he hasn't actually shown that much professionally other than initially breaking into the BvB team very early and having some good flashes that year. Injuries have played a big part in that but health is a skill and also not unrelated to his questionable mentality and dedication.Not sure how you can just declare this.
I mean... if he didn't think it was going to get out he's too stupid to organize a beer run nevermind manage the national team, and the pieces were loaded with anonymous quotes that were obviously from Berhalter or his staff (including some that were later confirmed to be lies) in a pretty clear attempt to elevate Gregg from criticism of his usage of Gio.He didn't name Reyna and that conference was supposed to be off the record. Naive perhaps, but I don't think disqualifying. And I'm someone who's ready to move on from Gregg anyways.
Regardless, there was enough smoke around Gio that both The Athletic and ESPN had articles ready to go about his behavior during the WC. The only reason those were pushed back by a couple of days was due to Grant Wahl's death.
It should be obvious but I hadn't put together the "look at what you were doing at Gio's age" part in my head for some reason. It's an awful vindictive way to do it but it sure does point out that these are kids in situations no 20 year old should be in with handlers that aren't always doing them favors. Not that it excuses what his mom did but I wonder if the comment was made exactly like that (a heated comment complaining about the double standard) but Ernie treated it like an HR department would treat it (now that I know, I'm compelled to act and report).The story as far as I can see it is that Danielle Reyna got pissed at Gregg for both not playing her son in the World Cup then talking about the disciplinary issues with Gio at the leadership conference. She acted pretty awfully by calling her old friend Ernie Stewart to talk about her college roommate and good friend Rosalind Berhalter getting kicked by her future husband 31 years ago, perhaps to say "Gregg, look at what you were doing when you were Gio's age." She must have known exactly what she was doing. There is no excusing that on a personal level. It was purely vindictive.
The direct quote from her statement is:It should be obvious but I hadn't put together the "look at what you were doing at Gio's age" part in my head for some reason. It's an awful vindictive way to do it but it sure does point out that these are kids in situations no 20 year old should be in with handlers that aren't always doing them favors. Not that it excuses what his mom did but I wonder if the comment was made exactly like that (a heated comment complaining about the double standard) but Ernie treated it like an HR department would treat it (now that I know, I'm compelled to act and report).
Also, Twellman makes it seem like there is more to come out.Claudio Reyna also sent multiple messages to USMNT general manager Brian McBride and Stewart during the World Cup, in which he said he shared his frustration about Gio's World Cup experience.
Multiple sources told ESPN he threatened to share allegations about Berhalter's past, but Reyna has denied those allegations.
Took him 7 months. She wanted that forgiveness in a week.The direct quote from her statement is:
"I told Ernie that I thought it was especially unfair that Gio, who had apologized for acting immaturely about his playing time, was still being dragged through the mud when Gregg asked for and received forgiveness for doing something much worse at the same age".
I didn't think we'd have a "the Reynas' actions here are good, actually" take on SOSH.He screwed over the son of the guy who was the best man in his wedding to make himself look better. He's garbage and good for the Reyna's for exposing it.
this is one of those problems with nepotism. If Jay Berhalter wasn’t in an executive position at USSF, he’d have no reason to disclose this (if the events are as depicted in Gregg & Rosalind statement). Indeed, I wouldn’t expect a brother would do that.Probably worth noting aside from the Reyna part, that this exposes that one of the people in a major position of power during the coaching search (Jay Berhalter) knew about this and did not bring it up, which is deeply concerning.
I was actually struck a little differently. Many of the anti-GGG/Fire GGG/ Don’t Rehire GGG crowd I see online seem to be 100% consistent in going after the Reynas on this. Make no mistake, their opinions of Gregg aren’t changing. They just seem to be saying “we don’t want Gregg, but this isn’t a reason why”.I think the biggest thing I've learned so far from this still-developing saga is that the people who hate Gregg Berhalter really hate Gregg Berhalter.
Um, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with ya there. He wasn't a Golden Boy finalist in both 2021 and 2022 just because the voters were blinded by laundry - everyone on that list is in some glitzy laundry. And watching him, as we all have, I'll just say his talent and potential are clearly world-class. We don't have anyone like him.Gio Reyna shouldn't be punished for the sins of his father. At the same time, he isn't actually that special of a player and shouldn't feel like he has some God-given place in the team because of his last name and having a few good months a couple years back for a Borussia Dortmund side that has made a lot of young players look better than they are.
Failing upwards because you know a guy is what American Soccer is all about.Hudson's in that Jason Kreis bucket of doing bad jobs in MLS and failing upwards or sideways into doing bad jobs at US age levels. If he's just in for the January camp because it's the cheapest option, who cares, but if he coaches any meaningful matches with meaningful players then I too will be irritated at USSF for how long they are taking on their search.
I believe he was only a Golden Boy finalist in 2021, but in any case selection to that list is highly endogenous to what club you play for. Its a list that tends to encompass a pretty broad range of talent from bonafide future superstar like Erling Haaland or Phil Foden or Bukayo Saka to young-player-getting-first-team-minutes-every-journalist-has-heard-of like Bryan Gil or Moise Kean or Matteo Guendouzi or....Sergino Dest.Um, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with ya there. He wasn't a Golden Boy finalist in both 2021 and 2022 just because the voters were blinded by laundry - everyone on that list is in some glitzy laundry. And watching him, as we all have, I'll just say his talent and potential are clearly world-class. We don't have anyone like him.
He's not "special enough" to play for the US even when sulking and half-assing it in training and his teammates and coach are pissed at him for it. But he's definitely special enough that we ought to worry about the trajectory of his career and reputation and relationship with US Soccer. And ultimately he will matter more to the program than the difference between Berhalter and a replacement coach.
If it were Cole Bassett's mother trying to start some shit, nobody would care, we'd all go "what a jerk" and then move on. This is a big problem precisely because Gio Reyna is a big fucking deal.