USMNT Summer 2024: Beauty is in the Eye of the Berhalter

[Cellar-Door]

Knives are starting to come out for Crocker already. Various people (including unreliable narrator Wynalda) talking about how he was watching the Euros instead of in the US, he's never around, and he is the only reason Gregg wasn't fired.
Now nobody posting it is all that reliable yet, but it isn't coming from nowhere, sounds like Crocker has made enemies in the Fed already.

I will say the delay does feel like a guy over his head not being willing to eat a big mistake on his first major move.

 

[rguilmar]

Knives are starting to come out for Crocker already. Various people (including unreliable narrator Wynalda) talking about how he was watching the Euros instead of in the US, he's never around, and he is the only reason Gregg wasn't fired.
Now nobody posting it is all that reliable yet, but it isn't coming from nowhere, sounds like Crocker has made enemies in the Fed already.

I will say the delay does feel like a guy over his head not being willing to eat a big mistake on his first major move.

I don’t trust anyone involved in the hiring process itself. Then again, I trust Eric Wynalds even less. I’ve seen a bunch of rumors that Crocker had a very vocal argument with people in the Fed after the loss on Monday. Of course, there are also rumors that the Board of Directors is on vacation.

I agree wholeheartedly with your last point. Firing GGG is admission of a mistake. Again, Ecuador didn’t seem to such reservations.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Fox Sports says a decision to come mid-next week which is laughable. Waiting long enough to not seem reactionary as if anybody cares.

 

[canderson]

nm

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Knives are starting to come out for Crocker already. Various people (including unreliable narrator Wynalda) talking about how he was watching the Euros instead of in the US, he's never around, and he is the only reason Gregg wasn't fired.
Now nobody posting it is all that reliable yet, but it isn't coming from nowhere, sounds like Crocker has made enemies in the Fed already.

I will say the delay does feel like a guy over his head not being willing to eat a big mistake on his first major move.

The one counter narrative I’ve heard on Crocker is that he’s quietly doing a very good job at the age group team reforming and youth talent ID levels, which would track with his FA and Southampton history.

He also knocked the Hayes hire out of the park it seems, easier to hire for one of the world’s best teams and highest paychecks than for the team where neither of those things are true I guess.

The AngryNet is getting drip-fed negative Crocker stuff for 100% sure though.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Fox Sports says a decision to come mid-next week which is laughable. Waiting long enough to not seem reactionary as if anybody cares.

Waiting that long in the hope nobody will care and you can keep Gregg

 

[Cellar-Door]

The one counter narrative I’ve heard on Crocker is that he’s quietly doing a very good job at the age group team reforming and youth talent ID levels, which would track with his FA and Southampton history.

He also knocked the Hayes hire out of the park it seems, easier to hire for one of the world’s best teams and highest paychecks than for the team where neither of those things are true I guess.

The AngryNet is getting drip-fed negative Crocker stuff for 100% sure though.

Yeah I have no idea if Crocker is good or bad at his job outside the bad decision to bring back Berhalter. I was more noting that he's already got people inside USSF gunning for him.. Which could be good or bad depending who it is

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Waiting that long in the hope nobody will care and you can keep Gregg

Time for him to put together one hell of a PowerPoint.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Time for him to put together one hell of a PowerPoint.

Slide 1: Goals... overrated or totally overrated
Slide 2: Vibes
Slide 3: Why putting players in position to fail is good for personal growth
Slide 4: Fitness is for suckers
Slide 5: Do you know who my brother is?
Slide 6: The Swedish 2nd tier is hard alright!

 

[DJnVa]

Is it possible(likely) that they are doing backchannel inquiries into some of the high profile guys on this boards list like Klopp to see if there is any reciprocal interest before bagging Berholter. I also read a report that Klopp made about 20 mill per year with his club team. If true, do we really expect him to sign on to the US job for maybe say 3 mill?

Klopp wouldn't be doing it because he needs the money, and I seriously doubt the fact he made so much previously would really matter. It would be a legacy thing.

 

[67YAZ]

Klopp wouldn't be doing it because he needs the money, and I seriously doubt the fact he made so much previously would really matter. It would be a legacy thing.

Klopp’s made no secret about his desire to someday helm Germany. With Nagelsman seemingly rehabilitating his reputation this past year with an improved German team, my guess is that the German FA’s hope is for Nagelsmann to show well at WC ‘26 then leave for a club job so they bring in Klopp. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Germans are already letting Klopp know the job is his if he waits 2 years.

Klopp doesn’t do things half way. If he wants the German job now, he’ll wait for it. He won’t come to the US for 2 years as an emergency stop gap and then bolt for Germany. No, Klopp would plan on being here through WC ‘30 so he could really mold the entire program and shape a squad according to his philosophy. Which the US program would greatly benefit from, but I can’t believe Klopp would take on that job if it put off a shot at the German NT.

 

[teddykgb]

Guys there are probably three jobs in world football that Klopp can’t get tomorrow if he so much as asks. International or club. He’s not signing up to manage the USMNT, don’t do this to yourselves

 

[Titans Bastard]

The AngryNet is getting drip-fed negative Crocker stuff for 100% sure though.

I'm getting a strong feeling of "those who talk don't know and those who know don't talk" about Crocker discourse right now. People are working themselves into a frenzy and convincing themselves of things that may or may not be true because there's very little solid info, and just stuff pumped into the ether by the usual rumormongers and outrage merchants.

For me, it's not worth getting upset until and unless the fed says they're keeping Berhalter next week.

Vlatko wasn't officially out until 10 days after the USWNT was eliminated at the World Cup in 2023.

 

[nayrbrey]

A great breakdown article by Bill Connelly on ESPN.

It’s paywalled but the main gist is that the midfield play has disappeared for the most part recently.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/insider/story/_/id/40494186/usmnt-copa-america-exit-fixes-2026-world-cup

U.S. midfielders have had fewer than 150 touches in a game nine times in the Berhalter era. It's happened a few times through the years when the team was winning comfortably: It happened in the 4-1 win over Canada in 2019, a 4-1 win over Honduras in 2021, a 5-1 win over Panama in 2022 and last summer's 2-0 win over Canada that featured two early goals. But after it happened six times in 82 matches, it also happened in three of the last four games: the 1-1 draw with Brazil and the losses to Panama and Uruguay. That shift is noticeable, even with extenuating circumstances like Weah's red card and a couple of injuries, and even if three matches don't officially constitute a trend.

So where have the midfielders' touches gone? Well, against Panama, they went straight to the other team. But in other recent matches, they have frequently gone to the fullbacks.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

When the people online wishing for a CL winning Liverpool manager aren’t specific enough…

https://x.com/cbssportsgolazo/status/1809621648410038408

(I’d take him)

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

A great breakdown article by Bill Connelly on ESPN.

It’s paywalled but the main gist is that the midfield play has disappeared for the most part recently.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/insider/story/_/id/40494186/usmnt-copa-america-exit-fixes-2026-world-cup

View attachment 85119

Tyler Adams Effect?

 

[DJnVa]

Guys there are probably three jobs in world football that Klopp can’t get tomorrow if he so much as asks. International or club. He’s not signing up to manage the USMNT, don’t do this to yourselves

No one is doing anything to themselves. It's just message board banter. I think everyone here knows the deal. It's okay to have a little fun with things, like that July 4 post.

 

[67YAZ]

Doug McIntyre was on FS floating Steve Cherundolo as a likely candidate.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Doug McIntyre was on FS floating Steve Cherundolo as a likely candidate.

He also put a graphic out with the most bizarre set of numbers I have seen.



I dare you to interpret the numbers.

 

[SocrManiac]

That graphic is an absolute work of art. Seeing Bob Bradley listed is a masterstroke of genius.

 

[tmracht]

Man if that's not made to drive controversial views I don't know what else it's for.

 

[67YAZ]

Wagner might be the best realistic option? No idea if he wants to move into the international game at this point. He did an ok job at Norwich, should have solid offers.

So on my list Wagner is #2 with 12.5/10 odds right behind Klopp at -3/10.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

He also put a graphic out with the most bizarre set of numbers I have seen.

View attachment 85156

I dare you to interpret the numbers.

It means they will have 3 coaches.

 

[rguilmar]

Why not just put Alexi Lalas’s name on it to make the internet really explode?

 

[tmracht]

Why not just put Alexi Lalas’s name on it to make the internet really explode?

Maybe name some of the top tier El Tri Coaches, Cocca? Vucetich? Piojo?

 

[Cellar-Door]

Cherundolo is such a USSF choice that I would be very willing to believe he'll be basically the only name considered. They'll call Klopp then when he says no (or says yes but pay me $5M+) they'll say we tried. Then they'll wait like 6-8 weeks, not really interview anyone then announce...
HEY, here is our new manager, former USMNT player, manages in MLS.... clearly the best choice for an 18 month WC prep. Sure he's got no experience in a real league and less than 2 years as a manager in a 3rd rate league... but the players love him!

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

If it’s Cherundolo I don’t love it, but I at least have a “he’s taken over for an ideologue manager, bent the team more practically and achieved more” potential positive take on it.

If it’s Cherundolo and they make like the Gregg hire and give LAFC the “wait until end of season” courtesy I will damn near become one of the screaming Twitter morons about it.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Cherundolo is like a perfect Venn diagram of qualities desirable to USSF.

Edit: Non-direct relative division, of course.

 

[teddykgb]

You just don't have time for Cherundolo to learn to be an international manager. He'd be a fine choice for after the world cup but for me you need to find someone really experienced in Intl management who really understands what little time will be left and how to use it.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

You just don't have time for Cherundolo to learn to be an international manager. He'd be a fine choice for after the world cup but for me you need to find someone really experienced in Intl management who really understands what little time will be left and how to use it.

100%. Maaaybe if he came in as someone with incredible tactical bonafides. And maybe he does! I don’t watch MLS. I certainly have no insight into his assistant work at Hannover. But it’s a VERY light resume when there are plenty of guys out there with a more proven record.

But I bet they are loathe to hire someone like Renard who they would see as a mercenary and not their ideal of someone who feels connected to the “project” of American soccer.

It’s all conjecture at this point but the last search came down to the two most obvious candidates so it’s hard to imagine the same braintrust going in such a different direction.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Only popping in here to add that I hadn't given the WC '26 angle much thought, but if there was ever a time to plunk down some real money and give the best manager available free reign to develop a team, it would be right now. If they can get Klopp, great. If not, get another world class club manager or go at someone with an established track record at the international level.

 

[GB5]

If Klopp shows sincere interest and says he needs something like 7.5 mill, can’t they find that money thru big wig donors or sponsors pretty easily, or is the problem that they can’t pay the men’s coach 7.5 if they are only paying the women’s coach 1 mill or whatever she is making?

 

[DJnVa]

If Klopp shows sincere interest and says he needs something like 7.5 mill, can’t they find that money thru big wig donors or sponsors pretty easily, or is the problem that they can’t pay the men’s coach 7.5 if they are only paying the women’s coach 1 mill or whatever she is making?

They absolutely can.

A popular USMNT for the WC would be a boon for, say, the jersey provider...

Hell, adding a $15 charge to the American Outlaws yearly dues would bring in a half million.

 

[BosoxFaninCincy]

To a large degree, we are already late, and we can rearrange the deck chairs, but Pele 2.0 is not samba-ing theough the door to save USMNT, no matter who is managing. That being said, this is the USA. We need to throw every dollar we can at the problem and see what happens. Without betraying any political ideologies, I have woken up in a cold sweat thinking about the POTUS welcoming the world to WC26 not to mention the Summer Games in 28. Let's try not to add insult to injury by fielding a non-competitive squad on our home pitch shall we?!

 

[Saints Rest]

MLS teams (at least the American clubs) should be clamoring to put money in to make the USMNT the best it can be via the best HC possible.

Avg ticket price of $45
x 26 (US) teams
x. 17 home games each
= $20k in add'l revenue for every one person rise in average attendance.
500 additional asses in seats gets you to $10M.

MLS needs this WC to be a shining moment in US soccer for their long-term success.

NHL average attendance went up by 2500 people per game per team after the Miracle on Ice in February or that season. (I'm sure some of it was driven by other factors, but that was a 33% increase compared to 78-79.

 

[Senator Donut]

MLS teams (at least the American clubs) should be clamoring to put money in to make the USMNT the best it can be via the best HC possible.

Avg ticket price of $45
x 26 (US) teams
x. 17 home games each
= $20k in add'l revenue for every one person rise in average attendance.
500 additional asses in seats gets you to $10M.

MLS needs this WC to be a shining moment in US soccer for their long-term success.

NHL average attendance went up by 2500 people per game per team after the Miracle on Ice in February or that season. (I'm sure some of it was driven by other factors, but that was a 33% increase compared to 78-79.

If you're looking for precedent on this, the three Canadian MLS clubs passed the hat around to pay Jesse Marsch with a home soil world cup upcoming. Circumstances are quite different; Canada Soccer is legitimately broke, due to some egregious self-dealing by CPL clubs. USSF isn't flush with cash, but they certainly have a better financial starting point than their neighbors to the north.

MLS hasn't shied away from business opportunities around the world cup. They bought the 2002 television rights when no other bidder emerged to ensure games were available on basic cable. That gamble paid off big time and the league is certainly on much stronger footing than it was coming off two contractions in '02. I think it's worth it for a name like Klopp or even Tuchel, but probably not many others further down the prestige list.

 

[67YAZ]

To a large degree, we are already late, and we can rearrange the deck chairs, but Pele 2.0 is not samba-ing theough the door to save USMNT, no matter who is managing. That being said, this is the USA. We need to throw every dollar we can at the problem and see what happens. Without betraying any political ideologies, I have woken up in a cold sweat thinking about the POTUS welcoming the world to WC26 not to mention the Summer Games in 28. Let's try not to add insult to injury by fielding a non-competitive squad on our home pitch shall we?!

When Trump went after Pinoe, she netted 2 in the WC'19 semifinal against France in response. I'd take the same result with Pulisic in '26.

 

[Zososoxfan]

To a large degree, we are already late, and we can rearrange the deck chairs, but Pele 2.0 is not samba-ing theough the door to save USMNT, no matter who is managing. That being said, this is the USA. We need to throw every dollar we can at the problem and see what happens. Without betraying any political ideologies, I have woken up in a cold sweat thinking about the POTUS welcoming the world to WC26 not to mention the Summer Games in 28. Let's try not to add insult to injury by fielding a non-competitive squad on our home pitch shall we?!

2 years is what, 10 camps or so, with about 2x the matches (20)? That's just thinking about it in terms of a international breaks (i.e., 5 breaks/year, 2 matches/break). Not sure if there's any other competitions between now and WC.

It would've been great to give the manager these Copa matches to really test them, but you can do a lot of good in 2 years, and frankly they HAVE TO.

If the USWNT coach needs a pay bump to bring in the right USMNT coach, do it. Again, the one thing the US has is money and monied interests. Get it done Theo.

 

[Titans Bastard]

If Klopp shows sincere interest and says he needs something like 7.5 mill, can’t they find that money thru big wig donors or sponsors pretty easily, or is the problem that they can’t pay the men’s coach 7.5 if they are only paying the women’s coach 1 mill or whatever she is making?

I saw a Doug McIntyre report the other day that said that potentially unequal pay between Hayes and the USMNT manager is not an issue.

 

[Cellar-Door]

USSF announces big personnel change.....

New Director of marketing. It was received about how you'd expect.

Is a nice little microcosm of USSF though... totally ignore the supporters, make no big decisions ever, and a federation run by marketing people, hiring more marketing people, because squeezing every last penny out of this for their masters in the voting bloc is the sole goal of the entire org.

 

[rguilmar]

USSF announces big personnel change.....

New Director of marketing. It was received about how you'd expect.

Is a nice little microcosm of USSF though... totally ignore the supporters, make no big decisions ever, and a federation run by marketing people, hiring more marketing people, because squeezing every last penny out of this for their masters in the voting bloc is the sole goal of the entire org.

For a tone deaf organization, this is their most tone deaf accomplishment.

 

[Zososoxfan]

USSF announces big personnel change.....

New Director of marketing. It was received about how you'd expect.

Is a nice little microcosm of USSF though... totally ignore the supporters, make no big decisions ever, and a federation run by marketing people, hiring more marketing people, because squeezing every last penny out of this for their masters in the voting bloc is the sole goal of the entire org.

The part that baffles me is EVEN IF the goal is squeezing every last penny, that WOULD STILL justify the expense of a rockstar manager. I mean, the difference between crashing out of the group phase, or even the R32 (ugh) phase, and making it to the R16 or beyond has to be real. It's a bit riskier, but it's not like their putting in their own money anyway. Gamble away my dudes/dudettes.

 

[sezwho]

The part that baffles me is EVEN IF the goal is squeezing every last penny, that WOULD STILL justify the expense of a rockstar manager. I mean, the difference between crashing out of the group phase, or even the R32 (ugh) phase, and making it to the R16 or beyond has to be real. It's a bit riskier, but it's not like their putting in their own money anyway. Gamble away my dudes/dudettes.

That plus the global attention for a high profile manager would explode! It would be the Klopp heard around the world.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

So what does everyone think they are waiting for? Hoping England bombs out spectacularly then drop an update right after? Waiting for a Friday news dump?

 

[rguilmar]

It was reported that the decision would be made in the “middle of the week”. Most people online seem to think that means today.

 

[Cellar-Door]

So what does everyone think they are waiting for? Hoping England bombs out spectacularly then drop an update right after? Waiting for a Friday news dump?

waiting to see if people will forget and they can keep him was always my guess.
I think they see no need for urgency because:
1. No matches for a long while
2. They want to hire an MLS guy and that Garber will push to wait until the season ends like thye did with Gregg.
3. Let other countries fire their managers and scoop up the best available guys to justify a 3rd rate hire like always

 

[DJnVa]

I can see them waiting til after the Copa. As hosts, maybe we should let that play out.

 

[DJnVa]

I've seen some twitter chatter that something might drop at 3:30.

 

[rguilmar]

I've seen some twitter chatter that something might drop at 3:30.

Right when everyone is watching the Euros. Well timed, and I would guess it’s intentional (though with USSF you never know).

 

[SocrManiac]

They’re watching Southgate and rubbing their hands in anticipation.