At this point any change will be an improvement.Originally Posted by sportdawg
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At this point any change will be an improvement.
At this point it will be rinse and repeat with GB and I would rather attempt to improve instead of watch this over and over.
Callahan has had enough and is taking the Nashville job. They played so much better under him than GB, imagine what they could do, see what they have done with another coach, and then watch them under GB. JM has Canada in the Semi's after a month or so. I don't think anyone would say Canada has better talent than we do currently. We turned down the current Uruguay coach a few years ago.
Canada has scored two goals in four matches. Of course, if they beat Messi and Argentina, even if the game ends 0-0 and they win on PKs again, that will be a remarkable accomplishment. But Canada has the same issues as the USMNT does...clueless in the attacking 1/3 and can't possess the ball against elite competition.
They also don't have half the attacking talent or midfield talent that we supposedly do. I expect them to struggle to score when their best player by a mile is Davies who is a defender, followed by Buchanan I guess. I also don't expect a country that has been average at best its entire existence in CONCACAF to magically compete with the elite countries toe to toe. JM has been an offensive minded coach, sometimes to the detriment of his club. In a month with less talent Canada is still better off in this tournament than we are with GB. JM has found a way and will continue to build until Canada hits the talent and tactics wall.
I am not saying I want JM to take over, but I am saying there are lots of guys that could accomplish what GB has had 6 years to do. It's time to see if someone else can do the same or better.
If last night is a representative example of Marsh's coaching, then no thanks. He's no better than Berhalter.
Tonight should be a good match, fun to watch. Columbia is playing the best soccer and my pick to win Copa America, but Uruguay is very tough and capable of beating them. And either will be a very worthy opponent for Argentina on Sunday. Saturday Canada gets the loser for 3rd place. If Marsh is worth his salt he'll have them ready to play, and Canada should win because neither Columbia or Uruguay will care about playing for 3rd and the edge will lie with Canada.
Canada's lack of depth is a serious issue, that can't be dealt with in a short time frame. They had 7 guys on their starting 11 play every minute. They are about 13 deep, with the bulk of that experience being gained in MLS. They were supposed to be crushed by Argentina. The Semifinals was the apex they could have hoped for before the tournament started and honestly advancing from the group was their top goal. Our talent pool while flawed in actually finding the best talent in America is 100X deeper than theirs. Except for the fact that when Berhalter has been in charge during the last cycle they bested us in Qualifying and at the Copa.
When did we handle them in the last cycle when BJ Callahan was interim. He used our talent in the way it should be used, an attacking, higher pressure style, 2-Nil following a 3-Nil victory over Mexico.
I think Columbia coming into the Copa should have been considered the favorite based on their recent run of play. Argentina got the nod as defending Copa and WC champs but not because they were playing the best soccer in South America right now. That being said when you have a player like Messi it only takes one moment of brilliance and the better team still loses.
From your posts it is clear you like Marsh as a coach. Well, I'll grant that Marsh > Berhalter but that is a very low bar to get over.
Early in the match Canada enjoyed some good possessions, all ending in naught. But, just as clear is the same issues afflicting the US side: there is no, zero, nada, zilch comprehensive, over-riding scheme for an offensive attack. Like the US, if individuals make a good play, or the other side makes a mistake, or Canada/US get a lucky bounce of the ball you MIGHT see a dangerous shot on goal...maybe. I'm not sure why players/coaches can't see what is so obvious to some of us observers. This is NOT about talent, experience, etc.. I am not addressing that. This is all about KNOWING how to move without the ball, anticipating where you should be and moving to that spot BEFORE your teammate with the ball makes his (her) next move. YES! this requires coaching and practice, practice, practice...and then more practice as a team. What you see with the US (and Canada too) are players reacting, rather than anticipating. Oh chit! I should have been right there, on that spot, 5 seconds ago...well, too late now! The door closed, the chance has passed.
And all of this is just addressing the short-comings of the strikers (and attacking midfielders). Don't get me started on midfield play...
BERHALTER IS FIRED!!! Thank God.
But, if US Soccer hires another like him we'll be right back where we are. Any change is going to be an improvement...I hope.
I like that Mexican ref in last night's Columbia-Uruguay match. He did a good job of not allowing the players to "call the game." But even he allowed too much squabbling. Refs need to keep total control. I did when I reffed. Told the captains before each match, go tell your teammates and your coaches I have ZERO tolerance for dissension. My reputation proceeded me after a while, and I really never had any problems. Players grumbling under their breath, coaches throwing up their hands in utter disagreement never bothered me. None dared to get more expressive. Associations need to get involved and start suspending and fining players/coaches for open dissent.
Columbia is playing well, they are so explosive and dangerous on the attack. Prediction Columbia 2 Argentina 1 in what I hope is a clean, fast game. Very few stoppages, few fouls. That is when it is truly "the beautiful game."
I never side I didn't like JM. I also would love to have several people over him if they are available. I am just saying if we had hired him 2 years ago, we wouldn't be where we are today. I was listening to one of the shows the other day and they were talking about how certain players knew no matter what they did they would start etc. While that is true of some of the great players around the world, we don't have anybody that should command that type of respect on our squad. I want a coach that is going to come in and say if your head isn't on straight, you aren't fit, and you aren't working hard someone else will be in your spot. That definitely wasn't GB during this current cycle and maybe not in the previous cycle either. People want to give him credit for trying so many players out when he took over, but honestly, he had too.
To the Refs point I am in total agreement. I like the rule they have at the Euro's this year, that only the team captain can talk to the ref. They have stuck to it for the most part to. I get a team having a respectful voice on the field and one person is enough. All the circling the refs yelling, getting in their faces, should be a card.
I also though he did a good job. What I don't get is how Conmebol thinks having the players families section anywhere near the normal fans much less opposing fans is ever a smart thing to do.
USWNT 1 Mexico 0
Mexico is ranked 29th...and yet they battled us to the end. Not impressed with Emma Hayes, not so far. She should start running with the team too. Soccer coaches shouldn't be so large. Still lacking in the midfield. This team has one quality midfielder, Rose Lavelle. She has to stay healthy and play lots of minutes in France coming up. Horan is okay as a holding midfielder, but she has to remember even as a six she is still a midfielder and has to participate in the offensive attack too. She tends to be "defensive."
I think this side will get 4 points in group play in the Olympics, at best. Will that be enough to advance into the knockout round? We'll see.
Canada was the better side last night and should have won. They are not better than Uruguay overall but were last night. Marsh should have switched to a 5-4-1 after taking the lead, especially after going into the 5-min. extended time, just like Cobi Jones said.
Conmebol found a way to top the screw ups from the champions league et al. for the final. Plus changing the halftime length for a stupid show??? I am fine if they take their money and don't come back to the US for the tournament, the stories coming out now about the decisions they have been making before and during the whole tournament is just bad, and it caught up to them last night. Especially the reports of Conmebol not wanting to pay for proper security etc.
I see all these articles popping up in Europe and South America questioning can the US actually host the WC. Yes, we can because FIFA and Concacaf will be in charge and understand how our system work with our stadiums. One report has the Miami Dolphins security apparently pointing out almost all the flaws well before hand and was ignored.
It always amazes me how all these people (fans) from there poverty-stricken countries can spend weeks traveling between cities following their team. Columbia had 60,000 in New York, then a similar number in Charlotte and close to that many in Miami. Many of these foreign fans have come here as part of Biden's all-expense-paid "welcome to America" plan, complete with pre-paid debit cards, free phones, etc. Still, it costs a lot of money to travel and attend these games...even when some of the Columbians had no tickets in Miami.
As for the games...enjoyed them both. Spain is just simply great. Best program in the world. Argentina showed its class in the second half clamping down on Columbia's offense, especially the two center backs, world-class defenders. And in all cases these sides' ability to possess the ball, as needed.
Spain deserved to win the way they played that tournament They were the best team. England just kept hanging around, mainly because position by position they had the best individual talent in most spots, but just never really played like a team.
Argentina played like the team that has been there and done that, they knew what needed to be done. They also have guys that are ready to fill Di Maria and Messi shoes as best that can be done. Columbia is younger and learned a very hard lesson last night, but if they learn from it and continue to build, they will be very tough come '26. They have the skill and speed to move the ball like Spain, but also know how to win a knife fight that is most Conmebol games. They have lost 2 games since February of 22, both to Argentina 1-0. That was an impressive feat to build off of.
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