USMNT Talk

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I think all that is a little harsh. It's a fun exercise, and why not list out some of our young players that are up and coming. The future is bright (brighter than the present anyway).
 
I think all that is a little harsh. It's a fun exercise, and why not list out some of our young players that are up and coming. The future is bright (brighter than the present anyway).
Not my intent to rain on other's fun, although I guess that's what I did. I confess I do find it amusing that people are just skipping over 2022 to 2026. But I mostly was taken aback that Doyle spent so much time undermining his own article. This was no no quick throat-clearing disclaimer about how predicting rosters that far our is hard before getting into it. He laid out specific evidence at length proving why the article should not be written, and it's clear he only wrote the article because he was pretty much forced to.
 
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Here’s a thought: it is emotionally easier to process us not being at the WCF than it would be to watch a Bruce Arena led squad of whiny choke artists captained by an arrogant, over-rated turnover specialist in midfield bumble through a group stage and likely - and that may be a stretch - collect a single point.

I don’t believe for a second he was going to reboot the squad and bring in the talented young players. He couldn’t. He relies on the same crappy man management principles as Kreis, that is, he just tries to make sure he has enough of “his guys” that he can stifle any discontent.

Yes, missing out was awful and cost MLS and USSF a big bump in exposure. But even now that the WCF is happening, I’m pretty okay with us not being there - at least more than I ever thought I would be.

The little feelings of sadness have only crept up a couple of times. But again, it’s mitigated by knowing that we’d have taken a lot of players who didn’t deserve to be there and wouldn’t have delivered performances of which we could be proud.

Yeah, I guess I am rationalizing. But that doesn’t make me wrong.
 
Here’s a thought: it is emotionally easier to process us not being at the WCF than it would be to watch a Bruce Arena led squad of whiny choke artists captained by an arrogant, over-rated turnover specialist in midfield bumble through a group stage and likely - and that may be a stretch - collect a single point.

I don’t believe for a second he was going to reboot the squad and bring in the talented young players. He couldn’t. He relies on the same crappy man management principles as Kreis, that is, he just tries to make sure he has enough of “his guys” that he can stifle any discontent.

Yes, missing out was awful and cost MLS and USSF a big bump in exposure. But even now that the WCF is happening, I’m pretty okay with us not being there - at least more than I ever thought I would be.

The little feelings of sadness have only crept up a couple of times. But again, it’s mitigated by knowing that we’d have taken a lot of players who didn’t deserve to be there and wouldn’t have delivered performances of which we could be proud.

Yeah, I guess I am rationalizing. But that doesn’t make me wrong.
I heard something on a podcast (I think it was one of the American Fiasco bonus podcasts) that compared this WCF to the NCAA tournament when your team isn't in it.

Obviously, I'd much rather the USA be in it, but I feel as though I am able to enjoy this one much more without the USA in it.
 
At first I thought Midas Mulligan Midas Mulligan was wrong, but then I realized I have great memories of watching USMNT from 94, 02, 06, 10 & 14 but when I think about 98 all I can remember is dread and nausea and embarrassment. On a personal level I agree.

Based on my experience with youth soccer we are missing a huge bump in interest and commitment in soccer with the US on the sidelines for the WC. It was visible and dramatic in 10 & 14. Even a lousy team playing in the group stage would be better for the sport and probably the NYCFC fanbase than this though. Big picture it sucks we aren't in the WC.

If we were in I think it would have been more like 06 than 98 though.
 
Ran across this article while perusing some Bundesliga news. It reviews some young Americans in the Bundesliga, including three dual nationals who may switch allegiance to the U.S.A.

- Tim Tillman, 19, a midfielder who came up through Bayern's youth system and is being loaned to Nuremburg this season.
- Maurice Malone, 17, a striker at Augsburg.
- Jeremy Toljan, 23, a right back for Dortmund, who represented Germany throughout its youth system but has yet to appear for the senior men's team.

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/...ock-of-the-usa-2026-world-cup-team-507373.jsp
 
Jeremy Toljan, 23, a right back for Dortmund, who represented Germany throughout its youth system but has yet to appear for the senior men's team
I think Toljan is going to end up with Croatia based on some old comments.