USMNT Talk

[Gotham Gator]

Matt Doyle takes a flier on naming the USA World Cup team in 2026.

Which NYCFC player is on the squad???

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/06/19/armchair-analyst-well-you-asked-it-2026-usmnt-roster

 

[Ulrich]

Matt Doyle takes a flier on naming the USA World Cup team in 2026.

Which NYCFC player is on the squad???

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/06/19/armchair-analyst-well-you-asked-it-2026-usmnt-roster

He must’ve liked the recent rainbows.

His rationale is way out there and good thing his job isn’t riding on this article.

 

[LionNYC]

Matt Doyle takes a flier on naming the USA World Cup team in 2026.

Which NYCFC player is on the squad???

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/06/19/armchair-analyst-well-you-asked-it-2026-usmnt-roster

HYPE! HYPE! HYPE!

I can see it happening, but it's far from happening.

 

[mgarbowski]

Matt Doyle takes a flier on naming the USA World Cup team in 2026.

Which NYCFC player is on the squad???

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/06/19/armchair-analyst-well-you-asked-it-2026-usmnt-roster

The best and only worthwhile part of that article was in the first 15 paragraphs where he explained why the whole idea for the article was stupid. If he had the guts to end it there I'd nominate him for a Pulitzer.

 

[Gotham Gator]

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).

 

[mgarbowski]

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.

 

[mgarbowski]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1010233897009872897

 

[Midas Mulligan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1010233897009872897

Once again, I love Jimmy Conrad.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Nice article in the Times about how we need more guys who come from backgrounds like Dempsey in order to join the soccer elite.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/...l?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Long story on Donovan and his goal vs. Algeria in 2010. Nothing new here, but a fun bit of nostalgia.

http://www.si.com/longform/soccer-goals/goal2.html

 

[Midas Mulligan]

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.

 

[SoupInNYC]

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.

 

[Sabo]

At first I thought 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.

 

[adam]

I like this kid.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/20/tim-weah-usmnt-psg-mens-league-pickup-soccer

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I like this kid.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/20/tim-weah-usmnt-psg-mens-league-pickup-soccer

He’s got charisma and a lot of talent. I really like his chemistry with Sargent.

I think it will be a huge disservice to these young studs if the new manager tries to incorporate Bradley and Altidore. We don’t need their poisonous presence infecting another generation. Let the kids take over.

They all seem to actually like each other. And, you know, try hard.

 

[Gotham Gator]

They all seem to actually like each other. And, you know, try hard.

This last part is kind of the key.

We can all see teams at this WC that should have left some veterans at home and brought the hungrier, grittier kids. That was us in qualifying.

 

[Gotham Gator]

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

 

[Midas Mulligan]

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.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I think Toljan is going to end up with Croatia based on some old comments.

If so, he would be pulling the trigger a bit late, methinks.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

If so, he would be pulling the trigger a bit late, methinks.

Why would that be late for them, but no for the US?