The Official US Soccer thread
- Thread starter coyoteshockeyfan
- Start date
Landon Donovan vs. Christian Pulisic: USMNT legend won’t back down as nine-word blast defends Milan ace criticism after CONCACAF Gold Cup snub
While many fans and analysts accepted this as a reasonable move, one voice of disapproval — Landon Donovan, a legend of the Stars and Stripes — cut through the noise and sparked a storm of controversy.
worldsoccertalk.com
USMNT striker Josh Sargent is delivering, and USA coach Mauricio Pochettino may have a dilemma on his hands
Josh Sargent continues to put goals away and may be playing himself back into a starting spot with his national team
www.cbssports.com
Hopefully he has come of age and can become that player who defenses need to account for and he can be an actual threat to score with regularity.USMNT striker Josh Sargent is delivering, and USA coach Mauricio Pochettino may have a dilemma on his hands
Josh Sargent continues to put goals away and may be playing himself back into a starting spot with his national team
'Just shut everyone up' - After a summer of chaos, controversy and clapping back, Christian Pulisic must respond to USMNT and Milan critics with goals, not words | Goal.com US
Pulisic invited pressure, but if he can perform, it might serve as evidence that skipping the Gold Cup was actually the right call
www.goal.com
ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
- Posts
- 20,992
- Reaction score
- 22,847
Not a likeable team.'Just shut everyone up' - After a summer of chaos, controversy and clapping back, Christian Pulisic must respond to USMNT and Milan critics with goals, not words | Goal.com US
Pulisic invited pressure, but if he can perform, it might serve as evidence that skipping the Gold Cup was actually the right callwww.goal.com
USMNT reportedly set to face Uruguay in November
The U.S. men's national team will face Uruguay in a November friendly, according to multiple reports.
prosoccerwire.usatoday.com
ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
- Posts
- 20,992
- Reaction score
- 22,847
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
Twellman has hit it spot on with the current national team. They have no clue to what real pressure is.
IDK, I'm probably in the minority of US Soccer fans who think that this is a ridiculous story. The former players that are constantly whining about this generation of players come off as haters to me. many of them didn't play for top level clubs, so I think there is possibly some jealousy. And if they had done something great at the national level, I would also hold them to a higher account. IMO, only the 2002 team has really ever been dangerous at a World Cup. They were very close to making the semi final and if there was VAR then, they very well may have. After 2002, US Soccer has mostly been disappointing to follow (as a fan). They drove Landon Donovan into the ground and his career wasn't fully maximized because IMO US Soccer and Donovan prioritized his time with the national team over his club career. IMO it was a disappointment for someone of his quality to play most of his career in MLS. That said, Donovan had a phenomenal career with the national team. his goal against Algeria is one of everyone's favorite WC moments.
I think the story that is mostly being overlooked is that US Soccer made a terrible mistake bringing Berhalter back the 2nd time. It wasted a lot of time and was a self-induced setback. now the players in the pool are not on the same page with their new manager. That is what I think is their biggest problem.
I agree with the Berhalter thing and I truly believe that Pochettino runs a different program in that he believes that there needs to be a degree of separation between him and the players while I think with Berhalter it was more of a boys club mentality and no real coach/player atmosphere.
I also think Pochettino believes that every player needs to constantly prove themselves that they belong while Berhalter had his guys and pretty much ran with them regardless of whether the effort was there or not. They were his guys.
I recently saw a Pulisic comment where he mentioned that he asked to come to part of the camp and was denied by Poch because Poch wanted the players to be in the entirety of the camp. I think that was a good move by Poch to set the tone. I agree that Berhalter was too predictable with the team. and his expectations in general were too low.
ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
- Posts
- 20,992
- Reaction score
- 22,847
I can't think of anyone endorsing the return of Gregggg here or elsewhere - it was the biggest cop out and the weakest choice they could make. US Soccer as an organization plays a huge role in why mens soccer is still middling in this country, both on the national and international level.
Danny Musovski of the Seattle Sounders is someone I think Pochettino needs to look at. Thirteen goals in 24 matches is nothing to sneeze at. I watched him a couple of times and he just has the look of a natural striker who puts the ball on goal.
USA vs. South Korea: How to watch, stream international friendly | MLSSoccer.com
The United States return to action after their runner-up finish at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, hosting South Korea in the first of two September international friendlies.
www.mlssoccer.com
Just finished watching this match and man another poor intensity effort. The intensity didn't go up until later in the match when subs came in. Blackmon doesn't belong on the field and Dest looked like he was playing with weights on his feet. Freeman looked a lot better at RB. I know a lot of people like Adams however I really don't se what he is doing that makes him so valuable.
Zendejas and Balogun added spark to the attack and Richards tightened up the defense. Weah did nothing special up to leaving the match with a hamstring injury. Pulisic had a few moments. Balogun actually created some dangerous chances for the US. Sargent, for whatever reason just seems to disappear and never seemed to be in a position to win any long balls played up to him. You can sing his praises for what he does with his club team but when he steps on the pitch with this team, he disappears.
In all fairness the South Korean GK came up big late with two saves to keep the clean sheet.
Zendejas and Balogun added spark to the attack and Richards tightened up the defense. Weah did nothing special up to leaving the match with a hamstring injury. Pulisic had a few moments. Balogun actually created some dangerous chances for the US. Sargent, for whatever reason just seems to disappear and never seemed to be in a position to win any long balls played up to him. You can sing his praises for what he does with his club team but when he steps on the pitch with this team, he disappears.
In all fairness the South Korean GK came up big late with two saves to keep the clean sheet.
SECTION 11
vibraslap
Jo Hyeon Woo from Korea is awesome. His game against Dortmund in the CWC was amazing.
USA 2-0 Japan (Sep 9, 2025) Game Analysis - ESPN
Expert recap and game analysis of the United States vs. Japan International Friendly game from September 9, 2025 on ESPN.
I much better effort tonight. Freeman and Balogun showed up big tonight and Zendejas was a difference maker. The final easily could have been 4 or 5 nil except for some outstanding goalkeeping by the Japanese GK. Pulisic did some good things too and played with more energy.USA 2-0 Japan (Sep 9, 2025) Game Analysis - ESPN
Expert recap and game analysis of the United States vs. Japan International Friendly game from September 9, 2025 on ESPN.www.espn.com
Stout
A handful of fairy tales from the story bag...
Found this at the start of the second half and watched passively. It appeared to be a really good showing from the lads.
A much different lineup from the Korea game.
USMNT Starting XI vs. Japan: 1-Matt Freese,3-Chris Richards, 4-Tyler Adams, 10-Christian Pulisic, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 15-Tristan Blackmon, 16-Alex Freeman, 17-Alex Zendejas, 18-Max Arfsten, 20-Folarin Balogun, 24-Cristian Roldan
The players below were in the starting 11 against Korea.
2-Sergiño Dest, 7-Diego Luna, 8-Sebastian Berhalter, 9-Josh Sargent, 21-Tim Weah
Pochettino had Adams and Roldan at central mid and and Freeman and Arfsten playing wing backs/outside mids. Richards, Ream and Blackmon as a 3 center back lineup. Balogun played the 9 spot with Pulisic and Zendejas as wingers. Basically a 3-4-3.
I really liked Luna, Downs, McGlynn and De la Torre coming off the bench. I think Weah and Dest could easily find themselves losing a starting spot. I find Sargent to be a waste of a roster spot. He just doesn't show in international matches.
Freese is starting to grow on me, but hasn't fully convinced me as of yet.
ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
- Posts
- 20,992
- Reaction score
- 22,847
I don't know how much you can glean from beating Japan's B squad.
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Nobody’s knows but it’s fun to speculate. (Phoenix Suns Rumors). 2026
- Latest: BooksOrangePlanet
-
-
-