DByrd2

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I wan the USMNT to succeed, not a specific manager to, which doesn't seem to be the case for you

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If you want the USMNT to succeed, you want their manager to succeed while he is the manager. :lol:

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Say the guy who name-checked me when he made this thread? Are you an autist?

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Wow… sensitive, are we? If it means anything, I didn’t do it with venom. I simply notice there are two schools of thought on this board typically, and we are on the opposite end most times. I respect your opinion.

It’s not always like that, as I have conceded points to you in the past. I enjoy the back and forth, but here lately you’ve been a bit emotionally reactive. I’ve reacted in kind. Probably shouldn’t have.

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You're trying so hard to make it seem as though the expectations for the USMNT Gold Cup squad was that they had no shot at getting through the like of Trinidad, Haiti, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala. When that is simply bullshite, considering we have multiple precedents of B/C-team Gold Cup squads making it to the final, and in some cases, winning the whole thing.

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Nobody thought we’d even play against Guatamala. It was pretty clear that we were going to face off with Canada, but that squad FAFO’d.

We haven’t seen a performance that bad in friendlies as we did before the GC. Everyone here expected to win the group, but not one of us could have told each other with 100% certainty that we would because of how bad the lead-in games were.

You’re trying to apply the A-Team standard to the B/C-Team, and life doesn’t work that way. Nor does sports. Your expectations were way above realistic outcomes, and now you’re throwing a tantrum and lashing out against a manager who built a team that fought their arse off despite a clear lack in overall quality.

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What you're doing here is the textbook definition of gaslighting btw

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Someone disagreeing with you does not mean they are gaslighting you. :lol:

It’s a difference in perspective, and a refusal to step outside one’s own to consider the circumstances at hand.

Have a Xanax, my guy. It’s a discussion board. I’ll do the same.

I actually do appreciate and respect your opinions, and those of others here. I just don’t think the situation is as black and white as you are painting it to be.

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The irony

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The lack of intelligent rebuttal.

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We did not overperform with this roster.

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You’re entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong. :lol:

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We got stomped by two Euro squads, beat up on CONCACAF minnows and shite Saudis, then lost to Mexico.

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With a team that had never been in a USMNT senior team (non-January) camp, by and large. And also whose leading striker was from the USL of all leagues (and the alternative available was young and raw as well).

A LB who had no defensive abilities, but was likely a more complete player than anyone else available to be called in. A RB who is ridiculously green behind the ears. Multiple players who have never performed well when they HAD been called into previous camps, and no installed style of play because our federation FAFO’d and fiddle-fricked around with Gregg and then doubled down on retardation by dragging their feet in signing a new manager regardless of who.

If I told you that this roster would have even made the final against Mexico after those two friendlies, you’d have told me I don’t know jack shite about soccer. Now here you are acting like the world is falling because we should have done better? GMAFB

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If the standard we are holding ANY USMNT player is where we consider making the final of the shitass Gold Cup an overperformance, then the game's gone.

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Or your expectations were too high because you refused to see the reality of the situation at hand. That’s nobody else’s fault, brother.

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Didn’t pulisic skip out on the Mexico friendly last fall?

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Yes, but he was nursing a hip flexor injury. I give him a pass when it is injury absence.

"I only want to do the friendlies and not the Gold Cup", when the manager wants to call you in or a roster spot in an international window, is not something that is acceptable.

Glad Poch seized the opportunity to reset that standard.

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I think this past window was good for Poch overall to see the lack of quality depth and that he needs his better players.

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I agree with this, but only for Poch seeing the extent to which he will need them for the advertised level of success in next year's WC. I think he always knew he would need just about every one of those guys, including Pulisic.

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Poch has got to get this team together now. The making examples of players, if he did that has to end now as they prepare for the World Cup.

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I agree. I think this only continues if Pulisic decides he wants to not show up for the next camp, which if we are being honest absoluetly will not happen. He'll be there, and he'll show his quality. The example has already been made, and I highly doubt that Pulisic will double down and draw this relative nothing burger out.

Poch has made his point, and Pulisic obviously cares about the national team and his career. I don't foresee this being any kind of issue between them moving forward.

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While it was great we made it to the finals this good cup window was just poor soccer overall. Bad friendlies. And dominated in game play by Mexico. Yes the guys battled l, but the quality was not there and our midfield had to play in the top of the box all game. No shot of controlling the ball.

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THIS should be the main focus. To hell with tactics, the quality was not there. This renders all the "sky is falling" BS reactions useless. We over-performed with a roster that was VERY under-talented.

My whole point in the aftermath of this Gold Cup is this... Why can't we take that as positive insight knowing that the rest of our good players were either injured or retained by their clubs for the Club WC?

Instead, most folks are acting like Poch should have won the whole thing going away, and no match should have been close. That is such an asinine and willfully ignorant take (to me at least).

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I think Poch sees now the depth is not good. He needs his a team to compete and found a couple of guys who can make the World Cup team.

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Net positive. This is traditionally what the Gold Cup is used for anyway. So if that is the case, why the uproar?

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Richards is good. Who plays next to him. Ream will be another year older and slower.

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True, but the chemistry Ream has with Jedi (and now Richards) is good to have if he indeed is one of our two CBs at the WC next year.

SO glad Richards has come around and is now a towering figure back there.

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Luna and berhalter can be good backups.

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Definitely spot players. I think Luna has an outside chance at breaking into the XI, although it is unlikely.

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Tillman on the cusp of starting, though I thought he struggled in the Mexico game(could be the beating he got the previous 2 games).

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I thought Tillman played well until late in the match, and definitely was our best player thorughout the tournament (Richards gets honorable mention).

That ref likely cost us the match with how badly Richards was fouled throughout, especially if you pair that with his allowance of rugby rules tackles on Agyemang the entire night.

That was the worst-refereed match I have seen in a long time, even if you take out the missed handball.

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October and November windows need to see the a team. 2 good teams in October. November there is talk of south American teams including Argentina possibly in Qatar. Maybe January window we solidify the backups.

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I think you will absolutely see that.

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Goalkeeper is a worry. Freese did fine. But can Turner find a club to get some minutes. Does Steffen get healthy or someone else.

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I am entirely uncomfortable with either of Freese or Turner in the net. We REALLY need pre-Man City Steffen to be between the sticks.

He looks Downs-y

When you have a new manager with a depleted roster availability, looking only at the results is literally missing the forest for the trees.

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Name a good thing Poch has done.

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I did. You didn’t read, or ignored, any/all of this thread where I have broken it down pretty simply for you.

Something something lead horse to water…

Did anyone message that company's HR team and the company's PR department?

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What? Obviously, you meant September of '24.

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Damn, I glossed over that and assumed Nations League this year was the topic. :lol:

Nice catch.