[teejers1]

I think one of the most frustrating takeaways from the loss to Canada is that Gregg B said after the game the USA dominated the game.  Then later he said after rewatch that he realized Canada was playing a low block, essentially letting US have possession, but limiting their chances, and counting on the counter press for offense.  If a national team coach isn't able to realize that mid game, he has no business being the coach, let alone for a top 20 team in the world.  

That's also how Canada played against the US in the qualifier in Nashville (even with Alphonso Davies on the field) so it shouldn't have come as a surprise.

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Regardless of whether you think Mexico or the USA have the most talent, I think it's close enough that world cup qualifying for either team shouldn't be difficult in Concacaf, yet here are, Panama breathing down both teams necks, potentially forcing one of them into a playoff.

Agreed, it seems ridiculous, but almost every qualifying cycle ends up this way (for both the US and Mexico) so I suppose we underestimate CONCACAF qualifying.

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I don't think Gregg is in danger of being fired, for many reasons, but most of all it's probably too late to make a change to have a positive effect.  If we do somehow miss qualifying in this cycle, it would be a no brainer to fire Gregg, and I wonder if Jesse Marsch would still be available.

I think it's a moot point because even though he's currently unemployed Marsch seems committed to European club coaching. In any case, it's pretty risky to change coaches between qualifying and the tournament itself, and the players seem to like Gregg a lot, i.e. he hasn't lost the team. 

But even assuming the US qualifies, and even if the US reaches the knockout rounds, it behooves the US to upgrade. It's a very good job with the added attraction of hosting in 2026. US Soccer should aim high, I just don't know if the internal politics would permit it.

An email from a colleague who is a soccer aficionado is copied below.  I defer to (and agree with) almost all of his soccer takes, including these:

Our MLS coach has announced his starting lineup for today’s must-win game.  NOT starting:  the FOAS ["Future of American Soccer"], 23 year old Christian Pulisic, our best player.  Starting instead:  27 year old Farm alum J-Mo, who has not started a real game since getting injured (again) last February (he’s now missed two of the last three MLS seasons with injuries) and hasn’t started for the USMNT since 2017.  
NOT starting: 20 year old Brendan Aaronson, one of our most dynamic young players, who currently plays in Austria and has Bundesliga and EPL teams trying to buy him.  Starting instead:  26 year old MLS player Kellyn Acosta.  
Also NOT starting:  21 year old Sergino Dest, who plays for Barcelona.  19 year old Yunus Musah.  

Acosta and J-Mo should not even be on the team that goes to Qatar next December.  And they are starting over younger, better players who will definitely be on the WC team??  WTF?  Some coaches – Kyle Shanahan falls into this category – intentionally make bizarre playing-time decisions so they can say “Look how smart I am!  I can win without my best players!”  So Kyle doesn’t get Deebo – unquestionably the 49ers best offensive player – the ball in the last 12 minutes of a must-win playoff game, and MLS Coach doesn’t start several of his best players in a must-win WC qualifier.  We still should win – it’s last place Honduras, playing in weather colder than any of them have ever experienced, and we have way more talent.  But if the USMNT loses or ties today, while subjecting the players to negative 20 temperatures, everyone must be fired.

[teejers1]

I think one of the most frustrating takeaways from the loss to Canada is that Gregg B said after the game the USA dominated the game.  Then later he said after rewatch that he realized Canada was playing a low block, essentially letting US have possession, but limiting their chances, and counting on the counter press for offense.  If a national team coach isn't able to realize that mid game, he has no business being the coach, let alone for a top 20 team in the world.  

That's also how Canada played against the US in the qualifier in Nashville (even with Alphonso Davies on the field) so it shouldn't have come as a surprise.

---

Regardless of whether you think Mexico or the USA have the most talent, I think it's close enough that world cup qualifying for either team shouldn't be difficult in Concacaf, yet here are, Panama breathing down both teams necks, potentially forcing one of them into a playoff.

Agreed, it seems ridiculous, but almost every qualifying cycle ends up this way (for both the US and Mexico) so I suppose we underestimate CONCACAF qualifying.

---

I don't think Gregg is in danger of being fired, for many reasons, but most of all it's probably too late to make a change to have a positive effect.  If we do somehow miss qualifying in this cycle, it would be a no brainer to fire Gregg, and I wonder if Jesse Marsch would still be available.

I think it's a moot point because even though he's currently unemployed Marsch seems committed to European club coaching. In any case, it's pretty risky to change coaches between qualifying and the tournament itself, and the players seem to like Gregg a lot, i.e. he hasn't lost the team. 

But even assuming the US qualifies, and even if the US reaches the knockout rounds, it behooves the US to upgrade. It's a very good job with the added attraction of hosting in 2026. US Soccer should aim high, I just don't know if the internal politics would permit it.

An email from a colleague who is a soccer aficionado is copied below.  I defer to (and agree with) almost all of his soccer takes, including these:

Our MLS coach has announced his starting lineup for today’s must-win game.  NOT starting:  the FOAS ["Future of American Soccer"], 23 year old Christian Pulisic, our best player.  Starting instead:  27 year old Farm alum J-Mo, who has not started a real game since getting injured (again) last February (he’s now missed two of the last three MLS seasons with injuries) and hasn’t started for the USMNT since 2017.  
NOT starting: 20 year old Brendan Aaronson, one of our most dynamic young players, who currently plays in Austria and has Bundesliga and EPL teams trying to buy him.  Starting instead:  26 year old MLS player Kellyn Acosta.  
Also NOT starting:  21 year old Sergino Dest, who plays for Barcelona.  19 year old Yunus Musah.  

Acosta and J-Mo should not even be on the team that goes to Qatar next December.  And they are starting over younger, better players who will definitely be on the WC team??  WTF?  Some coaches – Kyle Shanahan falls into this category – intentionally make bizarre playing-time decisions so they can say “Look how smart I am!  I can win without my best players!”  So Kyle doesn’t get Deebo – unquestionably the 49ers best offensive player – the ball in the last 12 minutes of a must-win playoff game, and MLS Coach doesn’t start several of his best players in a must-win WC qualifier.  We still should win – it’s last place Honduras, playing in weather colder than any of them have ever experienced, and we have way more talent.  But if the USMNT loses or ties today, while subjecting the players to negative 20 temperatures, everyone must be fired.