USSF is more worried about politics and pandering than they are about actually finding and hiring a decent coach. If they don’t fix priorities then there will continue to be struggle
Yeah. South America is a slog.i have seen my team fail to qualify for the world cup by 1 goal difference and one point. 8 years wait.
Don't think it will be easy. Just arrogance showing
I'm not saying it would be easy at all. I fully understand that making a world cup would be way more difficult, and there would likely be world cups we miss out on. My apologies if I'm coming across as arrogant, when I'm deliberately attempting to show the opposite.
The weird thing is we had some good attacking moments during the game.
But they were completely offset by boneheaded, naive, plays. Trying to casually play out of the back, without any urgency, against a team like Colombia, is a death sentence.
And Gregg’s subs at 2-1 were completely counterproductive and part of the reason we got our asses handed to us.
Finally people are coming around. This dude should have never been hired even before his scandal. We need an international coach with some legit pedigree
I'm going.to try and find a positive here. In a meaningless game he learned that our current back four and keeper need defensive help in front of them. They can't play a 4-3-3 against better teams. It's got to be a 4-2-3-1 with a focus on defensive responsibilities and couter attacks.
Disappointed but not surprised in the slightest by that result. Never been convinced that this team is really ready to be challenging to win in real tournament against great teams. We're lacking tactically, talent wise but most of all mentality. Columbia flat out worked us in both ends of the pitch.
I know it’s low-hanging fruit, and I’m judging from the armchair, but i really feel like he just wasn’t good enough today. We didn’t deserve the win but he could’ve stopped a few of those goals.
Our players aren’t better than Colombia’s. Our players aren’t 4 goals worse than Colombia. I know there were individual errors, but any competent manager sets up a team capable of competing with and possibly beating Colombia. Greg did not do that today. He hasn’t done that against anyone outside of CONCACAF. At some point, US Soccer has to stop accepting mediocrity, but I know they never will! We have no voice as supporters because they only care about helping their corrupt buddies out.
I don't understand how anyone can blame GGG for the CCV goal, that unmarked sitter right in front of the net because the defender tracking back decided to ball watch instead of staying with his man, Weah losing the ball dribbling out of the back or the Robinson error.
I keep reading about how he's at fault but aren't those goals examples of players making mistakes and getting wrecked for making them?
You make some valid points. Some of the errors have nothing to do with GGG, but some of them come from forcing bad players to play a way that doesn’t work for them. Nevertheless, the players shouldn’t make some the mistakes that they did.
My main concern is the way he sets up the team to play. Just look at the way the match went. We had more possession but we don’t do anything with the possession bc our players aren’t good enough to break down decent teams. Our build up is intentionally slow, and it isn’t going to be effective with our players. Despite this, Berhalter still plays this way. I just think we could have a better system to match the strengths of our players.
Berhalter has played the same way since day 1, and that’s fine if you get results. He hasn’t gotten the results though that show progress. He has to get some good results in Copa America to show something but I think this game gives a huge hint that we aren’t going to see anything. Nothing is different from what happened at the WC, and in many ways it is worse now.
I don't think there really is a better system. There are other systems but our players would bring the same shortcomings to those systems that they bring to this one.
We still wouldn't have the players to break down decent teams because we don't have players who are technically skilled enough on the ball or creative enough to do so. We're playing from behind against decent teams because we give up early goals. And while we have decent speed on the wings, we don't have it in the middle.
What system would work against good teams given those shortcomings in the player pool? Weah isn't a starter at the club level, neither is Musah. Cardoso clearly isn't a DM but our DM is injured. Gio isn't as good as people keep insisting he is.
I can agree with someone disliking GGG's system. It doesn't wow me. But people should be able to distinguish between not liking his system and the flaws of the player pool itself. For example: every time I watch GGG's system, I ask myself is there anyone on this team, other than Pulisic who can get into the box off the dribble? I don't think so. So, if we can't break down the defense off the dribble, what other way of getting the ball in there is out there...other than crossing it in? And we don't have De Bruyne out there making those passes, lol.
I’m saying just that! We don’t have De Bruyne or Rodri or Modric or Vini Jr or anyone who is world class and can break down a low block. GGG is trying to play like we are Man City.
All you have to do to beat the US is sit deep, let us have the ball and wait for us to pass it right to you. That’s not saying our players can’t be dangerous though. GGG isn’t willing to change the way we play, that is the problem. You cannot play on the front foot and have incisive possession against teams that are objectively better.
We would be better off using our pace and athleticism to be more direct and get the ball forward quickly when the opposition is drawn up the field. For example, Real Madrid likes to dominate possession and press high up the field. They did this against BVB, and they won the Champions League. BUT, they didn’t play like this against Man City. Why? Bc Man City is objectively better in possession and breaking teams down than Real Madrid. If Real Madrid tried to play like they usually do against Man City, they would’ve certainly lost in the quarterfinal. Real Madrid instead dropped deep, used their pace, and got the result. Don Carlo saw that he needed to be flexible.
Sometimes you have to say ok, this team is better than us. We need to change our system to give us the best chance for a result. In CONCACAF, possession and domination works. At the top of international football, it isn’t going to work for us right now. We don’t have players who can break down 11 players behind the ball, but we do have players who can use their skill in pace to be dangerous on the counter.
We're saying two different things. I'm saying that there isn't a system that exists where our existing players strength and weaknesses would not yield the same outcome that we're getting now.
We can't play like Real Madrid either because we don't have anyone as skilled as a Bellingham, Vini or Camavinga.
I see what you mean. Yes our weaknesses cannot be fully taken out of the game but they can be less of an issue. I do think there is a system that would work better than the current one. Don’t worry about playing out from the back, don’t make stupid passes. Drop deeper limit space in our defensive half and counter attack quickly. That’s all coming from the manager. If we played like that against Colombia, the result would not have been as bad. Not pretty but more effective in this situation.
If we're not playing out of the back then we need to stop comparing ourselves to the best teams in the world...which is what this whole ongoing debate is about. People say we're as good as the top teams. Well, the top teams have the talent and tactical knowledge to play out of the back.
Park the bus and hope to counter attack is fine but it's also the approach for teams that acknowledge that they're less talented than the teams they're playing.
The problem on this sub is that people insist we should be able to play an open free style against the Colombia's of the world because we're on their level. We're not. And I'm fine admitting that. But there are a lot of people out there who aren't ready to admit that. They don't want us to park the bus and hope for a counter.
Briefly on yesterday, we frequently played a 4-5-1 out of possession. We completely limited space in our defensive half. We didn't give up goals that way. So, GGG is doing that. We couldn't score and the individual lapses in judgment hurt us in set pieces and transitional moments. But when we were able to set up our defense, we did fine.
I was at the game, and thought the same. Scally did fine. But Dest is such a spark plug in the attack. So much of the rest of our team plays predictably. Dest is chaos driving at you. Opens all sorts of other things up for the team.
Because we’ve seen the alternatives and they’re even worse. It’s not that we like Gregg is that’s I’m not convinced there is any upgrade that would take the job right now. Unless USSF magically gets their head out of their ass and gives a huge ego pitch to Pep or something but we all know they won’t do that.
It’s called copium. He’s objectively a bad coach. He wins against small teams and whatnot but that’s highly attributable to the quality of our players nowadays. He’s a bad coach, that’s about it.
People who understand that Gregg sucks and has no business coaching our national team (you don’t understand this) have laid a very firm foundation over many years for their case.
It wasn’t just the mistakes. Look at how well Colombia moved off of the ball and worked for it, and look at how lazy some of the passes and movement was for the US. It was completely awful, and points to a very bad situation with the team.
Agreed, when the US disposes the opposition they are stale in their movement. Nobody flies up the field to put pressure on the defense once we have the ball. Playing out the back of the defense is fine, but there is no concepts of how to advance the ball from the sides or the middle from the back positions. That is all coaching. Berhalter should have been canned after the Reyna debacle on management of the situation as a whole. What happened at the WC was a payback to the Reyna's for what Claudio did at the club level to Berhalter's son. Petty by both parties, but at the time Gio was getting quality minutes at BVB and there was no reason for him to not be starting at the beginning of the tournament. Sad thing is I'm not sure a high level quality coach would want this team. It would have to be an exhausting multi layer search that finds a coach who has the high IQ, motivation skills, tactics, and experience. We have until the end of the year to find that coach, 18 months after that to develop a quality WC squad for '26. But for now the only hope is to get out of the group at Copa, much less winning the thing.
Scally played “dece,” Ream played sub-par, Robinson despite being one of my faves had an off game for him. Colombia was pressing high and running more showed much more urgency. US needs to be hungrier and can’t do this sloppy shit everrrr. Balogun had an okay game despite not being used much, we need more attackers. The way we attach is terrible imo. The defense lost it, but the offense didn’t give much reason for anyone to have will to win
not mad at him at all he has been amazing, i’d even have put him in the starting lineup tonight myself but after this game if I were coach I think i wouldn’t start him again
Exactly! We could be so good on the counter attack but instead we just want to pass the ball around at the back until we give it away. I don’t understand how Greg looks at our team and thinks ok let’s try to break teams down after they get into their defensive shape.
I get everyone wants to see dominant football and the US playing on the front foot, but we don’t have the players to play like this against top opposition.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If he bunkers down, people will demand that he opens up the play style because we should have higher standards. But if we play that style, it's obvious we don't have the talent to defend against the top teams or the skill to break them down either.
Yes, we are a team hovering outside the top dozen in the world and need a coach who can respond to game situations with a varied and thoughtful plan. If we don't have that we will never beat top teams. Honestly if Morocco can have a cup like it did we can as well, if we have a coach who is active and responsive.
You’re right. He’s in a difficult position but that’s part of the job. He hasn’t shown that he can get the results outside of CONCACAF. That’s the problem. I don’t think people would care so much how we play if we get results.
I love to watch dominant, possession-based football, but sometimes it doesn’t work. That’s the hill Berhalter is gonna die on if he doesn’t change something for Copa America.
Even though friendlies are here to learn things, we haven't even tried a counter attacking game. even France is flexible enough to bunker and play counter attacking as needed. Not saying ggg out, but if we need some pragmatism to diversify strategy and be less predictable for real games
That’s basically what he did going into 2022, and everyone was complaining relentlessly about it not looking sexy. But clearly he doesn’t know how to play a more open and aggressive style
I don't disagree with you but my opinion on this hasn't changed. The fan base really doesn't understand how far behind the international standard our players are. Like today's game wasn't an example of poor tactics, offensively or defensively.
It was an example of better players beating worse players when it comes to individual decision-making.
I guess that's what I've taken from these games over the last year or 2. Our individual decision making is so far behind our opponents. Especially on the defensive side of the game. We don't play smart defense. And I can't tell how much is coaching and how much is just people falling asleep at the switch. Because there's a lot of falling asleep at the switch and that's an effort thing.
No, the fan base doesn’t understand, but our players aren’t that far behind Colombia’s. If you look at how they are fairing in Europe, you would say this should be a very tight match. We have players who consistently are solid in club matches.
Sometimes the players have to be put into good positions by the coach. We consistently put our players in bad positions, and they made mistakes.
You mentioned it, and I don’t know how much of these problems are down to GGG. Maybe you are right and most of the blame lies with the players.
My only problem with that is they aren’t this terrible for their club teams. I don’t think anyone can say that our system of keep ball and slow build up from defense gets the best out of our players. For that reason, I don’t think there is a path towards progress with GGG.
I’ll end by saying that I don’t think Greg is the biggest problem with US Soccer, but I do think he holds back our team’s potential. How much? I’m not sure but I think we can find someone who can get more out of the players we currently have.
See, I wouldn't say that based on Europe.
Pulisic is playing well. McKennie and Robinson too. Balogun is average at his club right now. But Musah doesn't start, Reyna doesn't start. Weah doesn't start. Turner doesn't even play.
Why would I think that our player performance in Europe is good enough to put us on a higher tier? Simply being in Europe doesn't really cut the mustard, imo.
True, our expectations are probably too high, but I just can’t help but feel that the way we play doesn’t work. Our players aren’t setting the world on fire, but the possession style we play requires immense quality to break down strong teams.
I don’t think Greg will change it either. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think he will.
Subs and "adjustments" and we cough up 3 more goals.
We're dragging this into the Copa and we have Brazil up next. Fire Greg and find a coach that can put together a team that at least can defend.
I’m going to the Uruguay game in KC and now I’m not confident at all in getting a result there.
I’d say it’s more likely we finish 3rd than 1st at this point, but we’ll probably place 2nd and get pounded by Brazil/Colombia in the QFs.
Anything less than 1st and a SF appearance and Gregg has to go, we need a better coach going into the most important World Cup maybe in our country’s history. That was absolutely embarrassing today.
Ur actually expecting to finish first? Yeah You guys got the easiest group out of the cup but you cant be so delusional that you think you’re gonna come out on top of Uruguay?
You said “at this point we’ll probably finish second” taking it as you thought u had potential for more before this result with Colombia…. You guys were always coming after Uruguay i don’t know who told you guys confidently that you were gonna top the group..
I’m still gonna be delusional the day of and think we can get a result - we got that 0-0 draw against them 2 years ago at CMP after all - but that wasn’t encouraging, even before the 3rd goal
Lol I'm american and the fact that wer'e bantering a team that just made a world cup for first in 26 years is sad and stupid. They shouldn't even be relevant. You really proud that were better than canada? This loss was worst than theirs, were very lucky it wasn't 7-1.
The only way this gets forgiven is if we win the group.
It's only a friendly but holy shit that was a shitstorm of Colombia very good, US very bad.
Turner prob makes a couple more saves if he was actually in form. Goalkeeper position in bad shape.
There's no way we win a KO match against Brasil or Colombia, because this team is not winning the group. Berhalter needs to be shitcanned if we go 2-2 and still looking for a marquee win in 4+ fucking years.
Both. The turnovers in the back consistently happen under GGG watch. His system sucks and is predictable for any opposing team to gameplan against. The players also have to do better and not turn the ball over. They have to know that they can’t dribble it past two players in the back
Who is the one who insists on playing out of the back without the proper personnel?
If an nba coach asked their center (except for jokic) to bring the ball up against a press break, you wouldn’t blame the center
My main take away today: there is still a steep drop off after our top, like, 12 or 13 players. Despite giving up the two goals, we were honestly pretty decent and competitive for the first 60ish minutes. Things went south after that when we went deeper into the bench
Our best players today were all “after our top 12,13 players”
The 2 guys that only got the nod due to injuries were the 2 best starters not named Pulisic.
Our cup run will end at the hands of Colombia this summer. I just know it. I have been mentally prepared for this. We are always a disaster vs them 💀
I want to win but they are just a roadblock no matter where in the bracket we go
I’ve got an idea for keeper. Get the best Wrs out of college that don’t make the NFL. Have a tryout and see who’s naturally gifted enough to train for the next 2 years. Then at least, we have a crazy good athlete back there that can get their hands on the ball. As for the rest of the defense, idk.
Ah yes, the old “a failed NFL athlete is better than any soccer player” trope. A lot of people don’t realize that what makes a keeper elite is not his ability to save sloppy turnovers, it’s his ability to distribute the ball effectively. Keeper spends way more time putting the ball into play than he does making saves. You expect your keeper to make one or two clutch saves per game. Its the defenders job to make sure attackers are not getting looks at goal. Instead our defenders are playing assists to Colombia. Not fair to pin this on Matt Turner. (Though I do think he isn’t good enough)
I won’t pretend that I know exactly what makes a keeper great because I don’t. I know 90% of it has nothing to do with making saves but that’s why I threw in the 2 year window of training/learning. And I imagine a ton of it is mental so one of those outstanding athletes with insane reflexes could learn that portion over a couple years. The kicking on the other hand, I know that’s difficult just from experience. Just a thought. And btw, I literally had a comment talking about our ability to assist, just to the wrong team lol.
Bahahahaha… There’s absolutely no freaking way you think Matt Turner is more agile than a tenth of cornerbacks… shit 275 pound defensive linesman are more agile than Matt Turner smh. And I’m serious as can be. Put Matt Turner in the 3 cone drill against Trayvon Walker. It would be so hilarious. Why are y’all so sensitive about football players lol
Him and every football player is more agile and coordinated, not just goalkeepers
The reflexes and agility needed to make saves in football can't be compared with anything in american football. Catch a ball flying in the air is cleary easier than block shots in spots in the net out of your reach. You americans are so delusional towards your sports lol!
For the overall prosperity of our national team, it might be better to unfortunately crash out a little too early in the Copa America or other friendlies/competitions so that we actually realize how terrible we are sometimes so that by the time the most important event in modern USMNT history happens in 2026, the changes have already been made way before then.
lalas will?
he didn’t want to believe but he thought that by columbus losing to pachuca would be a wake up call to MLS to change it’s ways (he realized prob fall on deaf ears).
i think he’ll be pretty honest about what happened this game
A lot of our poor results in the past, you can criticize the coaching and the tactics for. Some results were flukes or the opponent was too much. Scarily, today is the first time in years that we’ve seen the players not want it enough. For all the talk pre-game about wanting to win this tournament, we had a chance to notch a comeback result in a crazy game, and we threw it away.
Agreed 4 Goals that shouldn’t have happened
Goal 1 tipped into the oppositions way. Goal 3 we lost the ball and then we don’t mark the guys trailing. Goal 4 and 5? Give the ball away and they score lol smh
How dumb
Humbling experience.
This is a team with way more talent than ourselves but grabbing some popcorn for the reactionary scapegoating. Whose fault is it that Colombia produces a significantly higher quantity and quality of professional soccer players than us?
This is why games outside of CONCACAF are so important for this team. They will have a lot of bad outcomes like this one, but they will improve so much more than just bullying CONCACAF all the time.
Yeah, I always figured Copa was going to be tough for us. South American teams won’t just let us have possession like European and CONCACAF teams have recently. Honestly I think if they can clean up some of the mental mistakes defensively they actually could have a couple upsets.
We looked dangerous on the counter and I’ve always felt that style of attack suites our offensive strengths. The downside is this defense is not built to withstand sustained pressure. It may be worth it to test out a Cardoso/Adams/Reyna midfield against Brazil.
Imagine if GGG had a normal job. Like you can blame the players or the US org as a whole sure. But if my students fail to show growth and don’t produce results over a 6 year period I’d get shitcanned.
And it’s worse now. This group of players is the most talented by far. Imagine I get a class that was performing well in the previous grades but when they get to me they become decidedly average… someone would be asking questions.
Poor ball control. Lack of ideas when their standard play of keeping ball control in their D was challenged. Everyone has seen it. I have no hope for Copa America.
I am going for the Uruguay game, I just wish we lose with dignity
Looks like ya needed to include ZIMMERMAN , US SOCCER !!! Stop worrying about the fkn rainbow numbers , and more on fkn WINNING against respectable teams !!!!! FK !
Football: **5** Soccer: **1**
Is he picking the wrong plan for who we have or is there no plan?
It’s apparent wins vs Mex are moral only… got absolutely murked tonight
My god this team is an embarrassment.
USSF is more worried about politics and pandering than they are about actually finding and hiring a decent coach. If they don’t fix priorities then there will continue to be struggle
We have to get out of CONCACAF. We will never get better otherwise.
is this r/soccercirclejerk lmao
you want to go to the Conmebol? world cup hopes will be less down there
We just host it every time ez
I mean will it? World Cup format is expanding the field drastically. I would rather see us actually get better than beat St Kitts 6-0.
Yeah. South America is a slog.i have seen my team fail to qualify for the world cup by 1 goal difference and one point. 8 years wait. Don't think it will be easy. Just arrogance showing
I'm not saying it would be easy at all. I fully understand that making a world cup would be way more difficult, and there would likely be world cups we miss out on. My apologies if I'm coming across as arrogant, when I'm deliberately attempting to show the opposite.
Ah got it. More trial by fire I guess is what you mean. Thanks for clarifying.
Players get better in their clubs. Not in the national teams
I agree but it gives a more realistic approximation of where you are at if you consistently play stronger opponents.
Fifa is doing research to see if they can revoke our world cup spot.
Went to the match today. Was amazing to hear the people chanting BERHALTER OUT or booing him. Must suck to get booed at your home matches.
The weird thing is we had some good attacking moments during the game. But they were completely offset by boneheaded, naive, plays. Trying to casually play out of the back, without any urgency, against a team like Colombia, is a death sentence. And Gregg’s subs at 2-1 were completely counterproductive and part of the reason we got our asses handed to us.
Columbia, currently on a 22 match unbeaten streak. Yall are delusional.
*Colombia
People really wanted a guy who couldn’t win in MLS to coach the Nats
Finally people are coming around. This dude should have never been hired even before his scandal. We need an international coach with some legit pedigree
Canned from the Swedish second division while coach of the team with the highest payroll by 3x in that division
I'm going.to try and find a positive here. In a meaningless game he learned that our current back four and keeper need defensive help in front of them. They can't play a 4-3-3 against better teams. It's got to be a 4-2-3-1 with a focus on defensive responsibilities and couter attacks.
Honest “hot” take: I hope we don’t make it out of groups this summer and greg is gone before WC.
He won't be fired even if every result looks like this. Half the fans would start saying losing is good before admitting he's bad.
![gif](giphy|JSqa30dQmyobgeX10t|downsized) Bro wtf
Holy fuck this team sucks.
We have a lot of great talent. We have one of the worst coaches I've ever seen
Our boys totally gave up after Colombia’s third goal. Terrible play out of the back.
I wasnt able to watch super close, but at least 3 of those goals came playing out of the back. Pretty awful
Disappointed but not surprised in the slightest by that result. Never been convinced that this team is really ready to be challenging to win in real tournament against great teams. We're lacking tactically, talent wise but most of all mentality. Columbia flat out worked us in both ends of the pitch.
Turner looked lost in the goal today. That’s concerning
He’s been lost season for club and so much so that the team went out of its way in the January window to get a goalkeeper on loan to replace him
I know it’s low-hanging fruit, and I’m judging from the armchair, but i really feel like he just wasn’t good enough today. We didn’t deserve the win but he could’ve stopped a few of those goals.
He made one save. Literally watched goals go by him all day. Need more than that.
What has happened to him?
Nottingham Forest happened to him. Dreadful club that sapped his confidence.
Can't blame the club this time, they gave him 2 chances and he failed to capitalize
He’s not playing regularly at the club level. Not match fit.
I knew that, but his overall quality has dropped. He has regressed this season.
The scariest part
Our players aren’t better than Colombia’s. Our players aren’t 4 goals worse than Colombia. I know there were individual errors, but any competent manager sets up a team capable of competing with and possibly beating Colombia. Greg did not do that today. He hasn’t done that against anyone outside of CONCACAF. At some point, US Soccer has to stop accepting mediocrity, but I know they never will! We have no voice as supporters because they only care about helping their corrupt buddies out.
I don't understand how anyone can blame GGG for the CCV goal, that unmarked sitter right in front of the net because the defender tracking back decided to ball watch instead of staying with his man, Weah losing the ball dribbling out of the back or the Robinson error. I keep reading about how he's at fault but aren't those goals examples of players making mistakes and getting wrecked for making them?
You make some valid points. Some of the errors have nothing to do with GGG, but some of them come from forcing bad players to play a way that doesn’t work for them. Nevertheless, the players shouldn’t make some the mistakes that they did. My main concern is the way he sets up the team to play. Just look at the way the match went. We had more possession but we don’t do anything with the possession bc our players aren’t good enough to break down decent teams. Our build up is intentionally slow, and it isn’t going to be effective with our players. Despite this, Berhalter still plays this way. I just think we could have a better system to match the strengths of our players. Berhalter has played the same way since day 1, and that’s fine if you get results. He hasn’t gotten the results though that show progress. He has to get some good results in Copa America to show something but I think this game gives a huge hint that we aren’t going to see anything. Nothing is different from what happened at the WC, and in many ways it is worse now.
I don't think there really is a better system. There are other systems but our players would bring the same shortcomings to those systems that they bring to this one. We still wouldn't have the players to break down decent teams because we don't have players who are technically skilled enough on the ball or creative enough to do so. We're playing from behind against decent teams because we give up early goals. And while we have decent speed on the wings, we don't have it in the middle. What system would work against good teams given those shortcomings in the player pool? Weah isn't a starter at the club level, neither is Musah. Cardoso clearly isn't a DM but our DM is injured. Gio isn't as good as people keep insisting he is. I can agree with someone disliking GGG's system. It doesn't wow me. But people should be able to distinguish between not liking his system and the flaws of the player pool itself. For example: every time I watch GGG's system, I ask myself is there anyone on this team, other than Pulisic who can get into the box off the dribble? I don't think so. So, if we can't break down the defense off the dribble, what other way of getting the ball in there is out there...other than crossing it in? And we don't have De Bruyne out there making those passes, lol.
I’m saying just that! We don’t have De Bruyne or Rodri or Modric or Vini Jr or anyone who is world class and can break down a low block. GGG is trying to play like we are Man City. All you have to do to beat the US is sit deep, let us have the ball and wait for us to pass it right to you. That’s not saying our players can’t be dangerous though. GGG isn’t willing to change the way we play, that is the problem. You cannot play on the front foot and have incisive possession against teams that are objectively better. We would be better off using our pace and athleticism to be more direct and get the ball forward quickly when the opposition is drawn up the field. For example, Real Madrid likes to dominate possession and press high up the field. They did this against BVB, and they won the Champions League. BUT, they didn’t play like this against Man City. Why? Bc Man City is objectively better in possession and breaking teams down than Real Madrid. If Real Madrid tried to play like they usually do against Man City, they would’ve certainly lost in the quarterfinal. Real Madrid instead dropped deep, used their pace, and got the result. Don Carlo saw that he needed to be flexible. Sometimes you have to say ok, this team is better than us. We need to change our system to give us the best chance for a result. In CONCACAF, possession and domination works. At the top of international football, it isn’t going to work for us right now. We don’t have players who can break down 11 players behind the ball, but we do have players who can use their skill in pace to be dangerous on the counter.
We're saying two different things. I'm saying that there isn't a system that exists where our existing players strength and weaknesses would not yield the same outcome that we're getting now. We can't play like Real Madrid either because we don't have anyone as skilled as a Bellingham, Vini or Camavinga.
I see what you mean. Yes our weaknesses cannot be fully taken out of the game but they can be less of an issue. I do think there is a system that would work better than the current one. Don’t worry about playing out from the back, don’t make stupid passes. Drop deeper limit space in our defensive half and counter attack quickly. That’s all coming from the manager. If we played like that against Colombia, the result would not have been as bad. Not pretty but more effective in this situation.
If we're not playing out of the back then we need to stop comparing ourselves to the best teams in the world...which is what this whole ongoing debate is about. People say we're as good as the top teams. Well, the top teams have the talent and tactical knowledge to play out of the back. Park the bus and hope to counter attack is fine but it's also the approach for teams that acknowledge that they're less talented than the teams they're playing. The problem on this sub is that people insist we should be able to play an open free style against the Colombia's of the world because we're on their level. We're not. And I'm fine admitting that. But there are a lot of people out there who aren't ready to admit that. They don't want us to park the bus and hope for a counter. Briefly on yesterday, we frequently played a 4-5-1 out of possession. We completely limited space in our defensive half. We didn't give up goals that way. So, GGG is doing that. We couldn't score and the individual lapses in judgment hurt us in set pieces and transitional moments. But when we were able to set up our defense, we did fine.
Dont let Pep leave the United States w/o full control over the USMNT lol.
In all seriousness, if we have dest, I think it’s prolly a 2-1 loss. Edit: hahahahaha fuck the downvotes
I completely agree
And it’s not even to take away from scally, he played decent. Just that dest is a fuckin ridiculous luxury.
Scally isn’t bad but Dest gives us creativity and movement. Scally does his role. Dest does more.
I was at the game, and thought the same. Scally did fine. But Dest is such a spark plug in the attack. So much of the rest of our team plays predictably. Dest is chaos driving at you. Opens all sorts of other things up for the team.
So this means we're effed for Copa. Hey England can we have Ben White or Reece James
^^
how can anyone possibly defend ggg
Because we’ve seen the alternatives and they’re even worse. It’s not that we like Gregg is that’s I’m not convinced there is any upgrade that would take the job right now. Unless USSF magically gets their head out of their ass and gives a huge ego pitch to Pep or something but we all know they won’t do that.
What do you mean you've seen the alternatives? When's the last time we had a world class coach?
It’s called copium. He’s objectively a bad coach. He wins against small teams and whatnot but that’s highly attributable to the quality of our players nowadays. He’s a bad coach, that’s about it.
Barely wins against small teams.
Out of all games I’m not sure we can put this one on Gregg. We are a good team but a lot of people overate our players especially the European ones.
People who understand that Gregg sucks and has no business coaching our national team (you don’t understand this) have laid a very firm foundation over many years for their case.
You people keep saying this about every match we lose. Stop protecting Gregg
This isn’t just because of Gregg. I’m not protecting him but at the same time I’m not putting all the blame on him
Yes it’s not all his fault but a lot of it is. We can’t keep excusing him when it’s been 6 years of his nonsense now
We couldn’t have beaten the world’s hottest team with all of our players handing them goals for free, whether Gregg or Guardiola was in charge.
It wasn’t just the mistakes. Look at how well Colombia moved off of the ball and worked for it, and look at how lazy some of the passes and movement was for the US. It was completely awful, and points to a very bad situation with the team.
Agreed, when the US disposes the opposition they are stale in their movement. Nobody flies up the field to put pressure on the defense once we have the ball. Playing out the back of the defense is fine, but there is no concepts of how to advance the ball from the sides or the middle from the back positions. That is all coaching. Berhalter should have been canned after the Reyna debacle on management of the situation as a whole. What happened at the WC was a payback to the Reyna's for what Claudio did at the club level to Berhalter's son. Petty by both parties, but at the time Gio was getting quality minutes at BVB and there was no reason for him to not be starting at the beginning of the tournament. Sad thing is I'm not sure a high level quality coach would want this team. It would have to be an exhausting multi layer search that finds a coach who has the high IQ, motivation skills, tactics, and experience. We have until the end of the year to find that coach, 18 months after that to develop a quality WC squad for '26. But for now the only hope is to get out of the group at Copa, much less winning the thing.
Where you at gregg bois?
Will squander a small time and they’ll all be on this sub talking shit. He’s bad and his dragging out golden generation back.
The team is shit.
Shit players. Shit coach. Corrupt federation. Sigh, we have a long way to go until the USMNT is no longer a laughing stock.
Usa has a corrupt federation? What do you mean? How exactly?
Afcon-level corruption at Ussf.
Can we add shit venue. FedEx is a damn nightmare.
How is it bad lol
Scally played “dece,” Ream played sub-par, Robinson despite being one of my faves had an off game for him. Colombia was pressing high and running more showed much more urgency. US needs to be hungrier and can’t do this sloppy shit everrrr. Balogun had an okay game despite not being used much, we need more attackers. The way we attach is terrible imo. The defense lost it, but the offense didn’t give much reason for anyone to have will to win
I can’t even be mad at Ream he’s an old man
He was better than CCV, but not great. I’d honestly start Miles and Richards vs Brazil.
not mad at him at all he has been amazing, i’d even have put him in the starting lineup tonight myself but after this game if I were coach I think i wouldn’t start him again
Exactly! We could be so good on the counter attack but instead we just want to pass the ball around at the back until we give it away. I don’t understand how Greg looks at our team and thinks ok let’s try to break teams down after they get into their defensive shape. I get everyone wants to see dominant football and the US playing on the front foot, but we don’t have the players to play like this against top opposition.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If he bunkers down, people will demand that he opens up the play style because we should have higher standards. But if we play that style, it's obvious we don't have the talent to defend against the top teams or the skill to break them down either.
Yes, we are a team hovering outside the top dozen in the world and need a coach who can respond to game situations with a varied and thoughtful plan. If we don't have that we will never beat top teams. Honestly if Morocco can have a cup like it did we can as well, if we have a coach who is active and responsive.
You’re right. He’s in a difficult position but that’s part of the job. He hasn’t shown that he can get the results outside of CONCACAF. That’s the problem. I don’t think people would care so much how we play if we get results. I love to watch dominant, possession-based football, but sometimes it doesn’t work. That’s the hill Berhalter is gonna die on if he doesn’t change something for Copa America.
Even though friendlies are here to learn things, we haven't even tried a counter attacking game. even France is flexible enough to bunker and play counter attacking as needed. Not saying ggg out, but if we need some pragmatism to diversify strategy and be less predictable for real games
That’s basically what he did going into 2022, and everyone was complaining relentlessly about it not looking sexy. But clearly he doesn’t know how to play a more open and aggressive style
I don't disagree with you but my opinion on this hasn't changed. The fan base really doesn't understand how far behind the international standard our players are. Like today's game wasn't an example of poor tactics, offensively or defensively. It was an example of better players beating worse players when it comes to individual decision-making. I guess that's what I've taken from these games over the last year or 2. Our individual decision making is so far behind our opponents. Especially on the defensive side of the game. We don't play smart defense. And I can't tell how much is coaching and how much is just people falling asleep at the switch. Because there's a lot of falling asleep at the switch and that's an effort thing.
No, the fan base doesn’t understand, but our players aren’t that far behind Colombia’s. If you look at how they are fairing in Europe, you would say this should be a very tight match. We have players who consistently are solid in club matches. Sometimes the players have to be put into good positions by the coach. We consistently put our players in bad positions, and they made mistakes. You mentioned it, and I don’t know how much of these problems are down to GGG. Maybe you are right and most of the blame lies with the players. My only problem with that is they aren’t this terrible for their club teams. I don’t think anyone can say that our system of keep ball and slow build up from defense gets the best out of our players. For that reason, I don’t think there is a path towards progress with GGG. I’ll end by saying that I don’t think Greg is the biggest problem with US Soccer, but I do think he holds back our team’s potential. How much? I’m not sure but I think we can find someone who can get more out of the players we currently have.
See, I wouldn't say that based on Europe. Pulisic is playing well. McKennie and Robinson too. Balogun is average at his club right now. But Musah doesn't start, Reyna doesn't start. Weah doesn't start. Turner doesn't even play. Why would I think that our player performance in Europe is good enough to put us on a higher tier? Simply being in Europe doesn't really cut the mustard, imo.
True, our expectations are probably too high, but I just can’t help but feel that the way we play doesn’t work. Our players aren’t setting the world on fire, but the possession style we play requires immense quality to break down strong teams. I don’t think Greg will change it either. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think he will.
Wow the comment section just might be a bigger shit show than the game. Congrats.
Greg won’t bang you
He might kick you though
Nah, all about the behind-the-back bounce pass
Subs and "adjustments" and we cough up 3 more goals. We're dragging this into the Copa and we have Brazil up next. Fire Greg and find a coach that can put together a team that at least can defend.
Luxury Polo Man to the rescue!
Presumably subs in the copa won't be focused on getting players some action.
Not sure how this isn't a bigger take in this thread. It's 2-1 with momentum to us at 62'. No chance malik and ccv for gio and ream happens in Copa.
I’m going to the Uruguay game in KC and now I’m not confident at all in getting a result there. I’d say it’s more likely we finish 3rd than 1st at this point, but we’ll probably place 2nd and get pounded by Brazil/Colombia in the QFs. Anything less than 1st and a SF appearance and Gregg has to go, we need a better coach going into the most important World Cup maybe in our country’s history. That was absolutely embarrassing today.
Ur actually expecting to finish first? Yeah You guys got the easiest group out of the cup but you cant be so delusional that you think you’re gonna come out on top of Uruguay?
Reread what I said, specifically the last sentence of the first paragraph
Anything less than first… oh its going to be less than first.. 😅😅😅
You said “at this point we’ll probably finish second” taking it as you thought u had potential for more before this result with Colombia…. You guys were always coming after Uruguay i don’t know who told you guys confidently that you were gonna top the group..
Honestly, were you confident before? Uruguay will have the best 5 or 6 players on the pitch that day. It's an uphill battle.
Making a qf in copa America is something the US has only done 3x before. It’s not something to scoff at. Historic achievement for jay’s brother
I'm going to that game too, and before today I was confident it'd be good game but after this showing...I have my doubts
I’m still gonna be delusional the day of and think we can get a result - we got that 0-0 draw against them 2 years ago at CMP after all - but that wasn’t encouraging, even before the 3rd goal
Lol remember all of yall ragging canada for losing 4-0 to holland. That's karma for you.
We suck less than you 🤣
Lol I'm american and the fact that wer'e bantering a team that just made a world cup for first in 26 years is sad and stupid. They shouldn't even be relevant. You really proud that were better than canada? This loss was worst than theirs, were very lucky it wasn't 7-1.
True but also lol @ Canada
I remember when I used to love watching the USMNT. Could care less now. I dunno what happened but there's something missing from this team.
Greg has to team play like robots and there is no personality on the pitch. We can’t ever score goals really so it isn’t that exciting to watch
And this team is objectively better, which just makes it worst.
I stopped caring when they re-hired Gregg. If they don’t care about improving why the fuck should any of us care.
CCV being good on the ball is a complete myth
He needs to go to a more competitive league.
The only way this gets forgiven is if we win the group. It's only a friendly but holy shit that was a shitstorm of Colombia very good, US very bad. Turner prob makes a couple more saves if he was actually in form. Goalkeeper position in bad shape. There's no way we win a KO match against Brasil or Colombia, because this team is not winning the group. Berhalter needs to be shitcanned if we go 2-2 and still looking for a marquee win in 4+ fucking years.
You may rethink it if it happens again against Brazil in a few days
It's not. There is no possibility we beat Brazil. There is a chance we lose 8-0.
thank god for dual citizenship
Ur Colombian?
Same but Mexico is no better 😭
Concacaf needs to do something. We are all so far behind.
Get ready for ZERO accountability.
Woof. Getting it out of our system early right?
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Is the turnovers a coach issue or player issue?
Both. The turnovers in the back consistently happen under GGG watch. His system sucks and is predictable for any opposing team to gameplan against. The players also have to do better and not turn the ball over. They have to know that they can’t dribble it past two players in the back
Who is the one who insists on playing out of the back without the proper personnel? If an nba coach asked their center (except for jokic) to bring the ball up against a press break, you wouldn’t blame the center
Honestly don’t think we have the talent without Dest and Adams to push the ball upfield to our attacking players.
Man USA and Mexico ain’t that different after all, just Mexico is in worst period of all, Fkn crazy
Nah as a Mexican fan i can tell u guys are in a much better shape then we are for sure, A good manager for the US is a must tho.
Our worst in decades and still competing with us’s possibly “best generation”.. ill take it..
Definitely agree, but damn, you expect the USA to at least be 50/50, I’m Mexico fan but man, shit is crazy
That’s south america for u bro especially when the copa america comes around they turn into starved animals.
My main take away today: there is still a steep drop off after our top, like, 12 or 13 players. Despite giving up the two goals, we were honestly pretty decent and competitive for the first 60ish minutes. Things went south after that when we went deeper into the bench
Our best players today were all “after our top 12,13 players” The 2 guys that only got the nod due to injuries were the 2 best starters not named Pulisic.
I guess I wasn’t taking injuries into account. I really meant starters plus Haji today
Our cup run will end at the hands of Colombia this summer. I just know it. I have been mentally prepared for this. We are always a disaster vs them 💀 I want to win but they are just a roadblock no matter where in the bracket we go
Bring Emma Hayes in imo
I’ve got an idea for keeper. Get the best Wrs out of college that don’t make the NFL. Have a tryout and see who’s naturally gifted enough to train for the next 2 years. Then at least, we have a crazy good athlete back there that can get their hands on the ball. As for the rest of the defense, idk.
Ah yes, the old “a failed NFL athlete is better than any soccer player” trope. A lot of people don’t realize that what makes a keeper elite is not his ability to save sloppy turnovers, it’s his ability to distribute the ball effectively. Keeper spends way more time putting the ball into play than he does making saves. You expect your keeper to make one or two clutch saves per game. Its the defenders job to make sure attackers are not getting looks at goal. Instead our defenders are playing assists to Colombia. Not fair to pin this on Matt Turner. (Though I do think he isn’t good enough)
I won’t pretend that I know exactly what makes a keeper great because I don’t. I know 90% of it has nothing to do with making saves but that’s why I threw in the 2 year window of training/learning. And I imagine a ton of it is mental so one of those outstanding athletes with insane reflexes could learn that portion over a couple years. The kicking on the other hand, I know that’s difficult just from experience. Just a thought. And btw, I literally had a comment talking about our ability to assist, just to the wrong team lol.
Lol! None of these nfl guys have 1% of the agility required be a goalkeeper
Bahahahaha… There’s absolutely no freaking way you think Matt Turner is more agile than a tenth of cornerbacks… shit 275 pound defensive linesman are more agile than Matt Turner smh. And I’m serious as can be. Put Matt Turner in the 3 cone drill against Trayvon Walker. It would be so hilarious. Why are y’all so sensitive about football players lol
Him and every football player is more agile and coordinated, not just goalkeepers The reflexes and agility needed to make saves in football can't be compared with anything in american football. Catch a ball flying in the air is cleary easier than block shots in spots in the net out of your reach. You americans are so delusional towards your sports lol!
For the overall prosperity of our national team, it might be better to unfortunately crash out a little too early in the Copa America or other friendlies/competitions so that we actually realize how terrible we are sometimes so that by the time the most important event in modern USMNT history happens in 2026, the changes have already been made way before then.
I think failing to make it out of the group would mean curtains for Berhalter. Anything beyond that, US soccer will continue to back him.
I’ll take this if it means the motherfucker is out.
They ain’t spending the money to change
We will 100% lose in the qfs but lalas and the Ussf shills will tell you it’s a good showing and nothing will changev
lalas will? he didn’t want to believe but he thought that by columbus losing to pachuca would be a wake up call to MLS to change it’s ways (he realized prob fall on deaf ears). i think he’ll be pretty honest about what happened this game
A pile of dog poop and 4 flies would have been a more effective GK / back line combo this evening. What a trainwreck.
I choked on my drink reading this, take the up vote
Most embarrassing display ever. Defense were just training cones for Colombia players to run around
A lot of our poor results in the past, you can criticize the coaching and the tactics for. Some results were flukes or the opponent was too much. Scarily, today is the first time in years that we’ve seen the players not want it enough. For all the talk pre-game about wanting to win this tournament, we had a chance to notch a comeback result in a crazy game, and we threw it away.
I'll admit that all the subs messed with our structure, but it shouldn't be that drastic.
I am not a lalas fan, but this team needed commentators willing to roast . Also Wtf, is it cause day at the office?
We need a South American coach. Were too fucking innocent
Or a European coach
lol anyone but Greg
Lost the midfield badly with the subs.
![gif](giphy|3o6wrvdHFbwBrUFenu)
What was it 4 goals from boneheaded plays by our supposed defensive guys?
Agreed 4 Goals that shouldn’t have happened Goal 1 tipped into the oppositions way. Goal 3 we lost the ball and then we don’t mark the guys trailing. Goal 4 and 5? Give the ball away and they score lol smh How dumb
Goal 2 Matt Turner should have saved it
Humbling experience. This is a team with way more talent than ourselves but grabbing some popcorn for the reactionary scapegoating. Whose fault is it that Colombia produces a significantly higher quantity and quality of professional soccer players than us?
Yes better but not 4 goals better. The US should give Colombia much more of a challenge than that display.
We gave away the ball directly to Colombia for 4 of 5 goals
This is why games outside of CONCACAF are so important for this team. They will have a lot of bad outcomes like this one, but they will improve so much more than just bullying CONCACAF all the time.
They aren’t challenged defensively much against the concacaf bunkers
Yeah, I always figured Copa was going to be tough for us. South American teams won’t just let us have possession like European and CONCACAF teams have recently. Honestly I think if they can clean up some of the mental mistakes defensively they actually could have a couple upsets. We looked dangerous on the counter and I’ve always felt that style of attack suites our offensive strengths. The downside is this defense is not built to withstand sustained pressure. It may be worth it to test out a Cardoso/Adams/Reyna midfield against Brazil.
Imagine if GGG had a normal job. Like you can blame the players or the US org as a whole sure. But if my students fail to show growth and don’t produce results over a 6 year period I’d get shitcanned. And it’s worse now. This group of players is the most talented by far. Imagine I get a class that was performing well in the previous grades but when they get to me they become decidedly average… someone would be asking questions.
But they have shown growth.
Poor ball control. Lack of ideas when their standard play of keeping ball control in their D was challenged. Everyone has seen it. I have no hope for Copa America. I am going for the Uruguay game, I just wish we lose with dignity
I want BJ back now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's still on the sidelines he never really left
lol
Honestly...they looked good for the first 10-15 minutes after halftime. Then started to fall apart when the subs came in.
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BJ Callaghan deserved the job
He's GGG right hand man
And he’s a better coach than Gregg
What yall think about Nancy. Could be a good coach option?
Definitely.
Don’t even fucking think about taking him from the Crew you bastard. (But his system is too intricate for a NT IMO)
Looks like ya needed to include ZIMMERMAN , US SOCCER !!! Stop worrying about the fkn rainbow numbers , and more on fkn WINNING against respectable teams !!!!! FK !