US Men's National Team (17 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

With Musah and Gio both being 20, they seem the most likely of the current group to have a chance to play in 4 WC's. Scally may have a chance to go to 4 WC's but he did not get to play in 2022.

Musah/Gio will be 23 in 2026, 27 in 2030 and 31 in 2034 (31 might be right on the edge for Musah given his playing style. Gio's playing style should still make him viable at 31).

I don't think anyone else on the roster will play in 4 WC's.

 

[NewlyRetired]

A ton of Italian based media are reporting AC Milan are preparing to sign Dest permanently after his display at the WC. Most note that if they don't, Leeds are looking to buy him from Barca.

This seems fairly unlikely. He makes far too much money for Leeds. Dest is currently at ~£100k/week and the highest earners at Leeds are in the £50k range. Hard to fathom them paying a bunch of money for a right back (and they just bought one this past summer) and breaking their wage scale to do it.

I generally think the same thing about Pulisic to Leeds rumors. They can't break the bank for someone like that without at least vying for UEFA competitions, much less while in a relegation fight.

is Dest the second highest paid behind Pulisic? I think I read some where that Pulisic is making around 7 million Euros this season.

 

[prefontaine]

A ton of Italian based media are reporting AC Milan are preparing to sign Dest permanently after his display at the WC. Most note that if they don't, Leeds are looking to buy him from Barca.

This seems fairly unlikely. He makes far too much money for Leeds. Dest is currently at ~£100k/week and the highest earners at Leeds are in the £50k range. Hard to fathom them paying a bunch of money for a right back (and they just bought one this past summer) and breaking their wage scale to do it.

I generally think the same thing about Pulisic to Leeds rumors. They can't break the bank for someone like that without at least vying for UEFA competitions, much less while in a relegation fight.

is Dest the second highest paid behind Pulisic? I think I read some where that Pulisic is making around 7 million Euros this season.

I think so. Not everyone's wages are public but it's hard to think any other American's are anywhere close to 100k. I can that changing in the next few years but there really just aren't that many clubs paying those sort of wages.

 

[prefontaine]

With Musah and Gio both being 20, they seem the most likely of the current group to have a chance to play in 4 WC's. Scally may have a chance to go to 4 WC's but he did not get to play in 2022.

Musah/Gio will be 23 in 2026, 27 in 2030 and 31 in 2034 (31 might be right on the edge for Musah given his playing style. Gio's playing style should still make him viable at 31).

I don't think anyone else on the roster will play in 4 WC's.

All 3 of those are 2002's. No 2001's but 5 from 2000.

Brenden Aaronson
Timothy Weah
Sergino Dest
Josh Sargent
Jesus Ferreira

 

[The Z Machine]

A ton of Italian based media are reporting AC Milan are preparing to sign Dest permanently after his display at the WC. Most note that if they don't, Leeds are looking to buy him from Barca.

This seems fairly unlikely. He makes far too much money for Leeds. Dest is currently at ~£100k/week and the highest earners at Leeds are in the £50k range. Hard to fathom them paying a bunch of money for a right back (and they just bought one this past summer) and breaking their wage scale to do it.

I generally think the same thing about Pulisic to Leeds rumors. They can't break the bank for someone like that without at least vying for UEFA competitions, much less while in a relegation fight.

is Dest the second highest paid behind Pulisic? I think I read some where that Pulisic is making around 7 million Euros this season.

I think so. Not everyone's wages are public but it's hard to think any other American's are anywhere close to 100k. I can that changing in the next few years but there really just aren't that many clubs paying those sort of wages.

Weston at Juve?

 

[NewlyRetired]

A ton of Italian based media are reporting AC Milan are preparing to sign Dest permanently after his display at the WC. Most note that if they don't, Leeds are looking to buy him from Barca.

This seems fairly unlikely. He makes far too much money for Leeds. Dest is currently at ~£100k/week and the highest earners at Leeds are in the £50k range. Hard to fathom them paying a bunch of money for a right back (and they just bought one this past summer) and breaking their wage scale to do it.

I generally think the same thing about Pulisic to Leeds rumors. They can't break the bank for someone like that without at least vying for UEFA competitions, much less while in a relegation fight.

is Dest the second highest paid behind Pulisic? I think I read some where that Pulisic is making around 7 million Euros this season.

I think so. Not everyone's wages are public but it's hard to think any other American's are anywhere close to 100k. I can that changing in the next few years but there really just aren't that many clubs paying those sort of wages.

Weston at Juve?

I have no idea how reliable these numbers are since there is not a players union that lists them exactly like we have here in the US, but FWIW...

2025-2026 Juventus FC Salaries and Contracts

Capology | Football Salaries & Finances

www.capology.com

 

[prefontaine]

A ton of Italian based media are reporting AC Milan are preparing to sign Dest permanently after his display at the WC. Most note that if they don't, Leeds are looking to buy him from Barca.

This seems fairly unlikely. He makes far too much money for Leeds. Dest is currently at ~£100k/week and the highest earners at Leeds are in the £50k range. Hard to fathom them paying a bunch of money for a right back (and they just bought one this past summer) and breaking their wage scale to do it.

I generally think the same thing about Pulisic to Leeds rumors. They can't break the bank for someone like that without at least vying for UEFA competitions, much less while in a relegation fight.

is Dest the second highest paid behind Pulisic? I think I read some where that Pulisic is making around 7 million Euros this season.

I think so. Not everyone's wages are public but it's hard to think any other American's are anywhere close to 100k. I can that changing in the next few years but there really just aren't that many clubs paying those sort of wages.

Weston at Juve?

I have no idea how reliable these numbers are since there is not a players union that lists them exactly like we have here in the US

2025-2026 Juventus FC Salaries and Contracts

Capology | Football Salaries & Finances

www.capology.com

Makes sense if that's true because of the way Weston got there. He wasn't a big prospect they money-whipped. He was a relegation fodder rent-to-own dude they were saving from a terrible situation.

I was guessing McKennie would need a new contract to get paid like a Juve starter which is a reason I think they keep talking about selling him. The number of clubs willing to pay 60-70k is much wider than the 100+ all the rest of the Juve players are on.

 

[NewlyRetired]

And so it begins

==============

DOHA, Qatar - United States men's national team manager Gregg Berhalter is set to begin discussions on a new contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation, sources have told ESPN.

One source acknowledged it's still very early in the process, and other sources have indicated that there is an interest on Berhalter's part in exploring European club options.

 

[zoobird]

and other sources have indicated that there is an interest on Berhalter's part in exploring European club options.

I'm going to assume that those 'other sources' are Berhalter's agent trying to generate some leverage for negotiations. Can't imagine he would choose not to continue in this role with us hosting 2026 and most of the team moving into their primes.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Can't imagine he would choose not to continue in this role with us hosting 2026 and most of the team moving into their primes.

I'd think he has a good handle on how much the players want him back, or don't. Would probably be my #1 criteria for thinking seriously about returning.

 

[NewlyRetired]

and other sources have indicated that there is an interest on Berhalter's part in exploring European club options.

I'm going to assume that those 'other sources' are Berhalter's agent trying to generate some leverage for negotiations. Can't imagine he would choose not to continue in this role with us hosting 2026 and most of the team moving into their primes.

yes that makes a lot of sense. I agree. The most important (or disturbing, depending on ones mental state) part of all of this is that it sounds like US Soccer wants him back and will not be interviewing any new candidates until they decide they can't sign him.

As expected, Twitter melt down is happening

 

[TLEF316]

Unreal

 

[NewlyRetired]

and other sources have indicated that there is an interest on Berhalter's part in exploring European club options.

I'm going to assume that those 'other sources' are Berhalter's agent trying to generate some leverage for negotiations. Can't imagine he would choose not to continue in this role with us hosting 2026 and most of the team moving into their primes.

Even if we pretend for a second that he has multiple offers in Europe, none of them are going to pay as well as the US and none of them are going to come with a virtual 3.5 year guaranteed contract.

So I too will be shocked if he actually is offered the US job and turns it down.

I was hoping for a new voice this cycle but I am not going to lose my lunch over it either.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Twitter melt down is happening

Here for it.

Honestly, as long as he has the trust of the players it makes a lot of sense to me. Same players next cycle, we played well in games that really mattered, it'd be building instead of starting over, and I'm in the "should be an American" camp.

 

[B Maverick]

Twitter melt down is happening

Here for it.

Honestly, as long as he has the trust of the players it makes a lot of sense to me. Same players next cycle, we played well in games that really mattered, it'd be building instead of starting over, and I'm in the "should be an American" camp.

I don't think he is good enough as a coach for the bigger stages. He has done well to win Concacaf competitions for sure, but against the better teams he gets outcoached and outplayed. He doesn't adjust well in games and his subbing is poor. And no, I do not have any suggestions on alternates. And no I am not a fan of Tata or Roberto Martinez as candidates.

As mentioned above, hopefully US Soccer can get the team into better games since we do not need to qualify. Copa America, Euro Nations League (if possible), etc.

 

[TripItUp]

You've got to be kidding me.

So unacceptable.

 

[NewlyRetired]

So lets look at what little history we have for second cycle coaches.

==================

In 2002, Arena got the team to the quarter finals. Sure, there was a bit of fortune in the group stage but that was also balanced by getting robbed in the quarter finals. So this was a legit good team.

Arena got rehired, since that was a slam dun decision. Qualifying went for the most part quite well. The team went 3-3-0 to win the 3rd round group with no issues. And then they went on to win the hex with a 7-1-2 record.

So qualifying was not an issue at all. The team looked prepared and the age and experience of the squad looked good. But the WC itself was not good. 1 point and ended up in 25th place over all.

==================

While 2014 finished in the same spot at the 2022 version, I think we all know the general flow of those games were not in the US's favor except the Portugal game which we played them to at least even, which is different from how 2022 felt.

That being said, the 2014 results were meaningless because JK signed a new deal months before the WC even started.

The 2018 cycle was such a weird cycle but the signs were there starting back in the terrible 2015 Gold Cup where the US ended up in 4th place. Then we had a rough time of early qualification where we were forced to have a must win game to advance to hex (against ironically T&T).

But then we had some good results in friendlies (back to back wins against Germany and Netherlands) and a good showing in the Super Copa, where I thought we played pretty well. But what ever good feelings came out of those results seem to have been quickly forgotten as the hex got off to the worst start possible, culminating in the shameful quitting of the players in the CR game which led to JK's sacking.

===================

Hopefully 3rd time is a charm?

 

[NewlyRetired]

I don't get the feeling Twellman has any of his usual inside knowledge but he is floating the idea that GGG may be initially hired as a caretaker and hopefully as a bridge to more dual nats while GGG looks for a new coaching job for next fall.

I don't think this makes a lot of sense, but Twellman has in the past floated ideas like this because he had good inside knowledge...

 

[TripItUp]

Honestly, as long as he has the trust of the players it makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[AAABatteries]

I'm not sure I'm willing to believe anything until I hear something more official.

 

[B Maverick]

I don't get the feeling Twellman has any of his usual inside knowledge but he is floating the idea that GGG may be initially hired as a caretaker and hopefully as a bridge to more dual nats while GGG looks for a new coaching job for next fall.

I don't think this makes a lot of sense, but Twellman has in the past floated ideas like this because he had good inside knowledge...

This seems like a poor idea.

As much as I dislike TT as a play by play guy, he is decent as a reporter/inside man. Should probably transition to a Wahl/Ives type and get off my game day tv.

 

[TripItUp]

"The USMNT didn't adapt, they didn't adjust, we made our tactical plan based on targeting the flanks."

- Louis Van Gaal (taking Berhalter to school, as predicted by me before this world cup started)

 

[Snotbubbles]

Twitter melt down is happening

Here for it.

Honestly, as long as he has the trust of the players it makes a lot of sense to me. Same players next cycle, we played well in games that really mattered, it'd be building instead of starting over, and I'm in the "should be an American" camp.

I don't think he is good enough as a coach for the bigger stages. He has done well to win Concacaf competitions for sure, but against the better teams he gets outcoached and outplayed. He doesn't adjust well in games and his subbing is poor. And no, I do not have any suggestions on alternates. And no I am not a fan of Tata or Roberto Martinez as candidates.

As mentioned above, hopefully US Soccer can get the team into better games since we do not need to qualify. Copa America, Euro Nations League (if possible), etc.

Agree with you. I don't want the coach back. Having Gio Reyna on the sidelines was malpractice, especially when he was subbing in guys like Aaronson and Wright.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Would you sit Pulisic, Weah, Musah or McKennie to get Reyna on the field?

Or would you have played a lineup we'd literally never played before?

(And a reminder that it was impossible to play this new potential lineup prior to the World Cup, because we almost never had them available together before the World Cup.)

 

[CletiusMaximus]

"The USMNT didn't adapt, they didn't adjust, we made our tactical plan based on targeting the flanks."

- Louis Van Gaal (taking Berhalter to school, as predicted by me before this world cup started)

This quote has been taken out of context, mistranslated and spread far and wide by agenda-driven trolls. In context, LVG was complimenting the US set up in that game.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"The USMNT didn't adapt, they didn't adjust, we made our tactical plan based on targeting the flanks."

- Louis Van Gaal (taking Berhalter to school, as predicted by me before this world cup started)

This quote has been taken out of context, mistranslated and spread far and wide by agenda-driven trolls. In context, LVG was complimenting the US set up in that game.

and it happened again it seems

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

If Berhalter really is brought back it's going to be fun to see if #BerhalterOut can break records for trending over the next few years.

 

[BeTheMatch]

And so it begins

==============

DOHA, Qatar - United States men's national team manager Gregg Berhalter is set to begin discussions on a new contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation, sources have told ESPN.

One source acknowledged it's still very early in the process, and other sources have indicated that there is an interest on Berhalter's part in exploring European club options.

"Hey, everyone! We've achieved a certain level of mediocrity that we'd like to see if we can hang onto for a few more years."

 

[NewlyRetired]

In semi related news, Hansi Flick has kept his job. Germany host the Euros in two years.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Arch Bell

@ArchBell


UPDATE: USMNT prospect Alan Sonora training with Independiente until his contract expires on the 31st. Montreal deal never came to pass. Has an offer from Liga MX, but still aiming for MLS. Hopeful of a USMNT call-up for January camp.

 

[TripleThreat]

I’m sure this has been posted but I couldn’t find it

https://twitter.com/footymoments21/status/1600210519889018881?s=61&t=HpzwhAJSQ7XmPLzJFslKoQ

In the wake of the World Cup, there are tons of new USMNT fans that are unfamiliar with how Gregg Berhalter got the job & do not understand why so many fans want him gone.

This will be a master thread detailing how Gregg got hired by his brother through soft corruption

 

[Moe.]

I don’t understand why we wouldn’t at least conduct a thorough search and if Gregg is still the best for the job then fine. To just go straight to negotiations with him seems weird, but I’m just a guy on the internet. Players must love him.

 

[TripleThreat]

I’m agnostic on GGG just wanted to bring it up for conversation

 

[NewlyRetired]

I’m agnostic on GGG just wanted to bring it up for conversation

just be very careful when reading that too deeply. The "author" is a known conspiracy nut job so while there is basis in what he says is true, he takes it to the nth degree to make everything seem 10000 times worse.

Anyone one who is paying attention and sees him quoting Wynalda (who himself was just outed as a complete and total liar in regards to GGG) as backing for his theories, will understand just what kind of account this is.

Hopefully most of the people on the FFA can understand the difference. Sadly, most on Twitter eat this stuff up like candy. Not much you can do I guess.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Do you guys think Ziyech has done enough to sneak ahead of Pulisic on the depth chart at Chelsea? I know they usually play on different sides

 

[B Maverick]

Would you sit Pulisic, Weah, Musah or McKennie to get Reyna on the field?

Or would you have played a lineup we'd literally never played before?

(And a reminder that it was impossible to play this new potential lineup prior to the World Cup, because we almost never had them available together before the World Cup.)

This is the question and the crux of the issue. I do not have an issue with Gio not starting due to injury history, being unavail for so long and not getting comfortable in the team. For me it was about the adjustments and subbing. You need creativity and you aren't looking to get him involved, then when you do you put him in at the 9?

Plus its a high intensity 3+ game tournament and to not use him for the first 2 games?
McKinnie wasn't going 90, why not put Gio there? Or Weah at the 9 and Gio on the right? These are not formation changes, just tweaks.
His subs were always the same: Aaronson for McKinnie, Someone for Dest, swap the 9s, someone in for Weah. The only different one was CP getting hurt.
He already was limited with his depth, and to not use one of his top 2 subs while letting everyone else run themselves into the ground was poor.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Would you sit Pulisic, Weah, Musah or McKennie to get Reyna on the field?

Or would you have played a lineup we'd literally never played before?

(And a reminder that it was impossible to play this new potential lineup prior to the World Cup, because we almost never had them available together before the World Cup.)

This is the question and the crux of the issue. I do not have an issue with Gio not starting due to injury history, being unavail for so long and not getting comfortable in the team. For me it was about the adjustments and subbing. You need creativity and you aren't looking to get him involved, then when you do you put him in at the 9?

Plus its a high intensity 3+ game tournament and to not use him for the first 2 games?
McKinnie wasn't going 90, why not put Gio there? Or Weah at the 9 and Gio on the right? These are not formation changes, just tweaks.
His subs were always the same: Aaronson for McKinnie, Someone for Dest, swap the 9s, someone in for Weah. The only different one was CP getting hurt.
He already was limited with his depth, and to not use one of his top 2 subs while letting everyone else run themselves into the ground was poor.

IMO, the handling of the 9 was his biggest issue during the WC. Out of 360+ minutes we got 77 minutes of useful play. The rest might have well have been playing a man down.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

IMO, the handling of the 9 was his biggest issue during the WC. Out of 360+ minutes we got 77 minutes of useful play. The rest might have well have been playing a man down.

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

(FWIW, I agree with Mav that Reyna in for McKennie would have been a good swap. And Morris should never have seen the field. Not stanning for everything GB did here.)

 

[NewlyRetired]

IMO, the handling of the 9 was his biggest issue during the WC. Out of 360+ minutes we got 77 minutes of useful play. The rest might have well have been playing a man down.

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

I did not like the striker group from the jump when the roster was announced so I think his mistake started there.

I would not have changed formation specifically but I would have started Weah as an out and out 9. Weah's lack of time at the 9 with the US would not have been much of a difference considering how little time Sargent, and Haji spent with the team during the cycle.

 

[B Maverick]

IMO, the handling of the 9 was his biggest issue during the WC. Out of 360+ minutes we got 77 minutes of useful play. The rest might have well have been playing a man down.

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

(FWIW, I agree with Mav that Reyna in for McKennie would have been a good swap. And Morris should never have seen the field. Not stanning for everything GB did here.)

Zimmerman will be 32 and much younger than Ream was this round. With CCV and a hopefully healthy Miles Robinson coming back, its not as bad as it could be.

The striker position is an interesting one. Yes we need a goal scorer. But we have to find one that fits into the team correctly, and how a coach wants them to play.
I am not sure if our service is lacking so the 9 disappears or our 9 disappears so our service is lacking. Outside of CP slipping in Weah for the goal, we do not have a lot of creativity and movement in front of goal. Would a Kane/Lewa/Haaland type fix that? All of our 9s have shown they can score at different places, except the national team. Why?

We need more competition across the team and a deeper bench. We need to be able to drop a player for a rest and not feel like we are playing a man down because of it. IMO

 

[NewlyRetired]

wow. Ecuador dropped out as host of the next Copa!!

================


Diego Montalvan

@DMontalvan

The 2024 Copa América is looking like it will be in the USA!! This, after the resignation of Ecuador as host country. United States, Mexico and Canada have agreed to play. There will be invites to 3 other nations from CONCACAF. Info via @FOXSportsMX

 

[NewlyRetired]

wow. Ecuador dropped as host of the next Copa!!

================


Diego Montalvan

@DMontalvan

The 2024 Copa América is looking like it will be in the USA!! This, after the resignation of Ecuador as host country. United States, Mexico and Canada have agreed to play. There will be invites to 3 other nations from CONCACAF. Info via @FOXSportsMX

Depending on the other three teams, the quality should be fantastic here. Getting a good Asian and African country in this would be money.

 

[NewlyRetired]

So here is a question I can't answer because I don't track coaches.

If we assume that GGG will be the coach for 2026, is there absolutely no hope that he could improve? It seems like much of the comments (not just here but everywhere) assume that he will be the exact same coach in the next cycle as he was this cycle.

Can coaches improve cycle over cycle?

I feel like GGG's age should be in his favor here since he seems like he would be young enough to not be set in his ways and he appears to be a meticulous hard working guy so laziness is not an issue for improvement. But it appears like an almost universal opinion that he will make the exact same mistakes he made next cycle as he did this cycle so it makes me wonder if coaches don't "develop" over time.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

IMO, the handling of the 9 was his biggest issue during the WC. Out of 360+ minutes we got 77 minutes of useful play. The rest might have well have been playing a man down.

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

(FWIW, I agree with Mav that Reyna in for McKennie would have been a good swap. And Morris should never have seen the field. Not stanning for everything GB did here.)

I don't know why you keep mentioning this point as if we couldn't do anything that we didn't do before the WC. We did not start a single lineup during the world cup that we "practiced" with before the world cup. A couple guys that played in the world cup had little to no minutes in any meaningful USMNT action before the WC.

Doing stuff we didn't do before the World Cup was already the baseline, so I don't see why we'd have this idea that we couldn't do something because we hadn't done exactly that same thing prior to the world cup. By that logic we may as well have not shown up because we weren't running out the exact same lineup with the exact same tactics we had against Honduras 8 months ago. Every game in the WC saw us with a lineup that we'd never used prior to the WC.

 

[Sammy3469]

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

(FWIW, I agree with Mav that Reyna in for McKennie would have been a good swap. And Morris should never have seen the field. Not stanning for everything GB did here.)

Zimmerman will be 32 and much younger than Ream was this round. With CCV and a hopefully healthy Miles Robinson coming back, its not as bad as it could be.

The striker position is an interesting one. Yes we need a goal scorer. But we have to find one that fits into the team correctly, and how a coach wants them to play.
I am not sure if our service is lacking so the 9 disappears or our 9 disappears so our service is lacking. Outside of CP slipping in Weah for the goal, we do not have a lot of creativity and movement in front of goal. Would a Kane/Lewa/Haaland type fix that? All of our 9s have shown they can score at different places, except the national team. Why?

We need more competition across the team and a deeper bench. We need to be able to drop a player for a rest and not feel like we are playing a man down because of it. IMO

Specifically to CB, we need a Ream replacement and if we think of ourselves as a QF+ type team a Zimmerman replacement. Ream's distribution was immense and replacing it is frankly the number 1 thing that has to get addressed (and Zimmerman is about as bad as Ream is good).

I also think much of the lack of 9 is a symptom of the overall setup both offensively, but also defensively. When GGG was at Columbus every action was structured to get Zardes on the final touch and that's still how we are structured (and yes I think a Columbus era GGG-coached Zardes would have been better than any of our 9s). It's a very prescriptive system with dedicated defensive responsibilities. Can he get away from that, I don't know, but as I've maintained for a couple of years now, teams with a talent and a good tactical coach will be able to exploit it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Brian Sciaretta

@BrianSciaretta

A new cycle might be starting but #DualNationalPanic stays the same, thankfully. U.S U-19 midfielder and new Inter Miami homegrown Ben Cremaschi called up to Argentina’s U-20 team. He’s one of the top American 2005-born players. A key American prospect. Would be a key YNT loss

 

[B Maverick]

So here is a question I can't answer because I don't track coaches.

If we assume that GGG will be the coach for 2026, is there absolutely no hope that he could improve? It seems like much of the comments (not just here but everywhere) assume that he will be the exact same coach in the next cycle as he was this cycle.

Can coaches improve cycle over cycle?

I feel like GGG's age should be in his favor here since he seems like he would be young enough to not be set in his ways and he appears to be a meticulous hard working guy so laziness is not an issue for improvement. But it appears like an almost universal opinion that he will make the exact same mistakes he made next cycle as he did this cycle so it makes me wonder if coaches don't "develop" over time.

Can he learn from his mistakes? I don't see why not. Will he? That is the question.

The best coaches in the world adapt and change as time goes on.
Too many coaches, IMO try to fit a team into a system.
At the club level, you can try and recruit players that fit your system. At the National Team level, you do not have that luxury. You have to fit a system to your players.

His inability to adapt would seemingly come from 1 of 2 places.
1) He doesn't know any other way to play
It would come from not being experienced in different styles, systems, techniques. Not being "wordly" in the game.
If this is GGG's issue, maybe he can learn and change? But how does he do that while coaching the US?

2) We are going to play our way and force teams to adapt to us.
The top clubs play their way while also attacking a team's weakness. Mid level and lower try to match up with a higher level team by packing it in, hitting on a counter or pks and mostly try and survive and surprise. The US isn't a top team that can make other teams like Brazil, France, Spain, Netherlands, etc adjust. Our work rate and grit help bridge some between the middle and top, but the better teams are not going to care how we play.
If this is GGG's issue, then his ego needs to get checked and he needs to adjust.

Could I be missing something and there is more? Probably, but this is what I am seeing...

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I agree finding a true CF, along with finding another reliable CB and some depth, is the biggest task ahead for the team.

Who would you have started? And when would you have been able to play with that formation before the World Cup?

(FWIW, I agree with Mav that Reyna in for McKennie would have been a good swap. And Morris should never have seen the field. Not stanning for everything GB did here.)

Zimmerman will be 32 and much younger than Ream was this round. With CCV and a hopefully healthy Miles Robinson coming back, its not as bad as it could be.

The striker position is an interesting one. Yes we need a goal scorer. But we have to find one that fits into the team correctly, and how a coach wants them to play.
I am not sure if our service is lacking so the 9 disappears or our 9 disappears so our service is lacking. Outside of CP slipping in Weah for the goal, we do not have a lot of creativity and movement in front of goal. Would a Kane/Lewa/Haaland type fix that? All of our 9s have shown they can score at different places, except the national team. Why?

We need more competition across the team and a deeper bench. We need to be able to drop a player for a rest and not feel like we are playing a man down because of it. IMO

Specifically to CB, we need a Ream replacement and if we think of ourselves as a QF+ type team a Zimmerman replacement. Ream's distribution was immense and replacing it is frankly the number 1 thing that has to get addressed (and Zimmerman is about as bad as Ream is good).

Isn't CCV pretty decent at distribution? And he's the right age for this next cycle.

 

[TripItUp]

Can he learn from his mistakes? I don't see why not. Will he? That is the question.

My guess is some, but probably not enough. IMHO he is below average IQ and not self aware while holding his self unaccountable. All of which contribute to his lack of leadership.

Time to move on.

 

[TripItUp]

The most odd thing about re-upping Berhalter is that there are masses of diehard fans that detest him. If you are trying to build a fanbase and a culture, this is the opposite direction you should be going.