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US Men's National Team (8 Viewers)

This is a guy we would love to see take a step forward in his play. This could be a big move for him if it works out

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Men in Blazers
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MARK MCKENZIE LINKED WITH BUNDESLIGA MOVE

25yo Genk defender reportedly drawing interest from Wolfsburg and Stuttgart, per @sachatovlieri. Would be latest USMNT player to grace Germany’s top flight, trading waffles and frites for schnitzel and wurst.
 
Who is the best pure athlete on the national team?

Definition includes: Speed, quickness, strength, balance, jumping ability and endurance
 
I picked Jedi as well.

Miles is a close second. No one has mentioned Pulisic (if you watch him play other sports, he is just so smooth what ever he does). But he lacks the strength piece.

I feel like if Weston was a work out warrior, he would be right up there but when your nickname is snacks............
 
I would be disappointed if Sargent moved to MLS at this point in his career. If he can stay healthy and produce this year he should be able to find a Premier League home whether Norwich get promoted or not. Weren’t there rumors he could move somewhere like Bournemouth this month?
 
CletiusMaximus said:
What does it mean in the development cycle that we are more frequently seeing our Euro players linked to MLS?
Click to expand...
I spoke to this years ago and I think it may pick up pace in the next two years. I don't think it has anything to do with development per say.

I think there is going to be a league wide effort for many MLS teams to sign US Nats leading into WC 2026. I also think some one is going to back up the brinks truck into Pulisic's driveway come the winter of 2025/26.

But outside of this, what we are seeing is very typical given how many players we have overseas now. Some will succeed, some will fail and some will be looking for different chances if they feel stuck where they are. That 3rd group is where MLS teams may try and scratch an itch.
 
NewlyRetired said:
CletiusMaximus said:
What does it mean in the development cycle that we are more frequently seeing our Euro players linked to MLS?
Click to expand...
I spoke to this years ago and I think it may pick up pace in the next two years. I don't think it has anything to do with development per say.

I think there is going to be a league wide effort for many MLS teams to sign US Nats leading into WC 2026. I also think some one is going to back up the brinks truck into Pulisic's driveway come the winter of 2025/26.

But outside of this, what we are seeing is very typical given how many players we have overseas now. Some will succeed, some will fail and some will be looking for different chances if they feel stuck where they are. That 3rd group is where MLS teams may try and scratch an itch.
Click to expand...
Swag is unfortunate. He should be playing in Europe on a good team. But his/his agents valuation for salary seems off what the open market will support and sounds like is killing deals (AV, Fiorentina). I'd hate to see him floating nowhere as a result at a really key point in his career and for the US.
 
El Floppo said:
NewlyRetired said:
CletiusMaximus said:
What does it mean in the development cycle that we are more frequently seeing our Euro players linked to MLS?
Click to expand...
I spoke to this years ago and I think it may pick up pace in the next two years. I don't think it has anything to do with development per say.

I think there is going to be a league wide effort for many MLS teams to sign US Nats leading into WC 2026. I also think some one is going to back up the brinks truck into Pulisic's driveway come the winter of 2025/26.

But outside of this, what we are seeing is very typical given how many players we have overseas now. Some will succeed, some will fail and some will be looking for different chances if they feel stuck where they are. That 3rd group is where MLS teams may try and scratch an itch.
Click to expand...
Swag is unfortunate. He should be playing in Europe on a good team. But his/his agents valuation for salary seems off what the open market will support and sounds like is killing deals (AV, Fiorentina). I'd hate to see him floating nowhere as a result at a really key point in his career and for the US.
Click to expand...
If I was an MLS team I would also be very careful giving him a huge salary.

He clearly is driven to get the best deal for himself (as he should be), but I would greatly fear a guy who has had issues in the past with his training what may happen if he gets a huge pay day.
 
Moe. said:
I would be disappointed if Sargent moved to MLS at this point in his career. If he can stay healthy and produce this year he should be able to find a Premier League home whether Norwich get promoted or not. Weren’t there rumors he could move somewhere like Bournemouth this month?
Click to expand...
Me too, and I’m an FC Cincinnati homer. However:
1.Ownership has shown a proclivity to anyone who has a cap (Miazga, Cameron, Yedlin, Miles Robinson, (even Gyau and Stanko in the darkest timeline). Heck, Harkes was the first coach. It’s almost as bad as Mike Brown chasing former Buckeyes, but I secretly sort of like it, especially the more recent signings. Though I prefer when guys like Vasquez and Celantano are showing enough to get called in rather than pulling in “names”.

2. They just terminated a striker’s contract (Boupendza, who picked a bar fight with a pro boxer and got his jaw broke, lost his spot, and apparently just stopped showing up to practice). So, they have a need, and some money….
 
I heard Aiden Morris had another solid game today. His second straight 90 minutes for Boro in a 3-0 win over Leeds. Great to see him walking right into the lineup in a new league/country.
 
@Andrew_S04_

Per insider sources: Mauricio Pochettino is CONFIRMED to be the USMNT head coach. The former Chelsea manager is set to be unveiled as the new coach this week and will lead the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup ✅
Click to expand...
Seems to be pretty widely believed, at least. But nothing official yet. Pretty good get if they actually land him.
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
@Andrew_S04_

Per insider sources: Mauricio Pochettino is CONFIRMED to be the USMNT head coach. The former Chelsea manager is set to be unveiled as the new coach this week and will lead the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup ✅
Click to expand...
Seems to be pretty widely believed, at least. But nothing official yet. Pretty good get if they actually land him.
Click to expand...
If I am not mistaken, this will be the very first South American USMNT coach...............

I have to say this is probably much better than I expected, while acknowledging I have absolutely no idea how it will work out.

Any one know if he has a preferred system or does he adjust the system to the players?
 
Last edited:
There is a lot to like here

1) He has absolutely no ties to US Soccer or any of its history and won't be beholden to any one

2) Plenty of managerial experience both with the biggest teams as well as mid level teams. No international experience but that is almost always the trade off when getting a big name club coach

3) There is a non zero chance that the USMNT finally hiring a Hispanic coach that it could make some of the youngins like Luna look at the program in a new way.

4) At least in the beginning, the fan base won't be divided like what would have happened if Dolo was hired.



I feel like I should know this off the top of my head but I don't. Has any current US National team player ever played for Poch? I can't think of any...
 
I don't know about squeezing diamonds from this particular lump o coal, but it feels like a good hire. Iirc, players at all teams have liked him.. not so sure about PSG. And he got spurs looking good without tippy top talent.

That said... Has he won anything?
 
NewlyRetired said:
El Floppo said:
That said... Has he won anything?
Click to expand...
I think three things with PSG (League, Cup and Super Cup). No other trophies that I know of.

But he was runner up with Spurs in both EPL and Champions League.
Click to expand...
I kinda don't count PSG... I could've led that team to a bunch of trophies too, despite floppinhos 7u rec league 6 a side team going winless under my direction
 
NewlyRetired said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
@Andrew_S04_

Per insider sources: Mauricio Pochettino is CONFIRMED to be the USMNT head coach. The former Chelsea manager is set to be unveiled as the new coach this week and will lead the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup ✅
Click to expand...
Seems to be pretty widely believed, at least. But nothing official yet. Pretty good get if they actually land him.
Click to expand...
If I am not mistaken, this will be the very first South American USMNT coach...............

I have to say this is probably much better than I expected, while acknowledging I have absolutely no idea how it will work out.

Any one know if he has a preferred system or does he adjust the system to the players?
Click to expand...
Formation/system/style of play
 
Starting with this image from G's article above... something like...

-----------------Turner
-------Miles, Zimm, Richards
-------------Adams Johnny
Dest-----Swag/Reyna-----Antonee
--------Pulisic
----------------Balogun

Which very conveniently fits our personnel and their preferred roles/strengths pretty damn well. Balogun and the wingbacks especially. 100% does force a choice between McKennie and Gio, but I've thought that was overdue anyhow. Weah probably reduced to playing a wingback role in this system too.
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Starting with this image from G's article above... something like...

-----------------Turner
-------Miles, Zimm, Richards
-------------Adams Johnny
Dest-----Swag/Reyna-----Antonee
--------Pulisic
----------------Balogun

Which very conveniently fits our personnel and their preferred roles/strengths pretty damn well. Balogun and the wingbacks especially. 100% does force a choice between McKennie and Gio, but I've thought that was overdue anyhow. Weah probably reduced to playing a wingback role in this system too.
Click to expand...
I like it, mostly because I can see back up in almost every position clearly, except for Jedi's spot. I don't know if Paredes has the defensive chops (or engine) for that role but he would have the offensive skills needed.
 
This is obviously an excellent hire. In a world where Roberto Martinez can keep failing upward from Belgium to Portugal, we got a significantly more accomplished club manager. One that was apparently also being approached by England. And of course it still might not work. But I don't think it will be because the manager doesn't know what he's doing. I was skeptical of the narrative that GGG was holding the players back. I think in some key areas, we just don't have the players. But we can expect Poch to put the players in the positions that make sense and to select the right players. The pressure moves on to the players.
 
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