USMNT Fall 2023 - Spring 2024: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
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What a terrible loss of control. What the hell was he thinking there. It was like he wanted to get kicked out.
Sergino was dumb and needed to shut the fuck up but that ref chased him down when he was walking away. That’s some bullshit
It doesn’t matter you don’t kick a ball into the stands because of a ball in/out decision on the touchline and if you do something dumb like that you apologize and move on . Why is he getting all hot and making a scene about something so dumb
Right I agree. So 1 yellow. The ref made it more than it needed to be. Even Tim Ream almost body slamming Dest wasn't enough.
He should have been kicked out for being a moron about something so dumb. And he probably said a magic word to get chucked so quickly. But that ref chased him down when Dest was trying to walk away. I just hate that stuff
There is no part of this that is on the ref. That's twice this year that Dest has been unable to control himself and cost his team. The red against Mexico was a reaction play, but it was still dumb and unnecessary, and this was completely unnecessary.
Is T&T going to get 4 more goals? Probably not. But whatever we might think about this tournament, there is a Copa America berth on the line tonight. Given that Costa Rica and Mexico might both be in the playoff spots for the last two berths, this game is not one for fucking around. I'm not trying to be a doomsdayer -- The United States should be able to hold on easily even on ten men but you simply cannot do this kind of bullshit with these stakes. This has nothing to do with the ref.
That's twice now that Dest has taken himself out of two very big games -- the final against Canada and now potentially the semi here.
While I like to see Berhalter playing 2 strikers I think he probably has to take off Balogun for a midfielder just to keep this calm. It was too open after Gio went out and there’s no reason to play an open match given the situation
To be clear I’m not defending Dest at all. Watching the replays at halftime that was just so so stupid. I just thought it was worth the first yellow but I don’t know what he said to earn him the second. Ream, Jedi, and Turner did not look happy
I never blamed Dest too much for that red against Mexico. The ref had completely lost control of the game and was handing out cards like candy to regain control of it. Given the entire situation Dest was in, I find it hard to criticize the kid for reacting pretty much the same way I would have in the same situation.
Tonight though he was petulant and stupid. This is on him and I would expect him to have to apologize to his teammates before being reintegrated into the squad. He looked like he was totally undone.
Just saw the Dest video. There has to be some background issue here. Dest’s reaction is comically over the top and half his teammates on the pitch head over to shout him down. I mean, Gio got in his face. Gio!
Gregg Culture probably means they will get this sorted and Dest will be back soonish. There has to be some suspension for this kind of behavior, but I suspect Dest will take responsibility in the locker room and publicly and the team suspension will be short (1 match beyond the standard red card suspension).
Gregg Culture probably means they will get this sorted and Dest will be back soonish. There has to be some suspension for this kind of behavior, but I suspect Dest will take responsibility in the locker room and publicly and the team suspension will be short (1 match beyond the standard red card suspension).
This whole post is spot on. My initial reaction was the same the bolded, it looked like something else was going on for Dest to be so undone.
Really don’t like losing a match like this at all but I’ll give GGG a pass on this one given injuries and the moment of madness.
I just hope Serg still posts his highlight video.
I just hope Serg still posts his highlight video.
Guys I'm just glad we managed to wring some drama out of an otherwise banal successful window. Wasn't much other than the usual whining available to us up until then, but man we managed to stick the landing.
I know I should be mad or whatever, and it helps that it really didn't hurt anything, but Dest is a crazy person and I kind of love it.
He needs to work on it in the next six months before Copa America. South American windup merchants are watching the game tape between this and Mexico and are salivating.
He blew a kiss to the ref and covered his mouth to say a few choice words. Based on the reaction of his teammates, it was deserved.
I saw something on Twitter that the biggest drawback to Dest's actions is it made it so the coaching staff couldn't utilize subs to try to build out the rest of the roster and see who could do what.
So, that sucks.
I'm also super fascinated by the interaction between Dest and Ream and Turner.
So, that sucks.
I'm also super fascinated by the interaction between Dest and Ream and Turner.
The January camp opponent will be Slovenia. I wouldn't be surprised if the squad has a particularly strong U23 focus with the Olympics coming up next year.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/11/usmnt-to-open-2024-with-match-against-slovenia-on-jan-20-at-toyota-field-in-san-antonio-texas
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/11/usmnt-to-open-2024-with-match-against-slovenia-on-jan-20-at-toyota-field-in-san-antonio-texas
USSF announced the location of the Atlanta facility today.
It will be in Trillith GA, south of the airport.
https://www.atlutd.com/news/us-soccer-fayette-county-georgia-future-home-national-training-center
It will be in Trillith GA, south of the airport.
https://www.atlutd.com/news/us-soccer-fayette-county-georgia-future-home-national-training-center
Rumors are that Konrad de la Fuente has filed a switch to Haiti. He started the first qualifier in El Salvador if I remember correctly. Barcelona to Marseille to Éibar with an unlucky and an unproductive tour in Turkey in between.
https://x.com/caleb_jephte/status/1734758683798647192?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
https://x.com/caleb_jephte/status/1734758683798647192?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
that's a good get for Haiti, assuming he manages to end up a productive footballing professional. There have been rumors of substance abuse at a couple stops along his path, but the few times I've seen him take the field for a team - which included a decent stretch that year in Marseille - he's definitely had speed and some skill on the ball.
Berhalter has brought on Vincent Cavin as an assistant coach. Cavin has been on staff with the Swiss NT since 2014.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/12/vincent-cavin-named-as-an-assistant-coach-for-the-us-mens-national-team
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/12/vincent-cavin-named-as-an-assistant-coach-for-the-us-mens-national-team
January camp roster is out and it is all MLS folks, with lots of youngsters.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/01/twenty-five-players-called-for-usmnt-january-training-camp-orlando-ahead-of-usa-slovenia-on-jan-20
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Ian Murphy (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 27/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 13/0), Nkosi Tafari (FC Dallas; 0/0), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 3/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Joshua Atencio (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Aziel Jackson (St. Louis City; 0/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 4/0), Timmy Tillman (LAFC; 0/0), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; 0/0), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0)
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/01/twenty-five-players-called-for-usmnt-january-training-camp-orlando-ahead-of-usa-slovenia-on-jan-20
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Ian Murphy (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 27/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 13/0), Nkosi Tafari (FC Dallas; 0/0), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 3/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Joshua Atencio (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Aziel Jackson (St. Louis City; 0/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 4/0), Timmy Tillman (LAFC; 0/0), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; 0/0), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0)
The core of the player pool is so Euro-based at this point that January camp is always going to be fringy, so I guess Berhalter decided to go full experimental instead of bringing in some of the lower-on-the-depth chart veterans.
There are some names for the future here interspersed with decent-but-probably-not-USMNT caliber prospects. Miles Robinson is probably the only player with more than a longshot chance of making the Copa América roster in 2024.
13 players were born in 2001 or later, and the Olympic roster will be more relevant to them. Making an 18-man Olympic squad in a pretty competitive pool will still be a challenge for some
GK - Schulte
RB - Harriel
LB - Tolkin, Wiley
CM - Atencio, McGlynn, Morris
AM/winger - Jackson, Cowell, Kamungo, Luna, Bajraktarevic
FW - McGuire
There are some names for the future here interspersed with decent-but-probably-not-USMNT caliber prospects. Miles Robinson is probably the only player with more than a longshot chance of making the Copa América roster in 2024.
13 players were born in 2001 or later, and the Olympic roster will be more relevant to them. Making an 18-man Olympic squad in a pretty competitive pool will still be a challenge for some
GK - Schulte
RB - Harriel
LB - Tolkin, Wiley
CM - Atencio, McGlynn, Morris
AM/winger - Jackson, Cowell, Kamungo, Luna, Bajraktarevic
FW - McGuire
Luna is an interesting prospect who has become significantly more well-rounded lately. If he can put to rest the concerns about his athleticism that possibly limit his upside, we might really have something. But it'll be tough for him to make the Copa this summer. I expect him to play an important role with the Olympic team.
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Yeah I was mostly nosing through the roster looking for the second-most-likely player to make the big squad out of that motley crew, and Luna was the best I could come up with. McGuire has a lot of arc to his trajectory right now but we are, shockingly, kinda deep at striker at the moment. Aidan Morris is the only other guy where if Tyler Adams is somehow still out, might get a call imo. I suppose Jones getting a January move overseas and a kickass run to the spring could, in theory, happen, but at 26 that seems extraordinarily unlikely.
Actually, speaking of that, isn't Tolkin due to head to Salzburg or something?
Actually, speaking of that, isn't Tolkin due to head to Salzburg or something?
What do you folks think of Ragen? He irritates me at times as a Sounders fan, mainly because he takes risks that can lead to goal scoring opportunities.
But he was easily Seattle's best defender and is a great passer out of the back.
But he was easily Seattle's best defender and is a great passer out of the back.
I’d throw Cade Cowell’s name in there as the second most likely to make the Copa America roster. It would take a rash of injuries and a great start to life at Chivas or wherever he ends up, but GGG will be leaning on players he knows well this summer.
It’s funny how distraught some folks on twitter/X are over this roster. It’s a pretty meaningless camp considering the bulk of the A team, no matter how you define it, is in Europe right now. So why not give the one or two guys in MLS who might play this summer a look then surround them with a bunch of uncapped players? Sure, I’d prefer to see some different names (including a couple of the Chicago guys) or just use this as a U23 camp, but I’m not going to get too worked about it. We* don’t know who is exploring a move to Europe, we* don’t know who has a trial lined up, and players might still be recovering from injuries (I’ll put Jalen Neal in this pot). Anytime we get to see Diego Luna in a US jersey is a good day to me because watching him play brings me joy. I’m a sucker for a good story, so Kamungo’s inclusion is wonderful to me. I’m excited to see our boy Esmir as well.
*We meaning a large portion of the USMNT fan base, myself included. Obviously there is a small subset who the sicko community with spreadsheets of this kind of info.
It’s funny how distraught some folks on twitter/X are over this roster. It’s a pretty meaningless camp considering the bulk of the A team, no matter how you define it, is in Europe right now. So why not give the one or two guys in MLS who might play this summer a look then surround them with a bunch of uncapped players? Sure, I’d prefer to see some different names (including a couple of the Chicago guys) or just use this as a U23 camp, but I’m not going to get too worked about it. We* don’t know who is exploring a move to Europe, we* don’t know who has a trial lined up, and players might still be recovering from injuries (I’ll put Jalen Neal in this pot). Anytime we get to see Diego Luna in a US jersey is a good day to me because watching him play brings me joy. I’m a sucker for a good story, so Kamungo’s inclusion is wonderful to me. I’m excited to see our boy Esmir as well.
*We meaning a large portion of the USMNT fan base, myself included. Obviously there is a small subset who the sicko community with spreadsheets of this kind of info.
I’ll caveat this by saying I’ve only seen him play once or twice, but I agree that he’s a very slick passer. My concern with him was that he didn’t appear particularly good at either intercepting passes or tackling, and I’d want a CB to be great at one or the other, or ideally both. He seemed to be content to back off attackers and not let himself get beat.
I know there has been a policy change at the club, but it is going to take a while until hearing things like "if this USMNT player really does well at Chivas, ...." stops sounding really strange.
How many looks did they actually put on frame? It seem like they had a ton of shots but finishing was poor.
A bunch of guys who aren't as good as our A-teamers and who haven't played together before. January camp is never pretty!
The important lesson here is that Esmir Bajraktarevic looks like a baller. You have to appreciate a guy who megged someone with his first touch with the USMNT. He'll definitely be someone to watch with the Revs this year. And honestly, he may turn out to be a pretty high-ceiling prospect.
I'd like to see Diego Luna's progression with RSL.
Almost none of these guys will even have a chance to make Copa America. Some of them could definitely play their way into the picture in 2025 or later. We'll see. Three weeks until CONCACAF Champions Cup and about a month until the MLS regular season starts!
The important lesson here is that Esmir Bajraktarevic looks like a baller. You have to appreciate a guy who megged someone with his first touch with the USMNT. He'll definitely be someone to watch with the Revs this year. And honestly, he may turn out to be a pretty high-ceiling prospect.
I'd like to see Diego Luna's progression with RSL.
Almost none of these guys will even have a chance to make Copa America. Some of them could definitely play their way into the picture in 2025 or later. We'll see. Three weeks until CONCACAF Champions Cup and about a month until the MLS regular season starts!
Given Berhalter's comments previously about thinking about Moore for March camp when Serg is out, I think the FB spots were possibly a bit of a tryout for a backup slot for Nations League which is why neither of the younger prospects started and I think Jones absolutely dusted Moore In that tryout.
Esmir looked a lot more full-grown and effective than I remember him looking, great cameo.
Esmir looked a lot more full-grown and effective than I remember him looking, great cameo.