USSF

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USSF

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S U C K S

Crocker didn't have the career he had with Soton and the FA (on a trajectory to be in legitimate consideration to lead the latter one day) to arrive and think "well frick, what the USMNT really needs is that Gregg guy back". There's just no way he risked everything he's built to be such a pinhead to have been genuinely involved in making that decision. He did however lead the effort to get and close the deal with Hayes, so that's promising

Cindy and the establishment need their grimy fingers off of the search

The biggest problem will be the same we had last time, if they rightfully dismiss Greggggggg, how long will they take to make that decision, and then how long will they take to hire someone new.

If they go at the same pace as last time the new manager will have only a year before the WC.

When we fired Klinsmann back in 2016, how long after his last game (Costa Rica, I believe) did it take for USSF to announce his firing, and then how long after that did we appoint Bruce as manager? It’s been almost 8 years now, so I don’t remember anymore. And how did we handle the Vlatko firing on the women’s side, for that matter? That might be a better indication of the timeline we should expect.

Obviously, the timing here would be a bit different, since we’re in the middle of the summer and not deep into WC qualifiers like in 2016. The statement USSF released this morning didn’t seem promising that they’re serious about replacing Gregg, but the optimistic side of me is hoping they’ll wait a bit to tell Gregg privately and begin the coaching search behind the scenes before publicly announcing Gregg is done. As much as fans want an immediate and public firing, that’s not how this usually goes for firings of a non-disciplinary nature.

I agree that Gregg’s re-hiring had the USSF establishment’s hands all over it, and likely wasn’t Matt Crocker’s sole decision. His career up to this point in England has been impressive, and I’m sure he’d love to have a hand in hiring a successful USMNT manager heading into the 2026 World Cup. Cindy and the others need to get out of his way and let the man do his job.

We have one chance to get this hire right heading into the most important tournament in USSF history. If we have a serious chance to hire a top-level manager, we need to pay whatever is necessary, regardless of equity and what Emma Hayes is being paid. The USSF higher-ups need to be pragmatic and accept the reality that the success of the men’s team is far more important to the growth and success of soccer in the country than the women’s team. The women’s team could win 4 World Cups or 44, and not much will change. But a successful, popular men’s team that impresses on home soil in two years would be a game-changer.

Yeah, I know it’s probably wishful thinking on my part. Hell, if we have to up Emma Hayes’ salary for equity reasons to hire an elite men’s coach, then do it. Make a splash hire.

Megan Rapinoe and that entire 2023 women’s cycle did so much to damage the reputation of the women’s team that it will take many years to recover. She is just so repulsive and unlikable, and the whole marketing of the team was incredibly arrogant. They are so toxic, that even the men’s team gets unfairly lumped with them and viewed negatively.

The average American doesn’t follow Tyler Adams or Christian Pulisic, and know how likable they are, like we do on this board. To them, they might as well be Megan Rapinoe, and they are treated accordingly. We all see how soccer is viewed on the other boards, and it isn’t good. Rapinoe being so toxic is honestly a huge part of that. She’s made the uphill battle we face to grow the game harder.

The dummies at USSF lack the sense to realize that soccer already has the SJW demographic well-covered. We need to improve the perception of the national teams and the sport as a whole amongst regular Middle American families. And it’s repulsive to those people to see rainbow numbers, supporters that are snobby and look like weirdos, Rapinoe’s arrogance, etc. This stuff matters.

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The average American doesn’t follow Tyler Adams or Christian Pulisic, and know how likable they are

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I think the USMNT PR had done a great job of in house content in making the players extremely likable.

That one story youtube series they did in the lead up to the 2022 World Cup was great. Adams and Horvath were particularly humanizing and well constructed.

...then all of that positive work went to shite the second the Reyna stuff came out and that was the overwhelming touchpoint American non-soccer fans had with the team.

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Youth development has actually moved farther behind in the last decade which is unbelievable to think about.

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How so?

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The USSF along with MLS have the national team hostage

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Would love to hear you expand your thoughts on this.

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Youth development has actually moved farther behind in the last decade which is unbelievable to think about.

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This is actually laughable and not at all in line with reality.

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Has this equal pay for coaches claim ever actually been confirmed outside of some tweets and rumor turning into assumed fact?

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Equal pay was just in the CBA with the players and does not affect the coach. Supposedly some guys like McBride, Davies, and Herc Gomez have made statements on pods and such that there are some limitations with pay, possibly linked to pay for the women’s team coach, but it’s never been confirmed. FWIW, Doug McIntyre says this is not the case. LINK

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For anyone wondering: No, U.S. Soccer wouldn’t have to increase the salary of #USWNT coach Emma Hayes to match what any new #USMNT coach (if Gregg Berhalter isn’t retained) might make if it’s more than Hayes currently earns. They aren’t linked at all.

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I have been involved in soccer for 30 years as a player and a coach. I can tell you that down to the lowest levels of soccer in America, the players and coaches are so much better than they were when I was a kid.