Oh brother, Caribbean nations aren’t “figuring it out”? Just stop before the hole gets too deep.

Jamacia is not in "figuring it out" mode - we are. They have a small country and they export players to the UK and US so they can ID all of their talent and promote them early to the national team. Jamacia's strength is that they have world-class athleticism, plus players who all were born dribbling a soccer ball and playing street soccer long before finding their way into organized academies.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the problems are tactical and selection based too though. Our best players are not getting picked and some not in their natural positions. We have breakdowns like the aforementioned rightback passing out of bounds to the spot where he should be. The top athletes argument doesn’t fly when countries like Uruguay and Croatia can reach World Cup semifinals. We’re not even asking for that, just expect better than getting handled by CONCACAF opposition who have nowhere near our resources.

If Klinsmann's team had this kind of performance, would media be treating him as gently as they do for the current coach? If he deprived Sargent of an opportunity to play in both Gold Cup and U20 WC, wouldn't be outcry in the US soccer media that this German coach is incompetent and has no clue what he is doing?

A lot of the problems are tactical and selection based too though. Our best players are not getting picked and some not in their natural positions. We have breakdowns like the aforementioned rightback passing out of bounds to the spot where he should be. The top athletes argument doesn’t fly when countries like Uruguay and Croatia can reach World Cup semifinals. We’re not even asking for that, just expect better than getting handled by CONCACAF opposition who have nowhere near our resources.

People, soccer in this country can't compete internationally because you don't get America's top athletes. There are just too many options for American boys. Hell downhill skiers can make millions as a career choice.

A country the size of America with its own professional league should be able to produce a D team that would beat Jamaica.

Anonymous wrote:As encouraging as the U20s have been, this abysmal showing by the senior team dampened my spirits.There is simply no excuse to lose to Jamaica. Ever.

Well people have been making excuses for USSF for years. Keep in mind we’ve already lost TO Jamaica AT the Gold Cup in recent times.

As encouraging as the U20s have been, this abysmal showing by the senior team dampened my spirits.There is simply no excuse to lose to Jamaica. Ever.

Anonymous wrote:Loved seeing Lima in center midfield and passing the ball out of play for an opposing throw-in to the exact spot where he should be /s. I don’t think excuses should be valid for this one, most of Jamaica’s squad plays in USL. At some point the “B team” and “experimenting” narrative just doesn’t cut it. Why not experiment with our top players who are the ones that will have to carry the team forward? He keeps Sargent out of the U20 World Cup only to cut him from the Gold Cup roster? It’s embarrassing.

I agree 100%. I was not sure whether to laugh or cry, when Lima played ball from midfield to the outside back position where he was supposed to be. And the way they handled Sargent is idiotic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop pretending that Berhalter is a genius and Will Trapp is a good player now?

Only a mediocre MLS coach would pick Trapp and Bradley for a squad over Josh Sargent.

Politics, politics, politics....always been there. It exists from the little ages in up to the National team.

Is that why Berhalter wants to waste Tyler Adams, who plays for a top-level Bundesliga team, in a desperate effort to make Bradley seem halfway competent?

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop pretending that Berhalter is a genius and Will Trapp is a good player now?

Only a mediocre MLS coach would pick Trapp and Bradley for a squad over Josh Sargent.

Politics, politics, politics....always been there. It exists from the little ages in up to the National team.

Can we stop pretending that Berhalter is a genius and Will Trapp is a good player now?

Only a mediocre MLS coach would pick Trapp and Bradley for a squad over Josh Sargent.

That was one of the worst games I've ever seen the USMNT play.
Just godawful passing and possession, and no one capable of attacking one on one.
Yes, there were a bunch of new players, and they haven't played together much, but even a US C team shouldn't be quite that bad.
On the plus side, the back line looked pretty solid.

Yeah they didn't look great. Was also there

Loved seeing Lima in center midfield and passing the ball out of play for an opposing throw-in to the exact spot where he should be /s. I don’t think excuses should be valid for this one, most of Jamaica’s squad plays in USL. At some point the “B team” and “experimenting” narrative just doesn’t cut it. Why not experiment with our top players who are the ones that will have to carry the team forward? He keeps Sargent out of the U20 World Cup only to cut him from the Gold Cup roster? It’s embarrassing.

I realize some stars were not playing, but what stood out the most to my 11 and 13-year old boys was the poor touch of most of the US players. It was like watching a not so good kids travel team when a ball is put them or they are trying to take it out of the air and it ricochets off their foot or shin. It’s my pet peeve of a lot of DA players at our Club. A very American dead give away. It slows down the pace and causes conversion. Passing accuracy was also not good. At that level putting the ball to opposing players or too far out is unexpected with the frequency with which it happened last night.

We will always root for our home team, but wish it looked more promising.