The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup
United States vs Brazil
9-7-18
Friendly
0-2
Played in MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
How bout don't ask, don't tell? Leave it to Bill Clinton.
Did the US display advanced knowledge of the two-man game? Nope.
Did the US exude creative dribbling? Nope.
Did the US outside defenders get a single shot on goal? Nope.*
Were the US central defenders instrumental in developing the attack with skillful, confident, "I want the ball back" possession-oriented passing? Not even close.
Was the US athletic, and did it put up a good fight? Oh yeah!
The best thing about the game? Coach Sarachan’s brave choice to go with new, young, virtually untested players, as opposed to pulling in vets who’ve already had a chance to fail.
There is absolutely no change in the USMNT from eight years ago, at this very stadium, against Brazil in what happened to be Neymar’s first game for Brazil. This should be the most amazing and frustrating thing for any American soccer fan. It serves as a firm reminder that the USMNT is no where near winning a World Cup. The United States is literally the best in every other sport in the world, besides soccer. Eight years is a long time. It's much longer than that though. It's generations of this same result. In terms of US to Brazil, it’s still Larry Holmes to Muhammad Ali. We’re just a sparring partner that never gets to see the ball; we don't get to punch the champ; he punches us. The solution: Sever all ties with English teams and this love affair of sending up-and-coming players to Fulham, such as Dempsey from past years, and Ream today. Instead, keep the top players in MLS, then loan them to Brazilian clubs in the off-season. Problem solved. It doesn’t matter if “Brazil has terrible managers.” I’m done trying to fix it, let Brazil fix it. No one man can fix this. This is so out of control that every news outlet on American TV should literally run ongoing stories featuring this "failure to launch" of the USMNT program which is older than most people have been alive. It's the last American athletic frontier, and the way Brazil handled the US last night is like we are stuck in a horse and buggy while there's an option on a Ferrari.
On the flip side, Brazil is criticized for World Cup failures, in part, because all its top players go to Europe. Possibly they should rethink and keep their top players at home with giant contracts, however they can pull it off.
US Soccer – and Earnie Stewart and the President and whoever coaches – should literally work out player-loans with Brazilian clubs. Veterans or no veterans, this showing yesterday is indicative of why the USMNT will not win the World Cup for many years to come.
*If they did, I wasn't paying attention. Btw, corners don't count.
United States vs Brazil
9-7-18
Friendly
0-2
Played in MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
How bout don't ask, don't tell? Leave it to Bill Clinton.
Did the US display advanced knowledge of the two-man game? Nope.
Did the US exude creative dribbling? Nope.
Did the US outside defenders get a single shot on goal? Nope.*
Were the US central defenders instrumental in developing the attack with skillful, confident, "I want the ball back" possession-oriented passing? Not even close.
Was the US athletic, and did it put up a good fight? Oh yeah!
The best thing about the game? Coach Sarachan’s brave choice to go with new, young, virtually untested players, as opposed to pulling in vets who’ve already had a chance to fail.
There is absolutely no change in the USMNT from eight years ago, at this very stadium, against Brazil in what happened to be Neymar’s first game for Brazil. This should be the most amazing and frustrating thing for any American soccer fan. It serves as a firm reminder that the USMNT is no where near winning a World Cup. The United States is literally the best in every other sport in the world, besides soccer. Eight years is a long time. It's much longer than that though. It's generations of this same result. In terms of US to Brazil, it’s still Larry Holmes to Muhammad Ali. We’re just a sparring partner that never gets to see the ball; we don't get to punch the champ; he punches us. The solution: Sever all ties with English teams and this love affair of sending up-and-coming players to Fulham, such as Dempsey from past years, and Ream today. Instead, keep the top players in MLS, then loan them to Brazilian clubs in the off-season. Problem solved. It doesn’t matter if “Brazil has terrible managers.” I’m done trying to fix it, let Brazil fix it. No one man can fix this. This is so out of control that every news outlet on American TV should literally run ongoing stories featuring this "failure to launch" of the USMNT program which is older than most people have been alive. It's the last American athletic frontier, and the way Brazil handled the US last night is like we are stuck in a horse and buggy while there's an option on a Ferrari.
On the flip side, Brazil is criticized for World Cup failures, in part, because all its top players go to Europe. Possibly they should rethink and keep their top players at home with giant contracts, however they can pull it off.
US Soccer – and Earnie Stewart and the President and whoever coaches – should literally work out player-loans with Brazilian clubs. Veterans or no veterans, this showing yesterday is indicative of why the USMNT will not win the World Cup for many years to come.
*If they did, I wasn't paying attention. Btw, corners don't count.
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