Generic soccer thread
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Damn. Morocco looked the best team in the world today! wow. Sucks we lost, but they are fun to watch. creative, quick, pressing. nicely done.
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Saw this today. sounds like there’s some debate, but possible.
https://sbisoccer.com/2024/08/reports-pellegrino-matarazzo-offered-usmnt-head-coaching-job
The next U.S. men’s national team head coach could reportedly come from the German Bundesliga.
Pellegrino Matarazzo has reportedly been offered the position by U.S. Soccer, multiple reports confirmed Saturday. German outlet Kicker reported that Matarazzo is still undecided while Bild stated that he has already informed his current club Hoffenheim that he wants to leave for the position.
The news comes recently after Hoffenheim parted ways with sporting director Alexander Rosen.
The 46-year-old is currently on his third managerial position at club level with Hoffenheim. Matarazzo joined the Bundesliga club in February, taking over for the fired Andre Breitenreiter.
He has won 20 of his 52 matches in charge of Hoffenheim.
Prior to his move there Matarazzo managed Stuttgart from December 2019 to October 2022. He helped the club fight off relegation in Spring of 22′.
The New Jersey-born Matarazzo played collegiately at Columbia University before embarking to Germany in 2000.
Matarazzo would take over for Gregg Berhalter, who was relieved of his duties in July after the USMNT’s group stage exit from the Copa America.
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If you’re a geek like me…he likes a 3-5-2 formation. It can be defensive minded, with counter attacking as critical.
Relies heavily on wingbacks. Not a bad fit for the USA i’d say. We have Jedi and Dest who can fit that role. Maybe even Musah if they figure out his spot.
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@rockchalkjayhawk we only have 2 centerbacks in the entire country, so you might be right. Not sold on Dest at this point. I was high on him and then he seemed to mentally self destruct under the pressure.
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk we only have 2 centerbacks in the entire country, so you might be right. Not sold on Dest at this point. I was high on him and then he seemed to mentally self destruct under the pressure.
So true about the CBs!!!
I’m with you on Dest. He was hyped up, but maybe needs a few more hours in the oven. he’s only 23, shockingly. Still time for his mental abilities to catch up to the physical.
Nature rarely allows this without drugs (ahem Lebron James), but i noticed in my early 30s while playing rec league soccer that my soccer brain and physical combo was at about its peak.
You just see the field way easier as you mature. Too bad the body doesn’t keep up!
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What a goal against Japan to get US Soccer WT advance
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Trinity had a beaut of a goal. She was the most aggressive of the forwards. I’m really disappointed they can’t find a way to get my girl Rose and also Horan involved more. IMO, the only way Horan really plays well is if she’s angry. Sounds crazy, but Somebody needs to slap her upside the head before every game to get her pissed!
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Nice win by US over Germany to advance to the gold medal game.
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Victory! nice. Two good teams battling. Germany had a great game plan being physical with the US. That’s where we need Horan to use her size and strength. I wish she’d assert herself more. Trinity was great. She’s really been aggressive so far. And i’ve been pleasantly surprised by Coffey’s play in the midfield. The US had lots of opportunity to put one in the back of the net. As the pundits would say, not very clinical today. But a win!
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Looks like the new coach is hired
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@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
Looks like the new coach is hired
Oh yea? Busy day, haven’t looked. Who?
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Holy smokes! We got our man!
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I’m seeing Poch? Wow!
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I like it!
The Argentine boss employs a high pressing tactical style, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation which utilizes an intense counter-press that looks to win the ball back in dangerous areas, often at the sacrifice of the team’s defensive structure. However, Pochettino is known for his flexibility, and has a strong familiarity with the 4-3-3 that the U.S. often found itself in under Gregg Berhalter.
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
Looks like the new coach is hired
Oh yea? Busy day, haven’t looked. Who?
At the time I posted, I wasn’t 100% sure then it started to come out from more reliable reporters.
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@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
@BShark said in Generic soccer thread:
Looks like the new coach is hired
Oh yea? Busy day, haven’t looked. Who?
At the time I posted, I wasn’t 100% sure then it started to come out from more reliable reporters.
Still seems a “sources say” kinda deal.
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KU women won their first game of the season under new HC, both goals were scored by freshmen.
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@AsadZ Does KU not have a mens team because of title 9?
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@wissox said in Generic soccer thread:
@AsadZ Does KU not have a mens team because of title 9?
Basically. KU would have to add more women’s sports as well to support having a men’s soccer program to stay compliant with Title IX.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 From the perspective of the rest of the world, KU already has a men’s “football” team.
️Actually, they would not have to add an actual team in other women’s sports if they can show they offered the opportunity to women to play in other sports but could not draw enough participants to make it viable despite legitimate recruiting efforts.
Almost every school complies with the equal numbers test (which looks distorted due to college football teams having so many men), but there are two other ways schools can comply. One is the one I just referred to (it has been awhile, so my description is a rough summary), but I forget the third “safe harbor.” No one wants to go to the trouble of using tests 2 or 3.
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@mayjay said in Generic soccer thread:
@Texas-Hawk-10 From the perspective of the rest of the world, KU already has a men’s “football” team.
️Actually, they would not have to add an actual team in other women’s sports if they can show they offered the opportunity to women to play in other sports but could not draw enough participants to make it viable despite legitimate recruiting efforts.
Almost every school complies with the equal numbers test (which looks distorted due to college football teams having so many men), but there are two other ways schools can comply. One is the one I just referred to (it has been awhile, so my description is a rough summary), but I forget the third “safe harbor.” No one wants to go to the trouble of using tests 2 or 3.
Your first part wouldn’t fly in a federal investigation because there’s several women’s sports that KU could add that would absolutely have enough interest to become sustainable. Gymnastics would be the most likely program to add to balance adding a men’s soccer team.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 My point was that so many people blame Title 9 for not having additional men’s sports, or when cuts are made to men’s programs. Athletic departments pour gas on that fire by posturing as if they are required to even up the numbers rather than meeting the standards by adding programs for women.
As you say, KU could add new programs for women if they wanted to add men’s soccer. I was referring to the hypothetical situation IF no women wanted to join those programs. Trying to do it in good faith but not succeeding is a valid Title 9 defense to numerical disparities. As I said, no one uses that defense and just lops men’s programs on Title 9.
To be honest, your comment indicates the likely reason: schools are cutting men’s, and not adding women’s, programs because in all likelihood the sports would be successful participation-wise, and ADs don’t want the expense of carrying more non-revenue sports. The definition, really, of a zero-sum situation due to limited budgets. (I do hope Breaking, despite its apparent popularity, doesn’t become an NCAA sport, but the revenue possibilities might be intriguing. Recruiting trip reports might be fun: “No, we didn’t visit any dancers’ homes. We spent the entire trip in clubs.”)
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Ok, so Pulisic and Milan are on the TV this morning. Turned it on.
But, I’ll be turning it off lickety split! There is a constant police siren on in the background. I can’t take it! Is that normal for Italian football? Ear pollution so early in the a.m. for me. Grrr.
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@rockchalkjayhawk did you watch the match against Canada?
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
@rockchalkjayhawk did you watch the match against Canada?
Sadly I did. U?
I was watching pregame, and the pundits made some points I agreed with entirely. Motivation and effort. Entirely lacking at times in recent games, and as this game progressed. That used to be our calling card.
Take the first 20 minutes of the game as an example: FOUR guys were left wide open in the box on different plays. Where’s the personal motivation to stop the opposing team? I don’t get it.
Not a good effort. I know we had some different players out there, but still.
I hope this is the result of not having a coach!
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The mighty New Zealand!
I hear they are nearly as good as Bucknell!
Oh how the mighty have fallen. This may be as down as I’ve ever been about the US soccer team. I am usually pretty excited to watch the games, but that enthusiasm is waning with the crap product on the field.
Jokes (or not) aside, the US squad at least played with some effort, but maybe lacked some other elements.
I guess there was no VAR, but maybe things would have been different with a 2-1 win if so. Maybe even 2-0. Our first goal was called off for a foul, but replay showed he got the ball. And the NZ goal seemed to go off dude’s arm?
Nitpicking, but a win would have inspired more confidence in this team. On to Poch!
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I cannot believe and SMH how US allowed NZ to equalize so late, that was very poor D
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New chapter starts…… NOW!
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I didnt really watch the New Zealand game. The previous game, I wasnt that down on our play to be honest. I saw us play much directly/vertically than ever under Berhalter and I think we will need some of that to unlock the potential we have. It never felt like we were out of the game. It would have felt over with Bethalter with 20 to go as he salted away our chances.
I remain extremely optimistic. Trust in Poch and give him time. I think we will see many different players get looks as he sorts out what he has.
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@approxinfinity said in Generic soccer thread:
I didnt really watch the New Zealand game. The previous game, I wasnt that down on our play to be honest. I saw us play much directly/vertically than ever under Berhalter and I think we will need some of that to unlock the potential we have. It never felt like we were out of the game. It would have felt over with Bethalter with 20 to go as he salted away our chances.
I remain extremely optimistic. Trust in Poch and give him time. I think we will see many different players get looks as he sorts out what he has.
I’m gonna have to rewatch the Canada game one of these nights. I was semi sorta maybe kinda napping during most of it TBH. zzz.
Canada is not a bad team. I think our record is 3-5-2 in 2024 so far? That is the most uninspiring part!
Bring on Poch! I hope he can instill some sort of plan or confidence ASAP. Next games are in October i think.
Can he find two center backs by then? Maybe he’s been doing some behind-the-scenes international recruiting we don’t know about…ha.
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Anybody catch the two recent USA friendlies?
I watched some of both, but not too carefully. Jeez, am I losing interest in this mediocre roster? Unlike me. Ha.
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Be patient. We werent fully staffed. Mexico meant nothing. I didnt watch it yet tbh. But watched Panama (?). We played very competently offensively i thought.
Trust the process.
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Yea, patience required with a new coach.
I forgot we played Panama, so actually watched it (or some of it) after the Mexico match. That was unpleasant. Never ever want to be outclassed by Mexico!
I am not sure I uncovered any new tactics yet with Poch. I’ll need to skim thru the games again.
Seemed like the usual 4-3-3?
Anyway, odd for me to not be too excited to watch the US side. That says something I guess !
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in Generic soccer thread:
Anybody catch the two recent USA friendlies?
I watched some of both, but not too carefully. Jeez, am I losing interest in this mediocre roster? Unlike me. Ha.
Very little should be taken from these friendlies. The Nations League matches against Jamaica will be better for seeing the new direction of US Soccer.
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How about KU Women Soccer.
They beat West Virginia in Big 12 semis yesterday, big upset.
They have won 6 games in a row.
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KU Women just upset 2 seed and 17th ranked Texas Tech 2-1 in the semifinals of the B12 Tournament. They will play TCU on Saturday for the B12 championship.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Generic soccer thread:
KU Women just upset 2 seed and 17th ranked Texas Tech 2-1 in the semifinals of the B12 Tournament. They will play TCU on Saturday for the B12 championship.
Ya that’s what we love to hear, - they have been on a roll lately - -Good Luck Ladies
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@Texas-Hawk-10 I am liking what new coach has done this year
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USA faces Jamaica tonight in the return leg of Nations league play.
The first game was pretty dull. The pitch was godawful. Oh, and Pepi got the start up top.
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Wow wow wow. That was the best first half I may have ever seen the US play! Awesome. So refined in their passing. Exciting.
They had a very odd formation. They started in the 4-2-3-1, but it ended up a blob all in the middle of the field. Even Jedi was playing inside! So weird.
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I need to watch first half. Wasnt at the house. Excited! Will report back.
