USMNT - ‘23 and beyond
But I think this decision on Berhalter is an inflection point of soccer in this country. We are either choosing to push things forwards on the field or this is just a glorified MLS business venture. Its not even to be taken seriously anymore if they continue down this road. Just call in strictly MLS players and be done with it.
at some point, players ( and their agents ) will come to the realization that their players BEST interest is to sit out USMNT duty. Injury is a real risk. Why would you want your client/player to risk his burgeoning career overseas, worth $$$$ milions to represent country where the federation is more interested in increasing revenues thru marketing the game than actual performance?
it wont happen overnight, but i have to believe that this is going to start to happen.
On flip side, clubs have to be looking at performances of players and thinking "they might be REGRESSING" when they are on USMNT roster. Be it out of position, wrong strategy- individual performance is watched.
And yes- just go with MLS guys and pay your Manager $1,000,000 a year just to show up at tournaments/qualifiers and "hope" you can pull off something great.
They sell hope.
Ive watched countless kids ( and parents ) sold "hope" on youth level. "your child has a gift- and for $3500, joining this club will nurture that gift" - while good, he has no gift. But that check cleared. And they will pony up whatever $$$ going fwd so long as the "hope" is there.
disgusted with all of it.