Morning,

Let’s mourn this loss together…

• 🇺🇸 USMNT Bounced From Copa America

• ⏯️ Match Day 23 Recap

• 🟥 Atlanta United Fire Sale

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Tweet of the Week

USMNT Bounced Out of Copa America

There’s no way to sugarcoat this. It was a complete and utter failure by everyone involved. Absolutely unacceptable. It’s the first time in 20 continental and global tournaments played in our backyard that we haven’t made it out of the group stage (17 Gold Cups, 2 Copas, and 1 World Cup).

This was the biggest tournament in USMNT history outside the World Cups. In a group that was regarded as the weakest in the tournament. With players that have been dubbed the golden generation of American soccer. And we can’t even get out of the fucking group??? As Taylor Twellman famously said “WHAT ARE WE DOING?”

I don’t want to hear the excuses. “Oh the ref was terrible”, and “Their goal was offside”. None of that matters. We didn’t get the job done. It’s as simple as that. And NO it’s not entirely on Gregg Berhalter although he carries plenty of the blame. The players take responsibility too. At the end of the day, they’re the ones playing the game. And they weren’t nearly good enough. Not a single player, save for maybe Pulisic and Robinson played a great tournament. Maybe our guys aren’t as good as we think they are.

But… you can’t fire the players. And you can’t easily replace them. The head coach, on the other hand, you can. And that’s exactly what we should do. No wait… let me rephrase that — that’s exactly what we HAVE to do. We’re in the most important two-year stretch in American soccer history and are about to co-host the World Cup. To expect to do well against the World’s best with Gregg in charge is ludicrous. Just look at his record against top 30 opponents below. Outside of Mexico, we haven’t beaten anyone good (and Mexico ain’t that good anyway). A head coach is supposed to elevate the talent around him. Gregg hasn’t done that. It’s been mediocrity exemplified.

Here’s an example for ya: In the 65th minute Gregg motions to the team the score of the Panama/Bolivia game. It’s 1:1. Meaning if that score stayed, all we had to do was tie Uruguay and we’re through. In the ensuing play Uruguay scored. C’mon man! Who cares what their score is?? Just control what you can control. And don’t play for a tie. What a terrible mentality to instill in the players.

Ten years ago at the World Cup we got out of the Group of Death with Germany (who went on to win), Portugal (with prime Ronaldo), and a very solid Ghana team. All that with guys like Graham Zusi starting in the midfield. No disrespect to Zeus but he isn’t exactly Pulisic.

This golden generation of players hasn’t lived up to their potential and without a proven head coach who has won before, it’s unsure if they ever will. The nation awaits a change, will it come?

Match Day 23 Recap

WTF Just Happened in Atlanta

One of the craziest endings to a game in MLS history. In the final minute of stoppage time, Jamal Thiare snuck up from behind Toronto’s goalkeeper Luka Gavran to steal the ball as soon as he went to kick it. And Thiare immediately puts it in the back of the net to win the game on the last play. MADNESS! Atlanta finally break their 7-match home winless streak.

More LA Magic

Mateusz Bogusz scored a hat-trick for his second straight multi-goal game to give LAFC the 3-0 win over Colorado. They’re unbeaten in their last 9 and could not be in better form heading into Thursday’s El Trafico against…

The LA Galaxy have won four straight and just drubbed the Earthquakes in the Cali Clasico. They have three straight shutouts and Riqui Puig is back after missing three games due to injury.

Both teams surpassed Salt Lake at the top of the Western Conference with 40 points a piece. And now we get El Trafico on America’s birthday. MLS scriptwriters couldn’t have done a better job.

Portland Comeback

The Timbers came back from down 2-0 to beat Minnesota 3-2 in the 92nd minute. It was a storybook ending to Dairon Asprilla’s Portland career as he assisted the game winner. He’s one of four players in club history to have 200+ appearances. Portland are unbeaten in their last 7 and have shot up to 5th place in the West. They’re the only team in MLS with three players with 8+ goals (Evander, Rodriguez, and Mora).

Wild One in Vancouver

A short-handed St. Louis City side went up 2-0 early on the road only to lose 4-2 after a Brian White hat trick that included an unintentional back-heeled scorpion goal.

St. Louis are winless in their last 9 and now João Klauss will miss six weeks with an MCL sprain. The sophomore slump is real.

Atlanta United Fire Sale

Atlanta United are close to losing their three best players in a matter of weeks. Giorgos Giakoumakis left for Cruz Azul for a reported $10M transfer fee last month. Just 17 months after acquiring him from Celtic for $5.1M transfer fee, Atlanta flip him for double the price. That’s what you call… good business.

Next up is Thiago Almada. The 23-year-old Argentine was MLS’s league record signing when Atlanta purchased him for $16M from Velez Sarsfield in 2022. And now he’ll exit for a reported fee of $21M with the potential to be as high as $30M. Eagle Football Group are the suitors. He’ll head to Brazilian side Botafogo till December before going to Lyon in France.

And finally, homegrown talent Caleb Wiley. Chelsea are in advanced talks to acquire the 19 year-old left-back. Wiley has been capped twice by the USMNT and will likely feature for the U-23 squad at the Paris Olympics.

After a disappointing start to the season, Atlanta choose to burn it down and rebuild from scratch. With ~$40-$50M of incoming transfer fees to load up on new DPs in coming windows. Five Stripes fans were hoping to make a run at trophies this season but that will have to wait.

Goal of the Week

A Jordi Alba volley from 20 yards out?? Don’t mind if I do

Tweet of the Week

👏👏 

Quick Hits

• St. Louis City fire head coach Bradley Carnell (Link)

• Reigning Defender of the Year Matt Miazga will miss the rest of the season (Link)

• Rapids permanently sign forward Rafael Navarro (Link)

• St. Louis City sign Marcel Hartel as a DP (Link)

• Gio Reyna is set to leave Dortmund this summer (Link)

• Real Salt Lake selling Fidel Barajas to Chivas for club-record $4M fee (Link)

Hopefully next time we chat the US are in the midst of a search for a new manager. Until then, enjoy your 4th of July Weekend!