Maybe, just maybe, it won't be Berhalter
The USSF might be doing the right thing for the wrong reason
Christian Pulisic’s disappointing interview with ESPN last week—an interview that often felt like an infomercial advertisement for Gregg Berhalter—gave me that sinking feeling that the fix was in to bring Berhalter back as head coach despite his many, many weaknesses.
Pulisic is our best player right now (alongside Tim Ream), but this interview was strange. Pulisic sang Gregg’s praises for nearly fifteen minutes, implying he was a wise leader and a good man manager, without mentioning an iota of criticism. It wasn’t long ago that Pulisic specifically called out the coach’s tactics in the awful qualifying loss to Canada in the frigid cold. But no mention of that now. Only repeated implications that he would hire Berhalter if it were up to him.
But from this announcement and comments from the two people who run the USSF—JT Batson and Cindy Cone—it appears the federation is aiming higher in their search for the next coach. Hallelujah.
Perhaps at the end of the day, Cone knows she cannot bring back a man with a history of domestic violence. Even if that violence was decades ago, we now know it wasn’t one single violent blow but that Gregg threw Rosalind to the floor in a bar and kicked her several times. As distasteful as it was for the Reynas to bring it up all these years later, it might be the thing that prevents the federation from bringing Gregg back as the figurehead and leader of the USMNT program.
I suspect that there is a dispute inside the USSF. I don’t have evidence or inside sources for this suspicion, but my strong hunch is that those with MLS connections want Berhalter back. His brother Jay is an MLS VP, and Gregg always seemed happy to feature MLS players on the field a bit more than truly merited. The national team can be utilized as a powerful showcase in the league’s efforts to sell its players overseas for hefty profits. Featuring only the Pulisics, Reynas, and Reams of the world might give us the best chance to win, but it doesn’t help MLS make money.
In Over His Head
On the other hand, those with no hand in MLS coffers probably see what the fan base largely sees: Berhalter was in over his head tactically at the World Cup. He made poor substitutions and ineffective (or nonexistent) adjustments late in games. The starting lineups were usually strong and well-constructed, but Gregg was outcoached in all four matches after kickoff. The ties against England and Wales both could have been—and probably should have been—wins with smarter second-half management. The only game that we won was against the clearly inferior Iranian side, and Berhalter in that match also made poor second half adjustments and painfully late substitutions, and we barely held on for the 1-0 win.
We were badly outcoached in the knockout round match against the Netherlands.
This isn’t to say our Qatar World Cup was a failure. On the contrary, we accomplished exactly what can and should be expected of a nation that is in the world’s top 20 but not in the world’s top 10. We got into the knockout round and then lost. Despite Pulisic’s pride, it was neither an over-achievement nor an under-achievement. We accomplished the minimum of what we should have.
In his interview praising Berhalter, Pulisic recounts the World Cup as if it was a resounding and unmitigated success, an unparalleled series of victories for the program. Winning one game of four and achieving slightly less than we did in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups (where we reached overtime in the Round of 16 before losing) was a groundbreaking achievement in Pulisic’s mind. That’s fine. He’s entitled to that way of looking at it. It was a wonderful thing to return to the biggest stage after missing out on Russia 2018. But I disagree with calling our results or our style of play a tremendous success. We have the talent to be better; we should be aiming higher. I also disagree with Pulisic’s unusual suggestions that we don’t need new players in the team and that we just have to keep going as we are. We do need to get better, and we have many upcoming new young players who can help. During qualifying, under Berhalter, we almost never won away from home. We only qualified for Qatar in third place, behind Canada and Mexico, barely beating out Costa Rica on goal differential.
One interpretation of Pulisic’s interview is that he wants to preserve his role as the leader of the team. He’s the top dog—undoubtedly and deservedly—at this point. But as he’s seen repeatedly at Chelsea, a new incoming coach can make substantial changes to the leadership of the team and the roles of individual players. He probably doesn’t want to relive that frustration at the national team.
Another interpretation of Pulisic’s interview is that he simply wants to stay on good terms with Berhalter as he knows Gregg is on the way out. This is what I hope is the case.
Right Thing for the Wrong Reason?
Whatever the case with Pulisic’s oddly timed encomium, we should move on from Gregg Berhalter, but not because of distant memories or disturbing scenes from his college days. Clearly he and Rosalind have worked that out over the years, they have gone on to marry and raise a family, and the issue should remain a private matter between them.
We should move on from Berhalter because he’s not a good enough tactician or man manager at the international level. Perhaps he will be some day. Today, we need to find someone better, and soon. There are plenty of good candidates around the world with significant international experience.
Yet to me it seems the only thing keeping the USSF from rehiring Berhalter are these stories from his distant past. This seems to be what is dividing the people in charge in the federation. Entrenched interests seek Berhalter’s return. Either Cone or Batson or maybe both likely know that a Berhalter return would damage the USSF brand.
To me, so be it.
Danielle and Claudio Reyna’s actions in bringing out this story were ugly, irresponsible, and unprofessional. I wish it had never come to this.
And yet those actions might now have the desired effect nonetheless—an effect that ultimately serves the higher goals of the program.
We might be doing the right thing for the wrong reason. It’s still the right thing to do.
We should promptly hire someone with success at the highest international level. We should move on from Berhalter.
Tony, how about a few of your recommended candidates that the USSF should be interviewing, or at least approaching.....
Also, what do you think about StLCity? Are they for real? If so, I wonder why virtually no one in the MLS "inner circle" (execs and press), with the possible exception of our homeboy Twellman, saw it coming.......your thoughts.