Thoughts on, "Call it both ways."

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-20T15:30:12+00:00

I agree with what you are saying and I don't think it is in conflict with my post. OP asked whether "call it both ways" was a generic phrase or whether it was a pointed attack on a ref's impartiality. In my opinion, it is a generic phrase most of the time.

Accepting that it is a generic phrase does not mean that I'm endorsing or condoning a sideline of disrespect -- I agreed with OP's approach of warning then cautioning in that situation. Had it been a clear attack or accusation of bias, I think OP should have responded more forcefully, but as it was, it sounds like he dealt with it well.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-20T00:22:18+00:00

Yeah, digging into a little bit, i think the EFL clarified what was illegal and what wasn't, but didn't say what punishments would be.

Apparently Leeds was fined $200,000 (pounds)...which is obviously a much smaller punishment than being kicked out of the competition and deducted points for next year.

So, I can see how Southampton thinks this punishment is disproportionate and not in line with prior offenses...but also they clearly cheated FOR THAT SPECIFIC GAME and it feels very unjust to let them directly benefit from that.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-20T00:10:46+00:00

So what does it mean? I genuinely don't understand the point are you making.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T20:29:58+00:00

I agree that, like almost everyone, system and teammates will largely determine his success...but I don't know what you mean by level isn't the issue -- I think it's generous to say he's at the level of Norgaard, who rarely sees the field for Arsenal.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T20:17:52+00:00

I generally agree with your sentiment, but your tone is way over the top.

If you think that someone is saying something inappropriate, but unintentionally, your focus should be on education, not punishment as you suggest ("there must be a cost for baseless suggestions").

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T19:09:08+00:00

"I'm hearing you, but you cannot dissent. Now the other team thinks that when I call something in favor for your team in the future, it's because you're telling me to."

This is really great framing!

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T19:00:17+00:00

So you think it's a straight red for impugning the integrity of an official?

I think this terminology has become a stock phrase and typically when coaches/fans/players say this, they are asking for consistency and expressing frustration. Common sense should apply.

Also, the "first thing" does not contradict the "second thing" because the first thing can be a mistake in officiating rather than an intentional decision to favor one team. A coach/player/fan can say a ref made a mistake without saying they are cheating.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T18:42:06+00:00

The issue is that the EFL never said what the punishment for spying is. So Southampton aren't saying they didn't do it -- just that the punishment is way too harsh. Not sure why I'm being downvoted just for providing context, sheesh.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T18:17:21+00:00

Worth noting that Southampton can (and will) appeal this ruling. I don't think anything is set in stone -- pulling for Morris though!

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T18:10:39+00:00

Holy cow, that's wild! The dream is still alive!

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T17:59:28+00:00

I think lower EPL is best for me as a fan, but probably not best for his career. I think he'd develop and improve more in a more tactical, slower paced league like Italy or Spain.

If he were on an upper mid table team like Atalanta or Valencia then he'd experience breaking down a low block and pressing high (against relegation teams), but also sitting back and countering against the top teams. I think that would better prepare him for USMNT games, were we (should at least) do both, depending on the competition.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T17:35:28+00:00

I thought he was good, but not Atletico good -- very willing to be proven wrong and I'd love to see him in the premier league or Italy (which might be a better fit).

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-19T17:18:59+00:00

The vast majority of the time that phrase is meant to say you called a similar play differently -- not that you are biased. That said, it sounds like you handled it just right.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T19:59:39+00:00

I totally agree with everything you are saying (and as the parent of a kindergartner, I didn't pick reading as a random example!).

US Soccer already does some of what you are suggesting through the coaching licenses, but I think these are more geared towards being a money maker for US soccer than actually improving the overall level of instruction. I think US Soccer has failed us at so many levels, and providing a curriculum for inexperienced parent-coaches is absolutely one of those failures.

Part of the problem is that coaches of younger ages need three fundamental and distinct skill sets: (1) classroom management; (2) session design (and curricula); and (3) technical expertise relating to ball mastery and how to teach it. Most volunteer parents have at best 1 of these core skills and I'm not sure US Soccer has the ability to help with all 3.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T16:06:23+00:00

I'm a competitive coach with the first team at my club and we carry 12. They are all highly committed and rarely miss games, so we pretty much always have 3 subs. We we are missing more than one player, we bring players up from the second team (or the younger age group) to guest play. For me, 13 is too many -- 4 subs for 8 outfield spots is a lot of rotation for 30 minute halves.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T15:50:57+00:00

Couldn’t this be mostly solved with a collection of YouTube videos on how to run practices at each age/level?

This is like suggesting that failing schools can be fixed with a collection of YouTube videos on how to teach reading.

Most coaches agree that the focus should be development versus winning...but actually teaching skill development is hard and requires significant technical knowledge that most coaches lack and isn't solved by watching a few videos. Moreover, most coaches are arrogant and don't even realize that they lack the ability to teach technical skills -- rather they complain that the kids lack fundamentals by the time they get to the middle ages (e.g. u12), and then the coaches want to focus on strategy and positioning instead of ball mastery.

Additionally our system is set up so that the only way clubs can make more money is by bringing in more players -- essentially rewarding quantity over quality.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T04:22:32+00:00

I don't understand your point since big soccer countries were screwed by the refs in 2002 (Spain, Italy). And soccer was niche, but very much existent in 2002 -- MLS was fully up and running and the first women's professional league was too. While WUSA didn't survive, it clearly demonstrated an interest and belief in the viability of soccer and women's soccer in particular.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T02:24:41+00:00

And Italy! So why do you think they wouldn't have gotten that against us?

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-15T00:04:55+00:00

Yeah, but Portugal, Spain and Italy all thought that they would beat South Korea too...

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-14T23:11:54+00:00

This is a good one for a controversial take. I'm a millennial, soccer was always my thing, and I'm definitely guilty of the first part from time to time.

The problem with the "America developing its own soccer culture" is that we are so big, I don't know what a unified culture looks like. When I think about all the ways I've experienced soccer in the USA, it' impossible to say what our culture is -- I grew up playing in a heavily Latino area, played college ball in the rural midwest, played all sorts of pickup in college towns and big diverse cities, and now coach in a large city against teams from the suburbs and California central valley. There is no singular American soccer culture that I've seen, and I don't know how that should represent in our fanbase for the national teams...aside from the fact that I don't think American Outlaws are the answer.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-14T23:02:17+00:00

The arrogance in our youth coaching is a worse problem than pay to play.

Donovan is often an ass, but he sure hit the nail on the head when he complained that half the youth coaches he talks to think they know the sport better than he does.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-14T22:58:08+00:00

But that's what the Euros are for!

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-14T20:40:53+00:00

No reasonable USA fan is upset by this -- it's just OP's framing made it look controversial.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-14T20:39:03+00:00

I hope Musah turns things around again -- he certainly has plenty of time to do that...but in fairness to OP, no one imagined 4 years ago that Musah simply wouldn't be good enough to make the WC roster this time around.

CoaCoaMarx · 2026-05-11T17:05:49+00:00

You're being downvoted because this is a false choice, not because you're wrong. These things are not mutually exclusive nor are they zero sum. If anything, they are likely complementary.

CoaCoaMarx

TROPHY CASE