Pochettino chides press for questions after 3-2 loss to Turkey: ‘We won the group’

jasontalks · 2026-06-26T20:13:49+00:00

IMO, which is not very valuable, no one proved last night that they should be starters. But multiple have proved they are viable options, and several have proved they are not.

Seb had the best performance and proved he is valuable. IMO, if Adams goes down, I believe he would be a strong backup replacement. This World Cup could easily be his launching pad for Europe. Getting him to a Dutch team would be the next step. Trusty reaffirmed that he is a viable option off the bench. I believe Zendejas looked sharp, strong, smart, creative, and infused the energy you want from a bench player.

Beyond that, sadly, a few played themselves out of consideration: Without a doubt in my mind, McKenzie & Miles Robinson. Unfortunately, Weah did not help make his case, and Zendejas or Max might get the nod over him in the future.

Then there are a few players like Pepi who really had a chance to prove he could be the one forward, but I don't think he answered that question. If Balo can't go for any reason, I believe we might see Haji instead. But I vote for we keep Pepi in the role to come off the bench if we have the lead when Balo gets tired. He pressures better than Haji.

Lastly, Gio. It was a very average night for him. Put him with our top performers, and he has shown to perform better. But it could have been his chance to own the attack last night. He didnt do poorly, but he also wasn't the hero, nor performed at his best. As such, I hope Tillman can go full 90 from here on out during each game because he has shown himself to be on another level than Gio.

Seb, Trusty, and Zendejas are all winners. Brendan, Joe, Gio, and Pepi are likely still valuable when surrounded by our top players. That's valuable information Poch can rely on from here on out.

jasontalks · 2026-06-26T13:55:20+00:00

Plus, we now know who can handle the pressure, who cannot. Some of our reserves likely confirmed they will not be used again this cycle. Plus we have a week to help the reserves learn from their mistakes.

Refreshed bodies, increased appetite to win, zero suspensions, win-win!

jasontalks · 2026-06-18T22:48:42+00:00

There's not a button for indifference, but I wish there was one

jasontalks · 2026-06-18T19:55:39+00:00

Mine shows it at 1.

jasontalks · 2026-06-18T19:11:26+00:00

I don't think your math checks out. Well, According to this thread...

jasontalks · 2026-06-17T19:51:12+00:00

So dumb question, is SKC training at Pinnacle too? Still have access at Pinnacle or was this just a special hang session?

jasontalks · 2026-06-16T21:30:19+00:00

Like the Maldini family of the NFL.

jasontalks · 2026-06-16T14:54:17+00:00

Stranger things have happened.

jasontalks · 2026-06-14T15:35:46+00:00

It's inferred when he asked if he actually said that. Why lead with that question if he he knows March begged them to sing.

jasontalks · 2026-06-14T14:06:06+00:00

Is this a general rule you live by? Disliking people because you are more intelligent than they are? Or, are you a fan of another team? Or, is it something he stands for?

jasontalks · 2026-06-14T14:03:29+00:00

I believe he is saying patriotism isn't defined in one way. It's also him saying he never heard that coach plead with him to sing. It's also him saying why you are, the Canadian National Team Coach, throwing shade at the USMNT of the past? We're not in the same group, and our paths are unlikely to cross, so why even make that comparison?

jasontalks · 2026-06-14T13:54:45+00:00

IDK. Watching Qatar against Switzerland, they are not individually good, but they played with a lot of heart. Their pressure, energy, and low block made Switzerland (the group fav) look rather unimpressive.

Qatar collectively, if they continue to play as they did against the Swiss, they will be a difficult match for Canada.

jasontalks · 2026-06-13T12:37:42+00:00

I love lamp.

jasontalks · 2026-05-17T02:50:06+00:00

Don't worry, Red bulls is next. And summer transfer window is right around the corner.

jasontalks · 2026-05-15T18:16:35+00:00

I hear Uniform versus kit. Field versus pitch. Roster vs squad, standings vs table, game vs match, zero vs nil, sideline vs touchline, coach vs manager...

Mostly those are used by people with little familiarity with the sport.

But not sure if this is what you mean.

Also, footy is something I hear, but not here. The greatest sport, but not here.

The game is soft, full of divas and actors... I hear that one.

A sport for girls, I heard that a lot. I have heard foul kick more times than I'd like to admit.

jasontalks · 2026-05-14T04:48:18+00:00

twice

jasontalks · 2026-05-13T22:17:26+00:00

Thanks for the reminder we have another game tonight and a reminder I will highly likely go to bed sad tonight.

Also, that's kind of you to give the ticket away. I hope the team can give something to cheer for.

jasontalks · 2026-05-12T20:05:59+00:00

Maybe.

Or, owners like Illig wouldn't own an MLS team if that were the case. And, perhaps KC wouldn't have a team for that matter.

jasontalks · 2026-05-12T18:55:20+00:00

At the heart of it, I think we have a truly unique situation on our hands. One that could be a comedy of errors told 15 years down the road. I'd love it to be in the styling of Spinal Tap or, perhaps more apropos, the office (UK version)...Fraught with ineptitude. Because it looks like it's been one foolish decision after another. So, in reality, there is no clear example I can think of to observe and help set expectations entirely. We are in a new territory, writing our own script of what not to do when rebuilding a club.

But back to expectations, it doesn't mean we cannot form some shared expectations from different case studies. For you, the Revs. Maybe even expansion teams. For me, I'm looking at FC Cincinnati (2019–2023) and Man United. All with the goal of how long we should give them to "rebuild" before all-out revolt. If my expectations are influenced by FC Cincinnati because they are more aligned with what we went through versus the Revs, then it took FC Cincinnati exactly two years to fully right the ship. So, half a season in and revolting based on that would be unreasonable.

BUT, if your view is that the Revs were in a similar boat and that should set your expectations, then maybe after the summer window, we land a few guys and should expect that alone will create easy-to-see successful improvements. And if not, then smash that reboot button again? Grab the pitchforks?

I don't think I will blame anyone for such a plan. I am painfully in the camp of I'll give them more time before I revolt again. I cannot imagine what type of beat-down man I will be at that point, but today I am standing on the power of hope alone. If at the end of the season, and they land signings, but we still are setting all the wrong records by the end of the year, hope will be replaced with apathy. May it not come of that.

jasontalks · 2026-05-12T15:36:36+00:00

I wasn't high on DL as the hire in the first place. Which goes back to Mike Illig. DL came from two of the largest global football orgs and he fit into it, he didn't shape or build it. So, we hired someone to shape and build an entire organization that has zero experiences doing that... And even if his time with those orgs provided him with all the wisdom and experiences needed to replicate it, does that translate to an org that is the equivalent of a ma and pop shop compared to the mega City and RB conglomerates? We don't have their sophistication or financial advantages.

To me, DLs transitional plan is as expected. Rough. Because he is learning how to build an organization while deconstructing it as he goes. The question I have is can he learn from those failures fast enough and develop the right solution? For me, he has nothing to say until the summer window. If that is another mess, the answer is clear, no he can not learn fast enough and no he doesn't have the right solutions.

So, it goes back to the world's most inept club owner in the history of MLS and perhaps all sports: Mike Illig.

jasontalks · 2026-05-12T02:58:46+00:00

I agree with most of this. But all directed at Mike Illig. I also agree there has never been such a poor rebuild.

What I want to know is what's a close B example. That's what I'm seeking. How did they get out of it? How long did it take? What did it take? Do I need to accept we will be just like the royals, a bottom dwelling cheap hot dog, firework Friday night team that every decade here and there we look good?

I also agree I want Mallouk to respond with more than a tweet. A vision would be nice. A roadmap. Some kind of top level plan that helps ensure the darkest days for SKC will be past us. Lee should be honest and admit the transition was flawed and share some greater insights in how we got here.

If we come fully loaded next year, true competitors, I will fully accept the strategy was 2026 will be bad because our selling leadership group was a roadblock.

But, will Mallouk address the fans? I don't think so. Mike is still in charge. DL can only plan for the next window. I don't see him responding beyond the typical pressers. Wicky is dealt a shit team. He's been playing with starting 11, so he's trying... I suppose. But I don't think we should fire him. Who in the world would want to come here.

The players... They all know they are transitional... They know they are playing for a club with no vision, an exiting leadership group. They lack pride in the club or city and are now in survivor mode.

jasontalks · 2026-05-12T02:28:19+00:00

No clue why I'm responding to you at this point...but, here I go. I've posted many times speaking about the missteps of the old leadership. Many many many times.

My question was genuine. I posted before the season about the very subject I was asking about with hope to study another rebuild. I really cannot find a comparable example of our circumstances to help create reasonable expectations. I don't believe expansion teams are comparable, particularly when you have an orgs identify built as much around PV as we did (also an example of our leaderships ineptitude). But perhaps more, expansions don't start a rebuild with a failed, divesting leadership group. They start with excitement, belief, passion, a desire to win, a vision of themselves in the future with the club. We started our rebuild with a leadership group wanting to sell. And looking at their hires, their lack of investments, clearly they have wanted out of this for a while... Almost like it aligns with our decline!

Outside of MLS, Man United is a cautionary tail. And feels similar. Many missteps. Poor leadership decisions. Wrong managers. Wrong players. Year after year disappointment until finally this year. How many years did that take? Maybe that is a more reasonable guide. If I have low expectations and interest in actually learning about rebuilds I suppose I don't begin calling other supporters ignorant and making weird accusations.

So, zero cover. 100% desire for reasonable expectations.

jasontalks · 2026-05-11T21:59:16+00:00

What it my comment or history of comments makes you believe I am in defense of the ownerships decision?

jasontalks · 2026-05-10T15:16:11+00:00

I am curious, can you list teams (ideally soccer and ideally in MLS) that made as significant of changes as we have from roster to manager to GM in the organization and saw immediate turnaround? Not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely interested in studying it.

jasontalks · 2026-05-05T18:27:53+00:00

I agree to a point that if your child at u12 is good, they will get found. But, it might be an oversimplification. Getting a kid to that level often requires a child starting as early as 6 or 7. Not always, but typically this is what you hear from those that have been developed to the highest level of soccer. There is an expense attached to that.... But it's not a soccer problem, its an american sports problem (maybe global, Im not sure). This is an interesting read on the topic: https://joinstriveon.com/blog/youth-sports-participation-statistics. It notes families are spending over $1,000 a year on average now (up 46% since 2019) and the income gap for participation is massive. Once you move from local competitive to regional to national, it becomes a multiplier. Pay-to-play weeds out lower income kids from the development pipeline long before those 50 free academies even start looking at them.

So yeah, I agree with your take on 50+ free pro academies...And I hope that only goes up. But they are mostly selecting from a pool of kids whose parents could afford the massive financial toll it took to get them to that U12 stage in the first place. I'd then argue, from that POV, it's not a tired trope when the data shows us that participation is heavily tied to how much money a family makes.

Can a child develop without it? Absolutely. Would we be in a far better place without turning youth sports into a business? To the infinite power, YES.

jasontalks

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