Are we looking at another USWNT-Canada showdown in the CONCACAF final? (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
It’s another big soccer weekend ahead with the CONCACAF W semis and final, Euro 2022 and a full slate of MLS and NWSL games.But first we’ll have our Friday Newsletter. Feel free below to ask your probing, thoughtful and/or amusing questions about any soccer topic, and I’ll answer the best ones tomorrow. Thank you!
Regarding Gareth Bales move to MLS: does increased familiarity with each other favor him (the attacker) in the World Cup, or the US defenders he will face there?
What are the prospects for some of our walking wounded to be available for WC? Specifically: Catarina; Sam Mewis; Davidson; Julie Ertz, Dunn. dahlkemper, Press?
The appointment of Wayne Rooney to manage DC United is entertaining but it is hard to believe that it is going to solve the club's problems. Does the dysfunction all trace back to the ownership? Dave Kasper? What can save our team?
Do you foresee someone like Atlanta United adding a women’s team with same name/brand like some of the Mexican and European clubs? Seems like the time is right.
Do you think the USWNT looks anything like a World Cup winning squad? Because I sure don't... Their inability to complete simple passes without mis-weighting them is scary.
Grant for us Canadians trying to follow our association’s foibles in sorting out a working relationship and communicating with players and marketing arm Canada soccer business it might be opportune to looks back to US soccer’s creation of SUM, how it went down, it’s detractors and current status. Now that the trough is flowing with cash up here and sponsors are lining up for this team, players are learning that the windfall is neither to them or the association but rather to CSB who signed the deal to create and grow the CPL in exchange for full rights to monies incoming for potentially 20 years!
Thoughts on Ernst Tanner saying Bale’s LAFC contract is literally unbelievable? Miami’s shenanigans were cheating, but it seems worse that with Bale MLS itself may be complicit in creating a tilted competitive playing field.
Was there any more to the Mia Fishel interview than what we heard on your podcast? I’m particularly interested in her stated goal of being the best player in the world, juxtaposed with her decision to play in Mexico and then her stated desire to play in Europe. What are her views then on NWSL as a league? The LA Times article months ago said she could earn more in Mexico than Orlando, so was it actually then just about the money? Amanda Cromwell, Fishel’s college coach, became the Orlando Pride Coach and then Fishel turned down the Pride, and then months later Cromwell is suspended, coincidence or is there a lot more to that decision about not joining Orlando? I think a lot is still there on Mia Fishel and I would love to know more.
Where do you think MLS Next Pro is going? Is it going to really grow beyond the 30 MLS teams (I know Rochester is in)? Is this a play by MLS to get more investors with a new "product" to sell?
I read in Soccer America that this World Cup will have 3 million tickets, but 1 million of those will go to FIFA and its sponsors. A full third! Should we expect the same thing for 2026?
A lot of times games are promoted as star forwards facing off each other, e.g. Vela vs. Chicharito in El Trafico. And I'm looking forward to Messi v. Lewandowski in the World Cup. But forwards don't really face each other. Who are some good defender v. forward pairings we should be looking forward to in the group stage and maybe the Round of 16?
When the US teams, both men’s and women’s, take the field, what do you view as their style of play and how they plan to win games? How has this changed over the years you have covered both?
Do we really need all these over 30 folks on the USWNT roster on the field at the same time? What's so terribly wrong with playing the kids and letting them figure it out? I remain unconvinced all this "experience" and "veteran leadership" is taking us anywhere but back to Tokyo and another third place finish. I still weep for the minutes stolen from Macario during the Olympics and now injury. 😢
Is it time get concerned about the discrepancy between USWNT offensive talent and their lack of attacking ideas under Vlatko? He got a pass after the Olympics due to covid and the team's age (although he did pick the roster), but the numerous aimless crosses during the CONCACAF tournament are worrying.
If the USWNT fails to win the W Championship (and therefore must wait until autumn to reattempt to secure a bid to Paris 2024), do you think Andonovski's job is in danger?
Hooray for Megan Rapinoe! If the president's staff asked you to suggest a male soccer figure for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, who would you pick? The medal is for "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors." The recipient doesn't have to be a citizen. Alan Rothenberg? Landon Donovan? Tony DiCicco? Alexi Lalas? That dude who ran for FIFA president 10 years ago?
Do you believe Vlatko really has a style of play for the USWNT? They don't seem organized on defense and they don't seem connected in attack. Or do you think the team chemistry is a mess and he can't fight his way thru it?
Regarding Gareth Bales move to MLS: does increased familiarity with each other favor him (the attacker) in the World Cup, or the US defenders he will face there?
What are the prospects for some of our walking wounded to be available for WC? Specifically: Catarina; Sam Mewis; Davidson; Julie Ertz, Dunn. dahlkemper, Press?
The appointment of Wayne Rooney to manage DC United is entertaining but it is hard to believe that it is going to solve the club's problems. Does the dysfunction all trace back to the ownership? Dave Kasper? What can save our team?
Do you foresee someone like Atlanta United adding a women’s team with same name/brand like some of the Mexican and European clubs? Seems like the time is right.
Do you think the USWNT looks anything like a World Cup winning squad? Because I sure don't... Their inability to complete simple passes without mis-weighting them is scary.
Grant for us Canadians trying to follow our association’s foibles in sorting out a working relationship and communicating with players and marketing arm Canada soccer business it might be opportune to looks back to US soccer’s creation of SUM, how it went down, it’s detractors and current status. Now that the trough is flowing with cash up here and sponsors are lining up for this team, players are learning that the windfall is neither to them or the association but rather to CSB who signed the deal to create and grow the CPL in exchange for full rights to monies incoming for potentially 20 years!
Thoughts on Ernst Tanner saying Bale’s LAFC contract is literally unbelievable? Miami’s shenanigans were cheating, but it seems worse that with Bale MLS itself may be complicit in creating a tilted competitive playing field.
Was there any more to the Mia Fishel interview than what we heard on your podcast? I’m particularly interested in her stated goal of being the best player in the world, juxtaposed with her decision to play in Mexico and then her stated desire to play in Europe. What are her views then on NWSL as a league? The LA Times article months ago said she could earn more in Mexico than Orlando, so was it actually then just about the money? Amanda Cromwell, Fishel’s college coach, became the Orlando Pride Coach and then Fishel turned down the Pride, and then months later Cromwell is suspended, coincidence or is there a lot more to that decision about not joining Orlando? I think a lot is still there on Mia Fishel and I would love to know more.
What’s the latest on FIFA possibly still having 4-team groups in 2026? How might progression work with 12 groups of 4?
Where do you think MLS Next Pro is going? Is it going to really grow beyond the 30 MLS teams (I know Rochester is in)? Is this a play by MLS to get more investors with a new "product" to sell?
Who are some current American players (men or women) you could see being successful managers in a decade or two?
I read in Soccer America that this World Cup will have 3 million tickets, but 1 million of those will go to FIFA and its sponsors. A full third! Should we expect the same thing for 2026?
A lot of times games are promoted as star forwards facing off each other, e.g. Vela vs. Chicharito in El Trafico. And I'm looking forward to Messi v. Lewandowski in the World Cup. But forwards don't really face each other. Who are some good defender v. forward pairings we should be looking forward to in the group stage and maybe the Round of 16?
Who would be the best coach for Quakes? Wynalda? Landon? Covelo? Ian Russell?
When the US teams, both men’s and women’s, take the field, what do you view as their style of play and how they plan to win games? How has this changed over the years you have covered both?
Do we really need all these over 30 folks on the USWNT roster on the field at the same time? What's so terribly wrong with playing the kids and letting them figure it out? I remain unconvinced all this "experience" and "veteran leadership" is taking us anywhere but back to Tokyo and another third place finish. I still weep for the minutes stolen from Macario during the Olympics and now injury. 😢
Is it time get concerned about the discrepancy between USWNT offensive talent and their lack of attacking ideas under Vlatko? He got a pass after the Olympics due to covid and the team's age (although he did pick the roster), but the numerous aimless crosses during the CONCACAF tournament are worrying.
If the USWNT fails to win the W Championship (and therefore must wait until autumn to reattempt to secure a bid to Paris 2024), do you think Andonovski's job is in danger?
Hooray for Megan Rapinoe! If the president's staff asked you to suggest a male soccer figure for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, who would you pick? The medal is for "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors." The recipient doesn't have to be a citizen. Alan Rothenberg? Landon Donovan? Tony DiCicco? Alexi Lalas? That dude who ran for FIFA president 10 years ago?
Do you believe Vlatko really has a style of play for the USWNT? They don't seem organized on defense and they don't seem connected in attack. Or do you think the team chemistry is a mess and he can't fight his way thru it?