Scholarship table
Hate to spoil your narrative boys, but ...Gio Reyna releases a statement on his Instagram:"I fully acknowledge that I let my emotions get the best of me & affect my training & behavior for a few days after learning about my limited role. I apologized to my teammates and coach for this, and I was told I was forgiven."https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1602371139900260365
I just read the full quote. Gio looks 1000x better than locker room ruiner, leadership savant ggg.
Overall I thought ggg did an ok job in this cycle. Qualifying did not go smoothly and the “system” fell way short. He did a great job improving team morale after klinsman, did a great job recruiting dual nationals. After that, the play on the field was mediocre, his team selections left a lot to be desired and his tactical acumen was low. In the WC specifically, I thought he set his teams up well tactically and played great first halves each game, but substitutions were mistimed, tactically incorrect and no creativity going forward (gio ?).
Hate to spoil your narrative boys, but ...Gio Reyna releases a statement on his Instagram:"I fully acknowledge that I let my emotions get the best of me & affect my training & behavior for a few days after learning about my limited role. I apologized to my teammates and coach for this, and I was told I was forgiven."https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1602371139900260365Now, before anyone says it:1. It's completely fair to criticize Berhalter for his handling of Reyna's playing time2. It's completely fair to criticize Berhalter/USMNT for this story leaking outBut it's really, really silly to suggest this was all made up ... and now we know it wasn't.
2. How should a coach handle a player who's loafing and pouting over playing time?
Internally.
Who suggested it was "all made up"? I missed that post so could you link it?
That was an exaggeration on my part. Apologies. Instead, there were remarks about the reports about his lack of effort not being believable.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/zkap8e/jimmy_conrad_on_in_soccer_we_trust_i_heard_the/
...Which again highlights this schism that US Soccer has to deal with. The future of the US team as a potential power is in guys like Pulisic, McKinnie, Reyna, Musah, Weah, Dest…guys that never played a minute in MLS. And guys like Adams, Aaronsen, Richards, Scally, Pepi, and Slonina who left MLS before they could legally drink. There will always be MLS based support players for some international windows and whatnot, but having lesser players getting those spots because of the MLS loyalty of manager and federation creates a schism. ...
My recollection may be off, but I believe the 2018 Swedish team that made the quarter finals had ZERO players playing in its national league.Regardless, I think these issues are somewhat unique to the US due to provincial thinking and the cozy relationship between MLS and USSF. Klinnsman ran up against this when he was openly encouraging players to head to Europe. Even if you have to go the Daryl Dike route and play in the English Championship. That's a lot better than MLS and is an absolutely grueling schedule with 46 league games and two cup competitions so you will get plenty of opportunity.I also think MLS is at the point where it really doesn't NEED the stars to drive as much viewership any longer.
https://twitter.com/bvbbuzz/status/1602656525465550849?s=46&t=poTw4dRqgVD3qOWvl_qgRgThe lengths the mls/ussf backed media will go to smear one of our top players and defend their prized coaching asset is remarkable.
Not saying this isn't accurate, but you have to take what this guy is saying with a grain of salt right? What is he supposed to say especially since he has no idea what actually happened.
“This guy” being the sporting director of dortmund saying they’ve never had any issues with gio at the club level should be taken w a grain of salt ?
I mean, Reyna admitted he behaved poorly, right? He admitted his behavior was such that he had to apologize to his teammates.I'm not sure why it's so hard to imagine that a 20-year-old who hadn't created problems previously in one circumstance reacted poorly to disappointing news in a completely different circumstance.Especially, you know, when that 20-year-old admits he behaved poorly.
Look, the whole situation is unfortunate and the coach should have handled it better. But its obvious SOMETHING happened...otherwise why would Gio apologize? To say that they are intentionally "smearing" one of their top players is a little hyperbolic.
I don't think anyone here is arguing that Berhalter isn't very much in the wrong for letting this get public, and that's a poor reflection on him.But that doesn't change the fact that Reyna's behavior was a serious issue - by his own admission, even. And all the posts about his reputation at Dortmund or gripes about Berhalter, MLS and the USSF, doesn't change that.It's OK for there not to be a good guy vs bad guy narrative to this. It seems almost as if some want to make Reyna a martyr here - or at least excuse/ignore his role in this mess - just because he's on the opposite side of Berhalter. In reality, there's plenty of reason to believe they both acted poorly.