Given the team’s lackluster performance in international soccer matches over the past two years, it’s almost certainly time for U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter to be fired.
But I can’t shake two things: 1) His firing is being treated as a given, so much so that this list of potential replacements has been popping up even before he leaves, and 2) The primary reason for the US’ recent international failure, including their group stage exit from the Copa America, was Tim Weah’s foolish decision to punch a Panamanian player in the head and be ejected from the game in a game that was highly likely to put the US in the knockout stages.
Perhaps the U.S. would still lose to Panama or exit early in the knockout stages, leading to calls for Berhalter’s firing anyway, but no amount of tactical brilliance or other preparation can match the impact of Weah’s actions.
In the aftermath, my mind started spinning and I came to this thought: It’s getting harder to coach and manage a high-level team, given the increasing power (and often wealth) of the players and the near-zero patience of the team’s supporters. There’s a lot of blame and very little glory.
When the Twins struggle, as they have done several times this season, the blame is immediately placed on Rocco Baldelli in the eyes of many fans. As Patrick Rousset and I discussed on Monday’s Daily Delivery podcast, the Twins have been extremely consistent over the past five weeks, cementing them in the top third of the American League, and the reason for their success is their players.
Some Timberwolves fans in recent years have wanted Chris Finch fired due to various complaints (mostly about rotation choices, which are admittedly questionable at times), but 56 wins and a trip to the conference finals may have changed some of their minds. Or are the Timberwolves simply getting better with talent and magic?
At least Finch isn’t the coach of the Bucks or Lakers or any other organization where the players are in charge (and destroying promising teams).
This isn’t to say that there aren’t bad or mediocre coaches who have a huge impact on success or failure, but let’s acknowledge that coaches shouldn’t be held accountable for all the blame when things go wrong, and shouldn’t they be given some credit when things go right?
There are four more things you need to know today.
*Ruse and I also spoke about the tragic death of Vikings receiver Kyrie Jackson, and we’d like to bring you an update on the accident that took the lives of Jackson and two of his high school teammates.
*And Reusse wants to see more of the Timberwolves’ young players next season. He recently wrote about one of them, Jalen Clark.
*The Twins only have one All-Star, Carlos Correa. Were they ignored, or is this evidence that there are a lot of useful players but few great ones?
*Star Tribune Wolves reporter Chris Hein will join us from Las Vegas on Tuesday’s podcast.
