ROG ON POCHETTINO AND THE USMNT 🇺🇸🧵

Rejoice, America! What a day this is for all who love the sport of soccer and its growth here in the United States. Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino, 52, is going to be the new manager of our US men's national team. (1/9) Who is he? Simply put, a really good human being. At his best, when set up to succeed, a charismatic coaching mind, a man-motivating master craftsman with a black belt in empathy who builds his projects around passion; and the single most-accomplished and globally respected club coach US Soccer has ever hired. In his playing days, he was a long-haired center-back, a bloke annoyingly impossible to win a header against. As a coach at his peak, he took a young Tottenham squad and in an almost alchemic way turned them into a team that believed they were Premier League contenders and became Champions League finalists. He has since had his lumps, won the league with PSG—for what that was worth—but was also chewed up by the politics of the project. Then that season at Chelsea, whom, under conditions of surreal madness, he turned round and led to an end-of-season surge, finding a way through the most chaotic turbulence imaginable.

There is no doubt that experience ground him down. I spent some time with Poch last year and it was hard to watch him operate without the natural joy and control I had seen him exert at Spurs, where he was a force of nature who enabled fans to dream. "He's magic, you know…" A detail obsessive, he made his young players shake the hands of everyone in the training ground—from receptionist to coaches to fellow players—the first time they saw them, and the whole place was just popping all day to the sound of perpetual high fives as everyone kept dapping each other up. It felt like the sound of collective wonder. (2/9)

TOP 13 MOMENTS FROM TIM REAM'S ENGLISH ADVENTURE ⚽️

In honor of Mound City Maldini returning to the USA—and the number on his Fulham jersey—here are 13 of the best moments from Ream's time in England. Starting with a ripped jersey & the hardest pic you'll see today. 😤 2. Ream's first Premier League goal, scored aged 35, was a moment to savor. More than a decade after Ream's pro career began, all that tenacity rewarded.

Like witnessing Sisyphus finally roll that rock to the top of that hill. 💪

ROG ON LIFE AFTER GREGG (AND 3 LESSONS WE MUST LEARN) 🧵

Farewell, Triple GGG. A dark ending to a long, surreal, frustrating tenure that never really peaked. A period that was the best of times & the worst of times. (1/22) ...One in which we undoubtedly had the best personnel in terms of individual players, but never transferred that into any kind of global performances that came close to a fraction of the hype, and hope, which abounded amongst fans...(2/22)

ROG THREAD ON SAM ALLARDYCE TO LEEDS 🧵

To the return of Sam Allardyce. The 68-year-old former one-game-and-out missionary position England coach has been exhumed by Leeds to replace flailing interim Javi Gracia with four games to go. (1/6) A move akin to an NFL team making Mike Ditka their new coach. Gracia had lost 4 of last 5. Big Sam has not been employed after relegating West Brom in 2021, but when working within significantly longer time frame, previously salvaged Sunderland & Palace from relegation. (2/6)

🚨 US Soccer releases statement re: completion of independent investigation of Gregg Berhalter.

🗣 "Given the investigators' conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, [Berhalter] remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the [USMNT]."

More to come. To start, the full report released by US Soccer can be found here: ussoccer.com/stories/2023/0…

The report mostly confirms what has already been reported about the incident, as well as how USSF became aware of it. Here are some key takeaways/quotes from the report ... 🧵

Have you ever wondered which Tom Hanks movies represent this year's Premier League teams?

Well... GFOP Seth from Rock Hill, SC has and it's been on my mind all week.

From today's WGFOP Weekend Preview.

Thread 🧵 Liverpool - "Sully"

Try and tell me they’re not Sully. The pilot leader with spectacular facial hair who is calm under pressure and steers his team clear of near-certain disaster.

VAMOS, @herculezg!

The Men in Blazers Media Network announce the launch of a new podcast, VAMOS Presented by @budlight, hosted by former US Men’s National Team player and current host broadcaster Herculez Gomez.

I am so bloody pleased to launch this project. First and foremost… I adore Herculez Gomez

VAMOS is our attempt to craft an accessible, intelligent, weekly source for everything about the biggest football stories on our continent delivered by a gent who understands the drivers that will shape the American game of the future.