All Hail Jesse Marsch of Racine, Wisconsin, whose Leeds fought back from a two-goal hole to beat Wolves amidst scenes of chaos, confusion, passion and terrible, terrible cartwheel celebrations. A mood swing which was captured poetically by commentator Peter Drury, who admitted about Racine, Wisconsin’s finest, "At halftime he looked as if he was drowning. Now he looks like he is walking on water.” 🇺🇸 🙌
I was really struck in Marsch’s post-game press conference when the manager was asked by a journalist about how his players have received him and he quipped, “from day one, they accepted me. None of the players have made fun of my accent like some of you.” Cue a long, awkward solo chuckle – met by the English press pack with total silence. A symbol of the mountain he has to climb in a room full of judgemental media "Trent Crimms." Even though his Leeds are in a relegation battle with my Everton, I am living and dying with Jesse’s fortunes. Men's Coaching remains the last backwater of the American game. Because of that, March's failures will be magnified. His successes will be attributed to his predecessor Bielsa, who remains a demigod. All he can do is keep on keeping on, defying expectations and being his authentic self.
All of this reminds me of the almost existential cultural war fought over the use of the word soccer. Anyone following football on Twitter from the United States will inevitably have had the word chucked at them derisively by an argumentative English football fan at some time or another. Even though the word is used in so many of the most long-running British football shows like Soccer Saturday or Soccer AM. Proof that it is not about the word itself. It is more a vestige of America’s post-Cold War status as the world’s sole superpower. In that era, Men’s football was one of America’s most prominent weaknesses in the eyes of a world that was used to the US pumping out winners like the Dream Team who beat and stomped everything in their path. In stark contrast, our Men’s international team has largely appeared impotent, and a football mad world has reveled in that inferiority. The sudden spigot of young talent – Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Reyna and more – has dented that. So men’s coaching remains the last backwater.
In the eyes of English fans, poor bewildered Bob Bradley and his doomed 85-day tenure at Swansea only served to justify their derision with his talk of ”PKs and Road Games.” Despite its phenomenal and deserved success, the televisual human wonder of Ted Lasso has only inadvertently built on that. Its “fish out of water American in soccer” storyline gifted a brick to the face with which to welcome any American at any club (See Chris Armas). Because of that, there are no arguments Marsch can win to gain respect. All he can do is to keep on being himself, in his authentic way, believing in the power of the collective, post-game huddles, and the potential of the underdog. In that regard, I loved the self-awareness and defiance of his words Friday night: “I like being the underdog. I like having to fight for things. I like not taking anything for granted. I like having my back against the wall.”
2. Arsenal are some Band of Brothers
The perpetual fight both against your opponents and for respect, or really, self-respect, is a grinding one. Arsenal’s impressive victory over Aston Villa was significant in that regard, coming off a stinging midweek defeat to Liverpool. A loss which dents your optimism and reminds you that you remain a footballing Scrappy Doo. I revere what Arsenal are building and the style in which they are building it. Every one of Arteta’s players looks comfortable and confident with the ball at their feet. The way they zip the ball around is an absolute delight. Their backline, too, deserves credit for their collective commitment and organization, which are two things anyone who has watched Arsenal over the past five years would not have expected to type.
Above all, I was blown away at the final whistle by two moments which were magnificent to witness. First of all, the injured Aaron Ramsdale, in his street clothes, hugging his replacement Bernd Leno… think about that from a collective spirit standpoint. Then the goalscorer Bukayo Saka, taking a lap of honor towards the Arsenal away fans, hugging and being hugged. What a year he has had. A teenage recipient of racist hate after his Euro Final penalty miss last summer, rebounding like this, lifting a team and delivering the kind of wonder the fans have ached for. Must feel magnificent.
3. Everton Aren’t We?
Everton coming off one of their most crucial wins in 20 years – that 99th minute Iwobi Fever Dream - then crapping the bed against Crystal Palace was as predictable as it was humiliating. Another embarrassment in a season full of them. Everton concede and roll over like few other teams.
Credit Crystal Palace. They are such a well-run club, with true bolts of talented youth up and down that side in Olise, Guéhi, Tyrick Mitchell, and Eze.Their fans are the best in the Premier League to me. The energy of Selhurst Park makes it a must-visit for any American fan hitting London.
Yet for Everton, the mood goes from the exhilaration of Thursday night back to doom and fume. Yes, the players must have been knackered and emotionally drained after the Newcastle heroics, but this squad looks leaderless and unmotivated. An expensively assembled nothing. Lampard said as much post-match, admitting, "There is only so much you can keep trying to butter someone up to give them confidence," "We are playing at the cut-throat end of football here. This is a cup quarter-final to get to Wembley and if you haven't got the confidence to play, you can quickly flip it and say have you got the bollocks to play?”
The only bright side is Everton no longer able to "do a Wigan" and win the FA Cup while being relegated in the same season. 27 gloomy years I have watched Everton toil without winning a Trophy. Existence of a sporting Sisyphus. Perpetual cycle of yearning, doomed hope, and shattered dreams. Would not want it any other way. May next year be Our Year.
4. Barcelona’s transition is magical. Piers Morgan is a nob about Auba
In El Clasico, Barcelona ended a run of five Real Madrid wins on the trot in emphatic style, playing with intensity in a 4-0 rout. Madrid were shockingly toothless, appearing old and slow in the midfield. It was honestly like watching Crystal Palace beat up Everton but in Spanish. Real fans can tell themselves that they are so far ahead in the league it does not matter, but what a night for the Catalans for whom Aubameyang has been scintillating. 11 appearances for Barcelona and 9 goals. The brace against Madrid will make him an instant club hero. “Hello from the finished player,” he tweeted post-game. Cue knee-jerk reaction from Piers Morgan, lambasting Mikel Arteta for letting him go. Watching Auba nod home the opener in a Clasico was merely a reminder, sometimes a move can benefit both clubs and the player. Let’s just savor El Clasico being a proper contest again. Barcelona have green shoots once more and Spanish football is all the better for it.
5. Time for Gregg to demonstrate his leadership in CONCACAF Squeaky Bum Time
We enter the final round of World Cup qualifying with our fate in our own hands. The bad news is we lack Weston Mckennie, Sergiño Dest, Matt Turner, and Chris Richards, all out with injury, and now Brenden Aaronson is out for 2-4 weeks. Unfettered, our Baby Eagles will descend into the Azteca on Thursday night, followed by a home game against Panama in Orlando, and Costa Rica away. 5 points from those three games and we are in. The trauma of failure in Trinidad and Tobago hangs over us. The injuries are a real concern. This is a moment when a young inexperienced squad need their coach to show he can lead. This is a big chance for Gregg Berhalter to step up and seize this moment to expunge the doubts and fears born of Couva, coupled with the erratic form during qualification so far, and prove that respect is built on more than just Starbucks mugs and sneakers. To US Glory and Courage.
6. The Best part of March Madness? Antonio Conte’s starring role
The highlight of March Madness for me has been watching Antonio Conte in a commercial for Powerade. Did we know he was such a master of physical comedy? If you have not seen it, Conte is giving what looks like a half-time team talk to a team in blue in which he – the man who banned ketchup from the Spurs canteen - is grasping an oversized sugar-filled Powerade. “The Secret to winning is to pause,” he declares while reclining mid team talk in a La-Z-Boy. I have so many questions:
i. How much do you think Powerade had to pay Antonio Conte to publicly go against his core values of work harder, grind yourself into a pulp in the name of victory, and I will sleep when I am dead?
ii. Which marketing exec thought it was smart to get Antonio Conte to be spokesperson for a NCAA commercial? How many Americans recognize him? How many think he is just some Italian Joe Namath impersonator?
iii. Can Powerade please, please, please, get Sean Dyche in a commercial for the Sweet Sixteen?
7. RIP Mike Dean
Mike Dean has announced his retirement at the end of the season. End of an era. Man knows you either retire a villain or you ref long enough to see yourself become the hero. Or something like that. How did you feel when you heard the seismic generation defining news?
To mark the day, here’s a video celebrating his first 100 red cards. Each one dished out with his special singular brand of panache, hubris and disdain.
8. Massive Week at MiB World HQ
We are gearing up for the Big One: Mexico vs. the USMNT Thursday at the Azteca. Our coverage kicks off tomorrow as we go behind enemy lines in conversation with Ozark star and massive El Tri fan Alfonso Herrera. Javi is proper football, Rog. In this Pod special, Presented by the GFOPs at Camarena, we talk how the Baby Eagles are perceived South of the Border and the intimidation factor of the vaunted Azteca. And then Wednesday at Noon Eastern - the day before the game - it’s a very special Spotify Greenroom in which I’ll be joined by USMNT alumnus and host of ESPN+’s Futbol Americas, Herculez Gomez. And Thursday… Gameday… I’m doing a live pre-game around 9 p.m. ET in the lead up, and Davo and I will both be on live at the Final Whistle to break it all down. What a week. May it be one filled with US Glory.
Big Love
Courage.
