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SBI Question of the Day: Is the USMNT missing out on Tata Martino a mistake?

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Atlanta United announced on Tuesday that Tata Martino will not renew his contract with them following this season, setting up his expected departure to the Mexican national team. It is a looming move that had to unsettle U.S. Men’s National Team fans who are still waiting for a new USMNT coach.

To some USMNT fans, Martino would have an ideal candidate, but by all accounts Martino was never considered for the USMNT job. That has left some U.S. fans unsettled.

Atlanta United could break the record for points in a season (currently tied the record with 69), clinch the Supporters’ Shield and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs with a win on Sunday against Toronto FC. They also clinched a spot in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League with a win last week over Chicago.

In his last international stint as manager, Martino took Paraguay to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. That, coupled with his stints with Barcelona and Argentina, give him a stronger resume than many of the coaches who have been linked to the USMNT job.

Our question today is a simple one. Do you think the USMNT missed out by not hiring Martino, or do you think the USMNT is better off without him?

Cast your vote and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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Comments

  1. Foreign mentality for coach to USNT: focus less physical size or speed, but focus more tactical physically and speed thinking on the field.

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  2. USA has way more promising prospects than Mexico. I do not see any prospects coming through Mexicos side that are Pulisic level. So still not worried about Mexico. I have a feeling it will be Berhalter and I am not a fan. Tab Ramos would be a disappointment too. Heck make me the coach. Bradley would be banned.

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  3. Well the combo of Marsch and Armas have the Red Bulls only a point behind Atlanta, and Marsch has a great record in MLS over a few seasons,winning the EAST in 2015 and 2016. Also, Marsch has shown that he will show no mercy to aging players or players “too good” to let go, just ask Dax, Sasha, Veron Grella, …. So I would say not “getting” Martino is not that big a deal.
    Now will Marsch or Armas be the next USMNT coach? I don’t think so, but from the point of view of coaching results, they have a bit on Berhalter. None of us know what is in Ernie’s mind and he has done a pretty good job of keeping everyone speculating.

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    • “None of us know what is in Ernie’s mind and he has done a pretty good job of keeping everyone speculating.”
      ************************************
      This is an excellent observation. Really, the “default” view presented by crtiics seems to be that Earnie has somehow been either lazy or myopic in his approach. But really, nobody seems to have had much in the way of “actual” information here. While this is conducive to speculation and theories, it’s important to remember that this is *also consistent* with a highly professional and well-conducted hiring process. No leaks, no confidentiality breaches. Nada. Maybe it would be appropriate for us to give Earnie a break at the first hurdle, and assume he is simply doing his job well?

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  4. Meh. I would’ve been good with Tata, if that had been the outcome. Experience is rarely a bad thing, and his resume had both quality and diversity (if not a cabinet full of trophies).
    Still, beyond this, I found it hard to see as a well-aligned match for either Tata or US Soccer.
    And on that basis, I suspect the opportunity was never all that real. Still, I suspect that in about two years time, we will feel very comfortable with letting it go. Seems strange to hire a nomadic, mercenary coach as the first man up in what all agree is a long-term rebuild

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    • Hell no! USMNT does not need a short term fill in the gap coach.

      The ideal hire should be a guy for eight to twelve years who can install a pragmatic system based on what talent is available.

      USMNT fans get caught up in over valuing a ton of unknowns. Successful sports teams are result based built around teams with players who work as one. The talent pool is vast but lacks proven top flight talent who is performing at top leagues. Top ten WC teams have a core group of players teams are built around and additional players who add to the total sum of a success. However, the right coaching and willingness to improve can create a competent national team built around expectations and coaching.

      France has the closest demographics to the USA and has outstanding developemnt. Just over five years ago a handful of MLS teams have already collaborated with a number of French clubs regarding training. The talent gapis still giant but excuses are running out. Training,coaching, and players are out there! Many successful WC countries perform based on systems and vice versa many vastly talented teams underperform because of a lack of a system and steady rotation of head coaches.

      This next hire needs to be the right fit but also needs to be surrounded with as many resources as possible!

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      • Hire a coach with a pragmatic approach to run the program for the next 12 years???!!! LoL Well F me… how ya doing Mr. Gulati… right!?

  5. Tata is a good coach but I don’t think he is the right person to develop our young team. From that point of view, I would select either KC or Philly’s coach.

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  6. I think we would have been the best option we could have had. Everybody thinks the next coach will be Gregg Berhalter. I just cant see that. No big accomplishments. His entire coaching career has been a weak 38-39% win percentage. That isnt good enough in my eyes and do not see why he would be picked?

    If he is the next coach… I think it will be a huge step backwards and we will flop

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    • Because when you ask guys like Tata or Torrent about Berhalter they talk about his tactical ability and his ability to make in game adjustments. Or how his strikers always have their best seasons under him. I don’t think it will be him based on Stewart’s “legacy hire” comment, unless Earnie found no legacy type coach who was interested. Arena won over 50% of his matches, several MLS titles a few GCs and yet he failed. Why because he like JK thought they new more than everyone else and couldn’t adjust when there plans or rosters failed.

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      • To be fair, JK and Arena both know more than the fans. But, that said, it is really easy to 2nd guess their choices.

  7. He is not from the Arena tree. He is also not a kick and run coach or an unimaginative coach. Therefore he cannot be a candidate for the US job

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    • Couldn’t have said it better…but, hey, if USMNT can win the most pointless tournament in the history of humanity, the “Gold Cup”, and then get out of a grueling CONCACAF qualifiers vs. Super powers like Honduras and St. Kitts, the pink glasses will be back on…
      In fairness, minus Pulisic, the talent pool is non-existent and third rate…lots of kicking and screaming ,zero talent or footballing acumen…

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  8. BSU, I think any surprise about who was going to be the next men’s team coach, left when Jesse marsch took a job in Europe. Since that moment, the leading and maybe only consideration, considering his brother is one of the top paid US officials, it might be no surprise. Our next coach is going to be the same person whose god father is carl Yastrzemski.

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  9. Can’t answer this question until we know who the new coach will be. In my opinion, he is the best option in MLS by far. I think in a perfect world, US Soccer is able to bring in Dave Wagner from Huttersfield Town.

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    • Never happening. Leaving aside the strange enthusiasm we all seem to have for Wagner (he is American-ish…. earned a few caps even), he simply has zero incentive to abandon a highly promising career in European soccer* for a detour to relative wilderness of North American national team management. No young manager with his credentials (regardless of nationality) will be.
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      *For clarity, despite how utterly unwatchable Huddersfield are, nobody pins this on Wagner (the team has mid-table Championship talent, and management has consistently remained clear that Wagner will be retained regardless of relegation, which appears highly likely). He’s gonna be in European club soccer for a while. As he should be. Perhaps one day he will be a decent option for a role, if he should happen to be interested.

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