🚨 Mauricio Pochettino’s DEBUT 🚨 Alejandro Moreno gives United States a B+ vs. Panama | ESPN FC

On ESPN FC, Stevie Nicol and Alejandro Moreno weigh in on Mauricio Pochettino’s debut as the United States’ manager and react to their 2-0 win over Panama.
#espn #fc
✔ Subscribe to ESPN+: espnplus.com/so...
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIB...

[@Merican_Jedi]

As a Chelsea fan I like Poch . Think he’ll be great for US soccer . I’m excited to see what he can do with this team . As of right now , there hasn’t been so much talent on our team at once . Tons of talent all over the field . It’s very exciting to be a US fan right now .

[@calvinhodge8422]

You're not a real Chelsea fan

[@Merican_Jedi]

@@calvinhodge8422 I’ve been a fan since the early 90’s bro , take your negativity elsewhere bro. I’m not the one .

[@jax2065]

Do you support your local MLS team too?

[@todwest]

The body language was totally different. They are playing for Poch, whereas they weren't playing for Derphalter. And who can blame them?

[@But_Sects]

Same thing happened with the US women. Teams that play with joy do better

[@rolandovivar6864]

Agree with your point. This coach knows soccer & the players respect him.

[@theaquariancontrarian3316]

Dephalter 😂😂😂😂

[@jrcanuck1]

@todwest, is that why they played an average to poor match, as they have always done with Berhalter? There were quite a few moments when Panama was the better team.

[@todwest]

@@jrcanuck1 Perhaps you should refrain from commenting on things you don't understand. Thanks.

[@nias2631]

Mark McKenzie did very well. I expected at least one major lapse. I am impressed with his play last night.

[@R3FU3D]

He played very well if you excuse the two biggest defensive blunders of the game.

[@keenanvanzile]

No Pepi no Party

[@chegonzalez8486]

I’m so proud how our football⚽️ is evolutionarily different and doing very well for our continent “viva USA…”

[@wagfinpis]

I think it is wise to set Pulisic out of the Mexico game. Assessment of other players and keeping Pulisic healthy is a good plan.

[@Swimmerman100]

USMNT is still developing under poch of course, but I see this exactly like how working for a boss who just “gets it” and “knows” their stuff top to bottom. It can be one of the most rewarding experiences and you just push yourself to be better because you want to learn from them as much as possible. Not to mention, when they speak, you know they’re speaking from experiences and what has “worked” at the highest level. That carries a different weight - unlike GGG. Hopefully the positive trajectory continues!

[@Dwaynemorris876]

I think I’ll finally take American soccer seriously 🙏🏽

[@damianmonzillo6058]

Much better. It was a good step forward. We also can’t expect an A from a coach and a team that has only met a couple of weeks ago!

[@erikrodriguez8721]

Let’s keep this energy going baby

[@stansmith5610]

*The real challenge will be when they play against bigger teams... Jamaica and even Mexico that isnt doing that well beat Panama*

[@DrZachyB]

Mexico has been an easier match for the USMNT than Panama the last 5 or so years

[@edbrown4800]

Mexico was always mediocre bro. A bad USA still beat Mexico in Azteca in 2012. Or Yall gonna still say Mexico was bad back then as well to feel better about yourselves 😂

[@cuzzozanteeno2127]

Jamaica and Mexica are NOT big teams in any category. If USA beat them in the last 6 years in any tournament or qualifying matches, they're not a big team.

[@laxlyfters8695]

In order to win the world cup the bar needs to be raised I know espnfc has us living in concacaf and Mexico coverage 24/7 cough espn deportes cough but us needs to schedule european, south american, afrjcan teams

[@laxlyfters8695]

Just like how Landon Donovan made the ridiculous statement that Pulisnic should of gone to MLS instead of Serie A because the competition is harder 😅 naw you got to stop getting high off your own supply

[@maudalmusicalmachines3541]

You know, I wonder how many matches Ale has ever played in a year? He sureasshite never played as many as these guys do now! Also... I wonder if he's ever played a match at 3:30 in the morning. Because that's what time it was for all of our European players. So he can go fish with his energy comments 😉 That said, he's right it's a B/B+ performance. I'd say B at best myself. The whole 1st half... meh 😏 And long stretches of the 2nd half too. But those were 2 class goals. Not just individual brilliance, which is fine. But these were team goals. 2 different goals, but *really* well worked! A hopeful sign of what this team could look like 😁

[@eddiegonzalez638]

“ Load management” aka Milan probably made a deal with Poch to have Pulisic be there for Pochs first training sessions/game only. Milan has a game on Saturday and champions league on Tuesday that would have been 4 games in a little over a week for Pulisic along with long transcontinental travel in between. Milan needs Pulisic as fresh as possible since he is practically their best player.

[@javv3973]

Yup especially with Milan starting their CL campaign as a 0-2 lol. 2 tough opponents to start off tho but they are Milan, cmon now. But i do see 5 matches out of the next 6 that they can come out with points. I think Milan will reach the top 12 until that final January 8th match. Or i could be wrong and Milans atrocious defense keeps leaking goals and Milan struggle until January to barely touch the top 24

[@rolandovivar6864]

Great discussion & points! Musa is young & still learning. Goal confidence builder for him. AC Milan, he likes to dribble and dribbles into trouble at times. Needs to dribble with his head up to pass to his team mates.I like Pepi's movement. Yes, performance is necessary, sub or starter at any time.

[@jayseereviews]

The team played nice and in both goals i seen them building walls passing the ball and then going to get it back and helping each other ( soccer society) nice duets also! and that is always a good thing and very difficult to achieve in a short period of time. The team needs to work on defense line a lot more. It was a great debut. Pochettino knows.

[@SenorPalomo]

I saw more ball ⚽️ control and poise plus this win gives good momentum going forward.

[@andrewroberts7428]

i think it would be good to have pulisic play the first half against mexico, just to see how other players fit around him. at this point, it clearly looks like we're building lineups around him, so i think it would be sharp to spend as much time seeing how he fits with others as possible. i do also see why they would rest him, he plays a lot of football.

[@codyshuler8145]

I think he was already released to go back to Milan so he won't be at the Mexico game.

[@Schrisdontmiss]

He needs to rest bro. I get it and I want him to play too but he has the most minutes besides the GK at Milan. Even more than Leao. Even Poch said the minutes worry him. I don’t mind him going back early.

[@andrewroberts7428]

@@Schrisdontmiss fair point, i could also see this game getting a little chippy, i hope nobody gets injured from stupid, aggressive foul or tackle or something

[@marvinprudencio7321]

Since yesterday before this video was even released I already knew thar the Stan Smith guy would make a negative comment with how much he disrespects the USMNT and it didn’t even take 5 minutes from when the video was uploaded for him to make that comment.

[@gobomladikk5197]

Do you not realize how insane this makes you sound?

[@hahamyuify]

13 shot for from Panama, 😂😂😂😂😂Our Defense is a joke. Goalkeeper is saving USA for now.

[@maxmaxie1328]

Not a new thing…

[@sirius9108]

Stevie has lost the plot. Comparing Poch's first game with a bunch of B class players to the structure of Spurs is insane. Give the man time

[@amanuel-.]

Relax, it’s just Panama.

[@coreypnorris]

As a Yank soccer fan I'll take it. But i need to see results against some real competition before i fully buy in.

[@11robinho07]

How is it q game for poch when he's going to be missing players?

[@jimbrentar]

Schulte is the best US goalkeeper. He should be starting

[@asnark7115]

The only two players the US have with any business at the top in a 4-3-3 are Balogun and Pulisic. Sargent simply doesn't have a nose for the goal or the ability to beat an average defender with the ball. Pulisic typically looks lost on the wing in buildup despite moments of sheer brilliance when he gets the ball in front of the rest of our squad with only men to beat. NO number 9 should be tasked as a holdup player, as is so often suggested by pundits and practiced occasionally by the USMNT. You simply can't keep setting up the team to only be able to counter. Your attacking point HAS to be able to keep central defenders moving backwards and tripping over themselves. Again, only Puli and to a lesser extent Balogun can do that, unless you want to consider Reyna at the 9.

[@rickydawson7388]

Musa is an English lad. He learned his fundamentals at Arsenal's Hale End Academy.

[@DrissZyanisorrybutyourtimeisfi]

We will see vs canada the best team in the North America !

[@albertcamus6611]

For real, I have never seen that mexico stat. I cant believe usa has only beaten mexico once.. wow...

[@griffinocallaghan5979]

In Mexico it says. Still surprising to me

[@albertcamus6611]

@@griffinocallaghan5979 ah ic. thanks.. but yah.. still a shocking stat.

[@michaelstein7510]

Pretty much the only time we play in Mexico is for World Cup qualifying, so there aren’t a ton of opportunities. Almost all of the friendlies, Gold Cup games, and Nations League games between the two are played in the US, because the federations and CONCACAF want to maximize profit. I’m glad we’re finally playing another friendly in Mexico again. 2012 was the last time.

[@raemongill19]

If Pulisic was only going to play one game why was it Panama 😂

[@10from10]

10:22 İs this true? Not winning 26 out of 27?

[@kakashi0429]

Sargent isn't good enough. Need Haji in the center forward for match against Mexico

[@jrcanuck1]

If Berhalter had been coaching that same match, you would have given him a C-.

[@gersonavila387]

When this team defeats one of these teams then I will believe in Poch's impact. Not interested in what they do in CONCACAF.: Argentina, France, Spain, England, Brazil, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Colombia, Italy, Germany and Morocco. Pick any of these teams. We can talk after they do that.

[@dessireshallenberger2836]

Perhaps you could add Japan?

[@zechariahahl-k9n]

We're missing 8 of our 11 starters. I'll take a 2-0 win against panama with our B/C team under a new manager's first match... That's not nothing. We lost to Panama not too long ago with our near A team. No point in testing ourselves against a top European team with half a squad that won't even see the pitch in 2026.

[@skullfc4215]

It was a clear tie, but Panama strikers sucks! It wasn't a great display by any of both teams, it looks like a practice with the edge going on US favor kust because of the attackers individual performance

[@colbyfink8493]

Any time Ale is on this show, I skip the video. With any subject or team. He uses a lot of words but says nothing.

[@ellefc]

Poch is good and US will improve.

[@asnark7115]

He's just another 4-3-3 dogmatist like Berhalter- trying to play our best attacker, dribbler and shooter from the wing vice the 9. WE'll never generate more than a couple of scoring opportunities against class teams using a hold-up 9 concept. It simply plays into a good defense's wheelhouse.

[@telfapps]

Well Done Poch🔥

[@CallumWatson-p2l]

Its panama... its prison break fc.

[@samw4758]

Josh Sargent is the best striker on usmnt. Truly not close he’s the most athletic can play forward and hold up play. He can pass and is good in the air. Sargent is the best striker in the championship. I’d say he’s Top five player in championship.

[@cuzzozanteeno2127]

Sargent is the worst striker for the USA. 😂 Balogun, Pepi, and Haji Wright has more goals than him in the past 2 years. 😂

[@R3FU3D]

😂

[@asnark7115]

That's not what strikers are for, baseball fan. The skillset you just described is strictly for mids or maybe wings, when you count Sargent's decent work rate. PULISIC is the player we have with the most complete striker skill set- dribbling and shooting. 9s have ZERO business as holdup players. It's nice IF they can do that when we can keep a defense pegged back for long stretches, but that's still Plan C for a legit striker, and we CAN'T do that. Again,.. holdup strikers are what you do when you have to COMPENSATE for not having a player like Puli who can put his head down, snake several good defenders and then shoot with accuracy to score those things called GOALS. GOALS are how matches are decided, not layoff attempts from the point and high jumping for long passes. Sargent can't score or dibble to save his job, and Pulisic is the best at that in the northwest hemisphere, maybe EVER. Not Hugo Sanchez, not Landon Donovan, not Dempsey, nor any other Canadian, Central American or Mexican. If Pulisic had come up in a soccer nation like BRA, HOL, GER, ITA, ARG, URU, etc., no coach would have EVER allowed him to play in a pass-first role from the midfield or wing. They would have wet their pants counting up all the goals he'd score and central defenses he collapsed backwards. Which is also, BTW, the only way known in the sport to generate consistent positive possession in the other side's half: It forces the central defense to double mark backwards right in the center of their final third, not cheat up into their midfield and play in their own possession attempts. Sargent does the opposite of that.

[@Mamjam22]

Realistic USA Expectations?

[@Mamjam22]

I say in Concacaf: beat Minnows; tie Canada; one close loss. So top league or 2nd.

[@Mamjam22]

In NonWorld Cup Tournaments: at least make semis; make most finals; win one.

[@Mamjam22]

Make Olympics

[@Mamjam22]

World Cup at least 2nd in group. Best case make win at 16 round

[@zechariahahl-k9n]

No expectations until the starting squad is solidified. Too many positions up for grabs that could make a huge difference. Is Gio even gonna be in the squad? Who is our clear starting GK? How will Dest be after returning from an ACL injury - an injury that's probably the worst type for a player like him? Depending on how the chips fall, expectations could realistically be quite high, or they could be extremely low.

[@badgerbettor]

Snooze fest until they beat someone of significance. Here comes the UWMNT hype. It always happens. And the team never delivers.

[@etgoodman7]

I like Pepi but truthfully he hit that shot right at the keeper. Don't try to tell me that's what he was trying to do

[@wuxiagamescentral]

He was just trying to get it on target. Not an easy shot but it looks easy.

[@donaldpkelley]

Not sure I agree. Good players (hockey players too) will see that shot as an option.

[@sullygriffin9902]

Onwards and upwards, friend

[@Scottydontbutscottydoes]

@@wuxiagamescentralat least he didn’t sail it over the goal like Sargent. Much more likely to go in when it’s on goal ya know

[@griffinocallaghan5979]

Ricky Pepi

[@brianbunker2150]

To be fair we were missing several usual starters.

[@asnark7115]

To be fair it would have made no difference. We had those players in the COPA, the WC, and before. Got the same type of games against the same level of opponents. The thing we have been doing totally wrong since the US began using 4-3-3 before Gregg's time is trying to make a hold-up 9 work with all of our non-possession, non-passing central defenders. It wouldn't matter if we had a Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldos, and Messi on the pitch together; you simply can't generate chances when your attacker closest to the goal is tasked with or skill-tied to trying passes first and dribble/shots last, or if your best shooter and dribbler- Pulisic- is played too far from the goal with team-mates to stand between him and the net to obfuscate and confuse his sight line.

[@brianbunker2150]

@@asnark7115 We didn't play a 433 and we beat Panama last night both are different from COPA. There are still several problems but last night we won with several players missing. It would have looked a lot better with Dest, Gio, Weah, and Weston, and Balo in the starting 11. What we miss is a link up player to connect the midfield to the fowards (Gio's role if he wasn't hurt all the time) so Pulisic is having to do it and yes it negatively impacts his goal scoring but he does that in Milan too so its not abnormal for him to drop deep to get the ball.

[@audiohertz2341]

We need to start a go fund me to pay ESPN to remove Alejandro Moreno what a tool ..

[@LaurentCourtines]

Disagree. I like Ale!

[@theaquariancontrarian3316]

Cmon ale zach steffen is underrated. He's superior at everything compared to turner except his temper. If he keeps his head level hes way better.

[@theaquariancontrarian3316]

As talented as pulisic is, he has no leadership skills.

[@douglasharley2440]

tbh, for most of the game it looked alarmingly like the gregg berhalter era...lots of meaningless possession consisting of pedestrian sideways and backwards passes. that being said, we got a clean sheet win, no easy feat against panama these days, so i got no real complaints and am looking forward to building into the future!(?)

[@d3eztrickz]

The coaching staff is very much still in the assessment phase. I don't think they asked the players to do much differently tactically besides a few things at the back. It's about seeing the players in action.. giving them instructions..and seeing how they work together to carry out those instructions. He appears to be taking a slow, deliberate approach.

[@doomultima8446]

Talk about an overreaction 😂

[@albertmoreno6408]

Disagree. It beats the lame crosses from the berhalter era

[@asnark7115]

That's because the tactics and lineup were basically the same, minus Reyna, Weston and Adams. Until we get Pulisic onto the point and out of buildup play in possession, and De la Torre in for ball/pace control and field switches, nothing will change. We'll struggle to generate shots in low-shooting CONCACAF matches, then lose tired to bigger teams.

[@luniz4209]

this is just wrong. Didn't really look at all like Berhalter. Busio and Robinson were both aggressive. Aaronson's possesion is meaningless because he always turns the ball over, nothing to do with coaching. Pulsic tried some things and they didn't work out, that's not meaningless possession, especially in a friendly.

[@moloko5]

Why is groundskeeper Willy commenting on the US team?

[@mheiseus]

B+ 😂 they should be happy a coach with an international pedregee is even bothering to coach usmnt

[@vendonbrissett5342]

ppl please stop refer to spurs when talking about Poch now, its been a while, the game change but poch dont change much with it. glad he leave Chelsea. all the best to him with the USA.

[@olanderdecastro52]

Didn’t look any different to me. Still look like an average team that could get to the round of 16 with luck and then get bounced out of the WC. Same song repeated since 2002.

[@Johnnybgood76]

The manager and his coaching team have had a few days with the team. Maybe give it a few more windows, huh?

[@e0134-y1f]

dude, please be reasonable lol, its his first game w the team, they had some guys out, give it some time jeez

[@BoerboelBladeandAriaTV]

@@Johnnybgood76windows lol who they buying

[@Arwin-vy5ky3qp6s]

USA champion of the world

[@StudioGREGORIO]

Mexico is thrilled they don't have to face Captain America. Christian loves playing against Mexico. They will have to concentrate on kicking someone else.

[@jaytse2269]

I love how you guys get a 2-0 win over Panama at home and the vibe is an instant 180 from the rest of 2024 😂

[@Luckie666]

Panama😂😂😂😂 I thought that was a canal

[@Quieromuchachas]

What’s wrong with you?

[@Johnnybgood76]

🚨 Moron alert! 🚨

[@MrLunary]

Learn some geography.

[@Cameroons]

Unprofessional muppet breathing into the mic.

[@Theo-fp2oe]

Didn't know he was coaching the US, dude has fallen off a cliff.

[@stanislavlacko7577]

Its until world cup 2026 and out, probably.

[@frankieui5161]

Wait wait snooz fest? I mean most soccer games are a bit of a snooz fest for a good chuck of time .

[@sey_01010]

Haha, against Panama😂 the concacaf is just not good enough, let’s just pipe down…we’re just getting out of the group stage in 2026, that’s about it😂

[@el6285]

So you want them to lose instead?

[@sey_01010]

@@el6285 is Panama our yardstick? C’mon, you know clearly they’re good enough, we will be facing more formidable opponents with a better football squad and history than us!

[@e0134-y1f]

@@sey_01010 bro but like what do u want the team to do lol, they dont pick who they play they play whos in concacaf, jeez please be quiet cause if they win every single game leading up to the world cup it wont be good enough for u

[@spoonsz]

​​@@e0134-y1f People are just idiots they think they should be playing euro teams forgetting they have euros and they don't need friendlies usmnt is stuck with conacaf teams people are just poorly educated

[@sey_01010]

@@e0134-y1f They’re not good enough to win the World Cup, so I want people to calm down because we’re in a weak confederation playing weaker teams! We’ll win every game leading to the World Cup because the opponents are not good enough! I’ve had the opportunity to watch better teams from different parts of the world and our USMNT are not there yet…far away in my opinion!

[@eL--RaL]

Umm ok now let's talk about Ronaldo's recent bombshell comment 😂 That guy is a joke 😂

[@albertcardenas9437]

What's the comment?

[@fatih8053]

What'd he say?

[@blaze2647-w8t]

u wanna talk about jokes lets talk about the re tard(you) who replies to himself on 20 alts😂😂😂😂😂

[@blaze2647-w8t]

it calls cr7 a joke while crying 24/7 about the the prem on 20 alts😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blaze2647-w8t]

ummm lets talk about the fact u wouldnt be breathing if ur in bred mother could not get benefits in the UK😂😂