In this episode, Kirk and Gary dive into the recent US Men’s National Team friendlies against Switzerland and Turkey. They analyze the performances of the team, different players, and debate the potential implications for the future.

The conversation also critically touches on the broader underlying issues like the impact of MLS and how much of the decision-making in the ecosystem is not based on sporting merit and good-faith efforts, but rather politics, special interests, and power.

00:00 Intro

00:25 Why The 2nd Half is Meaningless

03:14 Predictions and Objectives Going Into the Match

04:51 Individual Player Performances

05:58 Sub: Walker Zimmerman

07:19 Sub: Arfsten, MLS, and Diagonal Balls

10:14 Pulisic’s a Nobody and FIFA Rankings

13:01 Is this Pochettino’s Fault?

14:09 MLS/USSF Placed themselves in a Win/Win with Pochettino

17:37 Sub: MLS Propagandists Happy the USMNT Lost

21:29 The Fans Have the Power

22:28 Pochettino to Tottenham

24:23 Who is Truly Accountable?

27:08 Daddy Comes to Pulic’s Rescue (Classic American Soccer)

32:24 Steelmanning the A-team Taking Time Off

36:20 Why the Previous USMNT Generation Had Balls

40:05 On the Women’s National Team

43:16 Missed Opportunity for the “A-team”

49:28 Are the American Euro Players Playing Politics?

52:53 Sub: Should Pulisic be Cut from the USMNT?

57:41 Is the Fanbase Getting Smarter?

01:00:47 Sub: What’s the Solution?

01:02:46 Sub: How MLS Owns Your Child

01:09:00 Which Players Should Be Kept and Which Dumped?

01:11:50 Sub: Johnny Cardoso

01:14:18 Sub: Club Success Not Translating to the National Team

01:16:08 Sub: Diego Luna

01:27:53 How MLS Salaries Are Hampering Player Progression

Premium Education for either Coaches or Parents

If you are a coach or a parent of a player, we’ve also codified and made available the remarkable work of a coach who trained and shepherded many, many players from the age of 9 all the way to graduating them to being professionals.

The products that show you how this was done, is what sponsors this episode.

Get aboard a proven path, a legitimately proven path, not something copied or synthesized from elsewhere, or worse. No, but rather a first hand account and curriculum directly from the source, from the practitioners themselves, whose work is unprecedented in the American soccer environment.

For Coaches

Learn the methodology at 343coaching.com.

If you’re coaching 7v7, we’ve got you covered at 7v7coaching.com.

For Parents

You don’t have to be lost and confused.

Learn to properly guide and develop your kid through the maze and pitfalls that is American soccer (from the folks who have actually done it).

Gain access at 343masterclass.com.

Never miss new episodes:

• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on iTunes


• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Stitcher


• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Spotify

Parent Education Program