Fake reporters are stopping actually important US Soccer discourse
If what I’ve heard is true, then we have a real problem on our hands and the problem’s name is not Gregg Berhalter or Matt Crocker. If what I’ve heard is true, then we have a big new boogie man to rage against. If what I’ve heard is true, fake reports and reporters are stopping actually important conversations in US Soccer circles.
After the United States’ 1-0 loss to Uruguay which saw them not advance from Group C in Copa America there was a groundswell of discussion around the future of this team. It seemed for the first time in the Berhalter era the pundits and press that mattered were calling for changes. That was and is a big moment in American soccer.
Detractors of US Soccer - you know, the ones that live on Elon Musk’s app that’s totally about free speech were finally getting what they asked for. Real, tangible pressure on the federation to make sweeping changes and be bold in decision making while hurtling towards the summer of 2026.
That should have kept the hounds docile for a few days, but they just couldn’t help themselves. Instead of asking and engaging in real conversation around the merits of Gregg Berhalter, the realistic choices to replace him, and the path ahead for the USMNT we got collectively stuck on reports whose main source was “if what I heard is true, then…”
The main report that seemed to sneak its way into the American soccer discourse was that Matt Crocker - the United States Soccer Federation’s technical director was in Germany watching the Euros while the USMNT was getting grouped by Panama.
Silent on this news were reputable reporters like Brian Tannenwald, Tom Bogert, Doug Mcintyre, and Paul Tenorio. However, there were a few disreputable sources screaming from the rooftops about the need to immediately fire someone from a job because the air in their head got filled with disreputable noise.
While the entertainment value of the YouTube show Straight Red Card is through the roof, their journalistic integrity should be considered as the level below the basement. Two days ago they put out this video with 11 yanks where they discussed a “report” that kicked this whole thing off. Remember this as well - outrage sells clicks. This video is by far their highest view count in the last 6 months.
The highly decorated journalist (/s) Pete Douthit aka 11 Yanks then put this tweet out which now has 500,000 views:
These two events sparked a round of posts and debates on Reddit with these gems:
If these rumors are true, I think its a big deal. Not only from a PR perspective, but from a workplace leadership perspective. Imagine youre executing the biggest event for your organization in years and your boss leaves the continent for something else.
At best, Crocker is not aware of how that would come off to fans and employees. At worst, he doesnt care that much about US Soccer.
This is honestly insane that he has no showed the Copa America in the United States to be at the Euros. If this is true, how is it not being reported outside of fringe USMNT twitter accounts? We gotta put this guy on blast because that is honestly embarrassing for the federation. Imagine if the England director was just chilling in the US during the Euros? The media coverage and uproar would be absolutely insane especially if they crashed out of the group stage.
I can’t lie. I have a youtube channel. I talk about US Soccer as a hobby. I am not a trustworthy source of inside information. I have very few reputable sources and contacts. In the grand scheme of things, nobody cares about me. If you are not a reputable reporter or cannot share your sources to earn you trust and good will, your opinion matters, but your ‘breaking news’ is null and void.
After the Copa America embarrassment, this is potentially the most important week in US Soccer that could have far-reaching ripple effects on our chances at the 2026 World Cup. Are we putting real pressure on the federation to make effective changes?
No. We are fighting about a fake report and taking what is the very real intensity of this fanbase and dispersing it across bogus claims while the actual USSF wiggles out of difficult decisions.
Jake,
I used to enjoy your content and was sad to see you step away from the community. I thought you had well reasoned takes (even though we didn’t always agree) and backed it up with solid soccer acumen. I was equally excited to see you came back.
I am however extremely disappointed to see you throw a hit piece out on other people without any facts to back it up. It is one thing to call people “not reputable,” but I expect you to at least share examples of why. The people you mention use this as a stream of income and directly attacking that is BS.
I was waiting for you to explain how you know Pete’s sources are bogus or how Straight Red has continually gotten it wrong. But no… it was just a piece attacking others with no backing in facts. I find this funny because this is exactly what you are accusing them of.
I, like you, have no real sources and don’t report information other than speaking to conjecture I see online. But there are some people in the community who have worked hard to build relationships with players and people inside the Fed. Discrediting them without any proof is shameful, pathetic and frankly screaming for attention.
Do drastically better!!
Signed,
A now former subscriber, reader and fan
Adam Turner
Aka @stanusmnt
It was Eric Wynalda who first Said Matt Crocker had to leave the euros to come here to deal with the situation. Derek and Pete were just repeating what Wynalda made public.