Episode 123: What’s John Pranjic’s problem with American soccer?

John Pranjic, the host of the 3four3 podcast, joins for a conversation about the need for promotion/relegation, his problem with most American soccer media, and the best USMNT XI right now. I made detailed shownotes for those who want to skip around.

0:30 intro
1:20 Pranjic injury news
2:45 why he says “you don’t know” to people on Twitter
7:35 is the problem ultimately the lack of promotion/relegation in U.S. soccer?
10:40 does Pranjic really think only “yes-people” get to have power at USSF?
14:00 why pro/rel is so important
20:20 Belz: we just fell into a closed system; Pranjic: no, we didn’t just fall into this
23:30 what’s the way to get to pro/rel?
27:40 is it selling out to talk about sweetening the pot to encourage MLS owners to embrace pro/rel?
31:40 how to you reconcile a deeply flawed system with some of the exciting players that are being developed?
36:00 Pranjic’s problem with the American soccer media
40:30 Belz: media criticism should be specific
42:45 Belz: do you only respect journalists who are advocating for pro/rel?
44:40 the distinction between punditry and reporting
48:00 Belz compares the Jermaine Jones interview to Day of the Locust
51:00 extended discussion of soccer media
58:00 Belz forces Pranjic to come up with a USMNT XI for March

https://twitter.com/ThatCroatianGuy
http://blog.3four3.com/

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