In the latest episode of his podcast, former U.S. international Tim Howard offers his advice on the coaching style of new U.S. national team manager Mauricio Pochettino. Howard, a legendary goalkeeper who made his mark with Premier League giants Manchester United and Everton, is excited about the future of U.S. soccer, but he also expresses his concerns about blindly learning from Pep Guardiola's passing soccer tactics.
Howard begins by looking back on the coaching days of the previous USMNT manager, and believes that although that team consisted of a group of tough, rugged players, they showed a strong competitive and tense style of soccer on the field, and were particularly good in front of the net. However, Howard is concerned that new manager Mauricio Pochettino may be influenced by Pep Guardiola's attempts to implement passing soccer tactics in the U.S. team.
"I think in every way Guardiola has ruined soccer." Howard put it bluntly, "He tells everyone that they can play flowing attacking soccer, but the truth is, not everyone can. There are only three teams in the world that can really do it well." Howard believes that blindly imitating Guardiola's tactical style may cause the U.S. team to lose its own characteristics and strengths.
Instead, Howard would prefer to see Pochettino lead the U.S. to stick to a defensive counter-attacking tactical system like that of Tottenham Hotspur, the team he once coached to the Champions League final. "I think sometimes you have to stay firm." Howard emphasized, "When you look at the best teams Pochettino has taken, you see that his Tottenham teams have always been based on a 442 formation, with four players going forward when they push forward in attack, and they're rock solid defensively."
Howard suggested that Pochettino implement this defensive counterattacking tactical mindset with the USMNT as well, especially to instill a resolute attitude on defense first. "The USMNT has enough players in the forward area to create enough of a threat up front if they can be consistent on the defensive end." Howard added.
