could probably go 10 deep at every position and still have more talent than most other countries, and yet the U.S. is no longer guaranteed to win every single game. In the past decades, they have lost to teams that only have 1 or 2 NBA-level guys on the roster.

The U.S. needs to get the most out of the talent that we have, every year. We don't always do that. But if we could get consistent at that, the U.S. would be good enough to finish first or second in CONCACAF every cycle, and at least challenge some juggernaut teams in the World Cup. The team has done this in the past.... sometimes. But not consistently. That's really the most that U.S. fans can ask for.