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I finished my #USMNT rewatch:
• Team selection is the core issue right now. Trapp, Zardes & maybe Boyd (still want to see more) aren't up to the level that's needed in these games
• Could see immediate improvement re: attacking combo play when Sargent replaced Gyasi
• Team selection is the core issue right now. Trapp, Zardes & maybe Boyd (still want to see more) aren't up to the level that's needed in these games
• Could see immediate improvement re: attacking combo play when Sargent replaced Gyasi
• Zimmerman has been poor since Gold Cup. Not sure what happened b/c he was so good before that.
• None of the CBs was able to dip their shoulder and carry past the pressing Mexican front line. Didn't happen a single time all game long.
• None of the CBs was able to dip their shoulder and carry past the pressing Mexican front line. Didn't happen a single time all game long.
• I am legit concerned about Weston McKennie, who's gifted but still so scattershot & naive re: how he brings those gifts to bear. Need Wagner to spend a lot of time molding him
• Pulisic played hard but was selfish & slow of thought (37th min non-breakaway, late overlap)
• Pulisic played hard but was selfish & slow of thought (37th min non-breakaway, late overlap)
• Morales battled hard and his physical presence/ball-winning ability was useful
• Lletget was a breath of fresh air. Willingness/ability to receive the ball in tough spots was lacking from entire US side before he got in the game
• Lletget was a breath of fresh air. Willingness/ability to receive the ball in tough spots was lacking from entire US side before he got in the game
• Defensive shape w/ double pivot was promising & allowed FBs to play higher. #USMNT actually did a good job through 70 mins of not letting El Tri get the ball into dangerous spots via build-up
• I'm fine w/ them trying to play through this press. I understand why others aren't
• I'm fine w/ them trying to play through this press. I understand why others aren't
• I've always believed "learn the basic shit at a high level, then add bells and whistles" is the best way to build a team. That's what Tata has done for El Tri – they haven't done a lot of complicated stuff this year. They just play a standard 433 really, really well
• Lletget, Pomykal, Adams, Brooks and Sargent all have the potential to help this team immensely on a short timeline, and over a longer timeline as well
• I also have hope for Toye, Servania, Weah, Miles R, and Yueill, but am less confident about them than the above group
• I also have hope for Toye, Servania, Weah, Miles R, and Yueill, but am less confident about them than the above group
There are answers to most of the Qs #USMNT fans have right now. Berhalter has to be willing to find them.
I do think he'll get there, but I share your frustration that we're not at that point just yet.
I do think he'll get there, but I share your frustration that we're not at that point just yet.
I'm not willing to call him inflexible just yet – we're still a year away from World Cup qualifiers.
What I will say (and have written in the past) is that this young group seems better suited to playing against the ball than playing with it.
What I will say (and have written in the past) is that this young group seems better suited to playing against the ball than playing with it.
The thing is, though, that they're going to *have to play with the ball* in most Concacaf games. Trying to do so against Tata's Mexico is, in theory, how you are absolutely prepared to do so against the likes of Jamaica, Honduras & Costa Rica. It makes sense.
Also bear in mind that Berhalter is not an idiot. In the 2015 playoffs against Jesse Marsch's #RBNY side, he sat deep, absorbed and eliminated them on the counter. He did the same thing to Tata's Atlanta in 2017 (though that came via PK shootout).
He's beaten a press before.
He's beaten a press before.
