USMNT - ‘23 and beyond (3 Viewers)

[guidomerkinsrules]

Nothing wrong with possession, but impotent possession is a problem. The U.S. problem is the possession is not far enough up the pitch and they don't seem willing to take chances with passes or make runs outside of guys like Balogun who was brought up in Arsenal's academy. I think going from being a park the bus team to a possession team is a necessary step to become a better team, but I don't see any progress under Burkhalter. I'd like to see Jessie Marsch brought in or call Klopp and see if he wants to coach a national team. I'd even give Wenger a call. He will get rid of all that defensive solidity right away.

Yeah
My tactical analysis is … ok …
But I see the essential issue is that to maintain defensive shape, the team is mostly asked to attack down the sides
I think the pairing of Gio and Balo would be strongest in the half spaces or even rte 1
I also think CP and Weah might have more opportunity as outlets on the side if defense pinches Gio/Balo

I think we have those players except that it seems we’d need defenders more like Scally who step up for 1v1 challenges

 

[efil4stnias]

That's fair enough, I just really think the whole US set up needs to be torn down and rebuilt at this point and maybe it's not fair to every coach involved but I wouldn't want anything to do with any of them.

while i agree, i gave the laugh emoji because thats a pipe dream that ill NEVER see.

Nothing wrong with possession, but impotent possession is a problem. The U.S. problem is the possession is not far enough up the pitch and they don't seem willing to take chances with passes or make runs outside of guys like Balogun who was brought up in Arsenal's academy. I think going from being a park the bus team to a possession team is a necessary step to become a better team, but I don't see any progress under Burkhalter. I'd like to see Jessie Marsch brought in or call Klopp and see if he wants to coach a national team. I'd even give Wenger a call. He will get rid of all that defensive solidity right away.

Bingo.

Ive said it on this and other threads, in game- "possession WITHOUT purpose" - we just knocking the ball around, side to side, until CP runs back, collects pass, peeks over shoulder to see defender came with him and passes back to start the process all over. How many times ive watched Ream ( or some other player ) standing over the ball at midfield, and looking directly at CP or Balo or Weah make a darting run, splitting defenders, open for a 2 line pass ( bypassing the midfield defenders ) and THEY EITHER DONT SEE or worse, SEE BUT DONT PULL THE TRIGGER. Because they are afraid....afraid of the ball getting intercepted by midfiled and IMMEDIATELY under counterattack. Thats a sure fire way to lose a match. If you give it up, DEFEND. But dont NOT try the pass simply because you want to protect from counter.

Thats Berhlater ball. Then i hear how "data driven" he is, and it all starts to make sense. Dont take unnecessary chances, rely on possession until you get the exact look/pass/run you want, and then HOPE you can execute ( this after 15 min of jogging around, disconnected and BAM now you have to "turn it on" )

Its a joke.

Ask any coach how to break down a low block of defenders- make the first defender miss, continue your run and you now start to "pull" other defenders off their desired position. We have players that have this ability. But so tentative in doing so and i think thats directly related to the instruction of Berhalter.

 

[St. Widge]

Yeah
My tactical analysis is … ok …
But I see the essential issue is that to maintain defensive shape, the team is mostly asked to attack down the sides
I think the pairing of Gio and Balo would be strongest in the half spaces or even rte 1
I also think CP and Weah might have more opportunity as outlets on the side if defense pinches Gio/Balo

I think we have those players except that it seems we’d need defenders more like Scally who step up for 1v1 challenges

Yep. The USMNT doesn't attack the center of the pitch near on in the box (I think the stat guys call that zone 14). It's a hard place to play and get to because it tends to take guys with skill and touch, but it's what you have to do to get to the top of the game. And we have guys that can do it at what should work at the international level. This whole run the wings thing just seems like so much old line thinking. But, maybe I'm spoiled from watching Arteta who learned most of his tactics from Pep.

But, to be fair, playing higher up the pitch, in zone 14, and with wrote passing combinations takes time on the practice pitch that international coaches seldom get. It's part of why it important to get a bunch of guys who are used to playing that style and you aren't going to get that from MLS players until the MLS drastically improves. But, that cohesion from playing similar styles at the club level are what helped Germany become dominant for a few years and what has kept Spain at the top of the game. (Having mostly players from Bayern or Barca/Real Madrid helped too.)

 

[St. Widge]

Ask any coach how to break down a low block of defenders- make the first defender miss, continue your run and you now start to "pull" other defenders off their desired position. We have players that have this ability. But so tentative in doing so and i think thats directly related to the instruction of Berhalter.

Playing out the back helps to stretch the defense to, but you have to be willing to make the aggressive pass and then be organized in defense if they get a counter. But, you don't see USMNT players being aggressive. And against a low block, you just have to be willing to take some chances and pull guys out of position on defense. They are too passive and you are right that that comes from the coach. He should be constantly on them to keep the pace moving and keep the ball moving while being brave with passes.

 

[efil4stnias]

Yeah
My tactical analysis is … ok …
But I see the essential issue is that to maintain defensive shape, the team is mostly asked to attack down the sides
I think the pairing of Gio and Balo would be strongest in the half spaces or even rte 1
I also think CP and Weah might have more opportunity as outlets on the side if defense pinches Gio/Balo

I think we have those players except that it seems we’d need defenders more like Scally who step up for 1v1 challenges

Centrally- yes- Ream, love him, but asking him to defend against top flight strikers for 90 min, isnt his game any longer. ( he was the one who got out muscled for the Uruguay header on the FK)

And yes- to maintain Berhlater shape, our attacking forays must come from wings...except we dont have a Kane ( ) or Lewandowski or Haaland in the middle to finish crosses. lol

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

K so it’s not Kendrick v Drake but there’s some spice

 

[44slayer]

We just dont have time to sytematically overhaul US Soccer. We are less than a half cycle away, without the benefit of going through qualifying, from hosting a World Cup. Im not saying it absolutely doesnt need to happen. It we're being honest, Itll probably never happen anyway - regardless of a timeline. Corruption is king in intl soccer. Look at Fifa itself. Massive, massive amount of corruption with Blatter....is Fifa all that different today? Us Soccer just has too many people who have backed themselves in to pretty cush positions and make decisions both individually and collectively to protect that cushiness and power. They will not bring anyone on that will turn over the apple cart.

Hence, the Berhalter hiring. And then, the absurdist Berhalter rehiring. That is why Berhalter was made coach twice. The 2nd time was all the proof you needed that its an apple cart, and who wont turn it over.

For me, this is a 2 year sprint. We dont need anyone who is going to have a broader 10 year plan or about development from the U8 level. We need a tactitian who can teach this group of guys how to attack and take individual risks. If its Jesse Marsch, so be it. We need aggressive. I think selling this as a 2 year gig, you get to experience the US and be the leader of the host team at a world cup - you should be able to attract one of the bigger names out there.

 

[efil4stnias]

K so it’s not Kendrick v Drake but there’s some spice

If this produces anything close to " Not like us" then in here for it.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

 

[efil4stnias]

USSF has said they plan to make Berhalter decision by next week.

we will see.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

USSF has said they plan to make Berhalter decision by next week.

we will see.

I mean we know they’ll get it wrong it’s just which wrong that’s the mystery

 

[efil4stnias]

Just read USSF to meet w Klopp

 

[44slayer]

Just read USSF to meet w Klopp

W O W.

I said when they brought GGG back, that ideally he gets ousted at Copa. Even if it meant bouncing out of Copa in the group. I wouldve avoided bringing him back altogether, but it seemed like the only chance we had to not go into the summer of 26 with him, was to Copa like we Copa'd.

If you told even the GGG supporters that a poor Copa showing would yield Klopp, theyd sign off in a heart beat.

If Klopp is meeting, he is interested. Its time to pony up, its time for sponsors to pony up. Only issue here is Emma Hayes and the optics surrounding the $$$ it would take to get Klopp to take essentially a 1 1/2 year job.

 

[efil4stnias]

W O W.

I said when they brought GGG back, that ideally he gets ousted at Copa. Even if it meant bouncing out of Copa in the group. I wouldve avoided bringing him back altogether, but it seemed like the only chance we had to not go into the summer of 26 with him, was to Copa like we Copa'd.

If you told even the GGG supporters that a poor Copa showing would yield Klopp, theyd sign off in a heart beat.

If Klopp is meeting, he is interested. Its time to pony up, its time for sponsors to pony up. Only issue here is Emma Hayes and the optics surrounding the $$$ it would take to get Klopp to take essentially a 1 1/2 year job.

i have yet to find anything "concrete" today. So it very well may just be a rumor based on Klopps July 4 tweet and Howards proclamation post Copa about USSF should be meeting with Klopp.

But where there is smoke...i just hope its true

 

[guidomerkinsrules]