Go away - Roldan Zardes Lovitz Morris Maybe keep- Arriola Miazga Thanks for everything- Ream Bradley Revelation - Cannon Needs to find consistency- Steffen Mckennie BRING IN NOW - Adams Sargent Weah Pomykal Brooks Please play some first team games soon- Dest Richards Ledezma Soto Gloster Convince to switch - Kik Gregg can leave too
You get the Ball, you look up and Jozy is covered and your options are pass it back to Rafa, wait for Wes to come help or push forward and pass it to Arriola or Morris to ruin a good chance. Yeah, I don't think he needs to learn to pass is the issue.
How can you be hopeful when it’s obvious that we have a coach that is in over his head. Possibly our talent gap qualifies us for the World Cup, but we have a coach that couldn’t remotely sniff a national team job anywhere else.
I agree with whoever said it was going to come down to the coaches. From what I saw, the teams both had good and bad plays, but Mexican coach made more efficient changes. No one has mentioned the several times that Altidore knelt down on the field, not sure why. He played okay for first 30 minutes or so and then just ran out of steam. Much too bulky to be a 90 minute player, and we needed 90 minute players. Thought defense looked ok, with the exception of Bradley. He did, however, provide a few good crosses. I also liked McKennie's tenacity...he took the captain's armband seriously, as he should. I would have liked to seen Boyd brought in for some speed, but I think he must have gotten on Gregg's bad side or something. Roldan did make a couple solid plays. Morris was ok. I still like Arriola, but he does have limitations. Lots of hustle though, which is what we need. He and Boyd on either side with Pulisic playing off of them would seem like a good start when Gregg is putting together his next team. No to Zardez. Cannon played well. We still need several good forwards...like the one sent home, perhaps.
So we've been told that Berhalter is a student of the game (which I like in principle), but after tonight's subs I have to wonder if he actually understands what he's studying? Reminds me of the classic A Fish Called Wanda scene where Wanda tells Otto that apes (meaning him) might read philosophy but that doesn't mean they understand it. I'd love to see the press go off on Berhalter like this regarding his coaching acumen and understanding of the game:
If he did sub Bradley... it would be Trapp and that would be even worse. Small side bar GB gives Weston the armband and yet every time they showed the huddle, all I see is Bradley talking. Even after the game... they interview Bradley. He wasnt the friggin captain and certainly not any kind of force anymore
Berhalter was badly outcoached. Pizzaro switched sides at half - and was hugely dangerous. Partially because he could be 100% confident that Ream was never going upfield because of our incredibly predictable, scoutable game plan. Subs were atrocious. Thought the game needed Roldan? If it did, it was for Bradley, not Morris. If Morris needed to come out, Boyd. Was Jody really so gassed? Was bringing on Lovitz going to help get a tying goal? Berhalter lost his matchup by more than Bradley, and Bradley was OK in the first and eaten alive in the second. I liked that we played with a lot of passion and physicality. Players came together and learned each other more. Cannon has a shot to be on this squad for a long time. He and Boyd moved themselves way up the depth chart this tourney, not sure anyone else did. CB depth chart seems the same, we need to move away from Ream as a LB and have him on the CB depth chart, and we need CP and Wes to keep improving.
Pass the f*cking ball to them. They are your teammates, and if they've gotten into open position you've gotta deliver the pass. If he doesn't make the pass he's gonna get creamed. Making that pass with regularity makes opposing defenders think twice about making you mashed potatoes.
I guess I’m not the only one who thinks this way. I would have been happier with a sub for MB90 (anybody who could run), sub out Jozy (it they felt like they need to for health reasons) for Boyd and have Boyd go Right and Morris lead the line and see if he could hold up the ball.
Donovan saying the USA was missing key players like "Adams, Brooks, and Josh Sargent." Yeah, Donovan - if only Sargent had been available.
He's the proverbial player that couldn't score in a whorehouse. If his best asset is tracking back on defense, play play him at left fullback instead of Ream. At least he will provide some balance going forward instead of being anchored to the goal line.
All I can say is: Pulisic, McKennie, and Adams. I will buy you guys drink whenever you want them. I feel absolutely terrible for these boys. They deserve a much better Nat coach.
Lovitz as your last sub down 1 v Mexico with 10 minutes left is like starting Brad Davis vs Germany in a World Cup match. If Lovitz was the answer, what was the question?
Yes — that should have been in my earlier list of takeaways from the game. (1) Cannon (2) defensive organization (3) passion and physicality If we had played at that level of passion a couple of years ago at T&T, we'd have made it to Russia.