Again, it depends how we are looking to play. The issue for me is if we have Morales as a Pablo 2.0 then we need a Reyna/Mathis 2.0 - a guy who can play holding/deeplying and some #10. Which is not a bad way to play, esp with CP as an "outside" AM who can come central and maybe Weah and/or Boyd as a hybrid winger/striker. But I'm not sure Wes is completely there yet. And if we expect Morales to be the MB-style "come-back, get the ball, turn, distribute, wash, rinse, repeat..." I'm not sure he's going to work out as well as we hope. But I'm happy he's getting a look and I hope I'm wrong. Nothing will make me happier than eating crow because a USMNT player turns out stronger than I think he will.
I wasn’t the one who stated 50x better but I do believe that reference was specifically about defensive abilities. It may not be 50x but there’s a marked gap. The concept that we need a regista is stupid as we don’t have one in our pool. Bradley is not and has never been a high quality deep lying playmaker.
Except we often try to play like he is a quality deep-lying playmaker, or at least a high quality holding mid. Again, as I mentioned, if we change our tactics and don't try to play through Morales the way we try to play through Bradley, Morales will work out fine - maybe even quite well. But Bradley, even when he was at his best, was not, by himself, good enough for the "Bradley role" against top teams. Morales, if expected to perform the "Bradley role" against top teams will not be any better and may well be worse. If Beerholder uses Morales for his mobility and defensive ability - which are very good for this pool - and doesn't rely on him to carry and distribute, Morales will probably work out great. But I think Beerholder is looking for more out of that position. Hopefully, we get to see soon.
Or maybe just go full Klinsmann and play him as left winger, with Trapp as AM and Sargent as RW.* --- * The one competitive game Morales played for us, under Klinsi, he was played as the left wing, with Bradley as the AM and Aronjo as the RW.
I don't think Morales could play the role Bradley is supposed to be playing, organizing and leading the defense while also leading the charge forward with intelligent passes to launch the attack. Then again, neither can 2019 Michael Bradley, so not sure it matters.
One other factor that gets continually left out in this whole midfield morass is that while Adams is the obvious choice to play in the deep midfield role, he really hasn't played any role due to injuries. He played what, one game at right back? I absolutely think that was a mistake, but he's been unavailable for the vast majority of time Berhalter has been coach. We don't know how things will shake out once he is finally able to play and we don't really even know if he will or won't have any long term issues from such a long injury layoff. Right now, Adams as our best defensive midfielder is a theoretical construct only. It is one I strongly believe will become obviously true over time, but it hasn't happened yet and that isn't just because of Berhalter. Mostly, it is an unfortunate circumstance no one could control, except maybe Red Bull by playing him before he was ready and making his injury worse. Oh, and if anything that's an argument to include Morales. Take away one option and you need another. Especially with or lack of guys playing in that spot regularly at a high level.
We’re on the same page if what you’re saying is that Berhalter is pushing a style that depends upon a player that doesn’t exist in our pool. I do disagree that Morales will not be much better at the regista role than Bradley vs better teams - he has faster feet and recognition skills that Bradley has lost. Morales is world’s better than Trapp in every meaningful way.
Agree with 1 (and not just Beerholder, we've been trying that for a while, and MB - and JJ - were good enough against some, but not all.) A far as 2 - I hope you're right, but I don't think I've seen much evidence in Morales season last year. But as I said, this is one place I'd love to be wrong. And I've never understood the Trapp thing.
In the interest of facts; GC2015 matchday 3 Zardes Wondo Bradley Morales Bedoya Beckerman Fab Brooks Alvarado Chandler Guzan Morales played LCM in a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond. The same 4-1-2-1-2 diamond that we started WC2014, the same central 4 CM formation with Morales replacing JJ. It was the same LCM that he played for Ing in their 3CM set. The team, including Morales, was not very effective. Morales and Wondo were removed at halftime replaced by Yedlin and Dempsey. AJ came on late (70 min) to replace Bedoya at which point we reconfigured into a 4-4-2 with AJ and Deuce up top. Zardes then moved to LM and Yedlin played RM.
We don't know this at all. Berhalter got 90 minutes of Adams, months ago. He's mentioned several times that he's open to changing what he does and he's changed what he does plenty of times. He really hasn't run that RB system very much. And yet everyone acts like he's REFUSED to put Adams there. The dude's been hurt since March. Why don't we give the coach a chance to actually, you know, get Adams back into camp before we assume that he's not going to make that choice at this time?
I don't think Morales has lost a step but he never had blazing speed. His game is anticipation and positioning. He is not physically strong (165 lbs) but his defensive tools are solid, he is more in the "pest" category. His technical passing game is excellent.
Because Bradley has never been replaced before. Because MB, Jozy, and Omar Gonzalez would've been called (and presumably the first 2 would start) but for MLS playing games during the international break. Because the #2 behind Bradley is the god-awful Wil Trapp, who would not sniff this team if not for his connection to Berhalter in Columbus. Because Berhalter's continued inexplicable reliance on Ream and Lovitz illustrates that he's certainly capable of making poor choices. Need any more?
Let's see what happens when Tyler is healthy. It's telling you didn't address the substance of my post.
While you’re right one thing to keep in mind about JK’s 4-1-2-1-2.... the two shutters in the midfield are expected to defend centrally and attack as wide attackers. That’s a very difficult task for a player. Even at the highest levels. Only Juve got away with it consistently and even they were punished by the top teams in Europe.
I wrote a fairly long response to this about a week ago, but for some reason didnt hit the button. The reason I was think he might not start if everyone is healthy is due to position. My midfield has Adams, mckennie, and Pulisic in it. I have watched his last two games quite closely and definitely think he should start tonight. With everyone healthy, I could see him in midfield against better competition and pushing Pulisic out wide or think he would be better than Ream in his role.
“I remember watching him with the national team a little bit. I never met him before coming over to Dusseldorf. But I mean, he’s an outstanding player, very physical, very poised on the ball and just very confident,” Steffen said. “He’s a huge part of our team back in Dusseldorf. And I think he can really help us out here.” https://www.prosoccerusa.com/us-soccer/alfredo-morales-long-usmnt-exile-is-over/
Nice first half from Morales. Its night and day between him and Trapp and Bradley. 24:23 was a nice play from Morales.
Defensively and athletically, he’s good. Tactically and technically, he’s good defensively. A pool player, a situational player.
he wasn't terrible and its tough out there when you are with zimmerman and trapp I mean that alone makes it tough for anyone to look good.
Situational player. Good work rate and defense, but in our current vomitous system, he doesn't have a role.