Coaching Philosophies and the Gregg Berhalter System

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Susaeta, Mar 14, 2019.

  1. Patrick167

    Patrick167 Member+

    Dortmund
    United States
    May 4, 2017
    This is so true. But the half way choices he makes are killing the team as they try and do what he wants. Just one case:

    He plays Ream and Bradley for their passing in the "system". Then, faced with Canada's speed up top, he plays Long. But then Canada (or Mexico or any number of previous opponents) simply marks Bradley, makes Ream pass to Long, and then wait for the turnover. If it wasn't Long, it has been Zimmerman vs Curacao.

    Meanwhile, the counter-attack off the turnover goes right past Bradley.

    He has never played two CBs capable of passing that I can remember. He has never played a #6 that can win the ball. I think you are right, he should have been going all in one way or the other.

    Half-assing his way to failure.
     
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  2. Patrick167

    Patrick167 Member+

    Dortmund
    United States
    May 4, 2017
    If the USSF had actually interviewed any coaches, the main question should have been, "how will you set up the team to get Pulisic, our most dangerous attacker, in the best spaces to attack?"

    Whatever, "the System" is, it should be in place to get the ball to Pulisic in areas he can exploit the opponent. If Pulisic comes out of a match with a rating of 2.0, that is an indictment of the coach. If the game plan is not working for him, then subbing him out is not the answer. Changing the game plan is.

    Before the Canada game, GB admitted he had no idea how to use Pulisic. He should have been fired right there.
     
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  3. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    What happened last night was the same thing that happened when Arena put him out wide.... a combination of being isolated and not having the midfielders to get him the ball. Why would anyone think it is a good idea to move him out wide to Roldan on the field. Roldan's best pass of the night was to Canadas #9?
     
  4. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    People realize that if the guy who ran through our team last night was American, Berhalter wouldnt have called him up due to his silly "first team minutes". Davies is 3 Buli player who has player less than 180 minutes in Bundesliga this calendar year. Everyone knows MLS is better than the third tier in Germany.
     
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  5. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    It can be turned around too: Piette is an MLS player who disappeared McKennie from the field, even though the latter is a Bundesliga player.

    Cornelius is another MLS player who disappeared another Bundesliga player (Sargent). And Richie Laryea is an MLS player who disappeared our EPL bencher, Pulisic.

    So it's all about building the best team, not just calling the most expensive players as per Transfermarkt.
     
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  6. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    We should give Berhalter some credit for neutralizing Weston. His system and inferior teammates is pretty heavy burden.

    I am all about calling the best team. Less than half of this roster belongs. I'd keep Steffen, Miazga, Cannon, Pulisic, Mckennie, Morris, Ariola, Sargent and maybe even Bradley in a diffferent role. Then I'd starting looking for the rest of the roster.

    The point was that all the silly league comparison stuff you engage in and this first team minutes has hamstrung us players that dont belong.
     
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  7. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Think the point is to call in the best players, even if their playing situation is not the ideal. Ledezma, for example, is playing in the Eerste Divisie. But he is in great form and could've brought crucial creativity to the team. Instead we have McKennie in plunger role, which is ridiculous on a team trying to keep the ball.
     
  8. napper

    napper Member+

    Jan 14, 2014
    Fullerton
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Berhalter’s in-game coaching is not good. Last night, he never fixed the glaring problem of our central midfield with any of his subs. He subbed on Arriola, Zardes, and Lima to no effect.

    It was clear half way through the Cuba game, that if we wanted Pulisic to be more involved, he needed to be moved into the middle. Gregg ignored this.

    Then, he wants to blame the players for lack of desire?

    Bad.
     
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  9. TOAzer

    TOAzer Member+

    The Man With No Club
    May 29, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I suppose the refusal to take responsibility for your actions is now as American as apple pie.
     
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  10. sXeWesley

    sXeWesley Member+

    Jun 18, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That’s kind of the whole point in firing a sub standard coach ASAP though, right? This is international football, you can’t do anything about the player pool in present time, so the only actual variable is coaching, someone who is actually a + differential to the static of the player pool, like Tata is immeasurably valuable compared to club football where the roster is more important than the coach.

    In our current case, Berhalter is a clear negative differential and could be immediately replaced with a plethora of at least neutral variables, rah rah defense and grit MLS style coaches, or heaven forbid actual competent coaches who can move this team forward tactically and improve style of play, etc in a realistic manner.
     
  11. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    And to put a point on it, the "player pool" of international players, upon which we so heavily rely, is effectively comprised of role players on their own club teams. So when a Weston McKennie has a standout performance for Schalke, it's more than likely because he's surrounded by better players. I would imagine that had he been playing with Schalke in a competitive match against Canada, he might have had a couple of goals, and Schalke would have won going away. But such was not the case.

    So, when you have an international player pool of "Role Players-R-Us", you have the situation in which England found itself earlier in the decade. Although their players were predominantly EPL starters, they were all effectively role players on their respective teams, which featured more talented European players, and which ultimately culminated in their Group Stage exit in the 2014 World Cup (arguably more shocking than a USA loss to Canada). Simply not enough experienced, technical players in the pool.

    We have exactly the same problem. Simply not enough experienced technical players in the pool. You can't win with an over dependence on role players unless you can play to their collective strengths, and not to their individual weaknesses. Berhalter will either recognize that and plan accordingly, or he won't. In which case there will be no WC for the USMNT this time around, and he'll likely be gone as a result.
     
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  12. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    US pool of overseas field players have pretty much always been role players. Dempsey, one of the few exceptions, became a pivotal player for Fulham later in his career.

    England's crashing out of the 2014 WC was due to a variety of factors, including poor logistical preparation, and having to play in Manaus. Italy who also played in Manaus likewise crashed out of Group Stages.
     
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  13. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ok, so after a few days of fuming I'm still mad. I gave Berhalter a chance and he failed. Now the question is when is the right time to fire him. I'd say go with another interim coach until you have your replacement. The longer a coach has to fix this the better so cut of the scab and re-apply the dressing now before the infection gets worse.
     
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  14. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    I'm all for getting rid of Berhalter but with the current status of the federation and their clear lack of interest in anyone South of the border, I'm afraid we'd end up with another MLS coach even inferior to Egg, or with some Third Rate Euro coach, like the Africans used to get, only good at increasing his own bank account.
     
  15. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What do you think about giving Ramos a shot? I "think" he could do better by selecting guys who fit together better even if youthful than what we're seeing now. I wouldn't place a huge bet on it though.
     
  16. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    I agree. I think even Dave Sarachan would be an upgrade. But the problem is that the ineptitude doesn't end with Gregg.

    I'm afraid they boot him and we get Vermes or Friedel.
     
  17. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Vermes might be willing since KC has to rebuild. pretty sure the players wouldn't be comfortable and would play hard. Perhaps he would be a good alternative to Marsch who likely has a career plan that doesn't include the national team yet.
     
  18. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    IIRC, Vermes has made it clear that he loves where he is and isn't interested in a change. The last quote I remember from him about it was about how he's got full control of the coaching and player development at SKC. Why would he want a change? This is his legacy.
     
  19. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    tomasbernal,

    what's your take on the USMNT coaching situation? IIRC, you were a "give him time to see how good he is" / "let's wait to see what he does before we criticize" advocate (which is fine, of course). it was interesting to me that fellow advocate @Mahtzo1 has moved off of that to "time to move on" from Berhalter. I personally would give him some rope if he pulls a 180 on (1) the system (2) preference for MLS in general and (3) Bradley/trapp in particular.

    What are you thinking now? Thanks.
     
  20. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've posted after the last Mexico loss that I'm pessimistic at this point. If I had any faith that USSF could or would hire a better coach by next January I'd say do it. I don't, so we'll probably see him stay, so I just have to hope that the things I gave him benefit of the doubt on before actually come to fruition, soon.
     
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  21. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    That's a depressing take.
     
  22. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    It's the most rational take though. The USSF has never been known to switch coaches in the middle of a first cycle.
     
  23. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    I think it’s likely too. We’ve never had a team perform like this in a first cycle. This is second cycle performance.....
     
  24. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    Sticking to plan is very much part of American culture. Anyone who's been in a job with an entrenched hierarchy knows how hard it is to get them to change things, even when what they're doing is not working.
     
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  25. TOAzer

    TOAzer Member+

    The Man With No Club
    May 29, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At times it is even harder to get them to change things when what they're doing is clearly not working.
     

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