I'm willing to give this lineup a chance but lets be honest, when we're swapping out Yedlin so we can accommodate Trapp that's just not a positive swap. When the players don't fit your scheme change your scheme. I feel like we should've already learned this stuff with Klinsman.
Excited for Ream. Everyone has a player they irrationally support and he is mine. I like his play style but definitely recognize his ceiling. Still, when Ream is playing well I think he's one of the best passing CBs we have.
Lima wasn't a surprise to me. I guess I'm too traditional for Gregg's system. Adams is a waste there too in my opinion, but if that's how GB wants to play I understand.
The only clear success for Ream on the national team is when he played on the left of a 3-man backline (such as Azteca 2017). So this does put him in a position to succeed.
Against Ecuador in the Copa, we had: Pos: 42/58 Shts: 9/18 SOG: 4/3 We won 2-1, but 3G says he wants to play a different way. +50% possession and superiority in shots is what I'm looking for in the way of a good performance. https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-06-16-us-mens-national-team-vs-ecuador/stats
I expect Pulisic, Gyasi, and Jordan to combine well on that left side. I hope Ream gets defensive help from Weston. USA!
QUOTE yurch10 said: ↑ Serious question - Does anyone know of other national teams who take their best/most talented player, and move his position? I realize many either a. don't like this, or b. are waiting to see how it goes. But I'm legitimately wondering if this happens with other teams?QUOTE Ecuador plays Antonio Valencia as a midfielder. He always played RB for Manchester United.
I wasn't expecting Berhalter to change his tactical approach for the second match in any event. But with how limp Ecuador played tonight, there's no reason to change the setup for the Chile match. I'd say 2-5 changes: Roldan for the injured McKennie Miazga for Long Horvath for Johnson Yedlin for Morris Bradley for Trapp (but only if Trapp's injury is more than a knock. Otherwise, start Trapp again) Long and Johnson didn't do much wrong, but it's definitely worth testing Miazga and Horvath out after flying all the way over. For Morris's spot, it will have to be either Yedlin or Baird. Ideally, Trapp can stay in the starting XI to establish some continuity with the other ongoing changes. And a start for Roldan will be a huge step up in his international career, with only a few previous starts against minor opposition.
USA 1-0 Ecu Poss 62:37 Shts: 5:1 SoG: 2:0 3G did what he had said he wanted to do. And Ecuador's starting XI and 2 subs had excellent representation from the team's last WCQer. Chile are ranked 7 spots higher on the elo but have really fallen off in the past 18 months. Too bad 3G wasn't hired in early '18. Many matches against quality opponents were missed.
so, with the projected absences, what will GGG do? --------------------Gyasi Arriola----------------------------Morris -----------Roldan--------Lletget -------------------Bradley --Ream----Brooks------Long-----Lima What other options are there? If GGG is going to stick with the wandering RB system, I'd like to see Yedlin there. He's fast and fit. Maybe he can break up some plays, connect some simple passes. I think he'd make a really bad wingforward, but if part of that job is to cover for the RB, well, that's a consideration. It will be interesting to see Roldan and Lletget in those roles. I don't think they'll be a huge drop from Puli and Wes. But, Chile ain't Ecuador, and Lima isn't Adams. Bradley is going to have a hard time looking good in this system against Chile. I think Trapp would struggle, too.
Good thing the NCAA tournament is going. If that was my only sports option to watch I'd go walk the dog. One interesting thing to watch with that horrid lineup would be how that backline deal with Bradley's ineptness and if the backup goalie can make stops. Because the shots will come fast and furious.
We will be killed with this line-up, but not too many other choices what with injuries and Adams being called back to his club. I do agree that Yedlin needs to be in the game. Bradley would probably have started whether WT got a knock or not. Maybe take Gyasi out, replace him with Morris and replace Morris with Pulisic. Yedlin and Pulisic should play well together. Not too much else available what with the call-ups available.
Eventually, we may end up having Top NT problems: players that make so much money in Europe, they demand to play only 60 minutes with the NT and only give their 50% to avoid injury.
With Puli, Wes and Adams out, I'd go ---arriola------zardes-----morris -----------lletget--------roldan ------------trapp---------lima -------miazga---brooks----long --------------------gk:Horvath b.t.w., there's not many mids left which is why I suggested originally during Jan Camp that Berhalter should keep Delgado and Canouse in play. I thought they might be needed for defense in mid at some point. Besides Bradley, there aren't any defensive 8 type mids left to sub in and this is Chile we are up against.
Why is Pulisic out? I see nothing. Also Adams going back to RBL is a bit of bullshit. FIFA date. I'd like an honest quote from someone here. Not, "The 20-year-old will return to Germany to continue training with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig." Why the hell does he go back to club but no one else?
shrug. I'm ok with a little schmoozing with Euro clubs. I never liked Klinsmann's austere attitude (No thanks, I want our doctor's MRI of that "injury"). Let's allow Euro clubs the players when it counts for them and we'll insist on the players we want when it counts for us.
They're where we were a couple of years ago: lots of old guys, the 24-27 batch not up to par, and kids getting their chance.
14 players represented Chile in all three of its recent glorious tournaments, the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas and the 2017 Confederations Cup, which is an incredible stat. By the middle of April, only 1 of these 14 players will be younger than 30 years old.
And that lack of turnover showed in the end of World Cup qualifying and the downfall is continuing into 2019. Aging is a helluva thing.