Since we're starting the likes of Miazga, Lovitz and Ream, expect us to do a lot of defending-with-10 this cycle.
It's weird to even watch this squad right now. Not altogether bad and context is key. But just had to see what Berhalter is gunning for exactly besides religiously preaching shape. Also weird (or maybe not) to watch this broadcast that 1) made no attempt to locate footage of Pulisic's injury or comment on it much until well after it happened and 2) spent the vast majority acting as if it's completely normal that Michael Bradley is pulling 90 as a 6 out there. That's not even ragging on Bradley -- low-hanging fruit to do that, although he can still dime it, gotta give him credit there -- but just ... why is soccer media just OK with everything that exemplifies? Finally: Baird went from the most anonymous to outright worst USMNT performance I've seen in some time. Hate Zardes all you want; at least you understand why he's there and he shows up in the game. Baird looked like Berhalter actively regretted the call-up.
Once Pulisic went down, we amounted to a B team, and one which didn't entirely disgrace itself. Useful in evaluating who can play a reserve role going forward.
Shame we had to move Roldan back and sub in Trapp to help MB. But, at least GB recognized the problem and tried to adjust. Fantastic play by Zardes to set up Pulisic for the goal. BTW, what happened to GB’s system?
Yeah, I thought it was a disappointing game in several ways--pretty boring, not many US players showing well, and the US demonstrating that they can't deal with a high press. Now since I agree others will have the negatives covered, here are the potential positive takeaways for me: 1) Arriola and Zardes were serviceable. We all know that they're limited technically, but they work hard, make good runs, and can be good complements to better players around them. 2) The US generally did well to bend, but not break, even when Chile really had them rattled with their pressing in the latter part of the 1st half. Chile still didn't get many good looks at goal. 3) Berhalter's switch to more of a 5-3-2/3-5-2 partway through the 2nd half seemed to allow the US to solidify things and get back in the game a bit. 'Twas a good adjustment to at least preserve a draw.
Only one player disappointed me: Roldan. The rest were more or less at expected levels. Roldan seemed just out of it a lot of the time. Pretty positive team play, especially given who the team was missing and who GB chose to start. The defense continued its nice run of games despite the substantial change in players from game to game. Speaks to a generally good organizational understanding among whoever plays.
He was better than Trapp today and Adams was unavailable. I mean yeah I'd like to think we have progressed to the point where a 30+ year old Bradley wouldn't be getting 90 minutes but he's arguably our 3rd best #6 and we needed both him and Trapp out there at the same time to step Chile's attack.
Honestly, not a lot from either game. The players who most suspected weren't ready for this level showed that they aren't. Good on Zardes to get a goal and assist in the two games, but his first touch means he's a top-5 American forward at his absolute best. Horvath was a nightmare distributing the ball today. Hope he can improve that. Ream can't play for this team at any serious level. He can't stay switched on for a full 90. Miazga didn't do anything to suggest that he's more than Brooks's backup. Baird tries hard, but he doesn't have the technical skills to play at the international level yet. If he puts up numbers in MLS this season like he did in 2018, he has to move abroad. Bradley can ping a nice pass, but he doesn't have the legs to play as a 6 or the accuracy to play as an 8 or a 10. Jonathan Lewis shouldn't be called up at all unless he can lock down a place at club level. Berhalter's system is intriguing, but his player selection gets a D- so far.
Better hope the U23's and U20's take a big leap as this squad today was full of non-international talent.
Halfway decent for in essence our our 2nd XI against a team that actually committed to the press, but we need a plan B. I think it's silly to commit to playing out of the back do-or-die. Our goal came from direct play. A bunch of our better players are probably best served by playing somewhat direct, Pulisic in particular. We were very sloppy with the ball in the back under pressure. None of these guys in the back that played today and didn't play on Thursday particularly made a strong case for themselves, even though they were under pressure.
How bad is Pulisic's injury? Now that both he and McKennie are out, this is a major problem for the senior team.
Right now we don't have any tested difference maker. The team vs. Ecuador was pretty much our A-team.
For me it was watching Horvath on the reply of that goal. That was no accident. He saw Zardes and Pulisic bunching forward and sent the kind of ball to Zardes which he cold handle and lay off to a teammate who in this instance happened to be Pulisic. Horvath came off his line early with good anticipation. I don't think Johnson makes that play.
This is a major problem for their clubs. I rather these players rest well and show up for their clubs, than these meaningless and garbage friendlies.
Watching the results of these friendlies, Mexico is hitting peak too early and South America needs a serious rebuild because right now they're looking worse than the AFC second-tier. Even El Salvador looked scary today. We need a striker. Pronto.
But....integration.Experience.Learning the system. How will they soak up Lion level knowledge at clubs like Chelsea?
Oh, Zardes donkey-touches aren't doing it for you? Naaah, GGG had him in CBus, so he's not allowed to look at any other strikers. Better have Sargent, Weah, any everyone else who's young and talented, play YNT games so we never know how good they are! Yay!
Replace Adams, Brooks and Trapp with Yedlin, Gonzo and Bradley and the passing game that put Ecuador on their heels is not there anymore. For all the ragging on Ream, how many goals do Antoneee and Yedlin have to give up from the fullback position before we say enough?
The US wasn't good tonight. But if we are honest neither was Chile. Chile had several opportunities to run up the score and couldn't execute. Several of us have pointed out that pressing the ball would be a huge problem for the system GB wants to play. It was pretty evident tonight what a strong team that could finish would have done to us. Also, I think it is pretty evident that it is time to move on from Bradley. Yes, he played two nice balls. But he was largely an orange traffic cone tonight. This is becoming a Mandoza line or more accurately a Ralston line conversation. Do those two balls justify his inability to run or pass under pressure? I don't think they do. The problem is Will Trapp isn't much better. I want to give GB the benefit of the doubt that he is more than just platitudes about the shape of the team and systems of play. But I also am not sure I have a lot of hope that isn't the case.