It's not really so much that any of the subs were individually poor or below expectations, they were just clearly not difference makers when we needed someone to step in and change the game. None of the guys brought on were ever gong to do that and only Boyd (and that's a big maybe) had any capability of actually changing things significantly when you took a look at that bench. Player selection issues hampered his team as we ended up with zero options to make a late push possible against a decent team. If anything, we were worse for the changes. Still, if I'm honest, I can't say a 1-0 loss against Mexico in a final where we had plenty of chances for a goal would have sounded like a complete failure for this team after they did the work of considerably lowering expectations by being garbage in the pre-tournament friendlies. Heck, if you'd have asked me after the Chile game if I would take making the final and losing to Mexico in a close game by a goal, I'd have grudgingly taken it. So at least things are trending upward compared to before the Gold Cup.
The challenge that I see is that no one is playing to their potential. Sadly, maybe Bradley is playing as close to his ceiling (in the first half) but no one else even came close (long/Zimmerman?)
What did you want him to do. When bradley and mckennie both struggle like they did there isn't a whole lot he can do.
I think ream is what he is long/zimmerman/miazga are what they are I don't think any of them are going to vastly improve between now and the next wc. I think this is why brooks is a lock.This is also why people should spend sometime thinking about long in ream's spot..I think he'd play it a lot better being that he is just quicker.
so you want will trapp out there? one thing was clear from this tournament and the friendlies before it and its that bradley and should be in front of trapp.
bradley and trapp listen I get the pick a random thing and decide that is the reason I mean do you think dropping bradley and trapp and playing...morales gets you a different result you are crazy.
the fact that either of those two players get called a 6 is a big part of our problem. we need ball winners and firefighters, not immobile deep lying playmakers that are credited more for tempo than doing the hard work of protecting a back 4
i mean morales is clearly the answer here and you dismissed it out of my hand because of reasons only known to you
because none of you have seen him play so he isn't a realistic answer and there is no proof that he is actually better.
that cuts both ways - no proof he is worse. thats why you bring him in instead of having two defensive liabilities that are athletically limited and incapable of protecting a back 4 against a quality opponent. you dont get bonus points for conservative decision making that favors the same old faces.
I mean, he could have put together a roster that had a 6 and included other attacking options. Nobody forced Berhalter to make it a binary choice between Wil Trapp and Michael Bradley, and nobody forced him to leave Josh Sargent in Germany.
Twellman was on Golic and Wingo, and called out the subs. But he hedged, saying that might be the talent and it might be the coaching. To me, it's both, but mostly the coaching. We don't have anyone great to put in for Jozy when he's tired; Zardes' numbers don't lie. He's OK. Other guys might but slightly better than OK, but that's it. OTOH, BOYD BOYD BOYD. Roldan? BOYD!
He boxed himself in with his selections based on using Adams at rb. He didn't have a real left back on the roster so when Adams wasn't there to play his hybrid system he was stuck. Tata adjusted to it but Berhalter also could have adjusted and moved Arriola to left back which is sort of what he was forced to do anyway and bring on Boyd for Reem or brought on Lima for Reem to have a real attacking left back. I would have done the Boyd for Ream switch. Did Berhalter learn anything about choices we were all skeptical or outright called him out on before the tournament? Bradley can't handle both games of qualifying that's obvious. Did he do enough to play himself of the roster or into a backup position? By not playing Trapp it seems Berhalter can change his mind. Did he also change it on the whole right back hybrid? He has a lot resting on that decision as it changes a lot of the rest of the roster and moves one of the top three players out of position. Now we wait to see. if he had to learn hopefully it happened now and not during qualifying. If he didn't learn then his leash should be short.
i think the point that being creative in how you construct a roster when you have limited talent is of the utmost importance. for instance maybe greggg shouldve been looking for an ultra mobile centerback to plug in at the 6 if he needed pure ball winning and defensive responsibility in that role
the roster had two guys who play the 6 along with roldan and mckennie who also at times play the 6 questioning roster decisions is one thing but the whole 'there is a single answer to every problem' and 'there is a great white hope out there and his name is....' that will just fix things is a myth. sargent hasn't done a think to prove he is worthy or that he'd fix anything. It would be dumb luck if he helped at this point. the only guy you can argue is pomykal and he was at the u20 so he wasn't going to be a part of the gold cup no matter what.
there isn't a change to be made especially down a goal late. they are the best two i those spots I mean putting roldan in for mckennie wouldn't make them better in anyway and bringing trapp on for bradley doesn't make them better. oh and bringing anyone on for pulisic to help the team defend doesn't help the team at all.
When your big scoring threat off the bench is Zardes, no there is no obvious bench player to throw on needing a goal. But, having that as your only bench option is 100% Berhalter's fault. And taking off Jozy, your only halfway decent finisher, when chasing the game late is poor as well.
It was obvious the game was getting away from us well before Mexico scored. Berhalter either didn't recognize that or saw it and didn't make any changes. Both are very worrying.
Any links to any of the post game quotes out there anywhere? In this day and age of Tweets, it's hard to find the complete quote sheets anymore. Would love to hear how Gregg defended himself.
Here's a link to some of the quotes. From these, there doesn't seem to be any accountability from Berhalter on the lack of tactical changes to counter Mexico. https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/th...12/mexico-delivers-harsh-lessons-to-the-usmnt