When Pulisic is out we get Arriola. So it's pretty clear who we most need to be available in November.
GB plays Gio at RW most of the time... I see CP's backup as Aaronson. All that being said... I would prefer that GB play Gio at the 8 or 10.
If Gio is a wide player then he is a bench player. He just is not good enough at the position to displace Pulisic, Aaronson or Weah (or, in Gregg's eyes, Arriola). If he is an 8/10 then he is in the conversation for a starting spot with guys like Musah, McKennie, and Busio. Either way, we can play without Reyna better than we can play without Pulisic at the moment.
Ideally, Pulisic, Musah, Reyna, McKinnie can all be on the field and not static and all alternating in the middle and wide (at times) that would be Berhalter's coup de grace if he pull this off- because IMO that would be the best use of their abilities and youth. However, I think that requires a higher-level coach to incorporate this to be honest. Given Gregg, we may have to stay with the more static designations, which leads to a lot of either/or's in the lineup. Yes, Reyna's best position is clearly central of park, with some defensive responsibilities- but providing a main link to attack, and getting forward as well. But also empowered to be able to push wide on occasion and have Pulisic or Musah play that central role in the middle. Same thing for his club. He has to bide his time, but the Reus position is his ideal one.
There ya go. ----------------Weah-----------Pulisic------- ------------------------Reyna------- -----------Musah--------------McKennie----- -----------------------Adams----- ---Jedi----------------------------------------Dest----- ------------Robinson------Richards---- -----------------------Steffen------
Swap Pepi for Weah and put in hyphenated Richards/Brooks and coach the prime 5 attackers to play total football, switching positions often (and include Dest and Jedi sometimes picking spots to bomb flanks) and I would love it.....
I like it. When you have no true 9, don’t bother playing with one. Get your best players on the field.
In the running for the Golden Boy award: Candidates for Golden Boy 2021:🏴 Bellingham, Greenwood, Saka🇩🇪 Adeyemi, Musiala, Wirtz🇪🇸 B. Gil, Gavi, Pedri, Pino🇫🇷 Camavinga, Saliba🇳🇱 Gravenberch, Timber🇮🇹 D. Maldini, Piccoli🇧🇷 Rodrygo🇧🇪 De Ketelaere🇵🇹 Nuno Mendes🇺🇸 Gio Reyna #FCB pic.twitter.com/fBA4eRaUI6— Razio Barca (@raziobarca) October 15, 2021
That list looks really similar to my FIFA career mode roster. Buy 'em when they're young and cheaper.
I see Reyna's biggest strength as playing between the lines. For that, he needs to play a lot more centrally. The greatest example being the goal against PSG. He was barely 17 at the time. Go see the tape of how well he did in that situation. But you can see it in other games as well. He has uncanny ability to find the gaps, turn quickly and advance, and play a great ball while being closed down at pace- a ball with precision and the right amount of pace. He is lethal like this. As a winger, his ability to affect the game are unnecessarily limited. The touchline as a defender. That limits his space & options as does the offside rule. As does the angles on the field available as a winger. He is also dependent on someone else making the right pass to him, at the right time- when he is actually the one of the best on his team to do that very same thing (pass). To me, his is more like the American version of Zidane who should be conducting the orchestra centrally. Force team to collapse on him in the middle which will create space for his wingbacks on Dortmund or USMNT. Even in tighter spaces, he is careful with ball and can still create and spring attacks. If a team does not collapse on him and plays him straight up- he's going to kill you with finding the gaps and his precision in passing and/or shooting from top of box with power and accuracy. As well, playing more centrally with take advantage of his abilities as strong in 1v1 duels. Offensively, let him trail plays and blasts shot from top of box when defense overshifts on his teammates. He is not a Dempsey-type late arriver in box, but more as a top-of-box option on attacks. Shame Reus still seems to have something in tank. It is halting Reyna's progression in taking over this role on Dortmund. If I were PSG or Man City or Madrid, I would try to acquire Haaland and Reyna and take the bet that they will be the world's best 1-2 combo centrally for next 10 years. Literally whatever they spend on those 2 will be well amortized, IMO, over the years.
If we're to have a #10 going forward (unlikely, Berhalter doesn't play with a #10), Reyna is much more likely to fit the role than Pulisic. To play centrally at the top level he needs to develop strength, and learn to guard the ball. It's doable. He's only 18.
Are we talking about Reyna? He's sturdy and guards the ball well. Very especially for his age. He will only go from good>>to very good>> (to possibly) great in this.
Hmm. Not sure he’s a true “10”, but what team plays with a 10 anymore? He’s got bite on defense and can play the ball back in the midfield, farther away from opponents goal than you usually see a 10. Maybe an 8/10 hybrid. I also think he could do well as a second striker, playing alle spalle. Regardless, it’s in the middle- he has remarkable strength on the ball and amazing vision for his age.
First thing I noticed with him is how great he is on the tirn in either direction. Hope he gets healthy soon.