Post-match: USA v. Canada

McK had one bad pass, that TT deservedly harped. He had several excellent passes that no one talks about because they didn't come to anything. McK is great. It's the players around him that need work.

 

Everything Gregg has spent all his time working on, he tossed out the window. Is this what Earnie was talking about? We basically played 90 minutes like we started the GC Final.

All the Cupcake guys getting trotted out, all the playing short and slow against presses where it made no sense, everything was tossed. The System was flushed down the toilet.

The 4-4-2 passive mid-block gone. A double pivot in a 4-2-3-1; looked so much better. Designed set pieces after ignoring that party of the game.

Now, we see what happens from here. I'd add more pressing and hopefully Adams. And be flexible before and in game. If teams press us, we play this way. If they drop off, we go back to some Greggy ball but even more aggressive with counterpressing.

Dest was really good. I think people missed all the little moments Mckennie had that kept possession and calmed chaos. He certainly had one blunder. Very few played perfect, none really, but played better than the sum of their parts.

Yueill was fine, but the double pivot probably would have made anyone look better. But there is no need for Trapp or Bradley.

Ream was great, do you bring him to the world cup? Don't need Lovitz anymore.

Lletget was fine, don't need Roldan anymore.

Arriola was fine but not great, and if Weah gets healthy, Baird doesn't need anymore call ups.

Not only was GB super pragmatic, but he dropped and didn't even sub in his guys. Compare the subs to GC final: Morales, Yedlin, and Boyd vs. Roldan, Zardes, and Lovitz.

 

I can definitely think of worse problems to have than Yuell being the backup to Adams at the 6. He's like a solid NFL backup QB - not a world-beater, but dependable and able to do quite a bit that Berhalter would like to have in his ideal system and can also ball-hawk after playing for Alymeda.

Tyler Adams has to be the #6 on this team, but having depth at that position is a positive.

 

I'm literally rewatching the game right now and McKennie just booted a ball 30 feet over a wide open Morris -- same setup that an accurate Arriola pass later would lead to goal #2.

He's made a lot more one bad pass and it's early. He had a bad game. I'm not sure why people can't admit it. It doesn't mean he's terrible or should be replaced, but he didn't play well, especially compared to the rest of the roster last night. Being in the Bundesliga doesn't make you immune to bad games.

 

This is more of what I expected. Try to develop a possession game, but if you can't due to player quality, time to implement or any other reason, pragmatically transition back to something else.

For me, this is all about the defensive change. We can generate a ton of offense out of that against CONCACAF opponents.

I'm glad Berhalter was able to do that, and I'm glad Earnie let him. I was beginning to think they were a bit insane.

Now, we just have to win an away game.

 

I didn't watch the game (will watch the replay later today), but it sure sounds a lot like GB was doing a lot of what many of us on this board (myself included) had been clamoring for.

The 4-2-3-1 is the best setup for this team. McKennie and Adams as a double pivot can be solid and can protect the back line. It also allows those two to complement each other more. That would also allow Dest and Yedlin some additional protection so they can join attack. Put Weah and Pulisic on the two wings. Sargent up top - I know he isn't a traditional #9 in this type of setup, but Gregg will have to adjust. I know the #10 is still a question mark, but that might be a place where Pomykal could play (or you start to bring Pulisic inside more to that position). If teams allow more possession, the 4-2-3-1 could turn into more of a 4-3-3 with Pulisic and Weah becoming more forward-minded, Adams playing the 6, McKennie playing an 8, and then Lletget or Pomykal playing the 10.

Assuming everyone is healthy, for the first time in a long time I can see a pretty set in stone Starting XI on this team. The only spot where I still have question is at the #10 spot.

 

Definitely some. But there were also some adjustments that no one on this board really gets into the detail.

We had a really high line of confrontation for our back line. Ream/Brooks headers absolutely shut down their direct play, especially in the first half. Early pressing and counterpressing pushed them to try direct play and then our defense did a great job of shutting it down. At times it looked like a 4-2-4 defensively, which I kind of hate, but it worked because the back four played super aggressive.

Offensively, we did work it out of the back, sometimes creating some breakouts and with some risky plays but none really hurt us. But we didn't really have that kind of continual possession -- we made the game hectic and when we got the ball, we attacked, moved fast forward and often more direct.

But we also got a lot of benefit of switching the play -- but the big difference was that we switched while moving forward (see goal #2). And we didn't really boot it up to someone for hold up play -- it was direct to streaking wingers or Zardes mostly on the move forward.

I'd also point out that there were several players selections -- Ream at LB, Zardes at CF, Yeuill at CDM, no Morales but starting Lletget that aren't popular but mostly or all worked out. The effort level was the key to this game, and basically everyone brought it. In particular, it's hard to say Berhalter was wrong about Zardes.

 

And you should be. I said it before the game and I stand by it. The US came out with energy and fight...in good part to Bradley not being in the lineup. He slows down the game and other players have to accommodate him. I doubt very much if GGG will get rid of him before he reaches his goal of games played, but hopefully after that we will never see him again. Give him a nice send off game and move on. Same, basically, goes for Jozy. I think Sargent, Morris and others will displace him. Not to mention he seems to be injury prone.

Did not see or hear Twellman's big answer to article that he was going to reveal, but he was very negative the entire game...as he should be. Good we won, but not convinced we will against better teams. On to Cuba.

 

I'll re-watch it eventually and post the excellent passes that his teammates squandered. Off the top of my head, he sprung Dest for his long run and I'm pretty sure he made the pass to Morris, where he flubbed a pass because he has not left foot. No one is talking about those because his teammates floundered the opportunity.

 

I don't think he was completely incompetent. Of course he had nice plays. He also made some nice tackles on defense.

But he's one of our best players. And he was less impactful than most of the team. Worse, it's clear he didn't come out with the same effort and focus as the rest of the team. Everyone else attacked; he often backpassed. Everyone else counterpressed ... he was like 50/50 on that.

 

My takeaway is coming into it I thought Canada might be a legit opponent.

Alas, they are not.

They play like a minnow on the road.

But so do we until we show otherwise.

34% possession for us? That's a red flag as again it suggests we don't have the quality to control tempo against any kind of a decent opponent. Canada is atrocious defending set pieces. Go up against a side which isn't and where does that leave us?

I'm entirely unconvinced this team and most of the players can do much of anything against a quality opponent or on the road.

Morris is odd. Can be quite impressive at times but once or twice shows terrible quality and decision making. Still, with the current pool he's someone who is in contention to play every match.

Of this group I say Brooks, Dest and Morris are keepers. McKennie needs to figure out what he is.

Until proven otherwise I lean more towards....just how bad is Canada on the road to make Egg Head look this competent. Canada actually looked scared in the 1st half.

Outlook on the Hex is completely up in the air until we see how Egg Head will use Puli and get him on the ball, who's our CF(I have no confidence in Zardes leading a side in the Hex), who are our first choice wingers, who's chosen as the creative CM, where Adams plays, who's the CM who plays next to him, and what happens with Dest vs Yedlin vs Cannon vs Ream.

Also, might have some new 1st teamers come the spring, Ledezma and Llanez might be playing 1st team ball by then and Weah hopefully is back and balling in Ligue 1.

Way too many unknowns.

Hell, in March Egg Head might throw Bradley right back out there at the 6 and everything immediately goes down the toilet.

 

my guess is that he’ll only replace mike when Adams has a guaranteed starting spot with his UCL club team - rotational minutes simply wont do nor will any other player....

 

Ironically, I think, this iteration of the team looked a bit more like Klinsmann's team. They still played out of the back but were much more direct through midfield then they had been in the past games. Klinsmann's teams also played more possession in the back than the midfield.

 

Suggesting mckennie isn’t trying hard enough is weak.

Also just because someone disagrees with you on a player doesn’t mean they don’t watch them.

 

Fans and coaches have to make players take responsibility for their mistakes or get credit for successes, regardless of our preconceived notions of who they are.

It was a lot more than one bad pass. There were a plethora, and not because he was clearing balls, which was mentioned by the neutral announcers. This is where we could use better stats for international matches to back up the eye test.

That said, I don't agree w/ the notion from at least one poster that he didn't play hard. He always does. Maybe that lack of CONTROLLED aggression is the problem w/ his lackluster passing, and sometimes getting beat defensively. Though I do think that was a strength in this match, which neutralized the performance.

But for whatever reason, his club play hasn't translated very much internationally. He's been mediocre. Some of the issue is w/ the system, sometimes teammates, though his fellow cm's seemed to do fine in this game. Wes has been better than the alternatives at the 8, but if they get flack for their drawbacks so should he.

 

Just a few words on the System.

3G definitely has a way that he wants to play, and can be stubborn about it. The Crew got shredded by NE in the POs Bethalter's first year as we continued to attack & got shredded on the counter.

But he is going to try and implement it. There will be fits & starts.

But he does tweak things, too. The 4-4-2 mid-block in defense (4231 in possession) thing evolved the last couple of years to help deal with Higuain not having the legs to defend much anymore. Zardes would often be the player dropping into MF to defend at times when we needed a 5th man there.

The tucked in RB/MF thing also grew out of this as a way to get another player in MF. But also necessitated the regista playing between the CBs (as Trapp did for Columbus) or the LB staying home (Ream for the Nats). Still, most times both FBs got forward and the regista stayed between the CBs.

I could see McKennie getting squeezed out as a starter. Adams/Yueill makes some sense as a CM pairing, and we know 3G wants a regista back there. That would move McKennie to CAM, but Lletget (and Ledezma) may eclipse him as a CAM soon.

Still, a good win.

 

Why is it weak? I just rewatched the game and his intensity isn't near the other players for most of it.

Is it only weak to question young players in Europe? Because I see tons of questioning of effort of older players, MLS based players for the same reason.

People won't question their favorites and people get made when they do. I question anyone who looks like they are playing poorly. McKennie is one of MY favorite players, but he's been terrible unfocused and inconsistent this year.

And it's really noticeable when everyone else seems fully on board with aggressive play and he's loping around. Perhaps that was the plan. But I doubt it.

I want to see a 100%, fully committed and focused Weston McKennie. Because when he's super active, he can be incredible.

I'm frankly baffled by anyone that think Lletget and Green play anything alike after watching them. Or that Green is fast, or the type to attack vertically effectively, or a number of things.

He's got his strengths, but the way Lletget played last night is not his game. And someone just saying "he could totally do that" is hardly evidence.

So I can understand someone pimping for Green for his actual strengths: good ball control, strong, hits bangers at a good rate. What I question is when someone says that his game reflects a vertical, attacking, counterattacker, or that he has strong passing vision, etc.

 

What I saw was a team that was hard counterpressing and attacking defensively, and Wes was ... intermittent in that. I call that effort personally.

My larger issue with Wes outside of this game is focus, which is related to effort in my mind. Nearly all of his "could be disastrous" bad passes are fundamentally lazy in the sense that he underhits them, he's assuming no defenders around, and he's usually already turning by rote to go to another spot. He doesn't focus on every pass, every play.

That's also the reason, I suspect, that he will disappear at times for whole swaths of a game.

I shouldn't have to say this for the Eurosnobs, but I don't think he should lose his spots (except maybe a wake up if the staff thinks it will help) and I just want McKennie to come with consistent work rate and focus of a Paul Arriola ... you know, with the extra athleticism and skill.

 

If you're implying that Lletget is even remotely "fast" then I don't know what to tell you. Green and Lletget are both average or below average for pace. Green can attack vertically in an effective manner.

 

It’s weak because you question his commitment. One poster described his game last night as hyper and too amped up. Doesn’t sound like he wasn’t trying his hardest to me. You repped that post too. It’s not because he is a young European. It’d be a lot easier to talk to you if you didn’t assume everyone had a secret agenda besides yourself who is a virtuous and free from bias evaluator of talent.

Lletget and green do not have similar games, but green can certainly perform at this level.

 

I saw that MLS had a blurb about the USA having 7 players rated at over $10 million by a transfer site, or have been sold for $10+ mil at some point. Two played in this game: Brooks and McKennie.

Five did not: Pulisic, Adams, Altidore, Weah, and Bradley.

Dest is going to be in that group soon. Steffen as well.

Let us see what we look like when our best guys are all out there. Or at least a majority of them.

 

Well then you obviously don’t watch them

 

Worst thing about this game outside of Ream being a bad left back is the fact that this probably buy Zardes more starts.

 

No, I questioned his effort in this game. I don't know what you mean by his commitment, but this happens to most players at times.

I'm sure you've questioned plenty of players' effort and commitment -- I literally just saw a post of yours doing so with Bradley. So it is the questioning of effort that is the issue, or just McKennie is off limits?

I don't agree with that part but remember thinking it was a thoughtful post and repped it since it wasn't the usual shit.

Why are you quoting another post? Did you watch the match? Do you think McKennie brought the intensity of Yeuill, Morris, Arriola?

Dude, like 80% of you posts are MLS v Europe.

But please illuminate me why me noticing a behavior of Weston McKennie and questioning effort in this game is "weak" and you questioning Bradley or anyone else is not.

I didn't say he couldn't. My issue with Green has always been that his style of play is a big black hole. For a team that routinely wants to use the CAM a hub to hit through balls or, last night, counterattack through, Green is more a second striker suited to a team that isn't pressing numbers forward.

I've seen Green plenty. The dude gets the ball, tries to create some space and hits a banger. That's not what I want out of my CAM. That's all. I think Pulisic, Lletget, probably Holmes (who I need to see more of), Pomykal, perhaps Ledezma if he can physically hang ... maybe even Weah are all better choices there than Green because of play style.