Here's the quote about Bradley, Trapp, Yueill... “There is so much instruction to the No. 6, it’s such a crucial position to play and there are so many ways we’ve figured to get the 6 the ball and we’ve done so much work in that area,” Berhalter said. “You can see that with guys like Michael Bradley, when he played, and even Wil (Trapp), but also Jackson (Yueill), the nuances of his movement, his passing, his defending from that position. We’ve made a lot of progress with that position in this player pool.” Sounds like he wants one of those three manning the 6 to me from that quote. Sure, he could still believe as soon as Adams gets healthy and comes to camp, he can take the position, but sure sounds like he has other options he has spent considerable time on and feels are playing the spot how he wants. And, specifically naming three players for a position he intends to use someone else entirely would be a pretty strange way to communicate. I still hold out hope Adams shows up and gets a few minutes there in camp and it becomes obvious fast who goes there, but Berhalter sure didn't point to that in this interview from what I can read. But yeah, while I appreciate some in depth writing on the team and don't want to talk too poorly of this article for that reason, it really was a bit haphazard with mixing Berhalter quotes with author thoughts and lots of not really connecting the dots so I'm not sure even an accurate read of the text is an accurate read of the situation, which is why I do rather hate getting too far down the rabbit hole of parsing language and digging too far into this or that phrase. This one just looked like one of the most direct quotes in the piece to me.
I think the authors ran with that to figure, he must really mean Yueill there as it's pretty impossible to consider either of the others particularly mobile or dynamic.
This is all pretty scary, but it pretty much comes down to - Can anyone defend Egg requiring Bradley or Yeuill to be on the field, which means dropping Reyna or Morris? Surely some will be ok with that (Reyna isn't established, Bradley has experience), but not for me. I think Yeuill is better than Bradley (and I don't think Trapp is even a consideration at this point, even if Bradley somehow is), but I would rank Yeuill probably in the late 30s or 40s of players I would want starting for the US.
Yes, you are 100% right. What is clear to me, though I suppose debatable in clarity, is that what Berhalter is really saying, when combined with other commentary, is this: He's going to continue to use his regista or whatever it is He's going to play McKennie and Adams ahead of that person Those guys are going to press hard and disrupt the midfield defensively, allowing Pulisic, Reyna and the CF to be more aggressive offensively and to be more fluid offensively with less defensive commitments
I actually hate Yueill getting caught up in this and feel at least a little bad when I criticize his inclusion in some lineups. I saw him live when the team played in St. Louis and he looked solid and like a good addition to the team and his increased mobility and defense from that spot was an obvious improvement. But, he's not the lynch pin you build around. Expecting him to be that is unfair to him, nevermind what it does to the team.
It’s like Daniel Lovitz. It’s not his fault he’s getting called in and played over better players. It’s the coaches.
I don't know much about either, but from the limited I saw of Yeuill, I think he's at least decent, and deserving of potentially being part of the 23. He's also young, so able to improve. Seems most people think/thought Lovitz didn't deserve to be anywhere near the team. Related - not sure Yeuill was "decent", or it was just such a step up from Bradley/Trapp combo that was forced on us, that it seemed much better than it was? Either way, certainly it ain't his fault the coach has decided to build around him and/or Bradley. Basically, nothing has changed since 2016.
He’s just a step up from Bradley and Trap. He wouldn’t be in the 23 if it wasn’t for 3G being locked in on a regista.
I agree. In the quote before he says how much those players have learned (never mind he has chosen not to teach anyone else). Then says he is "leaning" towards having three "dynamic" CMs. It could be he sees Yuiell as a dynamic, all action, CM. Maybe if you squint really hard. But he has been slow in the press with the USMNT. I won't even bother to discuss Bradley or Trapp as fitting that profile. The more important question is if a guy like Roldan, who has not been good, is considered a candidate.
Yeah the article is extremely difficult to comprehend and nail down, the decoder ring for it is the podcast the authors did on it, where they break down more of which aspects were Berhalter and which was their conjecture: https://www.totalsoccershow.com/total-soccer-show-podcasts
That is one way to look at it as we all consider the registas he has used as not being dynamic, all action, mids. But Gregg could in his own mind. The way I settle the two quotes is that one is what he is currently doing and the second is what he is thinking of doing. That Adams doesn't do something the registas do, but would allow for three dynamic, all action mids. This would free up the front three to be dedicated to attack and not be counted on to defend, like Arriola has been, for instance. So, the 4-4-2 defensive shape becomes a 4-3-3.
To me, Yueill is better defensively than Trapp or Bradley. But he is actually not as good as either of those two on making the long diagonal the position is based on for Gregg. His floated ball is really not up to par at all. Yueill is not better defensively than Adams or probably several others. So, he is better than those other two defensively, which was a big problem with Bradley and Trapp. The team has defended better with him as there is not a hole in Zone 14. But he is not bringing to the position the passing that is wanted. Maybe Gregg is figuring out that either Adams can do the passing or whatever Adams can do has to be the new plan.
My interpretation is that Berhalter knows he will be playing Gio at the Higuaín 10 (Columbus Crew style). McKennie is a dead ringer for Tchani ("arrives in the box"). This script writes itself.
From the entire article, it's presented as this: -------------------Alitdore--------------------- Pulisic---------------------------------Reyna -----------McKennie-----Adams------------ Dest--------------Yueill--------------Cannon --------------Brooks------Long-------------- ------------------Steffen----------------------- Reyna's not in a Higuain role; in fact, from the article, there's no Higuan role. My guess: Attack comes from the top 3 primarily with Pulisic and Reyna folding into the half spaces and the FBs providing situational width McKennie and Adams have freedom to terrorize in the midfield, acting as counterpressers, shuttlers and occasionally arriving late to present as goal threats Yueill stays home to provide defensive support and to occasionally drop between the CBs, forming a back three You can actually see how a well-training, cohesive crew there would be absolutely devastating. There's real potential to have the attack come from any combination of 7 of the 10 outfield players. If the team has the ability to understand how they trade off, how they move relative to the ball and each other, it'd be a nightmare to gameplan for. The flexibility up top means a series of movements and feints could easily create quick overloads or open spaces. Imagine after watching Reyna pull inside 2 or 3 times, with an overlapping Cannon, suddenly, Reyna stays wide. His defender is slow to react, and as Cannon overlaps to hold the fullback, the centerback is suddenly off balance, going at Reyna, leaving a space open for a charging Tyler Adams. Defensively ... I'm not sure anyone is getting through the middle. You could get that with Adams, McKennie and Pomykal as well, of course, but that's a tough place to head through. Having two fullbacks who can connect and get forward also creates a lot more chances to overload the midfield, and an anchored Yeuill creates a more reliable outlet for Long, who can struggle. The downsides of the formation are pretty clear as well: Can get overexposed in the back with borderline talent To really optimize the attack, probably need to play together a bit Adams and McKennie aren't really creators -- must come from Pulisic and 17 year old Reyna and maybe Dest
Agree that's the lineup he likely wants. He might even want Bradley in there, tbh. And once again, the issue is you're playing another midfielder behind 2 defensively ridiculous workhorses, while simultaneously benching the best US performer over the last year plus. Everything in that lineup is fine (I'd have a few minor quibbles) except an average MLS player sitting behind two of the best Def midfielders we've ever had. You drop that, put Reyna as the 10, and start Morris on the wing, and it's a legit team.
What value does Yueill provide if he’s there for defensive support and to drop between the CBs? He’s not our best destroyer. morales must have done something to Gregg and certain posters here. I wouldn’t start him but if we’re looking for a dynamic partner for Adams and McKennie, particularly a hard nosed defense-oriented player, who’s more Dynamic/disruptive than Alfredo? Maybe Paxton?
Playing a passing player behind your defensive guys is a certainly unique... for this kind of football anyway. Will Adams and McKennie be able to use their arms when they block for the QB?
You know the reason is something like "need long diagonals" or something with distribution. But it is simply the stupidest thing I've ever heard, that we have probably the 2 best defensive midfielders (or at least the 2 best midfielders with defensive abilities) that our country has ever produced, but you need to put someone BEHIND them in order to create offense?!? What planet is this!?
it’s important to do that because we don’t have a CB who’s a really good passer out of the back. We only have lock down defenders who don’t need a strong defender in front of them. Oh, wait...
Oh well, at least CONCACAF is worse this cycle than normal and I really doubt there are going to be many games where any CONCACAF teams really can stop Pulisic and Reyna if we can get them healthy and out there together with McKennie/Adams being one of the strongest tandems in the center of the park that we will need to face in qualifying. I honestly think this group as faulty as the setup is will qualify on talent alone. I also think we go up against any World Cup caliber team with an attack and they'll shred us. At least 3 and out will be better than watching from home.
here’s what Gregg said he wanted: A dynamic three in midfield who can: - cover ground - press in a 4-3-3 - [be] aggressive - win balls - arrive in the penalty box how does Yueill (or Bradley or trapp) fit into that description? If this is actually what he looking for, only morales, Pomykal and maybe Holmes do that. My biggest question with Paxton is how dynamic/athletic he is.
They will certainly qualify, let's not be ridiculous. But can you imagine how Morris or Reyna will feel when they are riding the bench so yeuill can sit between the center backs all game or so Bradley can get the caps record? A kid playing in front of 80k against PSG and our best player the last year? All so someone can provide defensive cover for Adams and McKennie!
Thanks for the clarification! I was totally misreading it. It seems clear now. Though still--can any journalists ask who the players are that Berhalter sees in contention for the midfield 3 that "cover ground, win balls and arrive in the box"? Adams and McKennie are the two that most definitely fit the profile, followed by Holmes and Pomykal. The Yuiell/Bradley (of 2020)/Trapp type doesn't fit the profile at all.