Part of why I thought it was also the third tweet in the series where he's quoted saying he's going to try and fill in for McKennie. Reyna says his favorite position is definitely the 10. On the impact of Weston McKennie's absence in the midfield: "Obviously Weston does a lot for the team but I can, you know, try to fill the shoes" #USMNT— Megan Swanick (@Meg_Swanick) March 22, 2022 I agree with the idea thought that we can't play it exactly the way we would if McKennie were there.
Feels like Reyna can be a good bench option against Mexico depending on the game state, and can play close to 90 against Panama. And then you start him against Costa Rica and try to manage his minutes. The only drawback is that if the World Cup is on the line in that game and he's playing well, I doubt he's getting pulled for as long as the game is in doubt.
He earned it at Dortmund. Last season they didn't quite trust him with the keys to the car. I love watching him and Bellingham paired up.
He played in an attacking mid role last year in a 3421 for the vast majority of the year. There's no central playmaker there, and the two central mids in the formation are far more defensive in the line of four. There would be some matches where he played a straight winger, but this was his primary position. Now he's largely playing an 8 in a diamond midfield. He's not playing a 10 yet, as Reus is still in that role. He does tend to push up, but he's not the 10. He actually played something much closer to a 10 role last year -- there's not formal central 10 in that, but much like what we've run with playmaking wingers, it's a 10 role in a sort of inside forward role. This year, he's playing an 8. I keep seeing this narrative, but he's moved further from a 10 with Dortmund this year. And that's what he's talked about more. It's good for us if we choose to play him as one of our 8s -- which are no longer 10s, either. But I don't think that is what Reyna meant ages ago when he talked about being a central playmaker.
I think this is precisely why some folks are excited about Gio as an “8”. He would bring a different dynamic to the midfield, play more of an attacking role sitting under the forwards rather than the box to box. Obviously, Musah (or whoever else) is paired with him would need to be aware if this. But having a holding mid, athletic B to B midfielder, and a highly skilled AM might be just what the doctor ordered. Clearly, you may need to pick and choose where (and against who) you use it, but it would be another option that might make us less one dimensional and more effective at attacking the opponents centrally in their final third. Gregg seems to like his dual 8’s though and he clearly values Gio closer to the goal rather than farther (as he should), so we will see what happens. Maybe a mix of some of him on the wing and some centrally sitting under the guys up front. Personally, I’d love to see Gio sitting under Puli, Timo, and the 9, particularly against Panama.
They change their formation in various subtle ways and have had a lot of injuries that make it hard to track how they use players. But generally they play with a back 4, 3 mids, and 3 attacking players (which often includes Reuss in a free role). The 3 mids line up in various ways. Early on it was a single pivot (Daoud) plus Reyna and Bellingham as the hybrid 8/10s. More recently they sometimes use Witsel and Daoud in a double pivot. Generally though, when they are healthy Reyna and Bellingham line up as the hybrid 8/10s in a way similar to how McKennie and Musah have lined up for the GNats.
There seems to be a lot of hints -- roster composition, Reyna quotes -- that he may be in the midfield. Reyna hasn't played in a long time and a lot has happened since then that could have affected thinking. I think we may see it.
I think it should translate easily to the GNats given that Bellignham and Musah are similar in style. But I think it will be more of the hybrid 8/10 than an out-and-out 10. There are a lot of nuances. When you have 2 hybrid 8/10s often one is more defensive and the other more attacking.
Sure, but Reus is the central hub of the offense. Reyna plays more forward but he's not really the 10. I'd like to see Reyna in the midfield, but I don't think this is the exact encapsulation of him as a 10.
To me, the main thing about Gio with BVB is that he plays a midfield role with at least some defensive duties. He's not a winger there so he should be able to transition from a wing role into our midfield without much trouble.
Good article from Goff about playing at altitude at the Azteca. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/03/22/usmnt-estadio-azteca-altitude/
The US hasn't gotten a point in WCQ in Costa Rica in the modern era...which is bizarre. I remembered a seriously close one though- one that to me defined the US getting CONCACAFFED. Sit back and enjoy the US at CR... tied going into the 90th minute (and seconds after almost scoring the winner). Enjoy the concacaffiness, with special guest star as the victim/culprit! (eta: skip to 5:49 for the excitement)
good stuff. I wasn't advocating against Gio at all... but bringing up the way the US has played under GGG doesn't exactly translate for Gio like-for-like with Wes. But it could be something very cool ahead of two other guys. my last year of college, we played a 3-5-2, with the 3 CMFs stacked vertically- a "sweeper" CMF, a B2B central MF (8) and a guy who was more of a 10, playing behind the forwards. I'd love to see the US doing something similar, given the personnel.... but not with everything on the line for WCQ. Even the double 6 pivot would be too much of a change at this point... even though I think it could work well.
Yeah, no doubt. How he plays with Dortmund is a good analogue for the 8/10 we have. I do have some concerns he will get a bit ... hero-bally ... but I think playing back will help with that.
that would be very cool. I swear I see Gio out wide more often than not for BWB... switching side to side, like Musah/Wes, but primarily wide and usually on the right.... which feels less central than the way the US guys usually play the 8s (although as I write this, I know Musah and Wes both do a lot of attacking down the flanks too for the US- so maybe...)
I have very, very bad feelings about this window. Personally, I see one point and sweating the fourth slot resulting from it. I think Mexico will smoke the US, like 3-0. They'll be ready, I question whether or not the US will be. Not that Mexico is very good at this time, but they will have a plan to beat the US and they will have full commitment. Panama is a decent team that will not fear the US attack and, if they can get a goal, will probably get the draw at least. And playing in Costa Rica is always a horror show. Buckle up!
Honestly I'd be happy to get 0-3 from Mexico and Panama. Much better than 3-1 from the first two, not mentioning 1-1.
I’m afraid that you might be right. I see a 2-1 loss to Mexico, an uninspiring 0-0 against Panama, and a defeated 2-0 loss in Costa Rica. But at the same time, I see us getting across the finish line due to Costa Rica and Panama not getting the results that they need to surpass us. But I hope to be wrong. All 3 points in every game has been a doable task in every single window we’ve played in, but we’ve beat ourselves in each window. Can we overcome our complacency to take care of business?
The only team Mexico has smoked at home is Honduras. That doesn’t mean it won’t be a tough game, but this team will definitely be ready and they very much get up for Mexico. And if you can’t beat Panama at home with the World Cup on the line, then you probably don’t deserve to go. As for Costa Rica, worry about them when we get there.
We generally don’t use our 9 like they use Haaland either. He usually plays pretty high, attracts a lot of attention, and stretches the defense opening up breathing room.
What leads you to the conclusion the US will definitely be ready? Not snark, just curious. Because to me, they haven't looked ready for anything the entire campaign and now they are seriously patching together a lineup. As to your second sentence, full agreement. If qualifying is on the line in Costa Rica, woof.
I haven't jumped on the Berhalter bandwagon as many seem to have, because we shouldn't be in this position IMO; So, how does everyone feel about Berhalter if all he gets, now that he's truly roster challenged without Wes and others, is 1 friggin' point and either scrapes in or leaves the US out once again?