Watching Liverpool in this Champions League final (particularly their front 3 of Mane, Salah, and Diaz, with Jota as the fourth member of their attacking group) keeps bringing me back to something I’ve thought of a number of times as I’ve watched the USMNT over the past few years… Why don’t we ever play with a False 9, given the current player pool? (Note: this assumes everyone is healthy, is relative to our own current talent pool, and is not a reflection of what GB will do.) On the wings we have a number of talented guys: Pulisic, Weah, Aaronson, Reyna, and Morris. (Beyond that we have Arriola, Hoppe, and others.) I’m not saying we should look exclusively to make that switch. And if some of our true 9s come alive and start scoring it wouldn’t be so appealing. But I’d rather play a front 3 of some combination of Pulisic/Reyna/Aaronson/Weah than our 9s in their current state. (Also, the one time we did it with Lletget does not count for obvious reasons.)
Yeah, I thought of him, and I think of our current 9s he’s the current frontrunner. So I agree if he’s playing there that we have the false 9. But then if we’re willing to play with him there then why not consider some of the wingers-as-false-9 guys? I’d still take a frontline with Weah, Pulisic, or Aaronson in that role over Jesus.
We should try this against El Salvador. I would go with a front 3 of Aaronson, Pulisic and Weah. I like Weah wide. Pulisic and Reyna are the two guys I would try as false 9s in our remaining friendlies.
I would try both Weah and Reyna (meaning the former now and the latter in the next window assuming he's back by the), both seem like the type you want as close to goal as possible...
So you're saying he's the one guy with false 9 experience against our first game WC opponent? Seems like a no-brainer to start him in that case...
Gio can play the false 9. Keep it under wraps and don't show that out to anyone in the World. Then break it out against Wales. It has the big advantage of removing one of our least talented members of the First XI (i.e., any starting striker in our pool . . .) and replacing him with one of our most talented - Gio (or the other midfielder that Gio would knock out of the starting XI).
The potential downside is trotting out a new tactic at the WC without having tried it in a single friendly. Ballsy for sure and doubt many coaches would do that. The value of the surprise seems to be outweighed by the negative of trying it cold.
Might be an unpopular opinion, but I would rather bring in an impact sub (whether its Reyna, Aaronson, Weah or Musah) in the position they are best suited to make a real impact on the game and ask questions of the opposing defense, than move them to a position they might be marginally better than the alternatives but will limit thier strengths, especially against a tiring defense. Weah's biggest strength is his speed, ability to get vertical, and go at players one on one. Reyna's is his feel for the game and ability to receive, progress the ball and find the right pass. That seems like a winger and a 10 respectively imo. I think both of them can do it (I think there is a little Van Persie in Reyna), but I don't think battling to holdup the ball and with center backs is their best use at this point.
I mean, what's the worst that can happen? We don't score any goals from the 9 spot? How can it be worse then what he have if we move Weah, or Reyna when healthy, to the 9 and play Pulisic and Aaronson on the wings?
Jesus doesn’t exactly battle with center backs to hold up the ball, either...like a McBride or Jozy. He plays like a 9.5. I think Reyna has the ability to do the same except Reyna has much better skill and vision to combine at the top of the box or to put through Pulisic or Weah. Having said that, there is little time to experiment with Reyna in this role before the World Cup so it may be an irrelevant consideration. Regarding Weah, I think you neglected to mention one of his strengths is that he’s very goal dangerous in and around the box. See his goal against Jamaica in wcq. He also has a good shot from a reasonable amount of distance. See the goal against Morocco, for example. Weah also has played some forward in his past. I agree that, generally, you should put players in positions that maximize their abilities, and one can say that Reyna should be the 8/10 in the long run while Weah should be a winger, but we’re just overloaded at those other spots, and obviously we can’t seem to find a 9. The biggest argument against experimentation is that there just isn’t enough time to try new things at this point. Best case is Pepi regains his form.
The worst that can happen? The player causes disruption with the US attack because they aren't used to playing with either Weah (no) or Reyna (possibly) in the position. Since the team is young, they start pressing, make a mistake, and give up a goal. Opposing team goes into bunker mode which the US has had trouble breaking down. Weah is not a good fit of a 9. Reyna would be the best in my mind. Just wish he had more time at the position.
Reyna could have been tied as one of the 8's or a false nine but he's injured. There's not much time left and noe if he changes position it should be because he's playing that position with Dortmund. So probably at one of the 8's is more likely. I'm kind of warming to the Ferreira as a false nine (sometimes). He presses like a maniac (Pepi is next so must be a FCD thing) and could wear out defenders and soften them up for a big banger to come in for the knockout.
I like this. With Aaronson to be replaced by Reyna, when healthy. Keep the true center forwards on the bench to come on if a goal is needed. And it probably will be.