Gregg Berhalter when asked about John Brooks said he wants the USMNT to play with a high line, and wants to see Brooks dealing with those situations more. Not a way that Wolfsburg plays. Will evaluate his club situation and his form moving forward.(via Futbol Americas) pic.twitter.com/OcTJtYeUvG— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 19, 2022 "High line not a way that Wolfburg plays" Left unsaid: a high line is also not the way Zimmerman plays for Nashville or Long for NYRB And it looks like even Chris Richards is about to lose his spot on the national team if he moves to Crystal Palace!
In the NL final I thought he was huge. Second best player for the US that day after McKennie. He tackles well, wins aerial duels and just physically sets a tone. The idea that his defensive shortcomings are on par with Yueill or Bradley or trapp is silly. his problems are quickness on the turn and occasional lapses. Those are serious problems. But it’s not true that all he offers is distribution.
The difference is, as Herc noted, is that Brooks has played poorly in a high line for the US. The chance for him to prove he's improved would be at his club, but Wolfsburg didn't provide that option. Whereas other USMNT CBs HAVE played well with a high line, so they don't need to prove at club. Zimmerman has been good for the US -- he has nothing to prove at Nashville. If you take Berhalter at his word, it's pretty clear he was unwilling to risk Brooks in competitive play in March despite his improved club play ("I made the decision it wasn't the time" or something like that) and then "preferred to see" what CCV had since he knows what Brooks has ... ... which, again, taking him at his word, it's that he doesn't believe Brooks is going to to improve. There could be locker room stuff, but honestly, some of Brooks' issues with a high line can't be improved (quickness/agility in space). Some can, but it involves decision making, focus and decisiveness.
Are there even any good rumors of where he will end up? The only thing I saw was a post that he was "offered" to a Turkish club, which honestly is a far cry from the "he can start for most top teams in Germany" attitude Brooks fans have about him. The fact he does not have a team yet speaks pretty loudly IMO.
Of course it's not true. Who ever said that. But he does have defensive holes and he does get a pass.
I do think that Brooks is in our top 4 CBs. Is he a full on starter? Maybe not (he scares me going up against Foden or Sterling), but if he doesn't get called to Qatar and someone like CCV or EPB is picked ahead of him even though he's in good form, I will be fairly convinced that there is something between him and Gregg.
The other part is that Brooks wants to be a starter and is not happy on the bench. If he was a great locker room guy and teammate, even when on the bench, he would still get call ups.
New York Red Bulls have been by far the most aggressive pressing side in the 2022 MLS season#RBNY have so far pressured, tackled or fouled 32%(!) of their opponent's pass receipts within two seconds pic.twitter.com/6YFFiGdVI2— StatsBomb (@StatsBomb) June 9, 2022
Here's the full timeline of Gregg on Brooks. pic.twitter.com/ibK48hLX6t— Justin Moran (@kickswish) May 21, 2022 Bullet-point version of Gregg's quotes on Brooks: pic.twitter.com/IyJ9DD4jRz— Justin Moran (@kickswish) July 19, 2022
Sneak peek. A special State of the Union pod conversation with #USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter drops Thursday. 🇺🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/jCoJXmBBbe— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) July 19, 2022
Nashville (Zimmerman) often plays with a back 3, and does not play with a high line. In fact Wolfsburg players much higher than Nashville with Brooks often operating in the opponents' half. Berhalter was convinced that trapp should be our #6, pushing Adams to RB so ulways unclear what he is seeing.
He also actually played in the high line for the NT and was good at it and was not at fault for a goal two games in a row like Brooks was....
LAFC does not play any higher than Wolfsburg watch where Brooks is playing in his highlight video. Brooks also played a high line for Klinsmann and was also very good. The constantly changing explanations from Berhalter on Brooks is tiresome, insulting, and disingenuous. He should just do a Klinsmann and say "others are ahead of him" and be done. At least it is clear it is just a coaching preference, which in fact is the manager's prerogative.
True, but I'm not sure anyone, even the people pointing out that Nashville doesn't play a high line, is arguing that Zimmerman shouldn't be called up to the national team. Most probably have him penciled in as one of the starters (I do). There will be at least 4, and likely 5, World Cup roster spots for CBs. So the people pointing out the (known) flaws with Brooks, him being at fault for goals, etc. how many don't have him in their top 4-5 CBs? It's like the Donovan-Klinsmann thing, if you support his exclusion based on "others being ahead of him" you have prefer ALL of Diskerud, Green, Johansson, Wondo, Zusi, Davis, etc. over Donovan. For me, Brooks might be on the bubble if everyone was healthy. But Miles Robinson is out. Even if I have Zimmerman and Richards ahead of him... all three of CCV, EPB and Aaron Long would also have to be. And right now I'm not sure any of them are, and Long certainly isn't, which makes Brooks #5 at worst. And surely the "experience" folks at that point would have Brooks on the roster? The only two guys we have in the pool with any World Cup experience are Brooks and Yedlin. And if we're eliminating either of those two based on current level I would argue Yedlin should be on the chopping block. Oh yeah and Brooks is the only player in the pool to have scored a goal at the World Cup. To win the game late. Which was key to get the US out of the group. Not taking Brooks would be ALMOST as dumb as not taking the best USMNT player ever who had 5 World Cup goals and helped lead the US to their best finish since 1930 in 2002 and to win their group for the first time ever in 2010... ALMOST.
Was listening to Sirius FC radio today apparently at least 1 Championship team reached out to Brooks but he has turned down the offer
Gregg Berhalter’s full comments on the situation with John Brooks 🗣 @herculezg (via Futbol Americas on ESPN+) pic.twitter.com/wEoQboPh5C— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 20, 2022
We also had our answers when Berhalter was building the team around Trapp and moved Adams to RB. Many may remember the interview GB did where he talked about wanting a "controlling midfield" and Adams was not that. Many defended that nonsense and moved on. Some of us recognized the nonsense for what it was.