Coaching Philosophies and the Mauricio Pochettino System

How much of an on field plus is it, if you're getting turn styled, any time you face a player that caliber you might face at a WC? I tend to think if Ream is a plus in that particular fashion, that's all well and good, but if he's a net liability on the field, whatever value there is in his "coach on the field premise" is largely negated by the age and talent related mistakes he's giving up during said game. I just don't see it, in terms of value, and at least he's some kind of technical advisor, he isn't giving up goal scoring opportunities left and right on the field, which is a net win in my view.

 

It’s why some of us had such a huge freak out about what Gio was doing at the last World Cup

 

I always thought he was being favored by pretty much his uncle. So weird the Reyna's thought it was opposite. If almost any other coach had been there he probably wouldn't have made the team because of health. I say probably because Arena and Bradley knew Claudio so well it's possible they would have also.

 

Congrats to Poch... your job is safe at least through the weekend

3 - Mauricio Pochettino is the third full-time #USMNT manager to win his first competitive away match, joining Bob Bradley (2008) and Steve Sampson (1996). Undaunted. pic.twitter.com/9VrTvqDhL1

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) November 15, 2024

Final: 🇯🇲 0-1 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 USMNT's first shutout road win since 2016 in Cuba

🇺🇸 USMNT's first shutout win in Jamaica since 1994

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) November 15, 2024

that first stat is so disgusting when you think we have literally played Grenada away https://t.co/eAQDw47KGs

— USMNT burner (@burnerusmnt) November 15, 2024

With the 1-0 win tonight, Mauricio Pochettino matches Gregg Berhalter’s total of road wins in Concacaf play (1).

With the 1-0 win tonight, Mauricio Pochettino matches Gregg Berhalter’s total of road wins in Concacaf play (1).#usmnt pic.twitter.com/IJhbY3MH3d

— Alex Calabrese (@amcalabrese12) November 15, 2024

 

We did beat Cuba 4-0 in competitive play "away" in the 2019 Nations League -- but it was relocated to the Cayman Islands.

That's not all that relevant to the broader idea, but we did blow out a cupcake.

 

This probably has something to do with it, but I think Ream would still at least be a bench player because of his experience. Almost like an additional assistant coach. I would also like to see Ream's minutes decrease, and I think they will - eventually.

Not a major deal right now, as Ream's passing will be important in St. Louis on Monday with Jamaica not being able to grow a rice paddy to neutralize quick passing. But I would really like to see Ream's minutes decrease.

 

I know I've probably made this point before, but in today's soccer world most attack-minded teams are playing some version of either a 2-3-5 or a 3-2-5 in possession. The big difference is whether a team has two central midfielders in the attack or 3 (like Man City tends to do more often).

Lots of different ways to so that, and you've already pointed one out with a fullback inverting into central midfield. When I've watched Leverkusen play, they play much more of a 3-2-5 with their wingbacks essentially becoming touchline-hugging wingers.

So far, Pochettino has gone to a 3-2-5 in possession with Robinson becoming a winger, Pulisic coming inside, and the two center backs and Scally forming a back 3. When Adams and Dest are back, maybe we see more of Adams dropping back into the back 3 with the center backs flaring wide. I don't know, but I do think this 3-2-5 will be the default attacking shape with different ways to set the team up for that. The team can then drop into different formations out of possession.

 

Agree but for who?
Yesterday also don't help his case. Still good but not good enough

 

I think Pochettino's strategy in that game was "get the win and get the hell out of here." Mission accomplished.

I wonder when the last time was Pochettino coached on that type of field. You'd go play a Copa del Rey match against some mid-table 3rd tier team and the field would be better. Welcome to CONCACAF buddy.

We can make all sorts of comments about the formation or strategy or or tacticss or whatever. That became a street brawl in the second half. What Pochettino will be happy about is that his players were up to that fight. They weren't going to allow themselves to be bullied.

 

Argentines actually play in bars. I saw it on a Tony Bourdain episode. (Steaks for everybody !)

Edit: ofc that's likely safer than playing on grass with potholes that twist soft tissue.

 

I tend to think a Argentine coach has an easier time to dealing with CONCACAF rugedness than a European coach who is used to always playing in relatively pristine conditions. Poch kind of walks that line of being exposed to a wide variety of playing styles and conditions while still having a lot of high end experience.

 

LCB in a back-three---

Mckenzie plays LCB week in week out in the Ligue 1.
Trusty played LCB in the C'ship and was voted his team's player of the year.. When used in the same role in the EPL, he was mostly competent--agree to disagree.
Richards plays the same role in the EPL.

There are plenty of options to replace Ream. The manager starts him for his experience, which is reasonable for now.

 

Depends on if you want an LCB that is lefty.
If not, McKenzie and Richards are starting.
If yes. IDK whos starts outside of Richards

 

It's what Pochettino has done with five in attack for most of his career, so that's a very good guess.

The other thing he did a lot with Tottenham -- but may never do with the US, is pull a sixth up.

There'd be two guys wide, but more of a diamond attacking with the wingers tucking in with the CAM.

So something more of a 31141 or something once you get in attack (different in build up).

 

I'd love to see Amorim's Sporting team in their domestic league game replays, because I think he's done some of this 3-1-6 type of setup when Sporting has been more dominant in possession. He's obviously not playing like that in most Champions League games, which is where I've been watching Sporting play since he came into the Manchester United discussion (he's an interesting coach - a lot of concepts that are similar to Xabi Alonso, who I really like as a coach). I THINK that's kind of similar to what you're talking about with the 3-1-"diamond" formation.

I could see that "sixth man in" in all-out attacking setups to break a bunker. But, I do think our defenders need to be better. You'd basically have one defensive midfielder and a back three. Those four defenders better be able to defend in space and be strong in 1:1 situations. I also think we'd only ever see that in an early-stage Gold Cup game. The talent level relative to the rest of the world isn't there to go that far on the attacking setup.

 

I'm not sure why away games are such a big topic when the important tournament is at home.

 

Richards and McKenzie are good with their left, which is why they are playing on the left.

 

It was interesting to see how much more free the midfielders are in Poch's system. It seemed not only Pulisic had free reign to go where he wanted but Tessman and some of the others could as well. It really let us open them up in the first half, if it wasnt for the poor passing. They were too aggressive on their press and we had a number of times we could have beaten it but for a last sloppy pass/touch before the break through. I dont know how much of a factor in that was the field.

 

it shows the toughness of the team. And that will be required when playing "big" teams even at home.

 

The system looked a standard 343 in action. This is not a bad path, given the pool. Weah, Dest, Musah, McKennie, Jedi, and Paredes, all played wingback in the Top-5.

 

Sure, but we are talking about the cumulative away competitive record which happens so infrequently. Even this game is a bit of misnomer because it's a home and away and not the same as an away WCQ. For instance, chasing goal difference is useless here. I say scrap the cumulative talk and understand this game and what was the goal that needed to be achieved.

 

Because nothing about trying to get some wins/confidence and prepping for the best 2026 team requires young players.

The best players available are largely the ones already being called in. It's not his job to nurture the next wave of US talent beyond 2026.

 

You can't preach a message about a passion if you don't back it up with some picks reflecting said message.

 

Look at his actions, not his media statements. People care too much about these statements. So what. It's just him pushing whatever agenda he wants.

 

Yeah, I suspect that we don't see it with the current defense. I also am not sure you can really do it without hard counterpressing -- you have so much so far forward it's otherwise very easy to get behind. And so far, Poch seems too interesting in conserving energy to do that.

But I love the idea of a striker, Pulisic, Reyna and one of McKennie, Weah, Tillman, or Dest interchanging in the middle and just overloading the centerbacks.

Our defense is probably never good enough, but if it were, I think that overwhelms a lot of middle of the road opposition.