Do Berhalter’s Set Pieces Make Him a Must Start

Were his last name, Jones or Smith, he probably would garner a bit more respect here.

Other than his outstanding free kicks, his play has been a bit mixed. Certainly, he’s been a useful player and has actually exceeded my expectations.

I would be intrigued to see if any other European teams showed interest, as a result of a helpful editor (or otherwise).

 

Right. The Netherlands cut through our best lineup with ease so actually there wouldn’t be much to lose if we’re talking one or two different players.

But we’re not there yet and most likely Berhalter is auditioning for the bench of a side whose Soccer Team Logo lineup has struggled against Panama at home in recent times.

 

USA Men is and has been a known delusional place for decades.

CM is the USMNT deepest position and the idea Berhalter should start in the best USMNT side is insane.

McKennie, Adams, Musah... just to start off with bring so much more... then you have Tessmann, Reyna and Cardoso... that's before you even start quibbling with anyone in Berhalters tier.

 

1. Cardoso has not been good for the USMNT...Ever.
2. Does Gio even play soccer anymore? Asking for a friend
3. Tessmann? Really? At least you didn't bring up Busio I guess...

We aren't as deep as you think. Personally I think Luna should play the 10 in an A team line up with McKennie and Adams. Musah &Gio on the bench (assuming he has been playing), and after that things are up in the air, anyone could step up.

 

Yea, good call, lets start Seb Berhalter over 4/6 aforementioned.

 

LMAO - I didn't call for him to start, hell I didn't even say he would take the WC team. Just saying he has a decent chance of making the squad if he can keep improving. He has an A+ skill set at set pieces...that alone makes him worth considering IMHO.

 

I think the general question is certainly interesting. I don't think Berhalter has proven enough yet across the board to really have the answer be yes at this point, but the question of how good a player has to be overall versus how good at a single impact skill like this is super interesting.

In general, I'm not a big fan of one dimensional players. If nothing else, I don't think the US can really afford a guy who can't defend at all. Berhalter is rightfully getting a lot of crap for his defense, but it's his first couple of games and he's not a 6.

I also think that the US simply isn't talented enough to bring on someone who would be a zero in the run of play. We struggle enough to play mostly defensive guys with mediocre offense in the midfield because we lack key roles; if Berhalter can't progress the ball or create anything in the run of play ... it gets really tough.

That said ... I do think the fanbase doesn't tend to value a lot of these skills rightly. For a team that struggles to score at times, set pieces are vitally important. And while we have some lefties who are pretty good at FKs and the such, we're less so on righties.

And yeah -- if you are playing a lot of 1-0 games, great free kick / corner service becomes really, really important.

Offensive and defensive aerial play is another thing that's underrated by fans, as an example. Off ball movement. Most decision making.

 

You guys just like working yourself up, don't you?

The "narrative" in this thread was just a dude asking if set piece excellence could overcome some other weaknesses in a player. And you guys ask as if a simple question like that is some kind of offensive insanity.

It's especially funny coming from a dude who screams bloody murder anytime someone give a mild compliment to Malik Tillman.

 

Are Berhalter's freekicks measurably better than McGlynn's or Tillman's?

 

Berhalter is not a must start with this C team, much less the A team.

He is a solid enough player, and he caught my eye when watching Vancouver earlier this season (I follow MLS, but not all that closely). I was vaguely aware that Gregg had a kid in MLS, so I was pleasantly surprised. I assume he was a 19/20 year old prospect, in which case I was intrigued. But he’s 24 and comes from a soccer family, so I think he is lower beta than someone like Agyemang (who is also not ready).

I thought he was bad/ineffective against a poor T&T team. He was as then very poor for the first third of the Saudi Arabia match then completely ineffective save for two very good dead balls and one tackle I can remember. I just don’t see it. The midfielders I’d play before him;

Adams
McKennie
Musah
Tillman
Gio
Tessmann
Johnny
Busio
B Aaronson
P Aaronson
LDLT

I think Berhalter probably deserved the call up, but I think he is a bit player in the 40-60 range of the top US players.

 

Our boy, “Not a mannequin,” seems to think so.

and, I would offer, it’s been a surprise to me, personally, that Berhalter has played even this much. it will be exciting to see who can step forward and seize a roster spot between now and kickoff next June. It’s an exciting time to be a fan, for sure.

We will no more after the knockout rounds.

 

In the 4 matches in this camp Tillman, McGlynn, Berhalter, and Luna have all taken free kicks.
We have seen both McGlynn and Berhalter and Tillman and Berhalter debating who should take free kicks so I don't believe that Poch has made any clear decision.

 

Yes, however, this is the context of the conversation:

“do Berhalter set pieces make him a must start?”

 

I clicked on this thread …closed my eyes…and scrolled all the way to the bottom so I have no idea if someone has already provided the correct response….

which is simply…


No.

 

Was about to type the same. No.

 

No.

 

No for starting but they are good enough for him to be inconsideration for the WC team as a late sub when behind to do free kicks. Have to be a 26 squad though. Even then it would depend on heath of others and opponents in the first round.

 

Maybe a translation for non-English speakers is needed: non, nyet, nein, aint no way, fuggedaboutit

 

This. Question should be do his set pieces make him the top candidate for last CM on 26 man roster.

 

i dunno man, ive got pretty high standards. usually it takes as many as two assists to make someone a lock starter, but you never know...

 

Some people advocate for their pet player by denigrating their competition, especially when their competition is having success. Its pretty obvious which pet player that they are protecting here.

 

My per player is whoever is playing great and has the best chance to help the team. Like the rest of us I judge players in the moment but hope all of them I'm,prove and never want any to fail. With the incredible amount of injuries we need as many excelling as possible.

 

His play has been mixed for sure. His spot kicks and corners are never mixed, they are always excellent. That seems to be what we’re talking about.

As for his play being mixed, there are several guys whose play has not been mixed at all for some time…it’s just been poor…if there has been play at all. There are other players who have yet to have mixed games at all. People experiencing normalcy bias seem to think that several of those guys are automatic starters. They are not. The idea that they should automatically start despite their poor production, lack of commitment, and losing mentality, is a really poor idea that is hopefully being put to bed right now.

All we have to do is to look back to the prep games and the tournament performance of these guys in the Copa America. Is what they produced any better than what these guys are producing? Absolutely not. Was it worse? Absolutely YES.

 

This is exactly correct. No way he is, at least today, a starter for the Nats. But his free kicks are so dang good that that one talent alone might well be very valuable next summer. Something like 30% of goals come off set pieces. That's hard to ignore especially when our set piece takers haven't been very good the last few years.

 

Our set pieces were terrible until Berhalter and McGlynn showed up.