Giovanni “Gio” Reyna US National Team Discussion

Did Reyna give any post-game interviews or statements to the press after Paraguay? I haven't been able to find anything.

 

Yes.

"My wife’s pregnant,” Reyna revealed postgame" - The Athletic

 

Ah, ok. I found some stuff:

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-s...ning-trivela-goal-caps-usas-4-1-world-cup-win

 

If you started Reyna you'd have to sacrifice Tillman or Dest and you'd lose their defensive workrate. Better to wear the opposition down and use Gio when things start to open up IMO.

 

What he said.

 

This. Huge fan and defender of Reyna….but if you want to press and smother Australia in their own half (I’d play them exactly as we played Paraguay)….Reyna just ain’t your guy.

 

And the reason he's not starting in Germany is that most coaches want 9 outfielders who will press or defend when the opposition have the ball. That leaves very little room for attacking talent. It's why, for instance, there was so much tension between Slot and Salah at Liverpool.

 

Haven't seen any sprint numbers lately, are there some out there? It's been a bit since his injury and curious if he's gotten some speed back.

The one thing about Gio, even pre injury during his best at Dortmund, is he was faster than he looked. He's taller at 6'1 and he's more of a glider.

But I haven't seen any recent numbers. He did close down pretty quick on some Paraguayans.

 

As far as I know the Bundesliga is the only League that publishes sprint numbers.

 

With poch's lineup I think it's either McKennie or Gio. As much as I am a gio fan, right now I'd start McKennie and Gio is part of a sub rotation.

 

And what he said, haha.


To put it bluntly, Gio's just too slow to do that work as a starter. That's not a knock on his effort, that's just a fact of his life now. Hell, in the first game of the cup "old man" Ream matched the fastest time that Gio clocked across the entire Bundesliga season. He's "slow for a CB" slow these days.

His current role is perfect for him on this team, and hopefully he's bought into it, because he is a hellova weapon when used right.

 

There was an instance by him to counterpress during the Paraguay match that I noticed and while he was at the side of the player, he couldn’t stay with him or make it difficult. It didn’t lead to anything and wasn’t due to lack of effort but stood out for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is something Poch considers when putting together a lineup, substitutions. etc.

 

Reyna should go play in Portugal or Spain.

 

There was a notorious Athletic piece (maybe ESPN) which argued he's been in a slow physical decline, and the most indicting evidence was his sprint speed as measured in the official BL stats. His highest recorded sprint speed during the "glory" years playing alongside Haaland at BvB was 30.8 kph. The article showed a steady decline from 30.8 to 29 something to 28 to 27 to 26 something his last year at Dortmund.

But at BMG, his numbers have increased and his latest max sprint was 30.07, so if falling sprint speed was evidence of his physical collapse, surely his current sprint speed is evidence of his renaissance.

 

He's absolutely faster than he looks. The infamous "Gio's Washed" article from just before his excellent performance in the friendly vs Paraguay had his "golden age" sprint speed maxing out at 30.8, then collapsing over the years to like 26ish. His max sprint speed from this season on BL.com is 30.07.

 

Another goal or two with some solid performances and perhaps he makes a move to a club where he can start?

 

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/stats/players/top-speed/2020-2021

This says his top was 32.57

 

And the principle Greg Behrlater violated that set them off in the first place.

 

Gio helped us close out the game and showed that "the best defense is offense". Hopefully he stays in that role for us.

 

Adams is the guy to stop them breaking out and recycle the ball.

 

Be petty because Claudio didn't pick up Seb's option when they were both at Austin FC?

 

I've no idea what that refers to and I don't want to know.

 

With Dest playing wing and having a lot less defensive responsibilities I'm pretty content with him and Pulisic being the main creative forces. I think the big question is can Reyna play a full 90? Only the coaching staff knows.