Pre-match: International Friendly: USA vs Mexico; September 6th

id like yours, but zardes (and probably trap) is a mortal lock

 

True...but we don't really know much of anything do we? We have a report (or two) indicating that he turned down a callup.

At this stage in his career, that is pretty much like retiring if he didn't have a "reasonable" excuse. (I'm assuming that Berhalter wouldn't extend any more invites and Nagbe would likely know that.) I'm not going to fault a guy for a career decision.

If he did have a good reason, then I'm not going to fault him for that. What is a good reason? That's a subjective question....see Andrew Luck or Landon Donovan.

 

Again Nagbe was not first choice he was a replacement. So at this point in his career he may of not see a future that leads to the World Cup so why risk future $$$ in his contract.

 

Will be interesting to see the cuts. The makings of a really solid 18 man squad there, although I do think we look thin in midfield with a few good options and some dead weight in there. Horvath is one of the oddest omissions to me, but I wonder if his club situation is the reason. I saw someone post earlier that Toronto in a playoff push so I gotta wonder if thats why Bradley and Altidore are left off. Real shame Weah is hurt. Hopefully he would have been called otherwise.

 

Also, I am not anti-MLS at all. But they really need to knock out the shit with scheduling games on international dates. That shouldn't have to be part of this calculus.

 

This is an extremely optimistic take.

Ream and Lovitz are inexplicably here, meaning Berhalter thinks they're best XI caliber players.

We know that 3G would've called Nagbe, but he declined. IDK who that would've booted, perhaps a player in the midfield that we would've wanted to see (e.g Pomykal).

We know that 3G would have called Bradley, Gonzo, and Altidore if TFC weren't playing during the international break. Altidore is perhaps worth calling in, but otherwise, the other two are poor selections.

Baird being back is almost funny. Can't even fathom why he's here, or what his role is.

It's a "vast improvement" purely by chance, not because 3G has learned anything from the Gold Cup.

 

Mexico has brought there A squad. Wow

 

Oh, oh...now Gregg will have to call in the Toronto players, whether he wants to or not. After all, can't play Mexico's A team without MBradley and Jozy. What if we lose? LOL.

 

Oh, he wants to sell him? Probably not a bad idea because they need to build up the kitty for a swoop on some special striker.

 

Yeah, it's too bad. Most probably they think they should play Pulisic where he plays for club. I see him as a developing player still and for that reason I like him in midfield where he can build on his skill set while helping the USA.

Additionally, I want to see Pulisic at the 10 so Pomykal plays the 8, alternating with McKennie 8 so we can see the difference.

either midfield of Pulisic--Trapp--Pom or Pulisic--Trapp--McKennie

Unfortunately I think we see Egg play Pom and McKennie together with Trapp and move Pulisic to winger forward.

 

I think Pom is holding back a little for club in case there's a move to Europe coming off a good u20 showing. Windows close by Sep 6. Next step would be USMNT participation and he should show well.

 

As a government employee, this is also not a new phenomenon to me.

 

--------------------------Steffen--------------------------
Cannon---------Long---------Brooks-------Ream
--------------------------Trapp----------------------------
------------McKennie-------Roldan-------------------
Pulisic---------------Zardes------------------Baird

Subs:
60' Dest x Cannon
60' Sargent x Zardes
60' Lovitz x Ream
70' Pomykal x Roldan
89' Morales x Trapp

 

I, for one, hope that Morales starts over Trapp. A) because, while Trapp is not as terrible as some like to describe him, he's limited and I don't ever see him being good enough to play in a World Cup. B) because Morales might be a better player and might be good enough, but we haven't seen him in years. C) because if Morales plays significant minutes and sucks, then we will know why he's been passed over by all of our coaches during his career.

 

I'm assuming this is what you expect Berhalter to do.

I agree that's probably it, except I think Morris or Boyd will start instead of Baird. Frankly, if Baird starts I'm gonna need a new TV.

This would be my line-up:

----------------------Sargent----------------------
-----Boyd----------Pomykal--------Pulisic-----
-------------Morales--------McKennie----------
-Lima--------Brooks-----Robinson-----Dest-
----------------------Steffen-----------------------

 

It would be typical of BS that if Morales has a meh game vs. 16th ranked Mexico or 9th ranked Uruguay, he’d be strung up and certain posters would say that Bradley and Trapp are better, completely ignoring the broad totality of their underperforming games.

 

Sure. It would also be typical to see a bunch of "well, GGG sucks at tactics so you can't take anything from the game"-type posts. I'm mildly hopefuel, as I've always been with Berhalter.

 

Not only a hypothetical but a virtual certainty. We need Morales to get an assist on a long diagonal against Curaçao or something.

 

That's not really Morales game. He plays as the 8 in a 4-2-3-1. He's not the one gathering the ball form the CBs and doesn't have the range Trapp and Bradley have

 

They are squeezing in the games and ending the season earlier this year

 

One of the interesting adjustments to professional life was watching people tell me easily provable lies.

 

By range, I assume you mean passing and not defensive coverage?

 

What I would like to see.

-----------------------Morris----------------------
------Boyd----------Pomykal--------Pulisic-----
----------Morales-------------McKennie----------
-Dest-------Brooks--------Robinson-----Cannon-
----------------------Steffen-----------------------

Morris has 4 goals in 5 starts at forward.

With Pomykal--a true cm--in the hole, there would be less of a need a specialist passer at the 6.

Pattern of play--
Pomykal drops off into midfield, with Pulisic and Boyd attacking the vacated space.

Cannon is the attacking fullback. Dest acts as an outlet.

With Pomykal at a-mid, McKennie and Morales will have opportunities to get forward.

 

1st half experiment (press):

---------Sarge-------
--Boyd-------------Pulisic
------------Pax-------
--------CR7----------------
Dest------Fredo---Cannon
-------JAB---Miles-----
-----------Steffen-------------------

2nd half (slow down):

--------Morris--------
-Boyd----------CR7
----------Seba----------
-----Wes--------------
Lima------Wil---Dest
-----Long--Zim------
--------Gonzalez-----

 

Ya he is not the ball playing 6 that Berhalter likes.

A lot of the 8s we have are better going froward then Morales too.