I didn't think Berhalter-ball was that complicated. Everyone behind the ball when the opposition has it. When you win it back get it wide to Jedi, Dest or Weah and charge!!! Without Dest and Weah (and Adams doing the job of 2 DMs) it fell apart.
I get what people are saying but I have a different perspective. One, plenty of national teams run offenses and defenses that require positioning and coordination. Bielsa's Uruguay. The Sampaoli Chile teams. The current Colombian team. Spain, of course. Two, positional play principles have invaded nearly every club system these days and it'd be a shock if someone in a Top league had no real clue about them. We shouldn't be starting from scratch. Maybe Joe Scally was at 19, but everyone coach Pulisic has had incorporates elements. Even Red Bull veteran Tyler Adams had time with Nagelsmann. And frankly, as Berhalter went on, our stuff got more and more basic towards the World Cup. If we look mechanical running triangles on the edges of the box, that's not "too complex." Everyone does that. Three ... I don't think that was the issue when we struggled offensively. There's still concerns here vis a vis Pochettino, but I also think there's the potential for a real breakthrough. Here's why I think we didn't score as much as we could have, and why that came across as very mechanical, and how I think Poch will improve it ... or not. Berhalter walked away from numerical overloads of any kind post-pandemic. It's just really hard to overstate how much more effective numerical advantage is than quality (which requires winning one on one matchups) or positional (which require defensive over-commitments or mistakes). You know what looks really smooth and fluid? A 3 on 2. You know why we looked killer versus Mexico in BJ's Nations League -- an opponent running a two man midfield against us without playing defensively. These are the biggest and best advantages, and we didn't use them because they can leave you open defensively. Poch does. Instead we were left with trying to have Pulisic and Weah beat guys on quality (not enough) or the long switch to the backside type of stuff (not enough frequency). I don't know that guys were struggling with decision making so much as the decisions are harder when there's no extra man. Poch is known for improving his teams with very specific directions. Players will talk about how their body position was altered to allow for a more aggressive pass, or two steps of positioning created a one two that sprung everything. I think there's simply a good chance that Poch has better knowledge of this than Berhalter and staff. The devil is in the details. It's also possible that it's simply not possible for a national team coach to team these details ... if so, we're screwed. But I'm tentatively hopeful that he will be able to impart SOMETHING more than Berhalter. We're just not that skilled and our players aren't great decision makers. I mean, this is a real part of it, right? Our close in play and the inch by inch executional elements needed to be a very good offensive team is not something this team possesses. That's not what is needed to score on New Zealand, but it's what is needed to put up multiple goals on Uruguay usually ... so we should temper ourselves somewhat. I think this establishes an upper limit, but I also think that we're good enough to play some style of Poch ball -- we do not have to go back to only counter-attacking. Here's how I see it: offensively, #1 will change. Poch is very aggressive, and I just find it hard to believe that he is going to go as defensive as Berhalter did. It would take a total extended defensive meltdown, I think. #2 is a question mark. I have no doubt, he has the knowledge. Are our players quick enough and is it possible for him to impact this area significantly? I think there will be some impact ... but how much, I don't know. This is an area that is hard for me to judge because I clearly don't understand a lot of this kind of detail. #3 is a limit. I do think that some players might take Poch's opinions and work their ass off, but I don't see it being widespread with this group. But someone like Weah? Sure. But in general ... I do expect him to push counters more, and make some adjustments as he realizes our conversion rate is not going to be the same without Harry Kane or Kylian Mbappe. Weird. So yeah, I get the complexity argument, but I don't completely buy it. The mechanical to me was more lack of options than it was too many options or too many choices. It could rear its ugly head, but I think it far more likely that the Poch effect is there, but muted. And so much will rely on our players' uptake AND willingness to put in extra time. I have little doubt that Poch would send them all things to study and do while away ... will they do them is a big question.
I think the pressing had some complexity, but nothing I saw out of the offense was all that complex. It was positional -- which meant you did have commitments. But complex? No.
Repped for truth, but I'll add Walker Zimmerman's name to the "infinitely more heart" category. The dude always brings intensity and focus with the NT.
I don't think it was overly complicated. I think since he was re-hired the issue was more he was to resistant to try different looks based off of player form/availability. I get you can't constantly do that but I don't feel Gregg's answers since 2023 if needing to use new players really helped the feelings around the team. Like if Tyler Adams isn't available, his answer was try Musah or Luca at the 6 first
This is a correct take. Have to ask, WTF happened to this group where they lost the desire to back one another. Has been going on for awhile now. Saw it in Copa. Saw it in the spring. But it has only gotten worse as if the fighting spirit has been slowly removed. Happened under Berhalter and only got worse this past window. “That’s the bare minimum … I’m watching this game against Canada. The best player that the USMNT has, Christian Pulisic, getting chopped down, play after play.Jesse Marsch is sending a message. You see anybody go defend his teammate? No. … There’s no pride.”- @herculezg… pic.twitter.com/PToxGBHl7O— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 12, 2024
There’s not much in the way in terms of dual nationals who can help us in the next two years. Maybe Luca Kolesheo but that’s about it. Most of the top dual nationals are more up and coming prospects that aren’t likely to be there by the World Cup.
I think it’s more the neither of those guys are close to the senior team at current. Right now England and the US are offering both players the same opportunities.
I think a good coach can figure it out. It doesn’t mean there won’t be growing pains but the only international coach really comparable to Pochettino in terms of pedigree is Nagglesman and I think he’s done an excellent job with Germany. And it helps they have better players, but he’s made a very decided impact from when he took over. When Germany could similarly have been described as listless, uninspired, etc.
Not really. It's like the whole 'toxic culture' narrative around the '18 WC cycle guys. The same 'toxic culture' was there during the '14' cycle and during the '16 Copa. The player just aged out. Folks should stop going in for the psychobabble explanations.
Why is it always about the US players not sticking up for their teammate being chopped down? Isn't that the referee's job? Dest and Weah both responded to CONCACAF roughness and got red carded for it. Why are the refs allowing our opponents to constantly throw the same obvious/historical tactic to limit CP's effectiveness.?.? The US is always being goaded by CONCACAF opponents and the refs just allow it.
I remember Zardes receiving a knock and McKennie intervening on his behalf hockey style under Berhalter.
Here's something I find detestable. ESPN wants me to subscribe for $10.99 a month to read an article.
McKennie is probably the lead "enforcer". It's usually better to have someone who does that at club level though as they learn what they can and can't get away with. Maybe Poch could appoint Jermaine Jones as a specialist coach.