Sebastian Berhalter had the most assists in MLS from any USMNT-eligible player. He was just in MLS Best XI. With our full complement of midfielders available (Tillman, McKennie, Johnny, etc.) I have trouble fitting him in. With them out, I think Berhalter is worthy. Maybe even worthy over a midfielder like Musah, who hasn't done much this year other than exist in Europe. Worthy over Reyna. If we plan on using Zawadski in midfield (as listed in the release), Berhalter is certainly more worthy than him for that position. [Heck, I might pick Berhalter over Roldan. I'd have to think about it. Different skill sets.]
Berhalter is a very much a moving target. He keeps getter better and better. And he plays in 4231, which is one of the 2 formations Poch uses. Poch is not a badge guy: Berhalter will have a good chance if he performs well in this window.
It's getting a bit late for totally new players and no January Camp. But if FIFA goes with 30-man rosters, I could see the manager taking a flyer on players like this.
ReReam. Yes he's aging out, and yes he does get beat for pace, but watch the passing. When the ball moves around the back he's the guy that gets it up the field. He the guy our defenders and midfielders are looking to to break the press. Against Australia the ball got stuck around midfield so often because there was no one to make the pass through. The ball moved around slowly and often ended up with Richards who didn't seem like he wanted it. Unless someone digs up a passport for John Stones or Marquinos etc. OR one of these other guys just leaps in confidence, his press breaking ability simply outweighs his defensive liabilities.
man, it would be incredibly interesting if people would watch his passing. his legs are dead. he shorts the few line breaking passes he attempts, and cant/wont even pass (horizontally) beyond his cb partner which takes away any advantage of switching sides.
its hard not to respect refusing the possibility of new/more information (not to mention the level of comp).
Some ridiculous percentage goals in the Premier League this season are scored from set pieces and dead ball situations. LIke 35-40%. At the highest levels, its getting increasingly difficult to score from the run of play. Unless you have Haaland or somebody. So yes, having guys like Berhalter who can deliver a killer ball on set pieces is really important. Who's getting on the end of those set pieces is a different question.
Berhalter's become a bit of an odd fit as we've seen the team evolve. Obviously, his set piece delivery still translates, but he did his best with Vancouver when he was playing more of an attacking 8, almost a CAM. And he's done his best with the US as a more forward, all action kind of player. He even ended the GC playing RW, technically, though the heat map would be a forward 8. Post-GC, with more talent in the team, that role has kind of disappeared. He's not good enough of an attacking to really play either of the dual CAM roles, and when we've played that, we're generally playing a much more defensively focused and active midfield. His one time playing that was really the South Korea defensive meltdown. While I don't think you can put that all on him -- there was clearly just a ton of defensive confusion -- I don't know that he can play the Roldan - Morris role that "fixed" it all that well. Offensively, I think if you throw in the set pieces, he brings more than Roldan or Morris, but he would have to prove he can play that active role on defense, I think, and he lacks the size and bite to play further back, IMO. The will is there but the flesh is a beat weak. Iloski is a straight attacking player who has played some midfield for Philly but not further back. He actually does fit Pochettino pretty well, I think, but lacks the on ball creation that most of our current CAMs do. I'm not sure he'd do worse than Zendejas, though. Not really competing with Berhalter, tho. Wolff could definitely get a look though I think his question mark would be similar to Berhalter -- he's not really a 10 but he's very good offensively for an 8, but can he swing the rather large defensive responsibility the other two CMs have in the way we are playing now. I will say that lessens when Tillman is in one of the 10s simply because he helps more than a Pulisic, Zendejas or Luna, but that's not the case this window.
Poch plays a 4231 and 343. From the start of the season, Vancouver played 433, with Berhalter occupying an 8 role. They've since switched to 4231, with Berhalter playing in the '2'. He'd be fine playing in the US's 4231. Berhalter's WS in 433 was about 7.4 with 1 goal and 4 primary assists in 16 matches. His WS in 4231 was about 7.8 with 2 goals and 4 primary assists in 9 matches. Playing with Muller obviously helped the cause there. The only player with a WS higher than 7.8 for the season was Messi at 8.5
I would rather see how Musah is doing than check in with Berhalter again. If Gio gets a "let's hvae a visit call-up" then why not Musah? Berhalter is a fine club player, and his set pieces are pretty good. But he is deep/unused bench at best and Musah could be regular sub even situational starter at best. Since Poch doesn't prioritize getting the Nats minutes together above club comfort, maybe that's why Musah was not called.
I thought it was funny. They are very old friends but doubtful ever will be again. Would be kind of nice if they repaired the damage though.
Who knows? That might be beyond repair. Sebastian was, of course, in Qatar with his family when all that went down. But I also expect both to be professionals. They are there to do a job. Not everybody in a workplace has to be friends. [This is a good article describing Berhalter's traits and role with Vancouver too.] Sebastian Berhalter’s arrival makes for a unique North American soccer plot twist - The Athletic Given their similar ages and parents’ friendship, Sebastian and Gio (who is roughly 18 months younger) grew up as friends. When asked if he and Gio have spoken about the saga, or if their relationship is in a better place, Sebastian simply said “no,” not displaying a desire to elaborate.
I'd rather see Musah getting more minutes and not making bit mistakes, at club level, before bringing him back in. Hopefully, he improves between now and March. Meanwhile, Berhalter will have opportunity to show his level this camp. We'll see what he has.