He was fine against PSG, PSV still got run through and were saved because of poor finishing from Dembele, and then had a disastrous showing against Ajax, after which both he and his manager admitted it was just an emergency stop gap that they didn’t want to have to repeat. The thing is that dedicated 3 CB formations tend to allow the CM/DM to play a little more two-way. So we could easily start both Wes and Malik there. Pulisic on the left. Dest/Weah on the right. Balogun up top. Jedi, Trusty, Ream, McKenzie, Freeman across the backline. That’s as close to what we will probably look to do against a big team as we have. Maybe Tyler gets a half.
Like Tyler he wasn’t training with the team, at least when the media could watch. I think it’s still very up in the air.
I think the biggest question is are we going to see Richards? For 60? For 30? With Richards' exact injury status unknown and knowing Pochettino, I am going to guess 30 minutes. If he does not play 30 minutes, I would guess he will not play at all vs Paraguay.
Richards probably won't see a minute against Germany but I don't think the means he wont play against Paraguay.
Load management. The USSF just released a picture of Richards doing an agility drill saying, “Step by step. @eastmamba in action. ”
Dest can play the Jedi spot on the left. He has before. Easily if he is a WB. Little dicier if a true FB. But Freeman or Scally on the other side balances it out a bit.
Germany will be a very stern test. They play Wirtz, Musiala and Karl in their -3- line and bring Sane off the bench. They beat Finland 4-0 with Undav who is their Brian White scoring a brace. Dual Nat Nene Brown will be aggressively attacking up the left hand side from his LB slot.
I don't really see why, though. He tends to crowd whomever is playing that playmaking winger role and he doesn't provide width. He's not a strong defender, either. If I'm going to screw up spacing, I might as well have better defense.
I think Weah serves a better right-footed cross but other than that I think Dest is the superior player. I think Weah plays it too safe w/ his club and should consider rejuvenating his native winger/striker mentality a bit more.
Kimmich against Finland played the inverted RB/CM role that G Berhalter controversially had Adams give a try during his tenure. Anyway, Germany is flush with CM's. Will be interesting to see how the 2 squads approach this tune-up. Germany's defense didn't get tested by Finland. Hopefully we can give them something to think about.
I would very much prefer this roster to be what we intend to roll out for the cup. Fool around time is over. Time to put pencil to paper and start writing.
I guess McKenzie? I don't really know what he's talking about "never stop", because neither CB ever stops, that's not the issue. Ream doesn't stop, rather the opposite he just backpedals...maybe that's it, Poch wants him to stop the ball? McKenzie? maybe he means his mind stops? Because Mark just seems to have no idea that Mane is making a run right beside him.
Tim Ream. I think he thought there was not enough cover and he did not want the attacker to get in behind him.
Poch is calling out Ream for not stopping the ball. Herc breaks breaks down the sequence at 8:28. Marcelo Balboa made similar points about Ream on the CBS Sports Golazo pod.