Pre-match: US - Mexico Nations League Final Sunday 6/6/2021

Hearing we could see quite a drastic formation change for the USMNT against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final tomorrow.

More shortly. @CBSSportsGolazo

— Roger Gonzalez (@RGonzalezCBS) June 5, 2021

this guys track record is pretttty spotty but damnit i want to believe

 

He got my attention. But that’s really all he wanted and I’m playing into it. Dammit!

 

The guy’s article speculated

—————-McKenzie brooks ream
CannonYedlin—Acosta—- McKennie —-dest
————————--CP
——————-Gio ————Sarge

 

Concerns:
1) neither Acosta nor McKennie are natural sixes -- a double pivot requires good chemistry so that when one guy is forward, the other stays home. Neither of the pair are natural stay-at-home guys. Has this combination been trained? Neither are high-volume passers for their club team. Are we just assuming Ream and Brooks will handle all of the distribution from the back?

2) I don't think Pulisic is a natural central player. I think he's happiest arriving on the ball at or near the penalty box.

3) I don't like the lack of speed up front.

4) I'm guessing Dest and Ream will be on the same side of the field? Is that a *great* idea?

Other than that, looks great!

 

Woof

 

To number 4 it may not be a horrible idea. Ream is not going to venture forward and Dest has been having issues tracking back. I'd still rather have Robinson there and Dest on the right

 

Yikes, that is awful. Definitely sounds like berhalter though. If we are going to run this formation, I would change many of the players....

- Miazga for Ream and then swap sides with mckenzie on the left and miazga on the right.
- Musah for Acosta (it isnt because I think Musah is a better player or how they played against NI in this setep, but because I think Musah is a savior after struggling with Valencia like suggested in the best XI thread)
- Dest/Robinson combo

Not sure but would consider Pefok or Weah up top might be a better complement for rest of the team in this formation.

 

I'm just not enthused about the idea of putting two shall-we-say inconsistent defenders on the same side, mostly.

Gonzalez's article suggests Berhalter's going for a lopsided formation where the three CBs + Yedlin make a de facto back four which... doesn't seem ideal to me. Again, not sure I love the idea of Ream going heads-up with Chucky.

 

Ream's one truly successful role over the years with the US has been as the left-most center back in a 3-man backline. He's too slow to be a left back and too weak to be a center back in the international game, but his set of skills works well in a 3-man backline (as shown in 2017).

But is he still suitable for the role at this point in his career?

 

I predict that the field will be narrow. Marone.

 

And, by the way, has Dike been cap-tied? Why go to Wik when I can ask here?

 

I am OK with Yedlin in this game. I am not OK with Ream.

Musah needs to play. Weah too. As subs, at least.

 

Just one observation. If Mexico plays with 3 in the back the way they did against Costa Rica, we should continue to play 3 forwards. Force them make to the first adjustment.

If they change to 4 in the back, we are flexible enough in personnel that we could easily change to 2 forwards by dropping one of Reyna/Pulisic back into midfield.

 

I could list several options. But it all boils down to whether or not Adams can go. So if I assume he can go then:

Steffan or Horvath (I could make a pitch for either one as an ex keeper)
Dest Mckennie/Miazga Brooks Robinson
Musah Adams McKennie
Reyna Sargent/JS Pulisic

 

Nowadays, teams can play 3 in the back vs 3 forwards. They just move the wingbacks somewhat deeper.

 

Reasonable suggestion. I had two thoughts...

1) Do we want Tata making adjustments?

2) Do you think Berhalter would make those adjustments?

 

Why are they so bad at communicating this stuff?

Warning: Concacaf Nations League final Sunday is listed as a 7 pm local/9 pm ET kickoff.

Actual kickoff: 7:36/9:36.

TV: CBS Sports Network, Univision, TUDN, Paramount+.#usmnt #eltri

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 4, 2021

 

It seems to me if both teams retain the same formation from Thursday's game, it would work to our advantage. So the onus is on Tata to make an adjustment. The most obvious adjustment for him is to go to four in the back. He could go 4-3-3 (most likely) or 4-4-2 (less likely given Mexico's personnel).

I've seen the speculation we could go to three in the back. I think this is a very bad idea if Mexico goes with 3 forwards.

 

I'd be happy if Mexico goes 5 in the back. That's a plus right off the bat for us.

 

I am really looking forward to this match but the time is really rough for anyone on the East Coast who has a job the next morning.

 

Hey the guys are dealing with altitude and jet lag. Suck it up. It's the least you can do as a fan.

I remember getting up at 2 am to watch us play Portugal in 2002. And then going to work. Or was that the Mexico game. I got up early for several matches on work days that year. I got up a little late and missed McBride's goal against Mexico. I was happy to see we were up 1-0.

 

There's nothing special about 3 forwards against 3 in the back. Chelsea played 3 in the back against 3 forwards in UCL. It's not a rarity. Teams no how to adjust.

Seattle are playing 5 in the back and are having zero problems.