I liked how they played. Long is good. Ream defended well but offers nothing in the attack, and tactically that caught up to us second half.
Long cannot play out of the back. Huge issue when our CB's are bypassing Bradley/McKennie, who are marked out of the game.
I thought all 4 were generally pretty good. Distribution out of the back is a problem, which is why I've said the whole time that Brooks is an automatic starter when healthy, despite what others have said about this crew doing well defensively this tournament. But Miazga and Long battled like crazy and won lots of duels. Ream is a good enough placeholder at LB until someone else steps up, and Cannon is still raw, but seems to have plenty of potential. He's moved up Lima on the depth chart for me.
Probably the only bright spot for both halves. Hard to blame the goal on them since the CM left the space exposed for the goal. Ream played well. Cannon was good and a threat offensively.
The good on defense. Many forward players did yeoman's work in helping with the defense. The bad on defense. Our number 6 opened wide the gates of hell.
Long is a beast. Both CB's were good. They put out a lot of fires set by the cm's and to a lesser extent Ream. They executed a game plan to draw in the pressure and play over the top for the most part. Sergio Ramos with the ball at their feet they are not, but seldom is our pairing going to be the reason for losing so long as we play anybody in our top 8 or so. Cannon may be a solution at rb. He played some smart 1 touch crosses to pose danger, evaded and passed pretty smoothly, and wasn't beaten too badly by dangerous wings. Now we just need to find a lb because Ream doesn't have the quicks for the position and has a couple mental lapses per game. Why are a lot of managers so against playing their #2 rb at lb? So we have to go down to our 15th best fullback just to utilize a primary left-footer? Lima was under-used at the end.
I think the thing we have to realize is that Ream is being played as a LB in attack. In defense, it should go Cannon-Miazga-Long-Ream-Arriola. That left side really hinges on the wing back. I keep seeing people refer to Long and Miazga as CB, but fail to realize that Ream is essentially a third CB.
Ream was overrun in the 2nd half. Long isn't good with the ball at his feet and if that's what Berhalter wants from defenders then I don't see how he can continue to play him.
steffen, cannon, miazga and long were ok. god, even ream was ok enough. wasnt their fault. only thing ill say is in our horseshit "possession" play i really really wish wed stop playing to steffen. pass back all you want (sometimes all the way from the attack, MIKEY) but when steffens the last thing behind you just play that shit out for a throw.
Then play a better cb than Ream if that's how you look at it. The U.S. has about 15 of them. It's the strongest position we have. And dropping Arriola to help so diligently leaves the U.S. short in #'s in cm and that right side somewhat of a wasteland between the winger and lone fw. Maybe you're not compelled to do that if it's somebody fleeter of foot, like a Long, M. Robinson, EPB, etc. Better yet change the scheme so you're stronger up the middle to win balls against better teams than playing Pulisic there and a Bradley/Trapp at the 6 because they help you play out. The U.S. didn't even try to do that much tonight so what was the point of that scheme. Bring a destroyer option or two. I bet he's still playing Adams at rb in this game w/ Bradley at the 6 if Tyler didn't withdraw.
The game was calling for a destroyer and an LB who can push up offensively like Cannon was on the right. Berhalter handicaps himself with his roster selection and refusal to move onto a different plan when his "system" isn't working.
I thought the scheme worked well defensively in the first half... For what it’s worth. Wouldn’t be my choice of a tactical play whatsoever.
Who does the US have at LB? Maybe I’m forgetting someone, or we have very different views of Lima as an LB, but it can’t think of anyone. The cupboard is bare. Gloster can’t mature soon enough.
It worked because Cannon forced Pizzaro to defend and ran him ragged. The moment they switched, Pizzaro had free reign to do whatever he wanted against Ream because he didn't have to worry about defending.
Once we were down? I don't see the point of having the same player on the team twice with Ream and Lovitz. They both offer nothing going forward. At least someone like Robinson would've acted as a release like Cannon did on the right and forced Pizzaro to defend. Especially once we got down a goal.
Yes, Pizzaro moved to the space unoccupied by Arriola when we were transitioning. He needed to be picked up by Bradley or Ream in our left channel. Either one moving to cover opened up gaps.
Worst part of defense was: 1) no success in distribution 2) Second half game plan for Mexico included "attack Ream" prominently 3) defensive mids were mostly useless
Cannon overtook Lima as the next right back option,and frankly should have Yedlin looking over his shoulder. Why, oh why.......can we not get Lima a trot out at left back instead of this Lovitz character.
The game was calling for quicker passing, but most of all, for every midfielder and attacker to anticipate the passing options faster and to move into space to receive the ball and make another pass effectively. Didn't happen. Maybe can't happen with this mix of players. Bradley was under enormous pressure in the second half and nobody stepped in to share the load. Got to play quicker against that press.
We're solid if unspectacular in both depth and quality at center back, one place I don't worry much about nd both Long and Mizaga did well. Cannon on the right is good and will only get better and we have a couple other options there. Left back is a joke right now and I'm not entirely sure we have anyone much better than Ream playing anywhere about now.
Lima......Nick Lima is better than Tim Ream. In practically all facets of the game. I just dont understand. We have to give it a look. Line up Lima at left back, any of Long, Brooks, Miazga........hell Opara and Parker.....whoever in the middle, and Cannon out right, and we are set on defense.
If Berhalter wants to jerk someone all over the field, do it to McKennie. At least he's already used to it from his club. Anyway, I forgot to mention Lovitz, our late game ace in the hole and my new favorite player. We'd have scored for sure if he'd have gotten on a few minutes sooner.