Post-match: USA v. Japan - September 9, 2025 - International Friendly

I hope someone on Poch's staff can make a slight adjustment to McGlynn's mechanics and put those post balls in the net.

 

I thought Roldan was full of running and tracking and was a steady presence throughout. That’s kind of the standard I think you need from that spot when out of possession. I was disappointed with him when we had possession, too much hot potato, backpasses, a little bit of shirking responsibility on that end. But maybe those were his marching orders.
If this how it looks come next summer, who plays in that spot? I’m not convinced Poch doesn’t go right back to 4atb but if this is a thing that’ll be an interesting competition.

 

Joke post, I assume.

 

Freeman is very raw technically. Some of his passes and crosses were just poor. He’s extremely athletic which helps him gain separation in transition but the final third execution is hit or miss.

He’s not a cringe player by any means. Just near the bottom of all the fullbacks in attack.

 

For me the people who helped themselves a lot tonight were Zendejas and Arfsten. I didn’t see what others see in McGlynn. And the back 3 seems to have had a big impact. I wish it was Richards and 2 other guys but whatever, especially after watching Reams aerial performance.

I don’t know Japan’s squad well enough to know how much of a drop off that group is. But the attack looked good and we UNLEASHED ZENDEJAS BABY!

 

And it allows us to rotate the hell out of our midfield and wingbacks instead of running them into the ground like last time.

 

This ^ was the impression I had. Berhalter’s positioning was always off, he can’t defend anyone, and his passing adds nothing. So, anyone else would be an improvement. That anyone else was Roldan this time. Hopefully, it will be McKennie, Musah, or Johnny Cardoso next time.

 

I didn't see the game, so cant' comment too much. Just saw some highlights.

........................but we sure as hell needed that result.

This team needed some positive momentum.
Now carry that forward into the October window with more of the "A" guys rolled in.

Also, I'm glad that Zendejas has had "his moment."

There are certain guys who for whom we say "he has a bunch of caps, but has never really had a great game or moment for the team."

Then they do....................

Zendejas is the kind of guy who could rip a roster spot away from the Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, etc. crew. You don't excel as much for Club America as Zendejas does without having some quality. It was just a matter of time and opportunity.

 

Who’s the best CM alongside Adams? Major question. Tessman may be too defensive. Cardoso is a question mark. McKennie is a bit all over the place. Musah - not sure where he’ll play at new club. One of those four should start.

 

If Zendejas starts over Weah up top, that would be interesting. Then Weah competes with Dest for right wing back spot.

 

That would seem to give Poch a 25% chance of getting it right.

 

I like what the back 3 does in terms of freeing up attackers to focus on the attack. But if 3 in the back is the future, I hope that 2 of the 3 are different people. Ream will be athletically overmatched vs most WC opponents both laterally and vertically. And Blackmon is just not up to it ability wise.

 

If it's two wingbacks on the outside of the 4 in a 3-4-3, is it not someone like Tillman who pairs with Adams in the middle 2? So it's more of a front 4 diamond with a shallow U of 2 wingbacks and Adams behind.

 

1. Good day at the office - some progress for once
2. Good formation change by Poch
3. Much better quick ball movement
4. Actually some combo plays (even the late bang bang from Luna to Downs) for once to break down Japan and get off some shots
5. No whining at the ref - just some glares and barking back (Zendejas actually did that the most)
6. Loved Flo bodying off the defender to get the left footed shot off

FTR - it was Japan’s B team but you can only play who is in front of you …

 

A front diamond, a middle diamond, or two diamonds? I think we have to give this some thought. How about a 3-5-2?

 

My thinking is that Roldan isn't going to do anything better than Tillman. So I bet he has Tillman in mind for that pairing. Johnny might be a better passer from deep, but I think of he and Tessman as depth for Tyler. Tillman just offers so much, and if Reyna regains his mojo he might spell Tillman.

 

I agree with almost all of what you said. But I think you glossed over Arfsten’s shoddy defending, which contributed to a fair number of Japan’s decent chances. I’m still think Tolkin is a better choice for backup LB or even LWB (in the running with Scally).

 

Prove that you enjoyed the game

 

It's my favorite formation... and I think it could be a perfect fit for our talent pool.

----------------- Pepi - Balo
Jedi - Adams - CP - Tillman - Weah
McKenzie - Richards - Campbell
--------------------- Freese

Edit: Could play like a 3-1-4-2 inside the final 3rd and as a 3-5-2 out of the back.

 

My stock up/down report for the window:

Stock up:
--Freeman: Watching him at the GC, I would have said he was a year or two away from challenging for a spot on the A roster, but he looks a lot more polished and confident just in the few months since then. His passes were on the mark more, and he was more assertive pushing the play on his side with no defensive miscues (that I remember). I don't think he's long for MLS. Scally is probably off the WC roster as of now.

--Zendejas: I don't know that he was great outside of his goal, but his goal was great and showed a glimpse of finishing quality that we're too often lacking. He probably wasn't on many people's projected WC rosters a month or two ago, and now he's at least firmly in the conversation.

--Blackmon: He was very solid, if not spectacular, against Japan, which is a big step up from the SK game and and a step up from what some other candidates for the 3/4 CB spots have shown. So, like Zendejas, he went from being completely off the radar to being in the conversation for the WC roster.

--Balogun: He was always making the team, but he hadn't played much for club or country this calendar year and was in a bit of danger of getting forgotten. He clearly showed that the team is much more dangerous with him on the field and is probably the starter even when Pepi gets fit.

--Freese: He had felt like something of a placeholder until Turner rediscovered his form, but Freese had a few really nice saves against Japan, and it feels like he's solidifying his hold on the #1 GK spot.

Stock down:
In a way, I could put lots of people here who didn't get a chance to play much or weren't called in at all, but I'll stick to the guys who actually played a decent bit and didn't help themselves.

--Sargent: This is the obvious one. The difference when Balogun came on for him against SK was so stark. I think Sargent is even in trouble for the 3rd forward spot. Agyemang may have an ugly touch and spotty decision making, but he's a headache for CBs in a way that Sargent just isn't. I don't think the SK CBs broke a sweat dealing with him.

--Luna: I thought Luna was ok overall, and his give and go with Downs was sublime. It is so, so hard to weight that return pass perfectly in tight quarters like he did. But his competition this window, Zendejas, scored a great goal, and that puts Luna from just on the roster to on the bubble (in my opinion).

--Berhalter: The CM area just looked so much more functional with Roldan in there instead. The Berhalter/Richards FK connection still seems like a cheat code (how does Richards ALWAYS get on the end of those?), but outside of that, he doesn't offer enough.

 

KYP

 

What? That was the first game of the Gold Cup and made it 5-0. Generally at 5-0 you're not really supposed to over-celebrate.

 

Wright also fell down fairly hard after shooting, and he needed a moment to pull himself together, but the scoreline suggested a muted celebration anyway.

However, it's quite possible that Poch played Big Pat over Haji for 'reasons.' and at some point Wright indicated his displeasure/disagreement. Wright is certainly not at the point where he would happily give up a good chunk of his summer not to play.

 

I am 100% on board with Balogun ahead of Sargent. There shouldn't be much argument about that. But this graphic is super misleading. Balogun entered against SK after they had closed up shop and most of his xG and chances came in stoppage time after mass subs both ways and the game was over. Then his performance against Japan was against much, much lower competition. Take those stats with the tiniest grain of salt.

But, yeah, Balogun is materially ahead of Sargent.