FanPost

What a Week for USMNT Soccer!!! Top 4 Reasons to be excited...


This has been an amazing week for US Soccer and the the 3-0 USMNT win vs. Panama is only the 4th Reason.

Here are the Top 4 reasons

1) Tyler Adams and Tim Weah got their 1st START for their new clubs.

TYLER ADAMS

Adams was in the 18, but did not play in the first game he was eligible for, but he STARTED (Not Subbed On) for RB Leipzig vs. Fortuna who were on (W,W,W in the last 3 Draws including beating BvB).

Adams did not only shine, but most German reports have him as man of the match with an 8/10 or 9/10. I had to use the google translate button to read most of these. Most of you know I am big on Adams (and Steffen, Berhalter). This is ONLY ONE GAME, but I still stand by what I said in that I believe he will be the glue and the most important player for the future of USMNT. I know that is huge to say and only time will tell, but as a Chelsea fan in the EPL he reminds of a not as developed version of Kante. He is not a complete player at 19 (No one is unless your name is Mbappe...haha) and he has much to learn. But he owned and controlled that midfield the whole game. German RB fans are going nuts over his debut. He showed great press, won most of his numerous duels. He showed showed great simple passing even when pushing up. He played in an interchanging double 6 role. (if Dest could turn into that other double 6 role... imagine that athleticism in a press).

I admit I WAS WRONG about the consideration of a press at the international level and if it could be done. So whoever I debated with... I admit I was wrong. I agree with you that using a press could very well work with our athleticism and players. And I have seen some of the strategy boards and vision of Berhalter. I think with a set system and understanding of a press and players knowing their roles, if Berhalter can do that in USMNT. That is still a big if, but I am still high on Berhalter.

TIM WEAH

Has had a great start for Celtic with the goals and getting the start in the recent game. He has played LW/LF and ST. So I am excited about his speed and also playing both of those positions so we can see him develop into certain roles and see how he responds.

2) Mihailovic's Potential

I was not that big on Mihailovic watching him at Chicago in the MLS, and tsb11 or LaRoja told me they saw some good No. 10 potential... and I should have listened. I still think Mendez is our number 10 at the next WC and (Busio, Reyna are our distant future at the position at the position), but seeing his creativity and imaging him playing one touch passes off of Sargent and Pulisic RW and Weah LW is an exciting idea.

3) 2 Things I Learned About Berhalter's Player Management

First, Berhalter came straight out and told everyone in essence it is time to build a CORE GROUP and you have to earn that right. He told us not to expect every player who is in camp to play. The lineups are not going to change that much between games because he wants to see a core group and see them become familiar with each other. Realistically only a handful of guys will make the international window squad (the A-Team). You have Pulisic, Brooks, Adams, McKennie, & Weah as most likely starters, with Sargent, Yedlin, Miazga, CCV, Horvath, Moore and a few others challenging for starting rolls. So if he sees a player who has potential... he has to earn that roster spot and then win the job at camp. So our idea of expirementing and swapping people all of the time is not what he is doing. He is looking to build a cohesive team. If you do not fit what he wants out of a role "taking the idea of the best shape and team strategy against the opponent vs. here are our best players and building a completely different scheme to make sure all of them are on the field. Some of you will not like that, but the teams that went the farthest in the WC were teams that built cohesive units over individual talent. Argentina is an example of why this did not work. France played a move into space concept over (really talented also) vs. teams that isolated players and wanting to get them the ball often even if a lesser skilled player was open. Ex. Brazil, Portugal, Argentina play way too much isolation football even though Brazil was probably the most talented team. This creates stability and also protection if injuries happen or another player steps in and knows their role.

Second, Berhalter is at handling the players themselves and his expectation. 2 Examples... Bill Hamid feels he is the best US Keeper and he stated that, but at the end of the interview he explained Berhalter went out of his way to explain why he was not chosen and (Here is the Key) told him these are the things I want out of the position and these are the areas you need to improve in if you want to challenge for the spot. This puts personal responsibility and expectations that are measurable and easy for the player to understand, instead of just cutting them or leaving them out. The second example is Kellyn Acosta, who was top 5 most likely to start going into camp. But Berhalter did not see what he wanted in the player, siting he saw others better than him, his fitness, and what he wants him to improve on in that role so he has a chance to earn that back. Berhalter will be monitoring their club performances to see these attributes.

4) And last is was great to see USA's C+/B- Team beat Panama's B team 3-0. This needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but even Berhalter stated that.

The most import take away was watching the shape and the roles Berhalter wanted his players to play. In interviews after the game almost every player interviewed was asked about their role and they mentioned things like "Berhalter wanted be lower on the field than I am used to... said Ramirez. Call it a weaker opponent of whatever but Bradley showed he belonged on that field with that group. The passes were not as difficult as usual but he still made them and a few good ones. Some on here cannot even admit that he had a 7/10 game and just dismiss the performance all together. He could have a big part in the US B-Team for a couple years. Berhalter knows his age and players like Adams, McKennie are the future. But Bradley played well as did some others.

I am looking forward to the Costa Rica game... and based on his performance, Bradley may start again so chill out. The main thing is to watch the roles and the shape of the team. If we keep that shape and lose the game it was still a good camp. Berhalter set the foundation, and sent our media and materials to the European players to learn and start understanding the information and it will be fun to see our A Players using the same principles. The jury will be out on Berhalter, because not many people liked him going into this like I did, but it will take time to implement this and grow this very young team. So jury is out for a good while and probably years.

I think it is a good time to be a USMNT Fan... now the USSF needs to work on Academies and Development.

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