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Roster and tactical problems leading into the WC
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:20 pm
Keeper - Here's a big issue for us. Our two main keepers are good enough to move to big teams but not good enough to play for them. Turner is considered a better shot stopper, while Steffen is known to be better with his feet. The bottom line is that you need a keeper who is playing consistently. HH Recommendation : Ethan Horvath. He's actually playing.
Center backs - I honestly believe Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson are our best bets here. I think Zimmerman is great in the air and I'm a fan of Robinson in 1v1 situations.
Left back - Antonee Robinson
Right back - Gregg has to get Joe Scally in the mix in the months leading up to the WC. Sergino Dest is the best guy we have here but he can rarely play 90 minutes when he is healthy. Yedlin isn't it. HH Recommendation: Dest/Scally
Midfield - Our three best midfielders are Adams, McKennie, and Musah. Now here's our problem. Those three guys are legit but they are really similar in that they're transition players. Adams is a good defensive mid but he's not the world's greatest passer. McKennie and Musah are line breakers but against a low block they're very limited. If we match up with a team playing a back 3 or a low block 4-4-2, we will not score unless we get a set piece. HH Recommendation: One thing I'd like to see Gregg tinker with is a midfield of Adams, McKennie, and Reyna. Reyna gives you a dynamic playmaker who is good with the ball at his feet, has an instinctive feel for making runs, and can pick out passes.
Striker - This is a huge issue for us. Pepi isn't ready and part of the problem is Gregg's system. The only way we can really keep the ball is if we're knocking it around the back line. Other than that, we're knocking long balls. In this case, we're honestly better off with Gyasi Zardes and Josh Sargent as our strikers.
Wings - Pulisic on the left, especially with a guy with a work rate like Antonee Robinson giving him cover. The right is where we have more of a question. There are guys like Reyna, Weah, and Aaronson who are vying for the spot with fringe guys like Roldan and Arriola available as well. HH Recommendation: I would start Aaronson on the right, especially with Dest at right back. You need a guy who will provide defensive work to cover for Dest. Aaronson is a pragmatic player who wears down defenses for 65 minutes before a guy like Weah or Reyna check in. I'd consider Arriola if Aaronson isn't ready.
I'm here to field questions.
Center backs - I honestly believe Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson are our best bets here. I think Zimmerman is great in the air and I'm a fan of Robinson in 1v1 situations.
Left back - Antonee Robinson
Right back - Gregg has to get Joe Scally in the mix in the months leading up to the WC. Sergino Dest is the best guy we have here but he can rarely play 90 minutes when he is healthy. Yedlin isn't it. HH Recommendation: Dest/Scally
Midfield - Our three best midfielders are Adams, McKennie, and Musah. Now here's our problem. Those three guys are legit but they are really similar in that they're transition players. Adams is a good defensive mid but he's not the world's greatest passer. McKennie and Musah are line breakers but against a low block they're very limited. If we match up with a team playing a back 3 or a low block 4-4-2, we will not score unless we get a set piece. HH Recommendation: One thing I'd like to see Gregg tinker with is a midfield of Adams, McKennie, and Reyna. Reyna gives you a dynamic playmaker who is good with the ball at his feet, has an instinctive feel for making runs, and can pick out passes.
Striker - This is a huge issue for us. Pepi isn't ready and part of the problem is Gregg's system. The only way we can really keep the ball is if we're knocking it around the back line. Other than that, we're knocking long balls. In this case, we're honestly better off with Gyasi Zardes and Josh Sargent as our strikers.
Wings - Pulisic on the left, especially with a guy with a work rate like Antonee Robinson giving him cover. The right is where we have more of a question. There are guys like Reyna, Weah, and Aaronson who are vying for the spot with fringe guys like Roldan and Arriola available as well. HH Recommendation: I would start Aaronson on the right, especially with Dest at right back. You need a guy who will provide defensive work to cover for Dest. Aaronson is a pragmatic player who wears down defenses for 65 minutes before a guy like Weah or Reyna check in. I'd consider Arriola if Aaronson isn't ready.
I'm here to field questions.
10
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:26 pm to hendersonshands
Can you do a guy-off between our 2010/2014 midfield players and the current ones that are likely to be in the roster?
Midfield seems like a bigger problem than striker and keeper, to me. Maybe LDLT is the answer, but someone is going to have to create for whoever plays the 9.
Only 34, by the way:
Midfield seems like a bigger problem than striker and keeper, to me. Maybe LDLT is the answer, but someone is going to have to create for whoever plays the 9.
Only 34, by the way:
This post was edited on 3/31/22 at 3:36 pm
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:38 pm to Earnest_P
Front three of Reyna-Weah-Pulisic.
Call it a False-9 but Weah does play up top for Lille at times when they play a 4-4-2. Also, Gregg's system (whether we like it or not) asks for the the #9 to do a lot more than just camp in the box and wait for service. Essentially, it asks for the work rate to be about the same as the wingers. It's why Gregg likes Ferreira so much and Gyasi before him and even Jozy before him. They were willing to receive the ball on the other side of midfield and allow our wingers to run off of them.
If no one steps up from now until when the final roster is due, Weah is our best option because 1) it puts the most attacking talent on the field with a front 5 of:
Musah-McKennie
Reyna-Weah-Pulisic
and 2) He's probably just as good, if not, better as the #9 in the system than anyone else we've tried there to this point.
Call it a False-9 but Weah does play up top for Lille at times when they play a 4-4-2. Also, Gregg's system (whether we like it or not) asks for the the #9 to do a lot more than just camp in the box and wait for service. Essentially, it asks for the work rate to be about the same as the wingers. It's why Gregg likes Ferreira so much and Gyasi before him and even Jozy before him. They were willing to receive the ball on the other side of midfield and allow our wingers to run off of them.
If no one steps up from now until when the final roster is due, Weah is our best option because 1) it puts the most attacking talent on the field with a front 5 of:
Musah-McKennie
Reyna-Weah-Pulisic
and 2) He's probably just as good, if not, better as the #9 in the system than anyone else we've tried there to this point.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:42 pm to Earnest_P
quote:
Midfield seems like a bigger problem
Not at all.
Our midfield will be our biggest strength if Adams, McKennie and Musah are healthy.
Adams is PERFECT for the type of 6 we need because he provides so much cover and extinguishes all of the fires while our outside backs bomb forward. McKennie and Musah have already proven to play so good together. McKennie is the engine that makes it go though and we saw that with his absence this window.
Hendo mentioned how McKennie and Musah are both B2B guys and that's true, but a need for a traditional #10 becomes a little less important when our wingers tuck inside on the attack anyway and the outside backs coming forward.
This post was edited on 3/31/22 at 3:46 pm
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:47 pm to Broski
quote:
Musah-McKennie Reyna-Weah-Pulisic
Regardless of what everything else looks like…these 5 along with Dest need to be on the pitch as much as possible.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:50 pm to WicKed WayZ
De La Torre deserves a shout as well, but I think why I give Musah the nod over him us that he is just so good at keeping the ball under pressure.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:52 pm to Broski
quote:
Hendo mentioned how McKennie and Musah are both B2B guys and that's true, but a need for a traditional #10 becomes a little less important when our wingers tuck inside on the attack anyway and the outside backs coming forward.
HH also talked about their limited passing/creative ability.
We are definitely strong at #6.
Maybe I’m just pointlessly wishing we had a #10, envisioning that “outside backs bombing forward” strategy falling apart like it did last night and us having limited ability to advance through the middle of the field and make passes in the attacking third.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 3:55 pm to Earnest_P
quote:
Maybe I’m just pointlessly wishing we had a #10, envisioning that “outside backs bombing forward” strategy falling apart like it did last night and us having limited ability to advance through the middle of the field and make passes in the attacking third.
The only reason it "fell apart" was because we didn't score, but the chances were created. You also have to remember that , in an ideal world, Dest is in for Yedlin and McKennie is in the middle, and he's more creative with the ball than he gets credit for.
But again, the wingers are essentially the #10's anyway with how much they tuck inside.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 6:31 pm to hendersonshands
Count me in the group that believes we should strongly consider some of our playmakers/wingers at the 9/striker. Something to be said about getting your best 11 on the field. Probably that’s Weah? Hell if we need a place for Aaronson, Reyna, McKennie, Musah, Weah and Pulisic to be on the field together I’d experiment with some of these guys at the 9 this summer and fall.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 8:01 pm to Earnest_P
We have a much better midfield than we did in previous years, but it's not a very versatile midfield. If we get into a game where our midfield has to cover a lot of ground and play box to box, I'd stack us up against anybody. If it's a game where the other team sits in a low block, we're gonna struggle. That's why my thought was using one of our friendlies to try out a guy like Reyna at the 10 to see if he can unlock defenses.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 8:12 pm to elposter
Weah was asked about playing the 9 and basically said that the guys there are doing the job and he is happy to contribute from the wing. 
My biggest frustration watching the game last night was the lack of creativity. Musah doesn’t have great passing range (neither does Acosta), and while LDLT was a step up when he came on, it still seemed like our plan is get to the wing and cross. One of our best moments of the night was one of our players (Pepi?) cutting across the box to then take a one time shot, forcing a save. It was a nice bit of incisive passing and movement but there was far too little of it. As has been said above, we struggle at breaking down a bunkering/low block team due to a lack of creativity. I think Reyna in the place of Musah (centrally) would help solve this issue.
I’m also annoyed that Gregg doesn’t rate Scally. I don’t see him coming back into the picture unless we are forced to by injuries.
My biggest frustration watching the game last night was the lack of creativity. Musah doesn’t have great passing range (neither does Acosta), and while LDLT was a step up when he came on, it still seemed like our plan is get to the wing and cross. One of our best moments of the night was one of our players (Pepi?) cutting across the box to then take a one time shot, forcing a save. It was a nice bit of incisive passing and movement but there was far too little of it. As has been said above, we struggle at breaking down a bunkering/low block team due to a lack of creativity. I think Reyna in the place of Musah (centrally) would help solve this issue.
I’m also annoyed that Gregg doesn’t rate Scally. I don’t see him coming back into the picture unless we are forced to by injuries.
Posted on 3/31/22 at 8:50 pm to cwil177
quote:
Weah was asked about playing the 9 and basically said that the guys there are doing the job and he is happy to contribute from the wing.
Sounds like a coach speak answer to not offend any of the 9's.
quote:
I’m also annoyed that Gregg doesn’t rate Scally. I don’t see him coming back into the picture unless we are forced to by injuries.
I think he gets a shot in Nations League this summer.
Dest and Jedi are locked down starters, but the depth at the outside position is wide open.
This post was edited on 3/31/22 at 9:06 pm
Posted on 3/31/22 at 9:44 pm to hendersonshands
Love discussing tactics with some of the more knowledgeable posters on here 
Posted on 3/31/22 at 11:57 pm to hendersonshands
Maybe you try to get our best XI on the field without worrying about slotting them into positions:
GK
Dest-Zimm-MRob-ARob
Adams
McKennie-Reyna
Weah-Pulisic-Aaronson
If we don’t have a striker, don’t play one. Just do the whole false nine thing.
GK
Dest-Zimm-MRob-ARob
Adams
McKennie-Reyna
Weah-Pulisic-Aaronson
If we don’t have a striker, don’t play one. Just do the whole false nine thing.
Posted on 4/1/22 at 2:15 am to RockChalkTiger
So change our system that we used to qualify and do a completely different system? I mean maybe we can frick around with that in the nations league or something. It would be fun to at least try. Just give me Reyna centrally Gregg. That’s all I’m asking for.
This post was edited on 4/1/22 at 2:16 am
Posted on 4/1/22 at 6:27 am to cwil177
quote:
system that we used to qualify
For perspective, we finished third in the Octa, tied with Costa Rica, and only avoided the playoff on goal differential.
And our offensive creativity was lacking to say the least. Canada scored more goals that we did in qualifying, against the same slate of opponents. Mexico almost did, and they don’t have a 9 either.
I’d say that warrants a little tinkering.
Posted on 4/1/22 at 7:26 am to RockChalkTiger
quote:
Weah-Pulisic-Aaronson
I wouldnt mind staggering aaronson from weah or another wing.
Say you start weah-pepi(or whoever)-pulisic. Then bring aaronson on as a sub.
Or start aaronson-pepi(or whoever)-pulisic. Then bring Weah on as a sub.
Just to try to keep people fresh, assuming we can take a lead.
Aaronson's work rate as a sub is Arriola's pace x2. Just a thought anyway.
Posted on 4/1/22 at 8:53 am to hendersonshands
We are in a weird position - this is likely our most talented roster every to go to a world cup, especially in terms of which types of teams in Europe our guys are playing for.
However, tactically Greg has us playing a way which may not suit us. And importantly, we are missing something in a few positions and lack a certain amount of balance.
GK, Striker, and some additional skill sets at CM are all needed. I like the idea of trying Gio (or someone) out in the midfield 3 to try and develop something more attacking/creative, but I have big doubts about Greg doing anything of the sort.
Especially if guys like Scally are brought in and Brooks comes back, we'll have a lot of talent/depth across the board in defense and wing, and a talented starting midfield.
However, tactically Greg has us playing a way which may not suit us. And importantly, we are missing something in a few positions and lack a certain amount of balance.
GK, Striker, and some additional skill sets at CM are all needed. I like the idea of trying Gio (or someone) out in the midfield 3 to try and develop something more attacking/creative, but I have big doubts about Greg doing anything of the sort.
Especially if guys like Scally are brought in and Brooks comes back, we'll have a lot of talent/depth across the board in defense and wing, and a talented starting midfield.
Posted on 4/1/22 at 9:54 am to kengel2
Ideally Pepi (and/or someone else) will emerge as a solid 9. If he’s scoring every week for Augsburg in the BL next year (if they aren’t relegated) then it’s a no-brainer. But hope is not a strategy. And if your only 9 goes down like Jozy did in Brazil, then you’re scrambling to make it up on the fly.
This post was edited on 4/1/22 at 9:55 am
Posted on 4/1/22 at 1:06 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
Other than that, we're knocking long balls. In this case, we're honestly better off with Gyasi Zardes and Josh Sargent as our strikers.
Dike for me. Sargent doesn’t have the pace. Not sure on Daryl’s injury return timetable.
Would be curious to see how Mckennie looks up top considering our desperate situation there. He’s got a great feel for finding space in the box and is obviously a monster in the air.
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