You gotta admit, the U.S. using a 4-4-2 to frustrate/neutralize England is pretty funny

Shave his head a little more, get rid of the smile, stay out of the sun for a week and he's Bob.

Jokes aside, Shinguardian had some thoughts on the matter. I still don't like that we don't play through our strikers at all, but we have come out with good gameplans for both matches.

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Matthew Tomaszewicz
@shinguardian
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4h
Two games in a row for the US that they came out and competed with a differentiated set of tactics.

Missed some execution and waited way too long for subs against Wales but the team has been prepared, on the front foot and with a game plan that challenged Wales / England.

Matthew Tomaszewicz
@shinguardian
·
4h
Against Wales they played a match-up high press. Against England it was 25’ of a 4-4-2 force the ball wide at the top of the middle third block.


Matthew Tomaszewicz
@shinguardian
·
4h
Additionally the ARob underlapping is a new wrinkle that’s forced him being tracked by the RW who then can’t be available for a wide counter.

Lots to like.

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That’s neat. Didn’t realize the underlapping stuff. But we still need to find ways to score. And that set piece coach we hired isn’t really earning his keep.

At the end of the day we are a stupid mistake away from four points. We’ve played two European sides and given up no goals from the run of play. Turner has made what, 2 legit saves total? But god damn are we frustrating to watch in the final third.

I have a lot of problems with Gregg but people are refusing to give him credit today when he dominated Southgate for most of that match. We subbed too late but that's an easy mistake for coaches to make when you're playing well. If McKennie doesn't sky a wide open shot or if Pulisic's shot goes 6 inches lower, we're all celebrating even though we get nothing much from our strikers.

I really loved that it was a more modern lopsided 4-4-2, but the version that Fergie and Wenger played in the late noughties with an ostensible defensive player at RM. The right side rotation worked really well. And I could see what Zimmerman was trying to do with those around-the-corner entry passes to McKennie, as whoever was shuffling over to McKennie would have been turned easily if those passes were accurate. But we really needed to be more successful with that pass, only because I would have had a mega-boner if it worked.

We still need a striker who, if they aren't a battering ram to the opposition, can combine with Pulisic as he cuts infield. It's gonna be hard as hell to field a striker like that, and dare I suggest fielding Gio there might be an option, because I didn't see Wright do too much of the dirty work, nor did he use his size to post up at any point and create space for himself. What's the point of strikers who look gigantic if they play as though they are tiny?

Gregg don't actually play a False 9 system against Iran.

Tactical genius. He’s the best at giving us the moral victories we need.

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At the end of the day we are a stupid mistake away from four points. We’ve played two European sides and given up no goals from the run of play. Turner has made what, 2 legit saves total? But god damn are we frustrating to watch in the final third.

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That about sums it up.

You just have to use Gio as a false 9 at this point. With Iran bunkering, him on the field will definitely free up space on the wings. And it has to be as a starter if he can give you 60 minutes. Can't afford to waste any time on Tuesday.

We did it once in a friendly with Sebastian Lletget but never since.