Panama 11/16/20

I have to admit I thought Gregg Berhalter would approach this match way differently than he did.  I figured versus the weaker side he'd rotate the squad big time and give all the new guys their first run.  I was wrong, and I don't mind what he did at all.  When you break it down he benched the 3 worst players from the Wales match (Sebastian Lletget, Konrad & Antonee Robinson).  I read when the squad was picked that Wolfsburg didn't want John Brooks playing more than one match.  Likewise, Leipzig put a 60 minute limit on Tyler Adams.

That said, this was a weak Panama side but the match did get very CONCACAF-y.  I mean 6 yellow cards in a friendly?  And Weston McKennie should have been shown a red too.  First half we played well, dominating possession and the action.  In the second half we lost focus and let Panama dictate the action for long spells before closing strong.

In both matches we didn't bring the same energy after the break.  I put a lot of that team chemistry and experience together.  You can see Gregg building his core guys but they are all so young and have almost no experience together.  Once these guys learn each other and earn some collective experience under fire they should easily qualify for the World Cup out of CONCACAF.  I do expect some bumps along the way as they learn how to deal with big time pressure as a unit.

I have to say I was mostly happy with this window with a few exceptions.  On to the players...

Zack Steffen - Neither goal was on him, but he's still shaky at times.  We all know he's great under pressure and can make amazing plays, but sometimes I feel like the mundane play escapes him.

Tim Ream - He was the better of the two CBs, but that's not saying much.  He had some nice distribution but at this point he should only be on the USMNT roster as a backup or if we have an injury.

Matt Miazga - Guilty on both goals as I see it.  If you watch the replays on both Ream has a man he is watching and Miazga gets burned both times.  He did not solidify his spot next to Brooks at all.  Right CB is still up for grabs.

Sergiño Dest - He can "do a job" at LB as they say, but for my money he looks way more comfy and dangerous at RB.  Yesterday he was always trying to cut inside to get on his right foot.  That works for wingers like Christian Pulisic, but when the fullback does it spacing becomes crowded.

Reggie Cannon - Did nothing to lose his job.  He is what he is, very solid, although he needed to close down his man better on the first goal.  He'll occasionally venture forward but he plays his spot well.  The question is, who is a better fit for the squad, him or Robinson?  Hopefully by the time the games really matter a legit LB has emerged from the ether and made the position his.

Adams - Wasn't as effective against Panama and something tells me he's not fully fit.  He's got time to get his body right for the upcoming matches, but his injury history is a worry.

McKennie - He was seemingly everywhere and was our best player yet again.  Red card he deserved aside, playing at a top club is already paying dividends with him.  Maybe Jürgen Klinsmann was right about challenging yourself at the club level?

Yunus Musah - You can't spell USA without Musah!  He looks like a great fit, but it's up to him to pick us.  Fact of the matter is we can't cap-tie him until June.  In the meantime England will have some chances.  He's really good from box-to-box, but his play in the final third isn't the best.  He's only 17 though.  If he does commit let's hope he brings his buddy Folarin Balogun with him!

Uly Llanez - Not ready for prime time at all.  Would not make a game day 18 in a meaningful match.

Gio Reyna - Much more involved and into this match compared to Wales.  Keeper error aside, that was a nice free kick he scored on.  Gio is a lock to play every important match for us in the next 10+ years, but I can't shake the feeling he's a touch selfish and maybe a head case when he thinks his teammates aren't up to his level.  Not a huge problem and hopefully something he grows out of over time.

Nicholas Gioacchini - He was in the right place at the right time and bagged 2 goals for it.  I hate to rain on his parade, but other than that I didn't see a ton from him.  His PK was awful and his hold up play and passing ability wasn't on display (if he even has those in his bag).  He's nice for depth but I'm not sure he makes a meaningful 18 when everyone is available.

SUBS

Tim Weah - I might be crazy when it comes to Tim and Josh Sargent, but to my eyes Weah is ready and damn-super-hungry to prove himself.  I have no idea how or why Berhalter played Konrad and then Llanez over him?  Tim needed to start against Panama and go the full 90.  This is a missed opportunity for Gregg.

Johnny - Maybe not as good as he was against Wales, but I like this kid.  I'll for sure take him as Adams' backup.  Dude is not afraid to mix it up!

Richy Ledezma - Super impressed with his right foot.  Beyond the two assists, his free/corner kicks were spot on too.  Kid can put it on a dime, which is a great quality to have.  He needs to bulk up some, but he will be in the mix eventually.

Sebastian Lletget - Took his goal well, but I don't see where he would start on this team? Nice backup to have though.

Sebastian Soto - If he starts against Wales we win 2-0.  Him only getting 13 minutes over two matches is a flat out crime.  Kid just has a nose for goal and the skill to match it.  To me our #9 for big games comes down to Soto and Sargent with Jozy Altidore as a super-sub.  Berhalter should have started Nico against Wales and Soto against Panama.  Not sure what Gregg has against him?

Chris Richards - I thought he should have started against Panama, and given Miazga's performance that looks all the more true in hindsight.  My first take seeing him play at CB is that he is a big boy with room to fill out still.  To my eyes he looked a touch nervous, which is to be expected in your first cap.  Much like with Weah and Soto, this is another wasted opportunity for Berhalter to see what he has over the course of 90.

Going forward we have an extremely busy year coming up in 2021.  Gregg already dropped the news about the December Camp/Friendly and he also said that he will call in his first choice 23 for the March window and Nations League Semis.  The two biggest unknowns on the below list are when U20 World Cup and Olympic Qualifying will take place?  The other question is which European clubs will release players for those tournaments in the summer?

2021

Dec 2020 Camp/Friendly - All domestic players (MLS/Liga MX).

??? U20 WCQ - Hopefully some European guys, but might be mostly MLS U20s.

??? Olympic Qualifying - U23 MLS players.

March International Window - First choice.

May U20 WC - Hopefully our best U20s excluding any first choice guys like Reyna, Dest, etc.

June Nations League Semis/Final - First choice.

July Gold Cup - MLS and European veterans outside the first choice guys.

July Olympics -  Mostly U23 MLS players, but hopefully some Euros too.

September WCQ - First choice.

Wales 11/12/20

Early on the match had the vibe of a friendly being played in the cold and rain.  First half was pretty slow for both sides, but the USMNT had the majority of the ball (61% possession for the first half and the game).

The main thing that stood out though was the pressure Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah were able to put on the ball as soon as we lost it.  Those 3 were fierce in both getting the ball back and holding on to it.  It's not like the Welsh are a bunch of scrubs either.  They are 21st in ELO Rating and we are 37th.

Second half was more of the same for Wales but we looked more dangerous.  Problem was that we didn't have a striker.  I don't blame Sebastian Lletget for not being in the right spots, He's a freaking midfielder playing as a "false 9."  It showed, big time.

Honestly, I really have to wonder if Gregg Berhalter is the man for this job.  What are Nicholas Gioacchini and Sebastian Soto on the roster for if you aren't going to play them (Nico came on in the 79th)?  Furthermore, was the entire game plan based on Josh Sargent being there?  It kind of seemed like it was to me because the USMNT was good in D, good in the midfield and could get into the attacking third pretty much at will.  However when they got there it all broke down.  No one was making runs into space or really moving at all lots of the time.  How Aron Jóhannsson wasn't called in when Sargent had to withdraw I'll never know.

I had forgotten that in the last USMNT match on 2/1/20 Gregg also employed a false 9, Jesús Ferreira.  What is this guy thinking?  Leaves Sargent off the Gold Cup roster and then Bremen stopped him, but I honestly don't think Berhalter values him.  In fact, I bet Sargent is 3rd on his depth chart right behind Jozy Altidore and Gyasi Zardes.  I don't get it at all.  If Sargent is in that XI yesterday (I know, not Gregg's fault) he scores at least one goal if not two.  So would Nico, Soto, Aron, etc.

I guess what I'm saying is all these people, Berhalter included, saying Sargent isn't ready or in line to be "next" have to keep their yaps shut until they see him on the pitch with our first choice players.  I'd wager a large sum that he would have scored yesterday.  Not only that, guys would have been looking for him.  Which is something the Bremen players never do, look for him when makes runs.  Gio Reyna or Sergiño Dest would picked him out yesterday for sure.

On to the players...

Zack Steffen - Was mostly good but had one almost terrible give away.  He did nothing to lose the #1 spot, but I do expect to see Ethan Horvath against Panama.

John Brooks - Dude showed why he is an absolute lock to start if healthy.  He can pick out a line busting pass with that left foot like no one else we have.  Doubt he plays Monday, and I need to see Chris Richards anyway.  Brooks was our third best player on the day.

Matt Miazga - It had been a while since I saw him in person, and his frame has filled out big time.  He's a man now, and he and Brooks form a massive duo in central defense, both height and muscle wise.  Matt also picked out a few good line breaking passes.  I'm still not sure he's the right guy to pair with Brooks just because they are such similar players.  

Dest - The real deal.  Absolutely no question he's our RB.  He's probably our best LB too, but he looks super comfy on that right side.  Our 2nd best player out there.

Antonee Robinson - His straight line foot speed can not be questioned at all.  He's got a rocket up his arse.  That said, his touch and passing leave something to be desired. I suppose he's our best natural LB, but something tells me Dest might play here with Reggie Cannon on the right.

McKennie - Our clear best player on the night.  No question he's our starting #8.

Adams - Looked great is his natural #6 spot.  We can finally move on from the Michael Bradley/Wil Trapp era.  Berhalter is nuts to play Tyler in any other position.

Musah - He looked like he belongs, plain and simple.  My first time seeing him but I think he's miscast as a #10.  He looks more like a #8 to me.  However, the way those 3 absolutely pressed to win the ball back has me rethinking our entire shape (if he commits to us).  Like I could do a 4-3-3 with the front line being Christian Pulisic on the left, Gio on the right and Sargent in the middle.  Although I do prefer Reyna as a #10 I think.

Gio - In the first half he was pretty invisible.  Floating along like he has been prone to do lately.  In the second half he got more involved, but with that came some ball hoggy-ness that he flashed at the U-17 World Cup.  Against Wales he'd get into good spots and just hold on to the ball for too long.  Granted, guys weren't making themselves available for passes too.  But he has got to move the ball quicker going forward at this level.  He'll be fine and is a guaranteed starter, but I continue to think that the wing isn't his best position.

Konrad - He had the best chance to score for us and choked.  Beyond that, he didn't look ready for primetime to me.  I'll give him that he was really the only one looking to make runs in behind, but they weren't that well timed.  If our entire pool is available I don't think he makes the match day 18.

Lletget - I actually kind of like him as a #10.  He's played well there for the USMNT in the past.  But as a striker, false 9, whatever, he was an abomination.  I blame Berhalter more than him.  Gregg trying to be smarter than everyone is already very old.  Just play a real #9 for cripes sake.

SUBS

Uly Llanez - Came on the pitch and almost scored with his first touch.  Only got 19 minutes but looked more dangerous than Konrad to me.

Johnny - I really liked what I saw of him.  FINALLY a guy who isn't afraid to kick the opposition in the shins.  We haven't had anyone like that since Jermaine Jones.  He for sure is Tyler's backup at #6, at least until Brendon Aaronson or Paxton Pomykal are ready.  No more Bradley, Trapp or Jackson Yueill.

Tim Weah - Only got 11 minutes but looked ready, lively and hungry.  Honestly, I don't know how Berhalter picked Konrad to play over him.  Or sub on Uly first.  Weah absolutely has to start against Panama.

Gioachinni - Why Gregg waited until the 79th minute to put him in is beyond me.  I have no idea if Nico is good or not, but our attack looked like a real team once he joined the action.

Cannon - He looked good in his 3 minutes but this is Dest's spot.  Like I said, if Robinson falters on the left we could see more of him.  I expect he'll start versus Panama.

Owen Otawosie - He's a nice big body but I didn't see much from him in 3 minutes, other than getting his pocket picked.