A couple times a year I like to take a look at the depth chart and assess the strength of the national team. With the 2019 “season” over for the team, now is as good a time as any. My day job being what it is…giving grades is a natural way to go about this.
Previous Versions (Spring 2019, Summer 2019)
To be clear, I am not assigning roles based on what I would like. These are the roles Berhalter has assigned players to in his system as best as I can figure. As I see things, here are the current roles on the USMNT.
- Ball-playing Goalkeeper – a keeper that’s comfortable playing out of the back
- Sweeper CB – a defender that is fast/athletic – good in transition defense/cleaning up messes in the back
- Distributing CB – a center back that is comfortable splitting lines and starting the attack
- Defensive LB – a more defensive player that can get into the attack, but usually hangs back
- *Alternate* Attacking LB – I think we´ve only seen this once (Mexico friendly), but it is apparently at least an occasional option
- Attacking RB – Since the hybrid rb/cm was scrapped we’ve seen this player go forward and get into the attack regularly
- Controlling Midfielder – this player sets the tempo, defends space, and generally controls the offense for the team
- Right 8/6 – I’ve called this an 8/10 previously, but this player has been dropping back into a double pivot next to the #6 so often that it no longer feels accurate.
- Left 8/10 – The offensive hub for the team. This player is supposed to get between lines, in the halfspaces, switch with the left wing, and generally be dangerous
- Winger (2) – A winger on each side that can switch positions with the midfielder or fullback in attack and be goal dangerous
- Connecting (?) Forward – Maybe just ¨forward¨ would work, but Berhalter likes this player to drop back to create overloads (outnumber the opponent) and connect play
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper
The team is in solid shape here. There is no Ederson/Alisson level player, but Steffen is having a nice (last weekend’s gaffe notwithstanding) season with Fortuna Dusseldorf and is a good player. Guzan and Johnson are capable backups. The level of play doesn’t drop much when Steffen is unavailable.
Grade: B
Sweeper CB
In an ideal world this player would also be able to start attacks, play accurate long balls, AND defend, but the US is not Barcelona or France. Long is the “in ink” starter for this role right now (he needs a move soon to keep improving), but I think Miles Robinson could push him once the Olympics are done. Robinson is a tad better with the ball and just as good a defender imo. Zimmerman is very athletic, but not as good a defender as the other two.
Grade: B
Distributing CB
This is Brooks and Ream. Brooks is younger and better, but also rarely available. Ream starts 5-6 games a week in the Championship (jk – I know they only play three days a week. Jeez) for Fulham, who play possession soccer. Unfortunately, Ream is 32 and is not as good a defender as Brooks. The weaknesses WhoScored lists for Fulham aren’t a great advertisement for their defenders…
Given all of that, I do still like Ream for the US at center back. He’s played well there for us and hasn’t been a defensive liability. After Brooks and Ream…there’s no ball playing center backs close to breaking through that I’m aware of. Does Richards count? He seems more like a better passing version of Long to me. Maybe Mark McKenzie makes a leap? I don’t know.
Grade: B-
Defensive LB
I don’t think the lb/cb hybrid role is a thing anymore. That could certainly be incorrect, but it looks like Berhalter is settling into using a more traditional left back positioning-wise, but that player doesn’t get forward much. Ream played this position against Canada in the last window and Lovitz has filled it on multiple occasions. I don’t like either of them there. Ream did fine against Canada, and I really like him at CB, but he’s ill-suited to playing 1v1 defense on the corner or in space. Chris Gloster would be an ideal candidate for this position, but who knows when or if he’ll ever break through at PSV.
Grade: F
Attacking LB
I’m not so sure this is going to be a regular thing, but we did see it against Mexico and it would be a logical option for Berhalter to have at his disposal. Dest is a righty, but he’s played on the left at Ajax and made his USMNT debut there. He’ll be the best fullback option on either wing for a while (and tbh he’s probably the best non-Pulisic winger as well). Robinson has been playing well as an attacking left back for Wigan in the Championship for 1 1/2 seasons and would figure to start getting call ups when the Olympic team is no longer a thing. Kobe Hernandez-Foster, George Bello, etc. are too young to project here yet.
Grade: C+
Attacking RB
This is kind of weird. Since Steve Cherundolo the US has struggled to fill the right back position with a competent player. Fabian Johnson filled in there nicely for the 2014 World Cup, but since then it’s been a revolving door of mediocre to below average options. Yedlin has never been exactly convincing despite many people arguing, “He plays in the Premier League. Argument over.” Dest is more comfortable with the ball than any player I’ve ever seen with the USMNT before, let alone a right back. If things continue to progress as they have been…Dest is going to be the best right back in USMNT history. (Or he could get buried at Ajax and end up at Vitesse.)
Some people when you criticize Yedlin even though he plays in the Premier League
On top of that, Cannon and Yedlin are still there. I prefer Cannon, but Yedlin has his qualities and defenders. Lima also has looked pretty good in the chances he’s gotten at the position. We’ve got right back depth, y’all. Weird.
Grade: A-
Controlling 6
I’m going to assume Adams is going to get healthy in the near future. After all, he’s been two weeks away for approximately 12 years now. I’m also going to assume that Gregg is going to play him at this position. (What is it that happens when you assume again?) If the depth chart is Adams backed up by Bradley/Yueill this looks like a pretty strong position. If it’s Bradley backed up by Yueill/Trapp…🤢
The question is: How is Adams going to look playing this position for Berhalter? Berhalter has said, “Look at Tyler Adams: Can he interpret it in a different way and still be effective?” Is Adams going to have to try to fit what Gregg wants or will GGG adapt the system to accommodate Adams (his best or second best player)?
Grade: B+ (w/o Adams C-)
Right 8/6
This player no longer stays high to play “between the lines” like was the plan at first. More often McKennie (or Roldan) drops back to play in a double pivot with whoever is playing the 6. They still get into the attack, but don’t stay high as much. The US mass produces this sort of player. Last window the entire starting midfield was composed of players that were 8s of one variety or another.
McKennie is at the top of this heap atm, but it wouldn’t shock me to see someone else steal this spot (maybe Holmes or Pomykal?) in the next couple of years. His play is inconsistent for the national team and he hasn’t been great (he’s been fine, but not great – relax people) at Schalke either. I don’t see Roldan staying on the roster for much longer and as much as I love Morales’ combativeness, he’s just not a great passer. Those two are ripe to be passed by a host of youth players (Cappis, Pomykal, Ledezma, Aaronson, Bassett, etc.).
Grade: C
Left 8/10
This may be the biggest hole or problem in the USMNT lineup. Pulisic isn’t really a 10. McKennie tried to fake it there for a couple games, but he’s much better coming from deep. Lletget is meh. I’d like to see Holmes get a shot, but Berhalter doesn’t rate him. Someone is gonna start in this role, but I don’t think the team actually has one.
The only season the Crew missed the playoffs under Berhalter was in 2016 when Federico Higuain missed a chunk of the season. The US has struggled to create chances against decent opposition through possession and the lack of this sort of player is a large factor. The team desperately needs Ledezma or Mendez (or someone we probably haven’t even heard of yet) to break through and be a good option at this position. 🤞
Grade: F
Winger
The US could use a couple more options here. Obviously, Pulisic is really good. Let’s hope his club form stays good and he can replicate that form with the national team. Morris has been better than I expected, but he’s more suited to a get out and run counterattack style than the intricate build up Berhalter is trying to implement. Arriola isn’t good enough and Boyd has lost his mojo or something. There are a couple high upside youngsters that are getting close (Weah, Llanez, Gall, de la Fuente, etc.), but no one is imminent. Going to have to get by with Pulisic and the try hards for a little longer.
Grade: C+
Connecting Forward
Altidore is a really good fit for what Berhalter wants from this position. Unfortunately, he cannot be depended upon. Sargent looks like he may very well grow into a nice fit for this role. Unfortunately, he’s 19 and isn’t there yet. That leaves Zardes…he’s always healthy and Gregg loves him *sigh* (he did play really well last game). This is another area where the US could use more competition for places.
Grade: C+
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