HalfSpaces Player (+/-) Grades: USMNT vs El Salvador

Lots of reactions out there to this result and I sort of understand all of it. In my mind though, this match was a carbon copy of the Gold Cup performances minus the late goal to win it. The team feels like it’s developing an identity. The US doesn’t create a lot from open play, but plays strong defense, gets good goal keeping, and starts to take over the match late. The problem is, that’s not exactly “changing what the world thinks of American soccer,” and Berhalter and co. have stated that as the goal of the team.

The performances in this match were a little better than I expected, but they were lacking on the attacking end. Reyna put up the best score from a dedicated attacker with a +8. The defenders fared a little bit better, as you’ll see in a second. Being very good defensively is far from the worst thing though and under Berhalter the USMNT is giving up 0.64 goals per game. For reference, Mexico is giving up 1.0 goals per game under Tata Martino. (Manchester City was the best in the PL last year at 0.84)

Everyone wants to be a flashy, goal-scoring machine, but grinding teams and winning 1-0 at the end is a whole lot better than what it was a couple years ago. Anyhow, to the grades.

Grading Beverage: Eagle Rare bourbon – my current favorite, love the cherry flavor

Grades

MOTM – Miles Robinson (+12)

This is getting to be a habit for Miles. If he’s not the top grade, he’s almost always been in the top three since he moved into the starting lineup. He doesn’t make many mistakes and his defense is impeccable. In this match, he even hit a couple nice line breaking passes to go with the strong defense. I’m sure Atlanta wants to hang onto the dude as long as they can, but if we don’t start hearing about “Big 5” league teams sniffing around, I’ll be very surprised. (Note – one person whose opinion I respect, theorizes that Robinson is a little quick to hit long balls when he’s under pressure and at 24 that’s unlikely to improve.)

Other Positive Performances

Weston McKennie (+11)

I cheated a little this time and consumed both Scuffed and TSS before writing (the grades are probably hopelessly compromised). I’m sure I’m forgetting exactly what was said, but I don’t recall hearing either of them be overly complimentary of McKennie. I thought he was good. Weston might be the player that benefits more than any other when I go back in watch games this way. When you list out every good, little thing he did during the course of a match it frequently adds up to a sneaky good performance. Since practically no one looks at the event log🤣 – here’s a screen cap of the McKennie section:

There’s not much negative there and the positives add up over time (solid scores in all four game phases as well). Take a look at this moment from the 32nd minute.

I mean, I suppose you could say the ball to Aaronson was a smidge under hit, but help the guy out a little bit. He carried it, played a nice ball to Aaronson that Sargent eventually ruins, then plays in Aaronson, who proceeds to get it stuck under his feet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Gio Reyna (+8)

Reyna wasn’t outstanding, but he also got almost no help from the other players in the attacking front. Sargent was meh, Konrad had a couple cool dribbles, and Aaronson was subpar. Reyna was easily the most dangerous player on the field for the US against El Salvador and could have had two assists in the first ten minutes if things had gone a little differently. I’m sure most people remember the Robinson header off the free kick, but this was only a couple minutes earlier:

The USMNT could really use a #9 to step up and start putting away some chances. That will make Reyna and Pulisic more effective/dangerous. I like Sargent, but maybe Pefok gets a chance next match? His per 90 score (+15.6) was pretty encouraging.

Room to Improve

Brenden Aaronson (0)

Aaronson wasn’t super involved in the game for a central midfielder and didn’t ever look comfortable on the field. I think Berhalter really like to play guys in roles they’ve played with the team before and Aaronson got to spend a month with the team in the 2020 January camp playing that role. Unfortunately, he didn’t look good in the match at the end of that camp either. He was +4 in then and looked similarly uninvolved (six events). Gregg is slower to change than most of us would like, but I hope that this is the end of Aaronson as a #8, especially since he looks like a live wire at left wing for the team.

On to Canada

I keep thinking Berhalter is going to set the team out in that 3-4-2-1 shape again and I keep ending up wrong…but I really think that’s going to be the choice against Canada again. The six center backs don’t make any sense unless you plan on doing it at some point. Plus, it puts Dest, (hopefully) Jedi Robinson, Reyna, and Pulisic in their best positions. Seeing an Adams-McKennie pairing in the midfield would be pretty interesting as well.

However they lineup, the USMNT needs to beat Canada. Dropping points at home would raise the ghost of 2017 and nobody wants that. Win the game and then we can start obsessing over Honduras on Wednesday. Please and thank you.

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