HalfSpaces Player (+/-) Grades: USMNT vs Martinique

One of the downsides to playing in CONCACAF is that we get tested so rarely. The USMNT beat Martinique 6-1 on Thursday night, but what did we learn? I suppose it’s progress since the US only beat Martinique 3-2 in 2017 when they last played, but it’s still hard to believe in anything too firmly after beating a bad team.

It’s definitely better than struggling to beat a bad team though. Berhalter ran out a bunch of young players that we’ve all been eager to see and for the most part they performed well. Did they earn Berhalter’s trust enough to start/play against Canada on Sunday? That’s the real question. Playing time is great, but playing time against decent competition where we can learn more about these guys is critical.

Grading Beverage: Dr. Pepper and Corona – visiting the in-laws in upstate NY this week and there is no whiskey about 😕 (I may make a run to the liquor store this week. It’s kinda fun to see what is on offer in other states)

If you haven’t read one of these USMNT (+/-) Player Grades articles before click here for an explanation of the system.

Grades

MOTM – James Sands (+11)

Sands played a calm, clean game at central center back in a back three for the USMNT. His distribution wasn’t amazing, his defense wasn’t flashy, but he was composed and solid throughout the match. I only had him down for one negative event in the entire game (got caught on the ball in the 16th minute). On the positive side, he broke up counters, won the ball, and was clever in possession. The USMNT hasn’t had a ton of players that are able to gain space/time with their eyes or body shape. Sands does some of that:

It’s not a 50 yard, line breaking pass, but it’s effective and gains the attack space to operate. Here’s another example:

This is such a little thing, but the first goal was scored three passes after this. The “Martinique Caveat” hangs over all of this, but one would think Sands has earned a chance to show what he can do against a higher level of competition.

Defensively, Sands was also very solid. He isn’t the athlete that Tyler Adams is, but he reads the game well and is sure in the tackle. I’m very cool with seeing him more in a three man back line, but I’d be very interested to see what he looks like as the #6 at some point before the tournament is over.

Other Positive Performances

Daryl Dike (+9.5)

This isn’t complicated. Dike scored two goals and forced an own goal out of Martinique for the third. That’ll earn you a couple points.😂 In all seriousness though, his second goal was very encouraging to me.

Hello English Clubs.. setting the price at 20 million and not budging. Do I hear 25?#DarylDike
pic.twitter.com/fsP7on4dzu

— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) July 16, 2021

The reason I like that goal so much is that Dike basically made it himself. All our other strikers require quality service of some sort to score a goal. Dike can occasionally pull a rabbit out of a hat and create for himself. That’s a pretty useful quality and one that I hope we get to see more in this tournament.

Busio and Roldan (+8.5)

Busio played pretty well in his first start for the USMNT. He wasn’t perfect, but he was positive. The events that got negative marks were mostly forward passes that got deflected or picked by Martinique. I appreciate that he was trying them, but showing a little better judgment will be important and something he gains with experience. On the bright side, he hit quite a few of those passes and took space in situations that Yuiell did not. This move right here is an example of what the USMNT has been missing from the position:

Roldan’s grade surprised me. I didn’t think he played poorly, but I wasn’t expecting to see him close to the top. Maybe it was just a defect in the way Martinique was defending, but Roldan was able to get up the wing or play balls up the line with regularity. He actually came out at +10 “In Possession,” which was comfortably the highest score on the team. He’s not as dangerous as I’d like a “half space merchant” to be, but he assisted on one goal and was involved in the buildup on two more. Not a bad day at the office.

Room for Improvement

George Bello (+1)

I didn’t love Bello’s performance in real time and it wasn’t a whole lot better on re-watch. His decision making felt slow, he seemed a little “in the way” in attack, and he also looks uncomfortable with his right foot. It was his first cap with the USMNT so I don’t want to be too harsh, but he also was playing against one of the worst teams in the tournament so you’d like to see him look a little better. He is a hard/fast runner and he did hit a couple decent lefty passes, so there’s something there, but he doesn’t look close to claiming even a back up spot with the USMNT anytime soon.

Miles Robinson (+1.5)

I have just now realized that my two lowest rated players play for Atlanta…hope that doesn’t become a problem.😂 I’m not super concerned about Robinson after this, but he did mess up a couple times. I had him down for three problematic passes and one defensive lapse in the 76th minute (ball got over his head). In a match where there are a lot of attacking threats I’d bet he shows out better and those are coming, but for now this wasn’t his strongest performance.

Canada?

Who knows what Gregg Berhalter is thinking, but this 3-4-3 formation looks like the way to go forward (*clears throat*). Playing two real wingers isn’t viable given the personnel available and playing a two forward set up doesn’t make sense since they’re never going to play that way with the full team. Hoppe and Roldan aren’t the ideal players to have in the half spaces, but it’s better than watching Lewis trying to go 1v1 out on the wing. Does Berhalter run Lletget/Acosta in the midfield with like Hoppe/Arriola in front of them? Or does he give Acosta/Busio a run out with Lletget/Arriola in front of them? I hope it’s the latter, but I’ll be satisfied as long as he sticks with the 3 man back line system. Fingers crossed.🤞

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