HalfSpaces usmnt HalfSpaces Player Grades: USMNT vs Panama (11/16/20)

HalfSpaces Player Grades: USMNT vs Panama (11/16/20)



That was fun. Beating up on a meatball comes with all sorts of caveats, but watching a soccer game with eight goals > than watching a soccer game with zero goals. You can’t get that sort of analysis anywhere else.

Quick Review of Learning Targets

Before this window I was hoping we could find out a couple things:

1) What’s the best configuration of our fullbacks? I won’t die on this hill, but after watching these two games I think Cannon/Dest is a better combo than Dest/Robinson. More trials should certainly be run, but that’s my opinion atm.

2) Who is the right center back? We still don’t know. I don’t think Miazga did anything to grab that position and Richards didn’t get a shot.

3) Does Berhalter trust Adams at the #6? Yes – hallelujah.

4) Is the defensive change permanent? The defensive approach from the 2nd Canada game and the Costa Rica friendly seems to have stuck. The US is defending much more aggressively. Hallelujah again.

To the Grades

When you score six goals there are going to be a few points to go around, but there were a couple goals against so there were some negatives too. Weirdly, my average grade was actually higher for the Wales game than the Panama came (5.6 to 5.8) and when you look at the adjusted numbers there’s an even bigger discrepancy (4.9 to 6.0).

I’m okay with that as I think about it though. The Panama game was more fun to watch because of all the goals, but the Wales match was cleaner and the US controlled it better imo.

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

Grading Beverage: Old Forester 86 Bourbon (It’s less than $20 and pretty dang good. Highly recommend.)

Anyway, here you go:

MOTM: Weston McKennie (+21)

This is tied for the highest grade I’ve ever handed out in about a year and a half of doing this (lowest was a -11 btw). The system has evolved over time so it’s not exactly fair to compare the scores from the first games I graded at the 2019 U20 World Cup to now, but the fact is that McKennie played a great game.

He had positive scores in all four game phases and was especially good in possession. This match and especially the 2nd half, devolved into a sloppy mess of a friendly. McKennie didn’t lower his level with it. I could (and thought about) put together a highlight reel of almost plays from this match that would have been unbelievable if he’d pulled them off. A little more calmness or slightly more accuracy and we are looking at a midfielder we’ve never seen before with the USMNT. Prime Michael Bradley is probably the closest comp I can think of, but Wes is a much better athlete.

That’s a nice ball from Tyler Adams and a real good finish from Gioacchini, but McKennie makes this goal. The awareness of space, committed run, and chipped cross are the most important part of this move imo.

Here’s a couple of those “almosts” I was talking about. So good.

Other Positive Performances

Tyler Adams (+11)

Adams only played 62 minutes so this is a pretty impressive score as well. His work isn’t as flashy, but it’s just as important as the things McKennie was doing. Adams frees up his midfield partners to be aggressive. Weston knows he can run all over the place because he knows he has Adams back there to clean things up. It’s a bit like having a great cover corner in the NFL. The defensive coordinator can send more guys after the quarterback because he is confident that corner doesn’t need any help.

Adams also carried his weight on the offensive end of the field. I’ve never bought into the idea that Yueill has a huge edge over Adams because of his passing and I still don’t. Adams put up +5 on passes in this game (+2 for the ball to McKennie in the gif above). He’s certainly a better defender than the Bradley/Yueill duo and if he’s a worse passer…it’s not by much.

I have “disheartening opposition” in my notes with this clip. Panama look like they’ve finally gotten the ball and can play it out, but Adams marks the obvious outlet and then jumps over to intercept the ball from the other option. This is in the middle of when the USMNT was all over Panama. These are the types of plays that break wills and cause goals. Love it.

Reggie Cannon (+11)

Sergino Dest is more fun to watch and has more offensive potential as a right back. Reggie Cannon just doesn’t do anything wrong. He knows exactly where he’s supposed to be and where the ball should go. He’s an excellent athlete and his crossing is pretty darn good too. If he was left footed we’d be set at fullback for 10 years. As things stand right now, I think our best deployment of resources is Dest at left back and Cannon at right back.

He starts his run when he sees McKennie getting the ball and then plays in a great low cross for Llanez here. Super smart player. Coaches must love Reggie.
It doesn’t look like much, but it breaks the press and starts a nice offensive move for the team

Yunus Musah (+11)

This game felt like a quieter good performance than Musah’s match against Wales. He only had one of those drives forward that we saw several times last game. In this one, he defended well, passed efficiently, and showed off some quick feet to win the foul for Reyna’s freekick goal.

He, McKennie, and Adams can cover so much ground that they are going to make life miserable for opposing teams for a long time. Can you imagine what it’s going to look like three years from now when they are 20, 25, and 24?! Please stay with us, Yunus.

Kid can play

Room to Improve

Matt Miazga (-4)

It was a tough night for Miazga. He was some level of at fault for both goals and his distribution was not as good as it was against Wales so he didn’t have that to bail out his grade. I don’t think Ream was great either but he was able to build a few points through his passing that Miazga was not.

It’s foolish to write anyone off, but Miazga had a golden opportunity to stake a claim to that right center back spot and he didn’t do it. He may not get two consecutive starts like this to prove himself again.

This was right after Panama’s first goal and ended with a freekick at the top of the box. It didn’t go in, but it could have.

That’s about it for negative performances. People will probably be upset about Dest’s grade, but he wasn’t great despite the flash (go watch it again). He was clearly aware that this was a low stakes friendly. Llanez and Gioacchini looked good and I hope to see more of both. I’d also like to give Soto a mention for two nice goals and busting out this mustache:

Movember? Challenge accepted. I currently have a pretty terrible mustache as well, so I enjoyed this.

Now we wait for the domestic camp in December (and January camp?). It was really nice to have the USMNT back for a little while. Club soccer is all well and good, but it’s not the same. Let’s hope for good health and continued growth from everyone. Cheers.

If you enjoyed this and would like to be informed of future articles type your email address in the box and you’ll be notified of each new post. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter @blharreld 🤓

Spread the love

4 thoughts on “HalfSpaces Player Grades: USMNT vs Panama (11/16/20)”

  1. Love the comparison of Adams to a great NFL cover corner – 1) because it’s 100% accurate and 2) because I love cross-sport comparisons lol one of the best ways to grow the sport here in the states!

    I’m also disappointed with Miazga not jumping at his opportunity to really make a statement, but I think he will still get his chances in 2021. Even if Richards breaks through as a lock, I just there’s just too many competitions/matches already slated for next year and Miazga will still be called upon often. Awesome read, as always!

    1. Thanks, Alex. You’re probably right about Miazga getting more chances. I keep forgetting how many games are supposed to get played this summer. He’ll probably get some Gold Cup minutes and might even be the starter for it.

  2. Love the grades and analysis. The Dest/Robinson vs Cannon/Dest debate will be a tricky one that I’m still not sure about. I think I’m with you and lean toward Cannon/Dest though.

  3. I dunno about Miazga, think he was third string RCB behind Long and Zimmerman and this cemented him there. Last chance.

Comments are closed.