Does that title make it sound like the USMNT is having digestive issues? Don’t care. I’m leaving it.
There was quite a bit of discussion in our little niche about Lletget’s role against Wales. He dropped back into midfield often and helped with possession. It’s part of why the US was able to control the game (61% possession) for long stretches.
When Berhalter was asked about the choice of a “false 9” for the Wales game he mentioned that it was a matchup specific choice because Wales is very “man orientated” with their center backs. The game plan was for the CBs to follow Lletget into midfield and for Konrad and Reyna to run into that space.
Let’s take a look and see how that played out.
*This was annoyingly difficult to look for thanks to camera angles grumble grumble*
Examples of the Situation
Less then three minutes into the game this exemplar presented itself:
Miazga plays the ball into Lletget’s feet and Lockyer (the RCB) follows him into midfield. At this point Konrad (I’m assuming it’s Konrad since it was the CB on his side) should be making a run into the space the defender just vacated. You can see him kind of think about it, but he doesn’t go.
I played tennis in high school and college. I mostly played doubles and one of the coaching points that has stuck with me was to imagine that I was connected to my partner by string. If he moved then I had to move to cover the part of the court he vacated. I like to watch soccer with that in mind. It doesn’t work exactly the same, but the idea is similar. If you picture Lletget and Lockyer connected it’s easier to see where Konrad should have gone.
Here you can see Lawrence (the LCB) following Lletget into midfield again.
Reyna should be higher up the field making a run into that space, but he’s “between the lines” asking for the ball to his feet. I think this is one instance of what Tyler Adams (?) was referring to when he mentioned guys playing like they do with their clubs. Reyna is forever receiving the ball between the lines for Dortmund and I’m sure that’s exactly what Lucien Favre wants him to be doing – he’s really good at it. In this match though, Berhalter wanted his “wingers” to be shooting into the space that opened up when defenders pursued the forward into midfield.
Positive Examples
Here’s a look at it almost going according to plan.
Reyna is open for a split second here as the left center back follows Lletget, but Adams doesn’t hit the pass. It looks like he sees it, but doesn’t play it. Not sure on that though. This may be the exact type of situation Berhalter has in mind for playing a Bradley/Yueill profile player in the #6 position. I’m not arguing for that, but I can see it here.
If you read either of my grade articles (Wales / Panama) you’ll know that I was extremely impressed with Weston McKennie. In the gif above, Lletget has moved out of the false 9 spot and Reyna has moved in. McKennie takes up Reyna’s position on the wing – look at the run McKennie is making. The CB didn’t step out to Reyna, but if he had McKennie has a clear lane to the goal. You can even see Brooks getting ready to hit that ball if it’s on. McKennie has gotten so much better in the past year. So excited about him (hope he starts UCL later today).
Really weird that many of us were (myself included – remember…I’m an idiot) ready for Pomykal to take his spot this time last year, isn’t it? lol
In this gif, Konrad makes the run and although he’s covered, he draws the attention of the left back which creates space for Dest down the right.
What if the CB doesn’t Follow?
This is an example of that happening. If the center back doesn’t follow Lletget into midfield then the US ends up in an advantageous numbers situation in that area. Here Lletget is able to find a pass out to Dest for one of the better attacking moves of the game for the USMNT.
Future Use
This looks like a good tactic to use against teams with CBs that aggressively step. Ideally, I think forward like Josh Sargent that can do both jobs (dropping back and threatening in behind) would be ideal, but while Lletget wasn’t amazing he wasn’t bad either. If Reyna were a little older and knew the system better, I think he could’ve done the job more dangerously. He’s really good at turning with a man on his back while Lletget was more likely to dribble away from goal. Maybe one day.
It’s funny. As a teacher, I know what it’s like to give detailed directions and then have students completely ignore or forget them. I imagine that’s a little how Berhalter feels when he coaches these games. I’m sure he taught those runs in behind with whatever time was available before the games, but when the bullets start flying guys tend to revert back to what they know/what they do with their club teams.
It will be interesting to watch this develop over time. The caliber of the players is certainly increasing. Is the level of coaching going to keep up? How is Berhalter going to do in the chess match against Tata Martino? We’ll find out in June.
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