PREAMBLE – Hello again. My apologies for the infrequent articles lately. l’ve kinda been burning the candle at both ends even without putting a lot of time into the blog. Still planning on grading all three matches this window though. Anyhow, you’re not here to read about this…
As we approach the October window, I was ruminating about what opposing teams might try to do to take advantage of the USMNT. Given what we know about the player pool and the way that Berhalter wants the team to play – how should opponents set up against the USMNT? And who/what will they be looking to target?
*CRITICAL NOTE* I am not a coach nor some sort of tactical savant. It’s possible that all the things you are about to read are laughable to a “real” coach/manager. In fairness though, I do consistently remind you that I’m an idiot and that I drink while writing. 🤣
Writing beverage: Larceny Bourbon – a smooth drinker that won’t break the bank – keep it on the shelf to serve to friends you like, but don’t need to make feel special
Strategy #1 – The Canada Plan aka “You take it – I don’t want it”
John Herdman looks to have come to the same conclusion that many of us have – namely, that the USMNT doesn’t score if it doesn’t get transition or set piece chances. The one goal the US scored against Canada was off a bad turnover from Scott Kennedy. Check out the timeline right after:
Herdman was not well pleased with Mr. Kennedy. Canada’s plan to let the US have the ball and make us work through a set defense was very effective. Canada was more dangerous on the counterattack with 28% of the ball than the Americans were in possession with 72%.
Waiting for the US to hit an inaccurate pass, take a poor touch, etc. and then pouncing was a very effective tact. Not every team has Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanon though, so maybe it’s not feasible for other CONCACAF opponents.
If I were an opposing coach though saying, “Here’s the ball. Beat us.” that is certainly an option.
Strategy #2 – Let the RCB Have the Ball
Growing up, I played a lot of street hockey. Occasionally, there’d be a kid playing defense that you knew couldn’t lift the puck. When that happened, you’d have to loiter around in front of him and intercept his clearances for a chance at a breakaway. Now, there’s certainly nobody that bad on the US backline, but there are players you can catch trying to play a line breaking pass that isn’t quite there. The left center back is usually either Brooks or Ream and, above gif aside, they are proficient at breaking lines. The players at RCB however, can be had. Mark McKenzie has been known to play a loose ball or two. Miles Robinson is getting better at this, but is pretty quick on the trigger to hit a long ball. Walker Zimmerman showed well at the Gold Cup against weak teams, but he sometimes hits passes where his body can’t cash the checks his brain writes.
Chris Richards is the wild card here. Is he a good enough passer that it’s not safe for the opponent to give either CB time on the ball? (Also, with Ream and Brooks both out now things get interesting quickly)
Strategy #3 – Pressure the “Right” Players
The US has never been super comfortable at receiving the ball under pressure and that tradition continues – sort of. There are players in the pool that can make the opposition look foolish if they get pressured too aggressively. Reyna, Pulisic, and Dest can all snake an opponent to break down a press. However, the entire midfield struggles to do much more than pass the ball backwards when under pressure (Musah might be the exception to this, but we need to see it).
The players I’d target with heavy pressure are: the non-Dest fullback, all three midfielders, and the center forward. If the situation is right, pressuring these players could cause a turnover in an advantageous situation. BTW – I’m not saying you don’t pressure the other players, but these are the spots I’d be looking to pressure into mistakes.
Strategy #4 – Get Behind Dest
I’m not in the “Dest is a bad defender” camp. I think he’s a sometimes disinterested defender, but he is eminently capable when locked in. However, he’s also the best attacking fullback we’ve got, and as such, will frequently be found advanced deep into the attacking third.
There’s going to be space behind him and getting at that space is a good idea for an opposing team.
We have Dest getting saucy against El Salvador here (which we all love), but when he loses it you suddenly have Tim Ream in space against two El Salvadoran(?) attackers. Not ideal. Nothing comes of it because Aaronson gets a piece of the ball on the counter press, but it could have.
What happens on Thursday?
No idea if Theodore Whitmore and company will draw any of these same conclusions, but we’ll get to find out soon enough. I’m also very curious to see what Berhalter is going to do with the attack. It still seems like he doesn’t get enough credit for how good the defense is, but chicks dig the long ball, I suppose.
Does Berhalter double down on passing the ball around to open up space for the attack? Or does he press higher and harder in order to create more turnovers and chances that way? I’m honestly not even sure what to hope for at this point. The former option would raise the ceiling on the NT, but the latter seems more likely to work. At this point, I might even be okay with a goal off a corner and grimly defending the lead like a dog with a bone. Whatever – just win gents.
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