The Gold Cup is over, MLS is firmly into the dog days of summer, and European preseason games are happening all over the earth. So what have we learned about the USMNT? I did a role by role report card for the team back in February and I think it’s a good time for an update.
To be clear, I’m grading the roles by how Berhalter has set them up, not how I would or the fan base/media in general would. The roles in Gregg’s system look a little different than they did after the January camp. The rb/cm position seems to have been put into storage. Is that temporary, to be brought back when Adams is healthy? Or has that been moth-balled permanently? We don’t know. So here’s how I see things in “The System” right now.
Roles in Berhalter’s USMNT System
- Center forward
- Left winger that can interchange with CP
- Right winger that’s fast and dangerous
- Left sided creative 8/10
- Right sided slightly more defensive 8/10
- Controlling midfielder/defensive midfielder
- RB that’s capable of getting forward
- Hybrid LB/CB – Good passer that plays as a third center back often
- Ball-playing center back that can break lines
- Athletic sweeper-type center back
- Goalkeeper that’s good with his feet
Center Forward
Grade: D
This spot is the biggest problem position on the field for the USMNT. We saw in the Gold Cup how Jozy Altidore immediately raised the ceiling on what the offense was capable of when he was in. The team played very well against Jamaica and held their own against Mexico for 30 minutes when he was in there and playing well.
After Jozy…it’s a bit rough. Whoever the #2 (and if I’m being honest it’s still Zardes) forward turns out to be is going to get some playing time. Altidore is rarely healthy for very long and the forward is very important to Berhalter’s system. He drops in a lot to create overloads in midfield. In my opinion, Zardes showed he can’t do it well enough to be a realistic option there for the national team. That leaves us hoping that Sargent, Novakovich, or Soto break through for their respective club teams (or Bobby Wood recovers his form enough to be a viable option). Not a great spot to be in.
Left Wing (able to interchange with CP)
Grade: B
Arriola was the man at this position throughout the summer and while I was frustrated with him at times, he did help Pulisic play well. CP was out on the left wing a lot and Arriola was very comfortable switching with him whenever Pulisic wanted to slide out there. The lack of end product from the position was aggravating (Arriola was in great positions so often – he just couldn’t quite make them pay off), but you couldn’t fault the movement, effort, etc.
I still think the position is upgrade-able, though. Timothy Weah is the name that jumps to mind. He’s started at a lm/lw type role for Lille in a couple friendlies already. Assuming he gets a decent amount of playing time I think he can be a plus version of Arriola. We’re rooting for you Timmy.
Right Wing
Grade: C
This winger has a little different job than the left side. The right sided winger was either stretching the field or dropping into that right-sided 10 spot and leaving room for the right back to get up the sideline into the attack. Tyler Boyd filled this role at the start of the Gold Cup and things looked promising, but by the end he’d been relegated to the bench and Jordan Morris had replaced him.
What happened with Boyd? There were a couple whispers of a minor injury, but then other reports that he was healthy. Was he going off the reservation with all the cutting in and shooting? I have no idea. I do think the team has more attacking potential with him in there. Morris is a good soldier, but he is not the talent Boyd is.
Left 8/10
Grade: B+
This was Pulisic’s spot for the summer and he did very well in it. It wasn’t a traditional 10 role, but more of a half attacking mid, half winger role. It fit CP very well and he was dangerous throughout the tournament. I think the team has the potential to be better offensively and defensively with an actual midfielder in this position, but Pulisic was certainly effective here.
A player like Pomykal or Holmes might not be as dangerous offensively, but they might be better passers and would definitely be better defensively. The pipe dream is for Alex Mendez or Richie Ledezma progress to the point where they can play this position. One of those two playing through balls for CP…yes, please.
Right 8/10
Grade: B
This position could almost be called an 8/6 instead of the “dual 10” that Berhalter likes to call it. This player did a lot of dropping in next to the actual 6 during the Gold Cup. One of the problems that cropped up during the tournament is that neither the d-mid, nor this position was filled by a great defender. McKennie’s not bad, but he’s not exactly Ngolo Kante out there (see – Mexico’s goal in the final).
The backups at this position are the same ones I listed in the previous spot. Pomykal is a better defender than McKennie and I think Holmes might be as well. Neither of them has McKennie’s gifts going forward however.
Controlling Midfielder
Grade: B+ or D
The most contentious spot on the field. Berhalter wants a guy here that can set the tempo, play long passes, organize, etc. Defense doesn’t seem real high up on the priority list. Which is a little odd since ostensibly, this is a defensive midfield position.
If Gregg caves and puts Adams here I think this position is pretty strong. Adams backed up by Bradley looks solid. Bradley backed up by Wil Trapp…not so much. Let’s all pray that Gregg trusts Adams enough to give him the keys. The team would be SO much better defensively if that happens.
Right Back
Grade: B
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I feel fairly comfortable with our right back options. I think Cannon, Yedlin, and Lima can all do the job. None of them are stars, but none of them give me the “Oh no. We’re running Graham Zusi out there at right back.” vibe that was all too common last cycle. I’m most hopeful about Cannon. He seems about equal with Yedlin in athleticism, but more aware defensively. If he can add some more offense to his arsenal…we might really have something there.
Left Back/Center Back Hybrid
Grade: F
Berhalter seems very committed to the 3-2-2-3 shape in attack. As such, the left back also looks destined to be an athletic, good passing, left footed center back. The problem with that job description is…well…the US don’t got none. John Brooks sort of fits that profile, but he isn’t fast/agile enough to defend on the edge. Ream wasn’t terrible, but he certainly wasn’t good.
I really don’t have any suggestions here. I’ve stan-ed for trying Ventura Alvarado in this position because he is super athletic, but he’s right-footed and I’m not sure how good a passer he is. Lovitz isn’t the answer. I’ve heard Auston Trusty suggested, but (I don’t know his game) I’ve also been told he’s not a great passer. Quite the pickle. Is it worth changing the system or shape to accommodate?
Distributing Center Back
Grade: C
If we could count on John Brooks I’d have bumped this grade up a bit, but we can’t, so I didn’t. In the unlikely event that Brooks is available to play…he’s an excellent fit for what Berhalter wants from his distributing center back. He can break lines, dribble, play accurate long balls, etc. When Brooks isn’t available the options are not as good.
Miazga and Zimmerman are both pretty good defenders. They may even be comparable to Brooks in that facet of the game. They are not as good in possession. My hope is that Chris Richards gets loaned out to a first division team somewhere and shows that he can handle this job, but that doesn’t appear likely in the short term, at least.
Sweeper Center Back
Grade: C
I’m honestly not sure who the backup is for this role. In the Gold Cup I think maybe it was Omar? But if Aaron Long’s not available I don’t think we have a like for like replacement. He’s very fast/athletic, a good 1 v 1 defender, and anticipates well. He played the center of the back three during the Gold Cup and made very few mistakes.
This is another role where I’d like to see Alvarado get a shot (he’s captain of Necaxa in Liga MX btw), but who knows who we are going to see called up in September. Miles Robinson is another name that might be worth a look in this role. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Goal Keeper
Grade: B
Steffen is with Fortuna Dusseldorf competing with 35 year old incumbent Michael Rensing for the starting job. Sean Johnson remains the starter for NYCFC and Ethan Horvath is the presumed starter for Brugge entering the season.
I think Horvath may be the best of those three at actually preventing goals, but until he improves markedly with his feet he’s not getting the starting gig. There’s no stars here, but the USMNT is in solid hands with any of these guys.
Hypothetical Roster
Assuming I’m correct (I’m assuredly not) and Berhalter were to call up a first choice roster. This is what it’d look like:
That’s a 23 man roster that I think most people would be happy with. My assessment of the roster this time around feels a little more optimistic. The U20 crew is getting closer to pushing through and the older back-up types are on the verge of being replaced by higher potential young guys. I don’t want to get too excited, but the guys breaking through make the team so much better and more interesting.
The U20 World Cup precluded many of the more exciting prospects from being called up during the summer, but that is no longer a hindrance. It’s possible that Olympic qualifying could keep a couple exciting youngsters from the full NT, but the next couple rosters will be revealing one way or another.
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Great writeup
Very well put! Agree with everything