Horvath is quality idk if the game yesterday was a real showing when Omar and Matt Miazga were in possession. I also remember that Ream back pass that the Chilean no 9 almost latched onto
Zardes had some heavy touches but he was good. I know he's public enemy no 1 on here but he did his job. Berhalter gets a lot out of him.
Wasn't impressed with Baird or Roldan. Baird made some good runs but the end product was lacking. Roldan just seems like a placeholder.
This was a B squad and they showed well enough. The first 32 minutes with Pulisic was fun as hell.
navi8132 New York
Post #707
Wednesday March 27, 2019 6:23pm
Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 3,122
There are soooo many creative attacking talent that need to be introduced to this team (this team which creates so few shots on goal). They are untested at high levels for sure, but it is simply necessary. Arriola, Roldan, Baird, Morris, etc are simply not cutting it. Will Berhalter experiment? I doubt it, I think he likes those players because they buy into his system and have little creativity.
Berhalter is a "low creativity coach."
chris_thebassplayer San Jose
Post #708
Wednesday March 27, 2019 6:42pm
Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 1,552
With the line up GB choose against a savvy physical quality team, it was better than I expected.
He did need to stablilize the middle, we were getting overrun with numbers. It was a solid tactical move at the international level...GB makes really solid adjustments...he manages the game well...He's light years away from Arena or any other nats coach.
We played Chile with an A/B, mostly B team line up and held up.
Tough to compare individual performances in the two games...polar opposite games for the D to deal with.
I would have liked to have seen Lletget in the Roldan role instead of outside...he struggled connecting...looked way better when he was inside.
Chile was finding space between our mids and CBs...was hoping our CBs would recognize and step up, but we sagged off. Omar is still down the depth chart. Miazga was pretty solid...still right in the mix....huge difference if he partners with Brooks vs Omar.
Distribution out of the back was poor...its a fundamental building block for GB's system
real tough for Yedlin, Omar and Miazga.
GB deliberately played more back up players for this game. I think we have a great chance to beat Chile with a healthier stronger line up...needed more individual quality in the attack.
It is interesting how GB see's his 6...definitely wants to reduce defensive responsibilities to allow distribution...he's trying to set up MB or Trapp in a Pirlo style role...but there were times where MB was beaten badly off the dribble by high quality attackers. Which I think we all know is the main problem with MB or Trapp at the 6 against top level teams. It won't really work unless we have a Gattuso or similar pitbull to do the hard defensive work for MB/Trapp. The ball MB played to Baird was as good as it gets...There aren't too many guys who can hit that pass for the nats...should have been a game winning assist. It remains to be seen if we have the defensive luxury to play a maestro role that close to the back line.
Overall, not bad. This team will gradually play better and better...I think we're heading towards playing real ball.
cudevil
Post #709
Wednesday March 27, 2019 7:06pm
Joined Oct 2012
Total Posts: 1,204
I'm not sure how you can feel all that great about last night. We managed a result, sure, but we were outplayed by a fair margin (Chile had 64% of the possession); weren't consistently dangerous on counters; didn't create chances (no saves for Chile; only 2 corners). We largely parked the bus after around 10 minutes into the second half. It seemed like a pretty standard performance against a superior opponent-hope to take advantage of minimal opportunities and do whatever we can to keep them from scoring. Why this is in any way indicative of a brighter future is lost on me.
Fraser31 Charleston, South Carolina
Post #710
Wednesday March 27, 2019 8:00pm
Joined Sep 2012
Total Posts: 1,411
The indicator is that the three "future" stars (McKennie, Adams, and Pulisic) make a very measurable difference in our quality of play. We were able to maintain the standard of past performances without them, which is at the very least a little comforting, if annoying. I'm more optimistic after these last two games than I have been in a long time, but of course there is still a lot of work to do.
While our defensive concerns are apparent, Weah, Sargent, and Wood finding some sort of consistent form will really improve this team. Still think Mihailovic should be in another roster soon.
chris_thebassplayer San Jose
Post #711
Wednesday March 27, 2019 8:32pm
Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 1,552
Original post from cudevil
I'm not sure how you can feel all that great about last night. We managed a result, sure, but we were outplayed by a fair margin (Chile had 64% of the possession); weren't consistently dangerous on counters; didn't create chances (no saves for Chile; only 2 corners). We largely parked the bus after around 10 minutes into the second half. It seemed like a pretty standard performance against a superior opponent-hope to take advantage of minimal opportunities and do whatever we can to keep them from scoring. Why this is in any way indicative of a brighter future is lost on me.
Because we played a watered down line up against freaking Chile...made the right adjustments and held steady...with a couple opportunities to beat them on the counter...
cudevil
Post #712
Wednesday March 27, 2019 8:46pm
Joined Oct 2012
Total Posts: 1,204
Original post from chris_thebassplayer
Because we played a watered down line up against freaking Chile...made the right adjustments and held steady...with a couple opportunities to beat them on the counter...
But "holding on" is all we did and all we've done, for the most part, when playing better teams. I honestly didn't see anything in either game that moved the meter. We couldn't create chances against a bunkered Ecuador. We couldn't possess the ball or play the ball out of the back well against a pressing Chile squad (and only steadied ourselves when we decided to play for a tie with 35 minutes to go). Same old, same old.
bjelks
Post #713
Wednesday March 27, 2019 8:55pm
Joined Nov 2012
Total Posts: 1,995
Original post from chris_thebassplayer
Because we played a watered down line up against freaking Chile...made the right adjustments and held steady...with a couple opportunities to beat them on the counter...
This lineup was only missing 3 guys from Greg's preferred best 11. That is the frightening part.
Hardly B team.
goalsense
John-Lewis
Post #714
Wednesday March 27, 2019 9:04pm
Joined Feb 2019
Total Posts: 59
Original post from bjelks
This lineup was only missing 3 guys from Greg's preferred best 11. That is the frightening part.
Hardly B team.
Haha. "Only" 3 guys he says. While those 3 guys are unarguably the 3 most important players on the team.
Fraser31 Charleston, South Carolina
Post #715
Wednesday March 27, 2019 9:14pm
Joined Sep 2012
Total Posts: 1,411
Also, "preferred best 11" after 4th game in charge.
John-Lewis
Post #716
Wednesday March 27, 2019 9:17pm
Joined Feb 2019
Total Posts: 59
4 actually, since Pulisic didn't play for most of the game.
blaise213
Post #717
Wednesday March 27, 2019 9:22pm
Joined Sep 2012
Total Posts: 3,335
Original post from db707
I did forget about Zelalem playing for Rangers, my bad there. Still, he's a reclamation project at this point given his injury issues.
IMO, there are better players with technical skill in MLS right now than the current ones being called up. Plus, Zelalem was on Aresenal (U-23) team which could beat most MLS teams.
Atlanta
Total Posts: 3,428
Zardes had some heavy touches but he was good. I know he's public enemy no 1 on here but he did his job. Berhalter gets a lot out of him.
Wasn't impressed with Baird or Roldan. Baird made some good runs but the end product was lacking. Roldan just seems like a placeholder.
This was a B squad and they showed well enough. The first 32 minutes with Pulisic was fun as hell.