Gregg Berhalter has lead the USMNT to two trophies and has had middling success in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying… What is the problem with his approach and what is causing the team’s issues creating chances?
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30 Comments
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Today he was blaming the pitch width for the loss… like I'm a Canadian, but i legit feel bad for you guys being stuck with such a shit manager.
Obviously if this is what Gregg is teaching something is getting lost in translation because positional play like you are describing requires spacing. We have no spacing.
The need for months & months of repetition is why Spain could play the way they did from 2008->2012 using a majority of field players who either played at Barcelona or spent time in their academy while at the same time Argentina’s national team didn’t play anything like that even with Messi starting to enter his prime.
Maybe if the USMNT requires most of its field players to have spent time at FC Dallas and Berhalter gets a red card and Lucchi takes over after the red card, the players will play a system that they understand. 😉
This is a good video and a good start! More to go though. GGG does put an emphasis on positional play, but positional play in itself is not an issue. Positional play is inherent to one degree or another in the same way that formations are inherent. Other than really young kids, it's part of every single game, strictly or loosely. The problems (or bonus, if you get it right) come when you consider the roles, responsibilities, methods, and priorities that a coach asks in each position and collectively. You and I can have an identical look to a team, but widely vary in what we assign players to do. IE, do we have out wide players very wide or operate in half-space? When? Soccer is a very simple game, and players do this all the time. Positional play isn't foreign. The problem arises, as you mentioned when a coach has a complex or overly complex model and the players operate in club spaces that are very different, and then also lack the time to adjust/exploit. That's where it gets hard.
Questions then: What are the planks of Berhalters specific positional play system? Does he allow freedom or deviation within that, or is it rigid? Is it overly complex? Are USMNT players working in club systems that run counter to those concepts? Is his model just off from the get-go?
The devil is in the details, and that accounts for a huge chunk of what's going wrong.
The other problem is whether GGG is a good coach at all. If he realized -while watching the game again – that Canada was playing in a low block. If he couldn't do that in-game in about 5-10 minutes, then he can't have any games sense (see and feel the game) at all. Might explain his lack of meaningful changes and late subs. But that's a different story for another day.
When I think I know Berhalter specifics, he does more to confuse me. Any ideas?
And yes, Coaches Voice is very good.
Can you do a breakdown on what'd you do?
This is A+ stuff, Jake. For me, this is exactly your wheelhouse.
Great video man 🐥
How do you score on a low block needs to be next breakdown would greatly appreciate it. Gregg is now making national news with that lame brain comment of "dominant" even when getting beat 2-0. I'm done with Gregg period a change needs to happen win,lose or draw. Great work as always
Greg has the team looking lost.
This is where I really think a 4-2-3-1 would benefit the US team right now. Gio as CAM, heck even Pulisic as CAM. They can play this with out over complicating the system.
1.) 4 years ago, many of us were concerned that a "system" that was admitted to require long term day to day reps to become comfortable, would have difficulty being implemented with a team that only meets for a few weeks a year. At the time of Berhalter's hiring, he/USSF said that he had sent out "power points" so that the players could see what the system was all about and jump-start the process.
Unfortunately, the type of reps that players need aren't "mental", they are "muscle-memory" reps, and that takes time, lots of time, which a national team obviously doesn't have.
How this escaped the brain trust at the USSF boggles the mind.
2.) How that impacts the team. Players are thinking positionally rather than reacting instinctively (from repetition). This is obvious when you watch the team, especially in the final third. A fraction of a second and the space has closed, the defender has adjusted, etc.
3.) This issue is exacerbated by a revolving door of players.
4.) Who on the team has experience with Greg's system? Zardes. That's why he's still getting called in and started the Canada game.
5.) Is there a plan B? answer – Doesn't appear to be. Greg is captain of the ship and the ship sails with the SYSTEM, come Hades or high water.
6.) What now? The US having success in the cycle has papered over the elephant in the room. Like all elephants, they can't be hidden forever. I'd like to find the elephant a new home before it's too late. If the US loses to Honduras, that would/should bring in the elephant movers and Greg's exit.
7.) New coach? Same USSF…I'll go watch Groundhog Day.
Aha, I see. Sounds kind of like me when I coached my son’s fifth grade basketball team. I had dreams of implementing the triangle offense, that was short lived. Of course the comparison only fits because of the time Greg has with the team and the difficulty of the structure he wants…in the end it’s just as unlikely to work.
Great video again. Very informative and you broke down everything and make it relatable
F**k Berhlaters system! He is way too tied to it. There is no room for adaption and it has the players stuck in their heads. This is not American Football. You can't draw out all the plays.
Nice analysis. You have a way of breaking down a complex topic clearly without talking down to – or over your audience. At the risk of comparing footballs, this reminds me of certain college football coaches (Mike Leach comes to mind) who are so pathologically committed to a specific system (ie. the air raid, or run and shoot) it ends up hurting the team. If you have the right players and they execute it perfectly, it really works. If not, it REALLY doesn't, and you lose games. It seems to me that Gregggg has these kids so preoccupied about which angle of the triangle they are supposed to represent, they've forgotten that they are really good at soccer – and it's supposed to be fun. Such a waste of young talent. What was that quote by Ginsberg? "I saw the greatest [players] of our generation destroyed by [positional play], starving hysterical naked?" Pretty sure that's how it went.
3:40 lol Gatooooooo
In 2018 Klingsmann got replaced by Bruce arena 👈⚽️. It’s time to give players some criticism 👈. The coach doesn’t play 👈.
In your break down we do see some of the issues you state. Ironically, it seems like the break down comes from our "best player". If you think back, Pulisic collides with Jedi, Pulisic is holding the ball and trying to dribble. Pulisic isn't getting across into the box, Pulisic isn't passing and moving. When he is put in isolation, he fails every time to beat his man on the dribble.
I think back to his time hurt, we saw and talked about the rise and success of Aaronson and Weah… Pulisic comes back and we ask who is going to create, why aren't we fluid, what are the issues and why isn't GB fixing it… If a healthy Pulisic was left on the bench though, what would fans do? That could be the fix in more ways than we care to admit.
The fault isn't fully on Pulisic by any means. This is a young and inconsistent team. We are a u23 team playing senior teams. Road in Concacaf has never been easy. People need to remember our 02 team almost didn't make the work cup. JK's first game in charge of the USMNT in the qualifying for the Hex was a loss at Guatemala or El Salvador. Essentially youth players playing in hostile and different conditions, on far from perfect pitches they are used to in Europe are inconsistent on the road, why are we surprised? I do think GB could make it more simple, but the point of his tactics as you say are to create overloads and passing lanes and flood the box on crosses. Why is it our MLS based players can figure this system out, while our "better" European based players who should be able to play quick, short passes, handle breaking a team down, and do the technical things required to make this work are the ones that struggle? Club form, but I think there is an arrogance like the guys from Europe think they are above being on the field with an El Salvadorian league, MLS, or Honduran Domestic league player. Then they get punched in the mouth and pushed around and completely cave. The other teams want it more, and play like a blunt force object. Our european based guys play soft, then complain if they don't get every call, and you won't in Concacaf.
so greg is trying to be like PEP, i think the players have the style and skill to play this tactical system however, they just need more games playing together, when you are constantly changing the lineups for what ever reason, tired legs, change things up, bench players who arnt performing to send them a message, it messes up the team dynamic and chemistry.
So where was the team we saw against Mexico when we played Canada? What was different? Our line up against Canada was good almost the same as Mexico where we seemed to flow. I get the tactic now thank you for the break down. But where did we fall off ? Is it the players just not familiar with the system? I guess what I am asking is what is the difference between the team we saw against Mexico and then one we saw against Canada?
If berhalter mismanage all this great talents he had on the roster, God gona ask him question period.
Excellent breakdown & analysis!
Thank you for this! 😉👍🏼⚽️🇺🇸
Tactics schmactics. There is no proven finisher so tactical options are really limited…..and scoring on three set pieces against the bottom team who couldn't wait for the match to end doesn't count.
Great video demonstrating positional play. I really dug it. Learned a lot.
My question is the usmnt were so bad last qualifying for WC that we needed a coach that knows what they are really doing and we finally have alot of talent!! Why would they pick Berhalter??? Blows my mind! I know soccer played for 18yrs and was invited to play and refine my skills in england so i know what im talking about!! Berhalter has no idea about picking the best players!! We have very talented players and yet he picks average mls players!! Like he started Zardes against canada??? Second he hasn't had a consistent line up at all!! Your not gonna get continuity while doing this!! I understand trying out players but we are far enough in qualifying that he should have starting line up!!! Players are getting irritated with him and it shows!!
You can have positional play but those other issues come 1st!! Berhalter has no clue!! If they don't change this i see us not qualifying!! I hope we do but for the love of god do something about this coach!!!
Just discovering your gem of a channel. Great video, keep it up 👍
GB runs a 2-1-4-3. He pushes his L and R Backs up the field and occasionally brings Adams Back. There is always a huge Hole at the Back because of this Crap formation. Is it just me or is this what he's doing?
no team does. It's not club level. But, fuck what would work? I think the coach needs to be deleted. but its not going to happen until after this team gets humiliated in the WC. maybe it won't happen, but I seriously feel It coming.
From Brazil here.
There is a simple way to work when you are in USMNT position against big dogs. It's been effective since ever:
Build a strong deffense, get some runners and a goalscorer.
That's basics football.
Greg's system is a fantasy.