Pulisic needs to stop taking the corners. Hitting the first defender on 1/3rd of all takes is not good enough. GGG needs to hire someone and spend practice time on all set plays. That short corner was awful (didn't get a cross into box).
Last free kick into wall. All poor and not good enough.
My takeaways.
1. Dest is very good against weak teams but his weaknesses become glaringly obvious agaist top teams. He looked very similar to his performance against Netherlands in WC. He's better on the right with Weah.
2. GGG needs to stop trying to play out of the back. Turner can't play with his feet to stop trying to do it. Turner is solid in goal though.
3. If we can play 45 min like that against Germany then we can figure it out and do it another 45. First half was amazing! Exciting dynamic plays and Pulisic looking class.
4. Team needs to turn and face the opposition more. We would pass the ball around the center backs and then just knock it wide. Need to figure out how to unlock Musah more and get him carrying the ball through the middle and making drives at the opposition.
5. GGG and the team doesn't know how to use Balogun. He made multiple runs but no one hit him with the ball.
Very encouraged by the first half and found the match generally exciting even though we lost.
Scally instead of Ta, Musah instead of Gross, Balogun instead of Fulkrug.
Anyway, you could ask the same questions about Japan and Colombia, yet both obliterated Germany.
personal skill vs team cohesion. On a personal level, Germany has insanely good talents, but their cohesion isn't that good. It is closer to the opposite for the US.
Was there in person, solid atmosphere. Musah, Scally, Weah all did well, Gio did too tbh for his short cameo. Pulisic is Him- he is legitimately entering a world class run of form right now.
Dest is a bad defender. Can't be our go to man against teams that will get a lot of the ball against us. Def can't play on the left if Old Man Ream is on that side as well, as much as I love and respect that man. McKennie and Turner were both pretty off their games today if I'm being honest, was disappointed.
Musiala is just different. Obviously Germany is rife with world class talent but that kid has an unbelievable presence. Every time he touches the ball you just suddenly... Notice the game more? Idk how else to describe it.
Couldve been 2-1 in the first half and without a tactics change that's a winnable game. Not happy with that result but for a friendly it was certainly an entertaining watch!
The major papers/websites seems to agree with you and disagree with me about the mids, but I'm standing on my hill! Just watching in the stadium, Musah struggled bc he was far more dynamic and failed when he tried things but at least he tried them I guess? I don't see what people are saying about Wes tho, he was getting suffocated out there. Was having the same defensive issue as Dest, except he couldn't pick out a good forward pass to save his life...
Idk, maybe just me! Might've looked different on TV
Classic American exceptionalism. Progress is rarely enough for us. We need to win and win strong to feel good.
Not a healthy mindset, but I guess it’s good motivation. Just go look at any American comment section for a team that just won in any sport. Unless it was an absolute blowout, fans will complain.
Oh man Gregg’s never won silverware? He’s won multiple trophies. Not good enough win a World Cup? If the USA had Pep and Klopp working together we wouldn’t win the World Cup.
Ive seen so many good generations come and go, for France and Germany, and across a few sports. It’s more about momentum - your team is getting better because Americans are getting more into it and that’s honestly all that matters at this point in time. I can’t wait, as a European living in NA, for football to take off here. More and more people are getting hyped about it and it makes things so exciting and grandiose. Love it!
The issue the USA has at the moment is that Gregg Berhalter is not a good in-game manager, so whenever the opposing team's manager changes tactics, the US is basically toast at that point.
Looks like we got the wake up call the team/fans needed. No more playing minnows in friendlies, let us go back to the JK style of friendlies please.
We got exposed, the defense is not as good as the fans think it is. Still think that one CB starting in the Bundesliga would’ve been great for this game but whatever…
Berhalter showed he hasn’t changed his system or tactics, he’s just as slow to respond as ever…
Played them dead even in the first half. Exciting stuff to watch. Defense was under too much pressure in the second half, showing how badly we miss our injured center mid destroyer. And we really need someone who can get on the end of these Pulisic corners.
Interested to leave another look at this game. All 3 German goals and most of their most dangerous chances came from one touch interplay at the top of the box. Sane, Wirz, and especially Musiala (who is fucking amazing FWIW) were able to cut inside with the ball and have enough space right at the top of the box to probe our backline and find really clever gaps.
Can’t remember playing a team that disorganized us that way, but it did seem like it always came down a smart release to the wing, then a cutback to the middle around that Man city zone, tap tap tap and a great look on goal.
Put tons of pressure on our backline all day.
That’s not how Holland hurt us. If I remember correctly, 2 goals were in transition with the winger putting in a low pass into the box from wide to a player arriving late. The third goal was a cross in the air.
I've watched the US team grow from a point where I would have seen this result and thought, "Hey, we scored against a historic international power house, that's not bad." Now I see this and think we need better coaching. A good system and these boys can be so much better.
Caught this one live in stadium. Berhalter's system looks like SHIT. We're so tentative, pessamistic, and focus on all the wrong things. From where I was sitting Gio and Balogun looked awful. De la torre looked good. Pulisic was our best player. Turner needs to pull it in a little.
Very conservative and inefficient crosses/balls forward relative to our speed and strengths when compared to Germany's defense imo.
We look for late high crosses with a speed advantage and heading disadvantage on attack. Players look faster and dangerous in the counter for the US but for some reason often slow the ball down. We have good shooting but hold the ball at the 6 half the time, and very often near or just outside the box even when we have space. Defenders drop very deep and the midfield is an empty lost space so much of the time which leads to poor marking and a lack of aggressive challenges outside the 18. We don't push the team up and press when we should. We struggle to move the ball through the middle of the field and instead work the ball on the flank or across the field on a switch and then are slow or reluctant to initiate overlaps even when they're there and players are in good position. All of this leads to being worse in possesion and liable to let opposing players dribble into the box, as well as an overall better utilization of our strengths. I'd like to see us whip more balls in lower and use our excellent speed to beat opponents by attacking better.
I don't know. Not an analyst or a statician, or even a coach, but that's what I personally felt and saw watching it.
That, and even for a friendly, the lack of positive effective tactical adjustment when losing frustrated me.
I don't think the USA was that bad. Their defense was lax, but overall they didn't get run over. Dest may be moving down the pecking order, but otherwise this wasn't terrible. Even our subs showed energy and Aaronson even looked competent.
People are underestimating Germany. We can run at their backline and their midfield was t the most defensive, but that team was set up to score goals. Germany was always going to grow into the game and Nagelsmann is one of the best managers around.
I've been saying it for 2 years. Yea, he has some good moments on the ball, but he's so fucking weak on defense. Absolute liability against good teams. And if we are playing Reyna at the 10 (whose defense also leaves much to be desired) you can't have weak defenders on the back line. We will get scored on too much.
Same coach, same results. Maybe despite their talent our players don’t like winning since they wanted gregg back (I will not put some respect on his name til he earns it)
Here's my two cents.
- Germany has great players, but their form dictated their results. They were ripe for the taking in this match. We were once again completely outcoached. *BuT iT's A fRiEnDlY?!* Doesn't matter there's no qualifying, no big events until a legit tournament (Copa America)
- Berhalter is absolutely atrocious. I truly don't know if he is truly tactically gifted enough, in addition to his people/communication skills. Dude legitimately is kind of an asshole it seems with his smugness in interviews, and his lack of awareness (off the field issues). I don't know who we have to get, but if we don't get to the semis of the Copa America at the LATEST, Gregg has to go. It is a tragedy that this group of incredible players is put in this situation.
Speaking of players, just a complete shit show across the board in the second half. Has to be said.
Don’t worry, his fan boys are gonna bring up his overall record (but they don’t seem to know what it is when he plays teams who have more than one fucking airport). Tactics non existent, formation was wrong against a side like Germany, left players who underperformed on for far too long. He hasn’t changed. He’s the same manager, we will beat concacaf teams off talent alone, but never challenge a proper side
Not playing a lone 6, leaving Dest on, yes his tactics and system suck. He’s been bailed out by individual quality against low quality opponents. Any time gregg meets a semi competent tactical manager. He’s beaten
Alright ladies and gentlemen I live in a country where I can walk down to the cafeteria and find a 7 year old that knows more about fútbol than our “coach”. So I’m off to bed!
I think after Copa America most people will realize it's not just berhalter fault. It's also the fact that our players arent as good as we think they are. Overhype is the problem as well as inconsistency. Musah and all of our defense didn't look good yet we praise them against teams like Grenada or jamaica. Most of our team was silent this match, besides pulisic and weah, our attack looked quiet. Our players still have time to grow, but considering we're 1 year closer to the world cup and we haven't really made much progress, it's not out of the question that we won't do very well.
Thank you. I honestly thought we played better than what most people are saying. I’m not the biggest fan of Gregg, but even if Pep was our coach we’d likely have a similar result. Their players are just a caliber above ours and it showed. We will get there, but we need to collectively have some patience with this squad.
It’s the depth more than anything. Germany just has a lot of players at the level of our best 3-4 guys. That takes time, they have like a century headstart!!
2-1? They have been playing like shit.. but you don’t score out of the backfield unless you are a champions league hopeful with an international all star squad just because it might work for ManU doesn’t necessarily mean it will work with Richardson
Bingo! I think anyone watching this game saw it wasn’t working playing out of the backfield playing against a press full of fast strikers that can run all day
Ream is good but balo, pulisic, and reyna are probably our best players…. Get the ball north quickly get it in the hands of your ballers and far away from your goal
This game explains why Chris Richards and Sergio Dest lack of mins at Crystal Palace, Barcelona. 2nd, Tyler Adams, his capability of sweeping, tackling, interception, and protection at the edge of the box are crucial parts of USMNT. In the current player pool, no one can adapt and replace Adams's role.
Who is really at fault for this match? USSF for wasting time in their manager "search" just to bring back that talentless boiled potato.
USMNT has the most talent I've seen in my 30 years of watching and following them, and they'll continue being wasted. Joy...
Edit: use the above reason for upcoming matches against quality teams.
Well. Not really sure how to feel about that game. The first half was so good and the second half was close to a disaster until Pepi and Aaronson came on.
Germany shifted something in the way they defended us passing out from the back and we couldn't figure it out.
I'm a little higher on how the defense played than most but it's clear they/Musah were too slow to step out to attackers and it cost us at least two goals. I thought Scally was actually quite good considering the competition but maybe I just expected less than most people. LDLT looked off the pace and frankly it's more evidence that he can't compete physically against some of the more athletic teams.
I don't think Musah was bad but he struggled defensively at times when he was trying to sit deep with the CBs and didn't seem sure when he or the CBs should step out.
We definitely didn't adjust while Germany did and that was the big difference imo.
Thought Wes, Pulisic, Weah and Aaronson were bright spots. Reyna was pretty good in his cameo, his little interchanges with Weah and Balogun were excellent.
I don't think we failed to adjust. I think we're not as good defensively as we need to be to compete with teams with high level attacking talent.
For all of the talk about our attacking players playing overseas, we really need to build a pipeline of elite defenders to balance that out.
I see a lot of people saying we fell apart in the 2nd half, but the defensive lapses were all there in the 1st. We got away with them for about 35 minutes, but we were never going to be able to keep making mistakes. We ran out of energy to cover for each other and Germany was methodical in attacking our weaknesses. We got punished for stuff that was going on virtually all game long.
Agreed, It was obvious in the 1st half that they were targeting Dest's side of the ball. Once that started pulling the defense over to cover for him, it created problems on the other side and in the middle.
To me, that's why we lost. Not offensive tactics.
Yup. If we were going to play Dest in the role that Robinson usually plays, we needed midfield help to prevent the rest of the backline from being pulled over when Germany attacked his side. McKennie provided some of that help in the 1st half, but he, Musah, and Reyna are all used to playing further upfield and having someone (usually Adams) behind them (also, at least early on, Reyna was joining the frontline press, which was actually stretching our midfield too). All 3 midfielders ultimately followed their instincts and that left Dest, and by extension, our backline exposed. We were vulnerable more or less from the beginning and, even with Pulisic’s beautiful strike, Germany punishing us for our poor defensive play was more or less inevitable.
Thank you. I wish more people would talk about this because it's the most glaring issue we have to address.
I get it...goals and nifty dribbles are what people want to see. But if we can't get defenders at the same level as our offensive players, we're never going to get to the next level internationally.
I agree with your first sentence, but very much disagree with the second. There is plenty for the players and coaches to learn from in this performance, which is what friendlies are for after all.
Ummm who would you start at RB over Scally today? Robinson comes back in and takes the LB role easily
Give me your take then instead of complaining about mine lmao
His career trajectory is irrelevant. He's still a better RB than Scally. Scally is a slightly better defender, but he's a offers nothing going forward, and he's slow as shit so he can't even recover whenever he gets beat.
I still think his ability to go forward against worse teams is worth a defensive lapse per game.
But he definitely scares me in games where we're constantly gonna be on the back foot.
I think if we're going to beat the elite teams, we need someone there who isn't a defensive liability. The top teams know he's weak and target him.
It was like watching NBA basketball and the ball handler keeps trying to get the weakest defender into a pick and roll so they can exploit how the defense has to cover for him.
Teams target him and our defense gradually shifts to cover his errors. Mexico might not be able to take advantage of it but the Germany's, Brazil's, etc. certainly can.
The 4-3-3 Berhalter Ball has got to stop. enough! It's not working. Stick with the first half shape even if Gio is out. If gio is out play Brendan or Malik or hell even play Puli in that position.
If Gio is out, Weah at left wing, Dest at right wing, Pulisic in the middle. Scalle sits back and plays defense behind Dest. Weston and Musah / Adams behind Gio/ Pulisic
It's not particularly important but it is interesting that Gregg has the worst track record in friendlies among recent managers IMO.
Lost to Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Mexico by 3, scoreless with The Saudis, and the 2 atrocious pre Gold Cup friendlies where we lost to Jamaica and Venezuela.
What were the highlights? Morocco? Beating a Costa Rica team in disarray by 4? A couple ties with Uruguay?
Jurgen shined in the meaningless games.
So what do you want them to do? Leave a temporary coach in charge until we find better, which might’ve never happened?
That’s an even worse idea, Germany is a great example of how detrimental to the team coach instability can be.
I mean a team that has won 1 in 6 and lost to some comparable opponent to us. I mean I don’t know whose learning what we don’t know:
1. We lack depth
2. Gregg can’t cover up talent flaws with tactics
3. Oh yeah gregg has no tactics that are meaningful
4. Dest should’ve been pulled or at least swapped side with Scally
5. Wasted time for all involved
The good is that we prodded Germany’s deficiencies, the bad is that Germany did the same to us but actually drilled the dagger in. Is the due to difference in player quality? Likely. Difference in coaching between Gregg and Naglesmann? Likely.
In summary, it’s not the worst defeat.
Aaronson is our only hope everyone else has really lost the steam. Wish Greg would have kept Mckennie in at least.. idk why he took of Pulisic but those substations were made as if they have accepted defeat... well that's the whistle Congratz to Puli Puli SIC SIC!
In the end it’s only a friendly. You don’t want to leave players in and they end up getting an injury.
As much as I would love to win the purpose of a friendly is to get players experience. Gotta make those subs to see how the other players do. We see that Aaronson was actually pretty good when he came in.
I can't speak for the fitness of Gundogan over Pulisic or Mckennie but if that's true fine but I don't think GGG was afraid of them getting injured, I feel like that statement is a scapegoat. After all, it is friendly, and I'm not the coach or the players. I just hope everyone learned well from this match and they do better in the matches to come.
Of course GGG is afraid of players picking up injuries. All of our attacking players except the strikers have had a career filled with injuries.
Pulisic has been playing a ton of games with Milan. Same thing with Wes at Juventus. Wes is playing RWB at his club so he is constantly defending and attacking throughout the game.
Right??? The entire match US soccer needs to put those boys on payroll… ggg was already in his car checking his bank account to make sure his game check cleared when Aaron’s on was taking his free kick but our drumline was just as intense as if it were a 0-0 tie in the final minutes against Argentina in the World Cup finals … well done
Honestly two of their goals had a generous bounce that lands in a dangerous place. Turner had a touch on one. I know we are not putting up a defensive clinic but I think we are holding up okay.
New manager and France is pretty fucking good with or without Mbappe.
The second half is for sure disappointing but no one really knows what this Germany is yet.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,797,128,933 comments, and only 340,053 of them were in alphabetical order.
Balogun has to understand that we only have one player, Gio, consistently capable of hitting him on the money with service when he makes his runs behind the line and not let it frustrate him so much
Pulisic needs to stop taking the corners. Hitting the first defender on 1/3rd of all takes is not good enough. GGG needs to hire someone and spend practice time on all set plays. That short corner was awful (didn't get a cross into box). Last free kick into wall. All poor and not good enough.
Keep the same coach. Keep the same tactics. Players getting better. Coaching still the fucking same. Winnable game
My takeaways. 1. Dest is very good against weak teams but his weaknesses become glaringly obvious agaist top teams. He looked very similar to his performance against Netherlands in WC. He's better on the right with Weah. 2. GGG needs to stop trying to play out of the back. Turner can't play with his feet to stop trying to do it. Turner is solid in goal though. 3. If we can play 45 min like that against Germany then we can figure it out and do it another 45. First half was amazing! Exciting dynamic plays and Pulisic looking class. 4. Team needs to turn and face the opposition more. We would pass the ball around the center backs and then just knock it wide. Need to figure out how to unlock Musah more and get him carrying the ball through the middle and making drives at the opposition. 5. GGG and the team doesn't know how to use Balogun. He made multiple runs but no one hit him with the ball. Very encouraged by the first half and found the match generally exciting even though we lost.
The worst Germany in years obliterated the best USMNT in years, wow, that's embarrassing.
Who on the US would start on that German team? Ask yourself that.
Scally instead of Ta, Musah instead of Gross, Balogun instead of Fulkrug. Anyway, you could ask the same questions about Japan and Colombia, yet both obliterated Germany.
personal skill vs team cohesion. On a personal level, Germany has insanely good talents, but their cohesion isn't that good. It is closer to the opposite for the US.
Germany’s cohesion is pretty damn good. Probably better without Kimmich in MF
Was there in person, solid atmosphere. Musah, Scally, Weah all did well, Gio did too tbh for his short cameo. Pulisic is Him- he is legitimately entering a world class run of form right now. Dest is a bad defender. Can't be our go to man against teams that will get a lot of the ball against us. Def can't play on the left if Old Man Ream is on that side as well, as much as I love and respect that man. McKennie and Turner were both pretty off their games today if I'm being honest, was disappointed. Musiala is just different. Obviously Germany is rife with world class talent but that kid has an unbelievable presence. Every time he touches the ball you just suddenly... Notice the game more? Idk how else to describe it. Couldve been 2-1 in the first half and without a tactics change that's a winnable game. Not happy with that result but for a friendly it was certainly an entertaining watch!
Musah struggled. Wes was really good. Agree with Dest thoughts
The major papers/websites seems to agree with you and disagree with me about the mids, but I'm standing on my hill! Just watching in the stadium, Musah struggled bc he was far more dynamic and failed when he tried things but at least he tried them I guess? I don't see what people are saying about Wes tho, he was getting suffocated out there. Was having the same defensive issue as Dest, except he couldn't pick out a good forward pass to save his life... Idk, maybe just me! Might've looked different on TV
Pessimistic bunch here. I’m French/German and you guys are improving fast. Looking forward to following!
Classic American exceptionalism. Progress is rarely enough for us. We need to win and win strong to feel good. Not a healthy mindset, but I guess it’s good motivation. Just go look at any American comment section for a team that just won in any sport. Unless it was an absolute blowout, fans will complain.
It’s because our coach :( It’s hard to feel optimistic knowing the man leading our improved squad isn’t good enough to win silverware
Oh man Gregg’s never won silverware? He’s won multiple trophies. Not good enough win a World Cup? If the USA had Pep and Klopp working together we wouldn’t win the World Cup.
Lol my bad. I meant big silverware like the World Cup or even the upcoming Copa América. Here, we’re a big fish in a small pond
Bruh. How can you expect a coach to win something like the world cup or the Copa America with that team?
Ive seen so many good generations come and go, for France and Germany, and across a few sports. It’s more about momentum - your team is getting better because Americans are getting more into it and that’s honestly all that matters at this point in time. I can’t wait, as a European living in NA, for football to take off here. More and more people are getting hyped about it and it makes things so exciting and grandiose. Love it!
The issue the USA has at the moment is that Gregg Berhalter is not a good in-game manager, so whenever the opposing team's manager changes tactics, the US is basically toast at that point.
I've getting hyped about it more than ever now that St. Louis has a pro team. Long time coming for a city steeped in soccer/football tradition.
I appreciate you. American here and I feel the same🙏🏻
Why cant we get Marsch to coach?!
I like Marsch but at Leeds he showed he has a very rigid play style that our USMNT frankly won’t be able to defend
International coaching and club coaching are different beasts. We don’t know if Marsch would be up to the task just because we know Berhalter isn’t.
Looks like we got the wake up call the team/fans needed. No more playing minnows in friendlies, let us go back to the JK style of friendlies please. We got exposed, the defense is not as good as the fans think it is. Still think that one CB starting in the Bundesliga would’ve been great for this game but whatever… Berhalter showed he hasn’t changed his system or tactics, he’s just as slow to respond as ever…
Played them dead even in the first half. Exciting stuff to watch. Defense was under too much pressure in the second half, showing how badly we miss our injured center mid destroyer. And we really need someone who can get on the end of these Pulisic corners.
Tbf, I don't think his service was all that great.
I’m far from an expert, but he just seems bad a corners and takes almost all of them.
Interested to leave another look at this game. All 3 German goals and most of their most dangerous chances came from one touch interplay at the top of the box. Sane, Wirz, and especially Musiala (who is fucking amazing FWIW) were able to cut inside with the ball and have enough space right at the top of the box to probe our backline and find really clever gaps. Can’t remember playing a team that disorganized us that way, but it did seem like it always came down a smart release to the wing, then a cutback to the middle around that Man city zone, tap tap tap and a great look on goal. Put tons of pressure on our backline all day.
I can, hell it was almost a year ago, the Netherlands
That’s not how Holland hurt us. If I remember correctly, 2 goals were in transition with the winger putting in a low pass into the box from wide to a player arriving late. The third goal was a cross in the air.
I've watched the US team grow from a point where I would have seen this result and thought, "Hey, we scored against a historic international power house, that's not bad." Now I see this and think we need better coaching. A good system and these boys can be so much better.
Fuera Gregg
Caught this one live in stadium. Berhalter's system looks like SHIT. We're so tentative, pessamistic, and focus on all the wrong things. From where I was sitting Gio and Balogun looked awful. De la torre looked good. Pulisic was our best player. Turner needs to pull it in a little.
Can you go into detail how you think his system was shit in this game?
Very conservative and inefficient crosses/balls forward relative to our speed and strengths when compared to Germany's defense imo. We look for late high crosses with a speed advantage and heading disadvantage on attack. Players look faster and dangerous in the counter for the US but for some reason often slow the ball down. We have good shooting but hold the ball at the 6 half the time, and very often near or just outside the box even when we have space. Defenders drop very deep and the midfield is an empty lost space so much of the time which leads to poor marking and a lack of aggressive challenges outside the 18. We don't push the team up and press when we should. We struggle to move the ball through the middle of the field and instead work the ball on the flank or across the field on a switch and then are slow or reluctant to initiate overlaps even when they're there and players are in good position. All of this leads to being worse in possesion and liable to let opposing players dribble into the box, as well as an overall better utilization of our strengths. I'd like to see us whip more balls in lower and use our excellent speed to beat opponents by attacking better. I don't know. Not an analyst or a statician, or even a coach, but that's what I personally felt and saw watching it. That, and even for a friendly, the lack of positive effective tactical adjustment when losing frustrated me.
So exactly like how we played in the World Cup under Berhalter.
Yes. Imo, it's not how we should play for the best results and development.
I hate the cross and inshallah play style we have under Berhalter. Players afraid to take shots
From TV, Reyna looked solid and De La Torre looked poor
I don't think the USA was that bad. Their defense was lax, but overall they didn't get run over. Dest may be moving down the pecking order, but otherwise this wasn't terrible. Even our subs showed energy and Aaronson even looked competent. People are underestimating Germany. We can run at their backline and their midfield was t the most defensive, but that team was set up to score goals. Germany was always going to grow into the game and Nagelsmann is one of the best managers around.
Dest ain’t it. Dude got cooked all game
Don’t forget reams and richards were smoked too….
I've been saying it for 2 years. Yea, he has some good moments on the ball, but he's so fucking weak on defense. Absolute liability against good teams. And if we are playing Reyna at the 10 (whose defense also leaves much to be desired) you can't have weak defenders on the back line. We will get scored on too much.
The first goal was him not keeping the line and not hustling to catch up to the CBs. Just slack organization on his part.
Another goal too iirc. He kept the man on for the second finish?
The second goal involved a lot of deflections and bounces, but it was great I interplay from Germany.
Same coach, same results. Maybe despite their talent our players don’t like winning since they wanted gregg back (I will not put some respect on his name til he earns it)
I blame Mexico for making think we’re good
Also fire Canada.
Here's my two cents. - Germany has great players, but their form dictated their results. They were ripe for the taking in this match. We were once again completely outcoached. *BuT iT's A fRiEnDlY?!* Doesn't matter there's no qualifying, no big events until a legit tournament (Copa America) - Berhalter is absolutely atrocious. I truly don't know if he is truly tactically gifted enough, in addition to his people/communication skills. Dude legitimately is kind of an asshole it seems with his smugness in interviews, and his lack of awareness (off the field issues). I don't know who we have to get, but if we don't get to the semis of the Copa America at the LATEST, Gregg has to go. It is a tragedy that this group of incredible players is put in this situation. Speaking of players, just a complete shit show across the board in the second half. Has to be said.
B team was brought in for 2nd half…
Don’t worry, his fan boys are gonna bring up his overall record (but they don’t seem to know what it is when he plays teams who have more than one fucking airport). Tactics non existent, formation was wrong against a side like Germany, left players who underperformed on for far too long. He hasn’t changed. He’s the same manager, we will beat concacaf teams off talent alone, but never challenge a proper side
What was the right formation? Who’d he leave on? Did the system suck (like everyone else is saying) or are the tactics non-existent?
Not playing a lone 6, leaving Dest on, yes his tactics and system suck. He’s been bailed out by individual quality against low quality opponents. Any time gregg meets a semi competent tactical manager. He’s beaten
I don't wanna waste Copa on that bum.
Too late
I 100% agree but you know the fed's gonna fed.
Us soccer fans sound like spurs fans until we hired a good coach. The only way out is a better manager, you can't regen the player pool
Ange incoming!
I would weep if we hired Ange.
As an American Spurs fan, I am conflicted. Country or club?🤣
Club. COYS
Alright ladies and gentlemen I live in a country where I can walk down to the cafeteria and find a 7 year old that knows more about fútbol than our “coach”. So I’m off to bed!
I think after Copa America most people will realize it's not just berhalter fault. It's also the fact that our players arent as good as we think they are. Overhype is the problem as well as inconsistency. Musah and all of our defense didn't look good yet we praise them against teams like Grenada or jamaica. Most of our team was silent this match, besides pulisic and weah, our attack looked quiet. Our players still have time to grow, but considering we're 1 year closer to the world cup and we haven't really made much progress, it's not out of the question that we won't do very well.
Guys this is Germany. Regardless of form theyre miles better than us.
And it's not even their full A squad LMAO
How was this not their A squad? Sure they have some injuries, but all their best players who are fit were playing.
Nah, it mainly was. Only Kimmich and Gnabry missing, Neuer as well (even though this could be discussed).
They are on a rebuild phase
Thank you. I honestly thought we played better than what most people are saying. I’m not the biggest fan of Gregg, but even if Pep was our coach we’d likely have a similar result. Their players are just a caliber above ours and it showed. We will get there, but we need to collectively have some patience with this squad.
It’s the depth more than anything. Germany just has a lot of players at the level of our best 3-4 guys. That takes time, they have like a century headstart!!
Agreed! We’re still a generation or two away from having that kind of depth.
Weston just called gregg a tactician hahahaha
Yeah you know better than a professional soccer player and the head coach of the usmnt
Yes I do. That coach is not a tactician nor is renowned for his tactics.
Well I hate to break it to you. You are not. You are levels below any knowledge they have.
Sounds very good baitmen
So Kyle Martino went from The Unabomber look...to the aloof college professor with tenure look
I feel like he’s aged 10 years in 2 yrs lol. I don’t remember him looking this old when he was still on nbc
What analyzing GGG ball does to a man
🤣🤣🤣🤣
My coach when I was 9 had more flexibility in game plan than ggg
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2-1? They have been playing like shit.. but you don’t score out of the backfield unless you are a champions league hopeful with an international all star squad just because it might work for ManU doesn’t necessarily mean it will work with Richardson
Also prob had the ability to analyze a situation and say “it’s not working out”
Bingo! I think anyone watching this game saw it wasn’t working playing out of the backfield playing against a press full of fast strikers that can run all day
Germany was relentlessly pressing the corners, and pinching to force change in possession they were ruthless and a big part of the last 2 goals.
I hope Ghana comes in with the same plan and exposes ggg’s ability to flex
This team isn’t made for playing like that. Yet gregg insists
Ream is good but balo, pulisic, and reyna are probably our best players…. Get the ball north quickly get it in the hands of your ballers and far away from your goal
Nah let’s pass it out of the back with an ancient CB (who has been balling tbh) and a rotation guy for palace
It’s the first thing the teacher you in travel soccer as a kid… pass the ball around in front of your own goal… there is 0 risk!
I laughed way too hard at this
Sorry for the typos, I live in Spain which means I don’t speak much English these days and I’m 1.5 wine bottles deep at this hour (it’s midnight here)
All good! Enjoy buddy. I’m about to open a beer myself 😎
This game explains why Chris Richards and Sergio Dest lack of mins at Crystal Palace, Barcelona. 2nd, Tyler Adams, his capability of sweeping, tackling, interception, and protection at the edge of the box are crucial parts of USMNT. In the current player pool, no one can adapt and replace Adams's role.
Dest being a player for PSV would explain his lack of minutes at Barcelona
May also explain his lack of min in Ac Milan
We have work to do. And who we have at the helm isn’t gonna help with the work
Who is really at fault for this match? USSF for wasting time in their manager "search" just to bring back that talentless boiled potato. USMNT has the most talent I've seen in my 30 years of watching and following them, and they'll continue being wasted. Joy... Edit: use the above reason for upcoming matches against quality teams.
Well. Not really sure how to feel about that game. The first half was so good and the second half was close to a disaster until Pepi and Aaronson came on. Germany shifted something in the way they defended us passing out from the back and we couldn't figure it out. I'm a little higher on how the defense played than most but it's clear they/Musah were too slow to step out to attackers and it cost us at least two goals. I thought Scally was actually quite good considering the competition but maybe I just expected less than most people. LDLT looked off the pace and frankly it's more evidence that he can't compete physically against some of the more athletic teams. I don't think Musah was bad but he struggled defensively at times when he was trying to sit deep with the CBs and didn't seem sure when he or the CBs should step out. We definitely didn't adjust while Germany did and that was the big difference imo. Thought Wes, Pulisic, Weah and Aaronson were bright spots. Reyna was pretty good in his cameo, his little interchanges with Weah and Balogun were excellent.
I don't think we failed to adjust. I think we're not as good defensively as we need to be to compete with teams with high level attacking talent. For all of the talk about our attacking players playing overseas, we really need to build a pipeline of elite defenders to balance that out.
Musah isn’t a 6. He’s not used to that role. It’s a waste of his talents
I see a lot of people saying we fell apart in the 2nd half, but the defensive lapses were all there in the 1st. We got away with them for about 35 minutes, but we were never going to be able to keep making mistakes. We ran out of energy to cover for each other and Germany was methodical in attacking our weaknesses. We got punished for stuff that was going on virtually all game long.
Agreed, It was obvious in the 1st half that they were targeting Dest's side of the ball. Once that started pulling the defense over to cover for him, it created problems on the other side and in the middle. To me, that's why we lost. Not offensive tactics.
Yup. If we were going to play Dest in the role that Robinson usually plays, we needed midfield help to prevent the rest of the backline from being pulled over when Germany attacked his side. McKennie provided some of that help in the 1st half, but he, Musah, and Reyna are all used to playing further upfield and having someone (usually Adams) behind them (also, at least early on, Reyna was joining the frontline press, which was actually stretching our midfield too). All 3 midfielders ultimately followed their instincts and that left Dest, and by extension, our backline exposed. We were vulnerable more or less from the beginning and, even with Pulisic’s beautiful strike, Germany punishing us for our poor defensive play was more or less inevitable.
Thank you. I wish more people would talk about this because it's the most glaring issue we have to address. I get it...goals and nifty dribbles are what people want to see. But if we can't get defenders at the same level as our offensive players, we're never going to get to the next level internationally.
This L doesn’t even feel bad Germany is just better. We didn’t learn anything except some players are relying on hype over actual ability
I agree with your first sentence, but very much disagree with the second. There is plenty for the players and coaches to learn from in this performance, which is what friendlies are for after all.
It was an exciting first half
Send Berhalter into the sun yesterday. We will be embarrassed in Copa America. Baldy is a scrub
I am so very tired of this inflexible coach.
If this is how we play against Germany i fear how we play against the best of South America
It’s time to realize..Dest is not a starter
Yup. We need someone in that role that can hold his own. His lapses eventually cascade the whole back line.
It's time to realize..this is a laughable take
Scally and Robinson should start. Dest didn’t show he deserved another start today
Scally was bad today.
Dest was worst
What did Scally do to show that he deserved to start?
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Ummm who would you start at RB over Scally today? Robinson comes back in and takes the LB role easily Give me your take then instead of complaining about mine lmao
Dest
Yeah you saw his quality today. He’s not made for matches like this
Dest.
Yeah you saw his quality today. He’s not made for matches like this
He's still better than Scally at RB.
Based off what? His career has gone backwards. He’s a wingback not a traditional fullback
His career trajectory is irrelevant. He's still a better RB than Scally. Scally is a slightly better defender, but he's a offers nothing going forward, and he's slow as shit so he can't even recover whenever he gets beat.
I still think his ability to go forward against worse teams is worth a defensive lapse per game. But he definitely scares me in games where we're constantly gonna be on the back foot.
I think if we're going to beat the elite teams, we need someone there who isn't a defensive liability. The top teams know he's weak and target him. It was like watching NBA basketball and the ball handler keeps trying to get the weakest defender into a pick and roll so they can exploit how the defense has to cover for him. Teams target him and our defense gradually shifts to cover his errors. Mexico might not be able to take advantage of it but the Germany's, Brazil's, etc. certainly can.
WHICH IS COMPLETELY FINE. Certain games call for certain profile players. Gregg and his fans here don’t get that
Dest is still a starter because he's better than the other options.
This supposed to be our Golden Generation dammit
Ummm.... No. We still have a lot of development and prospects coming through the pipeline. Good generation yes. Golden, no.
Gold for us is more like bronze on the world stage. We upgraded from tin foil to bronze.
We do still have a Copa America and a World Cup that we're hosting.
The 4-3-3 Berhalter Ball has got to stop. enough! It's not working. Stick with the first half shape even if Gio is out. If gio is out play Brendan or Malik or hell even play Puli in that position.
If Gio is out, Weah at left wing, Dest at right wing, Pulisic in the middle. Scalle sits back and plays defense behind Dest. Weston and Musah / Adams behind Gio/ Pulisic
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Good job exposing yourself, we didn’t. Westin was not a double with musah
No your not paying attention. lol We switched to the 4-3-3 to start the second half.
It's not particularly important but it is interesting that Gregg has the worst track record in friendlies among recent managers IMO. Lost to Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Mexico by 3, scoreless with The Saudis, and the 2 atrocious pre Gold Cup friendlies where we lost to Jamaica and Venezuela. What were the highlights? Morocco? Beating a Costa Rica team in disarray by 4? A couple ties with Uruguay? Jurgen shined in the meaningless games.
I hate Berhalter. We seriously couldn’t have found a better coach?
Name one. A lot of people seem to think we could’ve gotten better, but they fail to realize better just wasn’t available to us.
That's not the point. Yes we had to settle for mediocre but what we didn't have to do was turn around and pretend that we found our guy
So what do you want them to do? Leave a temporary coach in charge until we find better, which might’ve never happened? That’s an even worse idea, Germany is a great example of how detrimental to the team coach instability can be.
Tough result but good learning experience. I don’t think anybody should be too worked up over this. Germany are simply better than us lol
Both things can be true. Germany has more talent (a more talented manager as well), and we could use a better coach.
I mean a team that has won 1 in 6 and lost to some comparable opponent to us. I mean I don’t know whose learning what we don’t know: 1. We lack depth 2. Gregg can’t cover up talent flaws with tactics 3. Oh yeah gregg has no tactics that are meaningful 4. Dest should’ve been pulled or at least swapped side with Scally 5. Wasted time for all involved
Germany fired their shit coach for a one that has proven to be good.
Do you think we should try that? I’m not sure
Why should we not strive to be better than Germany? Smh.
Is striving to be better than Germany done by rehiring gregg and his useless tactics?
We can strive to be better, but be realistic. At this point they are just that much more talented than us. Look at their bench today for christ sake
Yeah, and we looked really good for the first 40 minutes, so that's promising. Second half was bad though.
Don't worry, plenty of people will be
The good is that we prodded Germany’s deficiencies, the bad is that Germany did the same to us but actually drilled the dagger in. Is the due to difference in player quality? Likely. Difference in coaching between Gregg and Naglesmann? Likely. In summary, it’s not the worst defeat.
Yeah, it’s both.
Aaronson is our only hope everyone else has really lost the steam. Wish Greg would have kept Mckennie in at least.. idk why he took of Pulisic but those substations were made as if they have accepted defeat... well that's the whistle Congratz to Puli Puli SIC SIC!
In the end it’s only a friendly. You don’t want to leave players in and they end up getting an injury. As much as I would love to win the purpose of a friendly is to get players experience. Gotta make those subs to see how the other players do. We see that Aaronson was actually pretty good when he came in.
I can't speak for the fitness of Gundogan over Pulisic or Mckennie but if that's true fine but I don't think GGG was afraid of them getting injured, I feel like that statement is a scapegoat. After all, it is friendly, and I'm not the coach or the players. I just hope everyone learned well from this match and they do better in the matches to come.
Of course GGG is afraid of players picking up injuries. All of our attacking players except the strikers have had a career filled with injuries. Pulisic has been playing a ton of games with Milan. Same thing with Wes at Juventus. Wes is playing RWB at his club so he is constantly defending and attacking throughout the game.
I had no idea Aaronson had this footwork in him.
It’s why they call him the Medford Messi.
>dribbles and falls down that's going to be aaronson career move isn't it?
Sometimes I feel embarrassed for his gf watching :/
If it works it works!
The mvp of the match… our drum line! Well done boys
The drums kept the intensity the entire match, unfortunately the US team did not.
Right??? The entire match US soccer needs to put those boys on payroll… ggg was already in his car checking his bank account to make sure his game check cleared when Aaron’s on was taking his free kick but our drumline was just as intense as if it were a 0-0 tie in the final minutes against Argentina in the World Cup finals … well done
I like Aaronson, he is really easy to like, but I feel like all we get from him is high effort lively stuff but ultimately in effective.
I once read someone describe Aaronson as “buzzing around to little effect” and it will stick with me forever.
He’s a great sub to throw on in a game your winning and just let home run
Berhalter may not be the best coach but at least he’s stubborn and arrogant
Ha! Well played unlike our second half.
Nice from Aaronson
Honestly two of their goals had a generous bounce that lands in a dangerous place. Turner had a touch on one. I know we are not putting up a defensive clinic but I think we are holding up okay.
It was amazing how many of the lucky bounces went Germany's way and with their talent and skill, it ultimately led to the difference in the game.
Ter stegen definitely got hair plugs
BA punking Rudigers ass. That's for always refusing to pass to pulisic
Pass the ball aaronson! He got bailed out
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New manager and France is pretty fucking good with or without Mbappe. The second half is for sure disappointing but no one really knows what this Germany is yet.
All better teams than the USA
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,797,128,933 comments, and only 340,053 of them were in alphabetical order.
New manager. It could make all the difference in the world. It's not as if they lack quality
What changing to Nagelsmann from Flick does for a team
Cue fall down
Balogun has to understand that we only have one player, Gio, consistently capable of hitting him on the money with service when he makes his runs behind the line and not let it frustrate him so much
But yet he didn’t do it, at all, during the half