Berhalter will NOT play Reyna. No one knows why, but it's written in stone somewhere.
USMNT | World Cup Discussion Thread
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The game was fecking crying for someone with Reyna's skillset.
No way he can physcially finish out the half with a busted rib. Watch the replay. Took the goalie's left knee in the sack.
something has happened and it just hope it's not personal stemming from the Wynalda situation having ties with Claudio
i thought when i first saw the collision that he got his nuggets rattled....TV guys are saying he was taken to the hospital for abdominal issues
Congrats, folks! Holland will be a stern proposition in R16 test but you will have your runs and your chances.
Had to take the dog for a long walk after that. Some thoughts:
1. If Pulisic can’t go then it needs to be Reyna, but since he apparent slept with Berhalter’s daughter, mother, and wife it will be Aaronson.
2.Adams is phenomenal and seems to be approaching world class status with every game. On top of that he is captain in name and actions.
3. Sargent had the best CF game for a US player since Pepsi’s debut, so of course he gets injured. My guess is that Wright starts. Berhalter’s choice to bring only 3 forwards is looking idiotic.
4. Can we please stop with Shaq Moore and try out Scally?
5. CCV was good, not great, but that was a gutsy and great decision by Berhalter.
6. Acosta was fine. He did Acosta things.
7. The next growth point for Berhalter and this team is to learn how to not shit the bed when leading in the second half. That game was crying out for Reyna to come in and help settle things down, but since he was too busy father Berhalter’s sister/daughter/granddaughter we got nothing.
8. Yunus Musah……happy birthday you beautiful bastard.
1. If Pulisic can’t go then it needs to be Reyna, but since he apparent slept with Berhalter’s daughter, mother, and wife it will be Aaronson.
2.Adams is phenomenal and seems to be approaching world class status with every game. On top of that he is captain in name and actions.
3. Sargent had the best CF game for a US player since Pepsi’s debut, so of course he gets injured. My guess is that Wright starts. Berhalter’s choice to bring only 3 forwards is looking idiotic.
4. Can we please stop with Shaq Moore and try out Scally?
5. CCV was good, not great, but that was a gutsy and great decision by Berhalter.
6. Acosta was fine. He did Acosta things.
7. The next growth point for Berhalter and this team is to learn how to not shit the bed when leading in the second half. That game was crying out for Reyna to come in and help settle things down, but since he was too busy father Berhalter’s sister/daughter/granddaughter we got nothing.
8. Yunus Musah……happy birthday you beautiful bastard.
Why the feck do we have to start a striker when all of them are poor anyways? Play with a floating front 3, it's not that difficult to figure out. Especially given we'll be countering the majority of the time against NED. Wright offers worse than nothing, he's a detriment to the team.
Good points, especially about Shaq Moore. No control & I really worried about that flank in the end. Offers nothing going forward, miles behind Dest in comparison.
Musah was immense this game. Really growing into his potential.
Adams is Captain America. The Boss and the linchpin. Covers so much ground and very aware.
The thing that probably keeps Reyna out of the starting lineup (besides injury) is his lack of defense. It was obvious how Aaronson lacked in comparison to Pulisic in that area, and I think Reyna offers even less of a defensive presence. Might be better to use Reyna as a false 9.
He been generally impressed with our group, because our team actually seems to be playing something resembling real football.
We need an upgrade in coaching. We need an upgrade in attack as well obviously, but some of the personnel decisions were ejust actively unexplainable to me.
we won, so it won’t be as big of an issue, but Musa looked like he could barely stand up the last 20 minutes of the game. He was really struggling, and I ran, noticed it and was trying to target him. Then not playing Reyna, bringing on Zimmerman of all people ,… it’s just baffling
We need to cultivate more finishers. Not much we can do about that, but switching to a plan of inviting pressure while still asking our guys to press, in addition to personnel …. This team played too well overall to cut it that close, and that’s on Berkhalter.
I would be fuming right now if it hadn’t worked out, and it’s not something I want to see going forward after this World Cup.
If Carter-Vickers plays the first game V Wales there would be no drama today.
We need an upgrade in coaching. We need an upgrade in attack as well obviously, but some of the personnel decisions were ejust actively unexplainable to me.
we won, so it won’t be as big of an issue, but Musa looked like he could barely stand up the last 20 minutes of the game. He was really struggling, and I ran, noticed it and was trying to target him. Then not playing Reyna, bringing on Zimmerman of all people ,… it’s just baffling
We need to cultivate more finishers. Not much we can do about that, but switching to a plan of inviting pressure while still asking our guys to press, in addition to personnel …. This team played too well overall to cut it that close, and that’s on Berkhalter.
I would be fuming right now if it hadn’t worked out, and it’s not something I want to see going forward after this World Cup.
If Carter-Vickers plays the first game V Wales there would be no drama today.
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My thing is … and since I don’t like Berkhalter it doesn’t shock me… it looked like we WERE playing a floating front and leaving the central areas open for people to run into. Which only makes playing Sargent more baffling to me. Weah at least knows how to play from wide a little, seeing Sargent out there was baffling … especially with Reyna off…
You guys obviously know a lot more about all this than I do. But from the little I've seen of Wright, then I agree with the suggestion of going with more mobile, technical false 9's against Holland rather than a clumsy, old fashioned #9 like Wright.
If Sergeant is fit, then obviously go with him. If not, then I'd definitely prefer USA to go with the Ferreira / Reyna option than Wright. Especially if Pulisic is also missing as then there'd be a lack of creativity and composure that having Reyna on the pitch would help replace.
If Sergeant is fit, then obviously go with him. If not, then I'd definitely prefer USA to go with the Ferreira / Reyna option than Wright. Especially if Pulisic is also missing as then there'd be a lack of creativity and composure that having Reyna on the pitch would help replace.
I though Sargent was fantastic in his hold up play, but it did look like he was not tasked at all to make runs of his own. He was being used as a focus to spring the wings or McKennie from the midfield.
You do know that Berhalter was Claudio’s best man at his wedding and viceversa? Went to high school together and best friends?
Claudio is also Sebastian Berhalter’s godfather.
There’s nothing personal here. Reyna will play but his health has been fragile. Gregg is playing it safely. Quote me
For those already writing off the USA against Holland, we have not given up a goal from open play, yet this tournament and we have a keeper that is excellent in penalties. With USA being +175 dogs to advance, I may sprinkle a bit on that.
What an young team. The team that impressed me most. That midfield trio is brilliant !
They can beat NL for sure and set up a meeting with Argentina or Denmark/Australia in QF.
Does US has any good forwards in the ranks ? They will struggle against deep defences which is exactly how LVG is going to set them up.
2026 looks bright suddenly. Good planning !
They can beat NL for sure and set up a meeting with Argentina or Denmark/Australia in QF.
Does US has any good forwards in the ranks ? They will struggle against deep defences which is exactly how LVG is going to set them up.
2026 looks bright suddenly. Good planning !
yeah wright cant play. he’s way off the pace and low energy.
I am dreading seeing Wright start on Saturday, he is fecking awful. Should not be near the first eleven. Same goes for Shaq Moore.
I don’t think Wright is awful, just the wrong fit for the style we are playing. Pepi was the only other guy in the pool who can holdup/press like Sargent and he got left in Holland for…errr…. reasons.
USA Holland will be a dreadful game. Both teams have been boring as feck so far. The Dutch bore the other team to death, and the US - while they haven’t conceded much - barely score. Game could go either way. I don’t rate the Dutch much right now, but think they’ll have too much for Team USA.
The US have terrible forwards. So bizarre they didn’t take Pepi. If Pulisic is missing, they’ll be fecked. Their midfield is good though. Even if they completely ran out legs today by the 75th minute. Hopefully that game gets an early goal to spring it to life
The US have terrible forwards. So bizarre they didn’t take Pepi. If Pulisic is missing, they’ll be fecked. Their midfield is good though. Even if they completely ran out legs today by the 75th minute. Hopefully that game gets an early goal to spring it to life
Guessing this guarantees Berhalter will be getting a new contract.
Sergeant is good at hold up play, pressing and defending so he does offer something. And frankly he could have scored against both Wales and Iran; he had chances. The US will need that against the Dutch. He just doesn't offer anything as a goal threat. He has 9 goals in 19 apps for Norwich, which is isn't half bad, but I have no idea how they play. Wright hasn't even shown he belongs on the bench, let alone seeing any actual minutes.
no i didn't know that which would really put a massive strain on their friendship UNLESS they've had multiple conversations leading into and during the WC
All I’m trying to say is that the American media is trying to create a controversy where there is none.
Just watch Eric Wynalda’s retraction after he accused GB and Gio of “faking” an injury.
I guess this means the US has “made it” in terms of the “world stage” for football now that the American media has gone full Daily Mail on the US team
Which is my point really, if you’re going to ask him to play basically as an attacking midfielder, then why not play an attacking midfielder? He actually did play really well in phases, but you could tell Iran did their homework and had a strategy in the first half. They pressed the ball with usually one player until the ball got to Sargent, Weah, or Robinson, then they committed multiple people to rushing them, probably counting on them not being able to handle it.
I don’t hate Sargent or anything. And if he can do a better job, maybe try him instead oh Weah? Of course it may be moot if Pulisic is injured.
It just boggles me that we would have a player assigned to receive the ball at the outside corners of the box to try and open up space for runs from midfield or out wide … and you would give that job to someone other than Reyna.
Sargent has been very good for Norwich this season and is a regular starter playing for a respected manager in Dean Smith, half the people in this thread act like he was just picked off the street. I have confidence that either he, Pepi, or someone else will come good by 2026.
Agreed. He is one of the only American players scoring consistently for their club team so I am thrilled to see someone like him in the squad.
Aaronson has been better than Pulisic this season in the PL so that's not even true.
I think with the Dutch playing 352, we don't have a CF that is going to put pressure on VvD in terms of an aerial threat SOO why not put a mobile forward(s) as the front 3 and really test them athletically with quickness, movement and constant running behind the back 3/5? Only thing that keeps me from hoping that will happen is GB's unwillingness to move away from that traditional CF like a Sargent or Wright
Neither of those two guys will run away from anyone and Wright in particular was shit today. I think Jesus might actually give you a bit more against the dutch than either of those two guys
Neither of those two guys will run away from anyone and Wright in particular was shit today. I think Jesus might actually give you a bit more against the dutch than either of those two guys
Next World Cup this team will be in its prime with some of the younger talent coming through ready to step in attack and defense. It would be a shame to waste that on Berkhalter.
He coaches like this is one of the sides he played on. I think he actually gets frustrated when players like Dest show some tactical imagination. I think here are real, legit coaches watching this young team that would LOVE to have a chance to coach them.
I think they felt burned by Klinsmann, but if they had asked around people could have told them he wasnt very good .
But in a way today was a disaster for American football (soccer). I had my radios going during the game to two prominent sports talk channels to see whether it was getting through… and the scoreline and the negative way we approached the game after the first goal only reinforced the stereotypes anti-soccer audiences have here. They were actively mocking it and talking about WR signings the Ravens could get through the whole thing.
People think it’s just a case of Futbol being the 4th or 5th most popular sport in the US, but that’s not it. There is a large part of the population that actively dislikes it, thinks it is only a “sport for girls”, and wants it to stay held down.
We need a progressive, exciting product in games like these. Long term we may need that more than the actual result. We have athletes here that would easily rival Mbappe physically, but they are driving garbage trucks, working as accountants, or whatever else because they didn’t make it in football or basketball (baseball is it’s own weird niche).
If we could win over even one out of every 50 kids to put the same work in for the beautiful game from youth level it would be fantastic.
you've obviously not watched the US in any of the matches....they outplayed England and should have won, they outplayed Iran today and should have had more than 1 goal and they should have been up 2-0 going into half against Wales. Yes, the US struggles to score goals but ffs so have a lot of teams this WC but the US most definitely isn't boring or hasn't been boring to watch. Dutch on the other hand is another matter entirely which kills me in how they have just fuked over Dutch football with Van Gaal
I love this kid, would love for United to go for him, but maybe I'm just being awestruck on how well our midfield has been this tourney.
I was surprised to see Aaronson not tracking back as he does it literally every game for Leeds, he might be one of the best pressing forwards in the PL (see his goal against Chelsea). I strongly suspect Berhalter asked him to stay high up the field as an outlet.
the US's midfield 3 this WC has been as good as any midfield i've seen thus far....Spain right now is the only midfield trio that i've seen which is head and shoulders above every one else
Has Claudio criticised Berhalter or something?
So happy for the team and American football fans!
My son's school pretty much shutdown and they all packed in the gym to watch on a couple TVs. Very cool.
Is there any concrete info on why Reyna is not playing? Some of our subs were sadly brainless.
My son's school pretty much shutdown and they all packed in the gym to watch on a couple TVs. Very cool.
Is there any concrete info on why Reyna is not playing? Some of our subs were sadly brainless.
I don't think Sargent was playing like an AM though, and Reyna's strength is not holdup play. Sargent was being targeted primarily by balls to the chest/feet while holding off the CB behind him. Playing Reyna like this wastes his talents. I do think a fully fit Reyna could slot in really well at the tip of a midfield 3, but only if the balls into his feet with space to turn. It all comes down to the tactics GB wants to deploy, but I am getting concerned that there are non footballing reasons for what is going on.
I am hoping that Yunus is on the phone every night talking to his buddy Florian about joining up with this team. Imagine him as part of this front 3. Come on Florian, be like Musah!
Oranje is not that Amazing, Yankee have a chance to cause major upset.
I've been waiting this whole time for Reyna to shock everyone at the biggest stage in the world cup but kids not even playing