ASN: Evaluation: A deep take a look at Berhalter’s 25-player USMNT November roster

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta seems to be on the 25-player USMNT roster for November and breaks it down together with his ideas and evaluation together with many quotes from head coach Gregg Berhalter. 

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Brian Sciaretta

Posted
November 04, 2021
4:00 AM

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UNITED STATES NATIONAL workforce supervisor Gregg Berhalter unveiled his 25 participant roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Mexico in Cincinnati and in opposition to Jamaica in Kingston. The roster comprises usually few surprises as all however 4 gamers (Sam Vines, Reggie Cannon, Jesus Ferreira, and Joe Scally) have been on the roster for at one of many first two qualifying rounds.

When it comes to accidents, there are three absences. Sergino Dest has a minor again damage. Gio Reyna continues to overlook time for a hamstring damage and Gyasi Zardes can be unavailable attributable to a knee damage.

Here’s a take a look at the roster adopted by ideas.

Detailed Roster by Place
 (Membership/Nation; Caps/Objectives)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (New York Metropolis FC; 9/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester Metropolis/ENG; 24/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 12/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 22/1), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 8/0), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim/GER; 4/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 17/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 14/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 0/0), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp/BEL; 8/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 69/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 20/2)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 42/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 20/1), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 7/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 33/8), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 27/7), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 9/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 29/0)

FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Crimson Bull Salzburg/AUT; 13/5), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 41/8), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 2/2), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; 4/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 40/16), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 16/1)

Pulisic’s return

Christian Pulisic has not performed a lot soccer this season. After one outing in August with Chelsea, he examined optimistic for COVID. Then after two video games within the September worldwide window, he suffered an ankle damage. It was solely earlier on this week when he made his return in a aggressive sport.

Berhalter mentioned he’s uncertain of how a lot of a task Pulisic will play in these upcoming video games.

“We’re going to see what type of minutes he gets this weekend,” Berhalter mentioned of Pulisic. “He just started training with the team at the beginning of the week. It was unexpected that he was going to play against Malmo. He ended up playing a little bit. For us, it is about progressing him in a safe way. We know he’s valuable to the team. We want him on the field. But we’re also not willing to risk anything. It’s about how he feels and depending on that, it will dictate what type of role he plays in these two games.”

“It’s a luxury to be able to bring a guy like Chirstian into camp, even though he’s not 90-minutes fit.”

Scally and Ferreira

The 2 newcomers to the workforce for this window are Jesus Ferreira and Joe Scally. That is the primary World Cup qualifying call-up for Reggie Cannon and Sam Vines however each have been massive elements of the Gold Cup workforce this summer time.

For Ferreira, he has performed with the U.S. nationwide workforce earlier than however solely in January camp friendlies. His dip in kind in 2020 noticed him fall out of favor however a robust 2021 season has clearly boosted his inventory.

Ferreira is there to backup Pepi and Berhalter has mentioned he because the intelligence to regulate to quite a few roles. This kind of fills the position left by Matthew Hoppe – who hasn’t been enjoying in Spain – and with key gamers like Reyna, who’s injured, or Pulisic, the place it’s unclear how a lot he’ll have the ability to play.

“When you look at Jesus’ body of work with the national team, he’s been playing a No. 9,” Berhalter mentioned. “We think his performances – albeit against lesser opponents – we really liked what he did at the No. 9 position. We know he’s a guy who can link play, we know he’s a guy who can arrive in the penalty box, we know he’s a guy who leads the line defensively to build pressure, and he’s been in outstanding form in Dallas. We know he’s been playing more of an attacking midfield role but Jesus has the type of intelligence, game intelligence, that makes him able to adapt to a position very easily.”

Scally is a welcome addition, and it correctly rewards a participant who’s breaking by means of proper now and enjoying nicely on a constant foundation. Even with Sergino Dest out, it’s arduous to see him beginning in opposition to Mexico.

“It’s also his form,” Berhalter mentioned of Scally. “If you look at what’s changed from month to month, he’s played in another five Bundesliga games and a Cup game where they beat Bayern Munich 5-0. He had an assist the other day. This is what we’re looking at. How’s the player performing? When we see him going against Leroy Sane or Alphonso Davies, he’s being tested and he’s standing up to these tests. For us, it was about gathering enough information. He’s a young player that we want to see performing consistently at a high level and he’s done that.”

Brooks & Central protection

The choice to depart John Brooks off the workforce was a shock. The Wolfsburg defender had struggled the previous month within the Bundesliga, however had a robust midweek sport within the Champions League in opposition to Sevilla. Berhalter mentioned the choice to depart off Brooks was based mostly on kind and that he anticipates that Brooks will probably be again with the workforce.

The nice factor for Brooks (which Berhalter acknowledged) is that he took possession of his current hunch and is set to do what he has to do to get again onto the workforce. He didn’t make excuses or name out the coach.

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) November 4, 2021

Brooks is a puzzling participant. He’s remarkably gifted however has been susceptible to stretches the place his kind dips. He might or many not be in such a dip anymore, however clearly the workers desires to see extra from him earlier than they name him in. There’s additionally the query whether or not or not it’s productive to name him in except he’s going to begin?

“Regarding John Brooks, it was a really difficult decision,” Berhalter mentioned. “A lot of it was based on how we thought his performances were with the team the last time he’s been performing. I saw some of John’s comments [to Doug McIntyre at Fox] and that is all you can ask for in a player’s response. Normally what players do is they start picking off other players and saying this guy is doing this. All John did was take accountability for his own performance. We saw him play midweek in the Champions League against Salzburg and we thought he had a good game. He’s working his way back into form. I don’t assume this is going to be his last time in the national team. I am sure he will back. It’s just about regaining your form and performing at a high level when you get the opportunity.”

As for central protection, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, and Walker Zimmerman appear to be the most definitely trio to see minutes within the upcoming two video games. Whereas Zimmerman performed nicely in October, Robinson has been a mainstay for the reason that Gold Cup and Richards has been a daily with Hoffenheim – whereas additionally enjoying nicely in opposition to Costa Rica.

“Chris Richards has been playing well for Hoffenheim. They gave him off last weekend but he’ll be back in the lineup this weekend. He’s played a lot of minutes and has been doing a great job. We liked his performance for the most part against Costa Rica. We thought he did a great job.”

“Miles Robinson has been regular pressure for us in just about the entire Gold Cup and all of World Cup qualifying up to now. We really feel like he is an actual stable possibility.”

“Walker [Zimmerman] had a incredible sport in opposition to Jamaica. We all know he can both begin the sport or cowl. We’re glad with that.

“Regarding Mark [McKenzie], Mark has had World Cup qualifying experience playing in a couple of these games. For him, he has that athleticism, he has the ability to cover the backline,  he’s a very good 1v1 defender. We feel that if we’re going to be pressing high, he’s a good player to give us cover in this camp.”

Busio rising

Gregg Berhalter singled out Gianluca Busio when discussing his roster with the media and he indicated that Busio is certainly pushing for a beginning spot within the USMNT lineup.

Contemplating that Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie appear to be sturdy bets to begin in opposition to Mexico, the way in which Busio sneaks right into a 4-3-3 formation is with him changing Yunus Musah. Whereas Musah began three video games final window, Busio has been enjoying extra minutes with Venezia and Musah has struggled at Valencia together with his protection.

“Gianluca will definitely be pushing for a starting position. He’s been in great form with Venezia. He’s ended up being a key player. When you talk about a young player’s transition to Europe, especially the level he went to, he’s handled this better than just about about anyone I’ve seen. It’s been absolutely amazing to see his transition into Serie A. He’s done a great job and he’s in good form right now.”

It may be arduous for Berhalter to disregard defensive shortcomings for the Mexico sport. Whereas that hasn’t been an indicator of Busio’s sport, he’s improved considerably on the defensive facet with Venezia the previous two months.

Ahead depth

It has been a tricky time on the membership stage for lots of the U.S. workforce’s forwards. Josh Sargent hasn’t performed nicely for Norwich. Jordan Pefok has been chilly the previous 5 weeks. Gyasi Zardes had been coping with accidents.

Ricardo Pepi broke out in November and has three targets up to now in qualifying. Nonetheless, on the age of 18, there will probably be quite a lot of alternatives and stress on him to carry out in these upcoming two days.

“It’s a short window. We see Ricardo playing a large  portion of these two games,” Berhalter mentioned.

However who’s behind him? Tim Weah has performed the No. 9 for Lille and appears to be a backup in that place even when he begins on the wing. Jesus Ferreira has additionally performed the No. 9.

“Jesus will be fine playing the No. 9,” Berhalter said. “The other thing to consider is that Tim Weah in the Champions League has played up top for his team. He has played that off and on all season for Lille. He’s comfortable there. Christian can play there if needed. We feel that in this two-game window, we have enough options at the No. 9.”

It’s a powerful determination to depart Daryl Dike off, nonetheless, because the Orlando Metropolis ahead has been in kind. Actually, since he first began enjoying first workforce minutes in July, 2020, Dike has scored 26 profession targets for each Orlando and Barnsley. He additionally has three for the U.S. workforce.

However the feedback Berhalter made appeared to counsel there might be skepticism based mostly on his model. The truth that Dike couldn’t make this roster regardless of being in kind, no roster measurement limits, the benefit at which he might arrive in camp since he’s domestically based mostly, and the truth that so many different forwards are struggling doesn’t bode nicely.

I believe it is extra of what we’re trying to do in these two video games and the way we’re trying to play with a few of the vital attributes of the No. 9 place and the profile we’re on the lookout for. We see need to be stretching the opponent, we nonetheless need to get behind the backline, we nonetheless need to be aggressive urgent the opponent. We’re trying on the profile of those guys and saying who actually helps with that? Who’s going to present us the very best likelihood for fulfillment in these areas? We would like dynamic motion within the penalty field. All these issues are vital.

“Daryl is getting back to his form,” Berhalter added. “I think he will have a role to play on the national team in the future. It’s just not exactly what we need it to be right now. Jordan [Pefok], similarly, is a strong, physical forward – more of a stationary forward. We’re looking for guys who can run a little bit more.”

Beginning fullbacks

The Sergino Dest damage is clearly an enormous setback and the choice to depart him off the roster wasn’t made till Thursday morning. Nonetheless, Berhalter was ready to usher in 5 fullbacks – all from Europe – in Antonee Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Reggie Cannon, Sam Vines, and Joe Scally.

Scally would possibly get minutes on this window however to see his first cap come as a begin in opposition to Mexico in a World Cup qualifier is a tricky ask. Reggie Cannon additionally simply returned from damage and nonetheless hasn’t performed a lot this season.

It appears very seemingly that DeAndre Yedlin on the correct and Antonee Robinson on the left will probably be getting the beginning for the Mexico sport. Whether or not that interprets into the Jamaica sport will largely be depending on the workforce’s performances.

Vines returns to the workforce, and it’s deserved after he began many of the minutes on the Gold Cup and has adjusted nicely into Royal Antwerp regardless of his damage.

General ideas

The large determination for Berhalter is John Brooks. Brooks is a Champions League defender who had a tricky September and most of October. May a Robinson-Richards mixture get the job carried out? Certain and each these gamers have carried out nicely, nevertheless it’s all the time a controversial determination to make a key participant (or no less than a highly-regarded participant at an enormous membership) unavailable for vital video games.

To a lesser extent, the choice to depart Daryl Dike off will elevate eyebrows. Dike, like Jordan Pefok, is an efficient striker that has a mode that received’t profit each workforce. However the lack of different choices might make it problematic if Pepi can’t play, for some motive.

Among the different cuts are a bit comprehensible. Matthew Hoppe hasn’t performed at Mallorca. Konrad de la Fuente has cooled off in current weeks and is behind Pulisic on the left facet.

Sebastian Lletget and Paul Arriola each struggled in opposition to Panama (together with everybody in that sport) however Arriola is there for his urgent – which Berhalter values – and he did nicely in opposition to Jamaica within the final window. With out the necessity to rotate squads, Lletget will most likely function a backup.

Whatever the choices across the fringes of the roster, there may be quite a lot of firepower on the roster – particularly if Christian Pulisic can begin. If that’s true, you’ve gotten a robust beginning lineup.

My prediction is that both Steffen or Turner will begin in opposition to Mexico (I’ll guess this leans Steffen). Antonee Robinson and DeAndre Yedlin are the fullbacks. Robinson and Richards are the central defenders. The midfield is Adams, McKennie and Busio (Musah’s protection being the query mark), the wingers are Pulisic and Aaronson. Pepi is up prime. Off the bench, Weah, Musah, Ferreira, and Lletget (who was glorious in opposition to Honduras) are good choices.

Is that the perfect beginning XI? In all probability not. Dest and Reyna could be there, and an in-form Brooks is a robust contender. However it’s greater than sufficient to get the job carried out and with two video games as an alternative of three, if the U.S. workforce can keep away from suspensions (Tyler Adams, DeAndre Yedlin, and Weston McKennie are carrying yellow playing cards) and keep wholesome, then will probably be capable of hold a prime XI collectively.