ASN: Ideas, evaluation, & scores: USMNT listless in dos a cero loss to Mexico

The USMNT had an evening to neglect in a 2-0 loss to El Tri in Guadalajara which needs to be a reminder that Mauricio Pochettino has a number of work to do and there’s no fast repair for the group. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 16, 2024
8:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES MEN’s NATIONAL group was on the improper aspect of 2-0 scoreline to Mexico in Guadalajara on Tuesday. The sport was a pleasant and the consequence was of no consequence. However the efficiency was disappointingly lackluster on condition that the brand new rent of Mauricio Pochettino ought to have created extra urgency among the many group.

There are some mitigating elements, in fact. The U.S. was lacking a number of key gamers and Pochettino has solely been with the group for slightly greater than per week. However the group was timid and unenthusiastic. Pochettino has not made issues so overly advanced that this group needs to be unable to compete till he has had this group for a number of home windows. In truth, the brand new Argentine supervisor saved 9 gamers within the beginning XI, solely changing Christian Pulisic who returned to Italy and Mark McKenzie, who was schedule to begin however had to get replaced in warm-up. That is additionally a gaggle of gamers the place an enormous majority of the group has been collectively for a very long time.

The USMNT began decently in the course of the first quarter-hour, and the sport was even to that time. Nevertheless it unraveled after that. As soon as Raul Jiminez opened the scoring within the twenty second minute with an exquisite free kick, the U.S. group’s offense was utterly misplaced. The “front six” attacking gamers have been unable to do something. The variety of accomplished passes within the first half amongst these six gamers have been telling.

Malik Tillman: 3
Josh Sargent: 4
Brenden Aaronson: 9
Aidan Morris: 6
Gianluca Busio: 8
Yunus Musah: 5

In the meantime, Andres Guardado at age 38 was given a ceremonial begin for El Tri and had 11 accomplished passes earlier than being subbed out within the nineteenth minute.

The photographs have been additionally lopsided within the first half with Mexico outshooting the USMNT 13-0 (3-0 on the right track).

As soon as Cesar Huerta gave Mexico a 2-0 lead within the forty ninth minute on a calamity within the again the place Ream tried to dribble out of his personal field and misplaced the ball, Mexico merely sat again and absorbed the whole lot with ease. The U.S. then had extra of the ball, however was unable to do something with it. The closest the U.S. group got here to scoring was a pleasant by means of move from Aaronson which discovered substitute Brandon Vazquez for a shot which pressured the one save of the night time for Mexican keeper Luis Malagon.

Mexico completed with a 17-5 edge in photographs (5-1 in photographs on the right track).

Listed below are some ideas.

Able to extra

Even with the depleted roster, the U.S. group was able to a significantly better efficiency. Aside from Aidan Morris, each participant within the beginning lineup has performed in a win over Mexico that got here in an official competitors (World Cup qualifier, Nations League, or Gold Cup). The U.S. group is able to competing nicely with Mexico when Pulisic is lacking, or when McKennie is lacking.

Gamers comparable to Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna are harm so usually that the group must readjust its mindset that they’re usually a part of the group. That may be revisited as soon as they’re again to enjoying recurrently for a big period of time. They don’t seem to be examples of typical gamers who simply occur to be injured.

The USA is just not all the time going to win in opposition to Mexico, however even once they lose, they must be extra aggressive than what we noticed on Tuesday night time. The group was stale and it is going to be as much as Pochettino to actively repair that. His presence alone received’t repair it. He must discover a means by means of lineup  choices, having penalties for poor performances, and different wats of connecting.

Pocettino is true to say it is a lengthy course of that’s in its first steps. However this recreation was a reminder that a number of work must be carried out and it’s certainly an extended journey.

“For us it’s a process that we started a few days ago and today was a great opportunity for our players to visit a very difficult place to play,” he stated. “I think only we can improve from and learn from this experience.”

Particular takeaways

There weren’t many optimistic takeaways for the USMNT, however there is likely to be some helpful studying classes that spotlight the challenges forward.

Aaronson was a uncommon shiny spot: Brenden Aaronson wasn’t nice, however his “okay” efficiency made him one of the best USMNT participant on the day. He received duels, he created uncommon moments of hazard (comparable to establishing Vazquez), and he challenged Mexico. He’s a participant Pochettino will definitely wish to hold round. He received’t all the time begin, however this period of the USMNT wants a participant who will all the time carry the depth that we noticed in earlier eras of the group.

Musah, Morris and Busio: The trio had good moments in opposition to Panama, however have been utterly neutralized in opposition to Mexico. Particularly Morris, who can get on the ball 90-100 instances a recreation at Middlesbrough however was restricted to 42 touches in 83 minutes in opposition to Mexico (most of them got here after Mexico had a 2-0 lead and began sitting again). Nevertheless it was additionally the propensity to turnovers along with the dearth of touches which harm. The USMNT wants much more from this space of the sector to compete in opposition to good nationwide groups. With out this group performing, the hyperlink between protection and assault is misplaced.  

Pochettino remained upbeat after the sport.

“We have good talent and good quality,” Pochettino stated of the midfielders. “Today was difficult. The [condition of] the grass and the pitch didn’t help players like them. We need to adapt to the pitch, of course. But I am so happy with these young players with massive potential.”

Central protection questions proceed: Tim Ream had a nasty day. Miles Robinson wasn’t nice, though was delt a tricky hand given he was solely thrown into the XI minutes earlier than kickoff. Chris Richards would make this group when wholesome, though he has been susceptible to the identical kind of errors whereas additionally with the USMNT. We all know Tim Ream’s age points, however this space of the sector isn’t seen practically sufficient gamers making stable instances to begin. Berhalter and now Pochettino have to begin someone. However this continues to be the toughest space to repair and there appears to be little consensus who the highest pairing is. It’s additionally extraordinarily consequential. The U.S. group isn’t going to be a menace for a World Cup run with no good central protection pairing and a transparent pecking order.

Wanting forward

The U.S. group will now put together for Nations League quarterfinal video games in November in opposition to Jamaica. The USMNT will likely be favored however Jamaica has sufficient to be tough and enjoying in Kingston isn’t simple.

On this first camp, Pochettino elected to maintain many of the roster from September. The one gamers from September not concerned have been gamers who have been injured. Now Pochettino may have extra date to go by in making his choices. He’s been in cost for 2 friendlies, he’s had particular person 1v1 conferences with gamers.

My guess is that there is likely to be some minor adjustments to the roster, however most of Pochettino’s stamp on the group will are available in 2025.

Participant Rankings

The Beginning Lineup

Matt Turner: Wasn’t at fault for the objectives, however his distribution didn’t assist. Score: 5.0

Antonee Robinson: Performed solely the primary half at left again and was first rate though not a part of something harmful nor liable for Mexico’s finest probabilities. Score: 5.5

Tim Ream: Robust day for Ream who was primarily liable for the second Mexican objective when he tried to dribble out of his personal field versus clearance: Score: 4.0

Miles Robinson: Robust project when he moved into the beginning XI after warmup, however Robinson wasn’t sharp and made errors that led to harmful Mexican probabilities: Score: 4.0

Joe Scally: The Monchengladbach proper again took a beating as he was fouled 4 instances. Total, he wasn’t good or unhealthy on the day. Score: 5.0

Aidan Morris: After a promising begin to his USMNT profession, this was a step again for Morris who wasn’t in a position to contribute a lot with possession or in protection. He must be on the ball extra. Score: 4.0

Gianluca Busio: Just like Morris, Busio didn’t assist in possession and misplaced the ball simply. He was okay within the first quarter-hour however then disappeared. Score: 4.0

Yunus Musah: Musah didn’t contribute a lot of something offensively in his 45 minutes on the sector. He additionally misplaced each twin and accomplished solely 5 passes. He began at proper wing however then moved again to midfield. Score: 4.0

Brenden Aaronson: The most effective American participant on the day, which isn’t saying a lot. He nonetheless turned the ball over from time to time however was aggressive and shiny uncommon depth to the group. Score: 6.0

Malik Tillman: Very powerful outing for Tillman with solely three accomplished passes in 24 touches throughout his 63 minutes. He wasn’t in a position to get something going in any respect. Score: 4.0

Josh Sargent: Nothing a lot to report once more for Sargent who was utterly starved for service: Score: 4.0

Substitutes

Alex Zendejas: The Membership America attacking midfielder/winger got here into the sport to begin the second half. He had one good second the place he discovered Lund for an opportunity however in any other case wasn’t a part of something harmful. Score: 4.5

Kristoffer Lund: The left again from Palermo was first rate however missed one of many U.S. group’s good probabilities. Score: 5.0

Tanner Tessmann: A quiet 27-minute shift off the bench for the current Olympic group captain: Score: 5.0

Haji Wright: The Coventry winger/ahead was ineffective after coming into the sport within the 63rd minute. Score: 4.0

Brandon Vazquez: The Monterrey ahead noticed a superb likelihood saved and on the stability was barely extra harmful than Josh Sargent. Score: 5.0

Auston Trusty: A late 7 minute-appearance for Trusty on this recreation. Score: NR