Auston Trusty has fit right into the plans with English Football League Championship side Birmingham City and after being a regular in John Eustace’s backline, the Arsenal loanee celebrated his first two goals in style on Saturday.
Trusty scored twice in the Blues 3-0 victory over Bristol City, helping Birmingham City earn its first win since Sept. 14. The former Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union defender excelled on both sides of the field at St. Mary’s Stadium, continuing an impressive loan spell in England’s second-tier.
Trusty needed only three minutes to propel Birmingham City in front, heading Tahith Chong’s cross into the bottom-right corner. It was a fast start for the Blues, which only continued as the match moved forward.
The 24-year-old doubled his tally and Birmingham City’s lead in the 43rd minute, this time delivering a left-footed finish off a set-piece.
Birmingham City’s perfect day concluded in the 75th minute as fellow defender Dion Sanderson iced the three-goal victory, finishing Chong’s second assist of the match into the bottom-left corner.
Trusty finished the match with three duels won, three recoveries, one foul drawn, and he also hit the crossbar once. It was his 13th league appearance of the season, one that helped Birmingham City move to 14th in the Championship table.
Although he is only three months into life in England, Trusty is supported by Eustace to continue improving in the Championship and should receive an increased look with the U.S. men’s national team.
“He’s a special talent and he is going to be a top player going forward,” said Eustace postmatch. “He’s getting better. He’s a young player who has come from the MLS into a very tough league in the Championship and he’s got good players around him.
“He should be on that plane definitely [to Qatar],” added Eustace. “It’s definitely not too late. I’ve spoken to the U.S. manager [Gregg Berhalter] and I have told him how well he is doing. It’s important they see that and understand he’s playing in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, week-in, week-out, against top players. I think they’ve watched a couple of games on video but I’ve told them to get the scouts out and watch him play. He (Berhalter) should come and watch him himself.”
The Blues will next travel to Hull City on Oct. 16.
On defense especially it is a team effort and players must know their teammates’ strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and special talents well. The US has suffered defensively at least partly because the back line has constantly changed so that the cohesion needed to neutralize talented opponents, or even merely competent ones, is simply not there. For example, Robinson and Dest still do not recognize when the other is forward so that they can adjust and be in a position to defend instead of both being in the attacking third which leaves space and time for a long counter to be successful.
The midfield who are, or should be, those immediately available to receive a forward pass from a back under pressure also needs to have that same knowledge of his teammates. Missing Adams and Musah for many games has not helped that situation.
Trusty may be more talented than the other choices, but his teammates have no knowledge regarding the subtle things they must know and recognize immediately, similarly he about them. In a pinch he could be a backup, but he should not be a starter. That is not a knock on him, just a reality. You might argue that since none of the defenders have played with each other on a consistent basis it does not matter, however, some experience together is better than none.
So very proud of the kid. Glad to know that he has the confidence of the manager and even the managers backing for him to be on the plane to Qatar. I hope GB is taking notice, probably not, but I live in hope.
“He should be on that plane definitely [to Qatar],” added Eustace. “It’s definitely not too late. I’ve spoken to the U.S. manager [Gregg Berhalter] and I have told him how well he is doing. It’s important they see that and understand he’s playing in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, week-in, week-out, against top players. I think they’ve watched a couple of games on video but I’ve told them to get the scouts out and watch him play. He (Berhalter) should come and watch him himself.”
Gregg: I don’t have time to waste watching players, besides I have Walker Zimmerman and Aron Long. I don’t have a need for a player who is athletic, can defend and distribute from the back.
If players cant stay healthy or in the lineup with their club, what is a manager supposed to do. Listen, I don’t rate Long and dont think he’ll play much as long(no pun)as CCV and Richards are healthy and playing. I’d rather see Ream tbh and hope Richards minutes picks up, and wouldnt mind seeing Trusty sneak in
“If players cant stay healthy or in the lineup with their club, what is a manager supposed to do.”
Aww, poor baby Greggy.
How about the manager just do his job?
Which he is paid lots of money to do.
Injury anticipation has ALWAYS been a requirement of the job. A competent manager prepares for it as best he can by being flexible and creative, two things Gregg is not necessarily great at. Calling in a marginally in form, recently recovering Long to replace an injured Miles for example is more about wishful thinking. I get it, Aaron was originally replaced by Miles because Miles played like Aaron.
Only Miles was better than Aaron ever was and even if “old” Aaron was great, “new” Aaron isn’t Aaron anymore.
So if you are going to cry and whine that Gregg has been caught with his panties down, it’s his own damn fault for pissing away all these “Aaron recovery games”. He could have been blooding some new guy or defensive scheme. Gregg likes to keep throwing good money after bad.
Chris Richards has not looked solid for some time now. He’s been injury prone of and on and has had problematical club uncertainty since before Elvis left the building.
Chris’ uncertain availability is nothing new.
National team managers anticipate it and set up alternative scenarios with other players or other tactics. Long sucked before his injury and is even less now.
Canada, a team with less depth than the USMNT, managed to finish above the USMNT even though their very best player by a mile, Davies missed half the games of the frickin Octagon through injury. That’s seven games.
I didn’t see them crying and whining and bitching about what’s a manager to do , poor baby. They just figured out how to get by without him.
Overall, there aren’t any real “current” standouts amongst the remaining center half candidates for the USMNT in Qatar, So it comes down to how they are used. That’s what they’re paying Gregg to do, make the most out of a bunch of journeymen. That’s a requirement for a good international manager, the ability to make chicken soup out of chicken shit.
This is Gregg’s chance to show us just how good he really is.
Hey with Chris Richards still not seeing the field. Austin may just sneak in there. Naturally left footed with a good passing range, athletic and very good speed. Won’t be surprised to see many EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A teams start to take notice of him. Arsenal are probably excited that he is doing so well. That transfer fee is raising.
If Trusty is still hot in a few weeks and the center half picture looks as bleak as does today, they could do a lot worse than calling Trusty in.
It’s a tournament and a young, confident, hair on fire, nothing to lose kid like Trusty may well punch well over his weight class for a few games.
The only way this team does anything is if it comes in playing confident with that kind of attitude.
I don’t know much about Trusty but if he can liven up what looks like a pretty feckless bunch of automatons then go for it.
Call him up . . . as a striker!
Gotta love the confidence the coach has in him
First time I can remember a club coach calling the UISMNT coach to promote an American to play in the WC. Maybe it goes on all the time, but I don’t remember ever reading something like this.
That isn’t what he said. Gregg called him and he said these things.