For the second time in three editions of the CONCACAF Nations League, the U.S. men’s national team will face Mexico for all the marbles.
Gregg Berhalter’s squad faces off with El Tri in Sunday’s final, aiming for a much better performance compared to Thursday’s semifinal win over Jamaica. A second-half own goal from Reggae Boyz forward Cory Burke paired with a brace from substitute forward Haji Wright led the Americans to a 3-1 win.
However, for most of the match the USMNT looked disorganized, sluggish, and frustrated against Jamaica’s low block of defense. Several lineup changes may occur if the USMNT wants to get after the Mexican backline on a more consistent basis.
Here is the starting lineup we could see the USMNT deploy against Mexico on Sunday, as well as the lineup we would deploy if we were making the final lineup decisions:
GOALKEEPER
Who will start: Matt Turner
Who should start: Matt Turner
Matt Turner didn’t have much to do against Jamaica on Thursday and I don’t see Berhalter making any changes involving his No. 1 goalkeeper.
DEFENDERS
Who will start: Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Antonee Robinson
Who should start: Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson
Sergino Dest wasn’t available for the semifinal showdown vs. Jamaica but is back available for Sunday’s final.
Dest’s services will certainly be needed at right back, after a lackluster showing from Joe Scally on Thursday. The Barcelona loanee has enjoyed a stellar loan spell with PSV and will aim to carry his strong two-way abilities into Sunday’s final.
Miles Robinson and Chris Richards both had some testy moments at times against Jamaica but likely will remain together in the starting lineup. Tim Ream’s veteran presence could be a positive inclusion into the squad over either Robinson or Richards, but Berhalter likes consistency in his squad.
Antonee Robinson remains the No. 1 left back choice for Berhalter and might have a busy night against Mexico’s dynamic wingers. Robinson had a rough spell during the opening few minutes against Jamaica, but overall delivered a solid shift.
MIDFIELDERS
Who will start: Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Tyler Adams
Who should start: Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna
The McKennie-Musah-Adams trio could be on display from the opening whistle vs. Mexico.
Tyler Adams made his USMNT return off the bench against Jamaica, but did not finish the match due to fitness issues. Adams now could get the starting nod alongside McKennie and Musah, in order to dictate the style of play against El Tri.
However, due to Adams’ fitness, it might be better to have him available off the bench.
Gio Reyna’s impactful performance off the bench against Jamaica should warrant him a start in midfield. Reyna delivered a major spark in the final third vs. the Reggae Boyz, registering two assists on the winning and insurance goals from Haji Wright.
Malik Tillman was ineffective against Jamaica and might be dropped in order to make room for either Adams or Reyna in the XI.
FORWARDS
Who will start: Tim Weah, Haji Wright, Christian Pulisic
Who should start: Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic
Berhalter will also have plenty of decisions to make involving his front three.
Christian Pulisic worked tirelessly against Jamaica and will remain a threat off the left wing. Pulisic’s ability to drop into midfield for possession could lead to offensive chances throughout the match for the USMNT.
Thursday marked a quiet performance from Folarin Balogun, but in order to deal with Mexico’s backline, I expect Balogun to remain on the field. A partnership with Haji Wright in the final third could provide problems for El Tri, especially if the duo interchanges.
Wright, who was the USMNT hero on Thursday, should get the nod in the starting lineup over Tim Weah. Weah’s vertical running might be crucial off the bench, but for now, Berhalter should ride the hot hand in the tournament final.
Once again, Reyna, Tillman, and Aaronson are options out wide too, but expect them to stay in midfield.
What do you think of our projected lineups? Which would you start? Who are you most excited to see play? Are there any doubts you have?
Share your thoughts below.
we just saw Gio’s best shift ever in the uniform imo
not necessarily incredible in attack, even with the superb goal
but defensively, he wasn’t just good, he was a force and a key difference maker, many times
come on Nuno…play him man!!
Tyler with a rocket!
Anyways I want Reyna more influential in attack. Move him more forward GGG.
You were close with this lineup Larry.
Thanks! I was shocked I was!
US u19’s beat England u19’s today with up and coming exciting Borussia Dortmund wing prospect Cole Campbell netting a brace. Looks like we may have another Pulisic on our hands.
Sad that the stadium is still 80 percent Mexico fans. Maybe in 20 years it will be closer to 50-50 in pro Mexico areas.
Just got to keep winning.
20 % my A$$!
Tonight’s starting lineup should be…
Wright Pepi Pulisic
Reyna
McKennie Cardoso
Antonee – Richards – Robinson – Dest
Horvath
I gave serious thought to starting Wright at striker and going with Pulisic and Weah on the wings.
Same for starting McKennie at the #10 spot and Musah slotting in at one of the two DM spots.
Horvath over Turner is a no brainer to me…clearly Berhalter and I don’t see it the same.
no brainer? in the fall he was his understudy both teams. when did he pass him up? when he gave up the away leg free kick goal near-post to ES that almost ended the 22/23 version of this tournament in group? when he got loaned out? as with several other players i could care less where he plays and we just saw an object lesson in how little perceived club form matters.
i do think horvath should be competing for a roster slot because on a good day he can be a heck of a shot stopper, i wouldn’t even mind if he had to sub in tonight, he got mexico done last time. which is why i used to be a fan. but he has a lot of brain fart days.
Dumb question on your part…current form and playing time at club level. Recognize.
’22 vs El Salvador was many moons ago. Recognize.
Brain fart days? Do I need to provide a recap of Turner’s brain fart days in this current club season? Recognize.
…for additional context, do I need to remind you of Turner’s last performance in a USMNT jersey vs TnT?
Recognize.
papi: this is fanboy stuff. “i want my NT starters to be starting for _______.” the best player last game who won it for us can barely get off the bench for forest or dortmund.
it’s odd to be throwing around silly “recognizes” when (a) the general pattern of them being on the same team is turner is put ahead of horvath regardless of team or coach involved, (b) when turner has played 21 games this year, not zero, and (c) when one guy is EPL and the other c’ship.
it’s like the people who hate on richards. kid can play. he only signs at big deal first division teams reflecting that premise/promise. i think this coach takes issues with his low PT but you’re confusing career situation with talent.
now to be real i think we have guys in bigtime first divisions who should be someplace easier but that’s underlining do your own talent eval.
i do think turner should have roster competition but not for the NL final. semi? fine. group copa? fine. the one time when i think we should absolutely run out our best is these regional tournament finals. but that should reflect what we just saw the other day ie a bunch of the nominal starters shouldn’t have their jobs because they can’t beat TnT, jamaica, germany, etc.
“The best player last game who won it for us”…do you mean Haji Wright?
Turner over Horvath at Nottingham Forest…after Turner’s brain farts, do you think Turner over Horvath would still be the case now?
Don’t answer that last question…you’ll continue to show your incompetence…it’s a rhetorical question.
Let’s see how things shake out for Turner after the conclusion of this season for him at NFFC. I’m not so sure he will be starting anywhere in England next season…EPL or Championship.
I’m just thankful that the US finally _almost_ has enough depth to make choosing players and minutes a good problem — but then someone gets hurt again and they’re back to doing something they had hardly practiced, or at least playing like they had hardly practiced together, reverting to instinct and individual skill.
The question still may be whether enough of them trust Berhalter to really commit emotionally to his plan, or whether they still worry at some level that his plan isn’t going to help them enough and they’re just going to have to solve all the problems themselves on the field, as seemed to happen vs. Jamaica. At least if that was the case, maybe Jamaica was worth something just for the practice.
Is anyone else watching Panama vs. Jamaica (on UniMás)? Demarai Gray is evidently back. I was almost ready to switch and root for Jamaica on Thursday, so I kind of hope they have a good game.
On the other hand, the stadium is still almost empty and silent, which was the other huge problem for the US on Thursday, making it really hard for them to get up any steam. It is going to be so embarrassing for Copa America, not to mention the World Cup, if they keep putting soccer games in those horrible NFL stadiums, especially this one that always has such bad grass.
I have to wonder whether, on yet _another_ night before a normal workday, with bluebonnets in the fields and thunderstorms in the forecast, even fans who do attend other games might take a pass on this one and do their taxes or their laundry. Let’s hope that won’t be the case for the US later tonight.
Tejana,
I anticipate that there will be a binding FIFA contract which clearly spells out the minimum standard for the grass pitches at the 2026 World Cup, including the grass pitches that are laid over artificial turf fields.
Oh, and the USMNT game vs Mexico will be packed tonight!…make no mistake about it.
…for additional context, do I need to remind you of Turner’s last performance in a USMNT jersey vs TnT?
Recognize.
Tejana: it’s one ticket for both games so the Mexican fans will be arriving later. Copa and World Cup matches will be full with casuals and more fans from teams. If this was the World Cup you’d see a lot more Jamaican and Panamanian ex-pats at least.
U19s beat England 3-2. Campbell scored twice, Zambrano once and Cruz Medina assisted on one of the goals. Noel Buck started for England and England’s first goal was a pk. That’s all I’ve been able to piece together. England finished third in their qualifying round group and will miss Euro U19 2024 and will be unable to qualify for 2025 U20 WC. US will attempt to qualify in July and August.
Noel Buck scored a own goal against Morocco u19 glad he decided to play for Englang he is overrated and will be exposed soon and be called up by neither England nor USA.
I’m not going to write off anyone at age 18, and being with England YT probably elevates his opportunities for a move this summer if he wants one. Also, he played better under Arena and Caleb Porter’s days seemed numbered so maybe the next manager will like him more.
I think the idea that if a guy isn’t starting for club he won’t be 90 minutes fit. These guys are professional athletes, their fitness is closely monitored even down to most of their meals. It’s not the 80s and 90s with footballers going to the pub or the club every night drinking and snorting away. Today, guys that don’t play have to workout as soon as the match ends. Most of them weigh about as much as a middle schooler because of their fitness routine. If they’ve missed time for injuries like Adams sure they might not be 90 mins fit but guys like Weah, Aaronson or Pepi will be fine.
Yeah. If they are moderately motivated and professional, they should be ready for 90. That said- there is a level of intensity that comes in competition that is really difficult to duplicate with training. Levels to everything- there is being able to do it and then there is being able to excel through it- knowing exactly how much you have in the tank, confidence to push, being accustomed to the pain and able to maintain sharpness and intensity through the pain/fatigue. You don’t gain aerobic capacity in a few games- but it does oftentimes take a few runouts to regain that edge/confidence. But- the stakes of a final match does help.
as long as a dude has 2-3 weeks minimum of training and some games, they are good for 30-45′ at least. you know that flies by like nothing. the danger is more if they are in some exposed defensive position and asked to go an hour or full game. reyna was up as an AM which is some counter risk if you are unfit or rusty, but not exactly playing wingback where if your lungs fail the guy is in on goal.
i also think we need to pay more attention to basic talent and skill sets. like that some guys are simply better and offer unusual qualities and no matter how much people want to pretend x is a skilled star while y is a bulldozer. the team clearly needed more “x” and was too much crude “y.”
it’s very strange because people talk up risky defensive choices because guy can supposedly get forward or pass nice. then we’re starting AM or sometimes even wings who are fairly crude and i think out there to press and disrupt as much as do any offense. pick a lane.
and if the idea of our selection is team defense the whole team needs to be picked that way plus the formation. 433 isn’t exactly catenaccio. scally, dest, etc. i wouldn’t care if we went more pure offense but then a lot of our mids should be reconsidered.
i think this is ok for literally injured athletes eg adams. a kid who got zeroed out for months should not be assumed to be healthy to go long on 19′ of first team ball. and even if he thinks or you wish he was already back, that’s never a certainty and only a dingbat risks it this fast at risk he goes right back down with a reinjury or new problem. the only time the calculus is worth it is a world cup finals.
on healthy players i tend to think this is a silly counter-productive argument. if a guy literally shows up unfit or obviously rusty, pull the ripcord. otherwise talent and performance are what they are and we just saw for the jillionth time that for players without confidence issues playing time doesn’t matter. there is a more interesting argument if a guy is mediocre and yet on the team and yet benched someplace. but then that is about performance in general. a kid like reyna who generally shows up and does the thing, this is a waste of time and only results in a watered down lineup.
we need to drop the box score watching and club coach deference and evaluate our own talent. richards and reyna are top notch even if they are in bad spots at high level league clubs.
more “scouting” how people look with our eyeballs; less “analytics” torturing math. i don’t know how many times eg tillman that someone who is supposedly on new form looks exactly the same as before, which is meh relative to what is at our disposal.
Pretty much dine with any starting lineup. We now have difference makers galore on the bench no matter who you start. Mexico will not be a possession side they will try to hit on the counter. Greg will hopefully understand this and make the adjustments.
We have a lot of guys who aren’t 90min match fit at the moment. Gio, Adams, Weah, Musah, Pepi, Ream, Aaronson…. None are getting consistent minutes for various reasons. GB has to factor that in to the lineup.
Musah has gone 80 minutes or more 3 times in the last month.
For the Wilfred Nancy fans here’s how Wilfred would line them up.
—————
————Balogun———-
——Pulisic—-Reyna—
Jedi—Wes—-Musah—Dest
—McK—Ream—-Richards
————Turner————
Weah could play in the Reyna or Dest spots. Wilfred’s CM have to play both ways and cover tons of ground, probably too much for Gio. Mihailovic put up huge numbers for Nancy in Montreal at that spot so I think it would work for him. The problem of course playing 3 in the back is you add McKenzie and have to take off Weah or Dest. To play for Nancy the CBs and WBs have to distribute.
Not really a lineup suggestion, but, it is interesting to compare the energy level of Aaronson and Reyna,
Both have very quick and perform well in tight spaces.
Aaronson can be described as a fly that just won’t quit coming after you, even after you’ve knocked him to the ground. Reyna is more skillful, but seems almost nonchalant without the ball.
If the US is seeing very little of the ball, I think Aaronson can be very useful, OTOH when the US has a lot of the ball, Reyna’s skill set can penetrate even a packed defense. I think that playing them together could pay dividends no matter. I just wish Aaronson was bigger/stronger.
Brenden is what he is. He works and runs as hard as he possibly can and he still is what he is. Which is the little engine that can , sometimes.
Reyna looks lazy to you but that’s an illusion colored by the perception that he is a spoiled brat. He probably is but he’s also a ton more dangerous and productive than Brenden ever will be.
Brenden has been killing himself for over a year to get to where he is not a millstone around a team’s neck. SBI loves him because he’s a great story but the earnest hardworking kid does not always win out over the perceived spoiled brat. There are limits to hard work and Brenden appears to have reached his. He should shift over to Tyler’s spot where his boundless energy and application could be very productive once Tyler’s body betrays him.
I’ve read all your comments Vac
EVERYONE knows his talent. he is a beautiful player in attack
I like Gio…I just know why he doesn’t play more, and am not afraid to look it square in the jaw, and smack it. others who cal people names and fall back on tired stuff like ‘spoiled brat’ are chicken to call out the truth
Unless you are Lionel Messi, you must defend–Jurgen Clop
Gio is learning this the hard flipping way Mr. Vac…whether you or anyone else here can see that fact or not
best shit I saw from Gio vs. Jamaica was, more than once, he literally put his head down and made a 25-30 yard defensive recovery run. I’ve seen him put in entire shifts and not do it even once!! More than once!! and ALL that watch him over these years have seen the same…unless you don;t want to maybe?
He’s maturing…good for him. His O is all that we all see…not just you. we all see it. it’s the rest that some of us see…and some of you either don;t see it, don’t want to see it, can’t see it…you would know, tell me
beachbum,
“Unless you are Lionel Messi, you must defend–Jurgen Clop Gio is learning this the hard flipping way Mr. Vac…whether you or anyone else here can see that fact or not”
It doesn’t matter what I see.
What matters is what BVB sees.
Why do you and others forget that they have had him since he was 17 years old? Klopp used to work there. Don’t you think they know what he said?
Are you telling me that if Gio had more commitment to defense he would suddenly play a lot more?
That’s a pat answer and I don’t think it is that simple.
They pay him to be a sniper not a security guard.
BVB sees him more than any of us. If they agree with you then why haven’t they “fixed” him?
If they can’t because he’s an entitled little prick or is dumber than Brenden, then why don’t they let him go? Maybe they should bring Marsch and Armas in to teach him?
All of this about Gio was apparent well before Qatar.
If commitment to defense was such a big fucking deal to BVB then they would have emphasized it to him when he first broke through and impressed the hell out of everyone before he could drive, don’t you think?
He became the youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances. I’m guessing his lack of defensive nous would have been obvious in FIFTY games. Don’t you think? So tell me , why haven’t BVB addressed it?
Then the injuries hit and he missed most of the 2021- 22 season. And that’s when it SBI angst really started.
One thing I never hear from the Gio dis-likers is that he has had 4 coaching changes (I’m counting Terzic as 2) in his brief club career.
He came in with Brett Favre. Favre gets canned and Terzic was interim, then Marco Rose stepped in for 2021. Then Rose got canned and Terzic came back in 2022. One of those guys should have got around to teaching Gio how to track back don’t you think?
The club was in more turmoil than usual and more competition like Bellingham for example, were around. So maybe Gio’s defensive lessons were lost in the shuffle.
I know you & IV are besties but I would have been okay if Gregg had sent Gio “home” from Qatar or even left him out in the first place. Gregg had plenty of valid, ready made excuses and could have used them. Gio was in uneven form. I think he could have used to time to watch tapes of Brenden, Roldan and Ariolla and learned how to track back.
After Qatar, Gio came back to Dortmund and fashioned a remarkable run as potent super sub and again Terzic didn’t seem to find the time to get him instruction on how to track back. Maybe with Gio scoring all those goals Edin forgot.
To me here’s the Gio thing in a nutshell:
1. This is all pretty routine, par for the course, normal. If Gio hits his ceiling he, not Malik, not Luna, not Paxton Aa. or Brenden Aa. will be the USMNT’s version of David Silva or Kevin DeBruyne (does he track back?) in 2026. When you factor in the injuries and recovery time, I see Gio being pretty much on schedule. With him, I believe his career target date has always been 2026.
2. Gio is younger than Brenden and Malik and older by about 8-10 months than Luna and Paxton. I think he has more potential than any of them so why wouldn’t I wait on him? Eventually someone will teach him how to track back. Guys Gio’s age do stupid things and maturity takes some time. I notice DeBruyne was about 23-24 when he had his breakout season and got bought by Pep. If he does grow out of his diva shitbaggery, the torch and pitch fork crowd can all take a victory lap, drown a witch and then move on to the next big thing.
3. If Gio remains a diva shitbag so be it. I don’t have to play with him and I expect he’ll grow out of it. If not, as long as Gio keeps doing what he did vs. Jamaica, his teammates and the Gio dis-likers will excuse his behavior. For his teammates it’s all about money and a guy like Gio can make you a lot of money.
Back in the day USMNT fans expected Jose Franciso Torres to be a great #10 because he had great ball control. Never mind that his best position was as a #6. We’ve had guys try to play Gio’s role like Hugo Perez , Tab, Claudio, JOB even Benny, Mix and Sacha.
Mix had the best hair but Gio is better than all of them. JOB might have been as good but injury cut him short and Claudio, quozzel, was not as big and strong.
Claudio also was not as aggressive and deadly a passer as Gio. Landon was an entirely different player and they should not be compared.
It’s early yet but there appears to be some sort of cleanout likely at BVB if they don’t make the Champions League.
If they don’t sell him right away, he may have his fifth manager and be part of a “NEW” BVB. Or he might get sold.
Or maybe Landon convinces him to play for the Galaxy.
Maybe they can teach him to track back.
Beach, you don’t know anything about why Gio doesn’t play more for his club team because you don’t have any inside information. It is a myth that he doesn’t track back and defend for the US. He always has as far back as their first Nations League win over Mexico. The people who keep saying Gio shouldn’t be called in because of his lack of playing time at his club keep looking foolish everytime he gets called in and ends up being the best player on the field. You are one of those people. You argued with me last year about his inclusion in Nations League roster; he was the best player on the field against Canada and was again the best player on the field against Jamaica this time. His track record for defending in a US shirt is very good, he is a very good defender, a very smart defender, knows how to double team and press effectively, knows how to use the sidelines to help him defend, and is a very tackler. Both of his assist came from him stepping in and winning loose balls. All of those things he does significantly better than Brendan Aaronson who is your favorite. You don’t know his role with his club team and what he is asked to do. Regardless, his lack of defensive prowess at the club level does not negate his track record for defensive efforts for the US. Luckily, the coach you like and most people dislike, is smart enough to realize these things and includes him on the rosters and get him on the field. If you don’t want Gio to play because you don’t like him and don’t want to root for him, just say it; it gives you a lot more credibility than talking about his lack of club minutes and lack of defending which have been proven irrelevant. I think Matt Miazga acts like dick on the soccer field and I don’t want to see him on National team again even if he’s the best CB option. I think the coach you like thinks the same thing about Miazga; he obviously doesn’t think that about Gio.
Vacqui,
More deep astute knowledge from you…
Aaronson as DM…the guy who couldn’t knock over a 5-year-old Girl Scout, and you think he has the bite to play as DM?
#ClownSpeak
Papi Grande,
“Aaronson as DM…the guy who couldn’t knock over a 5-year-old Girl Scout, and you think he has the bite to play as DM?”
Brenden is listed as 5’10” and 150 pounds (the height and weight stats are for quozzel’s perusal).
No one ever suggested that anything about his game is based on knocking people over. Brenden is quick( though not as quick lately) and somewhat skilled.
The big thing though is he is relentless and his BFF Jesse says there is no more coachable player in existence. That’s a good start. It gives us something to work with. Otherwise we’re stuck with another run all day midfielder who is going to be used on the infamous “tired defenders”.
So have the coachable Brenden spend some time with a good teacher so he can learn how to play DM, a position of need. I suggest Crofton’s finest, my old fave Kyle Beckerman ( 5’10, 165). Brenden can spend some time with him and take a seminar on learning the dark arts from one of our best dirty player ever. As Bugs Bunny says, if at first you don’t succeed, try something sneaky.
Also, you clearly haven’t seen Claude Makalele ( 5’9″ , 145 pounds) play. Look him up some time. You can ask this guy, Zinedine Zidane , about him. There is also another French person, N’Golo Kante ( 5’7″, 154 pounds) that Brenden could talk to. I’ve watched him a little and he did not go around knocking people over. Certainly not Girl Scouts.
By the way 5 years old is the youngest you can be and still be allowed to join the Girl Scouts. It’s not fair. A 5 year old is just starting out. Give her a few years so she can get ready to knock over Brenden.
Vacqui,
Thank you so very much for pointing out Claude Makelele. You are so soccer savvy and astute. How could I not know about, Mr. Claude Makelele? Try that bullshit on someone else.
You comparing Aaroson to Makelele shows how soccer ignorant you are are. Not even a close, nor valid, comparison.
I amend my earlier statement…you are not #ClownSpeak…you’re just an idiot.
Papi Grande,
“Thank you so very much for pointing out Claude Makelele. You are so soccer savvy and astute.”
Thanks! We aim to please.
Claude Makalele, like the other french person, N’Golo Kante, is proof that you do not have to be some physically imposing person, going around knocking down Girl Scouts like you said, to play the #6.
Brenden is not physically imposing so there is hope that he, the most coachable player in existence according to Marsch, can learn the position. After all attacking midfielders are getting to be a dime a dozen around the USMNT player pool, And his calling card, his remarkable “engine” tends to be age limited. So planning for the future is always a good idea.
I think people read into my post things I did not say. I never said Reyna was lazy, or a privileged brat, or any similar thing. What I said was that Reyna seems almost nonchalant without the ball.
My experience with players who look “lazy” to a lot of people simply don’t see where they should be without the ball, whether that is defending or attacking. I think such players need time for their soccer brain to develop so that they instinctively move to better positions, whether offensively or defensively. It looks to me that, especially, defensively Reyna simply has to think longer about what to do, by which point it can be too late and is perceived as being lazy. A comparison with Ream could be made Ream does not “run around a lot’, but he moves to be in good defending positions in anticipation of the other team’s actions. Reyna may or may not develop that almost instinctual defensive movement. It is too soon to tell. In the meanwhile, he is still electric when he is near the ball on offense and his instincts there are well-developed.
play twin 6s behind reyna as 10 and that solves some of the transition concern by formation. my 2 cents on the US is start one guy who can do a job WELL instead of two who can KIND OF do it.
i think people forget reyna’s role in GB”s previous NL successes. for some reason he instead defaults back to this wales 2020/WCQ/world cup midfield. no one asks why we do “different” in one set of games from the other. in NL we typically end up chasing the game with the usual suspects at first and then riding reyna and more aggressive attackers to the results late.
Weah is depressing me I wished he had of stayed in Ligue 1 . Juventus is regressing him. I remember and on point he was against Wales and his being a shell of himself which is alarming and sad 😔. I would not start him an he would be a sub like Aaronson.
If the US wants to go at Mexico, I think using a 4-4-2 makes sense. With Wright and Pepi (or Balogen) up top. A diamond midfield with Reyna at the center, Pulisic on the left, McKennie (or Weah) on the right and Adams (or McKennie) in the back. The back 4 is already attack oriented enough with Dest and A. Robinson, The CB pairing of Richards and M. Robinson ( or Ream for his passing ability) makes sense.
That leaves high quality subs available in most positions save for the wide fullbacks.
pulisic balogen
musah adams reyna mckennie
robinson ream richards weah
Turner
Glad someone else is seeing the 4 4 2 for this team
The MMA midfield is not dynamic enough from a creative perspective. Holding the line defensively, yes, but if you need goals Gio needs to be in. Watch for El Tri to bait Dest into stupid fouls they know he is a liability now. If the U.S. can get out to a lead El Tri will self destruct as they often do.
they are overrated at defense eg the other night, wales, holland, japan, germany.
Why not Pulisic, Pepi, and Wright to start up top?
My idea, too. I don’t understand why Balogan is penciled in all the time. He is just not having a productive season at all. While Pepi doesn’t start, he has been doing very well on the goals per 90 minute basis.
Pepi averages about 20 minutes/ game all season. If Gregg starts him that means he’ll seriously have to think about subbing him out fairly early. You start Flo over Pepi because Flo usually goes 90. That gives Gregg better room to maneuver.
Yacqui, if Flo goes 90 but produces nothing, how is that a positive” You should want to have a striker who will get a goal or an assist. If Pepi can’t go 90, then sub in someone else when he has to come out.
GP,
Define producing nothing? Flo knows how to play the #9. He makes runs that drag defenders wide. He draws attention leaving space for others. Subtle things like that . He’s been going 90 a lot recently so he’s used to it, something Pepi is not.
I get it, we all love Pepi. He’s having a magical season. Y’all think he can do anything.
But it’s a season where what he does is play 20 minutes and score.
Now you’re asking him to do something completely different from what he has been doing all season and something he is awesome at.
So why do you expect him to succeed?
Based on recent games Flo is a starting pitcher and Pepi is Mariano Rivera. Asking a Mariano Rivera to start a game is waste.
What happens if after 30 minutes Pepi hasn’t scored? Now he’s 10 minutes over budget .
What happens if we get to 70 minutes and it’s 0-0? No problem, Gregg can just bring in his ace in the hole, Pepi, who has been doing this ALL YEAR to score the winner.
Only he can’t. Because Pepi is already on the field and is now 50 minutes over budget. We have other capable alternatives but Pepi is the best at that. Gregg is famous for brain farts but he is capable of learned behavior.
That’s why, if you ask about Flo and Pepi, I start Flo and sub in Pepi.
Keep it simple and let them do what they do best.
Vacqui,
So your suggestion is starting the player ( Balogun ) who can provide more QUANTITY of minutes, but no PRODUCTION, over the player ( Pepi ) who can provide PRODUCTION, but not the QUANTITY of 90 minutes?
#ClownSpeak
Papi Grande,
What makes you think Flo is incapable of scoring vs. Mexico?
A final vs Mexico is not where I want Pepi to prove he can go 90 and still score. Pepi has been the great all year at being the super sub who comes in and , in about 20 minutes, scores the goal. You can look all this up.
You want to fuck Mexico up? Keep him as the “closer.”
Vacqui,
A final vs Mexico is not where I want Balogun starting, especially since he is currently not in good form, nor has he produced anything for the USMNT in recent games, including this past Thursday.
Pepi is in better form and based on that, he is more likely to score vs Mexico. Based on current form, Balogun starts on the bench today. The only question is…who starts…Pepi or Wright?
The more you open your mouth, the more you expose your ignorance.
Psst…Vacqui has diarrhea of the mouth…pass it on!
#ClownSpeak
I hope GB is wise enough to understand the partnerships and that the formula of success was not just Gio Reyna by himself or Haji Wright by himself? It’s was combination of both of them coming on the field at the same time and combining well with each other.
That partnership worked because the formation change instead of Balo trying to run through 3 CBs, Pepi and Haji were then attacking 3. Often Pepi was dragging two leaving Haji one on one. Gio plays really well with Balogun as well see last years NL final.