Commentary

USA-Cuba: Men's Concacaf Nations League Player Ratings

1. Aileen Basuljevic, October 12, 2019 at 8:14 a.m.

   If we couldn’t beat Cuba......

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2. Peter Bechtold, October 12, 2019 at 9:11 a.m.

   Mike W.: So "Cuba" were really Uruquay youngsters in disguise ? Please fix.

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3. frank schoon, October 12, 2019 at 10:48 a.m.

   Had a tough time last night deciding whether to watch an old cowboy movie with John Payne on Grid tv or this game and apparently I'm chose the former, fortunately. As I'm watching this morning, not so much the game but Sargent for I haven't really seen much of him and nuances. Just in the first few moments of this game there are details that our team as a whole need understand and learn if you're going play at this level ,which is not much. For example we have the ball near the midfield line on the leftside, up front we have Pulisic, McKennie and Sargent, and at the far end we have Cannon, all up front. In other words, this is what Ajax always wants to create a 1v1 with the opposing backline, perfect. Now you have to ask yourself, even if you haven't played much, where would you pass the ball on the front line as your last option. DUH! If you chose Cannon, then you won the cigar. But that is not how team USA thinks because that was their first option. WHY, would you want to pass to Cannon who is so far away, forcing the ball to travel a long distance which takes time,and its predictable, allowing time for the opponents  for defensive adjustments;and besides Cannon is not goal scorer. At the most what Cannon could do is to keep the far leftback of Cuba occupied. The next detail is to ask who are the better players who can actually do something with the ball, are more dangerous, are closer to the ball,can score ,are fast, and give opponents less time to set up,play in Europe and have more experience. This is not choice to make unless you play for Team USA. 
   This is  called Tactics, it is the ability to see and react and counter any situation at the moment. And that is something our players miss. Understanding what to do at the moment is a particular element which is missing in our player's development , it is an ability which is learned through playing a lot of pickup soccer. In sum, let me clarify and stipulate , that choices made are  not wrong in essence but between less desireable or more desirabl
   I do feel sorry for the Cuban team and their players and the situation they find themselves. We shouldn't be high-fiving because we looks so good out there but instead FIRST LOOK  at all the mistakes we make out there,  for against a good team we will make the same mistakes.And players, should walk off the field with the attitude what mistakes did I make and what should I improve upon and not come off the field thinking we played really good....
   
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4. frank schoon, October 12, 2019 at 11:37 a.m.

   Watching Sargent in the first few minutes of the game tells me he has not been taught well in Germany how to position off the ball, properly. He does four things wrong in the aspect of position off the ball. One, he does not create space for himself off the ball;two, he does not create space for his attacking teammate; three he does not create space for his immediate player  directly in the line behind him ;and four he doesn't look, for himself, to the third man he can play off to.  Someone needs to make a tape of Zlatan for him for him for he does all this perfectly, other than #4 which he due to his ability and respect the opponents have of him, doesn't concern Zlatan too much. Ofcourse Zlatan was taught this at Ajax playing the #9 position.
   
   #1, Sargent should move to the direction towards the far post always away from the ball, that's called a 'cross run' in dutch, it's a run like Bergkamp like Zlatan always does. In other words as the attack comes from the right flank than you move counter to the left, confusing their defense. What it does it creates doubt in the centerback who is covering Sargent. For example, at that moment, the centerback will think ,should I stay with him or allow the other centerback to cover. But at that moment he sees the other centerback is covering someone..... there is doubt in two ways, the centerback has to make a decision and also he notices that he can't watch Sargent and the ball at the same time. And furthermore, let us say, if it is the left centerback who leftfooted, he will place himself in a more awkward position for he is moving to the right side of the field , if he decides to follow Sargent, and thus placing himself in a wrong footed position, defensively,and while trying to negotiate , at the same time, Sargent and/or the ball, but he can't do both.
   
   #2, He does not create space for his attacking mate who has the ball, but instead, he has the BAD habit of going towards his teammate with the ball, which is 'blasphemy' at Ajax. Sargent ALWAYS goes to where the ball is. What in effect Sargent is doing is by going towards his attacking teammate ,he at the same are bringing an opponent with him. In other words, if Pulisic has the ball, then to help him out is NOT to go towards Pulisic when he has a 1v1 situation because if you do than you create a 2v2 which is not helpful to Pulisic who needs more space and time. Guys, these are simple ABC's of soccer and these players have still to be taught this....Aren't our Academies teaching this stuff??? Our parents are paying BIG bucks thinking their kids are receiving top soccer knowledge. These instructors at DA are teaching nothing that substantial to our players. Even in Germany at a higher level Sargent is not being taught. All we read at SA is about Sargent scoring a nother goal in Germany, but what does that prove or say. NEXT POST.
   
   
   

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Bob Ashpole replied, October 12, 2019 at 2:52 p.m.
Fundamentals. You call it things learned in street soccer, I call it fundamentals. From the first session with 8 year olds I taught them how to support off the ball so they have an alternative to chasing the ball around the field. Duh! 

When a new player was on trial with my adult team, I could tell his playing experience in a few minutes of watching him play off the ball.

I wish I had a dollar for each time I have heard people yell "spread out" and "don't bunch up" to young players. No wonder there is a lack of tactical understanding and the takeover has all but vanished in the US. The coaching secret is to give players alternatives to chasing the ball.   
frank schoon replied, October 12, 2019 at 2:59 p.m.
Bob ,you know, people don't realize that players only have the ball tops 2minutes during the whole game. It is the other 88minutes that what's so important which so many players  have little understanding of
Bob Ashpole replied, October 12, 2019 at 3:05 p.m.
Other people don't know it, but you, I, Mike, and everyone posting here at SA knows it.
Bob Ashpole replied, October 12, 2019 at 3:07 p.m.
Great players are a joy to play with because they make the game so much easier for you.
frank schoon replied, October 12, 2019 at 3:15 p.m.
Isn't that the Truth , Bob. But i'm really serious about Zlatan, he is what the US program needs for our attacking players. Players  respect someone who has done all and can back it up with his feet. and will listen to advice. Zlatan has a wealth of knowledge and experience. If I were coaching the US team, I would have him on the coaching staff, Schweinsteiger/Valderama ,for midfielders,perhaps a Lahm, perhaps a retired former great defender....
Kent James, October 12, 2019 at 11:41 a.m.
Credit to all the players and GB for an excellent performance.  Yes, Cuba was a very weak side, but it was important to expose them early and then have some fun.  I didn't think McKinnie had played very well in the last few games, so it was good to see what he's capable of (and his pass to Morris was sublime).  Yueill, who I've not seen much, had some excellent penetrating passes. If he's consistently that good, he should be pushing Bradley for that spot.  Cannon also hit a lot of perfectly weighted balls on the right flank (often to Morris in the first half, but just as many in the 2nd, though the end results were not as good).  I'm guessing that these guys are professional enough to know that the blow-out score doesn't mean much, but it's better to score a lot of goals in such a game than not to. I was disappointed that Sargent's finishing was off (except for his perfectly placed goal, though it was on an easy set-up), but I do like the way he plays.  
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frank schoon, October 12, 2019 at 12:04 p.m.
Back to #2, Realize when Sargent moves towards the ball, it makes it easier for the defender to cover Sargent for he can see BOTH THE BALL AND SARGENT, which is not the case when Sargent makes "crossrun".....

#3. By not creating space for his immediate station/line  behind him ,allowing the extra passing/attacking option can be seen in light of that Sargent will have a man on him, a centerback. In other words, by Sargent moving away ,he will create space for the upcoming teammate to run into, which is an old standard trick Cruyff employed in which Neeskens ,the righthalf or Haan ,the centerhalf always moved in to fill. This was a manuever the great Hungarians employed/invented with the false #9 back in the 50's and later Rinus Michels employed with Total Soccer....
Sargent is very ball watching oriented and not space oriented, that can be seen by him always going towards the ball because he wants not that he's opening a space for a teammate.
Again this element needs to be taught to him...He's to ball oriented and space oriented.....And that description can be said of all the playere on the MNT....It is a characteristic often seen on U14 kids....
There is perfect example of what Sargent coming to the ball taking his defender(s) with him and blocking things up. In the very few minutes of the game, one of our attack is penetrating on the endline a few yards from the goal. Sargent breaks toward his teammate with the ball on the endline and another defender with him and makes a mess of it, when he instead he should have gone toward the far post taking a defender with him. 
  
Another reason for making a contra run is that you not only create space for others to run into but it creates for yourself as well to run back into and realize the defender will have blind spot and can break behind him if he's not wathing.
Sargent in his free time here should get in touch with Zlatan  give him some pointers and tips for this is the kind of player Sargent needs to listen to for he's certainly not getting this from MNT coaching staff or back in Germany. We can't lose Zlatan after he retires for we need retired players like him to teach players like Sargent with possibilities. He is the only #9 we have and we need to work with him....
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Kevin Leahy, October 12, 2019 at 2:02 p.m.
Frank, his last game in the Bundesliga he did the things you speak of which led to Werder's goal. Most important to me is the building of an understanding between Pulisic, McKennie, Sargent and hopefully soon, Tyler Adams. Also believe Adams will make back line stronger. Still have doubts about the central defenders so, I believe they can use all the help they can get. Still don't know why Guzan is still there instead of Hamid! Am praying that, we don't see Bradley, Jozy or Zardes in Canada but, suspect we will. On another note, felt that the low attendance was not good for the nations capital hosting it's national team, Cuba or no Cuba.
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frank schoon replied, October 12, 2019 at 2:20 p.m.
Kevin on Sargent, He other does those things things in one game and doesn't in another doesn't sound like  that he has it down. It needs to become part of his game, a pattern, which can be seen in how plays. I do like that he has control over his shot on the ground like the one he scores. It seems like they are not looking for Sargent out there, for they rather pass it to McKennie ,Pulisic or someone else, who knows....
I agree with you on the other things. We'll see what happens in Canada. I hope Sargent plays and give him a chance to feel comfortable out there...
Bob Ashpole, October 12, 2019 at 3:01 p.m.
This was amatuers playing against professionals. Cuba has had so many defections that I am surprised that they could field a team. I think that they had only one starter on the field.

I don't think you could call this even a Cuba B team, but then if people defect then they are available. So I guess this was their A team from what is left of their pool. 

Cuba was by the way, before these recent events, ranked # 178. That is out of 209.

What a great success this match was--Not.
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frank schoon replied, October 12, 2019 at 3:17 p.m.
Bob, I would have prefered an intra-aquad game. 
Ben Myers, October 12, 2019 at 6:34 p.m.
It's heartening to see a very good result, and with Bradley and Altidore rightfully on the bench, but this was against Cuba after all.   The youngsters need sterner challenges to prove themselves and to amp up their collective game.
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John Soares, October 12, 2019 at 8:43 p.m.
Frank and others, if you would prefer to watch an old cowboy movie or simply do anything else...
by all means.
But why spend so much time/words criticizing something you did not want to watch in the first place.
This is OUR team
We are not Brazil. Cuba is even less....Enjoy the effort.
Or turn it off.


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Bob Ashpole replied, October 12, 2019 at 9:30 p.m.
I didn't say anything negative about the performance of the coaches or the players of either team.

What I find fault with is the media coverage and the fans that think this was a meaningful match. The FS1 broacast crew was so solicitious of the US players and coaches that it was sickening.

For instance after the 3rd goal a commentator credited the coach for planning and training the play, a bread and butter play at every level. I credited the coach with things I saw, but not because someone made a run to the end line and passed back to the 18 for an assist. (What I liked in the first 20 minutes was that the team spread Cuba's back line wide and then attacked the gaps. Not a genius solution, just good solid play.)    
Goal Goal replied, October 12, 2019 at 10:06 p.m.
John, there is some pretty good feedback on here and some good observation by some who know the game well with me not being one of them.  No ones being hurt unless your a tender soul.  Listen and Learn.
frank schoon replied, October 13, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.
John, all the commenters would like to see the US do well just like you and likewise feel like Bob does. We need to become realistic in analysis of what is happening to our soccer. Klinsman tried to do it but his views weren't well appreciated. This win is meaningless, it tells me nothing other than it's good press PR. What Bob states about how the press reacted tells you how bad and ill-informed soccer journalists/journalism are by the reaction to this game; they are clueless. The simpicity of these journalists reminds me so often of the reaction American fans had in the mid 90's when they watched Tony Meola kicked a ball 70meters downfield, WOW!  This is where I consider the level of soccer journalism to be.
As far as the commenters go, I can tell you that what you read here, the back and forths and goings on, the opininons between the commenters produce some excellent ,insightful material, discussion, where one could learn from. Other than going to your local soccer pub, which we don't have this format is a substitute.

I"m upset ,not at the team, but more so at the total picture of how soccer is run in America. This is America,after all, and we have the possibility, drive and the money to do great things. With this backdrop in mind and with all due respect to our current coaching staff it is Mickey Mouse, third tier type. This is America and I expect the 'best'. For example, our coaching staff should be made up of some the most competent, well-known coaches and/or former "greats". Our national team should be the flag ship of our soccer, nationally and internationally. I had mentioned the coaching staff should be filled with great names of soccer. There are many, many retired 'greats' all over the world. Can you imagine seeing our coaching staff on the bench made up of let's say, van Nistlerooy, van Persie, Schweinsteiger, Zlatan, Valderama, Robben, Cubillas,etc. These are the kinds of coaches our players can look up to, learn from and improve their game. Our players need to be around LEGENDS of the game.  Imagine a player like Sargent, Pulisic, being told by players like Zlatan or a Robben how to improve their game, which they are presently not getting. Look at the dutch coaching staff and you will see former 'legends' assisting the coach, who himself is a former Legend. This is how it starts for us to build from and not how we are currently doing it.





Wooden Ships replied, October 13, 2019 at 11:08 a.m.
Absolutely Frank. However, the closed circle at USSF won't go that way as we know. Klinsmann was an aberration (and coaching wasn't his strong suit) and a former world class player would not put up with upper level management interference. They couldn't stomach one of our very best in Hugo. It's been a mess for quite some time.
frank schoon replied, October 13, 2019 at 12:25 p.m.
Ships ,I liked the way Sargent took those two, first time shots on goals, low and hard, well timed and placed. If someone else had taken those shot they would have gone over the goal.
It looked to me some of the players weren't looking for Sargent, often times he was asking for it being wide-open.
Also playing with Pulisic cutting in makes it more difficulty for Sargent at #9 position for Pulisic in with him defenders thus making it difficult for Sargent to move  to his left ,inside or around the penalty area. Also I prefer someone on the right wing with a right foot who is a good 1v1 that can beat a player and thereby forcing another defender to go to him thus giving Sargent more space to operate in. In other words, we need someone from the outside on the flanks to have the possibility of either going down the endline and or beat an defender givng Sargent more space. 

We need someone on the outside halfback position who has excellently feel and passing capabilities ,preferably a leftfooted lefthalf who can reach and set up the #9 position, Sargent and at the same time the left wing (Pulisic). We are not getting that possibility from our #6 position and also  I feel there is a gap or a mis- connection to our front line from our defensive CM /#6 position.


Wooden Ships replied, October 13, 2019 at 2:09 p.m.
I'm very optimistic with the role Sargent can play. Is he close to a finished product, of course not. He was off on a few crosses, fractionally, as some one mentioned earlier he does make the contra runs as well as when to bend the runs. A few of the times he showed toward a teammate that had the ball I feel that he was mixing it up and looking to play some combination. I too noticed a few times where we had three or four attackers in the box in a line, not good. On a couple occasions I noticed Sargent opting to come back toward the 18 to provide that depth. Weston McKennie, while scoring three, was often crowding up top just like what you here many US youth and above coaches call crashing the box. WM positional discipline is a weak part of his game and playing Cuba furthers that banshee style of play. I also believe Josh was pressing to perform too much, he wasn't relaxed. The fear of Berhalter not starting/playing him Tuesday had him off and as you've mentioned skilled passing and uncertainty on receiving quality balls does effective your normal rhythm as a striker. I worry that GB doesn't see the more skilled player, understand the skills needed to have a creative attack. Because he was a defender doesn't automatically preclude him from making these observations, but fear it does. As an example, beside GB, the media were falling all over themselves on the brilliance of Jordan Morris. A goal or two and an assist or two and now he's seen as a lock for the Qatar journey. 
frank schoon replied, October 13, 2019 at 3:17 p.m.
Ships.. yeah, also so true what you say about Morris. He is such a one-dimensional player. GB is a defender but I'm afraid like you say he doesn't have an eye or feel for finer offensive detail and I don't that coming from assistance as well. Sargent definitely wasn't relaxed and he overlooked at times. You're about Mckennie. Midfielders are midfielders first and I'm afraid Mckennie see his position not as a midfielder but as a withdrawn front line player who plays midfield from time to time. And as a result takes up space the Sargent should have. 



Philip Carragher, October 13, 2019 at 11:59 a.m.
Over 20 years ago while coaching at a Suburban high school, I had the amazing opportunity to be coached by a world-class soccer mind. This older gentleman was invited to coach the coaches during our pre-season and did so for free; he had played for Yugoslavia's World Cup team and was on his way to coach the Greek Men's National Team; there were four or five coaches from my school witnessing him coach us and our HS boys for two practices, and he could tell that I was transfixed by the knowledge he was imparting. The other coaches ignored him for the most part, but I was enraptured as he took us through the stages of how to teach a player to kick a bounding ball backwards over his shoulder (usually done by a defender) and towards the opponents half of the field. A difficult technique for sure, but in order to perform it properly he showed us how to make it happen starting with the stretching necessary to be able to get your leg to kick that way. And he built it from there with the stretch, then kicking while laying on the ground and gradually all the way to actually doing this difficult, unusual technique. And he demonstrated this as (guessing) a sixty year old. I was blown away, and he knew it, so, for the rest of that and the next practice he focused on me, and despite not knowing a lick of English, passed on two other remarkable lessons. I was so disappointed when the head coach decided to uninvite him for more practice sessions. This was my only face-to-face exposure to being taught by that level of a soccer mind and can only highly recommend that experience for any coach who is passionate about teaching good soccer.
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frank schoon replied, October 13, 2019 at 12:31 p.m.
Philip ,great story....Uninvited? I think he felt threatened.....You don't uninvite someone who so much more knowledge and experience. BTW, what was his name.....
Wooden Ships replied, October 13, 2019 at 1:47 p.m.
Sounds like George Mihaljevic. Although, when I trained under him it was in the 60's. He was probably the most technical with the ball mentor I ever had. For a 12 or 13 year old trying to juggle the ball from head, to chest, to thigh, to foot and repeat continuously was massive test of balance, touch and most importantly patience-haha. We learned most of our touches with the feet barefoot. The most valuable lesson was getting your body right prior to everything that came after. Wonderful man with boundless passion for the game.
beautiful game, October 13, 2019 at 2:08 p.m.
GB should have used a totally new line-up with inexoperienced NT players against Cuba just to see how each one of them are capable in handling the various nuances of the game. This game proved only one thing and that is that Cuba has a long way to go. Other than that, the result is meaningless.
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Philip Carragher replied, October 13, 2019 at 3:44 p.m.
FS, I'm chasing down the coach's name. Just emailed a coach who was coached by this guy in the Yugoslavian first division. Not sure if it was Mihaljevic but I should be able to find out. This was back around 1997. One other quip I picked up from him was his disbelief in soccer injuries, which to him all stemmed from inadequate conditioning and claimed he was never injured.
frank schoon replied, October 14, 2019 at 9:39 a.m.
Philip, I appreciate your effort...
Dan Sommer, October 14, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
Bedankt for the analysis, Frank! That was very interesting. Thanks, all, for this discussion. It was outstanding. Hope we can beat Canada using some of these lessons. Cheers ⚽️
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frank schoon replied, October 14, 2019 at 1:36 p.m.
Daniel, Ik hoop so, fyne dag....
Alvaro Bettucchi, October 17, 2019 at 12:12 a.m.
I've said it before and I say it again! England went out and got some of the best Italian coaches that completely changed their game. We have a good American "LATINO" coach, which could be an assistant to the Italians, pick up some additional pointers, and be a future national coach.. But we all know the reasons why he wsn't picked for the position. We better make some changes real soon, or we will be out of the World Cup.  Also I agree, how can any coach in his right mind, leave out Lima.  He's one of the best attacking fullbacks in American soccer!
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