Can Berhalter get the USMNT to punch above its weight in the Copa America? 

Phillipo and Adam discussions on USMNT have to be some of my favorite analysis of the matches and camps. You guys do a great job of breaking down x's and o's and validating your preferences on things. Great job guys keep up the conversations.

Jamaica was depleted and completely ran out of steam after 90+ minutes :(

Bare Minimum Coach doesn’t even punch down

The best scenario for the USMNT is to win the first two matches against Bolivia/Panama to qualify for the knockouts before the Uruguay game. Then, we could rest critical players and rotate the squad against Uruguay since I do not have a strong preference between facing Brazil or Colombia in the next round. I don't see a significant advantage in trying to top the group once we have secured at least 2nd place. Brazil and Colombia play their last group game against each other after us, so they have the last say regarding which opponent they want to face next (they probably want to line up to face the USA and not Uruguay). Brazil/Colombia might battle it out for 1st if the USA is in 2nd or might rest their squads and settle for 2nd place if the USA is in 1st.

Adam acting like the US should be beating Uruguay is crazy. They use could win, but Uruguay are MUCH MUCH better

Punch above its weight? Not likely. Under Berhalter I feel like USMNT rarely plays to their potential and actually often has a bad tendency to play at the level of whomever we're playing against. That is to say although we may get an occasional easy win, often against what should be a weaker opponent where we should easily win; we struggle. I mean we saw how hard it was to beat a Jamaica team that was missing some of its best players and it wasn't that long ago we did lose to Trinidad and Tobago, for no good reason at all. That said we do tend to play respectably against bigger opponents. So we seem to step up...but also how often under Berhalter do we actually pull off an upset? In the WC against England we played well but did we pull off an upset? Arguably the same against the Netherlands...we played decently but we missed opportunities and could have made that game more competitive. Under Berhalter I feel we'll never be terrible but we also will never push forward or over achieve.

The answer is No. GB is a defender, thinks like a defender. The team is fine in the defensive half, but Gregg has no ideas on how to break down a low block because he's never had to do it. That's why he couldn't/didn't want to use Gio previously at the WC--he has no idea how to use him properly. Same thing with Gio as a regista. Regista Gio makes his back line less weak, so that's a good idea. I would caution against the current Ream-Is-Fine meta. He might be fine against crappy teams but against good teams or crappy teams countering with a good striker, Ream is a huge liability. He's old and slow. When you're hoping to squeak out a 1-0 win against a good team, old and slow will get found out every time.

COPA America will tell us our true level. Our group in COPA, even though somewhat favorable, could be a real challenge for this GGG US coached team. Bolivia and Panama could low block us, and Uruguay is Uruguay.

Goat interview

Gotta keep having Adam on more, always my favorite guest

3G always try’s to make the players fit his system. A really good coach, will put players into best positions to be successful. Flexibility will help greatly

The minute I heard "we went toe to toe with England". A pedestrian England! Saudia Arabia beat Argentina guys. Wake up

We want to see a signature win. We have done it before with lesser teams!

I’m pessimistic about us even getting out of the group. I will go a different route and demand excellence from ggg and the team

3 and out. He's not an authentic international coach and never will be. #BerhalterOut

HELL NO 😂 it’s one thing beating the worst Mexican national team in decades, it’s another beating a team that has their players in the best teams of the world with an actual great manager

When has Berhalter in his entire coaching career ever had a team punch above it's weight? Easy. Never. The talent is there but will always play 2nd fiddle to GGG, his narratives, his system, and his entire managerial process. Don't like it? Too bad because he isn't going away. Welcome to US Soccer.

Biggest issue is that USMNT plays in Concacaf where no team could go pound for pound in talent. As much as I don't rate Berhalter, he is the escape goat. Players know they are playing against Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Honduras; you can even add Canada. None of those countries have done anything in a World Cup.

This really didn’t need to be a 30 min video. The answer is a resounding “NO” of course he can’t. There’s levels to this shit and conmebol is a totally different universe for USMNT 💀💀

Punch teams above his weight, doubtful. Kick women beneath his weight on the other hand...

I expect the same from Berhalter as I do from a quiet quitting employee - absolute bare minimum

No...Berhalter can't get us to punch above our weight

I thought about Gio as a regista, too!

Ummm no.

The "expert" said Joe Scally does nothing on offense. He said "I can do what Joe Scally can do" Can that jackass start for a Bundesliga team three years in a row. How many US players on rosters of teams in the top 5 European leagues play 70% or more of their team's minutes? There are very few. Pulisic, McKennie, Lenard Maloney, Joe Scally and maybe Luca de la Torre. As for GGG, has he beaten any national team in the top 25 except Mexico? The answer is NO. The US without the referee's assistance lost to a Jamaica team missing their best players. There were 4 minutes of extra time given and the own goal occurred more than 5 minutes into extra time. I doubt the US could beat Jamaica if they had all of their best players.

When was the last time the usmnt had a performance that was like hands down the best performance we’ve ever had?

I knew you were a fellow Football Manager nerd, Tac. 🤓

Maybe 😂 Just give him more time 😅 for Jamaica 🇯🇲 to catch up 😅

KYP KYP KYP know your personnel. Every player has a different skill set (even if they play the same position). Put your players in the best position to be successful with their skill set. That's the manager's job and it's triple Gs biggest weakness.

No

Yes.

Adam is dismissing all the Jamaican players because of their clubs. Why did the US have such a hard time beating them then? Adam dismissed even the Ligue 1 players & the players in Turkey. Haji played in Turkey & now plays in the Championship.

I think you may not see a low block against Panama.

I feel like the problem with Berhalter’s system is that it “works” (very loose definition here) better against teams that play the US straight up. It’s probably one of the worst possible ways to play tactically against a low block, because teams will be completely happy letting you pass the ball around the back and lob crosses in. They’re literally inviting that. To me, we need a different lineup with more than just one creative 10 in midfield and the right 9 to unlock low blocks, but again, it’s Berhalter and he’s tactically inflexible.

I only wish that the US could show the type of passion they showed us against Mexico in other games. But I’m not optimistic and with few exceptions really haven’t seen it.

I think we will... I feel like it's a diff approach from GGG... he knows we on his ass .. pause... but the boys will show out. WE MOVE 🇺🇸

Pessimistic about Copa!

For sure Argentina and Brazil are heads and shoulders above the USMNT, however, why not aspire to beat them? I think beating Uruguay is realistic and I would be disappointed if we lost to Colombia.

"Good teams struggle against low blocks..." Yeah, because that's the point of a low block! Sorry. It feels like we shouldn't need to explain it, but I guess you do need to explain it.

Just want to state my opinion to the USSF powers that be...EVEN if Berhalter gets us say to a semifinal in Copa yet we lose or get there in an UGLY fashion (ie, last weeks Jamaica match) he MUST be replaced! This second US World Cup will define US soccer's growth for the next 30yrs. That will be results and at minimum SOME style or class. This is not 1994, or 2002. Let's make it happen!!!

It’s the people at the top and actions they’re taking to steer this ship. Is their goal to win the World Cup?!

Adam 🤝Coughing

Yeah, man. Jamaica beat us. They scored 2 goals in regular time to our zero goals. I have a question for the hosts (and listeners). What is your favorite football soccer podcast (other than this channel)?

Bring back the L Tri shirts, but make them say LLL Tri

Anytime I ask an Gregg defender about the away record they go silent

Scally looked poor because he's asked to play like Dest. If Dest is not available, then Scally is not a like-for-like swap. You need to adjust if you want to get the best out of him. Berhalter doesn't change, and the player gets exposed.

Aren't the same people who say "Why are you complaining about a 3-0 win?" the ones who go "well, we were supposed to lose" when the USMNT loses to a better opponent?

Nope. He never adjusts to the situation. I try and get my local men's team to play the draw away and win at home mentality. That still better than GGG.

Answer: NO

Are all the participants bringing an A squad? I know Brazil has historically sent B and C squads to Copa America.

How many times have we seen GGG trying to put players into positions that are not their strengths? Remember Adams as a floating right back? Just play the players in the style and positions they are good at.

This guy needs to stick to basketball analytics. 😂 He talking out his ass.

This is how I can tell Filipo didn’t play any level of high competition football… the coach at this level, and I hate BERHALTER, has to figure out what the best players can and cannot do… he does know how to make in game subs and change the complexion of a game… he’s asking for more mature stable possession and not getting it..:. Hopefully he does get to change and lock in a starting XI now maybe minus the striker… I don’t think Balogun can do it on his own, especially not with the way ggg lined up. We should start Wright over Weah on the right winger and bulldoze and bully the left back. He’s good for that and play Sargent or Pepi or Balogun at the 9. But we get very different players with each in there… but having two strikers like Supporting kind of Inverted Winger and Inside Forward in Wrigjt helping put pressure on the backline helps free space for Balo and Pepi..: Sargent is more of a compete forward than either Pepi or Balo… and I’d like to see him play too. Shit maybe even Sargent Balo and Wright up top with Gio Pulisic and Tyler in the mids… fuck it in a friendly just to see

this guy is so much better than 11yanks

He needs to beat one of the big 4 in Copa. This player pool is strong enough to beat at least Colombia and compete toe to toe with Uruguay. WE TIED ENGLAND!!

We’re not making it out of the group in copa

European based players need a European manager.

I'm felling "meh".

These friendlies will be a good test to see where they’re at. Could crack the top 10 in the rankings if all goes well.

Thumbs up to everyone who said Greg doesn't do it; I got tired of going through all of the comments, because we all know #Greg sucks! 😂

Dear Filippo We should beat tough and elite teams under his management We beat weak teams but We lose to tough teams too I hope Gregg Berhalter can prepare the USA Men Team to beat England, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, Belgium and other tough teams.

No the answer is no

Jose Mourinho is right there. If the USSF had any aspirations for greatness, they’d cancel GGG’s contract tomorrow.

“No-tactical manager TV” at it again with his new buddy “USMNTANTIFAN” I gotta give credit, looking at these comments, it does pay to make money off outrage. Kudos to you.

you guys are not beating colombia either

I totally the criticism but we’re not one of the world powers. We’re a big fish in a small pound and none of our best players actually really play much or that consistently other than a few guys at a elite level. I’m Not a huge fan Gregg but context in how good we really are matters too. We’re giants domestically but minnows to small fry big picture so let’s keep prospective

I would be shocked... Who has Berhalter beaten above his weight? Also, would you say the USMNT would be a top 4 team with a coach that everyone thought was better than GGG? BTW I'm didn't even watch the Holland game in the WC because I knew what was going to happen... And it happened...

What a dumb question. The reason that the US is in a position where they have to "punch above their weight" is their poor coaching. The talent, particularly in the midfield, is there. To think that the reason the US has to "punch above their weight" is talent that this untalented coach has to somehow coax to a higher level is totally missing the point of what is going on with this team.

No. Berhalter is incompetent at coaching to the skillsets of his players. He has held us back drastically

An unequivocal Nooooooooooo!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

I'm of 2 minds here: First, Berhalter is a mediocre, bland, non-imaginative coach. On the other hand...although this is the most talented collection of US players EVER...they are NOT the most talented team in Copa America. That's just a fact. There are EASILY 3 teams with more talent (and better coaching). You could make the argument for another 2 or so as well. On a good day, the US has the pure "talent" to pull an upset. We also have the coaching to keep us from doing that. On yet ANOTHER hand...we are NOT playing European defenses. NONE of these teams (maybe Argentina/Uruguay?) have a prolific defense (IMO). In the end, the US has NEVER had a "stellar" performance under "The Terrorist". And I don't expect anything different here. I just feel like we're wasting our "Golden" generation by keeping Berhalter around.

Yea, the road to success in Copa America demands more than mere belief-it requires unwavering determination and tactical mastery. Berhalter must guide the USMNT in a up hill battle against overwhelming odds. However, I believe that the Stars and Stripes can play above its weight grade vs Colombia and Uruguay but against Brazil and Argentina , I have different expectations. Like you guys are saying Triple G needs to utilize the USMNtT squad to its full potential. I'm hoping that he will denfy expectations and make a mark on this international stage. Will He do it? Thats a question I cannot answer now. Still, whatever the results, I hope it serves as an opportunity for growth and development for the 2026 WC USMNT squad.

His lineups have improved, so there’s a chance talent beats out his tactics.

Give the guy a chance? ...the team has been with someone for a long time who is a great manager in the field of PE but football is not that, tactically the dependency falls on 1 or 2 players but in general terms tactically and collectively this coach does not rule, he does not have an innovative support for his own idea of ​​the game, at the CONCACAF level they are very good and in the WC which is a short tournament luck counts but that cannot be the main idea of the game. Maybe for the MLS GB level it is perfect, but definitely not at the national team level. Finally the comparison of GB's system with that of City... out of context, the fact that GB is a "tactical nerd" does not mean that he really is, he is simply a fan who thinks he is Pep but does not create, does not develop, does not generates, he is simply "a lot of smoke" for the game. * 100% agree about Southgate! Honestly GB is the CONCACAF version of Southgate.

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia & Uruguay 4th.... The US is 5th but with the potential to prove they are better than Uruguay and/or Colombia

USA needs to imagine that every South American team is Mexico. Than we can lose to Brazil.

I thought Gregg did well this tournament. He made the right changes against Jamaica after the team came out flat and he got the final right. If gets Gio, Puli, and Dest to all click in the same lineup anything is possible. Not likely maybe but possibke

In terms of talent, the US is easily Top-3. This team has not been greater than the sum of its parts.

I’m going to be honest I see the USMNT making it to the semifinals or the finals