How will Berhalter replace Sergino Dest for Copa America? 

Truth its that nobody in our players pool can replace Dest. However, our best replacement option at the moment is Scally if going defensive and Weah if going offensive. 🤔

The fear is that Sergino either tore his ACL or patellar tendon per PSV reports. The recovery timelines are similar for either injury: ACL tear (9-15 months), Patellar tendon rupture (9-12 months). Sergino will miss the remainder of 2024, and his return to play timeline is early to mid 2025.

Really like that 3-5-2. And I think Puli and Reyna could kinds switch in and out of the 10 role depending on fitness and how the game is going.

Pete! EXCELLENT EXCELLENT video & breakdown! 🇺🇸⚽️🥳👏🏼 LOVE the 3-5-2 / 3-1-4-2 formation & The USMNT should 100% try this!!! It is SO FRUSTRATING how tactically inept gregg is! So adverse to CHANGE & trying different scenarios to see what could work, when adversity happens! It is like the U.S. Soccer Federation strives for MEDIOCRITY!!! 🇺🇸⚽️😑 Such a waste of talent & time! Thank you Pete for this QUALITY video & analysis!!! 📱😉😊🥳👏🏼🇺🇸⚽️

Love the Milan kit Pete!

I think playing a back 5 with Antonee & Weah as wingbacks makes the most sense, to fill that roster spot bring in a guy like Marlon Fossey who's been playing well in Belgium. Play a 5-4-1 or 3-4-2-1 with a box midfield: Ream-CCV-Richards on the back like with Trusty as support, Antonee at LWB, Weah at RWB, Tyler Adams or Johnny as the CM/CDM on the right side supporting Weah's defensive responsibility, Weston McKennie as the CM/CDM on the left side, play Reyna and Pulisic as advanced attacking midfielders in the half-space, and Balogun up top. This kind of formation would allow the squad to be built around our primary strength in the pool which is midfield depth (in addition to many of these midfielders being very versatile in their positioning), but the main issue would be building a quick strategy around such a foreign formation. Honestly a 3 at the back formation would probably make a ton of sense even if we didn't lose Dest to a serious injury, especially against teams that play a low-block in CONCAF

Not sure if you are following this 🇮🇹 story in Serie B but Venezia has climbed all the way up to Serie A promotion on the backs of 2 USA 🇺🇸 players; Luca Busio and Tanner Tessmann. Let’s hope they can hold on!

Sergino Dest is so great player for Our Beautiful USA Men Team Dear Pete I hope Greg can play him on his position.

I totally agree with your 3-4-3 Pete, without Adams, you could slot in either Musah or Cardoso,depending on the opposition, I think you'll probably see the best of Balogun against the bigger sides that try to attack the US, Balogun's dangerous if you give him space, his problem at Monaco is they mostly play against low blocks, Balogun is still trying to learn the skill set to consistently figure them out, we saw at Reims what he can do if given space

Pete, I think your options are right on point. They give us the best chance in light of Dest’s absence.

We have no like for like replacement for Dest. So... Gregg will have to earn his money as a manager, be something he has so far, not been at all in the 5 years we've seen him: 1. A problem solver, adept at adjusting, having a plan B & C. 2. Tactically flexible. The upcoming friendlies vs very tough opponents will be interesting to see what Gregg comes up with.

Great analysis. Did not expect to see a back 3 recommendation. Would love to see us try. No way Greg tries this tho unfortunately. Definitely a way to get the best quality team on the field. I love seeing Jedi and weah out wide going box to box. This could work, but we could pay if our back line doesn’t communicate and play lock step on same page. I would call this a high risk high reward formation.

I like the 3-5-2 you recommend. I'd maybe reconsider Balogun versus other options at the 9, but I could see why Balogun retains the place for now. If we stick with a 4-3-3, I think the best option would be an enticing call to Jeremy Toljan where we dangle a major international tournament in front of him. I'm not 100% sure he'd beat out Scally, but they'd both be forced to compete. I'm also not against Weston at RB. He has the defensive discipline and we have adequate CM depth via Musah/LDLT. The other advantage of Weston at RB is having flexibility late in a game if we are trailing and need a goal. You can move to a 3-back and simply move Weston up the field, instead of wasting a sub like you'd have to do with a traditional RB.

Maybe the loss of Dest will force Berhalter to change formation or tactics? Either keep same formation but keep fullbacks back, or else change formation to 3-5-2. I'd like to say I'm confident GGG can be flexible, but....

We need JEREMY TOLJAN from Sassuolo. The fact we have dual nat RB playing well in Serie A and yet haven’t called him up is beyond my own understanding

That's almost exactly how I was picturing our revised line-up, in 3-1-4-2 which is pretty much exactly what that 3-5-2 is showing except switching Pulisic and Reyna's positions but not against them switching back and forth during the game to throw of the other team, even bring Weah in on it since they all can play in those areas. Playing with a back 3 and wing backs opens up a lot of options for the team wether it is more attacking or defending situations I think it would make a much more interesting and fun game to watch, but not holding my breath.... We lost one of our more creative players and I don't see Berhalter changing the formation because of fear or incompetence to think of different solutions...with him I believe we are going down on the 4-3-3 🚢

Obvs Scally should take his spot in the lineup. Scally doesn't carry the threat Dest does, so he should sit back a bit more. The big adjustment needs to be made in midfield (what else is new). I'd like to see someone play as a mezzala. Yunus or Gio preferably

Change the paradigm. Go with a 3-5-2 against Bolivia and Panama with Richards, CCV, and A Rob across the back and two solid defensive midfielders (Adams and McKennie or Cardoso and McKennie as the case may be) to keep things buttoned down and moving forward. They'd be feeding three attacking midfielders/wingers (Pulisic, Reyna, Weah) and twin strikers Balogun and Wright up front. If Bolivia and Panama are truly gonna put a low block on us we need to keep the pressure up front and put our best attacking talent on the field. Crystal Palace looked great with this setup in their last two games against West Ham and Newcastle. Against quality opposition (Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia) we'd need to revert to the old 4-3-3. Of course Berhalter will never change from his system.

I might be insane but maybe we should test out Tolkin in our pre copa friendlies?

I'd probably play lund rb or do something crazy like try trusty

Love your 3-5-2 idea. I like putting Musah back there. But really why not just put Scally in and play a more defensive game on that side. It is what it is Dest can't be replaced.

Only positive and i say this because its devastating, is thay theyll be a better defender. Hopefully scally balls out.

Your preferred option is what I have been thinking would be best. Weah and Robinson can win on the wings. Pulisic and Reyna can create in the middle. What 6 cbs do we have, though? Scally and Reynolds as cbs?

Scally time; he’s the clear backup, or at least should be. It throws a wrench in how GGG wants to play. Whatever verticality is I’m pretty sure Scally doesn’t accommodate it. Big moment for Scally’s USMNT candidacy.

Joe scally needs to grow up quick.

I don't love Weah at RB as much as other people do. I'd still be worried about his defensive instincts, not necessarily his athleticism just wanted to clarify. An underrated RWB option I like is Marlon Fossey who plays in Belgium and is probably a more alike profile to Dest and better than most of the MLS options like Lennon or Yedlin. He'd be my choice but I understand he probably won't be Gregg's Sadly. I like what I've seen from him, and tracking his progress in Belgium. I also like McKennie/Musah at RB option as well since I'd feel confident in them Attacking and Defending. The 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 option Pete suggested also seems good

Maloney and Joe Scally are the obviously choice. However, I see Weah taking his position for now and playing with Gio Reyna

Nice Milan jersey pete

CCV it is

Scally with McKennie or Weah or Ricards as emergencies back-ups

McKennie or Musah?! No friggin' way! How about someone that you insultingly dissed in the past: Nathan Harriel! Anyway, it's gonna be Scally, and that is fine, but remember when GGG put Adams at RB and he switched up to a holding mid each time the US got possession and moved forward. That was cool, but was basically an experiment and not we are stuck in the dreaded 4-3-3 that GGG got in some Faustian deal with God. Sheesh... Lord, give me Klinsmann!

I’d bring Griffin Dorsey or Shaq Moore

Off topic, as NYCFC fan, what do you think the chances are that Taty Castellanos gets a chance with the NT? I am a huge fan of his play!

3-5-2 or 4-4-2 diamond will be our best formations. Gets more of our best players on field and offers more defensive solidity

I think the solution that would give us the best chance for a deep run in Copa is putting weah there. This way we sacrifice nothing in midfield with either gio, Wes and Ty or Jonny at the 6. Then we move haji who has played right and left in a 4231 this year to the right wing and yes Sargent up top with pulisic on the left. We all know at least those of us who’ve been watching for more than gggs terms that he loves his wingers to bomb forward and we are gonna attempt to dominate possession agasint all of our group and so weah will be playing higher and wider up anyway and haji and pulisic can play a little softer in the half spaces. There’s no way you have a 20 plus goal scorer in a top 10 league. Yes the championship is who plays the wing, sit out when you’re in need. And forget about 20. Imagine if Sargent didn’t sit out for 4 months with an injury he would have easily been in the running to break the goal record. And what’s more they are huuuuuuge targets for crosses and finish those crosses. It’s literally a no brainer. Well done as always Pete

Random, but if weston went back to the mls, would you still want him for the USMNT? And for how long?

Go with Bryan Reynolds He can defend well, is technical enough, and has the necessary pace.

We would be better off playing 3 in the back with Adam’s and Johnny as defensive midfielders

@11 Yanks no mention of Reggie Cannon?

PETE. SERIOUS QUESTION. WHY NOT AARONSON

I move Weah to RB because we have more depth at striker and winger than wingbacks. Gregg is all about pushing wings foreward so having scalley over weah is constipating greggs offense more than gregg does already. In two matches we will be lucky to score two goals total.

Back 3 or Joe Scally at RB. Only options should be seriously considered.

Our fans dont watch enough Reynolds. There is no context to his GC performances and how good he is in attack. Definitely a weapon to use vs panama/bolivia when we need good crossers.

Can we call up JoGo?

Clearly bring Roldan back in.

When an MLS player other than Messi can show that they hang with the best in the world then I would consider an MLS player in the first team. But until then, sorry Brooks Lennon as much as I adore you in my 5 stripes I do not want my national team getting torched

Peter Bosz (PSV coach) NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHAT HE DID TO DEST!!! This is all his FAULT!!! Dest getting injured on practice is all on the coach😡😡😡

USMNT can't play 3-5-2 because it's not Gregg's idea.

Oh c'mon US fans, nothing to worry about! all Joe Scally, or Will Bryan Reynolds, or McKennie, Weah or Tyler Adams or whoever takes the spot, have to deal with, is Vinicius Jr, or Luis Diaz or Darwin Nuñez... PIECE OF CAKE!! 😁

I'm ok with Bryan Reynolds starting

Why do you insist that Shaq Moore isn't good? It's a stupid argument. Shaq Moore played great against Mexico in a final when he was playing left back as a right-footed player. Being able to use both feet that well and play on both sides makes him good.

How many mistakes will Chris Richards make next game?