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0:00 Can USMNT win Copa America?
1:00 Attacking fullbacks
4:08 SNHU Sports Management Program
5:17 How to use Gio Reyna
7:47 New formation
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I just want to say how refreshing it is to see a sponsor that isn't a sports gambling site.
I appreciate that. It’s hard because the sports betting is usually big $ relative to everything else. I’m really trying to stay away from something I don’t want to want to be associated with.
How would YOU change this set-up now that Sergiño Dest will miss the tourney ⚽
My keys to success: 1. Ream-Richards partnership working well 2. Adams being healthy 3. Spread attacking responsibilities across the team, don't rely on any one or two guys.
A wise man
Thanks fo coming back Jake. We missed you. Keep it up.
I appreciate that!
Great vid. Glad you’re back.
Hey, thanks Kent!
We’re a good side… but honestly the number 1 key to success to winning Copa is luck 😂. We’ll likely have to beat Brazil or Colombia in the QF then likely one of those two or Uruguay in the SF. Hopefully some group stage upsets happen to clear an easier path!
If we win the group it will probably be Colombia in QF and Brazil in SF.
Colombia wins group we win group Brazil gets knocked out by Paraguay. We best Paraguay in Quarters and Colombia in Semis then beat Chile in the Finals!
Great video. I love that Jake is back doing these. I have a theory that GGG realized a couple of months before the last WC that Adams needs help in the build-out, especially against the press. This theory isn't mutually exclusive to Jake's analysis. In the first half of the final, Adams was essentially never the target for even an easy pass in the build-out. It was kind of strange. The second half had Johnny in and the pattern of build out was completely different, utilizing Johnny directly and leaving Gio a bit further up. It may be because of the player change (my theory) or because GGG adjusted for Mexico not high pressing (or both).
Nice call on the Johnny point. It’s tough too because at that point the game is going to change a bit with us being up a goal or two.
Good stuff as always. In the World Cup, GGG didn’t rotate enough. The guys were clearly gassed against NED. Now we didn’t have the depth we do now so hard to blame him. It will be interesting to watch how he manages minutes now.
Depth is definitely a problem we can basically just hope we have everyone healthy and enough security in the group to rotate.
So the biggest problem the USA has right now is a lack of depth. We are on pace to earn like the 18th most play time in the Big 5 leagues among nations this year, but we only have like 25 players in those leagues. The drop offs in quality from a Jedi or Dest to a Scally are pretty steep, and for most of the last 4 years it feels like multiple key pieces needed to be a real top 20 team are injured. I don't know how we get around that except lots of luck. The team is potentially quite good with everyone healthy and in form, but that almost never happens. The depth issue is improving slowly, but it's still a big issue compared to the teams we want to beat at Copa America that have 4 or 5 times the depth that we have. And I'm like, "Please Sargent, stay healthy." He's well on his way to becoming the sort of #9 that Gregg wants for this system, he just can't seem to stay healthy at the right moments.
You’re absolutely right and depth is not a Gregg issue. I’m actually thinking Chris Richards is the best backup to Dest that we have.
If we want Dest playing like a winger that is fine. But if we need some quality defense in the spot because our midfielders are on the attack - Scally is the man. Even on offense, Dest is all flash and little production. Folks need to come out of the clouds and stop making choices based on factors unrelated to what we need on the field.
Watch Greg whip out a 3-5-2 in-game, but posts an official lineup of a 4-3-3. He's gonna have one of the fullbacks tuck into CB and push one up. Push Mckennie up. and have the Fullbacks and wingers make runs to send in crosses.
And in the post-game he'll say "thanks Jake!"
Getting sponsors now!! Good stuff bro
You already know!
our only hope at the world cup is if greg finds your channel and finally learns how to coach a soccer team. glad you’re back.
Guy, you do realize that Gregg actually implemented this in the past? We used Tyler as a RB, with Yueill and Trapp at the 6, so we had an extra body in midfield? I’m not a huge Gregg fan, but jeez, the naysayers are so loud, and literally 80% of the claims that they make can be disproven….be better
Josh Sargent is a real number 9, he just needs a good number 10 alongside or behind him. If he wasn’t injured for 3/4 months his goal tally could of been in the late twenties or even early thirties. If 🇺🇸 doesn’t accommodate him then it would be your loss. 🔰
After nations league gio once again proved why he has the most goal contributions in finals out any American player ever. He’s 21..
I dunno' if I have a #1 key to success, but to comment on your thoughts.... #1 - ARob is straight line speed, and if we're using him up the pitch, you've got it correct. Overlap with Pulisic, drive the corner, whip in the low cross. His high crosses aren't as good. As for Dest, I almost wonder if he and should have Weah's spot, or reverse the two, or... It's a nice problem to have where we can say "Gee, we have this really great player, but we're not sure how to unlock his full potential given our best players." #2 - Gio, I don't mind dropping so deep, but ideally he stays up higher, right? I think Gregg just likes the security of holding possession and building from the back. If the other team doesn't have the ball, they can't score. Ideally though, Richards and another CB develop some real passing skills and we can retire Tim Ream before the World Cup, and we're actually able to break a line or two from the back. Or, maybe, double pivot at the back with Adams and Johnny, Reyna up top, bomb the outside backs up. Similar to your 3-2-5, the idea is to push those better offensive players forward.
Yup absolutely on your point number 2. When we have possession and don’t need a creative connector from back to front you want Reyna as close to the goal as is reasonable.
We should play more possession instead of whatever chaotic mess Greg had the USMNT playing against Mexico in the 1st half. Second half had much more passing. Or, we could play like those teams in Serie A that are hard to breakdown and fit the explosive pace and style of the players while doing what Greg likes which are long balls.
I liked how Weah and Dest rotated a lot last game, it gives the wrinkle of not knowing who will attack and who will drop and one likes to go wide and one inverts, you add Musah to that side of the midfield and you basically have 3 players that can play all 3 of those positions and are very comfortable rotating. Feel like that is a secret sauce for this team because of how many reps they have had together...
I think you are right about how to use the fullbacks and how you brought up against stronger opponents we should look to counter but that seems to always be a struggle on a GGG team they always look too slow and indecisive and these are guys I've seen do it with club so idk if its a system or confusion thing but it needs fixed. On why Gio was dropping deep I agree that is why GGG was doing it but I think putting Wes back there instead and Gio in the space between midfield and attack to connect the 2 and be more dangerous. That should also help our 9's get involved and get touches but not much to disagree with there, besides I just don't think GGG is the guy to do it. I hope he proves me wrong
So true. It's great to speculate but at the end of the day will Gregg do what we need to win? Time will tell on that. I actually think McKennie has shown himself to be great in the attacking third and whether it's him or Reyna they give you something a little bit different.
Jake, great to have you back. I have the utmost respect in your actual analysis, and refusing to jump into the outrage bait that permeates other content creators *cough tactical manager *cough 11 yanks. Actually rushing in substantive discussion is refreshing. Couple thoughts I had - 1. At the start of GGG’s tenure, he used Tyler in that inverted RB role you touched on. I think Serge would be the perfect complement due to his ability to break through lines with dribbling; his unpredictability and cannon of a shot would be a really fun element 2. Another formation I thought could be interesting would be the old school Christmas tree, 4-3-2-1. Lining up Tyler deep, Wes and Musah as the other part of the trident for control, then having Puli and Gio function as shallow, more central forwards could allow for some really fun interplay/creativity in the final third. Especially with a guy like Wes coming up, and adding that element of creativity. 3. Who is your starting striker? At this moment, for me it has to be Sargent. We saw how great he looked at the WC, he’s been in a ridiculous run of form and I think because it’s been so long, people forget how well he fits the team. Would love to get your thoughts!
Thanks so much! Yea the Tyler RB experiment didn't go so well but I think Sergino is a better fit for it. I think my starting striker is Sargent or Balo. But honestly I don't really mind any of the four in the running.
@@ItsCalledSoccerwhat I love about Dest is he very similar to a guy like James Maddison, in that he’s a complete maverick. For better or worse he’s going to do things his own way, and that leads to fireworks! Selfishly, was curious to get your thoughts on the 4-3-2-1. I feel the control you get from the 3, and creativity from two inside, withdrawn forwards will make up for the lack of width. I know it won’t happen, but I do feel our roster could make it work
I don't hate GGG. I just hate how he doesn't put the players in the best positions to succeed.
Fair opinion for sure
Against parked buses we need to utilize Pulisic, Pepi/ Sargent, and Wright as our forwards, and Reyna as our 10. They are better at creating and finishing in tight spaces than Balogun and Weah. The tactics should be attacking through the middle or inside out rather than down the wings and crosses. We should embrace the tight spaces rather than pass around the outside looking for bigger openings that probably won't ever exist.
That’s definitely a part of it. But you also need to use width to disorganize “the bus”. Mixture of playing quickly and using everything in your favor.
against a back 5, you need to threaten cuts behind the back line, balo and weah are probably the two most explosive players to make runs in behind and balo is an incredible passer / can make quick decisions in the tightest spaces to flick on or lay it off...I trust the combo of them with reyna and dest to move it quickly, then you have christian cutting in threatening the outside the 18 shot and jedi providing width and runs in behind on the left. I'm sure several iterations (I like Sargent in there too especially if you start racking up corners) would work but you do need to keep width...
Pulisic is our best player. He needs to be clinical.
So is a CFP your backup now? or were you a CFP and no longer want to be a CFP?
I was in finance for a decade (some of it as a CFP), went into sports marketing and am going back to using my CFP.
With the following lineup, the USMNT will have its best chance of winning Copa: 4-4-2: Turner Jedi -CCV-Richards-Dest Cardoso-McKinney Pulisic -Reyna Sargent -Balo Cardoso over Adams because, Johnny is playing really well, good on the ball and he's used to playing in South America. Also by pairings Balo with Sargent, you allow Balo to play with eyes on the goal while allowing Sargent to be a kind deep playing strikers with a lot of elements of an 8 who can also help on defense. Sargent can also play with his back to the goal. So in effect you're playing Balo as a striker/winger hybrid with sprinkles of elements of a 10. Basically, the goal is to maximize the skill set of each player and this formation does that. Moreober, this formation and lineup is the most creative and offensive minded USMNT ever! To have a shot at winning Copa, the USMNT HAS TO SCORE GOALS!!!
I like the lineup but if Adams is healthy he has to be on the pitch for us.
@@ItsCalledSoccer With Adams and Turner on the pitch, you can't play from the back. Adams is a definite upgrade over Cardoso on defense but not by as much as some will say; but Cardoso is a huge upgrade on offense over Adams. This is a tough decision but I went for Cardoso because the USMNT HAS TO SCORE to win Copa... Adams and Musah just don't have enough offense to contribute to goals... But I could be wrong...🫤
@@ItsCalledSoccer Adams is not some magical lock and the same is true with Balo. Sargent is our best 9 with Haji coming in second.
Disagree you need to play Sargent as a number 9, he just needs a number 10 to play alongside him or just behind. I see him week in and week out as he plays for my team 🔰 whom I’m sure he will help us get back to the premiership, as the playoffs will soon be getting underway. First game is on the 12th May, 2nd game is on the 17th May then hopefully to Wembley for the final.
@@ange1098 I do have him playing as a 9 in a duel striker formation - but as a kind of poacher with the added responsibility of defense and winning duels in the mid field.
How long until people get on board with my Front Six of: Adams; McKennie, Reyna; Pulisic; Wright, Weah?
I want a front 6 with Turner, Ream, Brooks, Richards, and Scally
@@nerychristianOdd. My Front 6 is really good, so your joke doesn't make sense and isn't funny. It's got two 10s and two strikers while still having a DM and box-to-box midfielder. Reyna and Pulisic are known to move around depending on where the game takes them, so it makes sense.
@@colinreese I wasn't trying to be funny. I would pay to see Turner given a chance as a striker
Um, never. Drop Weah and add Balogun or Sargent/Pepi depending on opponent, and we're good
put your theory to the test on FM24 :)
So my next video is me simulating Copa 100 times, but I’ll probably do another where I try and get the US as far as possible. My computer isn’t good enough to record fm 😂
I agree. Los Angeles is the best city in the USA.
Did I say that? 🤣
@@ItsCalledSoccer I'm pretty sure you did. And I also think you said that the Mexican national team is the best ever!
LA is nice but overrated. You could be 2 miles from the ocean but it feels like you're in death valley. Venice Beach is also nothing but druggies and homeless now
There’s not a single American playing in the UEFA champions league quarter finals. Let that sink in
Eh I’m not too scurred
Quarter finals ain’t too bad. At least we had some who got out of the group. That’s a huge improvement from 5 years ago
So?
@@colinreese so why aren’t they?
@CryptoCryoto because sometimes it just doesn't happen. For CONCACAF only Canada have someone playing in the UCL quarterfinals. This isn't the dunk you think it is. Brother, we've come a long way, but we ain't brazil or argentina
The Straight Red Card talked some shit about you, but I stood up for you.
Lol thank you but it's all good. I don't mind for Brett and Derek to discuss me or my content. Don't worry about defending anything they are free to talk about anything they want.
They didn't talk shit about him. They disagreed with Jake's thought on Reyna being on the bubble due to lack of PT, and they said they hope we see more of Jake's personality like he showed while on their show. They are fans and want him to do well. (BTW, welcome back, Jake. You've grown in confidence since your early days and seem to be in a good place. Thanks, as always, for the good content.)
First 5 second...sorry WTF?
David Foster Wallace next to ..Brandon Sanderson..? That's some kind of crime against literature.
lol I’m so sorry
The hell? This is a soccer video what you coming on here dunking on someone for having a fun fantasy book on their shelf? Clearly your a philastine if your entire shelf isn't stacked to the brim with GrEAT BooOksz!