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Message: [QUOTE="Orangezoo, post: 3910521, member: 237"] I am not quite as forgiving with Berhalter as you nor even as close to as critical as Lalas. I have mixed emotions over the experimentation with formations. There is such a limited amount of time to get a group to play together that it's really hard to install a system during WCQ while you have experimented in all the lead up friendlies and cups. Also you can play with formations while also sticking to a similar gameplan but that also has not been the case. Berhalter inherited a talent pool that no other USMNT coach has ever had and thus a challenge to go with that given the options are not lacking vs the previous teams where you really couldn't go with the more attack minded style of play and had to set up defensively against quality opponents. As for the depth- I think it's critical more for sustainability and not allowing the talent pool to get stale more than anything. If the officiating in the past 3 tournaments, Euro included is an indicator for what is to come, I would be thrilled as it's been a long time since I have seen them let so much go. Good points on the high press with Pines. He definitely was a weak spot and nearly gave away a couple goals. I liked how they used Busio far more in the previous game then vs Canada. Yes it was a better opponent and yes Pines was really weak on the ball but still I hated seeing everything run through the wings while having almost no overlapping runs or service to those runs. If you aren't going to use Busio as he should be and have him pushing up so high leaving nobody in the midfield, then he is useless. Again I get it's experimentation but some of it seems wasteful at times. I do think at the end of this Gold Cup the goal of identifying some guys to fill things out will be accomplished. Busio, Dike, Hoppe, Sands, Moore, Robinson and maybe even Turner who I feel has been steady back there all should have a chance to fight for a spot. Maybe you still give Zimmerman a look too.. maybe. [/QUOTE]

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