USMNT 2019: The Year of Dest?
The USMNT played 18 games in 2019 and boy… was it a mixed bag of results and feelings. Of the 18 games, we saw our guys win 11, draw 2, and lose to 5 opponents. When I took my look back into this year, I wanted to get the negatives out of the way and look at the losses first. I pointed out 3 key losses this season that I really think HURT us as USMNT fans:
-1st: The friendly loss to Jamaica before the Gold Cup hurt. The USMNT under Gregg Burhalter tried out a new formation that did not work out too well. What did Gregg (and every other USMNT to come) learn from this? Let’s not try 3 in the back! The U.S. had no force or sense in the midfield which put a lot of pressure on Zack Steffen who saved our asses for most of that game. That 1-0 loss really put a bad taste in our mouth heading into the Gold Cup under Gregg.
-2nd: That fun fun Gold Cup final loss to Mexico. Whenever we lose to Mexico it isn’t fun, but when we lose to Mexico in a cup final? Even worse. Mexico had control of this game from the start, they were out passing us, out possessing us, and truly the better team by far. The 1-0 loss was tough. Jona dos Santos hits a BANGER for the eventual game winner, we are down a goal late and GGG subs on a fullback, nothing seemed great about this game. Especially after some losses leading up to the Gold Cup, this seemed like the slow rise of “GGG out” calls.
-3rd: Ohhhhh Canada! You guys remember that right? That loss up at BMO Field? Yup the USMNT lose to Canada which to that point hadn’t happened since 1985. We were embarrassed and out played by a side that should never even out walk us on a soccer field. GGG forced in his possession based system, but guess what happens when you can’t control a midfield and have that possession? You lose. In my head, this was the lowest point of the USMNT year.
Whew, those losses… am I right? Though this is tough for me there were some positives that I think needs to be fairly presented as well. GGG’s tenure and the USMNT year was not all bad. Let’s check out what I thought was the 3 key wins for the USMNT in 2019:
-1st: Do you remember the Gold Cup? You remember beating Jamaica in the Gold Cup to make it to the final? Well I do and I think that is easily a top 3 win this year. We were embarrassed by Jamaica heading into the Gold Cup (see above) and then we make it out of a group that was very… (no offense) not talented what-so-ever. Also coming off of a 1-0 win over Curacao, we needed a CONCACAF statement win. We got that statement win over Jamaica 3-1 and a fantastic showing from McKennie and Pulisic.
-2nd: OH POOR CANADA! The USMNT got their revenge again in 2019 with a win in that second meeting in the CONCACAF Nations League game vs Canada. Down in Orlando, the USMNT beat up on Canada and completely neutralized Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. The added muscle of John Anthony Brooks helped too! We beat Canada 4-1 and set ourselves up to take over and win Group A in the CNL if we beat Cuba…
-3rd: This may be sad? This may be good? Im not too sure, but I think the biggest win that the USMNT had in 2019 was its last, their 4-0 win vs Cuba. Yes, its Cuba. And YES we should be easily beating them. But, out of all the games that meant something in 2019 this was our biggest win. This win against Cuba set us up and we are moving on to the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final in 2020. The only other win that would have been biggest in my head would have been the Gold Cup final.
These moments definitely explain the high highs and low lows in 2019 for the USMNT. But I think we saw some players excel and cement themselves into roles under GGG. I like to go position by position and look at it under that microscope. For the big man in net, it looks like Zack Steffen’s job for a long time. The only other keepers to get minutes in 2019 were Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson (both keepers who are into their 30’s and look like solid backups), and Ethan Horvath. With Steffen excelling in the Bundesliga but dealing with some tendonitis issues, expect to see more Guzan or Johnson in spot start roles in 2020.
Oh the fickle beast that is the USMNT backline. At left-back its been a solid rotation of Tim Ream and Daniel Lovitz in 2019 but there also was that nice late addition of Sergino Dest. Who is the leftback heading into 2020? To me right now under GGG it looks like Tim Ream. Ream has been a guy who has looked pretty good at leftback, can pass well, but I’m not too sure about his pace from the fullback position. I would love to see Dest be out full time leftback but I guess I can’t be too upset about the way Ream has performed. We will get to see more Dest though because it seems that if he is not playing leftback he is out sure fire rightback. Sergino Dest can play either spot and he will be in one of those spots in 2020. But if Dest is out or Dest is playing leftback, who takes over at rightback? To me it looks like Reggie Cannon who has taken his opportunity to shine over DeAndre Yedlin who missed a lot of time injured. Cannon also seems to be shorty making that move to Europe as well. As far as Yedlin, you have to think he’ll still be involved moving forward, but at what level and what position?
Playing between what looks like Ream and Dest moving forward has got to be John Anthony Brooks and Aaron Long. Brooks has been injured but in his 2 appearances for the USMNT in 2019 his play was noticeably positive. But Long was opposite of Brooks almost. Long played a lot this season, 14 games. Long impressed as well, he was able to hold his own defensively, score 3 goals, and get his name in some transfer rumors. They seem like the starting pair moving forward but Matt Miazga and the versatility of Tim Ream also gives them some shouts at centerback.
Play in front of those centerbacks in the 3 man USMNT midfield has been tricky. It seems like it will without a doubt be Tyler Adams job, but Adams failed to make an appearance in 2019 due to injury. So we had the rotation of Michael Bradley, Wil Trapp, and Jackson Yueill at the 6. With how the year ended and his progression for club as well, I think Jackson Yueill might have a shout over Bradley as that next in line d-mid. I think that Trapp is out however, especially when Adams returns. Playing a little further up as that box-to-box guy in GGG’s midfield looks to be the role for Weston McKennie. McKennie getting up to support the attack as well as dropping back and being physical in the midfield will do wonders for the USMNT. But there have been some signs for Cristian Roldan in that spot as well. Early on I was for the Roldan addition and thinking he could do the role, but I really am for a guy like Duane Holmes or Alfredo Morales to join in and be that next guy up after Weston. Finally the attacking midfield role, because let’s face it we don’t have a natural one. But with the depth that has seemed to pop up at the wing, and to get as many touches as possible, let’s give that spot to Christian Pulisic. Pulisic has been killing it for Chelsea and continues to easily be our best player. Pulisic may not be a natural attacking mid but he’s ours people! So get used to it!
Finally the front three. This one is tough because we have options right? But I think one guy who has locked down his wing spot is 2x MLS Cup Champion Jordan Morris. JoMo was easily the best player for combined club and country in 2019. Morris lead the USMNT with 6 assists in 2019 and added 5 goals to his name as well. I think having JoMo on that left-wing is perfect for us moving forward. And on that other wing should be (unpopular opinion time?) Paul Arriola! Yes Arriola has thrived under GGG ending 2019 with 3 goals and 1 assist. Arriola uses his space well and seems to always be involved in a USMNT attack. Other shouts are definitely for Tyler Boyd who’s getting along with Besiktas in the Turkish Super League and the injured Timothy Weah. But who gets that middle spot? Our striker! I personally think and I think GGG would agree that it is still Jozy. Jozy just adds such a strong and physical scoring threat that the likes of Sargent or Zardes don’t offer. I love Sargent I just don’t think he’s there yet. Also, for the Zardes haters (me being one of them) let’s realize that even though they aren’t the cleanest goals he finished 2019 with the most goals on the USMNT with 6… just saying.
So that’s it. That’s my takes on the USMNT in 2019 and heading into 2020… a whole lot of BLAAHHHH. I think there are some pieces to worry about but also some pieces to stay optimistic about! What are your thoughts right now on the USMNT and 2019?
