Can this version of the USMNT bring hopes of a brighter future?

Following their latest defeats, it is time to ask whether anything can bring back respectability to a USMNT that seems in complete disarray.

As the boos rained down on Nipper Stadium following yet another embarrassing loss, this time to Venezuela, a nation that never qualified for a World Cup, you had to wonder if this USMNT program in its current format can ever turn the corner.

To quickly recap how we got here, following a disastrous 5th place group finish in the CONCACAF region and the embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the US Soccer Federation spent the next 14 months conducting an elaborate search for a head coach, resulting in Gregg Belhater’s appointment at the helm. The hire was seen at the time as somewhere between adequate and unimpressive, a vote of confidence for “American Soccer”,  a doubling-down of sorts in the MLS way and the American, homegrown style and mentality. The fact that Berhalter’s brother Jay happens to be the United States Soccer Federation COO may have helped too.

Fast-forward 6 months and the downside to this approach is becoming alarming. While the biggest (fabricated) controversy on the US Women’s side is whether or not they celebrated too much during a 13-0 record-setting thumping of Thailand during their opening World Cup game, on the men’s side you really start to wonder whether this team can string three passes together or get out of their own way to produce some quality, winning soccer against lowly CONCACAF opposition.

The issues facing the US Men’s are fairly evident. The lack of talent is obvious to anyone who may have gotten accustomed to this team’s relative success during the Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and the (youthful) Michael Bradley era. There may be some relief on the way in the form of an infusion of talent from the Under 20 National Team, a team featuring exceptional ability and potential who defeated the likes of France and Nigeria-two nations well known for producing world-class talent – during the recent U20 World Cup.

The second issue is a more worrisome one, and one lacking hopes of a quick fix in the medium-term. Berhalter’s obsession with the same 3-4-1-2 formation he’s been a devout disciple of since he started gracing the Columbus Crew bench is becoming maddening to the US Men’s team faithful. This  formation requires a certain set of skills and attributes to be successful, relying on a quick-moving, mobile back three, able to cover a ton of ground and defend one-on-one against the opposing forwards, crafty wingers (or wingbacks) able to beat opponents one on one and provide quality distribution to the forwards and attacking midfielders, and at least one or two destroyer-type defensive mids able to cut off the opponents passing lanes and break up play in front of the back three. After the two recent defeats it is safe to say that this particular roster has very few if any of the above requirements needed to succeed.

Cristian Pulisic will be asked to come to the rescue, most likely as the attacking midfielder behind the forwards, out of the position he normally plays during his day job (club team). And therein lies the rub. Asking the majority of the starting XI players to play in a role that they are not familiar with is not the recipe for success at the national team level.  Berhalter is requiring that the US best players at the moment (Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams – before Adams, unfortunately, pulled out of the upcoming Gold Cup with an injury) along with others all play out of their position. Traditionally, the role of the national team coach was to select the most in-form players, and allow enough flexibility in terms of formation to be able to field the best XI in their natural positions that they play for their club team.

By flipping the script and becoming a prisoner of his formation, Berhalter is taking a huge risk, asking the best US players at the moment to sacrifice their best attributes in order to serve a tactical formation that is yet to be proven successful.

After a long two years full of disappointments, if there was ever a time to instill confidence in a reeling fanbase, that time would be now.  With the Gold Cup starting this weekend, there is no better time to allow this pool of players to maximize their potential by allowing them to flourish in their positions, talent questions aside. It’s high time to give the US Men’s team fans something to cheer for.