USMNT: Ceiling and Floor are Falling

Jurgen Klinsmann did a good job at making Americans believe that there was a deep pool of US eligible players of which to pull. When he started he had players like Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud and Tim Howard still playing in top leagues.

The key phrase there is "when he started." That all changed in the lead up to the 2014 World Cup when MLS, almost as a response to Klinsmann's urging of players to go to Europe, brought them all back. In the back of our collective minds, many of us thought that there would be other players to back fill the work that those players were doing at the highest levels. There always had been. Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Frankie Hejduk, Ernie Stewart, Brad Friedel and Crew SC's own Gregg Berhalter (to name a few). There was a pipeline there, so to speak.

Because of that pipeline, the US had a decent height to the ceiling. Meaning, it was widely regarded that players training and pushing in better leagues are, well, better players. That has changed, however. The events by MLS/SUM starting in 2013 to bring back players is turning out to have a titanic impact on US players in Europe.

The table below is a quick overview of who the US currently has playing in leagues scattered across the pond. Since I am not close to most of these leagues outside of the EPL (and to a smaller degree, Bundesliga) I decided to whip up a quick point system based on the header categories below.


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Points >>		3				2				2
		1				1	1	1	1	1
Pts	Player	League	Club	Age, Position	Mins	% Pos Mins	G	A	MotM	Rating
9	Bobby Wood	Bundesliga	Hamburger SV	24, FW	267	99%	1		1	7.07
9	Christian Pulisic	Bundesliga	Borussia Dortmund	18, M(CLR)	266	99%	1	1		7.50
8	Timothy Chandler	Bundesliga	Eintracht Frankfurt	27, D(R),M(R)	270	100%			1	7.20
8	Mix Diskerud	Sweden	IFK Göteborg	26, M(CR)	1871	94%	3	3	3	7.00
7	Brendan Hines Ike	Sweden	Örebro	22, D(C)	1890	95%	1	1		6.84
6	Geoff Cameron	EPL	Stoke City	32, D(CLR),DMC	295	82%				6.00
5	Tim Ream	Champ	Fulham	29, D(CL),DMC	540	100%				6.71
5	Josh Wicks	Sweden	Sirius	33, GK	1980	100%			2	6.00
5	Alfredo Morales	Bundesliga II	Ingolstadt	27, M(C)	270	60%				7.00
4	Jerome Kiesewetter	Bundesliga II	Fortuna Düsseldorf	24, AM(R)	164	36%				6.92
4	Lynden Gooch	EPL	Sunderland	21, Forward	63	18%				6.11
4	Danny Williams	EPL	Huddersfield Town	28, M(C)	62	17%				6.20
4	Weston McKennie	Bundesliga	Schalke 04	19, Midfielder	25	9%				6.00
4	Andrew Wooten	Bundesliga II	Sandhausen	27, AM(R),FW	30	7%	1			7.21
4	Fabian Johnson	Bundesliga	Borussia M'gladbach	29, D(LR),M(CLR)	10	4%				5.00
4	Aron Jóhannsson	Bundesliga	Werder Bremen	26, FW	3	1%				5.00
3	Matt Miazga	Eredivisie	Vitesse	22, D(C)	150	42%				6.00
3	Romain Gall	Sweden	GIF Sundsvall	22, Midfielder	803	41%				6.00
3	Alex Horwath	Norway	Brann	30, GK	360	19%				6.80
3	E. Hyndman	EPL	AFC Bournemouth		0	0%
3	K. Scott	EPL	Chelsea		0	0%
3	D. Yedlin	EPL	Newcastle United		0	0%
3	C. Carter Vickers	EPL	Sheffield United		0	0%
3	B. Scott	Bundesliga	Köln		0	0%
3	C. Stanko	Bundesliga	Freiburg		0	0%
3	J. Brooks	Bundesliga	Wolfsburg		0	0%
2	Julian Green	Bundesliga II	Greuther Fürth	22, AM(L)	90	20%				6.4
2	Terrence Boyd	Bundesliga II	Darmstadt 98	26, FW	59	13%				6
2	Eric Lichaj	Champ	Nottingham Forest	28, D(LR),M(LR)	13	2%				6.11
2	Rubio Rubin	Norway	Stabæk	21, AM(C),FW	1	0%				6
1	H. Wright	Bundesliga II	Sandhausen		0	0%
1	S. Antonijevic	Norway	Lillestrøm		0	0%
1	J. Klinsmann	Germany	Hertha BSC		0	0%
1	D. Payne	Eredivisie	Excelsior		0	0%
1	S. O'Neill	Eredivisie	Excelsior		0	0%
1	L. de la Torre	Champ	Fulham		0	0%
1	M. Corboz	Bundesliga II	MSV Duisburg		0	0%
1	M. Gaines	Bundesliga II	Darmstadt 98		0	0%

Once you get past Bobby Wood and Christian Pulisic there is a bit of a drop-off. That isn't to minimize their impact because it has been great. Without them, the US might likely not be qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Speaking of qualification for the World Cup. Below is a list of current US players who rank in the top 50 in MLS right now.

Rank	Player	Team, Age, Position	Mins	Goals	Assists	MotM	Rating
6	Lee Nguyen	New England Rev, 30, AM(CLR),FW	2124	9	8	3	7.43
7	Cristian Roldan	Seattle Sounders FC, 22, M(CR)	2340	6	2	4	7.43
11	Graham Zusi	Sporting Kansas City, 31, D(R),M(CLR)	1665	0	5	1	7.33
22	Sacha Kljestan	New York Red Bulls, 32, M(C)	2196	2	7	4	7.19
24	Jozy Altidore	Toronto FC, 27, FW	1932	13	5	2	7.18
25	CJ Sapong	Philadelphia Union, 28, AM(LR),FW	2263	13	4	4	7.18
26	Benny Feilhaber	Sporting Kansas City, 32, AM(C)	2013	5	1	2	7.16
27	Kelyn Rowe	New England Rev, 25, D(L),M(CLR)	1895	0	6	0	7.15
28	Dax McCarty	Chicago Fire, 30, DMC	1961	0	4	0	7.13
31	Clint Dempsey	Seattle Sounders FC, 34, M(CL),FW	1769	11	3	3	7.11
33	Justin Morrow	Toronto FC, 29, D(CLR),M(L)	1954	5	1	3	7.11
37	Matt Polster	Chicago Fire, 24, D(R),DMC	1277	1	4	0	7.09
38	Darlington Nagbe	Portland Timbers, 27, M(CLR)	1913	3	2	0	7.09
40	Sheanon Williams	Vancouver Whitecaps, 27, D(CLR)	1260	0	2	0	7.08
42	Ben Sweat	New York City FC, 26, D(L)	1718	1	6	1	7.07
47	Ike Opara	Sporting Kansas City, 28, D(C)	2070	2	0	3	7.05

After calling players in Europe the ceiling, I'm calling players in MLS the floor. This isn't to say MLS is poor. The league is fine (though, still second best to Liga MX in the region. I did not look players there as I used WhoScored data to filter through players).

Between these two lists, you can piece together a group of familiar names, but not great players. Both MLS and Europe are not providing what the US needs. Perhaps it will be Liga MX that produces what it needs - but Bruce Arena has made it clear that MLS based players is what he wants.

USMNT was in better shape in 2010.

2013-14 and the return of European based players changed that.

MLS isn't producing better players.

The team is stuck in nowheresville.

Crew Jump into Final Spot

Before last 2 games

Columbus Crew SC leapfrogged Montreal into the final playoff spot this past week by virtue of a home stand schedule. It was the right time for Columbus as results were lumpy through the summer months.

Now

What this works out to be is a battle between Columbus and Montreal for the remaining part of the schedule. Another team close to the Crew in the standings is Atlanta, but they have four (?!) games in hand to make up ground before the end of the year (Montreal, three). MLS!

Columbus has done well in taking care of getting results at home. With six games left they have three at home. It'll be a fight to the finish for the team, but with a Federico Higuain off his summer break and Mensah looking more comfortable, it's looking more likely than not they have a chance to slip in.

This will come as somewhat of a relief for Gregg Berhalter as I believe that a 2nd year without playoffs would have had him on the move. Still, work to be done.

Crew Remaining Schedule:

September 2017
Sun. 10 : Sporting KC - MAPFRE Stadium
Sat. 16 : Vancouver - BC Place Stadium
Sat. 23 : New York - MAPFRE Stadium
Sat. 30 : D.C. - MAPFRE Stadium

October 2017
Sun. 15 : Orlando City SC - Orlando City Stadium
Sun. 22 : New York City FC - Yankee Stadium

Sums up 2017 Crew

Have not had the time or desire to write up thoughts on the Crew this summer, but I think this picture sums up the season so far.

I may have more later on. Who knows.

Rd 17: Bad Week

Columbus ended up losing both games this week. The first was on Wednesday when upstart USL side FC Cincinnati were able to knock Crew SC out of the US Open Cup - and the second was back in MLS regular season play when expansion side Atlanta United handed them a 3-1 loss.

Gregg Berhalter needed a result in one of the two. I wrote about it early last week. Both games were an opportunity to get some of the heat and frustration building within the team off. It didn't happen.

THE GAME IN ATLANTA

We'll start with the Atlanta result. Geraldo Martino locked up Columbus by applying mild pressure all over the pitch. Columbus likes to knock the ball all around and then strike. Usually down the wings or looking for distribution from Frederico Higuain through the middle. By not allowing space to players with the ball it left it up to the Crew to rely on quick decision making and technical passing ability (vs. just passing around with no pressure and switching fields until something opened up).

This proved to be a relatively new way to beat Columbus. Previously, we had seen teams willing to bunker and wait out a result or apply intense pressure in their own half (or a combination of the two). By putting players up the field in the general areas of Crew players limited all that. It's part of the reason things got pinball-y in the 2nd half.

On the first goal, Josh Williams was caught off guard by the mild pressure. His thinking wasn't fast enough. Columbus was able to equalize, which is expected because of the number of chances the team is able to create, but everything turned random as the game wore on. Not Berhalter's way. An example of this was late in the game when Niko Hansen dribbled the ball into space and was not quick enough in making a decision. He lost it, Atlanta turned it into a goal at the other end.

The third goal came in a similar fashion. Crew SC mucked it up in the back and gave it away around the penalty area. Martino employed a simple system that didn't tire out his players (pressing) or required any great defensive positioning (bunkering).

This simple template is something other teams will pick up on. It'll be up to Columbus to figure out a way around it. The problem is; Outside of Artur and Higuain, there may not be enough technical talent to work out of mild pressure.

THE GAME IN CINCY

Columbus looked rusty coming out of the gates in this one. Things just were not connecting. After the looping header goal by FCC things didn't change. Crew SC just looked lost. And without a talented striker like Ola Kamara up top, things just didn't happen. In the end, it looked very much like a normal USL game.

Frustration for Gregg Berhalter's team spilled over after the game. Cameras picked up players arguing with opposing coaches and fans expressing displeasure with Columbus.

This game was unique in that it was one outside the comfort zone of normal MLS. The result mattered. It wasn't two teams owned by the same organization facing off. And it was a (relatively) local affair. On top of that Columbus has an inferiority complex when it comes to both Cincy and Cleveland ("pro cities).

WHAT THESE RESULTS MEAN

It was a big week for the team. They are slipping in the standings (20th overall in the last 10 games) and the lost to a far less talented outfit.

Columbus has the talent and coaching to easily be a team battling for an MLS playoff spot but with the disappointment of last year still swimming around in player's heads, it might turn into a mind game. All Crew SC has to be is better than a few conference teams. DC and Philly are a given. Toronto, Chicago and NY City FC are better. This leaves Orlando, NYRB, Montreal and New England as the teams to beat.

Will that happen? All performance indicators are pointed down. It's not looking like it.

USOC: Why This Matters

Columbus Crew SC is traveling down I-71 to take on FC Cincinnati today for the fourth round of the US Open Cup. It's a match no short of reaction gifs and social media banter for sure, but there is more to it than that. Much more.

Following the template of Orlando City, FC Cincinnati (FCC) has burst onto the soccer scene with large crowds which have garnished the attention of Don Garber via talk of expansion. Because there is no way to earn your way in the top level of competition in the United States (and Canada!), FCC has to check off boxes like city size, demographics, stadium plans, ability to pay franchise fees and, of course, bring in good crowds.

Having just about all of those things, brand new FCC is now presented with an opportunity to play a competitive match against old and crusty Crew SC.

In contrast to FCC, Columbus is coming at this as a team that has been through all the battles of trying to survive. They were awarded an MLS franchise, they had the big crowds in the late '90s, they built the stadium. In the time between then and now, they've lived the lean times and faced down the challenges of an ever-changing league.

Imagine a different universe, if you will, where Cincinnati was selected as an original MLS city back in 1994 and Columbus just started in the USL. Things would be very similar, just reversed. FCC MLS would have burst onto the scene and made their way for 20 years and Columbus would be the young, hot and desirable city bidding for an MLS franchise.

What Columbus and Cincinnati are playing for tonight couldn't differ more. A win or loss on the pitch for FCC doesn't matter as much as the attention it will get for filling the stands and furthering their plan to become an MLS team. They will have the crowd so, in that regard, it is a win for them.

For Crew SC it is a bit more tricky. A win and they get to advance in a tournament that they clearly don't have much interest in. But a loss. A loss puts Gregg Berhalter in a position where he must have a good showing when he faces Atlanta United in MLS play this weekend.

Why? Columbus has been slipping in the standings all year. Their recent form of 6 - 10 games puts them firmly below the playoff line and looking too much like last year. If. IF. Berhalter loses this game tonight and has a poor showing against Atlanta, a game he is saving most of his regulars for, then his seat becomes very warm. Looking further down the road, missing the playoffs would lead to changes in coaching.

There is another dynamic to this game that most are missing. It is two teams facing each other that are not sisters. MLS is controlled centrally. Meaning: when teams face each other, they are playing fellow employees. FCC is separate from that (for now), so what we have is a rarity for soccer in the United States. Two teams independent of each other, facing off in a game that matters. It feels different because it is different.

It's an actual competitive match.

I'll be watching because of that.

Mid-season MLS Report

With the MLS season just about halfway over (and the league mostly on an international break), I figured it'd be a good time to look at where things are.

1. Best Team: Toronto FC
They have only lost two games, are outscoring opponents by almost a goal per game (0.73) and, more importantly, holding the bad guys to only 1.00 goals a game. Defense wins in MLS because very few teams have the discipline to play it. On top of these figures, they make it look pretty easy.

2. Supporter Sheild Race
The most important race for me, but it's rarely something teams try and really get after. What an unfortunate thing. Anyway. Outside of Toronto, we have Chicago, FC Dallas and (maybe) Sporting KC if they can get their scoring going. I don't see anyone else really challenging for the SS outside that group right now.

3. Bottom Feeders
Just like any other MLS season, look to see who plays this group the most to find out who will shoot up the table. Real Salt Lake, Colorado and DC are terrible. They can't score. Minnesota is in there as well, but I can see some improvement there.

4. Helltown team of the first half
Tim Melia SKC

Brandon Vincent CHI
Seth Sinovic SKC
Justin Morrow TFC
Matt Besler SKC

Romain Alessandrini LAG
Maximiliano Morales NYCFC
Miguel Almiron ATL
Jack Harrison NYCFC

Nemanja Nikolic CHI
David Villa NYCFC

Bench: Sean Johnson NYCFC, Joao Meira CHI, Justin Meram CLB, Lee Nguyen NER, Maximilano Urruti FCD, Gerso SKC

5. WhoScored.com favorites
Romain Alessandrini LAG, Maximiliano Urruti FCD, Ignacio Piatti MTL, Benny Feilhaber SKC, Miguel Almiron ATL, Justin Meram CLB.

6. Goal + Assist Leaders
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NPG+A pGM	Name	Team	Wage
0.98	David Villa	NYCFC	$5,610,000
0.97	Justin Meram	CLB	$328,750
0.93	Romain Alessandrini	LAG	$1,999,401
0.89	David Accam	CHI	$820,938
0.86	Diego Valeri	PDX	$2,607,500
0.86	Víctor Vázquez	TFC	$700,000
0.85	Yamil Asad	ATL	$150,000
0.84	Maximiliano Urruti	FCD	$300,000
0.83	Miguel Almirón	ATL	$2,297,000
0.82	Nemanja Nikolic	CHI	$1,906,333
0.75	Héctor Villalba	ATL	$770,750
0.74	Chris Wondolowski	SJE	$800,000
0.73	Lee Nguyen	NER	$500,000
0.73	C.J. Sapong	PHI	$300,000
0.69	Jozy Altidore	TFC	$4,875,000
0.69	Christian Ramirez	MIN	$392,504
0.68	Julian Gressel	ATL	$93,750
0.67	Jack Harrison	NYCFC	$165,500
0.64	Kei Kamara	NER	$800,000
0.63	Federico Higuain	CLB	$1,050,000
0.62	Cyle Larin	ORL	$192,000
0.6	Maximiliano Moralez	NYCFC	$2,000,000
0.59	Diego Fagundez	NER	$180,000
0.59	Alex	HOU	$170,000
0.59	Albert Rusnak	RSL	$882,813
0.58	Erick Torres	HOU	$665,000

7. Form Table

Rd 15, 16: In the Wilderness

Rolling Goal Diff

Columbus beat a severely depleted Seattle Sounders team on Wednesday and called it a good rebound game from the worst loss in team history the match before. Yesterday, they managed to erase that minor victory with a lapse in concentration that led to a 2-1 against worst-team-in-the-league Colorado.

The last three games are a microcosm of the version 2017 Columbus Crew SC. Wildly erratic in results, play and performance. In other words, inconsistent. And it seems to be getting worse as the more critical part of the MLS schedule approaches.

Looking back a little bit, the three-game win streak that was so critical to helltown early in the season is the only thing keeping this team from finding the bottom of the MLS table. Those results highlight why it is so, so important to get points when you can.

Looking at previous five, ten and 20 games for Crew SC shows us that things are better than the end of last season, but not much. 1.20, 1.20 and 1.30 PPG respectively. That's not giving fans anything to get excited about. At all.

To further punctuate how matters are slipping for Columbus is the chart at the top of this post. Anthony Precourt's team has not managed to dig their way out of negative results when looking at the previous 20 games. This is a particularly maddening metric as many have noted how Gregg Berhalter's teams have a nasty habit of going on extended runs of poor results.

BERHALTER'S FUTURE

This seems to be coming up as the losses pile up this season (especially the bad ones). My opinion? The results are inconsistent and Crew attendance is dead last in MLS. Just looking at the metrics in front of me, they are all pointing down. I also see a team that is constructed poorly and have a mess as far as leadership organization (from absentee operator Anthony Precourt to Wil Trapp as team captain). This team isn't going anywhere.

Does that warrant a change? I think so. If the Crew are thinking progressively, I'd move Gregg Berhalter to one role or the other. I'd go with Sporting Director. And then find another coach.

Berhalter isn't going anywhere, in regards to the USSF / MLS scene. Keep him aboard, but not as head coach. It's just not there. Or it's too much.

We'll see what happens. His results over the last 18 months or so say a change should be made, but to what? MLS is a small, small world. The next coach won't do much better.

Which is why I say that the team should get progressive. Get smart. think differently. It's the only way thing will work in the Columbus market. Especially with the way things are currently in town.