Warshaw: USMNT in transition must reconcile process and results

The US men's national team was beaten by Mexico on Friday night at MetLife Stadium. The match ended 3-0 for the visitors; it could have been more. Here are three lessons from the game:

The United States must find a new defensive plan

The middle block – making sure the attackers begin their defensive pressure in front of the center circle and keep the 10 players on the field compact in the middle of the field – did not work. The United States has neither kept Mexico out of key areas nor won the ball wisely. (I would say that the middle blocks almost never work, but we'll keep this conversation for another day.)

All that concerned the form, including when the USMNT came out in press, was too predictable. They gave no confusing picture in Mexico. Mexico always had a premeditated answer in mind. Conversely, Mexico changed its pressure habits several times during the night, and central US defenders never knew where the pressure would come from – the United States could not figure out how to do it. facing the situation. More about these problems later, but it seems clear that the United States is not particularly close to leading a match against Mexico by controlling the ball; they must find a way to cause problems against the ball.

The number one lesson on Friday night should be that the central block should be scrapped. You can either sit deeper and play on the counter, or release the young dogs and press. My thought is that it should be # 2.

Mexico organizes a fouling clinic

Whenever Christian Pulisic has a step on a player, he is defiled. Whenever Weston McKennie broke a line with his dribbling, a Tri Tri midfielder was "accidentally" found stuck in the legs with McKennie. On the other side, the United States has never taken these mistakes. When a Mexican player turned the goal of an American player, he remained in a dangerous position. Take the fault in an early position! Mexico was no better on the ball, they were smart and unforgiving.

The United States can not get out of their third defensive spot

This is the most complicated part of the conversation. It was the most egregious part of the game. Time and time again, the United States has tried to build from the back. Almost every time, the United States either gave the ball or expelled it from the field. Very few people in the United States managed to play Mexico and use the Mexican press against them. It was hard to watch …

… But I will go and say that I really liked the fact that the United States did not give up. Would he have increased the USMNT's chances of victory if he played directly in kickoffs and was playing for the second time? Absolutely. But I was tired of seeing the USMNT play so 10 years ago. I understood it, and it was good for this moment of history. At some point, you have to say it's time to move on.

If we learn something by watching the United States play against Mexico, it is that the El Tri are simply better on the ball. The United States needs to develop more passers-by and more players who are comfortable playing in tight places. It will not be easy to turn the United States into a country of passage. There will be a ton of ugly games along the way. But dude, we have to do it and you have to start somewhere.

It's quite right to wonder if this group of players can do it. The answer is probably not at this point.

But I repeat: we have to start somewhere. As Gregg Berhalter said after the match, "for me, it's about developing the players". I will add to that: it is not a question of developing these players as such. Twenty-somethings on the ground is not likely to improve as much. The MLS teams at the Development Academy teams, including youth teams, say in the United States that the United States plays this way and that they are the players the USMNT needs. If you can not pass, if you can not control a difficult ball, if you can not keep calm in a narrow area, we will find someone else.

To be honest, it might not work for Berhalter. He makes a gigantic bet. It could also really hurt along the way. Friday night, stinking as a fan of the USMNT. But it is a process that must take place and I will never blame someone to cross a wall that must be knocked down.