USMNT

USMNT UNLOCKED

Published

3 years ago

October 13, 2022

Last Tuesday, I watched the USMNT look toothless and confused versus a terrible version of the Saudi Arabia national team (all domestic, some from the Saudi 2nd division!). Then the next night, I turned on the US U20MNT versus Paraguay and saw something completely different. I saw a team that controlled the ball, dominated it, and produced scoring chances often and with regularity. It is exactly how you must think Berhalter wants the USMNT to play. So, why after almost four years with Berhalter as the coach, can the USMNT not muster any goal threat against super weak opponents, much less good ones, outside of a few games? I think I have the beginning of a reason, a key to unlocking the problem.

First, let us try and understand why the U20s look so good. I think there are two reasons: one is talent advantage and the other is highly technical players in all positions. There is no doubt the US U20s are better than the teams they faced (even though they lost a game they dominated to Mexico). But the USMNT has played games where they were much more talented, man for man, than the opponent with mixed results. The latest is against the Saudi Arabia domestic squad. Therefore, it is not so important to investigate the first reason as a deficit of talented players is not the problem.

The second reason, technical players in all positions, is a more fruitful avenue and the key to understanding why the USMNT struggles at times. Mikey Varas, the U20 coach, rotates quite a bit during the tournament, but he usually puts 10-11 technical players on the field. He accomplishes that, many times, by taking a large surplus of technical central midfielders and playing them at winger, striker, and defensive mid, if he has to. Just to clarify, when I talk about technical players, they don’t have to be Iniesta or Messi. They have to have three things: a good first touch, the ability to play on the half turn, the ability to pass to the correct foot for the teammate, and the situation.

If we look at some games where the senior team has looked as good as the U20s, versus games where they have looked lost, we can see that having technical players, and no weak links, is a minimum requirement to play how Berhalter, supposedly, wants them to play. Most USMNT rosters to date, though, do not contain 11 sound technical players. This is where we need to discuss a type of player that is common in pro soccer and on many USMNT rosters: the Riser. A “Riser” (could also be called a “Faller”, but let’s stay positive) is a player that can mostly do the technical things above, or do them most of the time. The key to the Riser is that they tend to do them most consistently when they are with technical players and on the best fields. When they are playing with non-technical teammates or on poor fields, they tend not to execute as well technically. Some also seem to have long stretches when they are technical then stretches when they are not.

Here are players from rosters since the pandemic shut down sorted into Technical, Risers, and Non-Technical:

Technical	Risers	Non-technical
Pulisc	Pepi	Acosta
Reyna	McKennie	Long
Dest	Miles R.	Yedlin
Richards	Zimmerman	Turner
Scally	Steffen	Cannon
De La Torre	Horvath	Morris
Tillman	Johnson	Lletget
Aaronson	Jedi	Zardes
Ferreira	Arriola	Bello
Weah	Sargent	Moore
Musah	Pefok	Vines
Adams	McKenzie	Roldan
	Hoppe
	Williamson
	Sands

It is possible that the U20s have Risers mixed in too. It will become clear that it is the ratio of the players that seems to matter. Any Risers on the U20s are blending in because they are surrounded by Technical players. We can also quibble about the above lists, but it won’t make a large practical difference if one or two players are in columns you have a problem with.

The first case study is to look at the Saudi game at the start and after Reyna is subbed for Arriola because of injury. If you look at the performance with Reyna it wasn’t great; but it was much more coherent and better at getting near the opponent’s box than the time after he leaves. To illustrate this, the USMNT had the ball at the feet of the attacker moving at the backline of Saudi Arabia six times in the roughly 30 minutes Reyna is on the field. Over the next 30 minutes with Reyna off the field, this occurred once.

Here is the lineup before and after:

Before After

Technical 4 3

Risers 3 4

Non-Technical 4 4

This is a small change, but the USMNT has tended to perform better when they have more Technical versus Non-Technical players. Especially, on good fields and at home, the Risers in these situations tend to play best and help.

At the 60 minute mark, the USMNT makes three subs and this is what the lineup breaks down as:

At 60’

Technical 5

Risers 4

Non-Technical 2

With Technical players again outnumbering Non-Technical, the USMNT generated six instances of attacking the backline with the ball.

Two of the most extreme differences in performance during qualifying was Away to Panama and Home to Panama. In the former, the team was lifeless and didn’t record a shot on goal. In the latter, the team was ball dominant, incredibly dangerous, and routed Panama 5-1. The former was probably the worst performance and the latter one of the better. Let’s look at how the lineups for the two sorted out between our three player types:

Away Home

Technical 2 5

Risers 3 5

Non-Technical 6 1

The technical skill between the two lineups is glaring. In the Away match, we actually had more Non-Technical players than Technical and Risers added up. In this case, Risers will be Fallers because almost all the other players are Non-Technical. This might be one of the most non-technically proficient lineups we have played outside the Gold Cup. That last bit is interesting and I will discuss it at in the next case study.

Other factors are on the road, on the road in Concacaf, and poor field and a hostile crowd for the Away match. I believe these kinds of variables just make Risers into Fallers. The US U20s have played in Mexico twice, Argentina and Honduras and have not really looked any worse than the few games they played in the USA. So, I don’t believe a team of almost all or all Technical players has problems with fields, crowds, and travel as a team with Non-technical and Risers, like the USMNT.

The second case study is between the 2021 Gold Cup Final and the Home World Cup Qualifier versus Mexico. Both games were at home, on good fields, and both were good results but accomplished two very different ways. Here are the lineups broken out:

GC Final WCQ

Technical 0 4

Risers 5 6

Non-Technical 6 1

Here are the stats from the two games

Stats Summary: GOLD CUP WCQ’ing

Shots: 14 / 22 18 / 8

Shots on Goal: 5 / 5 5 / 4

Corner Kicks: 6 / 11 5 / 3

Fouls: 31 / 20 12 / 13

Keep in mind that the Gold Cup Final went 120’ while the Qualifier only 90’. But it is easy to see that while the USA won both games, they were very different games. In the Qualifier, the USMNT dominated Mexico in a way never seen before. Frankly, they looked like the U20s vs Paraguay or like Bayern Munich versus Augsburg. Playing Mexico, at home, on a good field turned all the Risers into the best version of themselves. The lack of Non-Technical teammates was also a big reason. When you know your teammate will control the ball and do something productive with it, every time, you can play faster and move off the ball in anticipation.

The USA won the Gold Cup with what is a lineup even worse than the lineup that would lay such a dud in Panama a few months later (many of the players were the same too!). Not only did they win, but they controlled the game, but did not dominate the ball. What is different between that game and the Panama away qualifier is that the tactics were different. Berhalter adapted to his non-technical roster by not playing how he tried to play in Panama or against Saudi Arabia. The team didn’t play it out of the back, they used long balls and pressing to control the game and scored on a set piece to win it.

There is nothing wrong with playing that way. Whether it will, “change the way the world views American soccer,” is not really the point. No view will change if we play like we did against Saudi Arabia and exit the World Cup quickly. Well, the views of the few fans of the team that will be tuning in to the World Cup will change, for the worse. Berhalter has to field teams of mostly technical players and fill in only when necessary with Risers. Unfortunately, the USMNT talent pool lacks Technical players at every position and injuries have repeatedly sapped many in every window.

This brings us back to the Gold Cup. When Berhalter is forced, through his own negligence in finding and integrating Technical players, injuries, and suspensions to field teams with a large number of Risers and Non-Technical players, he needs to adjust the tactics to those of the Gold Cup. Not continue to send the players out to execute a game plan that they cannot execute.

We have the key! When the lineup allows, this team can play beautiful Total Football and be ball dominant. When the lineup doesn’t allow that, Gregg needs to change tactics or we will lose.

USMNT

Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky

Published

2 months ago

July 21, 2025

Marcus O'Malley

Caring for Villa Hills, Fort Thomas, Union, Florence, Crestview Hills and Northern Kentucky

Over the past few years, I’ve written here at Chasing A Cup about family, faith, leadership, and walking through life with intention. Some of you have been reading since the early days. Some of you prayed for my family. Some of you even rolled up your sleeves and gave blood — blood that was meant for my mom and others like her in their time of need.

I’ll never forget that.

Three years ago, my mom passed away. It was a season of heartbreak, but also one of clarity. As I stood beside my family — and as I supported others in our community grieving their own parents — I came to understand how deeply care matters. Not just in hospitals or emergencies, but in the everyday: the quiet, complicated, deeply human moments that make up the final chapters of someone’s life.

That realization stayed with me. And over time, it changed the direction of my work.

For most of my career, I worked in product management — building teams, delivering systems, and leading with structure and strategy. I still believe in all of that. But I also wanted to build something more personal. Something rooted not just in outcomes, but in presence and compassion.

That’s why Sarah and I decided to open a Caring Excellence office in Northern Kentucky.

Caring Excellence has been serving families across Kentucky for over 13 years. It’s a family-owned, fully licensed home care agency that specializes in non-medical, in-home support for seniors and adults — help with daily living, memory care, companionship, and more. And now, we’re proud to bring that same level of compassionate, character-driven care to Florence and the surrounding region.

Our new Northern Kentucky office serves families in places like Villa Hills, Union, Fort Thomas, Crestview Hills, and Florence — communities filled with multi-generational households, strong family ties, and seniors who deserve to age with dignity.

At Caring Excellence, we focus on people first. We don’t just fill schedules — we carefully match caregivers to clients based on personality, needs, and values. Sarah leads our caregiver hiring, drawing from her years of experience as both a caregiver and healthcare professional. She looks not just for skill, but for heart — people of integrity, empathy, and real compassion.

As for me, I now use my business background to support the team behind the scenes — building systems, developing processes, and making sure our caregivers have the tools and training they need to serve others well.

This new venture is deeply personal. It’s also missional. It’s about stepping into people’s lives when they need support most and offering something simple, but powerful: peace of mind.

We’re not moving to Florence, but we’re fully committed to this region. We’re investing in it — by hiring local caregivers, building relationships with local providers, and offering families home care in Northern Kentucky a trusted option for high-quality home care.

To those of you who’ve been on this journey with me — through writing, through prayer, through donating blood when we needed it most — thank you. I hope this new chapter reflects what we’ve always believed in here: that service matters, character counts, and small acts of care can ripple further than we think.

If you know someone in Northern Kentucky who needs support — in Union, Villa Hills, Crestview Hills, Fort Thomas, or Florence — we’d be honored to walk alongside them.

Thanks for reading, and for being part of the story.

—Marcus

Learn More
To learn more about Caring Excellence and our in-home care services for Northern Kentucky families, visit:
https://caringexcellenceathome.com/northern-kentucky-office

USMNT

Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished

Published

3 months ago

June 14, 2025

Thomas Deschaine

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

Not long ago, winning your confederation’s tournament earned a spot in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a prestigious competition held in the World Cup host nation the summer before the world’s biggest tournament.

The tournament featured the champions of all six confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA), along with the reigning FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, rounding out the field to eight teams. The tournament was last played in 2017.

The Concacaf Gold Cup is a semi-cycle tournament played in the first and third years of the cycle. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the only other confederation that plays two tournaments a cycle, and in many circles, the frequency of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the addition of the Concacaf Nations League has made the Gold Cup a throwaway tournament for the USMNT, as it’s been six years since the so called A list player pool has played in the event.

It raises the question for FIFA and Concacaf: should the Gold Cup be played once a cycle, and should FIFA consider bringing back the Confederations Cup?

The USMNT won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and has claimed seven of the 17 editions since. Only two other CONCACAF nations Mexico (9) and Canada (1)—have lifted the trophy, and both are contenders in this edition.

The USMNT has a strong track record at the Gold Cup, finishing first in their group every year except 2011. They’ve reached 12 finals, with a record of 69 wins, 12 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 189 goals and conceding just 60

Gold Cup Player Stats

Across 17 editions of the Gold Cup, the USMNT has netted 189 goals, conceded just 60, and recorded 50 clean sheets. Here’s a look at the players who made it happen, those who found the back of the net, and those who kept it out.

Goals

18-Landon Donovan
13-Clint Dempsey
9-Eric Wynalda
8-Brian McBride
7-Jesus Ferreira

Assists

16-Landon Donovan
7-Michael Bradley
6-DaMarcus Beasley
6-Alejandro Bedoya
6-Eric Wynalda
5-Clint Dempsey

Wins

17-Kasey Keller
11-Tim Howard
8-Tony Meola
7-Matt Turner

Shutouts

14-Kasey Keller
8-Tim Howard
6-Tony Meola
6-Matt Turner

Captain

10-Michael Bradley
10-Kasey Keller
9-Carlos Bocanegra
8-Tony Meola
7-Claudio Reyna

Gold Cup Manager Stats

Over the past 34 years, the USMNT has reached 12 of the 17 Gold Cup finals under the leadership of seven different managers. Here’s a look at how each of them performed.

Matches Coached

25-Bruce Arena
18-Bob Bradley
12-Gregg Berhalter
12-Jurgen Klinsmann
10-Bora Milutinovic
8-Steve Sampson
5-B.J. Callaghan

Matches Won

19-Bruce Arena – GF-52-, GA-14
14-Bob Bradley – GF-34, GA-17
11-Gregg Berhalter – GF-26, GA-3
9-Jurgen Klinsmann – GF-32, GA-9
8-Bora Milutinovic – GF-15, GA-8
6-Steve Sampson – GF-14, GA-5
2-B.J. Callaghan – GF-16, GA-4

Gold Cup Trophies

3-Bruce Arena
1-Gregg Berhalter
1-Bob Bradley
1-Jurgen Klinsmann
1-Bora Milutinovic

Conclusion

In the future, U.S. Soccer and the USMNT should clearly communicate roster expectations for the Gold Cup, especially if a full A-list squad is not planned. Transparency on this front is essential, as it directly affects fan interest and attendance.

Club News

From Louisville to Lisbon: Joshua Wynder’s Journey with S.L. Benfica

Published

3 months ago

June 13, 2025

Zach McCabe

The current state of the USMNT has been at an all-time low since Couva in 2017. One of the positions in dire situation is Center Back. Tim Ream will be 38 by the time of the 2026 World Cup. Chris Richards has too many highs and lows and has not shown his club form with the US. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty have yet to perform for the national team. Miles Robinson, despite what many MLS fans want to believe, is not good enough and makes too many errors, like the second Turkish goal on June 7^th, 2025. Walker Zimmerman has one World Cup left in him and he has a history of making critical errors as well, like the penalty against Gareth Bale in the 2022 World Cup. Lastly, Mark McKenzie has improved his game since his move to Toulouse, but he is lacking the deserved opportunities and a good partnership.

Our U20 CBs will need to be called up sooner rather than later, either before or immediately after the 2026 World Cup. The top 3 prospects by fans and analysts are Noahkai Banks, Matai Akinmboni, and Joshua Wynder. Of the three, Joshua Wynder is the oldest at 20 years old and is part of a club that is world-renowned for their development, S.L. Benfica.

How did Wynder manage to accomplish such a move from Louisville City in the USL Championship to Benfica? To summarize, Wynder had a breakout season for Lou City at 17 years old in 2022, so much so that he was included in the US U20 World Cup team in 2023.

LOUvOKC.Photographer: EM Dash Photography

Wynder secured a spot to go on trial at Benfica and passed. On June 8^th, 2023, Benfica officially acquired Joshua Wynder from Lou City for a record-breaking $1.2 million transfer fee, which still stands today.

Louisville City FC, LOUvPIT.Photographer: EM Dash Photography

Benfica registered Wynder with the second team for the 2023/2024 season, who participate in Liga Portugal 2. Due to Portuguese rules (players play in the youth system until they are 19 years old), he spent the season with Benfica’s UEFA Youth League team and U23 team and only received 21 minutes with the B team until a season-ending injury. What began as a promising start, with the support of the fans, was cut short after just six matches. The following season went according to plan for Wynder. Wynder became a consistent starter for the B team where he started in 29 matches and appeared in a total of 31 matches. He also scored four goals, all headers from corners.

His success with the B team made him a fan-favorite and several calls to be called up to the first team by fans on social media. That day came on April 9^th, 2025, when he made the team sheet for Benfica’s Taça de Portugal Semi-Final match against FC Tirsense. Wynder made his first team debut when he was subbed in at the 76th minute mark of that match. He made a following appearance on the bench for the first team in their second leg match against FC Tirsense.

As early as November 27, 2024, it was reported by Glorioso 1904 that Joshua Wynder had gained the attention of the Benfica manager, Bruno Lage. The report further said that Wynder was becoming an option for the next season’s first team. A similar report surfaced on March 25, 2025, by Record, in Portugal, that Wynder is on track to be with the first team for the 2025/2026 season. That day may be coming sooner rather than later. Joshua Wynder will be joining Benfica on their 2025 Club World Cup campaign. This will be a true test for him to prove to Bruno Lage that he is ready to be part of the first team for the upcoming 2025/2026 Liga Portugal and UEFA Champions League season. If he is given serious minutes with the first team and performs, Joshua Wynder needs to be considered for the 2026 World Cup or immediately following the World Cup.

Benfica is in Group C of the Club World Cup with Auckland City, Bayern München, and Boca Juniors. Their first match is against Boca Juniors, 33-time Argentine champions, on June 16^th. Game two is on June 20^th against 10-time New Zealander champions, Auckland City FC. Lastly, their 3^rd group stage match is against the 6-time UEFA Champions League winners, Bayern München, on June 24^th.