#Benny Feilhaber

[cumpletesoccerfanatic]

Benny Feilhaber

[guardian-of-gotham]

//Bruce has a new fc, btw. Matt Cohen is great, but his jawline wasn't quite sitting right with me. Couldn't find a Jewish actor or model that fit better, so I dipped into athletes and found Benny Feilhaber. Unfortunately, there are very few pictures of him in suits and none with the right hairstyle, so I'll be making heavy use of reface. ✌️

[mypaperheartmanips]

[addc10]

A Guide for 3G

I do this as therapy, so please forgive these long posts about US soccer.

So, for those who do not know, Gregg Berhalter was hired as the usmnt coach either yesterday, a couple days ago, in August, or all the way back in October of last year depending on when you started listening to rumors. After one of the worst years in usmnt history and the hardest I have had to endure as a supporter, we now have a coach.

But who is he?

When 3G (as his players apparently call him) was hired, I thought I would feel . . . excitement? Anger? Joy? I’m not sure, but I thought I would feel something. Instead, it was maybe relief? But mostly it was nothing. So, I decided to do some research because all I knew about him was that he coached Columbus Crew, who was the story of the year after their fans banded together to #SavetheCrew and the team made the MLS playoffs in the turmoil of owners trying to move the club.

The first thing I learned was that Crew had a -2 goal difference this year. Not the best way to start. But the Crew also allowed the fewest amount of shots in the MLS this past year. 3G was a player, capped 44 times for the usmnt. Played in the Netherlands, Germany, England, and the US. But the important one here is the Netherlands (and yes, the US, but mostly the Netherlands). 3G loves Dutch footballing philosophy. When he played there, he took meticulous notes on coaching and tactics and loved talking football with anyone who knew enough English to entertain him (I’m kidding here, he speaks a little Dutch, some German, Spanish and English). 3G has been dubbed the best tactical coach in the MLS. He is a ‘nerd.’ He loves statistics, loves tactics, and loves possession. He works for a club known for spending the least amount of money possible and yet he pushes a system he believes in and the Crew has found success.

The last words of 3Gs press conference were “we want to see ball circulation, breaking lines, creating goal scoring opportunities. That should be the DNA of our team.” These are good words. I like these words. I like that 3G has a plan. He has a system. And he values the system above all else.

But I need to temper my excitement. Because for as much as I am excited for, there are things I am worried about. I took the liberty of listing them below:

Thing I am excited about:

No More Counter Attacks 😀

Possession football will allow us maybe to smash Honduras instead of grinding out a 1-0 win and that makes me excited.

Thing I am not excited about:

No More Counter Attacks 🤨

There is no way in hell we are out-possessing Columbia so 3G better have a plan B.

Thing I am excited about:

4-2-3-1 🤗

This is the system that Berhalter uses at Crew and it is one of my favorites. It will suit McKennie, Adams, and loads of other young talent.

Thing I am not excited about:

4-2-3-1 🤔

This position calls for a number 10, a true 10. The US does not have this player. We have a lot of 8s, but no true 10. Many want Pulisic to play this role, but in the Crew, this role is played by the one and only Federico Higuain and he is a passer. Pulisic likes to run at people. It remains to be seen how 3G will solve this conundrum.

Thing I am excited about:

The old guard returning 😍

From their exile, they will come. Next year could very well see the likes of Michael Bradley, Bobby Wood, and maybe even Benny Feilhaber return to the usmnt after a year of playing the youth following . . . you know, that thing that happened in October. Wil Trapp has captained the side since then, and I actually have a soft spot for Wil Trapp. But it is time to let the others back in, it wasn’t their fault Jurgen Klinsmann may have been the actual devil. They deserve a little slack.

Thing I am not excited about:

The old guard returning 😤

Okay, maybe I haven’t completely forgiven them. I don’t care how shortly before a match you knew the formation or that you had never practiced it. How can you not even manage a draw against Trinidad and Tobago?! I like the youth. Despite disappointing results (save the France draw), I have enjoyed watching our young players and I am worried that 3G might not play them. Worse, due to the timing of his appointment, his first time with the team will be at January Camp, and our European-playing promising youth will not be there to learn this all important system.

Conclusion:

I will end with something I am excited about, because I am overall positive about this. (Although, I was positive about Bruce Arena too when he was appointed). What I like the most about 3G is he has a plan, but maybe not always. He is a young guy. He has a philosophy of creating scoring chances and reducing scoring opportunities by the opponent. But when Crew played the Red Bulls last year, his tactics changed. Some coaches have said Crew is one of the hardest teams to play, because they can be unpredictable. It will be a struggle to execute this same level as a national coach, as he has less time with the players. But 3G was always going to have a challenge. I’m looking forward to the Gold Cup this year more than I ever have before in the past. My expectations are tempered, but at least I finally have some.

[canirove]

(via fuckyeahbennyfeilhaber-blog)

[sportingkansascity]

Jan. 4, 2018: Sporting KC trades Benny Feilhaber to LAFC for allocation money.

[mlscup]

You know what time it is…

[ancelottieyebrow]

Benny Feilhaber #22 of the New England Revolution goes after the ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 28, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution 1-0.

[boys-and-popculture]

Benny Feilhaber

[ultragooner89]

[iihbki3]

Sporting Kansas City’s Seth Sinovic, Benny Feilhaber set for free agency By Shaun Goodwin Special to The Star By Shaun Goodwin Special to The Star With MLS free agency set to begin Monday, Sporting Kansas City has declined contract options for three… https://t.co/r56o1jU6ra https://t.co/rDYdnklVpW

[sports247xyz]

Colorado Rapids trade Feilhaber to Sporting Kansas City - sources

Colorado Rapids trade Feilhaber to Sporting Kansas City – sources

Atlanta United put MLS on notice with a rout of Sporting Kansas City on the road, highlighted by two goals from Josef Martinez.

Benny Feilhaber is headed back to Sporting Kansas City, with the former U.S. international midfielder getting traded to his old club, multiple sources have told ESPN FC.

Jean Luc Imfurayacu of Rwandan outlet RadioTV10 was the first to report the news.

–…

[addc10]

So much transfer news. Looks like the Rapids will keep shaking it up trying to turn their season around.

[canirove]

(via fuckyeahbennyfeilhaber-blog)

[sportingkansascity]

Jan. 3, 2018: Benny Feilhaber heads to LAFC as Sporting KC trades the midfielder in exchange for allocation money.

[mlscup]

Sporting KC was not happy with Opara and Melia both getting snubbed for the All Star Game.