USMNT: Stagnant Dave Sarachan scuppers necessary progress

Dave Sarachan is a stagnant, stale, out-of-date coach. All such traits were laid bare on Tuesday night in the USMNT’s 1-0 win over Paraguay.

The interim manager wants the full-time job. He is getting results, but is the process what USMNT really needs? Team selection, formation, and substitution patterns suggest Dave Sarachan is trying to earn the full-time job while holding the interim tag. Will this approach work for him or the players? Should fans be worried?

Since Sarachan has been given the interim coaching gig, boring, uninspired soccer from the sterile US soccer coaching ranks has been on full display. The longer the USSF delays the inevitable, the more the players and fans may suffer from this tired, old, conservative and cautious US coaching style that only exist to preserve jobs.

Sarachan started the Paraguay game in a 4-1-4-1 with a triangle of Will Trapp, Marco Delgado, and Tyler Adams. This same formation was used in the bland 0-0 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that game, Cristian Roldan replaced Delgado in the starting lineup. With a completely different roster, Sarachan also used the same formation in his first game in charge versus Portugal. A little stale.

The USMNT came into the Paraguay game focused on balance and defensive shape. Sarachan has stated these young rosters will not be over coached. However, only one forward at home against a defensive team was always going to lead to a bogged-down, low-scoring game. To evaluate players, the USMNT needs better coaches to put these players in better positions.

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Sarachan did not make a substitution until the 67^th minute of an exhibition, which is designed to get as many players game time as possible. This is a game to win 5-4, not 1-0. Barely any shots on-goal is not acceptable, especially if an interim coach is trying to draw some attention to his program as Sarachan is.

Darlington Nagbe coming off for Roldan, for instance, should have happened with 30 minutes left, not 30 seconds. Did Jorge Villafana really need to play a full game with three other options on the bench? Surely more minutes could have gone to Antonee Robinson, Shaq Moore or Eric Lichaj? All three have rights to be aggravated after travelling great distances only to be unused.

Sarachan should not get the full-time job based strictly on his decisions at the helm so far. He was playing strictly for a win, not trying to develop a team. He didn’t even use all of the allotted substitutions. Using two subs after the 85^th minute is indicative of playing for a result, not using the game to develop and evaluate. Two unused subs, in this type of game, only serves to frustrate players and fans.

Sarachan and the USSF would rather the occasional, bland win and safeguard against a bad loss, instead of being bold and letting the players play for a win. It is hard for a team to play well when they are not put in a position to play positively. It is borderline negligent to call in such a young squad and then manage for an embattled1-0 win. If the last cycle showed us anything, it is that game time needs to be maximized.

The approach to coaching before, during and after games needs an overhaul. Continued success relies on coaches having a plan for player development at every stage. The result of this game was less important than ever. Getting new players engaged and keeping them healthy was more important. Running more players than necessary for 90 minutes is not beneficial for anyone. With how reckless Paraguay were playing, why not limit players exposure to injury?

Sitting on the fence with Sarachan is not helping inspire the fan base, nor is it in the best interest of the players. After the debacle of 2018 qualifying, Sarachan actually had the gall to tell fans to “temper their expectations” concerning all of the potential young players fighting for minutes and USMNT recognition.

Next: USMNT Vs Paraguay: Player ratings

It is reckless of USSF leadership to continue to expose the players to subpar coaching. Wasting plenty of people’s time is the only purpose served by having Sarachan stay in charge. The time is now, the need is imminent, speed is essential, for change.

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