It’s been just over a month since Gregg Berhalter was named head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, and the 45-year-old tactician is currently engrossed in his first training camp at the helm. Initial reactions to the hire were certainly complicated, but for now it is a wait-and-see game for those eager to find out what sorts of significant changes the former Columbus Crew skipper can bring in 2019.

What put off a large number of supporters was not necessarily the selection itself but rather the process by which Berhalter was hired. A nearly 14-month-long search gave plenty of time for profiles to surface from both within and outside of American soccer, but it culminated with the federation pulling the trigger on the man who seemed both the safe and obvious choice from the beginning.

Still others concluded that despite the length of the search, U.S. Soccer ultimately captured a top manager who can move the U.S. forward, including Taylor Twellman and veteran defender Michael Parkhurst.

“I think Gregg is a very meticulous coach. He’s a coach that pays attention to detail, and he has shown a great quality in [getting] a team to execute a particular game plan,” Twellman told Stars and Stripes FC.

Parkhurst further emphasized Berhalter’s tactical prowess. 

“I think everyone respects Gregg tactically and what he can do on the field with a team and how organized he is. I think that everyone thinks he's one of the best American coaches, and I agree … If the plan was to bring in an American, then absolutely, I think he's the right hire.”

Berhalter may not have been the blockbuster hire many were hoping for, but there are plenty of positives and reasons to believe the New Jersey native can put the Stars and Stripes on the path to success.

Welcome to Soccer House. #USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter hitting the ground running in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/AHMPHmWGJu

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 5, 2018

Team Chemistry & Culture

Jurgen Klinsmann was the sort of splashy hire many U.S. Soccer fans had long hoped for, but a pedigree of European triumphs has never really translated to success Stateside. The former Germany international guided the U.S. to hallmark wins against Mexico (the first at the Azteca), Italy, Holland and Germany. However, along with a collection of unacceptable losses, player discontent was a major factor down the stretch due to questionable lineup decisions and Klinsmann's propensity for publicly criticizing players.

One of the most important aspects of the Berhalter hire is the reputation he has built among current players. Midfielder Wil Trap, a key component of Berhalter’s system at Columbus, underlined just how important a manager’s rapport with players is in an interview with Yahoo Sports.

“I think [Berhalter's] grown immensely in connecting with guys, whether they’re from Ghana or the United States or wherever. He does a really good job, an intentional job, about getting to know the person.”

Frontman Gyasi Zardes echoed that sentiment, claiming Berhalter “knows how to get the best out of each and every player.” Berhalter has already begun his quest to elevate team culture in January camp by mixing up rooming situations so that players are more likely to forge new connections. Squad chemistry will be pivotal as U.S. Soccer looks to rebuild following a World Cup qualifying failure

A Coherent Approach

Klinsmann also drew heavy criticism for alterations in formations and tactics from game to game and for employing players out of their normal position. Berhalter has delineated his vision for the team on numerous occasions, namely a possession-based style of play that aims to disorganize opposing defenses. Again, Trapp’s words help paint a picture of what the Crew locker room came to expect on a weekly basis.

“For players, there’s nothing better than having objectives and a set plan of knowing what’s expected in a particular game, and then you can judge the performance based on those things.”

While plenty of pieces may come in and out of the picture as Berhalter assembles the team to his liking, the U.S. can at least count on a coherent vision when it comes time to compete.

Experience With MLS Personnel

Although Klinsmann entered the scene with decades of playing and coaching at the highest level, Berhalter has a leg up on his predecessor in terms of involvement with the U.S.-based players at his disposal.

Through his five years at the Columbus Crew, a club with one of the lowest payrolls in the league, Berhalter’s teams garnered a reputation for overachieving. Appearances in the 2015 MLS Cup and 2017 Conference Finals (both one-goal losses to that year’s champion) with limited resources speak for themselves. Such results demonstrate an acute understanding of personnel across the league and the ability to develop appropriate mechanisms for breaking down and defending against different types of opponents.

The most recent example in which a Berhalter side undermined a favorite came in the first round of the 2018 MLS Playoffs. The Crew held Wayne Rooney in check and eliminated a D.C. United side, which brought a 10-match unbeaten run into the postseason. As the league continues to progress and produce new American talent, Berhalter’s recent history in MLS bodes well for constructing a solid national team core.

This month’s camp is comprised entirely of MLS players, and they will face their first tests in a pair of exhibitions against familiar CONCACAF foes Panama and Costa Rica. The Stars and Stripes will face off against Panama on Jan. 27 in Glendale, Arizona, before traveling to meet the Ticos in San Jose six days later.

Wesley Davidson is a graduate of the University of Alabama (BA) and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (MA). He currently works in youth soccer in Austin, Texas, and can be found on Twitter.