The answers to every question about tactics is self explanatory. It doesn't matter if he does something insane like put Stuver in the striker role with 10 minutes left to go. Every tactical decision he makes (or doesn't make) is his opinion on what he thinks is best for the team. You can have a difference of opinion on what you think is best, and that will form your opinion of retain or fire, but everything you need to know about who he thinks is the best on the team for the task of winning was displayed by who started/subbed on and who didn't.
Middle of the season its hard to discern his purpose because maybe he is resting a player, maybe he's hiding an injury, maybe he's looking past a certain match-up to another week because he thinks the first one is a cakewalk or just wants a tie but he cannot outright say that. This being a do or die match he is throwing everything into getting the win, nothing to hide. All you need to get from his actions is that he doesn't rate Lewis or Berget to help the team win vs Atlanta (maybe he still likes them vs NYRB or some other matchup). Regardless of how we all feel about Lewis. Perhaps there is a real reason like an injury or discipline that he can explain internally to ownership, but he isn't going to tell a reporter. Like you are going to pester him into saying Berget is shit and lewis is immature? Does that sound like a coach players are going to want to play for or ownership wants to hire? a guy who airs dirty laundry and throws people under the bus? Cause calling out the players also calls out the scouts and the GM. You really think he wants to burn all his relationships so that a reporter can run a catchy story? What's in it for him?