2019 Gold Cup roster/starter predictions?

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by RalleeMonkey, Nov 8, 2017.

  1. dlokteff

    dlokteff Member+

    Jan 22, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    They cancelled the change roster rule. It's a set 23 for the whole tourney.
     
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  2. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    well I still think there should be at minimum a handful of "new" players....previous experience with GB's USMNT should not be a pre-req for a call-up but I'm assuming it will be.....
     
  3. phillyfan593

    phillyfan593 Member

    Jul 20, 2011
    The roster does not have to be as conservative since the Confederations ticket is out of play.
     
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  4. gunnerfan7

    gunnerfan7 Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jul 22, 2012
    Santa Cruz, California
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That sums up my fears pretty much. It's a feedback loop of players that skew older, MLS-based, and mediocre talent/low-ceiling. With our top talent increasingly going overseas, at younger and younger ages, and with our MLS talent skewing younger and younger, we should be seeing our rosters get younger and younger in response.

    I'm worried we won't see enough of a change in our rosters to matter by the time WCQ or the WC comes around...
     
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  5. keller4president

    Jan 5, 2006
    Just one point - performance in the Gold Cup contributes heavily to our FIFA World Ranking, which usually plays a large part in seeding for WC. Having a high seed can be crucial to getting a decent group. (Though we are unlikely to be one of top 8 seeds this time.) So Gold Cup is a bit more important than everyone is saying.
     
  6. CyphaPSU

    CyphaPSU Member+

    Mar 16, 2003
    Not Far
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We will probably see guys like Joe Corona called in for the GC. Revive yourself in MLS, get called in.

    However, if we are talking about bringing some guys back into the fold then I'd prefer to see fences mended and guys brought in like this, if they're "needed." Oh, and guys like this are needed.
     
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  7. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    good point....i would just say that I don't think going vet-heavy or "GB-experienced-heavy" equates with a better chance of winning Gold Cup though....I think bringing in those "unproven" guys is what will actually enhance the chances of doing well in GC....I think there's 5-10 players out there that could be the difference between losing and winning the GC....it isn't just to keep blooding new guys as a general concept (which I am in favor of)...its that some previously unincluded players out there can be difference makers for this squad....even ones who have never played for the usmnt at all.
     
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  8. largegarlic

    largegarlic Member+

    Jul 2, 2007
    Apologies if this becomes an Ed Crocker length post, but here's how I've been thinking the roster. As usual for me, these picks are some combination of my preferences and what I think Berhalter is committed to. I'm assuming that we'll play Berhalter's system and won't include anyone outside of those in any of his camps or the U-20/U-23 March camps.

    Games where the US is likely to have most of the possession and face a bunkering opponent (i.e., against anyone other than Mexico and maybe CR):

    Arriola------------Altidore------------Pulisic
    --------------X--------------McKennie--------
    ---------------------Trapp----------------------
    X--------Brooks---Miazga/Long---Adams
    ---------------------Steffen--------------------

    I think Altidore is still our best, most in-form forward at this point, even though it disappoints me to say that. I don't think Pulisic can play the sort of quick 1- and 2-touch game needed centrally against a team that is clogging the middle of the field (see Ecuador), so I'd put him out wide in these cases. Trapp, for me, is fine in these sorts of game, since his passing can open things up without his defensive liabilities being a problem. Adams would spend most of his time in midfield in that underlapping RB role, since I'm assuming the US has lots of possession. Miazga and Long are pretty much neck-and-neck for the starting spot next to Brooks.

    Games where it's even or the other team is likely to have more possession than the US (i.e., games against Mexico and maybe CR):

    Arriola------------Zardes------------X-----
    --------------Pulisic--------McKennie
    ---------------------Adams-------------------
    X--------Brooks---Miazga/Long---Yedlin
    ---------------------Steffen--------------------

    While I said that I think Altidore still is our best forward overall, I don't like his work rate if we're asking the forward to do more pressuring and potentially chasing down long clearances. I'd put Zardes in for those reasons. I'd move Pulisic inside here, since there's likely to be more space for him on the break if the other team is actually pushing up the field and pressuring the US (see Chile). I don't trust Trapp to control the middle against more skilled, more athletic teams, so Adams comes inside, and Yedlin comes on as a more traditional RB.

    As is obvious from my Xs, I'm not sure what to do about LB, one of the advanced CM spots, and one of the wingers. I feel like Ream is good for 1-2 bad gaffes per game that result in great chances for the opponent, but he might be the most likely option for that LB role. I'd consider Besler over him, but Berhalter doesn't seem interested. I'd also consider Miles Robinson for that spot.

    Probably the safe pick for that CM spot is Lletget, whom I like, but has been hit or miss. The trendy, more daring pick is Pomykal, but I get the feeling that Berhalter won't do that.

    For the other winger when Pulisic plays centrally, I'd vote for Weah. He's as good or better right now than options Berhalter's tried there like Ebobisse, Lewis, Baird, or Morris, and he's younger with more upside.

    Summing up, that would give me a roster of:

    FWD: Alitdore, Zardes
    Winger: Arriola, Pulisic, Weah
    CM: Trapp, McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Pomykal
    LB: Ream, M. Robinson
    CB: Brooks, Miazga, Long
    RB: Yedlin
    GK: Steffen, Horvath (as obvious #2)

    So 5 empty spots still...
     
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  9. phillyfan593

    phillyfan593 Member

    Jul 20, 2011
    That’s fair to say but honestly, the way the groups and future possible matchups have worked out, USA has literally a free trip to the Finals. As long as they bring in mostly their A squad, it would be a huge disappointment. What I am trying to say is worst case scenario , they finish 2nd place. Rankings going to change that drastic? I think this is Tournament is important to see where USA stands with Mexico. Other than that, not too many other story lines for me. The Confederations Cup ticket not being in play hurts. That tournament had advantages for World Cup.
     
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  10. FormerNo10

    FormerNo10 Member

    Juventus
    United States
    Dec 13, 2018
    Sadly, there is a very good chance this roster prediction will be 3G's top choice. When 3G re-states that he already has the top 23 players in mind for the GC, and there are approx 35+ players in his pool, then it becomes much easier to project his roster.

    Current 2019 player pool: Steffon, Johnson, Horvath, J.Gonzales, Lima, Adams, Long, Miazga, Zimmerman, Brooks, O.Gonzalez, Lovitz, Ream, Garza, Cannon, Trusty, McKenzie, Rosenberry, Yedlin, Bradley, Trapp, Canouse, Delgado, McKennie, Roldan, Lleget, Pulisic, Mihailovic, Ebonisse, Baird, Morris, Lewis, Arriola, Zardes, Ramirez, Altidore
     
  11. imasyko

    imasyko Member+

    May 16, 2002
    Spring City, PA
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But can you blame Berhalter for this? A coach gets hired and everyone immediately expects him to win right now, and it's unfair considering the state of our team. Had he been hired a year prior...but we've beat that one to death by now haven't we? He's in a no-win situation and only results count, which is why he has no choice but to play some veterans.

    I'm hoping he has the stones to stick around for a while, so we can see how the young talent everyone is so enamored of can/will develop.
     
  12. Patrick167

    Patrick167 Member+

    Dortmund
    United States
    May 4, 2017
    The problem with your logic is that the players he is not picking would actually give him a better chance to win. That he is actually hurting his chances of getting results with picking older, less talented players.

    Against Chile, the only game he didn't win, the main problem was that Chile's best player kept getting the ball in a very dangerous area of the field. The three players in that area were Bradley, Omar, and Ream. The three oldest, most experienced players on the roster.

    In the Behind the Crest video for the game, GB makes the adjustment during halftime to tell Omar to step up to Vidal. So, at halftime the coach has to tell the CB he picked over other younger options what to do. Would CCV have figured that out himself? Possibly. At worse, CCV would have been as clueless as Omar, who was brought in for his experience!

    Also at halftime, Zardes was tasked with doing a better job of denying the entry pass. But we have been told that Zardes plays, almost exclusively, because he understands what GB wants. But Zardes didn't, and Chile was easily slipping the ball to Vidal past him (and Arriola, but he adjusted on his own).
     
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  13. btlove

    btlove Member

    United States
    Sep 29, 2017
    Austin Texas
    Hmm honestly I disagree that he needs to win now. I think a lot of people would have been happy with a progressive approach that led to worse results in the short term. But even so, as mentioned already, I fail to see how calling Baird, Gonzo, Lovitz, Bradley, and Ream screams “I have to win now”
     
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  14. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Legit question.... do we leave Pulisic at home?

    The final of the GC would end July 7. Chelsea play the first game of preseason on July 19 meaning if we go to the final he’d be flying straight from the US to Japan with no break. Joining a new team, coach and in a new league and potentially being viewed as a replacement to one of the best players in the world in Hazard who is likely gone to Real.

    Would it make sense to let him have time off and go into Chelsea PreSeason rested and be there the full time so that he can better acclimate?
     
  15. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    He could play the tune up at Nippert
    https://sbisoccer.com/2019/04/u-s-m...ociation-opposing-friendly-at-nippert-stadium
     
  16. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  17. ttrevett

    ttrevett Member+

    Apr 2, 2002
    Atlanta, GA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm so glad that the players have spoken up about this. It is borderline criminal to expect professional soccer players, whose livelihood is dependent on the health of their joints, to play on a temporary sod over turf. Why the hell would they do this when there are so many actual grass fields everywhere in the country. US Soccer has no interest in developing the game in this country. They are interested in the revenue they can generate while putting soccer games on. I have no idea who is personally financially benefiting from these decisions, but the decisions of those in charge rarely seem to be geared towards the benefit of the players and the development of the team.
     
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  18. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    What was left of Stuart Holden's left knee was ruined on one of those fields when JK stupidly decided to play him on the back of a 3-day turnaround.
     
  19. yurch10

    yurch10 Member+

    Feb 13, 2004
    Completely agree. Who the hell has said GB has to win now? The most critical fans of GB (I wouldn't say I'm one, but I'm not a supporter at this point) don't care about anything except getting the old Lions out and moving forward with the plethora of young talent we have. Most of these fans are even longing for the days of Sarachan at this point, and he had absolutely zero mandate except to use young players (until he realized he might have a chance at the job).
     
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  20. SpencerNY

    SpencerNY Member+

    Dec 1, 2001
    Up in the skyway
    Many people are saying they want Sarachan back BIGLY! Let me tell you.

    All the old guys down at the coffee shop have been whispering it.
     
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  21. yurch10

    yurch10 Member+

    Feb 13, 2004
    Nailed it spence!
     
  22. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "It's all about the Benjamins, baby!"
     
  23. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Do you think there is something boring about Berhalter-ball? Eh, i'd give him a chance,

    Sarachan was getting there towards the end. His problem was transitioning from the 5 man back line to something less defensive. His last game was v. Italy when he played a 5 man back line and a 3 man midfield of Delgado, Adams and Acosta. If only he had gone Adams, Trapp and Delgado with a 4 man back line and 3 forwards. He played Moore at left back, ffs. C'mon.

    Berhalter is a perfectly ok manager. I wouldn't approach the problem like he does but his approach is perfectly defensible. He is playing his kind of player and that's fine. Go for it, baby. Let's see your stuff.
     
  24. Sebsasour

    Sebsasour Member+

    New Mexico United
    May 26, 2012
    Albuquerque NM
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Our striker pool is extremely limited right now, and Jozy just picked up an injury.

    As boring as the name sounds, I"ll point out that Andrew Wooten is currently the 5th leading scorer in The 2.Bundesliga and has 10 goals in his last 12 games.
     
  25. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Andrew Wooten. He’s so hot right now.
     
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