GGG has to protect the political ambitions of his brother. And certainly that is more important than putting the best team on the pitch.
I'm all for trying Morales, and I think he should have been on the 40-man roster, and thus an option when injuries hit and replacements were called in. I'd gladly have taken him or Nagbe over Mihailovic when the opportunity arose. Heck, I also prefer both of those two over Trapp, a player who is average in MLS and not international quality. But a winter/spring injury knocked Morales out of Düsseldorf's lineup and he did not re-establish himself in the months of March, April, and May. From the Fall of 2018 to Feb 23 he was definitely a starter and earned the vast majority of the 1000+ minutes folks keep mentioning. Then he was out for a month. Then from March 23 to the end of the season he got one start (71 minutes) and 5 late-game sub appearances (total of about 64 minutes). https://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/51371/ It's entirely plausible that his lack of game time and fitness kept him off the 40-man roster. Was that the right decision? I don't have any inside knowledge. I hope he wins a starting spot back and that we see him in the Fall with the US. Danny Williams, long a favorite of mine, played a little bit in the Fall of 2018, but in 2019 (new manager?) he saw only 2 late token sub appearances totaling 16 minutes. Unlike Morales, I don't see how he was a serious option for the 40-man roster -- 16 professional minutes since December doesn't cut it for me. Like Morales, I hope Williams finds a starting role somewhere and gets another shot with the US. https://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/44496/ I agree with the vast majority that Adams needs to be given the shot at the US's DM role in the Fall. I don't like the RB idea. I'll complain with the rest of you if Adams doesn't get a chance. Bradley should be a purely transition player at this point.
Shrug. I think being on a team in a mid-table or bottom half team of a top 4 league doesn't necessarily mean you're a better player than an MLS option. How many USMNT coaches have now passed on Alfredo Morales? 4? Bradley, Klinsmann, Sarachan, and Berhalter? Morales made his debut for Hertha Berlin in 2010. I don't know why that is, but its true. Several have called him up, taken a look at him in training/games, and then passed. I'm not some big Michael Bradley backer. I'm the opposite. I think its time to move on. However, I think Alfredo Morales is being massively over-rated on these threads as people search desperately for a Bradley replacement. The Bradley replacement is self-evident to me. Its the kid that's a starting midfielder on the 3rd best team in the Bundesliga. That's Tyler Adams. A Champions League quality midfielder this next season....................... I suspect that within a short period, our U23 midfield/attack will become our USMNT midfield/attack. Now I think that while we approach Olympic qualifying, some of these players will get more time with that group than the USMNT. ----------------------Sargent (Bremen)--------------- Pulisic (Chelsea)-------------------Weah (Lille) -------McKennie (Schalke)-Pomykal (FCD)---- ---------------------Adams (Leipzig)------------- Robinson (Everton)-EPB (Man City)-CCV (Spurs)-Cannon (FCD) ------------------------Scott (Koln)------------------- [I realize that several of those players will likely not be with those clubs when the club season starts. EPB will likely be loaned out. Maybe Robinson again. CCV may be sold. But Cannon and Pomykal may also be sold from MLS.]
They're provisionally cap-tied, and England isn't calling. But at left back, I'd say my primary alternate is Chris Gloster of Hannover (and formerly of the NYRB academy). He's been the subject of transfer bids this summer. Had an eye-opening U20 World Cup. https://www.espn.com/soccer/psv-eindhoven/story/3889217/source-psv-make-bid-for-us-youth-gloster George Bello broke out at Atlanta United, and is really highly regarded, but has stalled this year due to injury. When he gets back on track, folks are going to be watching him closely. At centerback we have a number of up-and-coming options that are US U23-eligible. Miles Robinson has had a nice season at Atlanta. Chris Richards of Bayern Munich had a great U20 World Cup. A whole host of others. Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie of Philly. Justen Glad of RSL. Julian Araujo of the Galaxy looks like an intriguing CB/RB prospect. There are others. We have a lot of numbers in terms of young CBs. We'll just have to see who rises to the top. As we've talked about in multiple places here, the #6 position has fewer elite prospects coming thru. We have 8s and 10s, but defensive midfield isn't a strength. And surprisingly, hasn't been for a while. One of the big reasons that Bradley is hanging on. Where are the international-caliber 26 year old American defensive midfielders? We've had several weak U20 cycles when it comes to defensive midfielders. One of the 6/8s that really stalled is Kellyn Acosta. Many folks thought he'd develop into a USMNT stalwart by now. He's been around forever, but is still only 23 years old. Folks will remember that he started and had a good game at our most recent WCQer in the Azteca. He was a key player on our 2017 Gold Cup Championship team. But now?
You're certainly entitled to your opinion but c'mon. It's like saying that a midtable B1 player isn't better than a B2 player. That B2 player better be a fricking star in his league (or a fast-rising elite youth) and even then, there's lot of players in every sport who look great at a lower level of play but can't hack it when the games speed up.
Shrug. I think being on a team in a mls doesn't necessarily mean you're a better player than a second or third division team of a top 4 league option. Yet, being an MLS option means automatically getting called up, being an option on a mid-table or bottom half team of a top 4 league means getting a last minute chance if deemed an upgrade, and being a lower division options means your best bet is to float a rumor of interest from an MLS club like Rubin or Hyndman.
Get more time? That lineup from Adams forward should be penned in as the starters for years until some new studs come along. We need to work on that back line although I think Richards is the next star back there. Good stuff.
The cold truth is that I think Bradley was okay in the tournament. Despite the clamor, most of our CONCACAF opponents didn't really attack through the center. Obviously, the U.S. lost control for a 25 minute spell in the 2nd half against Mexico, but I think the blame there goes to Berhalter. Berhalter was right to give the Michael Bradley treatment to Weston McKennie and make him a 90 minute player, and he needs to do the same for Tyler Adams in central midfield. My thoughts on Bradley's future: 1. In a world with Tyler Adams. Bradley should be a reserve and spot starter going forward. 2. Even if Tyler Adams is still injured in 2 months (let's hope not), it's unnecessary to call Bradley in for more than a few random Nations League matches. Newer players and second-tier Yanks Abroad should lead the US in Nations League, along with an occasional callup for Pulisic/McKennie/Brooks types. 3. And if Berhalter decides he really wants to see a US player often compared to Michael Bradley in Nations League, then he should realize that these are the matches to go all in on Wil Trapp.
So.... he is willing to sacrifice the good of the national team in order to put an inferior product on the field .... which likely leads to losses...which makes the USSF heads look dumb?
Apparently the Canadian kid Liam Fraser played pretty well in his absence. One thing that could make this more fun is if the club sat Bradley by the time of our next game.
Sorry, but that is just crazy talk. There is no justification for the absolute garbage that Egg put on this roster.
In crunch time there’s not a better soccer talent to take control of a match than Michael Bradley...Do our country a service and step down from the #USMNT #CONCACAFGoldCup #GoldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/Zh3YZeAnPm— Drop Our Nuts 🙌 (@Canes_LoudMouth) July 8, 2019
Give it up. There are those who just argue as matter of cause and their takes are so far out there it's like talking to a red trucker hat.
Ouch. Dominating the midfield! This is ridiculous. I see a lot of lineups posited in the "Best 11" thread, and no starting 11, and hardly any of the 2nd teams/top 23, feature MB. But if anyone thinks this, or any other highlight, will keep him off the next/Sept roster, I have some oceanfront real estate in DC to sell you...I'd be happy to put a friendly wager on it! And then the excuses will begin (Olympics, experience, others need to earn it, others need to settle in with their clubs, Egg has a plan you don't understand, Bundesliga starters aren't as good, etc.).
And to think that back in March people were telling us that Adams couldnt play the balls that MB90 & WTF do.
Give what up? Egg is an absolute dumpster fire as a national team coach. That is all that really matters right now.
My bad. Give up arguing with those that hold that view.. etc. I'm 100% with you that this is another cluster in a series of mismanaged USSF cluster F's on the US men's program.
And we still have stable genius' telling us McKennie should be benched for an MLS'er. Some people's children.