The young players need to collectively unite and drive out these 'old guards' that are can no longer bring any meaningful contributions to the USMNT. Guys like Pulisic, Adams, McKennie, Weah, Sargent, etc. need to get together, form their own pact, and force their own paths forward. Because we know for damn sure the USSF is not going to do that for them, nor GGG. And if GGG doesn't like it, he can join Bradley Gonzales at the exit door. Remember, these days, it's the players that have the power. Not the federations nor the coaches. Players decide the coaches' faith. Imagined if Pulisic, McKennie, and Adams collectively agreed to refused future call ups. You think fans are going to show up at the games? Eyes gonna tuned into Fox or ESPN? Sponsors going to continue to pay up a premium for ads? I am not advocating for these guys to act as prima donnas or being bad apples, but if they're busting their asses out there to try to win games, only to look back and see your captain casually jogging around the pitch like he's taking a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park; it has to be gut punching. They should not accept that shit.
I don't think they have to do anything so drastic. Sarachan was gone the moment that Pulisic said he was looking forward to a coach with a real plan. Pulisic has the power now (Bradley had it over Klinsman). He was in the press today saying how impressed he was with GB and how he likes the position he is playing. No rebellion coming soon. When the time comes for MB or WT to be moved on and Adams moved in there; it will be done. GB will either conclude that himself or a simple word in an interview from Pulisic about how we need all our best players in their club roles, and it will happen. This is the first camp. It sounds like all three guys have been in constant communication with GB and I doubt GB would do anything without their blessing. MB didn't wear the armband in January, I doubt he does tomorrow if he even starts. It is not happening fast enough for you, me, and many, but I doubt very few but the biggest MB-stans don't see it coming.
The captain question be something to watch. IMO, there will be 8-10 contenders. If Berhalter wants to select one of the younger guard, then Pulisic, Adams, and McKennie are all obvious choices. Brooks and Yedlin could be acceptable to most of the fanbase. If Berhalter sees Aaron Long as starting XI caliber, then maybe Long retains the captain's armband that he wore in January. Finally, Berhalter could set the internet aflame by retaining Bradley or selecting somebody like Altidore or Trapp. I'd take a risk and pick Adams or Pulisic.
The Captain will def be interesting. I think he rotates it until he has his best 11 locked down. But wouldn’t be shocked if he went outside the box and I don’t mean going young.
Germany had a crisis after with not turning over their roster and look what they did. Lots of guys like Muller, Ozil, boateng, Khedira, etc were pushed out and the only five players on their current roster over 27 are 2 GKs and 28/29 yos Reus, Kroos, and Gundogan. That is veteran leadership that might actually still be around. Nothing like the crap we have that is keeping our best young generation off the squad. How did they not learn anything from Arena?
And here I thought it was to please LA Bradley who has a game Saturday and could use Zimmerman. Shows you how paranoia can grip a person.
Also posted in the TA thread. TA talks about the gimmick role. Sounds similar if not as concerning as Reggie Cannon's feedback which ended with "...It’s just something that is gonna take time to adapt to and for me, a lot longer than a month." “Luckily enough, I’ve had Skype calls with Gregg to try and go over the tactics, but it’s definitely tricky,” Adams told reporters on Tuesday. “The times I’m in the midfield, the times I’m not wide in training … I’m a midfielder, I’m training as a midfielder. It’s a regular [No.] 6, almost, and you find yourselves where the rotations of those three wide guys are so crucial.” https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...ains-his-approach-tricky-new-fullback-role-us A lot of complexity and a lot of potential transition-vulnerability risk if everyone does not rotate correctly. What exactly is the reward?
Pragidealist, What are your expectations for these games? Is there anything that could happen that you would find alarming or is your take that there’s no such thing as a bad outcome given your admiration for the setup? Also, how many long passes do our registas need to have to unlock the width? I know you said that they would probably have 8 or so but what if it’s lower?
Adams will be captain when he is in the back line but part of his new role will be passing off the armband to Long when he shifts into the midfield. This is true game changing innovation.
One problem is, it just so happens that his core is filled with mediocre MLS guys like Lovitz, Roldan, Lletget, and Zardes, has-beens like MB and Gonzo, and Wil Trapp. Meanwhile, he's called many of the promising European players (Weah, Sargent, Robinson, CCV, etc.) into YNT camps, or not at all (Nova). January Camp was guaranteed to be all-MLS. But now I'm wary of 3G getting a "core group" this early, and so heavily skewed towards MLS.
This is one of many posts regarding our Euro based players being sub-par, so to speak. I read them, and though there is probably some truth to these posts, I keep thinking about those Euro based players that tied France, in France, in a game that France really wanted to win. Yes, we bunkered in for the vast majority of the game, but the French did not come back and score 2 goals on us, like that T & T squad. Yes, maybe these Euro based players are struggling for playing time with their clubs, but there is something special and motivating (usually) when players put on a USMNT jersey. Bottom line: No MLS players should be on this roster for this game, and MLS players need to know that their play must go beyond exemplary in order to merit a call-up. And if it was up to me, I would draw the age limit at 26 for MLS field players so that we do not go into qualifying for 2022 with older players who cannot deliver what is needed to play in the World Cup.
I think the idea is to take the guys he had in Jan camp (who, ofc, are MLS) who did well and see what happens when the degree of difficulty goes up a notch. Against Panama, Mihailovich (who everybody was raving about) did well. When he faced a little stiffer competition in Costa Rica he came up a little short and is headed to U23's. Berhalter can't really come out and say that the method he is using is meant to eliminate people. Besides, it is meant to include people as well. If Lletget and Arriola, say, continue to shine as the degree of difficulty goes up, then so much the better. We can always use them. I think the inclusion of Bradley was stupid but the bigger picture is that Berhalter is continuing with a process that makes sense at the beginning of a cycle. The fact is that Trapp already showed he is better than Bradley's game in Jan camp. We should be talking about Trapp v. Adams at this point and instead we have journos saying Bradley is starter 6 for the USMNT. That is incredibly demoralizing.