2008 Olympics had Jozy, MB, Edu, Dax, Holden, Davies, Sacha, Guzan, Parkhurst and Benny. That was a good team but results didn't pan out for them. Long term that team provided a lot of players for the full NT.
Of course, and in 2007 Adu, Wallace, RR, Zizzo looked liked stars, and Dax was sitting on the bench. Good players. Doesn't mean that they were even close to Olympics gold, so all that "winning Olympics" talk is way premature.
Speaking only for myself, I'm certainly not arguing that, on paper and/or at the time, they were an obvious medal favorite. Just that they were a good team, playing pretty well together, and it didn't seem impossible that they might find a way to win a knockout game or two.
I believe 2018 team might be better than that, but will be pretty happy if they win those two knockout games.
That 3-5-2 is missing a LWB, need to take an attacker off to play that formation. I'd rather play a different formation, we don't need three 3 CB's, given our attacking talent. Also don't think Taitague gets near that starting XI, @butters59. If we add another attacker, I think its Pomykal. I think there's a decent argument for swapping in Pomykal for Sargent, going to a 4-3-3. Garces Cannon-CCV-Glad-Gloster Pulisic-EPB-McKennie-Carleton Wright-Sargent
I'd go with Scott; Acosta, EPB, CCV, Cannon; McKennie, Gonzalez, Adams; Pulisic, Sargent, Taitague. That'll change in a couple days but I'm glad to put it on this website so my words are set in stone.
At least Schalke wasn't bullshitting us because McKennie is now a regular for their first team. When Reading said they needed Novakovich and then he never even made the bench while there
One thing to note is that Sandon went to a 3-5-2. And I imagine part of the reason is that we do have a fullback problem with this age group. There are options, but none have broken out the way others in this team have. Perhaps guys like Marco Farfan, Reggie Cannon, Matt Olusunde, Marlon Fossey, and company will advance next year. Fingers crossed. Danny Acosta has been a pleasant surprise this MLS season................................
My pointless prediction is that Yedlin is on the team, as well as one of the 95 gks. Maybe even Kenny Saief for fb cover.
Call in 33 guys for an Olympic catered camp: encompass all ages, let these guys know they're the future and this competition is the next one we really care about. GK: Klinsmann, Scott, Marcinkowski, Garces FB: ACOSTA, Fossey, A. Robinson, Cannon CB: PALMER-BROWN, CARTER-VICKERS, GLAD, Redding, Durkin CDM: MCKENNIE, JO. GONZALEZ, ADAMS, Parks, Zelalem, D. Jones, K. Scott CAM: PULISIC, Pomykal, Carleton, De La Torre WING: Taitague, Lennon, Akale, Perez, Gaines ST: SARGENT, Haji, Vazquez, Weah When it comes time bring in Horvath/Steffen, Yedlin, and a guy to provide midfield cover BUT let the kids be the focus (Acosta or Roldan). -------------------------------- HORVATH ---------------------------------- --- YEDLIN ---------- CCV --------------- EPB ---------- ACOSTA -- -------------- MCKENNIE ----------------- GONZALEZ ---------------- --------------------------------- PULISIC ------------------------------------ ------ TAITAGUE ---------------------------------------------- HAJI ------ -------------------------------- SARGENT ----------------------------------
Swap out Klinsmann and Marcinkowski for Vom Steeg and Silva, Mihailovic for de la Torre, Goslin for Jones, Ebobisse for Akale, Kunga for Gaines and I completely agree with that list.
I think we may see anyone from either champs/league2/2bl and above plus Sargent.If Weah gets a brace in the next game then he should be included since we are thin on wingers.
The Olympics are FAR more important now that the US has failed to qualify for the WC. For god's sake, US Soccer, HIRE. A. U23/OLYMPIC. COACH. ASAP!
@Real Corona or @bungadiri, can we merge this thread with the thread created by @AutoPenalti? Thanks! https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/2020-olympic-qualifying-team.2030463/
@Real Corona is the sheriff in the Yoot Forums. I'll defer to his judgment. I'm just the peripatetic hangin' judge with the bottle of rotgut rye hidden in the valise that's supposed to be holding lawbooks.