Is it to soon to start this? Should this go here or in the USA main thread... mods please move if necessary. I didn't see a thread started yet. The purpose of this thread is not to post the roster you want, but to post your best guess of what Arena will do. Guys that are bold are the 23... GK (3) Howard (39) Guzan (33) Horvarth (23) D (11) OB: Villifana (28), Yedlin (24), Morrow (30), Ream (31), Zusi (31) CB: Brooks (25), Cameron (32), Besler (31), Palmer Brown (21), Gonzalez (29), Hedges (28) M (10) CM: Bradley (31), Acosta (22), Williams (29), McCarty (31) AM: Pulisic (19), F Johnson (30), Rowe (26), Nagbe (27), Mckennie (19), Zardes (26) F (6) Dempsey (35), Altidore (28), Wood (25), Wright (20), Agudelo (25), Dwyer (27) Average age for the 23 is 27.3.
What I think Arena might do. GK (3): Howard, Guzan, Rimando DF (8): Yedlin, Villafana, Chandler, Zusi; Cameron, Brooks, Gonzalez, Ream. Lichaj, Besler, Hedges MF (8): Bradley, Acosta, Bedoya, McCarty; Pulisic, Johnson, Nagbe, Rowe. Lletget, Corona, Arriola F (4): Wood, Altidore, Dempsey, Dwyer. Morris What I might do at this point, though it could certainly change. GK (3): Howard, Guzan, Horvath DF (8): Yedlin, Johnson, Chandler, Villafana; Cameron, Brooks, Miazga, Ream. Lichaj, Besler, Palmer-Brown (EPB can be a CB/CDM hybrid) MF (8): Bradley, Acosta, Williams, Roldan; Pulisic, Saief, Nagbe, Arriola. McKennie, Rowe F (4): Wood, Altidore, Dempsey, Dwyer. Agudelo, Wright
Even though Morris isn't playing well at the moment I think he needs to play more to stretch and open the field for others. I'm hoping his injury set him back and he will improve the rest of the year. If not him hopefully a speedy younger forward steps up quickly.
Now: 30: Goalies: Howard, Hamid, Horvath, Guzan, Gonzalez Defenders: Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj, Besler, Brooks, Miazga, Hedges, Gonzalez, Johnson, Villafana Midfielders: Bradley, Cameron, Acosta, Roldan, Trapp, Feilhaber, Saief, Pulisic, Rowe, Arriola Forwards: Agudelo, Altidore, Dempsey, Wood, Morris 23: Cut Guzan, Gonzalez, Lichaj, Gonzalez, Roldan, Arriola, Morris May 2018: 30: Goalies: Howard, Hamid, Horvath, Guzan, Gonzalez Defenders: Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj, Besler, Brooks, Miazga, Hedges, Palmer-Brown, Johnson, Villafana Midfielders: Bradley, Cameron, Acosta, Trapp, McKennie, Feilhaber, Saief, Pulisic, Rowe, Carleton Forwards: Agudelo, Altidore, Dempsey, Wood, Wright 23: Cut Guzan, Gonzalez, Lichaj, Hedges, Trapp, Rowe, Dempsey
Bruce's 23: GK: Guzan, Horvath, Howard DEF: Besler, Brooks, Cameron, Gonzalez, Miazga, Ream, Villafana, Yedlin, Zusi MID: Acosta, Arriola, Bradley, Johnson, McCarthy, Nagbe, Pulisic FWD: Altidore, Dempsey, Dwyer, Wood Cuts: Agudelo, Hedges, Jones, Lichaj, Saief, Zardes, Zimmerman
Yedln and Green both didn't make their NT debut until the year of the WC, they made the team. At this point in the cycle last cycle, Brooks hadn't either. Brooks was 21 at the WC, Yedlin 20, Green 19. Johannsson also hadn't gotten gotten any caps by this point last cycle. Unless Arena goes with a completely opposite strategy, he should have a good chance, as long as he's playing regularly somewhere between now and the WC.
Guys in bold are locks....non-bold are still in contention...only including players who have been called up by Arena in 2017. G - Howard, Guzan, (Frei if FIFA approves his switch in time) D - Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin, F.Johnson, Gonzalez, Besler, Villafana M - Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe, Gyardes, Bedoya, Arriola, Acosta, McCarty, Lletget, Saief, Roldan F - Altidore, Dempsey, Wood, Morris, Dwyer, Agudelo Biggest question mark for me is the future of the four European-based players who have not been called up yet by Arena.....Julian Green, Aron Johansson, Timmy Chandler, and Danny Williams. On pure talent Chandler and Williams should definitely be in the 23, while Julian Green and Aron Johansson have the talent but face an uphill battle because Arena may only take four forwards (although I'm guessing he takes five, since Dempsey likes to play in the hole, and Morris often plays on the wing).