Pre-match: International Friendly: USA vs Costa Rica: February 1st

The emergence of Yueill gives GB the excuse he needs to end Trapp's days as a USMNT player... his performance while with the squad should have done that but I will take it. You mention Cappis here... but I am certainly hoping that GB sticks w/ his updated plan to play Adams in a central role. These guys can battle it out for the backup role and for time at other midfield positions but Adams is the man in the middle. Perhaps with Cappis and Yueill backing up Adams we will be saying goodbye to Bradley too?

Regarding Llanez... glad that he is getting a look but am disappointed he won't be with Wolfsburg in training. I watch every Wolfsburg game because of Brooks and that team could use help on O. Was hoping Uly might get a legit look during the 2nd half.... Doesn't look like a good possibility now.... but at least GB will get an extended look. Perhaps he can be persuasive....

 

I think it's happened before, from teams with early preseason starts to prep for Concachampions. This might be the first where the club worded it using language that is more confrontational than cordial, or at least direct instead of indirect.

 

Canada has to win as many friendlies as possible. El Salvador are hiding from friendlies. That is why the #USMNT is playing Costa Rica and not El Salvador.
Match promoters and the Federation want El Salvador to play but at the same time, El Salvador are too afraid of the FIFA points they may lose and logically want to make the HEX.

 

Would the game count considering it is not a FIFA window? I wouldn't think so.

 

I think it does, but very very little. Someone posted the points rules recently but I can't find them. I think it was something like 60 points for a Confederation tournament win, 30 for WC Qualifying win, 10 for a friendly and 5 for a game outside a FIFA window. But I may be completely and utterly wrong so hopefully whoever knows the answer, or knows how to find it, will post their correction shortly.

 

Yes it does.

Exactly.
http://img.fifa.com/image/upload/edbm045h0udbwkqew35a.pdf

El Salvador desperately wants to avoid the loss of their 15 point advantage.
Canada desperately wants points to catch them.

 

Double Negative: 10. Yet again, no Acosta.

 

Bump it.

-----------------Johnson----------
Cannon---Long----Zimmerman---????
------------Yueill----Roldan-------
Morris------Lletget----Arriola
-----------------Zardes---------

Other than another keeper (Hamid, Turner) does anyone doubt the other starters?

 

Me too

 

Now there's a group to not get excited about. Not much to watch, not much to learn from.

 

That is the way it is with Cupcake friendlies. Costa Rica won’t be exactly gracing the pitch with their best, either.

 

what I don’t like about this lineup is that there’s so many players who are at or past their peak:

- Zimmerman
- lletget
- roldan
- Zardes
- arriola

I’d like to have at most three of them (making five senior guys including Morris and long) and then give the highest upside guys a run out. Maybe sub one for another so we can see how other subs do as well.

For example, I’d put in miles for Zimmerman even if Zimmerman is a bit better right now. Also Aaronson for roldan.

 

Miles Robinson? ATL did not release him, right?

 

never mind me, I’m on a roll!

 

The way I would look at this

A) we are preparing for the March FIFA window friendlies vs Holland + I other. So, let's start by listing the Euro players who are obvious starters for us

1)Pulisic - we don't have anybody else who can run thru mid with the ball and score/assist like Pulisic. Question? Who is his back up?

2)Adams - obviously playing at high level at the 6. Who in MLS would come closest to replacing what he does should he be injured. That is a hard one. I don't see anybody in camp but Servania was recently added so I'd go with him for 90 minutes.

3) Brooks - passes out of the back. Has shown vulnerability vs. some concacaf opposition. How do we cover that vulnerability if we decide, (as I do) that we must have his passing?

4) Steffen/Horvath - who is GK #3?

The answers:

1) Has looked like Lletget but how about that Aaronsen kid?

2) Servania recently joined camp. I would play him 90'.

3) We just don't have anybody who passes like Brooks but the guy not tested yet at senior level is Glad so I would play him 90

4) Hamid and Johnson are old hat so I"d go Mack + Turner, one half each.

B) So what ab out the positions that are not already iron clad Euro?

1) incredibly, General Egg brought no 8's.It's the usual crap. The reason Egg's Crew teams sucked was that he never understood how to deploy the 8. I don't know what you do here. I'm saying this as a big fan of Pomykal who was sent home to continue dealing with post surgery rehab, as I understand it. So frustrating and we have nobody in Europe. So, it's Roldan, who else?

2) forwards - I believe Llanez went back to Germany so it's same ol-same ol plus Jonathan "one trick pony" Lewis?

I'm getting discouraged so I'll leave it there.

 

Tailgate should be fun.

I’m curious to see the Ticos.

Plenty of our kids to give a run to.

USA!

 

That's a lot of words just to remind us all that you don't rate McKennie.

There's a few players who can play the "8" -- McKennie, Morales, Roldan (if you like that sort of thing), Pomykal, Adams (even if better at the 6), Servania (even if better at the 6, and not ready for the USMNT), Cappis (ditto).

 

That's a lot of words just to remind me that you don't rate Morales.

 

You mean the guy I listed as #2 on the #8 depth chart? I actually remembered him, so does that mean I rate him better than you?

 

It really is crazy how much he doesn’t seem to rate Wes. You can point to some rough spots in his game but you can do that for anyone. He’s this cycles Jones. Dude is class. It’s not his fault 3G doesn’t play him to his strengths.

I would add that you forgot Holmes.

 

Yeah, I think Holmes could swing an 8. Berhalter doesn't see him there, of course, but valid. I'm sure I missed a few other players as well.

 

Another guy who hates Morales. Why?

 

I haven’t seen anyone say anything negative about him. Hell hes been overlooked but he’s still not at Wes level. I’d rank him next to Holmes. Holmes if I wanted more attack out of the 8 or Morales if I want to shut shit down in the middle. The guy that I quoted and you’re talking about literally had him as his number 2 option. Stop trying to deflect from the fact that you clearly have some sort of massive bias against Wes as you literally discredit him every chance you get.

Pulisic should be pushed wide. We should play a 4-3-3.

My middle 3 is Wes-Adams-Holmes/Morales.

If Pomykal can continue to grow he could potentially jump in the mix but I want to see more of him before I go there as CMs in the MLS don’t translate to national level as well as other positions.

Have two attacking outside backs in Dest and AR. Long next to Brooks for his speed.

Personally I’d go with Sarge up top. The other wing would have Morris in the lead but Weah, Gio and Paul fighting for that spot. All 4 bring different skill sets. Tho Morris/Weah are more similar.

 

What makes you rate Wes? What do you see that makes him great in your eyes?

 

Estos son los convocados por Rónald González para el encuentro del próximo 1º de febrero ante la Selección de #USMNT #CostaRica
pic.twitter.com/bJkUnzw1LE

— Elmer Polanco (@PolancoESA) January 23, 2020