Jonathan Gonzalez at Queretaro (OLF from CF Monterrey)

I was being sarcastic.

The arguments for Bradley going 90 every game over giving someone like Gonzalez some time were so flimsy that people were bringing up Totti saying nice things about him 2012 as a reason for his continued starts.

But yes, Gonzalez's work rate, hustle, just his general presence never mind his passing at tempo would certainly have helped the NT.

It's just amazing to me how we went out, with Bradley casually jogging all over the place and Nagbe doing his regular dribble and turnover while Gonzalez, Williams and McKennie were deemed not good enough. Those three with Pulisic in front and we're in Russia. Just imagine Gonzalez at the 6 with Williams/McKennie as the 8's in a diamond with Pulisic up top. The work rate, hustle, just general ambition would have been off the charts compared to what we saw.

 

Williams was hurt but anyway not the right forum to disagree with you here.

 

Williams for me would have been a prior inclusion but you're right, wrong forum for this.

 

Jonathan Gonzalez plays pretty good for an 18 year old! I don't understand why he was never called to play for the USMNT. What I have seen his age is not a factor. Yes, he needs improvement and will get it over time.

What will prevent him from playing for Mexico, if in case he does get called up, for this coming WC? The offer will be very tempting, even if he doesn't play a minute, just the purpose of attending a WC at 18 years old is a great accomplishment. He wasn't in the U20 WC either. That must be frustrating for him since he is showing that he belongs or at least deserved an opportunity with both the U20 and the USMNT.

 

Williams may be a bit too old to be put with this group for the long term. That formation of 3 should only see the light against Brazil/Germany opponents.

 

Opportunities will come. If I see the older players at the next friendly...I'm going to throw something at the tv.

 

You and I and everyone else thinks that new blood should be called up to the USMNT but will the new coach actually do it? That is my concern. We might lose a player. I saw a video before where Turco Mohammed had asked Osorio to take a closer look at Jonathan Gonzalez as he will be an asset to Mexico. I just hope he won't take the bait, like I said on my previous post, if he gets called up for the WC. That will be one very tempting offer that no dual national will pass up, specially if the other country didn't qualify.

 

We get it...you don’t like Michael Bradley.

And since we are in the Gonzalez thread, my initial concern is that his club team won’t release him for the November friendlies especially if they are in Europe. We will see I guess.

 

Aren't they on a FIFA date?

 

Could be true...which in that case disregard my previous note.

 

If Tab Ramos is the coach, expect him to be called up in November.

 

He's already provisionally cap-tied to the US. It would require a change of affiliation for him to even go to a Mexico camp...

 

There have been many tug-of-wars between Mexico and the US players. However, if Jonathan Gonzalez pans out and becomes an impact player for someone, he'll be the first contested player to really be important. Torres, Castillo, Ponce, et al. Who remembers Jesus Padilla and Sonny Guadarrama?

 

Jonathan's meteoric rise has been Pulisic-like

 

Pulisic was our starlet player at the u17 level.

Gonzalez wasn't deemed good enough for the last u20 squad

 

I'm not sure if you're agreeing or disagreeing with me here, but his rise to the first team has been just like Pulisic's if not even faster.

 

If you mean his age then yes but Pulisic was always a highly rated player so his breakthrough was less surprising and at a higher level than Gonzalez who was relatively unnoticed by the US crowd

 

Not sure how you can make a sweeping statement based on a few ML games? He's a promising young player. If I've learned anything in all these years on this forum, it's to not get ahead of the hype. To anoint a 5'8" midfielder as the next Jermaine Jones based on a couple videos is stretching optimism to its extreme limit.

 

I guess only Tab knows if he wasn't available or just didn't rate him high enough.

 

You just confirmed my statement. "Seems to be showing" is like a synonym for being a promising young player. Unless you really want to get hung up on semantics

 

He's started like 13 games, many people have watched most of them, not just highlights, and he's not just been out there rather he's excelled.

But it's not anybody's spot for the taking. It's very up for grabs. He's just one of the best candidates. Should be a great competition there. I thought we wanted our players to compete for their spots and not just have it handed to them.

 

"It seems" = Looks like, it doesn't mean "he is".
The kid may plateau at that level or he may continue to meet the challenges of tougher opponents. He looks promising, don't confuse a player's current ability to another player's past accomplishments.

I think this kid is already beyond youtube videos, he is doing it day in day out.

 

Pulisic wasn't playing up a level. Gonzalez is eligible for the next U20 cycle.