USMNT play their first games post WC 2018 against Brazil in New Jersey on September 7, and against Mexico in Tennessee on September 11. This start the official beginning of a new era after perhaps the biggest failure in USMNT history. The good news is there is reason to hope with this new generation. Also, will this be the first game with the new coach?
My roster... Goalkeepers: Zack Steffen, Alex Bono, Jesse Gonzalez Right Backs: DeAndre Yedlin, Shaquell Moore Center Backs: John Brooks, Matt Miazga, Eric Palmer-Brown, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tim Parker Left Backs: Antonee Robinson, Danilo Acosta Midfielders: Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Keaton Parks, Darlington Nagbe, Wil Trapp, Kellyn Acosta Attackers: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Kenny Saief, Paul Arriola, Rubio Rubin, Lynden Gooch Forwards: Julian Green, Andrija Novakovich, Josh Sargent, Bobby Wood *Jordan Siebatcheu is included if he accepts call up over Gooch. Vs Brazil ———Wood—Weah————— —————Pulisic——————— ——McKennie—Adams————— Robinson—————————Yedlin ——Parker—Brooks—Miazga—— ——————Steffen—————— Bench: Bono, Moore, Palmer-Brown, Parks, Arriola, Green, Novakovich Vs Mexico ————Sargent———— Pulisic———————Weah ——McKennie—Adams—— ————-Trapp—————- Robinson——————Yedlin ———CCV——Miazg———- —————Steffen————— Bench: Gonzalez, EPB, Moore, Parks, Saief, Green, Novakovich
I could live with that roster and that team would be competitive with both opponents if we get a real coach.
I would not call in any European based players. Their seasons are just starting. They need to worry about playing games for their club team, not NT games 4+ years from the next WC. These two games will be located in the USA, so they'll have a long trip back to Europe afterwards, which could cause them to lose a game they'd might've otherwise played in. I don't really care about which MLS teams need their players. If they wanted to be in good with the NT, they could start implementing some policies that get young Americans on the field. They could also stop trying to sign them to big extensions when they are ready to go to Europe. I wouldn't call in any U-20 players. If there's a U-20 camp at this time, they should be there. 23 man roster GK: Steffen, Bono, Gonzalez DF: Lima, Cannon, Glad, Parker, Long, Trusty, Acosta, Vincent MF: Trapp, Roldan, Acosta, Davis, Delgado, Mueller, Arriola, Rubin, Saucedo FW: Agudelo, Dwyer, Ramirez Steffen Lima-Parker-Glad-Acosta Trapp Roldan-Delgado Mueller-Agudelo-Rubin That team would get destroyed by Mexico and Brazil, but I'd send them out there. It'll test out some MLS players, and these friendlies are not well timed for our European based players.
Well that's not a competitive lineup. Understand the Euro players starting up and all but that just says we have no depth to back them up. Scary stuff. Don't care who the new coach is by then, he's going to get lambasted.
Even if we dont have a new coach by then, let’s please not allow Sarachan to coach. Just let Big Soccer pick the roster and have the players elect a coach in camp.
If we get a do over then let's start the after 2014 WC cycle with a new coach from the start! remember players don't let your old self see your future self or it ruins the space time continuum or some such.
I agree with basic thrust of your post but I'm thinking Miazga and CCV mite be fine with the callup and give us some continuity with Parker thrown in. The midfield will get a real opportunity to see what they can do. I disagree with your forward line tho. I'd go with Sargent, Pulisic, Weah or 2 of the 3, anyway. -------------------Weah-------Pulisic* ---Adams-----Roldan---Delgado----lletget --------------------------trapp -----------parker------CCV-----Miazga Pulisic would be called up if he isn't starting/playing for new coach who will be getting ready for CL as well. I don't doubt Wes should stay at club. Schalke will have work to do with goretzka and meyer gone in the summer window.
I understand, but I think the time for this thinking is over. These game are less than a year from the Gold Cup. Thinking we have a 4 year luxury to get ready for the World Cup led to the complacency that has us sitting out this Summer. The 2015 GC was meaningless and the fact we played so poorly was ok and lets let JK continue, was the start of the mistake. Even WCQ was generally viewed by Sunil, Bruce, and Jurgen as tune ups for the WC. Yes, the GC every two years is dopey and one should be dropped; but it is our next major tournament and it is time to take things seriously all the time. Our players have all Summer to establish themselves at their clubs; thanks to our failure. A week in September will not matter and I think playing internationally, even with the USA, gives a player cache that helps them at the club level. In a recent interview, Parker said getting that taste instantly made him a better player and has made him strive to get better. NYRB were one of the few MLS teams to release important players for the recent, "meaningless" friendlies. I tend to think NYRB knows what they are doing when it comes to player development. I think Schalke and Dortmund also know what they are doing and will probably want McKennie and Pulisic playing. If they don't, and we don't have a coach, let them stay but this is the last window we do that. In general, I think it is better for the USMNT program and the players to always call in our best. I think January camp is basically detrimental as it gives certain MLS players the idea they have made it. Doing January camp in September really seems counter-productive.
This is a FIFA window, we could call in our best 25. GKs: Turner, Steffan, Hamid CBs: Parker, Miazga, CCV, EPB, Brooks FBs: Robinson, D. Acosta, Yedlin, Moore, Lichaj Mids: McKennie, Adams, Trapp, Green, Saief, Durkin, Delgado FWs: Pulisic, Wood, Altidore, Sargent, Weah, Novocavich
No way I'm calling in the Euros. This is just a money grab by the cartel. Early season club success is far more important.
Put a God damn friendly in Wisconsin for the first time in 28 fricking years how bout it. They keep cycling back to the same places and it's not like they've worked out that great. Could get some real buzz in new places. The midwest is beautiful in September too. Pretty perfect footy weather.
I agree w/ the sentiment we can't worry about club interests in a FIFA window and we have to use every camp as a fact-finding mission for a while. We are very behind in integration. But to wit I don't think I'd even make this roster as vet-centric. We made some vets last camp, and they can be used to usher in the next group. GK's: Steffen, JeGo, Bono Backs: Robinson, Lima, Glad, Parker, Miazga, Zimmerman, Adams, Lichaj Mids: Pulisic, Saief, Mueller, Weah, Lletget, Parks, McKennie, Roldan, EPB, Delgado FW's: Sargent, Green, Ramirez, Novakovich bold are starters v. Mexico
took them 3 decades to get back to StL and it sold out a game against a minnow, so I'm sure they could make it happen at Miller Park. FWIW I'd put money down that Minnesota gets AT LEAST one qualifier this cycle.
Not that I'm a proponent of this, but if they returned to St. Louis and brought a loseable competitive match or name friendly opponent they could even charge a pretty penny per ticket and still get a turnout. Don't get USS'/SUM's practical aversion to St. Louis or the midwest. St Louis is a big soccer city even. Should get an MLS team. Wisconsin is not a good soccer state, but would support a USL team enough, and the US in a match every 5-10 years. They don't have imagination? They think associating with the coasts gives them more cache?
Well my tickets for the St. Louis qualifier in 2015 weren't cheap, and the stadium was sold out against St. Vincent... not exactly a big draw opponent otherwise. The main reason they didn't go to StL for so long was venue. Once Busch stadium decided to host some club friendlies, US Soccer saw the potential. Miller park should do the same.
In a country of 320 million people and hundreds of adequate stadiums, they shouldn't be playing any matches in baseball parks.
I'm gonna be honest though, the atmosphere and view from most of the stadium at Busch was really good. I'm of the opinion that local fans should be able to see their national team play in their home city regardless of what structures the local sports owner billionaire does or doesn't decide to build with public funds. I'll take Busch over some of the other gimmicky venues that have been hosting soccer matches (looking your way, Michigan Stadium).