Both. I think the caliber of NCAA soccer is much better today than it was 10 or 20 years ago. But at the same time, the high-end talent just isn't there much anymore. The likes of Reynas, McBrides, Dempseys, Onyewus, Cherundolos, Friedels etc.. aren't there these days because the top talent is skipping college altogether or staying for a season or two like Reggie Cannon or DeAndre Yedlin.
According to this, Weah and Sargent are on 35-man roster but Adams isn't, also says "The 35-man provisional rosters are expected to be announced soon." From @FrontRowSoccer: .@NewYorkRedBulls M @tyler_adams14 not on U.S. U-20 provisional roster for #concacaf U-20 qualifying, but Weah, @joshsargent are - https://t.co/RW241y9oWb #RBNY #USMNT #USSF #USSoccer— Michael Lewis (@Soccerwriter) October 8, 2018
Kind of as expected. Tyler wasn't going to be on it and Sargent was. Weah being on it is interesting.
FWIW, US Soccer says it has no plans to release the 35 player preliminary roster. If it is released, it'll come from CONCACAF
I’m hearing California-born left back Edwin Lara who is at Club Leon and was on the 2015 Mexican U-17 World Cup team is on the 35 player preliminary roster for the U.S. U-20 World Cup qualifying team.— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) October 9, 2018
That's surprising given that he hasn't featured with Union Berlin this season, on top of having already released him for some camps with U20s.
Lara's Instagram now has only a US flag emoji, not Mexico, and he recently followed Weah and Pulisic.
Are any of Durkin, McKenzie, Carleton, Sands, Lindsey going to be available? All are making the 18 on a regular basis for playoff teams/likely playoff teams. Team without those players (and college players). GK: Scott, Dos Santos DF: Dest, Araujo, Richards, Rogers, Gloster, Lara, Real MF: Servania, Mendez, Torres, Cappis, Booth, Pomykal, Llanez, Acosta FW: Soto, Akinola, Brewer Scott Dest-Araujo-Richards-Gloster Servania Mendez-Booth Pomykal-Soto-Llanez
If players are on the bench but rarely play, they’ll almost certainly go to the U-20s - if Tab wants them The biggest question is McKenzie
the irony is that today it's Maloney's birthday, turns 19. that's what happens when a team has no reserves, they have players who are just there as backups.
Amon is on the 35 player roster. Won’t be on the initial 20 player roster. Deal likely in place to be added for 2nd stage of qualifying.
I guess to state the obvious: it’s by no means certain Lara makes the qualifying team. No inside info here, just my own insight: I think Real & Gloster have the inside track at LB but Vines has also played a lot with the team. I’m guessing Lara isn’t part of qualifying but if the US qualifies, Lara is given some looks before the World Cup Then you have the Bello factor - what happens if Tab wants him to try to play in both the U-17 & U-20 World Cups in 2019? I wouldn’t discount that
Well, if that's as good as we can get for the first round, who would you expect to be the additions? Maybe: 1. Amon 2. Weah 3. Sargent 4. Durkin 5. McKenzie 6. Carleton? Bello? I'd feel pretty good about our odds of qualifying with this squad. We'll have a LOT of offensive firepower. Scott Dest-McKenzie-Richards-Gloster Durkin Mendez-Booth Amon-Sargent-Weah
I believe Carleton will be there from the start I doubt Bello is there for qualifying (he might be an option for the U-20 WC) You can’t preplan all 6 roster changes. At least 2 will probably be kept open for injuries from the first stage
Real is slow and not that good. Even if Real makes the final roster and Lara doesn't, he is not the better LB.
It should be something personal not let Carleton go with his 3 mins per game average. I expect him to be there.
Happy about Lara. Thought it would happen eventually but surprised it's happening now. Of course, this will mean more when Lara finally starts getting regular first-team playing time. Antonee, Lara, Bello and maybe Gloster and Real if they develop and suddenly the US could have actual depth at the left back spot. I've been following American soccer for longer than I care to admit and that kind of depth at left back would be unprecedented.
Wouldn't feel comfortable with so limited offensive possession options but Mendez. Booth is a sit tight distributor not an attacking goal option at all. Weak offensive midfield doesn't help distribution to that obviously good forward trio
One reason you might see a provisional roster release from U.S. Soccer would be if it included a dual national making a switch/commitment. Just a guess, of course.
If the only big question is McKenzie's availability among the MLS players (not counting Adams), here is what I think the squad might look like. I’ll take his word about guys like Carleton and Lindsey who don’t play. I still think Durkin and Sands could play important enough roles at their clubs that I wouldn’t put them in the definitely released category. 1. Scott 2. Dos Santos Comments: Will Ramos take a college guy out of their season to be the back up? If so, I think Muse and Garces would both come before Dos Santos, but I don't know that he'll do that. Its possible Eric Lopez could be picked over Dos Santos, but he hasn't gotten many call ups recently. 3. Lindsey 4. Richards 5. Rogers 6. Gloster 7. Dest 8. McKenzie/Araujo 9. Araujo/Real Comments: If we are to go on what Sciaretta is saying, Lindsey should be there. Richards is a lock. I think Gloster and Dest are very likely to be there. If Maloney will not be on the team, I think that tells us Rogers probably will be. Then comes the questions. Is McKenzie released? If so, he takes that 8th spot. If not, you are almost forced to use Araujo as a primary CB, and then Real takes the last fullback spot. If McKenzie is released, I think you have the question of Real vs. Araujo. Real would give you a second natural LB. Dest could fill in at LB as Gloster's back up as could Lindsey. You also would only have 3 natural CB's without Araujo, so you might opt for an extra CB. 10. Servania 11. Mendez 12. Durkin/Torres 13. Booth/Torres 14. Carleton 15. Pomykal 16. Llanez 17. Booth/Acosta Comments: Servania and Mendez should be there. I’m not completely convinced that Durkin will be released, but think he probably will be. If he is, he’ll be on the team. If not, I think Torres and Booth both make it for the final holding mid spots. Sands is another with a chance, but Ramos doesn’t seem to rate him and he’s another that I’m not sure would be released. Carleton, Llanez and Pomykal all seem likely to be on the team. I’m not sure who the other options would be. Not many. For the last spot, I think it’ll either go to Acosta or Booth. If Booth’s already on the team as a holding mid, it’s Acosta’s spot, but Booth can also play as a #10, if needed. 18. Soto 19. Akinola 20. Brewer Comments: Soto is a lock. Akinola is probably the back up CF. He can also play wing and bring some pace to that position. Brewer is there to be the the third CF, and give us another option at winger. Changes after round 1: 1. Sargent for Brewer 2. Amon for Akinola/Acosta/Booth 3. Weah for Akinola/Injury 4. Injury 5. Injury 6. Injury Comments: Sargent subs in for the third CF option. Amon can either sub in for the back up CF (since we are adding Sargent) or for the last AM spot, whether that’s Acosta or Booth. Weah would swap in for Akinola, if Ramos can get him into this team. If not, we have an extra spot to use up for any changes that happen due to injury, suspension, fatigue, form, etc. If for some reason one of the MLS’ers isn’t released initially, they can also take up one of these spots.