He played in three qualifiers, two in the semi-final stage (6-0 destruction of St. Vincent away, 4-0 destruction of Trinidad at home) and one in the Hex (the 4-0 loss to the Ticos). Sacha played for a total 115 minutes (> 90), so he got included. Of course if you mean "he did not play" in the figurative sense, then it's subjective.
With both MB and JA, I think the key is to determine what situations they don't play well in and avoid those like the plague. They are likely top 10 players but with real limitations and our competitors are good enough to understand what they are and use them to our disadvantage. It wasn't JK's management style to manage to people's strengths/weaknesses but I am still shocked that BA just ignored this.
Jozy had good games and bad games. He cannot play as a lone forward. His inclusion would be dependent on how the new coach wants to play. We just spent an entire cycle forcing two forward sets to accomodate Jozy. Plus, 1 DM set ups to accomodate Bradley. That is how we ended up 4-1-3-2 on the road on a bad pitch against T&T. Jozy could maybe move back in the formation as a 10 or withdrawn striker, but nobody has really ever tried that. But if the new coach wants to play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, then he will have to sit. As for the pool, Sapong is not that much older and seems to be able to be a lone forward. We need to go to Siebetchu and show him France's depth chart and our depth chart and get him to switch.
The good is that Pulisic and Saief on the wings are not as much crossing types but like keeping it on the ground. That fits Altidore, who's subpar in the air. Of course it depends on whether Pulisic remains a winger for the NT (he may become the CAM) and whether Saief is included (still iffy).
As horrible as it is to agree with that above statement, you're right. But my heart tells me to write in none of the above. Pulisic and McKennie plus 9. I truly don't give a rat's a$$ about the other 9.
I'd add Yedlin. Pulisic, McKennie, Yedlin + 8. Brooks could have been there too, but I have to see how he returns to play. The big problem is the lack of a top class keeper. We've _always_ depended on awesome goalkeeping to punch above our weight. The USMNT with an average keeper is like Aquaman on land.
Having watched his last few Newcastle games I will agree with you. Pulisic, McKennie and Yedlin plus 8. Of course with our luck it will be injured, injured and injured, plus 11.
I'm not sure I completely agree with you on the first two, and since turning down Germany to stay with Sounders, I certainly don't agree with you on the last. Morris is about as average an MLS forward as there is. Promise is for 18 year olds. Not 22-23 year olds who have been playing professionally for a couple years already.
Basically, the majority of the "yes" votes are the younger players, and the "no" votes are the ones that are aging out, which makes sense. It doesn't make any sense to exclude the older ones who are still relevant at their position as long as they can fit in with the team as a whole, however.
I agree, but I'll interject that our future manager is most likely going to determine the core of his team, as well, and fit his parts around them. Who are our future core? Pulisic, Yedlin, and McKennie, of course, and quite likely one or more of the CBs out of Brooks, Miazga, Palmer-Brown and Carter-Vickers group. With everyone else it's a wide net and a test to see how well they can gel with everybody else as well as how well they can perform themselves. Health-permitting, these guys are the likely anchors.
The new coach will have to repair the locker room. Probably the easiest way to do that is to get rid of almost everyone and start fresh. Bradley in particular was captain when the locker room fractured; how could you bring him back as captain? Would he come back and not wear the arm band? Probably best for all if he retires.
You don't bring him back with the armband, and he's no longer the core player that you shuffle your team around for. (As I noted in my previous post, those guys are now Pulisic, Yedlin and McKennie... and probably a couple of the younger CBs soon enough). But with our pool it's silly and totally cavelier to simply cut ties. Mind you, Bradley is one thing and Jozy is quite another, given the difference between our pool of center mids and our pool of forwards.
I voted for Guzan - lots of experience/training at a high level and GK has a different age profile. Brooks - pretty obvious - best passer in the pool in any case. Besler - he's a good guy to have around while phasing in newbies. Bradley - ditto Jozy - goal scorers get preferential treatment and he has developed an all-around game that is attractive. He was never going to perform well with Wood as a partner and Nagbe and Acosta in midfield. Morris - gets behind the defense.
I didn't vote for Benny as he will be 37 in 4 years. But as of today he is the best American player in MLS.
Yea, dude just has a goal and 2 assists in the opening week of the MLS season. Will he be in Qatar? Highly doubt it. But I damn sure want him on the team until he no longer can contribute to developing the youngsters.
I have had many months to reflect and cool off and I am still leaning towards blowing it all up and starting with all new faces.
I do hear Johannsson has been playing well recently. The Mexican National team? Do you give it to Pulisic?
My anger has subsided enough to be objective about Altidore given his form against CONCACAF opposition, but there is still no universe that should exist where a captain that walked around the field in the final 15 of a must-not-lose game when chasing a goal should ever be called up again.
its a really good question though. I mean there should always be a few spots for guys who are playing well like AJ is at the moment...the issue is will he be in a year in a half when they need it. thats the other thing with bradley I mean the rest of this year I don't think him playing is a big deal because its still about finding a replacement for him. as far as the capt it has to be someone that plays a lot and at this point even though he isn't a capt type personality its pulisic.
I kind of wish we could get Dempsey back again. Of all the members of the old guard, I feel he was the most professional of the lot and the best model for our younger guys to follow. Despite being clearly unhappy with his reduced role, he never went to the media about it. Never tweeted out his true feelings. The most we saw was that one tense face-to-face with Bruce in the Trinidad home game - and even that, I feel, was overblown - it lasted barely a second, and mostly consisted of a grimace. He kept quiet - never publicly gave his two cents on how he thought the team should be managed, and never commented directly or indirectly on the MLS vs Europe debate - that last part alone demonstrated a capacity for leading and uniting a team that the other veterans couldn't seem to do. And when he did get to play, he played hard. No one can accuse Clint of not trying in the T&T game. Furthermore, I think Clint's a guy who could help stabilize the team. He's got some say among the veterans, but he's also enough of an icon to score respect from the young 'uns. And he could provide some continuity as the new coach takes over. Except... of course .... he's just way too old. He's got maybe a year left in him, if that - he definitely won't be around for Qatar. A shame, in my opinion. Because I'd rather he be wearing the armband than any of the other veterans right now. Maybe keep Dempsey around as a sort of talisman just for a season? I dunno.
yeah I mean I can see why clint would seem like a good pic, the problem is he was the capt before bradley people forget that. then he ripped up the ref's little notebook during an us open cup match..was suspended and no longer capt.
Clint's the personification of the comic book meme: "you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain.”