the USMNT has greatly diversified since last October. And, rightfully so, we have seen the hopeful exodus of players who are past their sale date. Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Bill Hamid Alternate: Zack Steffen Right Backs: DeAndre Yedlin, Timmy Chandler Alternate: Shaq Moore Left Backs: Eric Lichaj, Fabian Johnson Alternates: Antonee Robinson, Jorge Villafana, Justin Morrow Center Backs: John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, Matt Miazga Alternates: Tim Ream, Cameron Carter-Vickers Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Wes McKennie, Darlington Nagbe, Tyler Adams Alternates: Cristian Roldan, Kellyn Acosta Attackers: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Kenny Saief, Paul Arriola Alternates: Sebastian Lletget, Lynden Gooch, Ethan Finlay, Joe Corona Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood, Aron Johannsson, Andrija Novakovich Alternates: CJ Sapong, Dom Dwyer, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Siebatcheu ——— Comments: What’s sad is that we have seen a lot of new faces force themselves into the picture. From McKennie, to now Weah, Novakovich, Saief, and Adams; the USMNT already seems improved.
Right now it would look something like this. GK: Hamid, Guzan, Steffen DF: Yedlin, Chandler, Johnson, Besler, Brooks, EPB, Miazga, Glad MF: Cameron, Bradley, Trapp, McKennie, Pulisic, Feilhaber, Lletget, Saief FW: Altidore, Dempsey, Agudelo, Wood Next GK: Howard Next RB: Adams Next CB: Carter-Vickers Next LB: Acosta Next two CM's: Roldan and Acosta Next attacking mid: Nagbe Next striker: Johannsson Its also hard to know who would get what playing time. If Carleton, Durkin, Pomykal, Parks, Wright, Weah, etc. got consistent playing time between now and the WC, they would probably be on the roster, but I can't list them until they do, and most probably won't.
GK's: I don't think Hamid would "outplay" Guzan, considering he has almost zero international experience, and unlike Guzan, would not have the chance to regain his form by playing (he's sitting on the bench, and Guzan has played pretty well in Atlanta). Instead of Howard or Steffen, could take Bono instead, but this is splitting hairs. DF's: Nothing much wrong here. Not sure EPB makes it, but it's close. IDK who gets in in his place, so... MF: Trapp? What? No. May as well bring in someone with speed like Manneh or Shea. No need to have a poor-man's MB in Trapp. Heck, Delgado's infinitely better and younger. FW: Nothing wrong there. Maybe Aron J plays his way in.
Its not in order, so listing Hamid ahead of Guzan doesn't mean he plays instead. If they were both playing, I would play Hamid, but if Hamid would've went into the WC as a back up, he goes into the WC as the back up to Guzan. Trapp was one of our best players in the January camp friendly, was very good in MLS last season, and has had an excellent start to this season. He's not a poor-man's Bradley. I don't even understand the comparison you are making there. Trapp's a significantly better passer than Bradley. Taking up a similar position for their club team's doesn't mean they play alike. And we need four CM's, anyway. Can't go into a WC with only 3 CM's.
------------------ Guzan---------------------- Yedlin---- Brooks -----Cameron ------ F. Johnson Lleget ----- Nagbe ----- Weah ------ Pulisic -------- Altidore ----- Wood-------------- Subs GK - Howard, Hamid D - Chandler, Besler, CCV M- Trapp, McKennie, Bradley, Fielhaber F- Dempsey, Dwyer, Johanson,
Who would Arena have brought? The only silver lining is that we don't have a 500 post thread about how Arena isn't giving McKennie a chance. It is hard because there are players to take the spots of the guys who disqualified us. However, we really haven't played a schedule to evaluate them. Could Antonee Robinson play left back? I don't know. Could Will Trapp be a #6 at the World Cup? Does playing well one game against Paraguay count? If in 3 months he gets overrun versus France, we will know the answer (if he plays; Sarachan will be coaching to win and might start a 30 year old). So, I'm not going down the rabbit hole with Arena, he would have brought his Gold Cup team plus Pulisic and McKennie but never played McKennie. GK: Hamid, Steffan, Guzan DF: Yedlin, Cameron, Toljan, Robinson, Brooks, CCV, Miazga, Glad MF: Bradley, Trapp, McKennie, Pulisic, Saief, Adams, Delgado, Parks FW: Altidore, Sibetchu, Johannsen, Wood If you can't get Sibetchu or Toljan to switch, then bring Green and Villafana.
This is an interesting exercise in looking at the player pool. GK: Guzan, Steffen, Hamid DF: Yedlin, Brooks, Cameron, Miazga, CCV, Glad, Villafaña, Lichaj MF: Bradley, Trapp, McKennie, Adams, Acosta, Pulisic, Saief, Nagbe, Arriola FW: Altidore, Wood, Dempsey
The only good thing to come of not qualifying is to have to watch yet another major tournament with Bradley and Altidore either get injured or loaf around yet start and play 90 minutes each game.
Um what? That midfield would get owned against any decent side. There's literally zero balance. Weah isn't even a CM.
Based on form and formation. ---------------------Siebatcheau--Pulisic------- --Chandler---McKennie--Cameron--Bradley--Yedlin--- ------------------Robinson--Miazga--Parker---- ----------------------------------Guzan---- Zardes, Altidore, AJ, Saief, Delgado, JoGonzalez, Nagbe, Adams, Opara, Orozco/Lichaj/Sweat, Steffen, Frei IMO, if we had qualified, JoGo and Siebatcheau would have chosen us.
who cares wishing will not get you in no matter how hard you wish and how good line up you set up lol
This might change by mid-May, but something like this: Guzan, Hamid, Steffen Brooks, Miazga, Besler, Carter-Vickers Yedlin, Lichaj, Morrow Bradley, McKennie, McCarty, Adams, Jonathan Gonzalez Pulisic, Nagbe, Fabian Johnson, Arriola Altidore, Wood, Dempsey, Sapong Last cut: it hurts me to say this, but Feilhaber Controversial inclusions: -Jonathan Gonzalez stays with the US, IMO. If he doesn't, then Feilhaber returns. -Plenty of wingback options for a 3-5-2, including Morrow who should have gotten called in more. -CCV is actually playing in 2017-18 and deserves consideration. -Lichaj is solid depth for both fullback spots. -Arriola survives despite poor form because the US needs wingers and wingbacks -Fabian Johnson survives despite injuries for the same reason as Arriola -The US needs a target forward as an option, thus Sapong Omissions: -No to Weah, unless he continues to sneak some playing time for PSG. Then I'd probably switch him in for Arriola. -No to Cameron. He deserves credit for his willingness to speak out after the World Cup disaster, but his form/health is too inconsistent and gives me Agoos 2002 vibes at CB. I would consider him as a DM, but he would probably fall short unless injuries open a path. -No to Chandler. For a best XI quality US player since 2011 to have only played about 10 matches in official FIFA competitions for the US is astonishing, and obviously Bradley, Klinsmann, and Arena must have a similar opinion on him. -No to Howard, Zusi, Gonzalez, and a bunch of other veterans.
GK: Guzan, Hamid, Frei DF: Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj, Cam, Besler, JAB, Miazga, JV MF: Pulisic, Saief, Feilhaber, McKennie, Lletget, Parks, Trapp, Rowe FW: Johannsson, Dempsey, Wood, Sargent
Guzan, Hamid, Steffen Brooks, Miazga, Besler, Carter-Vickers Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj Williams, McKennie, Jonathan Gonzalez, Cameron, Bradley Pulisic, Fabian Johnson, Adams/Arriola/Saief (2/3 - last cut) Altidore, Wood, Dempsey, AJ
I do think it's interesting as these camps would definitely be different. But I'll treat them as if some of the bigger youth players had come in. GK: Howard, Steffen, Bono I don't actually think both Howard and Guzan would make it. Defenders:Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Miazga, Lichaj, Besler, Glad. Cameron can fill in, in so many spots and is not required to start, so he gets the nod. Mid: Williams, McKennie, Adams, Pulisic, Arriola, Saief, Rowe, Feilhaber, Lleget. I don't need Bradley to be there because his game has dropped significantly, and his imoactful moments are few positive and mostly negative. FWD: Dempsey, Wood, Sargent, Novakovich/Johannson/Siebatcheau Altidore was putrid and stays hurt, no thanks. Steffen Yedlin--Miazga---Brooks---Lichaj --------Williams----McKennie Lleget-------------------------------Saief --------------------Pulisic --------------------Wood Rotate as needed depending on the draw.
I have to preface this by saying a bunch of players needed to be vetted that hadnt been yet....so it's impossible to definitively say who my 23 would be .... my incomplete info 23: GK: Hamid, Steffen, melia DF: Yedlin, Chandler, Lichaj, CCV, Besler, JAB, Miazga, saief MF: Pulisic, adams, Nguyen, McKennie, Lletget, nagbe, Weah, Gyau* FW: Johannsson, Dempsey, Altidore, Green *assuming he looked good in a friendly match (i'm guessing he would) Wildcards: EPB, Amon, shawn parker, siebetcheau, jonathon gonzalez (wouldnt have switched), hyndman, opara, parks, manneh, antonee robinson, donovan, christian ramirez etc maybes: wood, zardes, jorge villafana, gcam, corona, morales, acosta,rowe roldan, filehaber agudelo mcnamara amarikwa etc
I do wonder who would have been on our goalkeeper roster. Would Howard have made it or would Guzan have supplanted him? Would Horvath and Hamid be his deputies? Would Steffen be looking outside in? Or might he have given Guzan a run for his money?
guzan is not good...i dont understand why he's still in anyone's list. the team has had some pretty bad results with him as GK and he's had some bad blunders as well....dont really see what it is about him other than that he played in EPL that sets him apart in any way....he's so mediocre, imo. Howard is over-the-hill....so...next...!
this is US Soccer and we had Arena in charge. He may have dropped Howard before the WC, but he'd have gone with Guzan more than likely. I remember back in the day when Guzan was genuinely loved by fans. After AV debacle, everyone seemed to think he was the worst keeper alive. Despite several seasons in the PL and 1 of which he was among the best.
the challenge is that we don't have any GK (or field players other than CP) that are reliable for top-tier performances. The fall in our GK abilities is a huge loss for the USMNT.
this is who would be in MY 23, not Arena's....that albatross is gone. if we're playing the who would arena have picked in his 23 if he had qualified game, i'm not interested. yeah Guzan was good....for a time. I never said he has never been worthy at any point in time. but i don't want players to be picked for how good they once were. that'd be ridiculous.....(though, to be fair, that's how us soccer does pick a lot of its players, apparently - which is a big reason for the current struggles, imo) a prime example: michael bradley got benched at roma: let's make him captain for life!
I'm rekindling this thread with a slightly different question. Since national teams are now turning in their rosters for the World Cup, who do you think Bruce Arena would have selected for his 23-man roster today if we were going to the World Cup (factoring in current form, injuries, etc.)? Here's my speculation: GK Guzan, Howard, Rimando I think Bruce would give the starting nod to Brad Guzan, but similar to selecting Tony Meola as his #3 keeper in 2002, would opt for experience with his two backup selections instead of taking a younger keeper like Bill Hamid, Zack Steffen or Alex Bono. DEF Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Villafaña, Miazga, Besler, Lichaj, Ream Bruce opts for consistency in the backline by selecting Cameron, but Matt Miazga's strong form in Holland bumps Omar Gonzalez from the 23. Matt Besler's consistency earns him the 4th CB spot, and Tim Ream is selected over DaMarcus Beasley as a versatile LB who can double as a 5th CB. MID Pulisic, Bradley, McKennie, Nagbe, Adams, K.Acosta, Arriola, Saief The starting four here are obvious picks in Bruce's eyes. Tyler Adams pushes his way into the squad as a backup CM, with Bruce showing loyalty to Kellyn Acosta for the final CM spot despite Acosta just returning from injury. Fabian Johnson's indifferent year with Borussia Mochengladbach pushes him out of the 23 in Bruce's mind, in favor of Kenny Saief. FOR Wood, Dempsey, Dwyer, Zardes Jozy Altidore's untimely injury would have been a massive blow to our squad, particularly with Bobby Wood out of form and Clint Dempsey aging. Gyasi Zardes' good MLS form would push him into the squad taking Altidore's place, but Jozy's injury would not leave us confident with our crop of forwards.
Doyle picked his yesterday. A few surprises, he opines for the myth of Sacha and "introduces" us to Amon. He picks Ibarra, which is either a troll of JK or a suckup to him to try to get an interview. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/16/armchair-analyst-my-us-national-team-2018-world-cup-squad