Pre-match: International Friendly: USA vs Mexico; September 6th

I know. You were pushing that he would be a defender for them and therefore shouldn’t play as a midfielder for the USMNT. What about now? I see he’s not in your starting lineup as you have Trapp starting.

 

Trapp is the 6, yes. McKennie was tried at Schalke at the 6 and found wanting.

 

Found wanting by whom? His coach just described him as a special player at both the 6 and the 8.

Honestly, your dislike of McKennie is baffling to me. I can understand thinking that many people overrate him ... but the idea that Wil Trapp is a better 6 than Weston McKennie is ... I just can't. How?

 

He's one of 2 CDMs for Schalke, and he's the CDM that grabs the ball from his CB's, much like the lone 6 does in many of the MNT games.

Meanwhile, Trapp's awful, and has little room to grow in Columbus. It's lunacy that people (sadly, including GGG) are even considering benching a younger, more athletic, and all-around superior player, in favor of an inexperienced, unathletic MLS lifer who isn't even playing especially well for a bad MLS team!

 

It’s not even about Trapp anymore. Moved from him to Delgado to Roldan and now Pomykal. Their all better than a 20 year old starting and bossing games for Schalke and talked about as their future captain. Wes def deserves some criticism for his play at times. Hell so do Adams and Pulisic. Even Messi and Ronaldo deserve it. But to consistently brush him off and specifically him time and time again def leaves you wondering.

 

Yes, honestly it makes you question someone’s motives when they go to such great lengths to diminish someone.

Wes is the present and future of the USMNT. Wes and Adams are going to be the grit and gears in the heart of the machine. Pulisic is the fancy suspension.

 

But my narrative!

#ATLUTD’s Darlington Nagbe turned down multiple #USMNT call-ups, including for the 2019 Gold Cup, per sources: https://t.co/0by1Ua1NB1 pic.twitter.com/Deud2Uv5z5

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) August 28, 2019

 

Wow. This is some mighty relevant news.

 

Well...D’s out.

Next?

 

Not really. We now have someone on record. That's different from the base speculation that preceded this.

 

Cross out this guy's international career. Now I wish the caps hadn't been expended on him.

If 3G is sticking with his 343ish formation then my CMs are--

Sonora, Parks, McKennie, Morales, Pomykal, Servania, Adams, Lletget

The five for this match would be McKennie, Morales, Sonora, Parks, Lletget.

 

As much as I want Pulisic here for these games... Im starting to think we’d be better served for him to stay with Chelsea and get some rest. He’s had a short summer and the EPL is a different beast from any other league. He’s also looking burned out for Chelsea around the 60 minute mark and I have concerns that he might be over worked cause it certainly isn’t lack of fitness. Super torn. Will be interesting to see what 3G does.

 

Plenty of internationals play in the EPL.

 

#ATLUTD’s Darlington Nagbe turned down multiple #USMNT call-ups, including for the 2019 Gold Cup, per sources: https://t.co/0by1Ua1NB1 pic.twitter.com/Deud2Uv5z5

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) August 28, 2019

Nagbe turned down a call up for this one apparently

Edit: looks like I was beaten to this one

 

Hey let’s be positive.

Dest and Pomykal. Great players! On top of Adams, Pulisic, McKennie, Sargent and Weah. Plus you can give me 5 more guys I’m forgetting. Gio, Uly, Mendez, Richie.

We have colts. And I see some kids 15, 16, 17 right now where I stop and think about the way this sport works in cycles and you can feel the shift.

We are always on a sharper upward trajectory than Mexico. Thats why they are coming so hard for our players.

 

Come on now, players have the right to turn down call ups. Let's not go too crazy.

 

One last stab...

GK: Ethan Horvath, Tyler Miller, Brady Scott

RB: Sergino Dest, Timmy Chandler

CB: John Brooks, Matt Miazga, Walker Zimmerman, Ventura Alvarado

LB: Fabian Johnson, Antonee Robinson

M6: Alfredo Morales, Christian Cappis

M8: Weston McKennie (CPT), Joel Sonora (over Nagbe)

10: Christian Pulisic, Julian Green

RW: Tyler Boyd, Jordan Morris

FW: Josh Sargent, Sebastian Soto

LW: Duane Holmes, Paul Arriola

...I’m going YA heavy on this one. Some guys I could leave off but some of these guys need PT. Plus, with the playoff push the MLS players could benefit with staying with their clubs, unless they’re needed. Bedsides, there’ll be all the opportunity in the world at the January camp. Let’s see what the European players can do.

...lastly, I came very close to cutting Pulisic for this match. But he’s going to have to get use to playing the double role for club and country. We need him around to become more and more use to his leadership role.

...McKennie gets the arm band, IMO.

...edit: apparently Nagbe has turned down offer (not good idea on his part). I’d say let’s bring in Joel Sonora and see what he has to offer.

 

Nagbe has declined the call up for these matches

 

I wouldn’t take kindly to that if I’m Berhalter.

I’d go with either Joel Sonora or Alex Mendez then.

 

Not to excuse Greg, but I've been saying all summer the waiting until January to hire him hurt roster selection more as before the gold Cup he had only 2 camps 1 of which was camp cupcake. This doesnt seem like a big idea but due to lack of time to look at all players you instead go with players you know

 

Nagbe probably done with the national team, let's be honest.

 

No doubt but he’s 20, in a new league, on a new team, with massive expectations, and played a ton of minutes this summer. A couple of weeks ago I’d say call him. Having watched him play. And see him running out of steam at the 60 minute mark... I’m reconsidering. Even with that I’m still torn.

 

See ya Nagbe. Next. Not even worth dwelling on, he lied too, he said that he's never spoke to Berhalter....what a lie lmao. Read Twellman's tweets.

If I'm not mistaken he's now declined 3 call-ups, at least one under JK, GC 2019 and Sept 2019. See ya.

 

Maybe some of our criticisms of berhalters selections are actually more uninformed then we care to admit.

I can’t believe nagbe would suggest back at the GC that “there had been no contact with GGG” when he was declining a call up. Talk about purposely trying to make GGG and IS soccer look bad. Why would he do that?

 

Yeah, I was one asking why Nagbe was being ignored, turns out maybe he wasn't. Who knows the reasons, but I can't say I care a whole lot. If he doesn't want to play for USNT, that's his decision. He's not our future anyhow, so time to just move on.

Now, if only we could move on from another few older players.