Is this a useful thread? I don't know, but maybe it is. Maybe there already is one... Here's my MNT callup tracker, updated (see the Berhalter 2022 sheet) through the latest round, with players sorted by YOB. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17xb1g8Jd2bWrXU4g3fXX1aC4A3EQcKYir1ZtHXXGoT8/edit?usp=sharing I count 18 YNT-eligible players with MNT callups under Berhalter if you include the Gold Cup provisional roster, which seems logical to me since even if they weren't called up, they were included on a binding list for competitive matches. (I don't include the pre-Gold Cup training camp, though those players are noted on the sheet.) Unsurprisingly perhaps, 97s are leading the pack, with 8 guys called in (though there have been 9 95s so far). Maybe also interesting: The most-called-in four-year cohorts are either 94-97 or 95-98, which both have 24 players total. The most-called-in two-year cohort is 94/95, followed by 97/98. Maybe maybe also also interesting: Looking at the list of guys who haven't been called in since the January camp AND aren't still eligible for YNTs. At some point maybe I'll combine the Sarachan numbers to fill out the 2022 cycle, though maybe there's not much point.
Ha Ha............................. The US U23s that have been part of the full USMNT......................starting XI. [Klinsmann was called up by the full USMNT for those friendlies in 2018 as a late replacement for the injured STeffen.] ---------------Sargent--------------- Pulisic------------------------Weah -------McKennie--Pomykal--- ---------------Adams-------------- Dest---CCV----M. Robinson-----Cannon ---------------Klinsmann--------------------- There are about 5 or 6 legitimate options for CB, but I'm going with CCV based on experience. And Robinson based on current performance level.
I would in theory but then I thought Green was going to work out better than he did so I'd like Richards to actually play a string of professional games to validate my opinion before calling him up to the national team.
I don’t understand the consternation about Berhalter’s comments that put Dest and Pomykal in different categories. Like it or not, Pomykal has had an inconsistent season and has not produced much of the main responsibility of a player at his position. He’s a talented player, but there are better performing players and it likely does not do Pomykal much good to play him above his level in the senior NT against top level competition. I would’ve sent him to the U-23 camp, but if you are sending him to the senior team camp, I think it’s way too optimistic to have him there as anything other than an end of the bench player. He’s not yet proven to be good enough to play a bigger role than that. The senior NT has to win games. Dest might not be good enough either for a big role with the NT, but he’s done well in his first few games with Ajax. He’ll be given a chance to show whether he belongs on the senior NT immediately and show whether he belongs in the Ajax first team immediately. I would’ve waited until the next international window to call him up to the senior NT, but it’s hard to argue that much with giving a call up to a player who is playing a regular role with a Champions League semi finalist.
What did everyone think of the YNT-eligible players in the Mexico game? They make up most of the capable players we are fielding this current cycle. I think we see that Pulisic cannot carry a team against good competition. He's a good complimentary player at the club level with top-level teams, so why should we expect him to be a superstar against good teams? He's not against these same level of teams at the club level. We know he can dominate CONCACAF minnows, but we need to start putting better attacking players around him. He'll be more effective when we start doing that. I like Dest in the inverted LB role. If he stays with the US program and continues to get minutes for Ajax, I don't see why he shouldn't continue to start for the NT. Dest tends to have a big problem with defensive physicality. The first goal yesterday was an example of where a seasoned pro sticks out his leg, and takes the professional yellow. I thought he played well though, and should continue to start. McKennie's defensive awareness still is lacking. I think this is what's keeping him from being able to play as a #6. He's not a bad defensive player, but his defensive contributions are more in the athletic mold and not the cerebral mold. I think his soccer IQ is good, but defensively, he still has too many mental errors. He's still one of our best players, but I don't think you can yet put the Adams-McKennie midfield that many want to see out there until McKennie can make smarter decisions in his defensive third. Cannon has done well enough in his YNT appearances. I don't think he's a difference maker at the NT level, but he can play, and is an option at RB. Sargent shouldn't have taken the penalty, but we shouldn't make much over missed penalties. I think Sargent is being done a big disservice with the constant claims for him to get big minutes for the NT. Berhalter should not take the bait. You don't put a guy out there with the NT until he's playing regular minutes every week for his club team. A player with 356 minutes spread over 9 months belongs in the U-23 team, not the NT. Good for Robinson to get his debut. I'd have a few other '97 CB's ahead of him in the pecking order and I'd like to see him move to Europe, but I prefer him to the troncos Berhalter usually tries to use at the position (aside from Long). I don't understand Yueill's inclusion. Not a NT level player, IMO.
I give Cannon a little more credit than you do (as you might expect ) He's showing right now that he's a capable right back against a good team like Mexico. At the CONCACAF level, he's more than good enough. So are Yedlin and others. He's only 21, and still has room to develop further. He's not Cafu, but we already knew that. If we had a WCQer tomorrow, I'd feel quite comfortable starting Cannon. I have bigger concerns at left back. Is Dest going to be "ready" in time? Is Gloster going to be ready in time? I'm with ya, we keep going with Dest to give him reps. But what if he declines league of nations callups? Who on Earth are we going with? I'm totally with ya on McKennie. He's another young player that folks are kinda expecting too much from right now. He's also only 21, and nowhere near a finished product. He's an 8, but his defensive game needs a lot of work. I'd love to see him in a midfield with Pomykal and Adams. Pomykal doesn't have the offensive game of McKennie, but covers a ton of ground. Gets in passing lanes, and isn't afraid of a tackle. Then you have another motor player that I think could develop nicely as a #6 in Adams. We just need to keep giving these kids opportunities, allow them to fail in friendlies like last night, and learn important lessons moving forward. In the grand scheme of things, that result last night means squadoosh.
Good attitude from Sergino………………. 🗣 | Sergino Dest: “My first cap was a special moment, but hopefully I’ll get more and develop myself. It’s just a great action from him [the nutmeg on the first goal]. I don’t think I played a bad game, just that moment was crucial. I have to learn from it.”— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 7, 2019
But of course we still don't know if he'll stay with us or go over to the Netherlands. So far, so good...
Dest is right about the nutmeg that led to a goal. It was a top notch moment from Tecatito and he got burned, but it was one mistake. Not enough people are pointing fingers at Pulisic who got beat first then gave up and failed to rotate or Long who completely failed to close down the ball after Dest got beat. Or any of the other defenders who fell asleep and let freaking Chicharito of all people waltz into the box unmarked. BS has a pretty high knowledge base, but in general America is a pretty young nation when it comes to soccer knowledge. A lot of times players bear an unreasonable amount of blame for more obvious mistakes when it's a team sport and blame goes all around. One thing Dest needs to learn is that when you get nutmegged outside of the box, take the guy out. It's worth the yellow.
So by my count, 20 players currently age-eligible for a YNT have now been capped by the US senior team at least once. Tyler Adams (99), M - 10 Jon Amon (99), M/F - 2 Reggie Cannon (98), D - 8 Cameron Carter-Vickers (97), D - 8 Luca de la Torre (98) - 1 Sergino Dest (00), D - 2 Jeremy Ebobisse (97), F - 1 Jonathan Lewis (97), M/F - 5 Weston McKennie (98), M - 14 Djordje Mihailovic (98), M - 5 Matthew Olosunde (98), D - 1 Erik Palmer-Brown (97), D - 1 Keaton Parks (97), M - 1 Paxton Pomykal (99), M - 1 Christian Pulisic (98), F/M - 32 Antonee Robinson (97), D - 7 Miles Robinson (97), D - 2 Josh Sargent (00) , F - 10 Jackson Yueill (97), M - 3 Tim Weah (00), F/M - 9 I imagine a few more YNT-eligible players will get some caps before Olympic qualifying and, hopefully, the Tokyo games. But we could be looking at a situation where all of the field players who play for the 23s in qualifying and the Olympics are already senior national players. Uncapped field players I still think could crack the lineup include: Brendan Aaronson, Julian Araujo, George Bello, Christian Cappis, Hassani Dotson, Jesus Ferreira, Justen Glad, Chris Gloster, Aaron Herrera, DeJuan Jones, Richie Ledezma, Uly Llanez, Mark McKenzie, Alex Mendez, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards, Sebastian Soto, Emmanuel Sabbi, James Sands, Mason Toye, Auston Trusty and Sam Vines.
I only got to watch the first half on replay, but I liked how Yueill was deployed. Makes me wonder though, would Mendez be deployed as a 6 in this system too. I imagine the critique to Yueill’s game last night was that he wasn’t much help, but it may be GBs game to have the worker bee 8 and a ball playing 6 who isn’t a asset defensively. That may be Mendez’s spot on the Olympic team if Yueill stays with the 1st team.
Terrific piece from @mexicoworldcup on the #lagalaxy's Efrain Alvarez: https://t.co/tAn3kyEyXr #ElTriEng #usmnt— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) September 11, 2019
I think it would be pretty interesting if Yueill's first 45 minutes against Uruguay (they more or less took away the long driven diagonal passes he kept hitting over to Morris in the second half) was what made people start thinking there could be a place for Mendez at the next level after all.
The article gives some quotes the widespread speculation that his father is pushing him to play for Mexico.
Might as well put this here as well. Looks like Aaronson with the full USMNT in this window. Brenden Aaronson is set to be called up to the US national team for Nations Leagues games next week, sources tell https://t.co/QqWAi38GbI. The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season for the Philadelphia Union in 2019. This is his first senior call-up.https://t.co/W7yguTuTsU— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) October 1, 2019
That's the inherit trade off of going to Europe over MLS though, isn't it? You don't play in a first team as fast, but you're betting on yourself in the long run. The same goes for your salary - MLS pays a minimum of $60k a year with American taxes (and that number is only going up), while in Europe you're likely toiling in the youth team for a year (if you move at 18) and then hoping you get a new contract and a raise. I don't think you can really be mad at the young kids like Aaronson getting a shot over Mendez or Ledezma at this point. It's when you have a 20 year old striker who is actually playing at Werder Bremen getting jumped by a striker playing in Columbus who would be getting less first team minutes than Sargent when it's an issue. Frankly, it's fairly refreshing to see Aaronson get a call up. He'll likely get to play with some Euro guys and be extremely impressed by what they know, and hopefully it pushes him to move abroad quicker.