From a fan standpoint, 2019 was a poor year. There was little to be enthusiastic about, and we saw Berhalter’s capability of absolute rigidity towards his system and player pool. Regardless, 2020 will be a new year. There will still be the January Camp which will likely bear a great deal of weight towards the March call ups, and with players returning from injury and other players emerging on the scene... who do you have your eye on now? -a few months out. Who I’ve got on my radar: GOALKEEPERS: 1. Zack Steffen 2. Ethan Horvath 3. TBD from list of contenders: Matt Turner, Jesse Gonzalez, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Brad Guzan Dropped: None RIGHT BACKS: 1. DeAndre Yedlin 2. Reggie Cannon - 3. Eric Lichaj 4/MLS: Tommy Thompson, Aaron Herrera 4/YA: Timmy Chandler Dropped: None LEFT BACKS: 1. Sergino Dest 2. Antonee Robinson - 3. Nick Lima 4/MLS: Ryan Hollingshead 4/YA: Niko Hamalainen, Chris Gloster Dropped: Daniel Lovitz CENTER BACKS: 1. John Brooks 2. Matt Miazga 3. Aaron Long 4. Walker Zimmerman - 5. Miles Robinson 6. Ventura Alvarado 7/MLS: Ike Opara, Justen Glad, Mark McKenzie, Tim Parker 7/YA: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Erik Palmer-Brown Dropped: None #6 MIDFIELDERS: 1. Tyler Adams 2. Alfredo Morales - 3. Owen Otasowie *^, Jackson Yuiell 4/MLS: James Sands, Hassani Dotson, Brandon Servania, Edwin Cerrillo, Russell Canouse 4/YA: Christian Cappis, Keaton Parks, Chris Durkin, Johnny Dropped: Wil Trapp, Michael Bradley Riser: Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton) #8 MIDFIELDERS: 1. Weston McKennie 2. Darlington Nagbe *^, - 3. Paxton Pomykal, Brenden Aaronson 4/MLS: Kelyn Acosta, Marky Delgado, Frankie Amaya, Cole Bassett 4/YA: Alan Sonora, Joel Sonora, Alex Mendez Dropped: Cristian Roldan Riser: Darlington Nagbe > now at home I’m predicting he starts accepting call ups. #10 MIDFIELDERS: 1. Sebastian Lletget 2. Giovanni Reyna *^, Duane Holmes - 3. Richard Ledezma *^ 4/MLS: Djordje Mihailovic, Gianluca Busio 4/YA: Julian Green, Matko Miljevic Risers: I’m betting on Reyna and Ledezma emerge on the scene. If so, this pushes Pulisic to LW. RIGHT FORWARD: 1. Jordan Morris 2. Tim Weah - 3. Tyler Boyd 4/MLS: Corey Baird, Sebastian Saucedo, Fafa Picault 4/YA: Konrad De la Fuente, Emmanuel Sabbi LEFT FORWARD: 1. Christian Pulisic 2. Paul Arriola - 3. Jesus Ferreira *^ 4/MLS: Jonathan Lewis 4/YA: Jonathan Amon Riser: Jesus Ferreira has the a lot of potential, and I want to see him get solid look. CENTER FORWARD: 1. Josh Sargent 2. Jozy Altidore - 3. Sebastian Soto *^ 4/MLS: Gyasi Zardes, Ricardo Pepi, Mason Toye, Jeremy Ebobisse 4/YA: Andrija Novakovich, Haji Wright, Bobby Wood, Josh Pynadath Riser: Soto has had a nightmare start, but he’s still the man with the most potential. —————————————— In all, my 30 man Camp for the March games, as of Dec 1 2019... Note: I’m experimenting some: GK: Steffen, Horvath, Turner RB: Yedlin, Cannon CB: Brooks, Miazga, Long, Alvarado, M. Robinson LB: Dest, A. Robinson M6: Adams, Morales, Otasowie, Yuiell M8: McKennie, Nagbe, Pomykal, Aaronson 10: Lletget, Reyna, Ledezma RW: Morris, Weah FW: Sargent, Altidore LW: Pulisic, Holmes, Ferreira Game 1 - Starting XI: GK Steffen RB Yedlin (Cannon) CB Brooks CB Miazga LB Dest M6 Adams (Morales) M8 McKennie (Pomykal/Aaronson) 10 Lletget (Reyna/Ledezma) RW Morris (Weah) FW Sargent (Altidore) LW Pulisic Game 2 - Starting XI: GK Steffen RB Dest CB Brooks CB Miazga LB A. Robinson (Cannon) M6 Adams (Otasowie) M8 McKennie (Pomykal/Aaronson) 10 Pulisic RW Morris (Weah) FW Sargent (Altidore) LW Holmes (Ferreira)
Nicholas "Niko" Gioacchini should at least be on the watch list for Center Forward. By March he may be just a flash in the pan or everyone might be clamoring to cap him now.
Who knows. Gregg got the job and was out in the media talking up a storm about his plans. Since the embarassing Mexico game in September, he hardly talks at all in the media. Was 2019 some elaborate experiment to try and run the USMNT like a club with the same 18-20 players and learning an intricate possession offense beyond what most clubs attempt? Or was it his best evaluation of the player pool and the tactics to put our best players in the best position to win games for us? If it was the first, will he continue? Or has he realized it was a complete failure and start at Square One? If not, we are screwed. If it was the second, we are screwed. The March friendlies will be in Europe. MLS might be on strike. If he still takes 2/3rds Cupcakers into camp that window, we will know nothing has changed. If he calls in this roster, there might be hope: GK: Steffan, Horvath, Klinsmann/Ochoa RB: Dest, Yedlin, Cannon LB: ARobinson CB: Brooks, Miazga, Long, CCV/EPB/Richards/Otosowie CM: Adams, McKennie, Morales, Holmes, Pulisic, Ledezma/Lletget W: Weah, Morris, Boyd F: Altidore, Sargent, Wood/Wright/Nova/Ciachinni/Soto There might only be 3 Cupcake players there. That would be a seismic change.
I'm pretty excited about Otasowie in theory (I say in theory, since I haven't seen him play). A young guy at the EPL level who can play as a #6 or CB would be extremely useful in this player pool. I think the RCB spot next to Brooks is up for grabs (and Brooks' own spot is frequently open due to his injury issues). We've seen that the #6 spot is very problematic when Adams isn't around. Yuiell seems to have improved the play at that spot a bit, which is good, but I'm not sure about Yuiell being effectively beyond the non-Mexico CONCACAF level.
I don't expect wholesale roster changes but I do anticipate a few key players returning from injury and the usual surprise or two that we get many years. Together, this could have a pretty dramatic effect on how the team looks next year. I think having Brooks regularly in the lineup will be a significant change. If Adams returns to health, that's a big change. I think those two right there make this team significantly better in defense. After that, we could see Weah returning to health and making some noise. We've already seen Brooks looking good as new, but while I am hopeful and reasonably confident about their returns in 2019, Adams and Weah have both had long term injuries. They may or may not return to pick up where they left off. After that, we have several younger players coming into their own and hopefully a few of them will start getting minutes and could make an impact in 2020. Players like Ledezma, Richards, and Reyna are all on top teams and Ledzma has been on the bench for PSV a couple times. Reyna has been talked about as being a player expected to move up sooner rather than later. Richards is a bit more difficult to say. He may be the best of the bunch and just as ready as any and still not get time with Bayern, powerhouse as they are. And this is just cherry picking a few who look like really top prospects. There are many others who could jump them in line with a good run of form and some first team action. This is without even getting into the argument whether first team minutes should matter as much as they seem to and it leaves out plenty of other prospects I've failed to mention. I guess worst case scenario, we're looking at the addition of Dest becoming a regular thing and Brooks in the lineup regularly. Add in lets say 2 from the rest making the leap to becoming regulars and we could easily be looking at 40% or so turnover in the stating lineup from most lineups that played in 2019. I see the squad changing over the next couple years as a matter of when more than a mmetter of if, so it may not be something that happens in a month or three, but by the end of 2020, I would be very surprised if we're still looking at the same squad we are now.
A lot of the names you've mentioned are not in MLS and it remains to be seen how open the coach is to piercing through the 2/3 threshold. I think that if we have players starting for major league teams, they have to get called in but I'm not sure that anyone who sees any bench time will be welcomed. Let's hope Dest doesn't get benched for Ajax or he won't see any USMNT time.
I'm working on the assumption that if a guy breaks through at a big team and gets real minutes he will get called in. If we were to still run out a mostly MLS lineup in a world where we have players getting minutes at PSV, Bayern, Dortmund, etc who are not getting called in, I don't think I'd be the only one to be quite through with this team. Fortunately, the only example we have thus far is Dest and as soon as he got a couple starts for Ajax, he was immediately in the picture. I think the bar is significantly higher for our Euro players (based around having to get regular minutes in a much more difficult and competitive environment as well as ignoring those outside the biggest first division leagues), but I also think it is a bar we will see cleared by increasing numbers of players over the next 2-3 years. And really, I'm only asking that we end up with maybe 2/3 to get over the hump. Then again, this is basically my same spiel from the optimistic take thread.
Agreed. I think the question is what is "real minutes?" For Alfredo, getting 50% of the available minutes last year wasn't enough to even make the 40 man squad but Dest is probably below that now and let's hope we continue to give him looks. Given the squads, it's really hard to get a lot of minutes: Ledezma @ PSV Richards @ Bayern Reyna @ bvb Llanez @ Wolfburg
i expect almost zero turnover through those march friendlies, assuming we keep our olympic qualifying team mostly seperated from the sr team. i dont see why anyone (u23s) who hasnt already broken through to the first team will start to get looks until after qualifying, and mls starts what, late feb? theres not really time to make an impression there. of course berhalter could just decide someone is magic in jan camp, but theres no predicting that. obviously adams and weah will- possibly, hopefully- be back and had at least a few games by march (though i dont know that we have much evidence if berhalter even rates weah). but those are the most (and imo only) likely additions/returns. otasowie just made his debut, while reyna and ledesma seem closest to first team debuts but i dont really see a fast track for any of them. otasowie seems to be a true 6 (possibly cb? from what ive read, i have zero exposure)- and berhalter doesnt use a true 6. im still not convinced adams will get to play his position so im definitely not betting big of this kid breaking into "the group". and let me clarify- this reply has zero to do with my feelings/evaluations, just in terms of our berhalter reality. but also all 3 are SO young. without the advantage of devil may care grandpa sarachan giving them caps i dont see berhalter dusting off the ol welcome mat for these kids. it would take grabbing a spot with their club (more than a handful of cameos) for at least a small stretch with their club ala dest in the fall- and im still not sure berhalter bites. he sees more value in jan camp (where you can REALLY soak in those "principles" and "system" vibes), than league pedigree. potential doesnt seem to get any consideration whatsoever in greggs selections. so again- i see no reason to expect any change other than possibly adams and weah.
Mikey "Keystone" Bradley will be the lynchpin to General Egg's System. You can't play like the Keystone Kops without a Keystone.
it's complicated. based on the schedule -- wales and holland, i hear -- i would expect status quo plus adams and maybe some guys like holmes, weah. you are not going to play around much for that schedule. or for LoN semis. however we have had some injuries that may scramble that somewhat, eg mckennie. i think that first part is his instinct. i think injuries may force him to mix it up. we shall see if everyone is healthy in march. if there is any "playtime" it will be camp cupcake. but that will drive the experiments in a particular direction.
Hard to see Earnie and Gregg convincing Chelsea to release Pulisic to go to Mexico for Olympic Qualifying when he could just be playing in adjacent countries. Same with Dest, Adams, McKennie, Sargent, etc. Most of the MLS players that people have no idea of why Gregg likes them so much are too old for the Olympics. So, Roldan, Lovitz, Trapp, could be with the team. Would be a terrible sign. If the MLS is on strike, then Trapp might not have played a game for 5-6 months. Not sure if CCL would happen if MLS players are on strike. Of course USMNT players have no contract, would be a good time for them to walk. Cannon (if still in MLS), Aaronsen, Pomykal and Miles Robinson, are the only players on recent Gregg rosters that might be sent to Mexico instead.
Updated... GK -Zack Steffen -Ethan Horvath -Matt Turner (Or Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, or JT Marcinkowski) RB -DeAndre Yedlin -Timmy Chandler -Eric Lichaj -Shaq Moore CB -John Brooks -Matt Miazga -Cameron Carter-Vickers -Erik Palmer-Brown -Ventura Alvarado -Chris Richards LB -Sergino Dest -Antonee Robinson -Niko Hamalainen -Chris Gloster -Travian Sousa M6 -Tyler Adams -Alfredo Morales -Owen Otasowie -Chris Durkin -Johnny M8 -Weston McKennie -Richard Ledezma -Alex Mendez 10 -Christian Pulisic -Giovanni Reyna RW -Tyler Boyd -Emmanuel Sabbi -Duane Holmes -Sebastian Saucedo FW -Josh Sargent -Josh Pynadath -Maurice Malone -Haji Wright -Sebastian Soto -Andrija Novakovich LW -Tim Weah -Indiana Vassiliev -Konrad de la Fuente -Niko Gioacchini Main thing I want from this camp is to bring a large group of European based players as sort of a mini-January Camp. Let’s get a look at the guys who we would want to look at before qualifying begins.
i would love to see this conceptually but we only have two real camps before the hex. I’d definitely include Morris, long and whoever else is a potential regular (Pomykal). I will lose my shit if March camp is over 50% MLS unless 10 leading players are injured.
The disaster of 2019 started with the March roster release. Are we going to continue the moneyball approach? We will see with the roster. If we are going to scrap, what McBride called a, "complicated way to build a team", then the roster should be this: -Zack Steffen -Ethan Horvath -Matt Turner RB -DeAndre Yedlin -Sergino Dest CB -John Brooks -Matt Miazga -Cameron Carter-Vickers -Aaron Long -Owen Otasowie LB -Antonee Robinson -Travian Sousa M6 -Tyler Adams -Chris Cappis M8 -Weston McKennie -Richard Ledezma -Alfredo Morales 10 -Duane Holmes -Sebastian Lletget RW -Tyler Boyd -Jordan Morris FW -Josh Sargent -Altidore/Zardes LW -Christian Pulisic -Giovanni Reyna -Tim Weah Yueill, Pomykal, Cannon will be in Mexico. Vassilev, Ciochainni, Sousa, Otasowie, KDLF, Pynadath would be with the U20 team. No problem bringing extra players like Mendez, Gloster, Lichaj, Fabian Johnson, Amon, Sabbi
Right? The same people who are insistent that we need an incredibly solid defensive midfield keep listing Ledezma and Mendez as 8s ... which is, just no. If people think Bradley is a sieve right now... I don't think we want to see the treatise that juvechelsea writes up on Richie Ledezma trying to defend as an 8.
U-23's should be the priority. Players who'd make either team for me - Pulisic, Weah, Sargent, Reyna, Adams, McKennie, Pomykal, Yueill, Dest, A. Robinson, M. Robinson, Cannon, EPB (as dm). You fill in around who can get a release. The qualifying tournament is 12 days. Goes a few days beyond the window. Players would miss 1-2 games for their clubs. The vital ones we in all likelihood couldn't get, but non-vital maybe. The newer or swing players that are only senior eligible: Holmes, Turner, Horvath, and maybe a couple Jan. camp standouts who may have dual yt eligibility, i.e.: Aaronson, Ferreira, Cappis, Araujo, etc. We'll have to see in Feb.
On the senior level, Ledezma and Mendez are going to have to either become an 8 or become a winger. Neither project to be good enough to be a 10 - at least not at the moment. Besides an 8 is basically a 10 with defensive responsibilities.
Well, requiring defensive ability would be a problem when it comes to Mendez, because he doesn't have it. Right now he doesn't have a shout at any position. He's a struggling Dutch 2nd division player. Ledezma isn't exactly killing it either, not recording a goal contribution against grown men in that same lower level yet. He may have adequate defensive ability. But there's a better chance he starts making that killer pass or shot, with experience, and being able to hold off defenders more by strengthening his body. We should cross that bridge when we come to it. Both players are to an extent getting grandfathered in to the senior team based on the perception of who they were as youths.
I disagree -- I think Ledezma actually could become a 10, at least a modern 10, if he can become at least passable on defense as he gets bigger and stronger. He's got the full package in terms of dribbling skill, creative flair, passing and scoring ability. His upside is clearly higher than Lletget, Holmes and most of the non-Pulisic players at that position.His potential is higher than Pomykal as a 10, IMO, though lower at other position. I'm less optimistic about Mendez on both the offensive and defensive fronts. In a pool with players like Adams, McKennie and Pomykal, I have a hard time seeing either of them as an 8. Mendez, given his procilivity to not move much without the ball, might actually be better as a 6, though he's not the defender anyone wants there.
Ledezma should fit right into a squad that has given 951 minutes to a central midfielder that has never scored or assisted for the USMNT then
Eh. I hear what you’re saying. But my argument is founded in that I would like to see this next camp being a come to Jesus meeting for a lot of players. In a sense, hey, I see you. This is what I need you to work on if you want to come back to this level. It’s also an opportunity to combine a u23 camp with the senior camp. Something both are still in the discussion. Now, I get its hip and cool to easily dismiss a player because they’re not at this or that level. But good leadership should also value potential. And both these guys still have potential. It’s just raw. That said, if Bryang Kayo can get a call up for similar reasons. So can Mendez and Ledezma.