That was a rough game to watch and hard to take much away from. Everyone was rusty, and people wore down in the heat. That said, I think Mueller was the only guy out there at all interesting from the USMNT perspective. I'd bet that he's not good enough to really add much to the USMNT, especially with guys like Weah, Llanez, and De la Fuente hopefully on the verge of breaking out, but I wouldn't hate a call-up for him. Certainly prefer him to Baird.
Mueller has not thrice torn his hamstrings. And he plays at a decent level. Up next we have NYC vs Union: Sands and Parks vs McKenzie and Aaronson.
I was just thinking too, not only are there fewer interesting players to watch with Dallas out of the tournament, but there just aren't that many spots up for grabs for MLSers on the USMNT at this point. If you assume that guys at good Euro teams (i.e., the big 4 leagues + teams from other leagues regularly in UCL) will at least make the roster (not necessarily start), there's not much room for MLS guys when/if everyone is healthy. Forward: Sargent is staying up and is presumably close to a lock for USMNT rosters. That leaves one forward spot up for grabs. Winger: Pulisic is obviously a lock. Llanez and Weah look pretty likely to get time on good teams in the fall. That leaves one spot that is presumably Morris', so other MLS wingers are aiming for 3rd string at best. CM: Adams, McKennie, and Reyna are locks. Things get even tougher for MLS guys if Otasowie starts getting minutes at Wolves at CM (though he might also be a CB), and Ledezma gets into the 1st team at PSV. Maybe room for 1-3 MLSers here. Outside back: Dest is a lock. Yedlin seems likely to move on from Newcastle, but I bet he sticks in the EPL or Bundesliga. Robinson seems likely to move to the EPL or Serie A, and Cannon seems likely to move to a good Euro team. Again, MLS outside backs might be aiming for 3rd string. CB: This is pretty wide open. Brooks is a lock, but the other 3 spots are up in the air. Maybe Richards gets a move to a good team and becomes a lock, but lots to play for for guys like Long, Zimmerman, and M. Robinson. GK: Steffen is a lock. Horvath could get a good move and become a lock. 3rd string is wide open. 1-2 spots for MLSers here. So, that's 10 spots at most for MLSers, maybe as few as 6 if guys in Europe progress in the fall.
Dallas being out is a huge bummer. I'm also surprisingly bummed about Robbie Robinson for Miami -- he looked really good before he got hurt. Tomorrow's NYCFC-Philly game is one of the better options. I'm looking at Aaronson, McKenzie, Sands, Parks. Hyndman, Bello and especially Robinson on Atlanta. Cole Bassett in Colorado if he plays, and Sam Vines. Toye in Minnesota, same caveat. Even Duke at LAFC. If Araujo plays for LAG. And so on. I watch a decent amount of MLS because I enjoy it, but even when I watch the Quakes, I'm not watching Yeuil for the USMNT. I know Yeuill. I know Lima. If there's an American I want to watch for that purpose, I want a Cade Cowell sighting. But overall, even if an Altidore or a Long still deserves to be on the roster -- and they do -- I don't really watch MLS to watch them. I know their games, and I don't suspect either is improving much. If I'm watching for the USMNT, it's the young kids.
I just wish it would happen for Mueller and this would be the year. The first couple he's been one of Orlando's best players and among the better attackers in the league for 5-10 game stretches. Then he falls off before picking back up again. I'm guessing it's a confidence thing. He should have the mindset that he has close to Nani's ability but is younger. Should expect to be the man on that team. We need more American attackers in MLS who have that expectation and don't just show it in flashes in spite their talent. Same goes for Toye and Aaronson this yr. Before too long Pepi's going to need to emerge and be one of those "20 Pulisic's" the European scout forecasted. The only consistent offensive focal points on their teams in MLS have been Morris, Altidore, and Pomykal in a smaller sample. That's what we should expect for our national teamers & they do for European club prospects too. Too many players satisfied w/ being passengers & cogs in the machine. That doesn't mean they can't be cogs in our machine or Europe's too, but we don't have a crystal ball, so those opportunities will be in shorter supply.
@largegarlic I don't think pro athletes are the most realistic about their ability on average. I'm sure the MLS guys don't feel like they are out of the picture,especially with health always being a question for our starters. Do we have a single iron man in our likely XI?
Even Brazil don't have 20 Pulisic's Given the makeup of US rosters in major tournaments(WC, Confederations, Copa) there's no reason for MLS players to feel they'll be given short shrift in future roster selections. It's fans who tend be most unrealistic on the US rosters, especially with the projections on the prospects of Euro-based youths.
Nothing says "MLS is back" as much as a pass from a center back deflected by a striker that goes harmlessly sideways toward the sideline.
Mueller's goals + assists* per 90 has gone up in each of his three seasons. 2018: .43 2019: .59 2020: 1.0 Credit to him for persevering on a horrible team. * = as per mlssoccer
Euro locks or near locks are: Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Brooks, Dest, Strong candidates: Adams, Sargent, Weah, Reyna, Robinson. Close to Major League-ish debuts: Otasowie, Konrad, Soto, Llanez, Ledezma, Richards, Tillman, Booth, Balogun, . So that's 10 in the former category. Add 2 or 3 in the latter category. Everything else is up for grabs. That's approximately half the team.
The Euro scout made that declaration when Pulisic was at Dortmund not Chelsea. And Brasil has 50 of Pulisics at BVB-level guys. 5-10 the Chelsea version. It was a lofty projection for the US has 20, but plausible to be achieved after MLS academies arrives w/ good development & integration of those players. We're maybe at the threshold w/ talent but not the other part. So that # may be halved w/ Reyna, Adams, McKennie, Dest, & several others (i.e.: Pomykal, Pepi, Llanez, Weah, Richards, Sargent) qualifying. If we're fortunate like 15 now w/ an Aaronson, KHF, Toye, Otasowie, Leyva, etc. also making the grade.
Fans on these boards tend to hand over every roster spot on the USMNT to teens that haven't done anything yet. We have a lot of prospects in the Llanez, Richards, Ledezma, Mendez category. We have WCQers on the horizon. Those players aren't likely to be ready.......................and who knows how many friendlies we'll have to even get the elite ones like Reyna incorporated. There are tons of roster slots open to competition from MLSers right now. Both in terms of starters and in terms of depth. It takes a village to qualify for a World Cup due to injuries, suspensions, lack of form, etc. Players in the past in the Ante Razov category played important roles in WCQers. In MLS I'm particularly looking for goal-scorers, because we don't have them outside of Pulisic in Europe. We hope Sargent becomes one, but the fact is that as of today he isn't one. If a guy like Chris Mueller can actually put the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis, then he's likely to be considered. [I'm not convinced by Mueller, but Oscar Pareja has a tendency to work some magic.]
I think there are more spots open for MLS players than some people are arguing. I'd say there are 10-12 European players who have clear spots in the squad, as well as 5-6 MLS players, with the rest up for grabs. Though if Cannon and Long ever transfer, then that will change the composition.
Four players who could also be of great interest to our Olympic qualifiers (whenever they're scheduled to).
So true. Connor Casey and Eddie Johnson have scored important WCQ goals for the US. If we can storm through the process with the U-23s, I'll take it, but I wouldn't bet money I'd miss on it happening.
It's just a silly way of thinking about things anyway. Despite the conspiracy theories, I don't think there are MLS spots, quotas or caps on European players. There are players who are locks to be on the roster as of now, and probably a few players who are basically locks to be on the roster in 2022. Depending on how hard of a lock you think someone has to be, that's either a decent chunk of the roster or barely anyone at all. But players make a roster, not leagues.
For a healthy first team there are no more than a couple first 11 spots that won't be pretty summarily claimed by European based players. Our top players at pretty much every position are playing in Europe, as should be expected. But, injuries and depth mean that especially during qualifying when players pick up knocks during a long European season, we'll see plenty of places open up for MLS guys to get time. USSF also has this weird thing where they sometimes hold friendlies outside FIFA dates, so MLS players are needed there. Easy to name a top 11 of European-based guys. But if you start looking at a full 23 and beyond, MLS guys have plenty of chances as beyond the first dozen or so you're pretty quickly get to mostly lower league or lower division players in Europe and then MLS guys start to be competitive. I'm not saying Championship or 2Bund players or whatever can't be competitive or don't deserve just as much of a chance as MLS guys; Robinson for one needs more opportunities since he's in a weak spot for us and we all have this or that guy we favor. But I don't think it makes much sense to think lower league or lower division European players deserve more chances than MLS guys either. I'd tend to lump those players together and consider them all an obvious step down from our top guys.
In this thread, the median estimate from both soccer pundits and BS posters is 9 MLS players in the squad. That feels about right (and is way below the Arena and Berhalter 2/3 from MLS benchmark that has been REMARKABLY consistent across all of their camps). https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/2022-world-cup-qualifying-rosters.2109665/page-8#post-38778551
LOL. There's been a remarkably consistent 2/3 MLS roster construction under every camp under both Arena and Berhalter. Unbelievably consistent. Compare that to the pool constructed by pundits and the collective "wisdom" of BS poster which came up at a consistent 39%. Posters can choose to believe that a remarkably consistent 67% is just the makeup of our pool and it's due to injuries but it beggars belief to think that there's not something there given the remarkable consistency of that number over a long period of time. “God does not build in straight lines”
This looks good for more a possession team like one of the better clubs in the league unlike Orlando, or what Berhalter is trying to play. And I think this is harsh on the key pass & ball-winning front. He played that peach to Akindele & deflected plenty off balls off the opponent. Chris Mueller: raw # for Orlando in 2-1 vs. Miami82 minutes47 touches3 shots (2 on target)96.8% passing (30/31)(!)1 goal0 key passes1 aerial won1 dribble2x fouled0 fouls1 tackle0 interceptions, clearances, blocked shots1/1 accurate crosses— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) July 9, 2020