Pre-match: USA v Panama WCQ 10/10/21

England-based USMNT duo of Antonee Robinson and Zack Steffen, along with midfielder Weston McKennie, will head directly to Columbus, Ohio in advance of USA-Costa Rica. They'll skip the Panama match.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 8, 2021

 

McKennie experienced soreness is his right quad, but MRI was negative- per Sciaretta

 

Interesting. On paper, the England-based players should be fine for Panama.

I don't see a point in criticizing any of these 3 players for being the one who is actually ineligible to travel, since that player is in the process of getting his vaccinations done now. But based on Berhalter's comments, it has to be one of this trio.

 

God, I hope you're right. Dest hasn't done as well traveling in CCAF & playing defense outside of recovery runs.

Same thing goes for this prediction. Musah and De La Torre are pretty redundant and untested in that situation. Lletget provides more killer balls & scoring if he can be camped up higher because of the aid of 1 (not both) of those players.

 

I would rather play Dest (assuming health) at LB in Panama over Bello with Yedlin at RB. Not particularly close for me on that front either.

 

"We have everyone except one player that's fully vaccinated, another player has one of his two shots."

#USMNT vaccination situation, per Berhalter: "We have everyone except one player that's fully vaccinated, another player has one of his two shots." As of right now, only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed into Panama without quarantining.

— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) October 6, 2021

"Antonee Robinson and Zack Steffen (quarantine restrictions)... will not travel to Panama"

USMNT Travel Roster Update:

Antonee Robinson and Zack Steffen (quarantine restrictions), and Weston McKennie (quad soreness) will not travel to Panama and will instead head straight to Columbus to prepare for #USAvCRC on Oct. 13.

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) October 8, 2021

So which one has only taken the first shot and which one isn't vaccinated at all?
Or is it McKennie and they're covering for him?

 

Especially relative to opponent, Bello played better at Honduras than Dest at El Salvador. You'd blunt Dest's effectiveness some because he won't be high up the pitch this match to use his right effectively on the cut-in. While you might lose him for the possession game at home. So I respectfully disagree.

 

I agree that Dest was poor against ES. I’m just not willing to close the book on him on the road for Bello, he’s too talented and the sample size is too small for me. But I can see why someone would look at the ES game and come to your conclusion — so cheers. I also think he was coming into the game against Honduras when he unfortunately got hurt.

 

GK Turner (Johnson) DNP
RB Yedlin (Moore) DNP
CB Miles (Richards) DNP
CB Zimmerman (Richards) DNP
LB Bello (Acosta) DNP
DM Adams (Acosta) DNP
MF Musah (Roldan) 60
MF Lletget (De la Torre) 70
RW Arriola (Weah) 60
LW Aaronson (Hoppe) 70
FW Pepi (Zardes) 70

Steffen, A. Robinson, McKennie - Out
Dest - Rested
McKenzie, Ream, Busio - not used

 

If I had to take a shot in the dark, I'd say you just hit the bullseye.

 

ussoccer.com, on the "match hub" for an upcoming match, shows which networks will be carrying the game live.

Paramount + or Universo for the Panama match

 

Updated:

--------------------Turner----------------
Yedlin---Zimmerman---Robinson---Dest
--------------------Adams-----------------
-----------Acosta--------Lletget-----------
Arriola-----------Pepi----------Aaronson

Mudders: Acosta, McKennie, Arriola, Zardes.

Fine with resting Dest or Adams if we want to. Though having Wes & Adams on yellows for CR makes me nervous for Mexico. If either sits, Acosta could be the replacement. Surely as the #6, possible at LB. Little nervous on Bello, but I'd prefer that to Acosta or a 3 back or Richards.

Feel pretty confident in our reserve attackers (Weah, Zardes, Hoppe) if 3G decides to rest Aaronson, Arriola, or Pepi.

What he does in CM is the biggest question.

 

I would seriously consider starting with:
Turner
Moore or Yedlin, Richards, McKenzie, Bello
Acosta, De La Torre, Busio or Lletget 3 of those 4)
Hoppe, Zardes, Weah.

10 changes to the outfield gives you your freshest team possible, and allows you to replicate the Jamaica lineup vs. Costa Rica (with those players also being fresher).

I think this team could get a result at Panama. I don't expect that lineup but I would seriously consider it.

 

I'd be surprised if Arriola started again after an exhausting 90 minutes.I think that was probably illustrative of how the wingers will work this window.

My assumed plan has been that it's Aaronson for 60-70 from the start every game with a mix on the other side, but after last night I wonder if that's possible for Aaronson. Could be, just seemed like an intense shift and wonder if the expectation is to replicate that three times in 10 days after all the minutes he's accrued with Salzburg in the past few weeks.

I'm guessing Weah and Aaronson, but if Brendan can't go or the plan isn't for him to go I think it's up in the air. I would lean heavily Hoppe there as the only completely fresh winger (more than fresh really, would be 18 days since he's played), and I think he has the personality to be fine getting his WCQ debut as a starter on the road.

Most interested to see FBs, TBH. Like many I think Scally probably should have been in this camp, even if the intention was more to get him involved with the group. Dest could be rested or maybe not ready to go. Robinson is in Ohio. Not super comfortable with what's left if those three are the only available.

 

If I'm ARob and I had to have a heart procedure to keep playing soccer a few years ago I would be hesitant to get a second MRNA vaccine. No idea if that has factored into him not being fully vaccinated though.

 

I expect a fair amount of rotation.

Pepi will probably start given he just scored two goals and was taken out early presumably with the idea of saving him for Panama. Plus I think there is a little bit of a sentimental idea that Zardes will get the start in Columbus.

Wide attacking players, I think Hoppe and Weah start. Then we go back to Aaronson and Arriola against Costa Rica.

Midfield is a bit complicated with McKennie being out. I'm reluctant to go with two smaller less athletic mids. But Musah is just now rounding into shape after recovering from an injury. I'm rather not push it with him and would wait until Costa Rica to give him his next start. This means two of de la Torre, Busio and Lletget start along with Adams. I'd go with de la Torre and Busio. Roldan is also an option, but his role seems have evolved a bit to high energy, late game sub as a wide player.

I think Yedlin and Dest will be the fullbacks, assuming Dest is healthy. I think the plan all along has been to start Dest and Antonee Robinson in two of the three games.

Some rotation is also likely at center back. I think it will be Zimmerman and McKenzie against Panama and Richards and Robinson against Costa Rica.

 

Is Panama going to bunker or they are actually going to play open?

 

Gotta start Hoppe and Weah. I'd start Hoppe up top but I'm sure Zardes will start and that's fine. But Hoppe and Weah have serious wheels and will give Panama fits.
If Dest is fit, he starts. He's a dream player in Berhalter's system, someone who can get to the touchline any time but isn't predictable. Always a threat to be fouled in good spots.
Acosta is going to play somewhere this game. Probably in Musah's spot, while Adams starts again.
My surprise selection is DLT getting the start ahead of Lletget. It's a good spot for him with two more defensive guys with him. It's also a bad spot for him b/c it's qualifying in Panama and he could be overwhelmed. I'm okay finding out, there's always Lletget waiting in the wings.
The US wings are going to prove too much for Panama, that's my feeling. If the US plays a simple game of dump and chase, they will pound Panama to dust by the end of the match.
3-1 US, goals Hoppe, Weah, Hoppe all within 60'.

 

They'll most likely outpossess the US. They will probably bunker eventually if they have a lead, though.

 

well, i guess ill have to revisit my lineup posted earlier...

is the fact that moore has played on the left with club quite a bit worth discussion?

 

I think the five subs made last game were partially to limit wear on some guys so they could go again. McKennie and Antonee played full 90, so I'm not surprised they are skipping.

Miles played the full 270 minutes last time around so we might see less rotation with cbs. Not sure.

I expected we will see Yedlin for Antonee, Lletget or Acosta for Westin, maybe one CB rotated and maybe Arriola rotated, but otherwise a lot of the same guys.

 

Weah needs to start. Arriola needs to sit.

You can't sit Musah. The man totally dominated in the midfield attack with his change of pace, strength, and control, to the point that McKennie could lay back a bit, where he is better anyway. You gotta get as many minutes as you can out of the Adams-McKennie-Musah midfield because any other combination is infinitely inferior.

Edit: Just saw that McKennie is out. Cr@p. Even more reason for Musah to start.

 

yeah, we gotta start Moose boys.

Very curious about the lineup. Do we rest Pepi? Aaronson? Arriola? Im fine with Bello at left back. Gotta do the Zimminson pairing in the back.

 

Considering the news on who will not be there.... My updates are limited... Wes out and Busio in. I think having the speed of Weah and Bello on the left will help offset Busio's relative lack of pace... And he could provide just the kind of pass we need to break the lines. Again... I play Dest over Yedlin if he is ready to go. Dest was great in the last game.

Weah ---- Pepi ---- Aaronson -
Busio --- Acosta --- Musah
Bello - Richards - Robinson - Yedlin
------------------- Turner ------------------