Cowell is probably half season away for being able to consistently apply his gifts and improve in possession for the USMNT level. Daryl and Jesus need to he called up.
It would be almost criminal to not call in Jesus Ferreira at this point. I’m not as anti-Lletget as others. I appreciate his leadership. But at the same time, it’s not a wise thing to do to build the team around non-starters. And, if it were me, I’d select Ferreira over Pulisic (if not healthy), Lletget and Roldan (based on current form), and probably Konrad, Arriola, Gioacchini, and Hoppe. Maybe even Pepi (although Pepi is a lock in my eyes)... who has cooled off some.
It would actually be kinda weird for Gregg to not call in Ferreira at this point. I mean, GGG called Jesus in early, as sort of a flyer before he really had shown that much consistently. Gregg obviously liked him. Then Jesus scores like 4 goals and gets a couple assists in his matches with the USMNT. Now, he's playing better than he ever has, and is assuredly one of, if not THE best American in MLS. And he's 20. And he's a dual-Nat.
Just checked Whoscored. They do rate him as the top American, #20 overall. That's where American avalanche starts: Zimmerman is #21, Roldan #22, and Mihailovic #24. But on a current form Ferreira is far ahead of everyone. According to Buzz there is as much interest in him as in Pepi, just his agents are better and don't like make noise.
Definitely at least 24 given that we’ve only been dressing 2 goalies. I don’t know if we’ll take much more than that given there only being two games and probably much less rotation.
Dike goal Daryl Dike scores his 9th goal of the @MLS season! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ulesAkyrSv— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) October 31, 2021 Call up Pepi, Dike, Ferreira Dike 🇺🇸 now has 6 goals in his last 8 matches for Orlando City! Not just scoring, but also putting in some good performances, would not be bad if Gregg included him this November camp!Our other 3 options Sargent, Hoppe and Pefok are in poor form or not playing!— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) October 31, 2021 Chances Gregg actually does this instead of overthinking it: 0.5% Edit: Daryl Dike! His 9th of the season puts Orlando up 1-0. The Oklahoma native now has 26 goals in 4123 minutes at the club level between Orlando & Barnsley. 29 goals total when adding 3 #USMNT goals. His first pro game wasn’t until July 2020. Solid stats. pic.twitter.com/aMb0Cqojmt— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) October 31, 2021
I think you get in to the problems of a young player and how that affects the team at a point in the cycle where that should already have been done and finished. Ferreira 2026, not now. Why do you think Ferreira/Pepi connection doesnt seem to be there? Your thoughts. Pepi seems to be a whole different player when he plays for the nats.
I was kind of watching the Orlando match and wasn’t greatly impressed with Dike. He can be a bit ponderous. Pepi, Ferreira and Dike call-up sounds a bit worrisome but I guess that is where we are.
If I understand your question, I would argue that the Ferreira/Pepi connection is a major reason that Ferreira should be called in. They seem to have good chemistry.
He got boned by the official, otherwise he's in on the scramble that nets Orlando the game-winner. And he was a hair away from scoring it himself, to be having a different conversation. As is, he did score the game-tier, on a slick finish. That was on a pass from Mueller, who was missing him a lot. If there's a critique of an attacker, in spite of being a goal contributor, it would be him. Nani had some tunnel vision as well. In the opportunities Dike did have, he was going up against defender of the year Walker Zimmerman, who also knew his tendency from being on the national team. He read he was going right on one breakaway, and picked it off him. So the next time he went left to beat him, but the help defender slid in just in time. That was a good adjustment. He was pretty good, again. But Hoppe can be there too, to provide cover. Doesn't matter if he's not playing. That's his club manager's problem.
I’ll be a bit disappointed if Dike isn’t called in as the striker backup to pepi. I also hope Ferreira gets called in, but I’m not really sure where he fits in (still prefer him to Roldan though)
I’ve probably slept too much on Ferreira, his output has been great this season and he’s still quite young. Honestly with this type of output I’m not sure why Colombia wouldn’t consider calling him immediately — the issue with that being he hasn’t been integrated at all yet and their next set of two games (Brazil and Paraguay) are critical as they sit tied for 4th on points. In looking at their last roster — I’m not so sure he isn’t already better than multiple guys they’re rolling out there. I think they’re going to really regret losing him due to calling players like Yerson Candelo over Ferreira. They also called a ton of defensive midfielders up last window.
I think that is a good guess. I would take an extra midfielder (in relation to a normal 23 man WC roster) as cover for the fact that both McKennie and Adams are on a caution. I would take an extra person on the front line to cover for the fact that I expect Pulisic to be called in while not yet game fit.
Mcglynn to Aaronson 🗣️ Paxten AaronsonThe 18-year-old slots it home to make it a 2-0 #DOOP lead. pic.twitter.com/BHP2dWR1EF— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 1, 2021 Also very nice sequence here from Mcglynn He keeps fibbin'. https://t.co/aypsjwTH15 pic.twitter.com/PQgkCNP0mq— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) November 1, 2021
ASA field players G+ on a per 90 basis, for a different POV, min 1,000 minutes: 2. Walker Zimmerman (10. Julian Gressel) 11. Cristian Roldan 12. Aaron Herrera 21. Ryan Hollingshead 41. Paul Arriola Take that FWIW. I don't really love any of the "all in one" stats models in almost any sport, but especially not in soccer. Keepers: 1. Turner 3. JT 5, Guzan
The question with Ferreira has always been "where does he fit." Berhalter has started him in the last two January camps as a forward. A false 9. So clearly Berhalter rates him high up on the depth chart of domestic forwards. I'd call him up as a versatile attacking option that can play on the wing, as a forward or as a #10. The guy hasn't been good for FCD as a #8, though. He can't tackle a fly. It was Pomykal who was great in that free 8 role. But anyway.........................at the forward spot I still like calling in Dike over Ferreira. An in-form Dike should be a nightmare for CONCACAF opponents. I call Pepi, Dike, and Pefok as my #9s. [For the moment I'm keeping Hoppe and Weah as wing/forward options as well.] Ferreira takes Arriola's spot on the roster. If Pulisic is healthy, then I have to reconsider everything. Then it may be Hoppe that I dump off, as he's really not doing anything at the moment in club football. We crush Sargent for going so long without a goal. Hoppe's drought is just as long.