The Weston McKinnie replacement this crucial WCQ cycle: LDLT or Busio?

One thing that gave me confidence going into the last window was the ability to rotate players so that you could put out Acosta, LDT and maybe Reyna and still be able to play a ready and rested MMA against Panama. Now the choices are growing more difficult.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Weston.

 

Honestly, I think both Pomykal and Williamson would likely be better. But neither will likely get the chance to prove it.

I think de la Torre is more likely able to handle the physicality than Busio, but I'm not 100% convinced.

 

Pomykal

Kidding, but not really

 

I thought I was being clever by mentioning Pomykal, but I guess it wasn't such an original idea.

On the physicality spectrum, I'd actually argue Busio is more so than de la Torre, but I'm still not sure who I prefer in this game. In order of personal preference for this window, I would rank potential McKennie replacements something like this:

1. Pomykal - ideal world. hopefully his form is back to it's old self and consistent.
2. de la Torre - slight, but should be fine with Adams and Musah around him?
3. Busio - I don't trust him yet. There is only one way to earn trust, however.
4. Holmes - maybe the most Weston-like of the options.
5. Tessmann - high upside; not there yet.
6. Williamson - hasn't really shown it at a high level for a significant amount of time.
7. Lletget - we could do worse.

 

Aaronson?

 

It didn't really work out the last time we tried it, but he has started several games at CM for the US this cycle, including one in qualifying, so yeah he might still be an option.

 

This could be brilliant. Not that Aaronson replaces McKennie, but that he shines as a 10 this window. When McKennie is healthy, he takes Musah's 8 role, and Musah becomes the backup there.

 

Bassett deserves a mention...

 

If I had to guess what GGG is going to do I think we'll see Acosta at the 8 against Mexico and LDLT against Panama... Not that I agree but that's my hunch.

Personally, I'd like to see LDLT for both games. I'm not high super high on Busio but would prefer him at the 8 over Acosta if we want someone with a bit more defensive acumen there for Mexico. Aaronson would be an interesting replacement too, but that didn't seem to work for us the first time around.

 

Busio has 30 more first division games, to say nothing of the Gold Cup.

 

[QUOTE="don Lamb, post: 40293503, member: 303503"]This could be brilliant. Not that Aaronson replaces McKennie, but that he shines as a 10 this window. When McKennie is healthy, he takes Musah's 8 role, and Musah becomes the backup there.[/QUOTE]

@don Lamb — He really does seem to be on a good run right now.

I have a vague recollection of "it didn't really work out" when it was tried before, but was not really convinced it was completely his fault. And I'm right half the time.

 

Why is the idea of Roldan vomit inducing? He's consistently one of the better midfielders in MLS. He's fast, super fit and has hundreds of pro games under his belt.

 

This is Lletget or Roldan's time to shine!!! (ducks)

This is why Gregg called in Lletget and Roldan for every friggin window, so that they would be ready for THIS moment. There's no reason to panic, he planned it out... Gregg, once again proving himself to be a soccer genius!

Remember whenever Lletget and Roldan were called in, the decision was defended with "Lletget and Roldan know TEH GERGG SYSTEM"... well now is their big chance to show the non-believers just how well integrated they have been into the team by years of Gregg's roster construction decisions.

Obviously we can't count on Busio, who was given one shot at it and didn't look so great.

Obviously we can't count on Luca de la Torre, who was given one shot at it and looked great but against a terrible team so we have no way of knowing if that will translate against better opposition, and no time to collect further data points in non do or die situations.

No one else was even on the radar, it's laughable to bring up Pomykal or Bassett or a half dozen others (like Holmes who has been in Gregg's doghouse basically since they first met) now... come on be serious, Gregg is always so serious (well aside from his shoes, bounce passes, and mid-game selfies), be like Gregg!

Gregg doesn't make panic reactionary decisions (like not giving Pepi a single minute in the first two games and then starting him, or not calling in Zimmerman in favor of Ream to making him a top two CB), no he plans carefully, for example he knows not to bring in a target forward over the last two windows because the team won't need it. Nope, the way the geniuses on the coaching staff drew it up there would never be a need for a late goal in any game across both those windows where a target forward at the end of the bench (like say Pefok who has 20 goals) might be useful... they are practically prescient!

The only other "4 camper" is Acosta who is a 6 and has been bad playing higher up.

So that leaves Gregg's regular call ups, Lletget and Roldan!

 

Either of those guys walks into the 11 of Panama or Costa Rica, next man up, no excuses.

 

Its going to be Acosta, both LDLT an Busio will probably make the squad but its going to be Acosta getting most of the minutes at the 8

 

If we are talking about Aaronson's performance in the first Canada match — when McKennie was sent home for breaking Covid protocols — CBS rated no US player higher. Not that I give a crap what CBS thinks, I just don't remember the details of Aaronson's performance without re-watching the whole thing.

He started, was subbed at about 64 minutes.

 

He played in the front 3 in that one. It was the El Salvador home game where he started at CM.

 

For context, CBS gave Aaronson a 5 in this game and Sigal over at MLS.com gave him a 5.5. Obviously not a perfect system of evals, but he didn't have a good game in a game where nobody played well.

 

I'm not giving my opinion based on what I want.

I feel very confident GGG is going to rely on Acosta to fill in a lot for WM.

Whether I want Busio, LDLT or Pomykal or anyone else is irrelevant. I'd be shocked if it wasn't mostly Acosta filling in.

 

Love the sarcasm in this one, well done.

I'm going to be conservative and say that Reyna either isn't healthy, or if he is, that GGG will err on the side of caution and only play him on the wing.

That gives us, in order of likelihood to start next to Musah, in my opinion:

- Busio (I think Gregg favors him most)
- LDLT
- Acosta
- Roldan
- Lletget

Against Mexico, they will be without Herrera, who in many ways is their McKennie. That's where I think the loss of McKennie doesn't hit as hard as one would suspect. Alvarez, Romo, and Guardado are still formidable but not nearly as much with HH in there. I would also want to start Busio for dead ball reasons, especially if Adams starts ahead of Acosta.

Against panama I would use LDLT, a better ball mover, against the team that will likely set a low block.

 

I appreciate that you repped my comment when I prematurely hit post, only to just as quickly un-rep it when I finished the whole thing and you found out it was meant to be extremely sarcastic.

I'll just say I'm glad SOMEONE has faith in Lletget and Roldan being ready to step up in the big games, in the highest pressure situations! Not sure how all the people who defended every Lletget and Roldan call up with "bu but they're not gonna play so it's fine" will manage the mental gymnastics necessary to thread that needle... of course they will find a way because you gotta circle the wagons, it goes without saying that no mistakes could possibly have been made!

 

I think Aaronson plays a 10 in a diamond midfield. We play three in the midfield so it's a little different.

Aaronson isn't really set up to excel in Gregg's system as there is no 10 in the 4-3-3, and there are better wingers than him (Pulisic, Weah, and possibly Reyna).