I really haven't paid attention outside of CONCACAF, but it feels like even in CONCACAF it's been pretty common.
Thanks for bumping this, as I think that this list (be it 23 or 26) becomes our primary focus as a fan base as of Friday, once the draw happens and the groups are known. Unless we need to beat the Kiwis in Qatar in June, that is... I agree with most of your GK list, but I'd posit that the alternate waiting in the wings might well be Slonina, especially if he has himself a big season this year. There is often the desire to bring an especially promising young GK along for the experience. We did this for Howard and Guzan in the past. There's broad agreement, of course, on the first three CBs, but we're gonna disagree on the order of the remainder. I think a lot of you are greatly under-grading Long on an ideological basis, and there is still the distinct possibility that Brooks reintegrates himself, as he better fits into what will likely be our approach against some teams in the WC than he was in qualifying, where we didn't go with a low block against anybody and had no need to. I also think you're likely overrating Miazga, who is rather deep on the depth chart. Scally has the time to make his case, and I'll be shocked if he isn't included in the Nations League in June unless he's injured. For now, Yedlin is well-positioned, and so is Cannon. Scally's also a legitimate option on the other side. Because of his familiarity with the group and positional versatility, Roldan is almost certainly ahead of Mihailovic, who covers only one position and one tactical role. Mihailovic is a guy who might get a chance to prove some value against mediocre opposition in June, though. His form this season will have to make a case for his indispensibility. EDIT: And if healthy, Acosta is on the roster, guaranteed. He's the only serious backup option for Adams, and he's one of the only guys who can somewhat reliably strike a dead ball. You listed Musah twice, and I take it that you'd probably meant Acosta. No real argument on the winger front, though I would definitely have Arriola in front of Konrad presently. Forwards are wide open, a position that no one has really claimed strongly as their own, but if you held a gun to my head, I'd bet that the most likely three you chose are the three that we'll roll with in Qatar. Of course a lot of it will be down to form. And as eager as you and many are to eliminate Zardes from contention, he remains in contention. I'd also likely demote Hoppe behind Dike and Pefok.
Not long ago I had to show my 16 year-old that intro. He's very culturally literate, but he had somehow never heard of the Six Million Dollar Man. That era of prime-time TV has been buried for ages. Probably deservedly so.
Wow, I somehow missed that. Yeah, huge, obvious miss. He has Musah listed twice, and I'll bet that he meant Acosta one of those times.
P.S. If everyone is healthy (which we all know is extremely unlikely, anyway), I'll say the most likely to be players 24-26 if they do expand the rosters are Scally, Morris, and Roldan. But I think each of those guys is fairly likely to make it anyway because of attrition, as well as in Scally's case, overall career trajectory by then.
Goalies: Steffen, Turner, Horvath Fullbacks: Dest, Robinson, Cannon, Yedlin Center Backs: Zimmerman, Robinson, Richards, Brooks 6s: Adams, Acosta 8/10s: McKennie, Musah, LDLT, Busio 11s: Pulisic, Reyna, Weah, Aaronson 9s: Pepi, Ferreira If roster is 26 add Sargent, Dike and Sands Next man up if there are injuries: Goalie: Slonina Fullback: Bello Center Back: Long 6: Tessmann (if Sands is already on roster) 8/10: Roldan 11: Arriola 9: Pefok (if Sargent and Dike are already on roster) Guys I would give at least one start in upcoming matches: Scally, DeJuan Jones, Pomykal, Tessmann, Palmer-Brown, Slonina
I don’t think there’s that much wiggle room really. Backup wingback and third Striker are all that’s iffy for me. WC Roster (23) GK (3) Turner Steffen Horvath CB (4) M-Rob Zimmerman Richards Brooks WB (4) Dest A-Rob Yedlin Scally/Moore DM (2) Adams Acosta AM (4) McKennie Musah De La Torre Reyna Winger (3) Weah Puli Aaronson Forward (3) Pepi Ferreira Sargent/Dike/Pefok/Zardes (whoever’s in form)
I think the emergence of DLT means that the only real decisions left for Berhalter are Brooks vs Long, a backup left back, and three forwards that might be able to score a goal if everything in the universe lines up just right. That's all assuming full health. Which is a very bad assumption to make.
I am mostly with you, with few exceptions. 1) I am not taking 3 right backs. It is either Yedlin OR Cannon. I am taking a 2nd actual left back -- at this stage Bello, but subject to change. If fully healthy and playing well, I would actually take Cannon over Yedlin, as I think he is a little more solid defensively, which provides more yin to Dest's yang if we need a chnge of tactics for n opponent. 2) I am taking Reyna as a midfielder, and leaving Busio off. Busio "could" work his way back into my roster, but he has not looked effective enough in his limited chances to date. Which means ... 3) Yes, I am taking Arriola as the 4th wide forward at this stage, based on performance. Again, this could change. Morris could work into this spot, Hoppe could, Mihailovic could, etc. But right now, he would have the edge. Added note: I agree with you that Ferreira should be on the roster at this stage. He is goal dangerous -- not just for himself, but others. I think Pepi's status is more precarious because he is a more typical striker who is competing most directly with Pefok, Dike, Sargent, etc, and not looking goal dangerous for country or club. Any one of those guys can be in line for that spot if they catch a groove in which they dont stop scoring leading into the WC.
Dest is the backup left back. Gregg seems to feel very comfortable with the likes of Cannon, Yedlin and Moore so I have a feeling it will be Jedi, Dest, Cannon Yedlin and Moore if they are all healthy. 5 outside backs seems a lot, but the other night we were down to our 4th choice right back, correct? Would be a lot easier if we just had two clear good options at left back, maybe one of the lesser knowns establishes himself over the next 6 months. He is going to take Long come hell or high water over Brooks, but if Richards is healthy, it's him, McKenzie, Robinson and Zimmerman. That's 9 of 23, so I don't see them taking more defenders. The midfield and wingers, Pulisic, Musah, McKennie, Adams, LDLT, Reyna, Weah, Aaronson, and Acosta. That's 18 of 23. Three keepers, Steffen, Turner, Horvath. 21 of 23. Two strikers, neither of whom are going to be crucial to our success or failure in Qatar (given the results of the Octagonal which by and large had little to do with the strikers), so pick 'em. You're right about the injury bug though, that's where this all becomes really interesting. Someone just needs to put Puli and Reyna in bubble wrap for a month before Qatar.
It's interesting, most are assuming it will be a 23 man squad, but I read that in the FIFA rules governing the 2022 tournament that provisions for the Finals will be made at a later date, This suggests that the decision has not been reached yet: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/s...Cup-squads-increased-23-26-players-Qatar.html 26 for us would be much better.
Sorry for all the posting, but other than the games of course, this type of hemming and hawing over the roster is one of my favorite parts of the 4 year cycle, honestly.
If the squad is mostly healthy, then IMO it will be the players like Arriola and Roldan who benefit from a change from 23 to 26 player squads. Somebody like Arriola was already in a good spot if the US qualifies, but even more so if there is extra room.
What's interesting to me is that the Ocho really clarified things. In the first couple windows, it seemed like we had no clue who was going to be our team, but scanning over the lists folks are putting out now, it seems like, barring injuries, the list is pretty clear-cut. That said, there's still enough time this year for Donovan/Beasley surprises to emerge.
I mostly agree with your agreement. Unless there is some dramatic improvement over the next six months, I would not take Bello. He has been too inconsistent defensively for me. Totally agree that Busio should not be on the list. On the OP list, I'm not sold on Brooks. If he is being left off the list because he is not a good fit for the system, I don't see the system changing. So why include him? If he is also being left off due to not being a "team player" (I.e. willing to take a backup role), he is isn't going to be included. The only reason to include him in my mind is that his upside (experience, good in the air, and distribution) is better than his downside of lack of quickness and struggle with 1v1 defending. There will be probably by one surprise (young player) and obviously some left off due to injuries.
IF FIFA is considering expanding to 26 there is a simple compromise. Expand the roster pool to 26 (hell make it 28) but teams have to set the game day roster of 23 24 hours prior to a match. What's the downside to having larger player pools?
Brooks is a better fit against better teams as we will play deeper and they will likely have taller players. Minuscule chance JoGo blows up and becomes the backup LB. I guess one of the fringe forwards could blow up too especially as none have been great. I still think Pomykal has a slight chance as he was getting callus before being injured and plays somewhat similar to LDLT but withe better defense. A lot rides on whether the rosters expand to 26. I' have to ask also if there will be easier ways to bring in replacements if there are covid blowups like happened for OFC teams just now.
The downside is the cancer that can spread through a roster when the wrong person flies to the desert only to not dress for games.
I sort of look it like this. I have Long on there as I think that's who Berhalter's 4th center back would be today, but I would pick Brooks over him if it were up to me. Locks 1. Pulisic 2. McKennie 3. Adams 4. Reyna 5. Dest 6. Aaronson 7. Musah 8. Weah 9. Robinson 10. Jedi 11. Steffen 12. Turner 13. Zimmerman 14. Richards 15. Acosta Probable if the World Cup were today 16. Yedlin 17. Horvath 18. LDLT In a battle 19. Cannon 20. Pepi 21. Ferreira 22. Busio 23. Long On the Bubble (in no particular order) 24. Arriola 25. Roldan 26. EPB 27. Moore 28. Brooks 29. Scally 30. Bello 31. McKenzie 32. Pefok 33. Sargent 34. Dike 34. Zardes 35. Vines 36. Miazga 37. Johnson 38. Slonina 39. Morris 40. Williamson Come out of nowhere candidates (which for me means you weren't on a qualifying roster or haven't really been involved before) 41. CCV 42. Pomykal 43. Jones 44. Gomez 45. Mihailovic 46. Balogun 47. Paredes 48. Tessman 49. Sonora 50. Ledezma 51. Holmes
There’s the extra expense of flying, equipping, and housing an extra ~100 players, most of whom won’t see the field. Worth it in COVID times, I’d say, but not nothing for the less flush FAs.
Ok but just because you could bring in more players doesn't mean you have to. I suppose one could argue its an unfair advantage to the teams with more funds.
It would behoove him to start playing soccer matches. His move to Spain is right up there with "worst moves of the year."