Djorde, haji Wright, CCV all ring bells. I might even call John Brooks a dark horse given the circumstances, who you thinking? Given the dearth at 9 I’m not even sure haji Wright is even a sexy pick for this game anymore given his season. He’s the unknown quantity everyone wants to bring in for a look, do not really a dark horse. (Kinda but not really) …….. I’m gonna go with JeBo just due to the nature of the forward position and the obvious temptation to bring along a hot hand. He’s already cranked in 7, and I get the feeling whoever is the top mls goal producing mls prospect will get a ticket at the expense of say, a Sargent, Pefok, pepi. If he avoids head injury , jebo is in a good route to crank in like, 15 this season.
I'm not sure if players that actually played in WCQers are dark horses. This is always positionally dependent. Players that play a position of need are the ones that can come out of nowhere. Due to our goal-scoring problems, the nominations of Wright and Vasquez are thus good ones. It sounds like Wright will at least be given a shot. Recent reports suggest Malik Tillman of Bayern II may commit to the US. Another in that same forward dark horse category. The question is how many of those outsiders are given a shot versus insiders that have been involved. Hoppe, Dike, Sargent, etc. have been on the outside-looking-in. Sargent scored more goals this season than Maliik Tillman did in the German 4th division. Fact. One open position might be Antonee's backup at left back. Sam Vines wasn't used in WCQers. Bello hasn't lit the world on fire. Does Jonathan Gomez have a shot if he commits? Maybe..............................but I'd personally provide Scally a shot to make the roster as a RB/LB before Gomez.
I'd define a "dark horse" here as someone who hasn't been part of WCQ, Gold Cup or Nations League rosters during the past couple years. With that, here is a short list of dark horse candidates that I believe have the best chance to break through, in order: Djordje Mihailovic - has been the best American #10 in MLS for the past 1.5 seasons. Has the work rate and versatility to also play as a #8. Cameron Carter-Vickers - was excellent at Celtic this season. Haji Wright - consistently banging in goals in the Turkish league, and is a logical alternative to Jordan Pefok or Daryl Dike as a big, athletic striker. He appears to be more mobile than Pefok. Paxton Pomykal - has the ball progression ability, work rate, and pressing / defensive nuisance to be a real asset for our squad as a backup #8. Richie Ledezma - If he can get things going with PSV's first team this fall, it's possible he could sneak in as a backup #8 / playmaking #10. Jeremy Ebobisse - he was criminally miscast in Portland as a winger, and is actually a really well-rounded striker and has been very productive in MLS when given opportunities to start at forward. He is great in the air, decent at hold-up play, has a very underrated free kick, a solid finisher, and has a pretty good work rate which would make him a willing presser. Alan Sonora - I've only seen highlight clips on YouTube, but is reportedly playing as a #10 for his club team in Argentina, and is also dangerous on free kicks. But he has not appeared to be anywhere near Gregg Berhalter's radar to date.
Indeed , should be noted JeBo is up to 9 now ironically….. I think it is making Cade Cowell get the exact same treatment in turn. Dude is not a winger. He’s not. That kid is a 9……let him be the bruiser up top he was meant to be
Haji Wright, EPB, Djordje Mihailovic, and CCV, in pretty much that order, and that takes into account the fact that Mihailovic just had to withdraw from camp with an ankle injury.
You guys are forgetting the elephant in the room. Malik Tillman. Nobody thought he would come this late and join. I think I read somewhere GB saying that there may be another dual player that may switch.
If he actually makes the final roster in November I will be absolutely SHOCKED. I mean I think the best way to describe his chances of making it would be "non-zero." I believe that he's being brought in to begin his integration with the program for next cycle, not to seriously compete for a spot in Qatar. Whose place do you think he's going to take?
Kevin Paredes. If he starts off the season well in the Bundesliga I think he gets on that September roster and could have a shot. Especially since we've heard that he was the best player in the December camp.
I'm sort of curious why Cameroon isn't giving him a look. They aren't exactly stacked at striker themselves.
There have been rumblings of Cameroon calling him up: https://goduke.com/news/2021/12/13/mens-soccer-ebobisse-named-to-cameroons-preliminary-roster.aspx and https://www.reddit.com/r/ussoccer/comments/rdam7i/jeremy_ebobisse_on_prelim_afcon_roster_for/
That's what I mean though, there hasn't been anything since then. They play this international window as well and there's been no hint of it. And looking at their striker options, he's a credible choice for them.
I see the kid as another Reyna-type player. He can play either ACM or winger. If he has no chance for this cycle, why would he even switch now? He could have gone with Germany's U21 team this summer. I think he has a 50-50 chance of making the team, especially if we can take 26.