The USMNT could have a World Cup roster with no players over 30, how often does that happen?

Updated my list for the 1980s to include the final two years, add in international cap totals, note the players who made a World Cup squad, and add in one controversial World Cup striker who I neglected.

1984: Guzan (64), E. Johnson (63), Bornstein (38), Parkhurst (25), Pearce (35), Marshall (12)
1985: Holden (25), Feilhaber (44), Cameron (55), Kljestan (52), Evans (27), Findley (11)
1986: Zusi (54), Edu (46), Davies (17), Spector (36), Orozco (29), Castillo (18)
1987: Bradley (151), Besler (47), F. Johnson (57), Bedoya (66), Ream (46), Torres (26), Rogers (18), McCarty (13)
1988: Gonzalez (52), Lichaj (16)
1989: Altidore (115), D. Williams (23), Villafana (21), Adu (17), S. Johnson (10)

Sean Johnson and Tim Ream are likely this group's only hope for another World Cup appearance.

I've already commented that I don't think this is a failed group at all, particularly 1984-87, and that you have to get to 1990-94 to see where things truly went wrong. But you can see the lack of stars besides Bradley and Altidore.

One interesting trend is the large number of players who honored substantial NCAA commitments (Bedoya, Cameron, Zusi, Besler, Gonzalez, Edu, Davies, Evans, etc.). I suspect that some of these players were aided by this - but perhaps other players saw their long-term professional development hindered. Of course, it's tough to criticize them, because the US development system wasn't exactly overflowing with options. MLS teams would pay a pittance, European teams were interested, but not nearly to the extent that they've been since 2018. And this is the era that interesting US players would end up in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.

 

Here's a tough (imo) thought exercise: the take first group of players (the best over a period of 15-20ish years of our soccer history) and put them in with our current group. How many don't make the first 11 when all are healthy? (so we are not talking about a competition with Arriola, for example) who do you sit? Where do you play Beasley? left back? maybe. Our current group is weak at striker so perhaps "tweener" Dempsey plays up top temporarily simplifying at least one decision in the midfield but who do you sit from Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Jones, Musah, Reyna, Reyna, Donovan, Bradley? What about Onyewu at CB? he might start but is he really all that much better than M Robinson? Zimmerman? What about Richards in 2-3 years?

I wasn't even going to try, but I'll take a stab:

Dempsey up top. In many ways, I think he is a similar player to Ferreira but Dempsey far much better in his prime than Ferreira is at this moment in time. I think a few guys like Richards will force themselves into the lineup within a year or two. I almost chose Jones over Adams but I tend to think Adams is the better choice because he is more disciplined (imo). Bradley's comp in this lineup is C. Reyna (imo) and that isn't even close. I think Gio will pass his father and several others on the page as he matures, perhaps he would link up very well with a guy like Dempsey but I'm leaving him out of this lineup for now. Pulisic, Dempsey and Donovan were automatic...just had to see where everyone fits in around them. I don't really know how I left off Dest, but if I left off Cherundolo I'd be asking the same question. I gave it to Cherundolo for his experience and quality at his prime while Dest still has room to grow and pass Dolo. CB right now is between Onyewu, MRobinson and Zimmerman for two spots. I'm not really sure.... Left back is tight between ARobinson and Beas. I think I might lean toward ARobinson but that might be a bias based upon recent performance...kind of hard to leave off Beasley but decisions have to be made I suppose.

4-5-1

--------------------------------------Dempsey

Pulisic---------McKennie/Jones --------------C. Reyna---------------Donovan

----------------------------------Adams

Beasley/ARobinson?------------------Onyewu/Robinson?------------Robinson/Zimmerman?-----------------Cherundolo

----------------------------------------------Freidel/Keller


in two years: (not projecting any younger players who very easily could be in the mix but have not had time with USMNT....Philly boys, Aiden Morris, Reynolds etc). I left Pulisic in the starting 11 but I have a strange feeling that he will have real competiton for a spot in the first 11 within the next 4 years without even counting all-time greats. Donovan doesn't have the technical quality of some of our current stars but he has certain other qualities like ridiculous athleticism (every aspect), the ability to see the field and destroy a defense when running at them and his defense was invaluable.


--------------------------------------Dempsey

Pulisic---------McKennie --------------G. Reyna ---------------Donovan

-------------------------------------------------Adams

Beasley/ARobinson?------------------Richards------------MRobinson--------------------Dest

----------------------------------------------Freidel/Keller

 

Claudio would be a great deep-lying playmaker with this group. I'd take him over Adams. So a midfield of McKennie, Gio Reyna and Claudio Reyna.

Forwards would be Pulisic, Dempsey and Donovan.

I would also take Pope and Onyewu over Richards and Robinson.

So 5 starters from the older group (Donovan, Dempsey, Claudio, Pope, and Onyewu). 6 if you count the goalie

 

It's a personal decision, of course, but I think in hindsight a terrible decision. We can only wonder what might have been.

 

Sounds like a lack of desire or a lack of athleticism. Send him to the Deuce Dempsey School of Gittin It Done.

 

It's more likely that he'll be going to the Clint Dempsey School of Fishin' After Retirement.