Depends on other factors like is everyone healthy? Could also take both if GB only takes two forwards and considers Morris and Weah better as emergency third forwards than the actual third forward. Morris is more of a off the bench scorer while Arriola is more of the close out the game terrier. Still maybe competing for a spot but not a role.
It depends on what the strategy is against our opponents. If we're going to have space for some counters then Morris. If we are mostly going to be camped in their half then Arriola.
The comments about why one or the other in which circumstance are good. However, I cast my vote (for Morris) disregarding any specific circumstance that we can't currently foresee. I think Morris is more likely to get us a win off the bench than Arriola is, and that's my deciding factor.
I feel like every time I watch Arriola play, he is finding ways to not score goals... don't want to cherry pick so here are the highlights from the most recent FC Dallas game, this past weekend: see 0:42 2:33
I feel like against good competition if we need a goal, Morris is much more likely to give us one. And while Berhalter and others may disagree I think bringing along a backup winger for defense is a bit silly. You need to lock things down late, throw on an extra defensive guy or another midfielder and take out a wing. For me, the value Arriola brought in qualifying was his work rate, which is much impactful over the course of a game instead of just having to go balls out for 20 minutes. And I do think he brought value there. I just don't see how we would consider starting him over other right wing options and as a sub I'm more interested in attackers who can help get a goal.
Morris probably translates better to the international game than Arriola due to strength and athleticism. Plus he can play center forward, in theory. Hopefully this is a moot point. There is no situation where I want either of these players on the wing over Reyna, Pulisic, Weah, or Aaronson.
Totally depends on the injury situation. These two and Roldan are the gap fillers. I won't be surprised if both Arriola and Morris make it.
Yeah, he's a great demonstration of a fundamental truth about the game that you need to do a lot of things right to get a goal, because he always looks like a pretty good player who gets most of those things right, but too often manages to get one wrong and thereby not score.
I choose option C - anyone else. Morris, before the last injury, was good enough. Now, no. Arriola, sorry, no. He was so so bad vs uruguay I'm surprised he didn't retire after that game...it was genuinely embarassing. If this is about building for 2026 - I rather bring any of KDLF, Koleosho, Sabbi, Ledzma, Mendez, caden clark, fontana, lynden gooch, mighten, paredes, mueller, mihailovic, sargent (as a winger), sonora, if this is about 2022 - then i'd be pretty confident that sargent, gooch, mighten, ledezma, mendez....I really dont care...just dont want either morris or arriola.
The problem is you just can't answer this question. It depends entirely on who the other 25 players are and their current form. If every player on the depth chart is healthy and every player is in form then you have to look at the 25 and decide are you more likely to need a goal or are you more likely to need a tireless winger to kill the other teams attack for 10 minutes.
I would take Morris, but there's no evidence he would be played at the 9, which is why I would take him. So Arriola will probably edge him out as a reward more than anything. I don't think he'll have to play, anyway. Pulisic/Weah v. Wales Pulisic/Aaronson v. England Aaronson/Reyna v. Iran Reyna a killer option off the bench for me. He's always been dangerous coming on as a sub. And then I like him starting against Iran to try and break a bunker. I don't see where Arriola is much of an option. I can see Tillman on as a late game winger before Arriola, when throwing an extra attacker on.
I feel like Reyna would have to be world class to make that work. He's still a little too 'head down'ish to reach that level, still young and inexperienced which is exciting. I think Reyna could be our best player ever, I really believe that. Like Zidane to get a little crazy. He just has to stay friggin' healthy and get games to reach that next level.
You're right, you absolutely can't run a false 9 out of a 433. Yes, when Johan Cruijff was inventing it, he was definitely running a 442. That's what the Dutch are famous for, right? Total Voetbal and the 442? And when Messi brought it back in vogue, Barca were running a 352, I'm sure. That's what I remember. And Bobby Firmino in that 541 at Liverpool just recently. Bizarre. I mean, Ferreira is literally running something that is a borderline a false 9 in the exact system we are running. We've run a 433 with a 10, and even if you want to switch to a 4231 -- which the US has done five or six times, including recently, it's about the smallest formation "change" out there.
He’s a notch (or two) below international caliber for USMNT in 2022. Ok MLS player, maybe even above average. But overrated by many here on BS. He doesn’t belong on the field for one second of a World Cup match. If forced to choose between the two, I’d reluctantly choose Arriola for his burst and work rate. But neither deserve to make this squad IMO. We have enough better options to leave them both at home where they belong.
I voted for one and not the other, but will not share my reasoning because it's totally six of one, etc, etc. I would fully expect either of them to be a pain in the ass for most teams we're likely to play, esp. late in a game
My thinking exactly. Arriola works very hard and will pester the opponent on defense. But Morris is more likely to get you that last-minute goal.
So which is likelier to be needed? If we can jump to a lead against Wales putting Arriola on in the last 20 minutes would the perfect sub. If however we get behind then having Morris on for the 20 minutes could be a key sub.
Depends on opponent honestly. I think we even saw that in recent windows against teams that are more physical Arriola is kind of useless and Morris can bang but against teams that are a bit quicker Arriola is more of a pain for them
Pre-(second acl)injury, this would not have been close. Morris had been the superior National Team player. Now, I would give him the slight edge. He still has that nous to get in the box to make something happen as happened against El Salvador
This is my take as well. Arriola also acquitted himself terribly in that match, earning a red card 10 minutes into his sub appearances in a way that highlighted the difference between the players. Arriola brings some chaos and bustle into the match in the waning minutes, which can disrupt the opponent but has a chance to hurt your own team as well. I think against seasoned teams especially, he's as likely to hurt us as he is our opponent. Morris is a bit more composed and chooses his moments, whereas Arriola is just like a wind-up toy you set loose and sorta duck for cover.