Pre-match: Nations League: Grenada & El Salvador - 3/24 + 3/27

Leave poor Danny Califf out of this man, he’s been retired for like a decade at this point.

 

I'm a big Gio supporter and forgive him because of the unusually bad physical issues he had to deal with and his youth. The playing style his is cultivating which people criticize has to do with avoiding certain physical exertions that could aggravate his physical condition. That could also be good playing habits depending how you view it.

Having said that, I can't understand for the life of me why he was called in to this window. What Reyna needed more than anything was to sit at home and ask himself how he feels about not being on the USMNT and let him work out in his mind, free from pressures, exactly how he should deal with things going forward when the current BL season is over.

I think this whole Reyna thing might have come out better if Ream had been US Captain and Berhalter had told Ream to straighten things out with Gio. Fullham are doing really well with Ream as Captain.

 

i agree with pretty much everything here, but sometimes life forces your hand.

Gio had to be called in this window to begin to clear the air. The path to his reentry won’t be a straight line, and the process had to commence ASAP.

 

I don’t think it could be more significant.

If your captain is getting in your face, you almost got sent home, etc. anymore significant and he was removed.

 

Here's the guy for our absent right side. He can defend too. Tracks back fast, is great off the ball, has a strong left and right leg - In general, his domain is wide. He should be more valuable than Balogun for us.

Kevin Paredes vs. England:
Assisst:
U.S. Soccer YNT on Twitter: "Building from the back ➡️ lovely finish https://t.co/0nj9CUMzI0" / Twitter

Goal:
U.S. Soccer YNT on Twitter: " https://t.co/5gjOIIE6nq" / Twitter

 

I think it was imperative to get Gio called into this camp. No way I would wait until the Nations League semis to get him back. He needed to get his feet on the ground before those final two matches. So the only other option would have been to call him to Gold Cup which may send the wrong message. He should be there and he should play plenty of minutes tomorrow to earn his callup for the final two Nations League matches.

 

Was Keller left off the 94 roster for not being accepted by the players? Or was it Bora and the Fed?

 

Here's the explanation Steve Sampson (who was Bora's assistant in '94) gave:

"There's one thing Bora loathes, and that's players trying to talk to other players or to him through the media. With Bora, Kasey committed the ultimate sin. He basically criticized {starter} Tony Meola and in turn the decision of Bora about Tony Meola. At that moment, he burned his bridges for the '94 World Cup. Kasey has certainly learned from that."

 

A nice little video of the guys training here

 

Plus, the match is in Orlando, so him starting will be a homecoming of sorts.

 

With only 3 days rest and Aaronson going ft in heat @ Grenada, I think he sits out the ES game.

Pepi, Pulisic, Reyna went less than 2/3rds of the game and LDLT came out at 75' in Grenada so those guys will likely play. LDLT looks fresh in the 7v7 vid.

I could see Pulisic used as a 2nd half sub and start

----------djordje?(puli)----pepi----zendejas
-----------------------------reyna(ldlt)

but I'd be worried about defense if Hudson throws outside backs forward and no Aaronson. I'd prefer Scally in there but he went the distance @ Grenada and may not be 100% recovered.

I see Dike more as the extra attacker late needing a goal like we used Morris @ Salvador in reverse fixture.

This should be a good test for Zendejas

 

I believe Scally led the team in tackles with 3.

 

WHY ARE THE OTHER PLAYERS SMILING AROUND REYNA DON'T THEY KNOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HATE HIM

 

Do people really need to be reminded of the goal from the last time we faced El Salvador?
If so, here are the highlights from that one:

 

McKennie has often been at his best when used as a shuttler. He is also a good crosser, which will be useful with Dike in the starting lineup. Zendejas has played a-mid at club level and has a terrific work rate. Reyna has shown he isn't ready to be a starter.


-------------------Dike--------------
-----Pulisic---Zendejas---McKennie
-----------Cardoso-----Musah-----------
--Jedi------------------------------------Dest
-----------Ream-----------MRob----------
------------------Steffen---------------

 

I agree that we're likely to start more muscle in midfield than we did against the Spice Boys. Cardoso and Musah looks right.

I personally think Reyna does start this one. Just a hunch after he was taken off with Pulisic in the Grenada game.

As far as Pepi versus Dike..............I have no idea what Hudson is going to do. Toss-up.

 

Dike is about as in form as he can be. He has to be let a chance to see how it translates to this team. Also, a good statement in our conference against an opponent that is, should I say, known for "savory" play. What I'm trying to say is Dike is a big body. He would be what is needed in the box.

 

My guess;

---------------Turner---------------
Dest--Robinson--Ream--Jedi
------McKennie--Musah--------
----Booth--Reyna--Pulisic-----
---------------Dike-----------------

Figure we go with the "best" line up. Aaronson went 90 so I guess he's benched. I pick Booth but could be Zendejas. Mihailovic was added late due to injury but I hope to see him today. I think Musah replaced DLT and McKennie is subbed if the score allows it.

 

Cardoso isn't starting against El Salvador, I don't think. Suspect it is Reyna-McKennie-Musah, full rotation on the backline. Pulisic - Striker - Zendejas. Think it's Dike, but less certain.

I certainly don't think we see anyone but Turner.

 

My personal perspective is that Nations League qualification is important, but it's not quite life or death (except for Anthony Hudson). If the team doesn't qualify, then it can just schedule a few high profile international friendlies before the Gold Cup. CONCACAF is going overboard in scheduling this tournament too. It looks like we have two more in 2023-24 and 2024-25, which will likely dilute the importance.

This is why I'm fine with some squad rotation here, even in spots like goalkeeper where a US manager normally wouldn't rotate away from Turner before a Do or Die match.

That being said, the US should be expected to defeat El Salvador at home.

 

Tomorrow is today. Dike must start.​

 

Not sure why would we need to report who is playing a striker in advance. Just to make sure that we will be outcoached? That shouldn't be a problem as is.

 

I hope Reyna starts. I want to see if he really fits in and if he can really spark the offense. I don't doubt he is a great player and has even greater potential, I just want to see if that greatness can work for this team.

 

I see a lot of predicted formations that don't really feature crossers of the ball. If you have an XI with guys like Zendejas, Reyna, Pulisic and guys to keep the ball on the floor, beat defenders off the dribble, etc................why start Dike?

Notice: How many of our goals against Grenada were headers???? Were we crossing the ball effectively into Pepi? That hasn't actually been our game in quite a while. I think against Grenada our best crosser on the field was probably Reynolds, and he didn't do it too much. For the first half the game went thru the left side.

And then we bring Dike on against Grenada, and he does nothing. And we wonder why? We're not set up for that kind of player. We're set up for Balogun is who we're set up for.

I'm not saying Dike can't score with the ball at his feet. He's just a beast physically and in the air. On set pieces in particular. I was stunned we actually scored on a set piece this past game against Grenada. A miracle!!!

I really like Dike. Sometimes I think he's been a square peg in a round hole, though. It's like having Brian McBride out there without crossers.