2022 World cup/Qualifying Rosters

by bs rules that means cannon is a bund starter now, right?

that would be wild, though (adding in dest to bayern, bringing the scenario percentage to 2%)- how ridiculous would the arguments over who is better look? dest is on the best team but cannon has to defend against the best teams but yedlins only played away matches, if you take xga and add it to pass completion minus shutouts multiplied by sos...

jk, people would just like who they like and talk about strawmen and intangibles.

 

It'd be cool if all 3 ended up in the B1.

Dest would be my starter at RB. Cannon would be the backup.

I have Yedlin as an impact, right-sided speed sub.

 

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I don't think he actually said either of those things. I recall the Pulisic one being a question about whether he had done enough to be inked in. Nobody on the panel agreed with him but it wasn't crazy in context. I don't remember anything of the sort about the creativity not existing.

 

Weird discussion you just had with yourself there...

Would be great to have our three right backs in the Bundesliga. Would be great to have our entire starting 11 in the BL, to be honest.

After that, the starter comes down to who's healthy, who is playing, who is in form, etc...Seems Dest should have the inside track at this point, but if he's benched for Bayern, and Cannon is starting for a mid-table squad, I'd have no problem rotating them.

Just hope Cannon goes. Seems there's a ton of people here that like him, and I haven't seen enough to have a great sense of his level. I saw him against CR in January, and wasn't nearly as impressed with most others, but obviously that's not enough to go on.

 

Just saw this: https://apnews.com/e8e52da43a61521c7cb697dff4222034

FIFA detailed a temporary plan Monday to help prevent more injuries due to “potential player overload” as soccer competitions catch up with a backlog.

The proposal gives competition organizers the option of letting teams use five substitutes instead of three in 90 minutes, and a sixth in knockout games that go to extra time.

. . .

FIFA suggested retaining the five-substitute rule next season, which looks likely to start later and be condensed into less time.

It would also apply to all national-team games through December 2021.

Meaning roster depth might become much more important in the next year or so, including during World Cup qualifying.

 

The should require that all the subs happen without extra breaks in action. 2 at a time, or at half, whatever. I don't want to watch the leading team, fake jog happening 5 times.

 

Yep, that article doesn't mention it, but another one mentions that's the plan:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020...itutes-when-matches-resume-based-new-proposal

In an effort to avoid time wasting that could result from the extra substitutions, teams would be required to make all five of their changes during three breaks in play. A sixth substitute would be allowed in matches requiring extra time.

 

My updated 23 prediction:

GK: Steffen, Guzan, Horvath

Notes: Although, he’s developed an injury prone reputation, Steffen is still the main man. Because he’s injury prone, I want a reliable back up, and that makes Guzan my automatic number 2. Then, it’s a crapshoot. Horvath still has the most upside, so he’s still in it, but not by much.

RB: Cannon, Chandler

Notes: For now, I still have Dest on the left out of necessity, and I’m excluding Yedlin because of his hints towards retirement, and the fact he’s out of favor at Newcastle. That said, he’s been my de facto starting right back, and I hope that’s a role he rightfully reclaims. More so, I’m still high on Chandler. In my opinion, people have too quickly dismissed one of our most in form players. So, if he wants in, he deserves a shot.

LB: Dest, Antonee

Notes: Hopefully, Antonee locks down a starting spot, and provides Dest the opportunity to play RB. Until then, Dest is my main man. Behind them, Vines is my alternate. Someone else needs to step up to even be considered a contender.

CB Brooks, Long, Zimmerman, Richards

Notes: To be honest, Brooks is my only lock at center back. There are some decent contenders but no one who screams they’re next level. For that reason, I still see Long and Zimmerman having a place on this team. Both seem like leaders, and this team needs leadership. That fourth spot is even more of a crapshoot. I have always counted on Miazga, but he’s such a head case that I wouldn’t count on him. I think Alvarado deserves a shot. But for now, I’m going with the man with the most potential - Richards. Then, there’s EPB, CCV, Miles, McKenzie, and Glad. But they need to prove their worth at the Olympics.

MF: McKennie, Adams, Morales, Pomykal

Notes: Without question, McKennie and Adams are licks. Between them and Pulisic, they’re the leaders of this team through probably for the next ten years. My money is on McKennie who seems to be more vocal than Pulisic and less injury prone than Adams. But all three need to take this team by the scruff of the neck. That said, who de we rely on for depth? Nagbe should be in the equation but we have to exclude him. We have a few decent options, Yuiell seems to be a frontrunner, but I don’t know if he’s above the Ralston line yet. I still like Morales. He adds bite and this team desperately needs bite. Then, there’s Pomykal who offers skill. Still, in the race, Sands, Durkin, Otasowie, and Johnny, but they all need to step up their game. Also, there’s Cappis, Servania, Parks, Tessman, Emo, Roldan, Acosta, Booth, Bassett, Amaya, Mendez, and some others, but they’re long shots.

AM: Reyna, Lletget

Notes: Lletget will make a good placeholder, but Reyna needs to be the man to allow Pulisic to play LW. Then, there’s still some pretty good prospects in Ledezma and Aaronson, and even someone like Green could return as a contender.

R/LW Pulisic, Weah, Morris, Konrad

Notes: Pulisic - check. Who else? To be determined. What we know is Morris is our most in form US player in a US Jersey as of last year. Weah is retuning and should return to the picture if he returns to his pre-injury levels. Then, it’s a crapshoot - Llanez, Konrad, ans Vassilev are exciting prospects. Arriola needs to come back from injury. Boyd needs to climb the cliff he fell off of. Holmes deserves a shot, but is he going to be any better than Boyd? And I haven’t forgotten about Gioacchini, Busio, Saucedo, and Sabbi, but it’s probably too much to ask for them. From this list, I’ll take a gamble on Konrad being the next guy to make the leap. Although he’s still a ways from Barcelona’s first team, they do seem higher on him, than some other teams at a much lower level seem on some other guys. For that reason, Konrad might be our next Pulisic, Reyna. Let’s hope for that. And if he can make that claim, he’s going to be on this list.

FW Sargent, Altidore

Notes: Sargent needs to step up his game, but due to lack of competition, he’s a lock. So, who’s going to back him up? There’s Zardes, who’s CONCACAF level, but I think we’re all afraid he’s not that next level. Then, it’s mostly just prospects - Pepi, Ferreira, and I don’t even know if I can count Soto anymore. Ebobisse and Toye might be Olympic and CONCACAF level, but neither are spring chickens anymore, and neither are not dominating as we need them to be. Thus, if he can be healthy and in form, I’m going to bet on Altidore - for now, at least. He might be my one main past his sell date player on the roster, but CF is looking pretty bleak.


Starting XI
Pulisic———Sargent———-Morris
———————Reyna——————-
——(c)McKennie—-Adams————
Dest————————————Cannon
————-Brooks——-Long————-
———————-Steffen——————-

 

Assuming WCQing starts next year. 4231/433

Jedi will be the more attacking of the fullbacks. He will provide attacking width on the left, as Pulisic cuts in.

Dest will play the shuttler's role and act as a possession hub. He will provide attacking width on the right.

.McKennie will be the more attacking of the CMs. Adams will act as support and as an outlet for Jedi.

Pulisic will play as a wing-forward.

Reyna would play as an 8/10 who provides quality defending and presence in the central midfield.

Emphasis on the backline is on pace and athleticism in a medium-high block. I'm expecting the starters to matriculate to top-5 leagues. In a low block, Brooks is a good option.

 

For WCQing:
Taking a wait and see approach with Weah.
Will wait for the euro-based, youth Yanks to break through with their clubs.
In terms of wide attack, prefer Saucedo to Arriola and Roldan.
Boyd's NT play fell off a cliff, after a strong GC start
Hollingshead: would rather see Vines and Duncan man left-back in Olympic Qualifying. If the Olympics aren't cancelled.

squad = Sargent, Zardes, Altidore, Saucedo, Pomykal, Yedlin, Holmes, Yueill, Brooks, Miazga, Hollingshead, Horvath, Hamid

 

If half of the fan base is already ready for a 17 year old Reyna to be starting, and if GGG has already said he was going to call him up in March, I just don’t see how neither KHF nor Jonathan Gomez factors into qualifying and the ‘22 WC. Gomez will be 19 and KHF will be 20 by Qatar. They’re just too good to both fail and not to have at least one of them become a top 5 league starter. I’m willing to bet good money that one of them emerges like Reyna has this season.

 

Time for an updated roster projections for qualifiers in October/November after latest MLS matches. FC Dallas and Nashville not playing in MLS tournament hurts players on those teams (Ferreira, Cannon, Servania, and Zimmerman mostly).

G: Steffen, Guzan, Johnson.
Outside looking in: Hamid, Frei, Horvath.

RB: Chandler, Yedlin.
Outside looking in: Cannon. Keep an eye on: Toljan (if gains citizenship).

LB: Dest, Robinson.
Keep an eye on: Fabian Johnson (if he resigns somewhere good), Lichaj (ditto), Ream.

CB: Brooks, Carter-Vickers, Miazga, Richards.
Richards can be our Brooks in 2010 World Cup - young CB who rises to the occasion.
Next in line: Robinson, Alvarado, EPB, Long, Zimmerman.

CM: McKennie, Adams, Aaronsen, Pomykal.
Keep an eye on: Yueill, Roldan, Trapp, Morales, Nagbe, Bradley.
Morales doesn't excite me, Bradley's lost his touch.

AM or W: Pulisic, Reyna, Green, Weah.
Next in line: Arriola, Holmes, Lletget, Saief, Ariyibi.

F: Altidore, Sargent, Morris, Siebatchieu (gifted, need to bring him in).
Keep an eye on: Zardes, Ebobisse, Akinola, Mueller, Shelton, Novakovich, Vassilev, Ferreira, de la Torre, Llanez, Wood.

 

This is a projection or a desire?

Because, if it’s the former, you’re not going to see Chandler, Green, Toljan, Lichaj, Fabian, etc.

 

If Berhalter doesn't call Chandler, I don't know what he's smoking. The other four names are reaches, I'll give you that.

 

I suppose he could call Chandler, but I doubt it. He had a nice run at RW this year in terms of goalscoring, but it both RW and RB seem fairly settled (especially if Reyna is seen as a RW) and I'd bet if WCQ is in November, even if there's October games, he's going to want as final a team as possible for a tune up.

I could see if there's a Europe only camp because of travel restrictions. But once you factor in settled positions, Chandler's age, and his general persona-non-grata status at US soccer, I don't see it as likely.

Toljan's never played for the US, Fabian looks done, and I've said my piece on Green but he doesn't fit anything we are trying to do.

 

Let's be honest Chandler's general persona-non-grata status is the biggest reason he's not getting called. Otherwise, he's obviously one of our more accomplished players and he's get plenty of gas left in the tank for this cycle. Missing Chandler isn't the worst thing that could happen to this team as he does play in an area we can cover. But, worrying more about who's part of the in club and who's not instead of who are the best players available sure isn't a good thing.

 

I'm sure it plays a role, but honestly, the dude's had a nice little scoring hot streak, but he's not exactly a possession player, he's already 30 for a wide player, aside from "Bundesliga" I don't really see a compelling reason why he's a must-do option for RW.

I think Morris is probably better. I think Reyna may be better. I guess he could compete with Boyd, sure, but I can't chalk him up as a big loss here.

 

I don't consider him an individually significant loss. I consider the process that jettisons players for specious personal reasons a bad precedent for the team and thus significant.

 

We'll probably never know the true dynamic here in terms of exactly where Chandler stands, so I wonder weigh in on that.

But what I will say is that commitment to the national team is not a specious, personal reason.

Now I'm not going to bother to argue Chandler's commitment; in the end, neither you nor I know. But I think that's an entirely valid data point.

 

Yes, but he's persona-non-grata for a reason. And the reason isn't related to his date to date form. He is unreliable and that's additional headache for the coach, and he doesn't worth it with the abundance of players in his positions.

 

Then again, the door's still open to Nagbe, who had repeatedly turned down call ups and said publicly he's not interested. There may well be enough reason for Chandler to get rejected because it is certainly true that much more happens than we know. But, lack of commitment doesn't look like an across the board way to get blackballed.

 

There is a fundamental difference between turning down a call up and putting forth less than total effort once in camp. Nagbe, to his credit, has turned down a call up and stay committed. He's not jumping in and out or going through the paces in camp. Which, correct or not, is the accusation against Chandler.

 

I was thinking about this thread and wondering how my roster back then compares to what I'd say now (and also where has @DHC1 been?). I wouldn't make that many changes:

GK: If Horvath actually gets a move that leads to playing time, he takes Guzan's spot, but as things stand now, I'd keep Guzan as the 3rd GK for the experience factor.

RB and LB: Now I'd say Dest, Cannon, Yedlin, and Robinson as the 4 outside backs. It might be weird to bring 3 RBs, but obviously, it's a position of strength, and there's a real drop off at LB after Robinson. And Dest and Yedlin (I believe he's played there a few times for Newcastle) can fill in at LB if needed.

CB: I'd put Richards in for Long and bet on potential there. McKenzie could knock Ream off with a good performance in the back half of the season with Genk.

CM: Switch out Yueill, Roldan, and Reyna for Otasowie, Musah, and Aaronson. If we're ditching the idea of a #6 as a playmaker, and we're ditching the more pure attacking CM for something like 2 #8s capable of pressing and winning balls, then Reyna probably fits more as a winger who drifts central.

Winger: Move Reyna to that group with Pulisic and Morris and drop Llanez for Weah (boy, was I off saying that Llanez was on a steep upward trajectory).

FWD: Drop Altidore and just keep Sargent and Zardes. This last MLS season seemed to be the nail in the coffin of Altidore's career, at least as an international-level player, and none of the other forward prospects have done enough yet to knock Zardes or Sargent off the roster.