Pre-match: 2024 Friendlies v Panama {Oct 12th} & Mexico {Oct 15th} (Poch's 1st Window)

USMNT Announces Changes To October Training Camp Roster
Tessmann, Vazquez and Zendejas in, Balogun, Cardoso and Weah out

 

No one from MLS?

 

Why Alex Zendejas (0g 1a in the Apertura) over Paxten Aaronson (2g 1a in 450 minutes)?

 

I think I would have preferred Luna to both Paxton and Zendejas but we’ll see at future camps.

 

Honestly, with the exception of Steffen, the callups and injury replacements have tracked the prior coaching staff's depth chart over the past two years so closely (accounting for Olympics callups/conflicts as well), that I kind of suspect that Poch is working off a detailed spreadsheet from the fed and just going down the names in order for each position.

 

1843027344413638697 is not a valid tweet id

Pochettino taking in the Austin FC 2 match while in town.

 

The way to really get an answer to this is if they needed a fullback, would Poch call in Shaq Moore or literally anyone with a pulse and passport other than Shaq Moore?

Another way would be if they needed a CB, would he go with Walker Zimmerman whose team is currently giving up a goal every ten seconds, or Aaron Long who is actually playing like the guy Gregg thought he was a few years ago... one of Gregg's boys who then fell out of favor, but actually has earned a call up based on how well he's currently playing unlike Zack Steffen!

 

We ought to not play wingers at this camp. It's just Pulisic and then dross. I don't want to see that nightmarish Pulisic-Aaronson (I'm for BA as a CM) combo at wing again. No targets, both come back & central. Haji also stunk at last camp & isn't in good form. Arguably ought not to be here.

Against Mexico we can play more down the middle because you'd figure they'd have more of the ball at home. I'd hope for a 442 diamond or 352. But Poch relayed the formations he'd play are 433 & 4231, so similar to before. Hopefully that was just a general guideline.

 

Honestly that's almost impressive

1843049998105350446 is not a valid tweet id

 

1843043564638679455 is not a valid tweet id

 

Glad to see Brandon Vazquez seemingly move back up the depth chart a bit with Poch

 

And Maloney still couldn't get a sniff? lol

 

I hit the rep button, but only because there's been no neg rep button to push for countless years.

 

Convince me that the photo on the left is not AI.

 

I haven't seen Long lately but if his form is back or better then he might get future callus since he's one of the few very fast CB's we have and might fit what Poch wants in shrinking the field and being fast enough to cover over the top. Not great at passing but we have no sure things right now that are both very fast and great passers.

 

Kochen

Dest Richards CCV Wiley

Adams Johnny
LDLT

Weah Balogun Paredes

 

Besides Schulte, Steffen, Ream, and Miles Robinson? No.

 

They aren’t additions.

 

Nashville are notably better with Zimmerman on the field than off,

 

MROB couldn't get on the field in Copa. Then looked bad when given the chance in the Olympics. Don't get it.

 

Okay so Nashville are absolutely terrible without Zimmerman and merely terrible with Zimmerman? What does that matter for the USMNT? Even the historically bad Quakes are better with some guys than without them. The bottom line is Nashville has 2 wins since the middle of June, and those came against the powerhouses that are Atlanta United and Chicago Fire in back to back games in September a real week long purple patch. During that time they have 2 draws (one of those a loss on PKs) and 12 losses. What does it mean to be "notably better" in some part of a 2W 2D 12L stretch than another? Is that like being the world's tallest midget? Just in their last three games they lost to the Revs who are about as bad as it gets in the east, gave up three goals to blow a 3-1 lead and lose to a mediocre DC United, and were down 1-0 after 20 seconds and 3-0 after 20 minutes to NYCFC... Zimmerman went the full 90 in all three losses. There are 29 teams in MLS, I'm trying to think of who from one of the basement dwellers (say 1PPG and below, so 25-29) would be deserving of a call up based on their individual performances even if we didn't limit it to US-eligible guys... honestly can't think of anyone, not even Carles Gil is deserving.

 

Was really hoping a new coach would find some young players that could make the team better; but I guess they don’t just magically appear.

That takes one route to improvement off the board and means somehow he’ll have to improve the same set of players with tactics and motivation. We’ll see!

 

I think Zimmerman still has something to offer the national team and showed as much in the Olympics. I’m guessing he won’t get his opportunity with Pochettino till January though.

 

He will. Over time.
They need to scout and identify these players that they want to work with first.
Need to engage recruiting efforts with dual-nationals and that kind of thing as well.

It really does make sense that the first camp is the status quo of guys that have been with the group. They'll vet these guys as a starting point and then go from there.

I do happen to think that 80% of the job is taking the existing player pool and putting them in a better position to succeed.

 

MRob wasn't bad at the Olympics. Merely OK.

And when he's played w/ the A-team, which is the most relevant sample since that's what he's auditioning for, he's looked the best of our cb's arguably.

Sofascore ratings (since the injury):

Jamaica - 7.8
Oman - 8.1
Ghana - 6.9
Mexico - 7
El Salvador - 7.4

I don't get anyone arguing he should be excluded. Richards, MRob, Zimmerman are our core cb's when healthy. Then we have to build from there. Not strip down to lesser options.