Pre-match: Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals @ Jamaica (Nov 14) & v Jamaica (Nov 18)

For now assuming Balogun, Reyna, Dest, and Richards are out

GK: Turner, Schulte, Freese, Kochen
RB: Scally, Yedlin, Reynolds
LB: Jedi, Jones
CB: McKenzie, Zimmerman, Robinson, CCV, Ream
DM: Adams, Cardoso, Tessmann
CM: McKennie, Musah, Tim Tillman, Cremaschi
AM: Luna, Tillman
WF: Pulisic, Weah, Arriola, Cowell, Parades
FW: Pepi. Vazquez, Sargent

I don’t see Ream getting dropped but mixing in some MLS guys like Yedlin, Arriola, Jones, Zimmerman, and Tim Tillman who I think will at least bring some intensity. I also think Pochettino will want to take a look at CCV given he’s played for him previously.

Scally, Ream, and Malik Tillman I’d probably also drop but I don’t think Pochettino will for now. Maloney would be another guy who adds intensity but just not sure where he fits if you have Adams, Tessmann, and Cardoso.

Also just a bigger group in case guys get sent home early.

 

Current Injury List:

• Sergino Dest
• Marlon Fossey
• Chris Richards
• Mark McKenzie
• Cameron Carter-Vickers
• Weston McKennie
• Tyler Adams
• Johnny Cardoso
• Luca de la Torre
• Tim Weah
• Gio Reyna
• Kevin Paredes
• Folarin Balogun
• Ricardo Pepi

 

I haven't found confirmation that the away match is definitely Thursday, November 14. If Concacaf follows last year's schedule, two QF series will be Thursday/Monday and two will be Friday/Tuesday, just nothing official yet for this year.

 

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Considering all the players who are currently injured are OUT….

Goalkeepers:
1. Matt Turner
2. Patrick Schulte
3. Diego Kochen
A. Roman Celentano

…If Turner is the #1 he’s there. Schulte would be my #1 so he’s there. Kochen is there because of promise. And Celentano is my alternate because I rate him over Steffen and Horvath.

Right Backs:
1. Joe Scally
2. Richie Ledezma
A. Bryan Reynolds
Inj: Dest, Fossey

…Ledezma, you’re up.

Center Backs:
1. Tim Ream
2. Miles Robinson
3. Walker Zimmerman
4. Auston Trusty
A. Noahkai Banks
DN: Anrie Chase
Inj: McKenzie, Richards, Carter-Vickers

…With all the injuries, I guess it’s just going to be a fact of life that we actually need Ream. So much so, I don’t know who’d we call in after that main cohort. Banks? Move Maloney to center back? I don’t know. We desperately need Anrie Chase to switch, if he can, and if he will.

Left Backs:
1. Jedi Robinson
2. Caleb Wiley
A. Kristoffer Lund

…Personally, I don’t see it with Lund. If Wiley is playing for Strasbourg, I’d make the swap.

Midfielders:
1. Yunus Musah
2. Gianluca Busio
3. Tanner Tessmann
4. Lennard Maloney
A. Aidan Morris
Inj: Adams, Cardoso, De la Torre, McKennie

…I’m dropping Morris for Maloney. And moving Musah back in the middle ~ especially because all of our main guys are hurt.

Attackers:
1. Christian Pulisic
2. Malik Tillman
3. Brenden Aaronson
4. Alex Zendejas
5. Paxten Aaronson
6. Rokas Puktsas
A. Cade Cowell
DN: Luca Koleosho
Inj: Weah, Paredes, Reyna

…I would drop Brenden and Tillman if I could. But it is, what it is, with all these damn injuries. Puktsas is called in as an exploratory call up. Paxten probably is knocking on the door so let’s see what he can do. Zendejas earned another look. I’d press really hard for Koleosho, but doubt he’ll accept.

Forwards:
1. Brandon Vazquez
2. Haji Wright
A. Josh Sargent
Inj: Pepi, Balogun

…Sargent needs to be dropped. He has been terrible. Meanwhile, Vazquez seems to offer some needed physicality.

Starting XI:
Note: I’ve been a big proponent of trying out different formations. I don’t mind that we tried out the 3421 formation. I wish we’d still try out the 2 forward formation. But with all the injuries, it looks like our player pool might need to just go back to the 433 formation for this window.

———————-Vazquez———————-
Pulisic————-Tillman———-Aaronson
—————Musah———Busio—————
Jedi——————————-————Scally
—————-Ream———Robinson———-
————————-Turner————————

…Yes, it bothers me to start Tillman and Aaronson again. I just don’t know what better option we have, due to these damn injuries.

Maybe, I would go with a more significant switch in line ups. {I considered Ledezma or Wright for Aaronson, and Zendejas for Tillman}

Maybe, Poch just needs to work with what he has more.

I guess we’ll see.

 

Hopefully so…. That was one of the most injury riddled windows that we can recall.

 

I would replace Aaronson with Luna.

 

OK. Good enough for me to buy some airplane tickets with the 24 hour cancellation period. I'll start a thread in the Fans & Travel forum once Concacaf, US Soccer or Jamaica Football Federation confirms the date.

 

I'd like to see Jordan Pefok back in camp - perhaps he's a better finisher/poacher than Sargent.

 

I also might give a call to Emmanuel Sabbi and Jonathan Amon as new wing options. Got to keep the others on their toes.

 

Unpopular opinion, but Julian Green would be a better #10 then Brendan Aaronsen or Diego Luna.

 

You can add Griffin Yow to injured list. And Daryl Dike (who's been injured for like 3 years).

 

I dont agree calling up ream unless you think he will play for us 2026. Ream has made lot of mistakes last 4 friendlies. I rather have younger guy making these mistakes.

 

Some historical analogues:

Pepe started for Portugal at 2022 World Cup at 39.

Dani Alves played for Brazil at 2022 WC at age 39.

Rafa Marquez was 39 when he played at last WC in 2018.

Is Team Ream at their level? We shall see.

 

I wouldn't bring Malik. I'd play Tim over him. Any kind of steel or work rate.

And there's zero chance I bring Malik over Aaronson -- if we want to permanently send a terrible message, we do that. We don't need to bring Brenden; we just can't bring Tillman over him.

At that point, we might as well wrap any conversation about effort, intensity and accountability. The message will be clear: you don't need to try.

Give me Jordan Morris somewhere on the roster. If there's a single one of our non-stars who bags a random ass goal in Jamaica to get us through, it's Jordan Morris.

The other person I'd probably reward is Busio. Not over Tessman, but I think he was solid.

Agree with Kochen. We should be bringing the best player with their feet along with someone like Turner.

Wright has his issues but I think it is unlikely he's not there, and while I like that the winger corps there is all high work rate ... I'm not sure Wright was so bad that you'd bring Paredes or Arriola over him. I mean, I like Kevin, but the dude isn't going to ever score or assist for us. If people think Arriola is danger-adjacent, Paredes isn't even that right now.

I don't know what Yedlin does. I guess some toughness. I really wish we had anyone at all that I had confidence over Scally. Hell, bring in Reggie Cannon. I would keep Scally behind, frankly, until he learned any offensive skills. I'd play Musah or McKennie or Weah at wingback / fullback.

We need something from that spot. Anything.

 

You should really pay more attention because I can't believe that was the first time one of my many typos have resulted in something completely ridiculous.

On another note, got my tickets and hoping we actually show up to play for this game!

 

I wouldn’t bring Malik Tillman but I just don’t think Pochettino drops him yet.

I’m pretty down on Scally as a right back at current. I think Yedlin plays hard, is familiar with Pochettino, and I’m not really seeing much from the rest of the pool at the position. Cannon to me is one to watch as he settles back into MLS.

For Morris I’d like to see him as a 9 so I think you’d drop one of Vazquez, Sargent, or Pepi for him.

Parades I think at least brings defensive workrate and you can also play him as a wingback. I’m not anti Wright but I do also want to shake things up for the sake of it a bit.

I’m a bit more down on Busio.

 

fair point but i m just talking about performance last few games; The Canada and Mexico games he caused us 2 goals. Time to see new partnership.

 

At this point, I may make a roster that is 100% xDAWG. A lot of our best players still make it or get a chance to prove it.

But while I'm not normally. a send a message guy, I really do wonder if that's not the only way.

 

Which raises a good question - which USMNT veterans have highest xDAWG of all time?

I say Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and Clint Mathis.