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

Sometime this week is all I know.

 

Based on past practice likely Wednesday.

 

I'm not sure who to call in at CB and GK for lack of good options, but I feel like the problem is almost reversed at CM. Not that we have a lot of surefire great options, but they are a lot of guys who are healthy and playing reasonably well who have a case--too many to call them all. I'd say McKennie is the only lock for me, and then we have:

Adams: obviously a starter if fit, but do we risk him so soon after coming back?

Musah: has been merely ok for club and country recently, and played on the wing last window

Cardoso: keeps getting good reviews in La Liga but hasn't looked great in a U.S. jersey. Do we trust him to get the job done in an ugly CONCACAF home-and-away?

Tillman: pretty much the same situation as Cardoso

B. Aaronson: Pochettino seems to see him as an ACM, but does he actually produce enough to be viable there? He is scoring for Leeds.

Tessmann: things seem to be starting to click for him at Lyon (based on increased playing time and coach's comments). Might they start clicking for him with the US too? Do we want to find out on the road in Jamaica?

Morris: has looked ok the past couple windows, which is more than can be said for lots of other guys who played, but I still think he's erratic passing and might not bring enough other stuff to make up for that.

Busio: He's kinda the flip side of Morris for me--looked good passing the ball last window, but will he be able to do the other stuff against a fast, physical Jamaica team?

So, that's 8 options for 5 spots, and that's not counting guys more on the fringe who might merit a look like Luna, Maloney, or P. Aaronson.

 

You didn't mention Sands, who got Rangers to their only UCL in 15 yrs, led NYCFC to a title, got good reviews for their last playoff game, has NT experience, & was arguably our best player at the GC, which included a good performance against Jamaica. People forget him.

I got Adams as the starting 6 for the tougher roadie & Sands could deputize.at home.

McKennie and Musah cover the 8 spot spectacularly. You could play both in a diamond w/ CP ahead of them providing more central creation. If Balogun could go, I might want to do that at Jamaica. 2 FW's on D w/ Pepi, Balogun goes wide in sustained possession.

Hard not to take Johnny & Busio for club play, but also hard to trust them in a competitive match. So they'd be bench/emergency players.

Brenden is higher on the pecking order in terms of a replacement option, as he's done a lot more positive in a US shirt. Luna would add a goal creator who's solely lacking.

They could take 8, because a few of these guys double elsewhere. Leave Tessmann & Morris at home.

 

With Pochettino so far playing a double pivot, Sands becomes more attractive. He was never going to be good in a single pivot, but if you remove the extra range required, he's a pretty good player.

Still behind guys like Johnny, but definitely should be back in the mix. I'm not sure he's really any worse than Busio or Morris overall, though he's not as mobile.

 

Yes -- if able to go 60+ start him.

Yes -- probably not a starter, but need quickness in the middle v. Jamaica

No -- not the time to see if he's made a leap in the international game

No -- same reason

Yes -- maybe not a starter, but his versatility and work rate can be important.

Yes -- Tessmann has been solid to good for the US and always looks up for it. His vision is better than almost anyone else available. Can play 6 or 8.

No -- basically a coinflip with Busio, and if he got picked I'd be ok, but I am not sold that he's better than Busio.

Yes -- barely ahead of Morris -- more likely to contribute in the home leg, but take him for that over Morris.

I'd be happy with Luna over Busio/Morris, but I admit that'd be a risk since he hasn't played for Pochettino at all yet.

 

Sarge needs groin surgery and will be out 8 weeks

 

If Balogun's available, I didn't have Sargent on my roster anyhow. I might not have even included him w/ Balogun out. I just have a tough time getting over the hump w/ Vazquez when he's coming off the bench for Monterrey. If he was an in-form starter it's an easy choice.

Pepi, Balogun, Wright covers you at FW. Then maybe Jordan Morris would be available. Guys who've actually done something for you in the shirt, unlike Josh. I'm more sad for him from a professional perspective, though he's had a pretty underwhelming season.

 

It's all down to stuff we can't know, but I'd love to have him there even if he doesn't play. We have so few windows left.

He's a bench player for me at this point if Adams is playing and I'd actually put him back in the double pivot if Adams isn't ready.

I think Cardoso will do much better in Pochettinio's set up -- double pivot / build out box is somewhat made for him.

I actually think there's a decent chance that even with everyone healthy, Johnny takes a spot next to Adams in the double pivot. I don't think he's the ideal player, but his strong defense and ball control are two of the three things I want there.

If we keep the same basic set up, I'm putting McKennie at the 10 (Aaronson/Tillman slot) and so Tillman is clearly on the bench. But I'd make sure he saw some time if the effort level is there in practice. And I'd like it to be with Pulisic and other starters.

Defensive pest this window with a healthier crew.

He's contending with Musah and Johnny, and I actually think he's the one guy with the longer passing skills that could unlock some stuff. Of course, he lacks other things. If Adams isn't playing, each of those guys should get a spot.

I'm simply inclined to think both these guys are currently behind the Johnny, Musah and Tessman group, much less Adams. Though I am probably overrating Tessman relative to Poch.

We'll bring 6 CMs at least, but yes, it's crowded. For me, Tillman is more a question of whether Poch was happy with his effort and intensity last time; I think his call up here should be motivation driven. I'd also note that we add back Reyna at some point, and this becomes very crowded.

Paxten is on the outside. I like the guy, but he's simply not as good as the other options yet.

I would love to see Luna in, but to me he's a Pulisic backup. I don't think you ask him to defend as a CM, and I think he fits in a playmaker role. I think he's probably a better overall Pulisic backup than Paredes right now, though Wright is the better but different stylistic backup.

Maloney is the interesting one. I don't think he brings more than Adams or Johnny, and I'm inclined to want to see Tessman. And Musah's athleticism really can't be duplicated.

But I have to think he gets a shot to at least show, and should be looked at before we see more Busio or Morris. Both were fine. But we also didn't really see a ton of positive impact play from them. And Busio's athleticism always feels like a clear limit.

 

I like Sands too. He just hasn't been called up in a while, can't really be considered a young guy on the rise anymore, and is competing with plenty of Euro-based options. So, I'd doubt Pochettino is thinking about him, but I'd be ok if he were.

 

Sands! you have got to be kidding. If you want that profile try Maloney..

 

I just explained it to you!

I'll expound: HE WAS BETTER THAN SOME OF THE SAME GUYS (BUSIO, MORRIS) A YR AGO (GC).

That was the last time he's played for the US. So quit yer bitchin'.

 

sarge needs to go ahead and have surgery on both ankles and knees too so maybe he can play one match without being day-to-day...someday.

up top we will have pepi and wright, but might as well bring vazquez to see if theres any more than hustle to his game at this level. wide is still tricky, puli and weah, aaronson and/or tillman "can" play wide but i think musah sneaks in regardless.

im a hard no on tyler, so wes, johnny, morris and busio (though id rather see maloney- cause if theres a scenario hes going to be at his most uncomfortable its concacaf on the road, so if we are gonna see lets really see). aaronson, tillman and musah are in there...

jedi, scally, is fossey fit? if not reynolds. i really freaking with tolkin could get a chance but the playoffs may prevent that. lund is fine, whatever, we arent a serious team. some of trusty, miless, zim, mckenzie and obviously ream and long cause who cares?

on that note turner cause who cares? schulte and probably one of horvath or steffen cause weve got all the time in the world and nothing means anything so playing time and/or form are for losers.

 

I don't even think Sands looked bad at the Gold Cup, honestly I'd say he was probably our 2nd most consistent player behind Jesus (not saying much). I just don't think he's developed much more (though I could be wrong can't say I've paid much attention) just as you said Busio and Morris have gone to another level... hell Tessmann has gone to a different level and Maloney is on the radar now

 

oh, and id be more interested in looking at maloney as a cb (jedi, mckenzie, maloney, scally as we set up last window with weah covering the right flank) than a dm, as we dont really play a lone 6 and seemingly are putting emphasis on passing at those two deeper cm spots.

from what ive see from him (which isnt nothing but isnt a whole lot), i think hes a very functional passer and looking at how (again, it seems) poch wants us to play hed have mckenzie and scally to his sides (both solid-good passers) with morris and adams/busio ahead our net passing in the back would be greatly improved from what weve seen for way too long.

 

What do you mean, gone to a different level?

Like, I wouldn't say it w/ Morris. He just went to the Championship and performed well there immediately. If anything has regressed since, reinforcing it wasn't improvement. Came back to the nat'l team & has been shaky when not coming off the bench against tired legs.

Tessmann just went to Ligue 1. Has proven little there. Let alone for country.

Maloney is a limited passing DM who's really a CB for us. Sands is smooth against pressure & can spray the ball around.

Busio's the only 1 I think who optically looks better & the perception of going to a different to a different level isn't just circumstantially playing in another league. But he hasn't translated it to the nat'l team.

This is a competitive match. It's about what you've proven for us. Sands has proven the most of this bunch. We get in this club/league over-valuing loop, but the only things that consistently translate are being a decent or better starter in the EPL or good over a sizable sample v. UCL KO-level teams. Even then there are under-performers. And if prior success for the nat'l team isn't better than that, it surely is than anything else.

 

And he washed out in Scotland.....

 

He probably enthusiastically hugged Poch the first time they met. Not calling him would be like kicking a puppy.

 

Sands didn't "wash out" in Scotland.

He played fine.

Rangers just chose not to trigger their transfer clause.
That was reported to be 4.8 million or so.
They reportedly liked him, but not at that price.

 

Did so well in Europe that he had to go back to the US. From 12/23/22-2/28/23 Sands had 0 starts and a total of 38 minutes played in the SPL. He got one 90 minute run out in the Scottish FA cup on 2/12/23. Not exactly showing out.

 

If Cole isn't called in now, I'm sure Poch has a good reason and that's fine by me.

The way I look at it is that most people called in for a debut look bad for their debut 10 minutes then come back more prepared their 2nd time and can be included in more play - as opposed to just bedding in and getting introduced to the experience on the first call up, ending with a cameo type appearance.

Suppose Cole starts playing increasing minutes for Dortmund and performs at a level we agree is as good if not better than many of the USA alternatives and at a higher level. Why not have the USA debut stuff done and dusted in Nov, smoothing the path for a successful appearance in March, say, after monitoring by Poch & Co.?

Heck, Tilman hardly played on being called in and has done little for us but according to your criteria we have to continue calling him in because he has "proven" something at PSV. Has he proved he can play international football at USA's level? How about Musah? Musah had done little of note at club when he was called in. Was that because he was young? Yes, I think that still applies in his case. Were you as opposed to Musah being called in as you are to Cole?

I guess I'm asking all these questions because I don't understand the harm in calling up one of the few really bright lights we have on the horizon for a meet and greet as an effort to fast track his development. Don't we want to maximize the exploitation of our resources?

 

There's no way I'd call in Adams. Let the guy try to get fit and stay healthy.

MF: Wes, Musah, Cardoso, Busio, Maloney, Luna.

 

By washing out in scotland, you mean getting them to the ucl for the 1st time in 15 yrs, but he and them not being up for a tough ucl group, then them scapegoating him & being fickle cuz he was a loanee. All as an early 20s cb who's more a dm.

Specious to say that's "washing out of scotland". If anything, generic mls is better. And you conveniently ignore he out-performed some of these same mf's you're advocating for. Why wouldn't competitive play v jamaica & panama be the criteria for inclusion against jamaica?

 

This right here is key for me. And it's less about Busio, and more about whether Poch and the coaching staff understand what they're going to get from Jamaica in Kingston.

 

More they got him there than him getting them there as shown by how much he rode the bench. I am advocating for a mid table Bund starter. Not a player that picked splinters out of his tail in a lower level league, while others were playing.