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

He does have some connections I think even though I’m not the biggest fan.

 

I think the thing is the roster is already decided and the players already know. This is just the public announcement.

 

On Luna (and maybe some of the other up and coming MLS guys), Pochettino may just have decided he’s going to wait till January when he’ll get a chance to take a long look.

 

if only he could talk about tactics..... sadly it seems beyond him. The “it’s called soccer” channel actually had data and tactics in his podcasts every once in a while.

 

Of course the players already know. They have to know in advance to make travel plans. Not sure what value there is in not announcing it officially until tomorrow unless there was some surprise inclusion which apparently there isn't???

 

Only thing I can think is if he has a couple MLS players on his mind that he plans on letting stay home if they win in the playoffs today? Maybe Ream, Robinson, and Callender?

 

That and any last second injuries requiring the next player in line to be called. With as many injuries as this team has that's a wise thing.

 

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Leon Bailey back in the team for Jamaica, though still no Mason Greenwood.

I don't know, I just can't shake the uneasy feeling about this playoff.

 

This would be my roster (24, since Weah's suspended for the first game):

Strikers: Pepi, Wright
Attackers: Pulisic, Weah, Tillman, McKennie, B.Aaronson, P.Aaronson, Luna
C/D Mids: Adams, Johnny, Musah, Tessman
CB: McKenzie, Trusty, CCV, Zimmerman
OB: Jedi, Scally, Reynolds, Wiley
GK: Turner, IDon't********ingKnowOurGKSituationIsSuchADisasterThatIMightCallGuzan, Kochen

 

I am not sure why anyone around here would be confident? The USMNT has been a bit of a train wreck since the group stage of the WC. Some ups... but mostly downs. And Jamaica continues to import talent from England and the US. If you line it up from a position v position perspective it looks pretty even to me. Our advantage lies in our depth and MF. The former might not mean much in a two-game set so we really need our MF to boss the field. There is no way in **** I am not calling in Adams to play a major role.

 

No Adams? So this team is too good to have on a 27-man roster a captain from the WC that just started in the EPL? Someone thinking Cardoso or Busio is a better 6 than Adams?

I assume this is Pochettino not taking Nations League seriously and letting Bournemouth make the call. Oh well.

 

So using Milan as the mold we’d have:

Gattuso/Ambrosini/Seedorf Shuttler roles: Wes, Tyler, Yunus, Johnny, Maloney, Malik*, Morris, Busio^, Brendo

Kaka/Rui Costa/Seedorf dual AM roles: Pulisic, Gio, Malik, Wes, Weah#, Brendo, Balogun+, Sargent+, Luna

*Probably somewhat of a waste to have him hold deep
^Also an option for the Regista role
#Would probably want a more traditional AM type next to him on that line
+Would probably attack more like a diamond but have them drop off on D. Both can do some underneath and wide stuff, Josh is better on D.

 

--------------------------Pepi/Vazquez
-----Weah/Aaronson-------------------Pulisic/Zendejas--
------------Tillman/McKennie--------Johnny/Musah---
--------------------------Morris/Maloney----
--Jedi/Scally--------------------------------------------------Fossey
-----------Trusty/Zimmerman-------McKenzie/Robinson--
------------------------Schulte/Turner/Kocken--

 

Don't worry, Pepi plays today, so there's plenty of time for him to get injured too. Pepi starting, Vazquez backup, is probably sufficient for this exercise, if it stays this way.

The Wright injury harms our depth at 2 positions. Could have made a case for a wing start.

If Adams is starting for his club he should play for us. We'll see if the reports are true. It would be another sign Poch doesn't take int'l camps serious enough, ala when he sent CP home.

I'd do this in our 1st day at the office:

-------Pepi------Weah------
-----------Pulisic--------------
-----Musah-----Wes-----------
ARob------Adams------Scally
-------Trusty----McKenzie-----
------------Schulte----------------

 

Let Adams get fit and healthy.

 

He is.

 

Happy that Vazquez will likely get a look simply on the attritional math alone. Pepi needs to start putting away some of his sitter national team chances

 

My Updated line up…

GK Schulte
GK Turner
GK Kochen
RB Scally
RB Fossey
CB Carter-Vickers
CB McKenzie
CB Trusty
CB M. Robinson (Chase)
LB Jedi
LB Tolkin (Brown)
MF Adams
MF Cardoso
MF Musah
MF Maloney
MF Tessmann
MF Busio
AT Pulisic
AT McKennie
AT Weah
AT Campbell (Koleosho)
FW Pepi
FW Vazquez

 

Harsh to critique Pepi for his NT scoring efficiency. About 1 g+a every 100 minutes. And isn't particularly a minnow muncher. Balogun's injury hurts, but Sargent's is a blessing in disguise (not that I was rooting for it, just pointing out that reality).

Johnny & CCV have bad records for the NT. So wanting to start them in losable competitive matches is certainly an interesting strategy.

I forgot Weah isn't available for the 1st match. We're extremely hamstrung in the attack. I might go Pepi-Pulisic w/ Aaronson underneath. Luna replaces him in the comeback.

 

Since we're talking about a third forward for a two game window if should be Jordan Morris if we're bringing in a guy who is already integrated with the team, or Damion Downs if we're taking a look at a younger option for the future... Morris has been playing well as a forward and Downs has 5 goals for Koln so far this season.

- D Downs
- J Morris
...
- Pefok
- McGuire
- Ferreira
- White
- Kahveh Z

 

Let him consolidate it.

 

The talent gap in our favor is in central midfield.

Win that central midfield battle, control possession, choke off service to their dangerous forwards..............that's our roadmap.

 

The man did 60 and folks want to bring him in. smdh.

 

thats what everyone said the last two times he returned from long-term injuries only to be shelved for months again within 5 matches.

so by all means, lets squeeze those into as short a window as possible. again. third times the charm, right?