Dark Horse Candidates For Qatar

An intriguing prospect.
But he's only playing for Schalke U17s right now.
Not their U19s or Schalke II.
So in order to make the leap to the USMNT by the WC in 2022, he's really going to have to advance quickly. I'm not saying he can't do it, but its gonna have to be really rapid advancement.

Cuz when I look at the depth chart in his #10 position I see Reyna, Aaronson, Ledezma..........................

 

Yeah, it's getting close to the point where the players in the pool are evident.

 

I want to say a centerback, but Miles Robinson, Zimmermann, and Long are all conceivable options. I wouldnt be shocked to see any of those names develop into options in time.

 

If a guy like Sam Shashoua played CB, then maybe. At AM, it would probably take too much.

 

Its not impossible, but a kid like Rotundo is only 16. He was born in 2004.
As of right now we just had two kids debut this week who were born in 2002 (Musah and Reyna).

Caden Clark has just broken thru in that position for NYRB, and is a 2003. I'd have him a rung up the possibility ladder than Rotundo. Only because he's at least broken into first team soccer.

But as we say: If you're good enough, then you're old enough.
If Rotundo breaks thru, then why not?

This is a dark horse thread. We're supposed to be looking for the non-obvious.

 

Caden Clark, Busio, and even Cade Cowell are all worthwhile shouts.

Hell JT Marcinkowski on position talent scarcity alone could get him in.

 

Any chance Zelalem makes a comeback and becomes a world beater?

 

Any chance Nagbe might return to the fold, or is he done for good?

 

to the above, next to none. Id love a good comeback story for Z, and the expansion of the league the next few years will hopefully get players like him on the field.

For the thread, I also think Nick Lima is a darkhorse. He does all the stuff berhalter loves in a fullback. He'd be behind Dest and Cannon, but depending on how we look at left back, he could be number two behind Jedi if Bello doesnt turn out the way we hope, and we dont do somethinig silly like bring Lovitz to the WC

 

Did you know who Yunus Musah was two months ago?

 

Yes.

 

I was late to the party but there were some posters that were following him for about a year.

 

Sure. YA is always on top of it. My point was more, there are more suprises than people want to admit. With a better pool, there will be less and less ... but there's still time for surprises.

I did not see a single mention of Musah in the lineup for Qatar 2022 thread. I might have missed it.

 

Barron Trump.

 

His name came up over a year ago. most of us didn't take much notice because he was still playing youth team and there is a ton of possible yanks playing abroad. He just happens to catch a break at his club because of their financial problems and he just ran with it.

 

Daryl Dike-blockbuster center forward. The American Lokaku.

 

No. His athleticism had been sketchy even before the injuries.

Likely done for good. 1. he initially lied as to his lack of involvement with the team under Gregg. 2. He then stated the shirt just didn't mean much to him. 3. Most importantly, the pool has moved on.

 

Bryang Kayo

 

Is it time we add Bryan Reynolds to this list of dark horses.
YIKES!!! At right back we have Dest lined up already. With one hell of a competition under way with youngsters. Araujo is really good as well.

Juventus coming in strong for Bryan Reynolds https://t.co/uyFlW8dKLt#FCDallas #DTID #SomosFCD
Source: $6-7 Million bid expected this week.

— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) November 25, 2020

 

Any left footed defender.

 

Indeed!

 

The top U23 left backs in the US are probably George Bello of Atlanta and Sam Vines of Colorado.

There are a lot of folks who like Jonathan Gomez. He's a left back that left the FC Dallas academy and signed with Louisville in the USL. This was done with the purpose of leaving for Europe at 18. He only just turned 17, so he's got another year to go at Louisville.

We have some young left backs in Europe, but I haven't seen them in a while. Chris Gloster seems to have stalled at PSV. Stuart Richie just recovered from injury at Hannover. Sepuvelda at Salamanca can play there. Kobe-Hernandez of Wolfsburg can play there.

But we got U23 right backs up the wazzoo: Dest, Cannon, Reynolds, Araujo, Scally. There's more on the way. Speaking of Scally from NYCFC, he'll be going to the Bundesliga in January.

Gladbach’s sporting director Max Eberl on Joe Scally (17) 🗣

“Our expectations in him are high. Our plan is that he’ll be part of the first team. We are very excited- he has strong defensive abilities but also speed, stamina and guts.” [Kicker]

Scally joins Gladbach in January. pic.twitter.com/CQiNW9anCl

— OneGoal (@OneGoalUS) November 26, 2020

 

You know what's going to be a lot more than listening to rants about Julian Green and Cristian Roldan?

When we're arguing between 3-4 really great players and who should make a roster.

 

George bello very quietly had a very good year.

his injury really affected fan’s long term outlook in him but he can make the WC squad.

 

Gregg Berhalter called Aron Johansson, so looks like he's on the radar. Will be interesting to see where he moves in the January window.