Giovanni “Gio” Reyna US National Team Discussion

Gio's potential selection will be based on what Pochettino and his scouts have seen, not what we saw or expect based on past performances.

 

If you break it down to its core here's the decision Poch has to make concerning Reyna. There's no question that IF he is at his best he can do things offensively few others on the roster can.

But: Is Reyna healthy enough to risk a roster spot? That's the decision in a nutshell. Doesn't matter if Reyna has some magic bullets in his quiver if he's going to get hurt in training or 5 minutes into a match. Another player may offer less magic but can actually play. That's what Poch has to wrestle with.

 

Borussia Monchengladbach has 3 matches until the March window, but probably the roster will be determined after 2 matches (the last match may force changes based on injury, but otherwise I expect the coaching staff to have it dialed in before the final matchday ahead of the window). If Reyna doesn't get minutes, show he's fit and can contribute then he won't make the March roster. And if he doesn't make that, then it's extremely unlikely that he'll be on the final roster for the WC.

 

Pochettino's words on Reyna have always been cryptic.

After the November camp.............................................

"[How he] reads the game and finds the free space in between the lines, I think that was a nightmare for Paraguay, and I think he did a very good job," Pochettino said postgame.

Also.........

"He scored, he did a very good job. So happy with him," Pochettino said. "He showed why he started, and he has confirmed that he's a player that needs to improve, because he needs to play more in his club, but we can see today that he was great."

 

I think Poch has given Reyna a LOT of leeway, but he hasn't responded with playing time. I think Reyna has run out of rope.

 

Basically, you have to weigh two different considerations here.

1.) Reyna was a difference maker in our last camp, scoring and setting up our goals in a 2-1 win against a Paraguay side we'll be facing in the World Cup this summer, and registering a very nice assist in a win against a top-quality Uruguay side. And that didn't come out of nowhere -- it's the kind of thing he's been contributing throughout the cycle. (I am assuming the person who said he's very unlikely to ever get another cap or contribute anything to our team completely forgot about our last two games.)

2.) Reyna has done pretty much nothing at the club level in the 3-4 months since then. Part of that is due to injuries, but that means you also have to take special note of the type of constantly recurring injuries he's had that could very well limit his effectiveness and availability this summer as well, even if he seems to have recovered before then.

If we were still limited to 23 player, I think that 2nd consideration would be dispositive to me. With the expanded roster, I put more weight on that first factor and I think there might be a spot for him. But I'd really like Reyna to show something at the club level between now and then to make that decision easier.

 

I think if you flip it becomes more clear. Would a club coach rather play a guy who's great for his national but so far a dud for him or a guy who's a dud for his national but plays great for him? Most or all are going to pick the guy that plays well for them and helps them win. There is a lot of competition though so that alone isn't the only factor and health is the biggest factor.

 

I just think that if Reyna STILL isn't playing, then Poch will decide that the unknowns outweigh the potential benefits--especially when there are other players who can fill the roster spot that he also likes that ARE playing (and playing well) at their clubs. But it's just my gut feeling.

 

*No others can do
Not calling him our best attacker because he isn’t. But that pure “10 shit”- playing that killer through ball or hitting the volley first time- he’s the best.

 

I think Poch will find a way to put him on the squad as an attacking super sub. Not easy to do as squad depth is important.

 

Random question. Before the US selection, is there a pre-camp with like 40 players? If that's the case, may be his opportunity.

 

No.

Pochettino has already said that the last camp will be THE SQUAD.
Presumably alternates will be at the camp too in case of injuries.
That camp is followed by Senegal/Germany friendlies prior to the World Cup.

This March camp is the LAST ONE for the guys on the fringes of the team to state their case.
One suspects that if you're not at this March camp, the road is difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. There are probably some final battles for roster slots to be had.

So yes, this camp is kind of make or break for Gio. If he's not named to this camp, its looking bleak. For Musah, Johnny, Zendejas, Banks, and guys like that too.

 

@Clint Eastwood has already given the answer (no). USSF will be announcing the final roster on May 26.

 

as they say: “the best ability is availability”

 

if this is the last camp I wonder how many will actually be called in? Is the decision on roster based upon this camp, or is this camp roster final? Also, I wonder how many alternates he will have in mind and if they will be included in this camp?
s

 

Germany - Bundesliga
Friday Mar. 6
2:30pm Bayern München vs Borussia M'gladbach
ESPN Select, fuboTV, ESPN App, DAZN Canada

 

Gio has 30 minutes of playing time after December 10th and 0 minutes after January 17th. In his more productive productive periods with the National Team he typically had had some playing time before a callup.

 

I'm wondering, too, if he'll call a few more than he usually has. My list landed at 27 (after revision). It's certainly conceivable that he could leave off a few players that will definitely be on the WC roster (like Pulisic and maybe Tillman) in order to give a few other guys one last chance to show (like Zendejas and Morris, or Reyna) and not have too large a group in camp.

 

I don't know. His recent comments have been like........................."The World Cup starts now."

I suspect his is "A" team all the way.

I'm not sure you schedule Portugal/Belgium and then give the best guys a rest.

I think its actually quite important to get good results in these games. If we want the country to wake up to the event, and think we have a shot, we can't have a result here as bad as the Switzerland game last summer.

Reyna was in our last camp. He could be in this one.

The fact is that I think the board would have a strong consensus around 20-22 players on this roster. We're arguing around the fringes, and Reyna is on the fringes. There's no reason for us to debate the merits of including McKennie. But Reyna? The board is here for the debate. Both sides are making good points.

 

He could still bring a few extras for whom he hasn't quite decided. He could bring...say 3 extra to the last camp with the idea that the first 23 are decided. Or, If he has decided, he could bring the alternates along so they stay connected in case of need; some what like alternate jurors have to sit through the whole case, so they are up to date if needed. I think there are multiple reasons that he may want to bring a few others...regardless of what his current feelings on the roster are.

 

Zero minutes again today...sigh.....Although the match circumstances didn't play in his favor for getting in.

 

Just want to mention that BM has a 3-year contract with Gio. And perhaps, because of his frailty, they might prefer that he not play for US. Just throwing that out, I do not have any inside info.