I think it's time to get this thread going since the US has some friendlies coming up soon. Aruajo and Lletget seem to be in the plans for Berhalter's team, but this USA player pool seems to be getting bigger and bigger every years. Here is to hoping for a strong 2021!
Also the news of the day is Musah declared for the US. Pretty big for Berhalter to get him. The future is looking bright for the US. The starting XI actually looks really good. Steffen, Dest, Richards, Brooks, Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Weah, Reyna, Pulisic, Sargent That looks to be a strong XI. Plus we have guys like Musah, Dike, Miazga, Aaronson, Richards, Arriola, Cannon, Yedlin, Otasowie, Siebatcheu, and more. Honestly it looks like now for any MLSers to break through, they will need to be one of the best in the entire league to get a chance, and imo, that is for the best. I don't really want to see the likes of Acosta, Roldan, Mueller, etc unless they are bossing the MLS.
Totally excited. The talent level right now is something I wouldn't have dreamed of. Now we just need Pulisic to stay healthy and get off the damn bench. Olympic Qualifying starts Thursday (Costa Rica), Sunday (Dominican Republic), Wednesday (Mexico). See you then!
Lletget called up for the senior USMNT's March friendlies This month’s #USMNT squad fast facts:▸ Averaging 23 years, 27 days and 11 caps▸ 16 players age 22 and under▸ Players from clubs in 10 countries: 🏴, 🇩🇪, 🇺🇸, 🇦🇹, 🇧🇪, 🇫🇷, 🇪🇸, 🇮🇹, 🇵🇹 & 🇳🇱📝: https://t.co/VrtmTgAWWF pic.twitter.com/XLD4DfIKM0— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 17, 2021 He seems to be a favorite of Berhalter -- almost a security blanket -- and I suspect his absence at times will highlight how important and versatile he is likely to be for the Galaxyt
Yea pretty interesting he was called up because I believe he is the only MLSer in that squad which is very much the full A team there. Lletget will likely get minutes since the german boys won't be able to play a game, so he will have a chance to play with some really quality players.
You'd think a midfield that includes an A Pool USMNT player (Lleget) and an A Pool Mexican National Team Player (JDS) would be a strong MLS midfield wouldn't you? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A couple of other MLS players were also called up, Kellyn Acosta and Aaron Long, plus Daryl Dike (Orlando City player on loan to Barnsley). But definitely a majority Europe-based squad.
I know Kreis has a checkered record as a coach but he was a joy to watch as a player. I watched him close up for 4 years at Duke and he was all class. He was the most competitive, hardest worker on the field by far and had one of the most powerful free kicks I've seen to this day. As a person (at least back then) he was a well liked leader (not that vocal, mostly lead by example) and graciously volunteered to come work with a select youth team I coached. And few remember how good he was in MLS. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Burn in the MLS draft ever and is still their leader all time leader in goals (91) and assists (65). He became the first American born league MVP, the first MLS player with 15 goals and 15 assists in a season and the first MLS player to score 100 goals, beating out McBride, Wynalda and Joe-Max Moore who all started with him in MLS's inaugural year. He became the youngest MLS coach in history when he took over RSL in 2007. Over 6 seasons he led them to a 111W-68D-88L record, with a +77GD. In his first year he took them to their first playoff appearance and they never missed the playoffs after that under him. They won the MLS Cup his 2nd season and were runner ups, losing in pk shootout in his last season. In 2011 he took RSL to the CONCACAF Finals, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Monterrey. After completing his contract at RSL Kreis left on top of the world and everything went downhill. First he headed to NYCFC where he coached one disappointing season and was sacked. He then was hired mid-season by a crappy Orlando City team (they hadn't won a game in two months) and was released when he failed to turn it around in two seasons. Some of his coaching methods and personnel decisions were highly questioned during this last stint. He became the U-23/Olympic head coach in 2019 - success to be determined. He is also an Inter Miami assistant coach.
Araujo starting at right back in today's Olympic qualifier game vs. Dominican Republic, right now on FS1.
Araujo one of our best players today imho. Better finishing and he’d have had a few primary assists. Might have had an nhl one or two. And unlike his teammates he put in a an entire 90 minute effort.
Watched both games. Felt great to watch games that matter. Still proud to have USMNT players on our team! Araujo good I thought and his crosses were dangerous as we know. Wonder who starts in the semis.
The “experts” over on the USA forum were much less impressed with Araujo then me. I thought he was better then most on our team. Solid defensively and constantly doing the right thing going forward. I thought all his crosses had clear purpose and were regularly dangerous. incidentally, Antuna one of Mexico’s best players.
So... their whole argument is that our B team isn't as good as our A team? Wow, that's incredible analysis....
Watched the U-23’s vs Mexico. We were ok except one bad mistake in the back (leading to an Antuna goal) and we seem to have no forwards in this group. The 2nd half we got in the box a lot but nothing led to a shot, much less a dangerous one. Our best chance was when our guy fell down on a corner and got off a good header while laying on the ground.
Lleget starts in friendly today, lol. 3 MLS players starting will ruffle some feathers elsewhere on bigsoccer. HERE WE GO! 🇺🇸👊Your #USMNT Starting XI for today’s match vs. 🇯🇲.Lineup Notes: https://t.co/K1UZV8GFad #USAvJAM pic.twitter.com/5BeIc8K388— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 25, 2021
This is strange considering the Bundesliga guys will have to return to their clubs after this one I believe so Richards not starting makes zero sense.
I definitely understand what Berhalter sees in Lletget. Lletget is really good at retaining possession and letting the extremely talented guys find space. Lletget moves a lot in midfield and shows for 1-2s. I am starting to think Lletget is actually a really good player that has been hampered by how shit we were and bad managers. Edit: I posted my opinion on Lletget making the attack tick, and was told I am "a low IQ soccer fan who needs to take off your rose mls tinted glasses" Blows my mind that Lletget in MLS bad, but if he goes to Austria like Aaronsson did, suddenly they are having a conversation that should Aaronsson start over Pulisic.