What Poch said is pretty simple on the matter. If the player is committed, and he's worthy, we want him. But it sure sounds like wafflers aren't for him. It would be no surprise if Banks was left off of the November roster because he wasn't willing to say he was 100% committed. [Cuz leaving him off for soccer reasons didn't make a ton of sense to a lot of posters.] And we can make a list of dual-nationals that have become cap-tied during Poch's tenure. Damion Downs might be the one the most similar to Banks. USMNT coach Pochettino won't push hard for dual nationals "If we really believe that a player can help us and can improve us, of course we are going to be 100 percent involved in that situation," Pochettino said in a call with reporters. "We don't need to convince [players]," Pochettino said. "A player needs to want to play for the for the national team. I am Argentinian. I wanted to play for Argentina ... it's not because of a contract. It's not because the possibility to play in Europe. No, I was desperate to defend my badge, my flag. "We need to be careful. [There is] no need to convince a player. One player cannot be more important than the team or 300 million people. The player, if he's an American player, needs to be desperate, needs to show that we need him. Because, if not, we are a weak federation.
It was reasonable to leave Banks off the November roster to allow him to continue to bed-in with his club team. He had only just started to break through as consistent starter at that point.
if he wouldnt call the single most impactful player for this, his one and only world cup (one way or the other), in puli during all that mess last summer why would he call a dual-nat who wont turn 20 before hes off to his next club team? the single most important player that will define his time as usmnt manager vs a guy who is irrelevant to that "legacy". youre good with that?
Pulisic wanted to take a break. The staff didn't want to push it. Obviously, the World Cup is a bit more important than the Gold Cup.
Like I said, I think Poch is on the extreme end when it comes to his lack of direct communication with players outside of camps, and the Pulisic example is probably the best illustration of that. But I don't think there was ever any risk that Pulisic wouldn't be at the World Cup, or would no longer play for the USMNT going forward, if Poch had his assistant coaches speak to him rather than reaching out to him directly. There was also a year left before the World Cup, Poch then did get a chance to hash things out with Pulisic directly the next time he was in camp, and it seems like whatever lingering issues they might have had were resolved there. I don't know if I agree with handling it that way (if it didn't work out, Poch risked poisoning the atmosphere around the team and maybe losing the locker room), but that's all kind of just basic man management stuff, and apparently that's Poch's style in that department. That all seems fundamentally different than the imminent risk of losing a dual nat to Germany, or at least losing him for this tournament, where he could be a starting option. Maybe Poch doesn't see it that way, and he's equally unlikely to attempt any direct intervention here either, but personally I can see the case for thinking this would justify more aggressive action with only one camp left before the World Cup.
So trying to figure out how are center-backs are shaping up and who to start, put together some numbers from their club teams: Goals Conceded while on the field: Tristan Blackmon: 1.07 GpG (47 in 44) Tim Ream: 1.18 GpG (39 in 33) Mark Mckenzie: 1.19 GpG (31 in 26) Miles Robinson: 1.20 GpG (49 in 41) Chris Richards: 1.21 GpG (34 in 28) Noahkai Banks: 1.29 GpG (27 in 21) (MLS guys I did this season + last season to get the sample size larger than just a few games, Europe guys are just this the 25/26 stuff) Some random top-of-the-table guys just for reference of kind of “as-good-as-it-gets”. Gabriel: 0.54 (19 in 35) Bastoni: 0.78 GpG (31 in 40) Upamecano: 0.90 (28 in 31) Just kind of interesting to look into. Obviously doesn’t tell the whole story or anything but maybe the takeaway is that the US will need to score at least 2 goals a game to win at the World Cup! haha
1. Pulisic wasn’t going to play in the Gold Cup. He was willing to play the preceding friendlies. That wasn’t Poch’s choice. 2. To directly answer your actual question, Poch would call Banks up if he thought Banks could help America win. In short, for the same reason Poch will or won’t call in every player.
Wouldn't it just be the greatest thing in the world if Pochettino vindicates this man 28 years later by playing us in a 361 and winning our group? After all, it's not like Sampson told Harkes to go messing with Wynalda's wife...
He speaks English well and comfortably, with a light German accent. He learned to play soccer in Germany. He's spent plenty of time here, with our youth national team setup, and we identified him first. Is he a German soccer player? Is he an American soccer player? Yes.
Both self-evident truths. I find myself agreeing with you alot, which is deeply disturbing. When we see the press on Banks, there are still a lot of "maybe" and "it seems like" and "possibly" statements. We have what Poch said about the player in the October camp. Analysing Noahkai Banks’ breakthrough season, Pochettino’s comments and USMNT prospects - The Athletic Where some coaches may try to dampen down expectations, Pochettino took a different route. “I saw him playing in Germany and he’s a massive talent,” the Argentine said. “You never know how he can explode — maybe at the end of the season he can be the best center-back in Europe or in Germany.” In these types of situations we don't really know what's being said behind the scenes between the staff and the player. We do have those three statements that we've posted in the last couple of pages of the thread straight from the mouths of the horses. We can put together some pieces while also not knowing the whole truth. 1) Pochettino thinks the kid is a "massive talent." 2) Banks saying he's "still deciding" on national team allegiance. 3) Pochettino's comments about dual nationals in which he says a player "needs to want to play for the national team." Pochettino can't wait any longer. Its go time. He said it was "go time" prior to the November camp. If a guy's not ready to commit yet, then we can't wait. We're in final preparations for the World Cup here. We're playing Portugal and Belgium in this camp for Christ's sake. Not Guatemala and Bermuda. I don't think we start an uncapped teenager in these games as it is. The time for him to have a debut start was against somebody like Paraguay or Australia in the fall.
Not a bad guess, but I would start dest over Weah if he’s healthy. I also might find a place for Tessmann in the back 3 if he continues to perform there for Lyon. Of course the Pepi- Balogun debate goes on, but it depends who is healthy and in form. Right now, Balogun gets the nod Sorry. Responding to the wrong post
I know it's too late in the cycle based on Poch's statements but we could really use a dangerous edge player w/ speed and dynamic one-v-one ability. I think Gozo should be considered as a dark horse last minute add to the mix.... especially given the expanded roster. The increase in domestic talent has gone thru the roof but there is something different... dare I say extra... about the kid. He really has a chance to be a star.... and WC squads have had some success bringing along young players with similar attributes. I feel pretty good about where we are up the gut and in front.... but out wide? We could really use a guy who can make things happen on their own. Our Yamal?
I think Gozo's made a pretty nice leap this year in terms of individual skills. He's really upped his game in terms of his repertoire coming in on goal from that right side. That one goal was basically unstoppable -- as he gets a bit more finishing, I think he really becomes a very tough one one piece. He's still learning wingback, but since he's like four games in, that seems pretty normal. I think in prior cycles, it would make a lot of sense -- we relied so much more on having some individually athleticism to wreak some havoc -- Landon, obviously, and Beas and Yedlin, etc. Freeman probably falls into this bucket in this World Cup. And with the lack of wide attackers, it also makes sense if Dest or Weah is out. But I suspect that lack of familiarity and pretty strong squad will keep him out. I know you mean "relatively" but ... Gozo is actually a few months older than Yamal.
Good post... I see it the same way. But the last comment was unnecessary... I certainly know how old the players are.
Sure. It was more a general comment. Yamal is such an outlier I think he's kind of pointless in these discussions. I don't even know if the age he started playing at will be as much of an advantage as people perceive, either.
I think it's pointless if you focus too much on the incredibly young age at which he contributed on the biggest stage. I think we often give too much attention to age on this forum. But I think your original response is pretty spot on WRT Gozo and this USMNT.
Not surprising but Banks opting out of March camp https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...l-noahkai-banks-opts-usmnt-march-camp-sources