That's all fair. If I had to whittle it down from the 30(1) that I posted, gone would be: Klinsmann, Zendejas, Morris, and Wright. But I'll add Blackmon back in, for a total of 27. That seems a more realistic number that Poch might actually call.
Don't teams usually need for keepers for practice purposes? I've often seen a local keeper get pulled into camps for that reason. Of course they could still call in three and use a local who knew they had no chance.
Even when Poch only called up 25 total players in November, four were keepers........................ USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino Selects Roster For November Training Camp Ahead of Matches Against World Cup-Qualified Nations Paraguay and Uruguay In November it was Freese, Celentano, Schulte, and Klinsmann. I could easily see a final four called into this camp. The final four for a competition. The loser becomes the alternate. My guess for the four? Total guess based on callups in t2025. Freese, Turner, Schulte, and.................Celentano. But your guess is as good as mine! Freese and three others.
He is a significantly better defender IMO... and I have been somewhat impressed with his play for Koln when I have watched him this season. But I don't think I would be upset if either didn't make the squad. With Robinson out of form our left side becomes a bit mundane... We really could use a quick/skilled/dangerous left footed player.
Berhalter vs Reyna for a roster spot makes little sense. Assuming Poch sticks with his 4231, then he'd likely take 5 CMs. Berhalter would be competing there. Reyna would be a backup dual/CAM. Zendejas can play across the attack: left-wing, cam, right-wing. And his G/A production on the left is elite. Luna is out injured. Pulisic is on half-a-hip. Zendejas has more than a slight chance.
KG: Freese, Turner, Shulte RCB: Richards, Freeman CB: Robinson, Trusty LCB: Jedi, Mackenzie DM: Adams, Cardoso CM: Tessman, Musah LW: Arfsten, Tolkin AM: Pulisic, McKennie, Aaronson, Tillman RW: Dest, Weah FW: Balogun, Pepi Subs: Ream, Berhalter, Wright Would have been nice to bring Paredes and Reyna but... Next time: Big Pat
In a 26-man roster, the players completing for the last couple spots won't necessarily play the same position as each other. You could probably go 2 deep in every position (with the required 3rd keeper), bring a 3rd striker (which Poch has already said he's going to do), and then be left with 2 spots on the roster you still need to fill. Berhalter and Reyna don't make the cut for me when I'm going 2-deep at each position, but they're in strong contention for one of the last couple spots after that. They don't play similar positions, but you could still end up in a situation where you're trying to decide whether to use your final roster spot on a 5th CM or a 5th CAM.
I got Berhalther 3-5 among the CMs. It all depends on the form of the others. Reyna would play the dual -10/cam. He could only compete for one of the extra 3 slots.
Well, he has 3 caps since Copa America 2024. 1 start. If he's fit and can provide us with something, its a luxury. Its up to Pochettino to decide if he can. There are no "extra spots" on the World Cup roster. Every spot needs to be earned. Reyna went a way to doing that in the last camp. That was now 5 months ago, and he's done next-to-nothing in club soccer since. His inclusion in this March camp is a total toss-up. Nothing anybody has said about it convinces me one way or the other. Yes, he's talented. Also, yes, he's not done a thing in club soccer to earn the place. Yes, he played well in November. He's done almost nothing else for the USMNT other than that since the 2024 Nations League (when lest we forget, he was the player of the tournament.) I personally don't know how POchettino could possibly see a match fit player. Reyna isn't a 90 minute player even when he is fit. Do people know the last time Reyna played a 90 minute game in club soccer?????? Not this club season. Not last club season. Not the season before that. Keep goin.........................
The very last roster chioce is likely in one form or another to be between guys who don't play the same position.
I see the extra-3, the last 3 spots, as--- 1. the third forward 2. the 5th CM 3. a 5th CB or an extra attacker. I'd put Gio in the 3rd category. Yep. The squads will be 26 players.
If I was the coach they would be competing in several categories but against each other as a free kick specialist off the bench. I'm not confident that Pulisic's free kicks and corners would win a game.
GK Freeze and Turner and who knows LWB Jedi, Arfsten RWB Dest, Weah CB Ream, Richards, Mackinzie, Trusty, Feeman, Banks(if not interested Scally or Miles)Hopefully someone other the Poch from USSF is talking to Banks CM's Adams, Tessman, Cardoso, ****One of Berhalter or Roldan CAM Wes, Christian, Tillman, Aaronson, Zendejas, Reyna(only if he shows he is healthy and getting some minutes if not Luna) FW Balo, Pepi, Wright 6 CAM's and 4 CM's if injury problems Wes can play one of the CM's so basically 5 and 5. Having Freeman gives you flexibility to play Weah as a CAM. We have been set up in a 3-4-2-1 So carrying 6 CB's is essential in case of injury or cards.
3 of the last 4 rosters were announced on a Thursday, so maybe the 19th? I presume sometime midweek during that week
Given another non-appearance for Reyna yesterday, I'd like to say that I think IF Poch called him in to this camp it would almost certainly rub a lot of the team the wrong way. This is the guy that almost blew up the last WC. There were a lot of players who were pissed at him at the time. And now he's played 26 minutes in two matches this calendar year. If he gets called, it could be bad news for the locker room. I really don't think Poch will call him.
I agree that would be a potential risk but I also think Poch could manage that by how he handled the training sessions. IF Gio worked hard and did well players will be fine with it. IF Gio didn't work hard and Poch and staff seemed to let it slide THAT would be a huge issue.
Well... scratch Dest. OUCH! (That hurts us more than we think. We've got options outside, primarily Weah, but Dest has a shizzle that no one else does.) I can't wait for this roster. It's been too damn long.