Pomykal, Parks, and Aaronson. Aaronson and Pomykal out-played him at the same youth camps. Parks had a standout season and he's more advanced. Stiff comp at that position. Ledezma is also the least versatile. Aaronson and Pomykal can more passably play wing due to their dribbling. And Parks has significant experience at 6 thru 10. And he's already in Netherlands. Might as well just allocate him to the senior team squad. Though I don't know if he'd play.
Is John Nelson too old (Age: 21 (07/11/1998)? He's a left back behind who many think is the best left back in the league (Hollingshead) and can play right back and midfield also. From what I saw of him last year he's definitely good enough to at least be a backup but I haven't heard his name mentioned so maybe he's aged out.
It feels a little weird being so optimistic about the upcoming generation and then looking at that roster and thinking, I wonder if that team can even qualify?
well, no one would wonder if pulisic, mckennie, adams, sargent, dest, reyna, etc could qualify. even llanez, ledesma, mendez, richards, gloster.... but the sr team in the future doesnt rely on clubs releasing them. (just fitness )
Something else, of discussion, who are going to be the new faces that emerge as potential Olympic candidates... 1. Johnny Cardoso - MF 2. Robbie Robinson - FW 3. Thomas Roberts - MF Others: Daryl Dike (FW), Jack De Vries (FW), Nick Taitague (W/F), Ricardo Pepi (FW), Danny Leyva (MF) , Dylan Nealis (RB), Jack Maher (CB/DM) On this point... I’m going to make the wild prediction that Robbie Robinson goes from anonymity to USMNT prospect in 2020.
Aaronsen was pretty poor against CR. Not too many obvious, on TV, mistakes. Much like Nagbe with the USMNT, plays not made rather than mistakes made. One example is having Cannon wide open on the wing, Cannon pointing on the ground ahead of him, and Aaronsen, with time, just launching the ball into the box where Cannon has no shot at it. He had the run where several players were open for a transition opportunity and he held the ball and let CR take him down to stop the move. He also had Vines open on the left and passed it behind him, killing another fast break. He was good in the Canary Island game, but was a second half sub and Brazil has usually taken the foot off the gas, at every level, against us up at halftime. Gregg did pick him to start over Servania and Cappis; so he must show something in training.
The best that can probably be hoped for: Forwards: Ferreira, Toye Wings: Llanez, Lewis Mids: Ledezma, Aaronsen, Pomykal, Yueill, Mendez Fullbacks: Cannon, Vines, Gloster, Hererra Centerbacks: Mckenzie, Richards, Glad GKs: pick two My biggest worry is Kreis and the terrible coaching we've seen at the YNT level since Earnie cleaned house.
I'm curious about Soto at Hannover. He never plays, so maybe he can be made available. Man how his star has fallen since the U20WC. It was only half a year ago that columns like this were written: Sebastian Soto: America's next great striker? The future of the USMNT? https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/sebastian-soto-america-s-next-great-striker-the-future-of-the-usmnt-hannover-5469
yeah if you look at my lineup it's almost entirely MLS and guys who are no where near playing in Europe...
Love Soto, I'd be interested just not sure he gets released. I think it's gonna be a slim group from Europe.
I agree, but sometimes we can be surprised. For the last U23 qualifying tournament we did get Steffen (Freiburg), CCV (Spurs), Hyndman (FUlham), Horvath (Molde), Zelalem (Rangers), Kiesewetter (Stuttgart), Horton (Leeds), Maki Tall (Sion), and Ariyibi (Chesterfield). We won't get our top guys (the Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, etc. types) That next group down of guys not being used by first teams? You never know. Soto's been in purgatory at Hannover. He's not playing reserve games or anything. So if Hannover doesn't want him, then maybe they'll let him go to Olympic qualifying. Denying his release would be a pretty crappy thing to do considering they seemingly have no interest in playing him.
I’m watching Lennon in this Atlanta-Motagua game. He reminds me of Arriola(and I’m not an Arriola fan). High work rate, plays adequate defense, zero offensive threat. I think we need more creation out of that position, especially since our forwards don’t look like a strong point on this roster.
Provisional Olympic qualifying roster of 50 players. Some interesting inclusions. Some interesting exclusions. The USMNTers are by-and-large not there as expected (Pulisic, McKennie, Dest, etc. etc.) 1232699988674777089 is not a valid tweet id
i think he gets a huge lift due to roster size, though. the right wingers are mostly euro based, which makes them some degree of unlikely, and even assuming cannon is a lock at rb his ability to play anywhere on the side is a leg up. bench spots often go to versitile, if lesser, players. @butters59 i think his club situation is the only reason hes behind anyone. which is obviously a huge deal, but he was fantastic in the u20 wc. youll still see his names in (predicting) sr team call ups having not played at all since.
You think Arriola provides zero offensive threat? I'm not even a big fan of his, yet I don't believe that. The larger point that I would prefer an upgrade to a guy like Lennon on a u23 team is certainly one that I can co-sign though. But I think you are being a bit too hard on both of them.
An interesting dynamic of this list is the inclusion/exclusion of Euro based players starting for their teams. The ones on loan to their team are on the list. The ones owned by the club are not. I've never seen it discussed, but is it the mother club or the loan club that releases the player? I have always thought it the latter.
From this provisional roster I would go: ---------------Ferreira Llanez-------Ledezma-------Mendez ---------Pomykal--------Yueill Vines---Richards---McKenzie---Cannon ----------------Ochoa
I think Arriola G/xG in the past 12 months is probably .15. Now, is getting clear through on goal a "threat"? Yes. Is shooting it right at the keeper productive? No. So, I guess if you are being nice he is a threat, just not productive.
I have him in my starting line up and at #ussoccerchat last week he was my surprise player who has a great Olympic qualifying - https://chasingacup.com/underdog-olympic-qualifying-usmnt-friendlies/ He was awesome with the U20s and Liverpool saw something, I think he lost his confidence but hopefully new situation lifts him up.
Two players that seem a near certainty for the Olympic qualifiers based on these comments. Olympics for Reggie. https://t.co/P0umY1gTGS— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) February 26, 2020
Yes. I doubt his defense is not up to it. He plays there for Jong Ajax and the 2nd Dutch league is probably better than U23 CONCACAF. The USA is going to be fouled a lot, there is going to be dead ball opportunities. Mendez was a weapon in U20 CONCACAF on set pieces. I'll take that all day over random touch Lewis and work hard Lennon.