Winter 22 (bolded are 2022 World Cup holdovers): Fall 23 update: Fall 24 update: ST(2): Balogun(01), Pepi(03) WG(4): Pulisic(98), Weah(00), Paredes(03), Luna(03) CM(4): Reyna(02), M. Tillman(02), Musah(02), McKennie(98) DM(2): Tessmann(01), Johnny(01) FB(4): A. Robinson(97), Tolkin(02), Scally(02), Dest(00) CB(4): Richards(00), McKenzie(99), M. Robinson(97), Trusty(98) GK(3): Turner(95), Schulte(01), Horvath(95) And if its 26 add Sargent(00), B. Aaronson(00), and Adams(99) Just missed: Wright(98), Koleosho(04), Campbell(06), A. Morris(01), Wiley(04), Zimmerman(93), Carter-Vickers(97), Celentano(00), Freese(98), Steffen(95) Horvath makes it as the third keeper filling in the Meola 2002 role though he's not among the best 3 keepers we've got. Don't like Steffen either but included him because he made the first two rosters, maybe he's acting as a good locker room presence now. Adams relegated to the 26 only because of his injury history it feels like it's a 30/70 any point in time whether he's healthy, played a lesser role with Sargent, too. Don't have much else to say, my only other decisions that felt tough were backup wingers and CBs. I think Wright or Aaronson can make it in a wing spot behind Pulisic/Weah but at least one backup will be a more "traditional" winger like Paredes, Koleosho, Campbell, or Cowell if it's a 23 man roster. Roster was looking pretty boring so Luna comes in as what's probably going to look like another "flavor of the month" pick a year from now.
I'm going to ignore players like Cole Campbell, who I have not seen, Cavan Sullivan who, from what I have seen, is an amazing talent but the longest of longshots to make the team. I'm going to leave off Reyna because I would be surprised if he is healthy. If healthy, he plays. I considered omitting Adams for the same reason but I think he has a somewhat better chance of being healthy. Starting 11 right now (assuming Ream doesn't get younger): ----------------------------Pepi or Balo (based upon current form) --------------------------------Pulisic (free role/am) Weah------------------------Tessman---------------McKennie -----------------------------Adams (If healthy)----------------- Jedi--------------------Richards----------McKenzie-------------Dest -----------------------------GK (probably Turner) which players from the list of field players that Berhalter brought to the Copa America do I expect to be around in 2026? I think it is easier to start with those that I don't expect to see. The list of field players called to camp for Copa America: Lund, McKenzie, Shaq Moore, Ream, Richards, Jedi, Miles Robinson, Scally, Dest, Adams, Johnny, LDLT, McKennie, Musah, Reyna, Tillman, Aaronson, Balo, Pepi, Pulisic, Sargent, Weah, Wright. The players that I would be most surprised to see on the final roster (no particular order) are Lund, Shaq Moore, Ream, LDLT. Reyna would surprise me only because I don't expect him to be healthy. The others that have to be at least a little worried would be, imo, Tillman, Sargent, Miles. I'm not saying the others are a shoe in, but that group of 8 players is my list of players that I think have the most to worry about. That leaves 4-5ish? field spots open for guys like Tessman, Busio, Tolkin, Wiley and others to fight over.
ST: Pepi, Balogun, X AM: Pulisic, Reyna, Weah, Tillman, Y MF: McKennie, Adams, Johnny, Tessmann, Musah FB: Jedi, Dest, Scally, Tolkin CB: Richards, McKenzie, Trusty, CCV GK: Turner, Schulte, Z Several spots that are total guesswork, but assuming everyone is healthy and no one just drops off completely, I feel like the core and then some is solidifying. Tolkin and CCV are the only big reaches in this group, but I think both would fit in really well under Poch. For X: Sargent, provides something different than Balo and Pepi, hopefully is in a better league by 2026 For Y: Paxten, he is rapidly progressing but the level to break in is getting high - I think he has already surpassed his brother For Z: Kochen, there is a world where he is getting minutes with Barcelona as they shift back to homegrown talent and Ter Stegen ages out.
This is not a hard and fast depth chart. --------------------------Balogun/Pepi----- ------Pulisic/Weah---Reyna/Tillman-----Musah/Paredes ------------Adams/McKennie----Johnny/Tessmann--- --Jedi/Brown------------------------------------------------Dest/Scally---- ---------------Richards/Trusty------Chase/Maloney-- ------------------------Kochen/Freese/Turner------ Wright,Campbell,McKenzie The strikers corps of Balogun, Pepi, and Wright will be a strong point for the team. Paredes will provide an inverted alternative to Musah. We'll see how things go with Acosta; his papers might arrive too late. Reyna needs to get and stay fit.. Tillman hasn't been good enough with the team. He should be good enough by WC time.
Post last camp. Also not bothering to try to predict injuries. GK - Turner, Schulte, Freese D - ARob, Dest, Scally, Reynolds, Richards, McKenzie, Chase, Zimmerman M - Adams, Tessman, McKennie AM/W - Pulisic, Weah, Musah, Reyna, Paredes, P. Aaronson, Campbell 9 - Pepi, Balogun Plus 3 - Maloney, Busio, Vazquez Alternates - Kochen, Trusty, Tolkin, Johnny, Tillman, B. Aaronson, Wright, Sargent
I won't do a full 26, since there's going to be a lot of overlap with everyone else's. But I will that I'd give Wiley the inside track to be backup LB, and I don't see him on many of these projections. I like Tolkin, but I don't think he has the athleticism. Wiley clearly has that, and if he can learn to process the game quicker and clean up his mistakes, I think he can be Robinson 2.0. Though, Pochettino just showed he's fine rolling with no cover at outside back, if he's not enamored with the options, so there might not even be an official LB2 on the roster.
GOALKEEPERS: 1/2. Matt Turner v Patrick Schulte 3/A. Diego Kochen v Roman Celentano v Matt Freese v Gabriel Slonina Reserve: Ethan Horvath v Zack Steffen v Brad Guzan v Drake Callender v Joe Willis v Brad Stuver Monitor: Chris Brady v Julian Eyestone v Adam Beaudry v Andrew Rick v Gavin Beavers My picks: Turner, Schulte, Kochen RIGHT BACKS: 1/2. Sergino Dest (Injured) v Joe Scally A. Marlon Fossey v Richie Ledezma v Bryan Reynolds Reserve: DeAndre Yedlin v Shaq Moore v Reggie Cannon v Brooks Lennon v Nathan Harriel Monitor: Leo Duru v Aidan Harangi v Harbor Miller v Reed Baker-Whiting v Oscar Verhoeven v Michael Bresser (dual) v Wesley Okoduwa (dual) My picks: Dest, Scally CENTER BACKS: 1-4 + A: Chris Richards v Mark McKenzie v Tim Ream v Miles Robinson v Cameron Carter-Vickers v Auston Trusty v Walker Zimmerman Reserve: Jackson Ragen v Henry Kessler v Andrew Privett v Jalen Neal v Max Dietz v Kobi Henry v Justen Glad v Sean Nealis Monitor: Noahkai Banks v Joshua Wynder v Chris Mbai-Assem v Noah Cobb v Matai Akinbomni v Grayson Dettoni (dual) ***Dual National Game Changer: Anrie Chase (likely would be a lock) My picks: Chase (Carter-Vickers), Richards, McKenzie, Ream LEFT BACKS: 1. Antonee Robinson 2/A. Caleb Wiley v John Tolkin v Kristoffer Lund Reserve: Ralph Orquin (dual) v George Bello v Jonathan Gomez v DeJuan Jones v Sam Vines v Max Arfsten v Noah Allen v Devin Padelford Monitor: Peyton Miller v Christian McFarlane (dual) v Nolan Norris v Tahir Reid-Brown v Luca Bombino v Sawyer Jura v Manu Romero **Dual National Game Changer: Nathaniel Brown (neck and neck with Wiley) My picks: Robinson, Wiley MIDFIELDERS: 1-2. Weston McKennie v Tyler Adams 3-5 + A. Tanner Tessmann v Johnny Cardoso v Gianluca Busio v Aidan Morris v Luca de la Torre v Lennard Maloney Reserve: James Sands v Jack McGlynn v Cole Bassett v Daniel Edelman Monitor: Rokas Puktsas v Pedro Soma v Brooklyn Raines v Taha Habroune v Ethan Kohler v Noel Buck (dual) My picks: Adams, McKennie, Tessmann, Cardoso, Busio ATTACKERS: 1. Christian Pulisic 2-3. Tim Weah v Yunus Musah 4-5 + A. Cole Campbell v Gio Reyna (Injury Prone) v Kevin Paredes (Injury Prone) v Malik Tillman v Brenden Aaronson v Paxten Aaronson v Cade Cowell v Alex Zendejas Reserve/Monitor: Taylor Booth v Ben Cremaschi v Brian Gutierrez v Diego Luna v Djordje Mihailovic v Griffin Yow v Quinn Sullivan v Cavan Sullivan v Mathis Albert v Caden Clark v Nimfasha Berchimas v Niko Tsakiris v Austyn Jones v Bryce Jamison **Dual Game Changer: Luca Koleosho (still not a lock) My picks: Pulisic, Weah, Campbell, Reyna, Musah FORWARDS: 1-2 + A. Ricardo Pepi v Folarin Balogun (Injured) v Brandon Vazquez v Haji Wright v Josh Sargent (Injured) Reserve: Jordan Pefok v Damion Downs (dual) v Jesus Ferreira v Duncan McGuire v Kahveh Zahiroslalem v Jordan Morris v Logan Farrington v Patrick Agyemang Monitor: Julian Hall v Keyrol Figueroa v Alex Staff v Marcos Zambrano v Aidan Dausch v Jykese Fields v Dino Klapija v Joel Imasuen My picks: Pepi, Balogun Finally, my +3 picks: Wright (cover at FW and wing), Paredes (cover at wing and fullback), Maloney (cover at DM and CB)
I would like to see Bryan Reynolds get another look. He's been playing well in Belgium and has looked good when called upon for the US in past. He's more of a RB obviously but I don't see that (and carrying no true backup LB) as a dealbreaker given Dest and Scally can both play on the left if ARob is unavailable. Looks like most of us are projecting Paredes on the team as well who can also cover LB if needed.
I agree that Reynolds is worth a look. There is no offense from Scally at RB when Dest is out. But at least based on what he did this window, I bet, like you said, that Pochettino just assumes between Scally, Dest, and maybe Musah/Weah at RB, that he has enough cover at outside back without bringing 4 true outside backs. If nobody like Tolkin, Fossey, Reynolds, Wiley, etc. really make their case...
Possible--I'd caveat that this was only a 2 game window (and against Jamaica), he may not be as inclined to gamble with FB depth for a full tournament.
GK's Turner, Kochen, Schulte FB Scally/Dest Jedi/Nene?(Wiley) CB Richards/Mckenzie/Chase?Trusty(CCV) CM Weston/Tessman/Adams/Cardoso/Busio/Maloney'cover at CB also' Attackers Reyna/Pulisic/Weah/Musah/Balo/Pepi/Cambell/Sargent I have 28 the ones with a ? make I hope will flip. If they don't flip a replacement is in ()
I have a hard time imagining a world in which Tillman doesn't make that squad. After seemingly unlocking more of Musah, I suspect Tillman is Pochettino's next project. I'm projecting here, but I bet we see a turning of the corner there............................ There are going to be late surges from young players. I just don't know if there will be enough time. There's a lot of that squad that's established and "in its prime" for 2026. Campbell is an interesting one and I'm OK with folks picking him. But he needs to start impacting first team games somewhere. Currently zero goals and zero assists as a first team professional. I hope Dortmund loans him out in January. I dont' know if they will, because he's still making their gameday rosters. The bar isn't low if people are going to pick him over guys like Tillman and Brenden Aaronson. For all we know, Aaronson will be starting for Leeds in the Premier League next season. With Campbell charging, you don't hear as much about Koleosho anymore......................... The "cap him now" brigade has moved on to others. [It's why I don't get too high or low about dual-nationals. There are always others.] As far the dual-nationals go, Brown is a difficult one. He's seemingly on track for the 2025 Euro U21s with Germany. And if he plays with Germany thru next spring/summer instead of the USMNT, then his chances of being on the USMNT start to dwindle. Pochettino will work with somebody like Wiley in the meantime, and hopefully one of those guys establishes himself. I suspect Tolkin is moving to Europe in January.
This is not a depth chart. ----------------------------Balogun/Pepi----- -------Weah/Wright----Tillman/Reyna----Pulisic/Musah -------------Adams/Johnny---McKennie/Tessmann--- --Jedi/Brown--------------------------------------------Dest/Roldan --------------Richards/Trusty------Chase/Robinson---- -------------------------Kochen/Schulte/Turner--- Paredes, Paxten, Sargent Paredes's injury situation is concerting. Paxten has been rapidly leveling up
I think you’ve got this pretty spot on. I’ll be surprised if we ever see Roldan on the team again, though. Do you see Poch inviting him back?
Were going to have to think about what we're going to do about Mathis Albert and Germany sniffing around the tent.
If Mathis Albert or Cavan Sullivan or any of that cohort of U17s are worthy of inclusion, then we'll consider them. They're not particularly close, for the moment anyway. They've barely broken into our U17 program. [Albert isn't even eligible to play in the Bundesliga for another 6 months.] I'd think the group of U20s, that aren't in Individual's depth chart above either, are more likely to win a spot. Cole Campbell, Noahkai Banks, and those guys. As per the Roldan discussion, its going to be very interesting to see what Pochettino does for January. It'll be interesting to see how a coach with fresh eyes evaluates the domestic pool. If a person was flashed with one of those Men in Black memory eraser doohickeys, and then watched this MLS season, they'd likely think Roldan is worthy of inclusion. People have built up some bizarre dislike of Roldan. He had the audacity to accept callups from Berhalter. Roldan is 29 years old and one of the best domestic players in MLS. Also really provides positional versatility, which I think was a big reason Berhalter included him on the back end of his bench as well. But I'd also be happy if Pochettino turned January camp into more of a U23 camp with just a few veteran leaders involved. We'll see.......................
I wouldn’t be radically opposed to Roldan at right back for January Camp alone due to the fact that there is a complete absence of legitimate promising right backs in the league. His competition is against old hats in Yedlin, Moore, Lennon, and maybe Jones.
I have no hunches. But more options are needed at right back. It could be Harriel. Maybe Reynolds. McKennie. Perhaps Roldan.
I am somewhat neutral on whether Roldan will be called in. It wouldn't surprise me either way. That being said, I would be very interested in seeing Roldan under Poch. Rightly or wrongly, there was always a double standard with Roldan. For some posters, when one of the consensus better players based in Europe played poorly under Berhalter, it was always Berhalter's fault, but with Roldan, if he played poorly he was just crap. Maybe he is, but he does have a pretty good record in a 2nd tier league which isn't too much different than a guy like LDLT who never received the same level of hate as Roldan. (for those of you that say LDLT plays in La Liga...I will say yes, but in 21-22, he was on a relegation team in Eredivisie and, just like Roldan, was an unused sub in WC). Interestingly enough, imo, Transfermarkt has LDLT at $3M and Roldan at $4M. I don't put much stock in transfermarkt, so take that for what it's worth. Am I saying Rodan is a good player deserving of a spot on the national team? No. I don't actually know or have an opinion on that. I do believe pretty strongly that there was a double standard applied to him. It's actually pretty normal and understandable, but that doesn't change the fact that there was a double standard with Roldan.
Almost started making arguments about certain players. No need. Lets keep it simple. Roldan blows. Roldan has blown for the USMT. Let it go.
FTR: I'm more than happy to consider Mathis Albert and Cavan Sullivan and Berchimas for 25 and 26 and maybe 24, even as passengers, if it keeps them in the fold. It doesn't seem like there is a huge risk with Sullivan. I don't know about Berchimas.
Leaving out the uncommitted duals... not a depth chart ---------------------------Pepi/Balogun----- -------Weah/Wright---Pulisic/Reyna----Musah/Paredes -------------Adams/Johnny----Tillman/Paxten- -Jedi/Scally---------------------------------------Dest/McKennie ------------Trusty/McKenzie----Richards/Miles---- ---------------------Turner/Schulte/Kochen--- Paxten and Tillman will take over the 8 position. Of course, Johnny and Adams could also play together. McKennie could start on the right with Dest as primary back to both fullback positions. At fullback, there's plenty of flexibility in terms of options and tactics.
Appreciate the willingness to creatively move guys around. I suspect Poch will realize he needs to do even more... and I believe he has the ability to help these players make these transitions as I believe he is a guy who can see these types of "projects", believes he can implement that vision, and can actually execute. The level of the CBs top to bottom is well bellow every other field position. I suspect he will find new players, move others into the role, or develop tactics to minimize issue. I dont necessarily believe all that, but think that is what a quality coach would bring. Without optimism that the direction of this program changing, I dont see much point in investing much energy in it.
None of them seem like particular risks in terms of retention. Pochettino doesn't seem like the kind of coach to take passengers. They'll need to earn it. They have the talent to, but there's not a lot of time. Albert can't even play in the Bundesliga for another 6 months. Sullivan would need to have a killer 2025 MLS season. Cuz we see the quality of players these guys would need to displace to get those slots on the back end of the roster. Somebody like Brenden Aaronson, who is having a good year at Leeds. He's not chopped liver. Some of these prospects just aren't going to pan out. Berchimas had a very quiet year. Not as quiet as somebody like Keyrol Figueroa has been in Europe, but quiet. On the MLSNP level he had 6 goals and 0 assists. Still very young. He just seems like he's pretty far away from even an MLS level right now. He's probaly two seasons away from a real MLS opportunity. [Keyrol Figueroa is one I predict for the 'ole vanishing act.]