All that experimentation, all the nonsense, and the roster is more or less what you'd expect, plus or minus a couple guys. Literally a wasted year, and all just so Diego Luna, Max Arfsten, and Alex Freeman can sit on the bench. Insane.
Poch is very much a guy who thinks hes a goalkeeper whisper. He is also trying to play a type of ball similar to the crew's system with the aggression sliders turned down. Feel thats why he wanted max, sean, and schulte for the gold cup. Aidan and Tessmann also play and are frankly mastering similar systems for Boro and lyon
Taha started as a false 9 again. They beat Italy 3-0. We are in the Quarters for the 5th straight cycle. We face Morocco. The senior team plays an injured Ecuadorian team tonight at 8:30 in QuesoLand. Pulisic and Jedi are unlikely to play.
Taha did his best coming in off the bench, but u20s lose to Morocco. The maybe 3rd string keeper had a howler or 2
The U-17 team starts their World Cup before we know it. All games on FS2: 11/5 at 10:15am vs Burkina Faso 11/8 at 9:45am vs Tajikistan 11/11 at 9:45am vs Czechia Chase Adams is on the roster.
Chase Adams starts on the bench. Cavan also on the bench but he got to camp late. NYRB wonder kid Julian Hall starts at striker, flanked by Dortmund wonder kid Mathis Albert.
Cavan scored off the bench and the USA win. They survived a coach's challenge for a red card too. Yes they have that now
The roster will be out around 11, but it sounds like Poch doesnt care about the MLS playoffs and in a WC year, I understand, especially when a ton of our A team players are banged up (most of those due to the October camp . . .) Tac is saying Zawadzki is called up. I imagine Arfsten, Morris, and Schulte will be too with Brady injured
Everyone associated with the state of ohio was called up. Aidan, Schulte, Zawadzki, Arfsten, Miles, and Roman, Gio, Klinsmann, and Berhalter all called up too Excitement for the whole fam Wes the only health omission. Hes been playing the best he has ever played and is the fittest hes ever been. Maybe because a new manager
Yep. There is a break. Hopefully we'll be sweating fitness for our guys in round 2. Though I guess guys on teams still alive could withdraw.
How many national teams have ever had three guys on the same roster who's dads either played/coached the national team? That list has got to be pretty short. I think you are probably right about Wes. Poch probably let him stay in Turin to have more time with their new manager. I think he already knows what he has with Wes and would like to see a bit more from some other guys. It seems like Freese is likely viewed as the first choice right now. Turner might be the backup. So Poch brought in the starter and a bunch of guys jostling for the 3rd spot.
As usual, we disagree strongly. We likely have changed our primary shape from 4231 to 343/3421. I think to our benefit. Playing with wingbacks is much better for Jedi, Dest, & Arfsten as there are still 3 guys back when they get caught forward, which is the strongest part of their games, especially Dest & Max. Further, our CBs and GKs are not fantastic. Playing with 3 CBs gives those guys more help, and hopefully reduces clear chances and crosses that the GKs have to deal with. It also helps up the pitch. Pulisic is our only real threatening winger type AND our best goal scorer. But isn't a real #10. And we don'tcreally have a tru #10 either. Maybe Reyna or Luna? Nor are we stocked with CFs. Butcwe do have a pretty decent stable of DM/CM and CM/AM types: Adams, McKennie, Tillman, Zendejas, Luna, Reyna, etc. The 343 plays to our strengths (attacking FB/WB types and tweener CM/AMs) and helps mask our weaknesses (CB, winger, and to a lesser extent, GK & CF). We have looked a lot better sonce the switch. We found a # GK (Freese). 2/3rds ofcthe preferred CB trio (Richards & Ream) with McKenzie & Robinson looking like 3rd & 4th. Itclooks like we have ID'd our reserve WBs in Arfsten & Freeman, and Freeman can play some RCB. With Weah & Scally still in the mix, and Scally at RCB is also an option. Tillman has blossomed, McKennie is in shape, Adams is healthy and in form for Bournmouth who are top 6. Tessman playing well for Lyon, Morris for Boro, Roldan in Seattle, Berhalter for Vancouver. Musah & Cardoso still in picture,,and Gio back. Balogun, Pepi, & Wright in good form. And Pulisic off the charts. I think the top 12 or so are pretty much in ink: Pulisic, Jedi, Adams, Richards, Tillman, McKennie, Balogun, Dest, Ream, Freese, Weah, & Pepi. And some guys pretty secure after that: McKenzie, Robinson, Arfsten, Freeman. That's 16. Turner, Tessman, Roldan, & Luna look good right now as well. That's 20. So, 6 to 10 more, depending on squad size. That's who we are looking at atm.
Scally actually played a right wing MF vs St. Pauli last week and had a good game. He hit the post and Gladbach was playing a 3-4-2-1. His defense had been critiqued a bit in the German press recently. Moving him up seemed to work. Reyna came off the bench and had a secondary assist (which the Bundesliga does not count).
Chase Adams scored. They are up 2-1 now. Tajikistan scored in 3' when our cb decided to give the ball to them Well google is wrong apparently nvm