If Varas is coordinating with Pochettino, that makes a difference. And I agree it's not about drilling a system with the old guard. But I do believe there is significant value in him making the calls, running the training and meetings and making the in-game adjustments. Plus he has no international experience, so his own time getting a feel for how this works would be an important step up the learning curve that is now being wasted on Varas. Just seems like if would have been important enough to the USSF to have a new coach in place for these friendlies that they'd make it happen. Maybe Klopp would be worth not getting that timing right. Not sure about CMP.
Who I’d call as of now GK: Turner, Schulte, Freese RB: Scally, Reynolds LB: Jedi, Tolkin CB: Ream, Zimmerman, Richards, Robinson DM: Cardoso, Tessmann CM: Reyna, Tillman, McKennie, Musah WF: Pulisic, Weah, Parades, Wright, Aaronson FW: Balogun, Sargent, Pepi McKenzie and Wiley being left off to settle in with their new clubs and I hope we can say that about Turner soon as well. Would drop Tessmann if he makes a move to a new club also (and replace him with Morris). Weah also came off injured today so something to track in terms of his availability.
CF: Balogun, Pepi, Sargent W: Pulisic, Weah, Paredes, Wright, Luna AM: Gio, BAaronson, Gutierrez DM: Wes, Musah, Cardoso, A-Mo, Sands LB: ARob, Tolkin RB: Scally, Jones CB: Miles, Richards, Zimm, McKenzie, Maloney GK: Schulte, Freese, Turner (give him a half v. NZ) 28 players
26 guys GK: Turner, Freese, Schulte RB: Scally, Reynolds LB: Jedi, Wiley CB: Zimmerman, Richards, Robinson, McKenzie DM: Cardoso, Tessmann, Maloney CM: Reyna, Tillman, McKennie, Musah WF: Pulisic, Weah, Wright, Parades, Aaronson FW: Balogun, Sargent, Pepi Sorry but we can't be wasting caps on Ream with like 9 international breaks between now and the World Cup... Zimmerman becomes the new veteran CB.
I don’t think I’d call in Turner Jedi Richards Tessman McKennie Musah Reyna Weah Aaronson Balagon from the standard list. I agree that would make for an interesting roster, but this friendly seems so worthless to me without a new manager. Let guys get established at club.
Latest reporting from Fox is that Poch could be there after all, although in either case Varas has already selected the provisional roster we're speculating about... Multiple reports indicated that U.S. under-20 men’s coach Mikey Varas will lead the senior team in that game, even if Pochettino is in place by then. But multiple sources told FOX Sports that it remains possible that Pochettino could be on the sideline for the Canada exhibition and another against New Zealand a few days later in Cincinnati, Ohio. Varas has already selected the provisional roster sent to clubs to inform them that their players are being considered for September’s international window.
this window is completely meaningless, and almost no thought should be wasted on it. we have 16 players who are already established with both their club teams and are fully integrated into the nt (familiar with each other and the level of these games): rb scally cb richards cb robinson cb zimmerman cb carter-vickers lb robinson cm cardoso cm mckennie cm musah cm tillman rw weah rw aaronson st balogun st sargent lw pulisic lw wright keepers, a couple of fbs and cms are all thats left. i know this is a message board and we are going to dissect whatever, but this isnt an "opportunity" for anything, from varas' ideas to bringing in a few new faces. so lets say turner, gaga (who has been in camps and if not for the copa/olympics overlap would have been in the team already- the same goes for paredes as a 5th winger) and anyone else. "full fed" theory points to schulte, but horvath, johnson, a recognition cap for freese? who cares? whenever we get poch to sign a contract (or hire the increasingly likely fallback option) we are right back to square one so ill repeat- this camp is completely meaningless. in that same vein moore and lund know exactly where on the bench theyre supposed to sit. im fully against the idea of propping up guys club careers via the national team, but since telling canada and new zealand nevermind isnt really an option luca (like turner) can at least work up a sweat until they find somewhere to play- along with reyna, whos role (if any) with dortmund is still unclear. so: gk turner gk slonina gk matt reis' ghost rb scally rb moore cb richards cb robinson cb zimmerman cb carter-vickers lb robinson lb lund cm cardoso cm mckennie cm musah cm tillman cm de la torre cm reyna rw weah rw aaronson rw paredes st balogun st sargent lw pulisic lw wright thats a full, balanced 23 man roster plus one spare winger. as i said, there is no meaningful evaluation to be had here, so theres not really anything to be gained from calling in even tesserman, morris or tolkin (the most likely "next" guys in) in addition to morris at a new club, tesserman in limbo and tolkin possibility moving. run out a stripped down, bj-esque 4-3-3, spread out the minutes, dont get cute or embarrassed, send everyone home fit.
It is a USMNT match and we are playing Canada, one of our rivals in CONCACAF who beat us out for first place in the last qualifying cycle and who advanced to play in the Copa semifinals while we got grouped. Worthless? Meaningless? What has happened to some of our fanbase? Hopefully there are still fans like me who like to actually watch the team play!
we are going to hire a new manager at some point between now and the world cup, so exactly what worth or meaning does this hold for you? whatever tricks varas may have up his sleeve, some guys he think could help up out (or even more goofily any guys we think could really put nz on their heels) wont matter beyond the final whistle. whoever the manager is has to start fresh, and theres no level of unfamiliarity that is going to put these matches on the new managers watch list. of course im going to watch, and care entirely too much, but thats irrelevant. we are going to have the heart of the team regardless, with less club considerations than most sept windows. we shouldnt even need varas for 11 guys to wander out on the pitch and get a couple of wins here. what matters is getting the damn show on the road already. with no manager we are literally just twiddling our thumbs.
Everybody healthy I'd start Adams and Weah but they have fitness issues. I think we need Sarge's hold up play, brenden to set pace and press, Gio and Balo to sub in at the half. I use a known back line so we see the rest of the team more clearly. I'd start newer back line in next fixture. ------------------sarge ----------brenden----puli --arob----musah---johnny--kev --------ream----zim---scally ------------gk: turner
Weah now almost certainly out. I think I’d consider Cowell as his replacement. Or just roll with Pulisic, Aaronson, Wright, and Parades on the wings.
This is also our first match against Canada since we found out they're a bunch of cheaters, and we knew about it, but didn't make it a big deal because we're co-hosting the World Cup. This is also our first match against Canada since Jesse Marsch took over as their coach after saying a bunch of s*** about everyone from the players to the coaches to the federation on the podcast he used to be on. And the first since we got eliminated in the group stage at Copa America while Canada went all the way to the semifinals. (edit: oops I see you mentioned that one) Likely our first game under new coach Poch who will lead us to the World Cup. Never has a meaningless late summer friendly against Canada mattered more!
This is a perfect opportunity to blood some folks who are showing promise. It’s a throwaway window with an interim coach. It’s time to begin to establish a new culture with new blood. That doesn’t mean you write anyone off in the short or long term, but bring in guys who could push for roles. Kevin Paredes Cade Cowell Alex Zendejas Griffin Yow Marlon Fossey Haji Wright Joe Scally John Tolkin (just don’t ask him to score) Nick Tsakiris Lennard Maloney Kristoffer Lund Gianluca Busio Brendan and Paxten Aaronson Etc, etc, etc
Anytime the USMNT plays it matters to me. I don't care who the manager is or frankly even who the players are. Watching the USMNT matters to me. Playing against our regional rival makes it even more intense so I will be watching intently.
I was more interested in a potential Berhalter vs. Marsch matchup but I'll still watch. Probably will have to wait for an MLS game somewhere down the road to see that.
I'd try to to have some guys fly crosscontinent. Especially if they are fighting for PT. And, I'd lean into young guys. Dietz, Miles Robinson, Wiley, Zimmerman, Ledezma, Lund, Scally, Richards Tessman, LDLT, Cardoso, Musah, Tillman, Luna Zendejas, Paredes, Wright, Cowell Sargent, White (call me crazy, but why pull Balo or Pepi for this?) Start -------------------------------------Sargent ----Cowell-------------------------------------------------------------Wright ----------------------------------Luna -----------------Musah ---------------------------------------------Cardoso Lund-----------CB--------------CB------------------------Scally
Oops, I meant to say, I'd try not to have some guys fly intercontinentally. Puli doesn't need to be there. Known quantity fighting for time. Wes doesn't need to be there. Reyna doesn't need to be there. Jedi doesn't need to be there. He's not fighting for time, but we know what he offers, and this would be a great time to start figuring out his backup. Balo is a known quantity, let him stay in France. Pepi is fighting for time. Weah and Adams are injured.
Yea with Weah out Id like to see Cowell fill in there as the nearest like-for-like in the player pool. I like have that verticality/pace/directness in the team.
Parades is also out for the start of season as well it appears. I think I’d like to see Pulisic, Aaronson, Wright, Cowell, and Kolesheo (if he can be talked into coming).
This is doubly shi**y timing for Paredes - misses the 1st chance to impress 2 new managers. Neither of our teams can seem to get this integration going fully. It would be decent timing for Koleosho to commit. It's not for a comp, but it's a honeymoon under a name manager, & the path is largely cleared for him. Pulisic-Wright seems like the logical starting duo. Koleosho can be 3rd. Ideally Brenden would be played thru the middle. But might have to table that for this camp.
Why bring in Aaronson? He's struggling for time at Leeds. If he doesn't get playing time, he shouldn't be on a roster until he is. He's not good enough to be a lock w/o playing at his club. Why not bring in Bassett or Gutierrez?
There’s only been two games and he’s played in both and scored in one. And I think he’s expected to play a lot this year for Leeds with the sales they’ve had to make. Aaronson is also just like a fit for the high pressing system Pochettino will likely run. Barrett seems to be more of an 8 and I think it’s more crowded there in terms of competition. And I view Gutierrez as more of a ten where he’s behind Reyna and Tillman. But I’d also call Luna ahead of Gutierrez just based off MLS play. On the wings Yow would probably be next in my pecking order behind the five I mentioned.
And, Brendan missed a very makeable chance to win the match. Ya, I'd start Luna. And, I'd have Guts ahead of Brendan. Yow works for me, too.