Pre-match: US v Ecuador, Oct 10 2025

Minutes do matter simply because every guy on your roster needs to be able to go 90. If a guy isn’t even regularly getting 60 minutes, most coaches aren’t going to be able to plan to use that player in a tournament.

 

His window may be almost shut.

 

Wes and Dest were both around 60-70 minutes fit in '22, yet both were taken to the tournament and ended up being highly influential for us. We do not have a deep enough player pool to disregard key players just because they might not be 90 minutes fit. I'm not saying we have to completely disregard fitness (like Bruce did in '06) but when you have players like Dest, Wes, and yes, Gio, who can offer things that no other player offers, you have to take that risk in some circumstances. The 26 player squad gives you even more leeway than before.

 

Sometimes reasoning is futile, but …

Adams made the squad this cycle less than 90’ fit, and we worked around his minutes/mileage limits. Yes, that wasn’t a World Cup.

If you don’t like Reyna (as an example), try Pulisic. Injured in April, recovering in May, not yet 100% in June, I’m including him on the WC roster even if all I think he can deliver is some extra time minutes and a winning PK.

And yes, of course there are limits imposed by injuries/fitness. Some players inevitably have to be completely ruled out.

Where I agree with Reyna’s nemesis is that Reyna needs to show Poch that he (Reyna) is worthy of inclusion - now, not years ago. If the door hasn’t already closed, it’s closing. Reyna needs to get on the field, play, and play well.

 

If a player is not regularly getting 60-75 minutes, there’s no reason to include him. A guy can’t jog around and not contribute defensively in the modern game.

Reyna’s problem is that he’s not going to be getting regular club minutes and will not have the kind of fitness necessary to integrate with the USMNT, which he has essentially been out of for the whole span of the current coach.

 

Plenty of players who do not play 90 regularly for their club CAN play 90 just fine. We see it all the time.

 

Agree that plenty of guys who are reserve players can go 90. Gio hasn't demonstrated he is one of them.

 

Agree. Just saying that the idea that he couldn't possibly be able to go 90 because he's been moved to the bench is an incorrect assumption.

 

I didn’t say 90, I said 60-75.

A guy who doesn’t get 60-75 minutes with regularity is not going to be brought into a tournament.

 

I hate to say this, but with a player Banks' age, calling him up is asking for an injury. If he makes the WC roster, it will be because he makes it last minute.

 

What do we want to see from this camp?

The commentary from last camp was that the time for experimentation was over, but I do think there's still a bit left to be done.

Stuff we learn about Poch's plans:

1. Are there really players who are exiled due to effort or the commentary about playing time actually going to be applied? The only guy I really care a ton about is Weston, who potentially could fall into both camps.
2. How committed is he to the two attacking fullback and three at the back. Jedi is likely to be back (he played last weekend) and we could have a more complete complement of CMs.
3. Where's Tillman going to play and particularly vis-a-vis Weah? Is Tillman the other playmaking winger and Weah on the bench?

Stuff we can learn about the players:

1. I think a lot of folks are interested to see Scally in a back three, but I'm far more interested in seeing McKenzie. I don't really like many of the proposed back threes because they are poor in the air. McKenzie isn't great in the air, but he's better than all the alternatives.
2. Tessman should get his shot and I'm curious to see whether Poch adapts a bit to him or whether he's asked to fit his game to us, and whether he can do it. Even if McKennie is in, I hope Tessman gets a decent chunk of time.
3. I don't know that we have a lot to learn with Pepi, but it'll be nice to see him back.

 

Interested in what happens with Tessmann.

 

I would bet his on the roster.

 

Tessmann should get at least one start, given his performances at club and international level.

 

Using should as 'I think he will' or 'because he deserves to?'

 

Gio plays less than 90 minutes total between 2 matches and is already injured. I wouldn't have him anywhere near a roster until he can show 60-70 minutes in a long stretch of games. Like at least a half dozen. Sheesh is that asking too much? LOL

 

Cardoso was not on the bench today and still out injured so almost certainly out for this camp.

 

You can’t plan like that though.

Every player you start needs to be penciled in for 90 minutes.

The game typically dictates subs. Putting a guy on the field who cannot go 90 is a huge liability.

 

Word from last week was Atleti didn't expect him back till after International break

 

For all the (deserved) discussion that Tessmann is getting for another chance, we may need to add Aaronson as well.

Cementing himself for a (currently) lower mid-table EPL side starter is a pretty decent accomplishment and you gotta think he'd add value protecting a lead or when we wanna play defensive either on the wing or in one of the attacking mid roles if we play three in the back.

 

Dest also out today with injury but unclear if it will keep him out or not.

 

Unclear how serious but left the game early today with a hamstring injury.

 

I saw. If it's bad, he may be out of the World Cup.

The best thing we could do for the senior team is somehow get these guys to stretch properly or something.