Pre-match: US v Turkey, June 7 2025 (Friendly)

Pochettino confirms Antonee Robinson has seen specialists for his tendon injury in recent weeks, and they still don't know what it is, but they decided together with Fulham to rest him for the summer. He's apparently not trained much over the past few months.#USMNT #FFC

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) May 22, 2025

Jedi has an issue with an injury and apparently hasn’t trained much the last few months.

 

Scally sounds like they are looking for more of a different profile at outside back.

Pochettino was asked about Scally and a couple of other players whose absences he didn't explain. He goes on to talk about profile of outside backs he is looking at ... attacking-minded.

— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) May 22, 2025

My own view is his best fit with the national team is as the right center back in a 3 ATB system.

 

We'd been talking about how Scally doesn't fit Poch's typically fullback profile for some time.

.........................think about the profile of his fullbacks at Southampton, Spurs, Chelsea, etc.

He did something different at PSG. But that's because he had Messi, Neyman, and Mbappe in attack. Didn't need the fullbacks all the time for that.

This doesn't mean Scally is excommunicated. Looking at others is fine.

If we're going B team, might as well go B team.

We talk about the guys who played a lot of minutes this Euro club season, and don't mention Scally. For club and country, north of 3000 minutes.

 

Glad to see DeJuan Jones, shocked to not see Paxten Aaronson after his stellar season in the Eridivisie playing as a #8 in a double pivot. 8G 4A, 3.5T 1.1I.

The fact that Ream keeps getting called given his very poor play in MLS is just weird. I might just have to join the club of posters who claim that Poch is not engaged in watching the pool!

 

Who didn't think Ream would be on the roster? He's been Poch's captain in 6 of the 8 games of the Poch tenure. [Which is every game Ream has played in. He didn't play against Venezuela or Canada.]

We don't have this leadership council thing any longer it seems. Ream is the captain.

We have Miles, Richards, and McKenzie on the roster as well. And Zawadski has also played CB (and has for the USMNT if I remember correctly.) He's not one we expected, but a guy who is playing well for Columbus. And can cover both CB and DM.

Poch's team did some scouting for this one. There are some surprises. If they were just using the USSF/USMNT rolodex, they probably wouldn't have picked these guys. And most of these guys are ones we've been talking about as having good seasons.

 

I do wonder if Zendejas will get added to the roster of Club America don’t qualify for the CWC. Four strikers plus Wright is a lot and we are generally short on wingers for the camp roster.

 

Does anyone know what happened to Aidan Morris?

 

I have never in my life seen a bigger group of wusses in soccer than this bunch of USMNT pansies.

 

Another notable comment at the presser

Poch is roasting some players in this presser:

"If you come here to play golf, to have dinner, to see your friends...no. This is not the culture we want to create."

Strong words, but he doesn't exactly give the vibe like he cares much either.

— 11 Yanks (@11Yanks) May 22, 2025

Though I’m not sure who has been left off for this reason given the absences.

 

Last time players were called up, and they didn’t care and didn’t perform. Everyone called a change.
Now you have the changes, then people got mad for some players not being called up. LOL.

 

Cardoso would be the obvious choice.

I'm not a huge Zawadzki fan and doubt he gets much PT.

 

Quick, search social media accounts for golfing and nice dinners.

 

Message is nice, but rings hollow when it’s coming from Poch with what he’s done. Seems a tad hypocritical.

 

He should name them and shame them. Especially if they are influential players.

Some of these guys think they are entitled.

If I’m Pochettino. I leave the buddy crew off of rosters until they show that they want it and are committed. If May 2026 rolls around and a guy hasn’t been digging in and committed for 6 months, he’s not getting a call from me. I don’t care who you are. I’d rather lose with players who fight and may exceed expectations than get my reputation sullied by players who don’t give a crap about anyone’s reputation except for their own reputation in Europe.

 

100%
Pepi is out with injury, but Balogun returns from injury. Check!
Luna gets the call but Zendejas is left off. Two dudes that show some grit and guts. Ok Poch.
Then Busio, Sargent and Vasquez are dropped as well.
And here I thought I knew Argentine coaches.

 

I think it’s more who is he calling out when he says that. Weah, McKennie, and Gio aren’t here cause of the CWC. Pulisic and Jedi are getting rested and are two of our best players. Musah asked out for personal reasons.

Is it really Sargent, Scally, and Tessmann who are spending too much time golfing and having dinner and not taking things seriously?

If this is actually the case who is being left off the roster in response is my question.

 

I do think Freeman is the most exciting pick on the roster. He’s arguably been the best right back in MLS this year and if he continues on his current trajectory I don’t know if he’ll be in MLS much longer.

 

He was an odd pick for me compared to some of the alternative options.

 

Jedi also plays hard when he shows up.

 

It's weird to observe all the hyperventilating from grown adults over all this.

This entire cycle has been a shitshow and we have numerous key players who have been dealing with significant injuries or fitness concerns. Compound it with a serious lack of depth and talent coming up.

Some act surprised. Where have you been.

 

I would take Zim any day over Miles or Zawadski.

Pax is a mystery.

Gutierrez .... is that Chicago continuing to impede his national program progress?

 

I mean, I think the over-reaction has gone over-the-top.
I don't know what some people are talking about.

We know the players left off due to CWC commitments.
We know the group of players left off due to injury.
We talked about how a couple of guys like Pulisic had been overworked and may need a break. That's the reason guys typically don't play in the Nations League and Gold Cup.
We know a couple of guys have been left off due to performance. I can't remember people on this board gushing about how great the performances of Scally and Sargent have been.

What do you want? Ya'll demanded change? You get a roster that's all change, and some say "this is a terrible roster! What is Poch doing?" He's doing exactly what ya'll asked for. He's laying down the law.

Poch is the most accomplished coach we've ever had for the USMNT. Accountability has been a trademark of his as a club coach. Don't perform? We'll give somebody else a chance. That process is starting. Poch had to actually know the pool before he could really make those changes.

We've gotten a big group of the young players we wanted to see. If we can just think of one or two that aren't there, then its a pretty good group. I'd have the other Aaronson brother and maybe Banks. But Banks was dealing with an injury down the stretch.

 

I’m not sure if it’s why he missed out but Zimmerman has been out with injury.

As for Gutierrez this is not a call up Chicago could deny.

 

This is no surprise to me. Tendinopathy can take a long time to get behind you. Wouldn't be surprised if he continues to struggle with it next season. Hope not.

 

Not that long ago we "won the event" at the 2021 Gold Cup against Mexico's A-team with the only high level players being Matt Turner, Miles Robinson, and maybe arguably Kellyn Acosta?