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

Yeah I mean he can switch at any point. Plus it’s a huge jump from Germany U21s to the full German national team. And he’ll likely hit full USMNT level before he ever gets to the Germany level.

 

How about "good at coaching the USMNT" specifically?
As opposed to say Tottenham over half a decade ago?

 

I’ve said all along I want to see where the team is after the Gold Cup. Which is the first sustained period he’s going to have with the group.

He also hasn’t been on the job for long so there was always going to be an adjustment period from club to international soccer.

More broadly USSF has invested too much into this hire that there’s no chance he’s getting let go before the World Cup.

If we crash and burn in 26 the next coach is probably Pat Noonan. If Pochettino does a good job we’ll probably see more of a worldwide search.

 

That question wasn't directed at you, and in any case you didn't answer it!

 

I think it’s too soon to tell if he’s good at coaching the USMNT yet.

 

If that's the provisional roster, I don't really see much to get wound up about.

Maybe the staff sees some tools in Max Dietz they really like.
Yes, he plays for a team that barely avoided relegation to Bund2.
Antonee Robinson was on teams relegated from the English Championship. TWICE. Bolton and Wigan. And not when he was a 17 year old prospect, either. When he was 22.

I would have had Banks on there instead of Dietz. But whatever. I think Banks will be with the U20s.

Cole Campbell may be with them too, but I think he's out injured. Probably not back in time.

 

https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb...38ecccbe73b6/25_GC_Preliminary_Rosters.01.pdf

Provisional rosters here. At first glance looks to be the same as the one that leaked.

 

Looking it over, I don't see any players of interest on other nations' rosters.

Ledezma on our roster and not on Mexico's........................
What does that mean? Maybe something. Maybe nothing.

Its actually surprising how few MLS players there are on these rosters. As the league is expanding and expanding, you'd think there would be more Hondurans, Costa Ricans, Panamanians, etc.

Most columns I've seen so far on the provisional roster just comment on the guys missing due to injury/CWC.

Not many absences that ruffle too many feathers.
Particularly if it was pre-determined with the players who would go to the U20 camp.
Banks was on the Nations League preliminary list and not this one...........................

It is good to see that the younger players with strong starts to the MLS season have made the provisional roster at least (Freeman, Sullivan, Berhalter, etc.). Damion Downs did indeed make this provisional roster as well. Good sign there. Whether they make the final roster is another question. And maybe a few can be called up to Turkey/Switzerland without being on the Gold Cup roster.

 

Best Middle Names competition:

Shaan
Jolaoluwa
Lucas de Souza
Somto Ukachi
Lytelle
Mijael
Zen Patrick
Krippendorff
Levi-Jesaiah
McDorman
Dwain

How many can you match to the player without peeking?

 

Larry Henry did have a tweet that seems to allude to Gio's lack of playing time being a contributing factor but Poch said back during NL Gio wouldn't be with the group

 

Musah was a locked in starter for Conceicao until he had a disaster game in April vs Fiorentina where he was subbed out in the 23rd minute. He did have 3 straight DNPs in the league and didn't play in the Copa final but in his last 3 league games he has 123 minutes of playing time. Gio in comparison has been an unused sub in 8 of his last 10 league matches and has played a total of 20 league minutes in that time frame

So... yeah there's a difference and I say this as someone who thinks Musah should not be with the Gold Cup team based on his form

 

I still think there’s some sort of physical issue with Gio which prevents him from pushing himself in training the way a coach would like to see.

 

With Musah I feel like hard to justify him not being there if McKennie and Weah aren’t going to be.

 

Plays a lot of minutes in a top league but doesn’t perform and likely will take a step down next season.

 

Musah and Scally likely make the roster but I would be surprised if they went with another option that plays in a weaker league but performing much better. Alex Freeman is an intriguing option.

 

It's quite possible. I do think some quotes from Poch from the NL im hindsight are clearly those of disappointment in regards to Gio in training

 

I think it’s likely Scally is there but I’d like to see Freeman on the roster as a 5th fullback given the 26 man roster (in addition to Dest, Jedi, Scally, and one of Tolkin or Wiley).

 

Until Gio is sold/loaned out, he's a Dortmund player.

A Dortmund player that's been in the matchday squad for every game since Thanksgiving.
He's not playing a lot, but he's been in the team. He played in 9 out of their last 10 Champions League games. That includes both of their quarterfinal matches against Barcelona last month.

Will he be sold/loaned out before the CWC?
Maybe. Maybe not. We don't know. But for the moment he's a Dortmund player, and they have games to play. Its 100% understandable that he's not on this roster for the same reason McKennie, Weah, etc. aren't.

Everybody would have predicted Musah was going to be on the provisional roster.
Whether he makes the Gold Cup roster, and what his role will be if he does make it...............is another conversation entirely.