Post-match: USA v. Australia [R] - October 14, 2025 - International Friendly

I can’t decide if Roldan is having a Ream type of late career renaissance or if maybe he was always this good but he’s spent his career playing too far up the pitch in attacking roles for us or Europe to notice.

Gotta feel like plenty of teams overseas could use a CM like he’s been playing.

 

I don't mind him on the team. he has been good this camp.

 

The most folks are arguing is he should make the 26-man roster. It seems you're the one being a 'prisoner'.

 

I don't have an issue. What's your issue? I think you just want to argue, simply because I don't want people to overhype Roldan after one good friendly.

 

Literally look at the post above this one.

 

I think at some point, especially as we get closer and closer to the World Cup, we at some point have to stop looking at potential, and ask whose actually taking advantage of their opportunity. In 2 windows now Roldan has improved the play of the USMNT when he's on the field... and I honestly do think just having him in camp probably has made the US better. Sounds like he brings a level of professionalism that has been inconsistent at best and nonexistent at worst for much of the cycle. IMO he's earned the chance to be in camp until he plays himself off the roster.

Like I'm not going to say Roldan is more talented than Musah, Johnny or any of the CMs that were in camp, but gotta look at team success.

 

Where was the hype coming from? Your imagination?

 

Good: haji, roldan, mckennie, (morris and aaronson as subs

mid: weah, mckenzie, almost richards, freese (tessman)

Bad/below par: sands, robinson, freeman, luna

no rating for balo.

 

I was at the game with midfield seats and I was so impressed with Luna. So clean on the ball. A high tempo metronome. Should have had a goal. I was neutral on him but he turned me into a fan tonight.

I have no idea what some of you were watching saying Luna was poor.

 

The biggest loser is Sands, that might have been his only chance to show that he belongs, and he didn't even made your list.

 

Discourse around Luna is starkly different if he found the back of the net on that interplay with Aaronson (great ball by him to start that action too)

 

Sands was such a liability on the ball.

 

Except in the Cobi Jones role of Human Target.

 

I’ll echo that McKennie was very good. He’s such a quick thinker in midfield, and I think we underestimate his range of passing sometimes.

 

Sports Illustrated had it .99 (USA) to .75 (AUS) in terms of xG

 

I am somewhat shocked people are so down on Freeman's performance. Not saying he was a standout but I thought he provided a lot of space and verticality in the attack just wasn't involved. A shaky moment here and there defensively, but I didn't think he was bad. Nothing that made me think he should be dropped.

Didn't think Sands really did anything to move ahead of competition. Wouldn't be against giving him another look, but thought he was a bit to slow and conservative.

Miles I thought was very bad when he got isolated in space defensively. Think his recovery speed, and aerial ability shouldn't be scoffed at, but I also think November may be another trial for someone.

Speaking off, think CCV may be out of the running. or at the very least is viewed WAY behind Miles and McKenzie (and probably a healthy Blackmon) for that 3rd CB spot

 

Pochettino says Pulisic hurt a hamstring and will be evaluated in Italy. Tillman missed the match with a hamstring issue.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 15, 2025

Goff: Poch says Pulisic has a hamstring.

 

Fortunately those weaklings didn't have their equivalent of Rafa Marquez on the field.

 

Ouch, dammit...

 

Agreed. I thought he did quite well. When he came in he looked to take control of the game, which is what he does. We started playing more up-tempo and generating more chances. Not that he's better than Pulisic or anything but he's different, and gave us something we needed in this game.

My only negative was that he seemed to disappear for a while in the 2nd half, and then came back to life and helped generate a few chances on give and goes and had two shots in succession, one a box crash that is a goal more times than not. That was more bad luck than anything - keeper got a block on it. The other one was a bit of a shank. I guess some people are reacting to that.

 

Ha, US fans in the minority against a country of, like, a smaller population than Tampa Bay itself. Don't doubt it, but still so bizarre nonetheless

 

There aren't many Uruguayans in the US.

 

Going with my own, untainted takes without reading the thread, so apologies if the things I say have been said before.

MOTM: Wright. Right foot. Left foot.

Deputy MOTM. Roldan. Two beautiful assists. Loses some points for being involved in that ballwatching clustercufk.

Really good: McKennie, Pulisic (before the injury).

Perfectly fine but not terribly impactful or not much to do: Freese, McKenzie, Robinson, Freeman, Weah.

OK-ish but not their best: Richards, Sands.

Both guys involved in the ballwatching fiasco. Sands not as at fault as Richards, who also gave away a silly FK in a dangerous spot and had to take a yellow after getting horribly nutmegged.

Two subpar games in a row from Richards by his standards. I'll reiterate, I like him better at RCB than in the middle. But our other options are limited. I did like him standing up for our guys after the Aussies reckless play.

I thought Luna did a generally good job but certainly could have finished better.

Balogun was quiet after coming on for Wright. Which was odd because I thought Aaronson the other subs did more to exploit the space late. Tessman found Morris for what should have been a late goal, and Aaronson was involved in a couple really nice sequences, and was better at AM than WB. Arfsten was fine.

But Wright and Roldan helped themselves the most tonight. Then probably Aaronson. If McKennie needed a boost, he also should get one. He looks as fit as I've ever seen him. No CM minutes though, where I think he has to play if he's gonna start with Puli & Tillman healthy.