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

Yup.

I wonder if Roldan is going to play for the USMNT for a decade and get to 50 caps before the bulk of the board starts showing him a modicum of respect.

 

My main takeaway from the window is that the team seems to be gelling, finally. Whether it's the three in the back or something else, it doesn't matter. There is at long last at least some hope for this team.

I'd like to see a couple of players that have struggled under the "old" system get one final shot next window. Johnny, Musah , and maybe Scally come to mind. See if they look any better now that the entire team looks a bit better. Then, at some point, Poch needs to start getting reps in for the players he wants to be on the field at the WC.

Someone alluded to this in the game thread, and I'd have to agree, the team kinda looked more dangerous when Puli was not on the pitch this window. Clearly he has to be on the field for us but Christian needs to get it figured out. There has always been a little too much hero ball from him when he plays for the Nats. He is playing at such a high level for club, and he seems to blend so seamlessly into that team, we need to see more of that with the US. Fingers crossed that his injury is minor and that he is back for the Nov. window.

Stock up this window for me

Wes - Dude looked motivated and on point. We all know he has the ability.
Roldan
Wright
Tessmann

I thought Brendo also looked better yesterday than he has in a while.

Stock down

Nobody was brutally bad but I think Sands and Morris did not help their chances. Midfield is terribly crowded on this team. They may not be back anytime soon.

Goalkeeper is still a problem, or at least not a strength. That may be the limiting factor as to how much we can do next summer.

 

Him tieing the total amount of assists he has had in 31 games this season with Seattle in ine night.

 

Every player was lights out in that underlit stadium.

 

I have to ask the question - what in the heck occurred with the anthem? Did their scheduled singer get sick or caught in traffic? Surely that was not who they had planned to sing - it was terrible.

 

There's nothing odd about your take. People being Prisoners of the moment aren't your problem.

Roldan largely stunk, or was sub par for around 36 caps and was clearly not good enough.

He just had 1 good window.

How many players would people immediately put on the plane for a shining window after sucking for more than half a decade? Not many.

I thought he was largely fantastic last night.

I thought he was good in the window.

I'm nearly positive he's on the plane.

I also don't think there's a single thing odd at all about having an issue with it, and people pretending there is something wrong have a lot more to explain than you, the take is ridiculous.

Ever heard of sample size?!?!?

Yes a player can improve, obviously, but if you see 1 flash, among 36 thuds, anyone with sense knows the thuds are probably more reflective of reality than the flash. If you don't know that, it's your problem.

Literally the only reason I'm feeling positive about the guy beyond his current, 1 window of sample size performance is that he's nearly always been good or great in MLS, so maybe under Poch, he's just finally figuring out how to translate it, that is sample size after all right?

But the idea that it's crazy to be a skeptic, is absurd on its face, we have nearly 40 reasons to doubt him, and like 2 to trust him. WTF?!?!?!

 

I find that the ratings services appear to agree with me on him. That he was fine, with a few bright moments, but clearly not as bright as others like Roldan, and Wright etc.

 

Different positions. Different teammates.

 

Kudos to Roldan and Wright

Wes is super fit

Concacrap continues to distinguish themselves with terrible refs - after the Pulisic or Sands take downs one would have thought that the ref would have pulled his head out of his butt - but he didn’t.

I liked how the first 15 minutes after the break every single Aussie field player was taken to the turf … have to send a message …

Jason Geria had multiple yellow card fouls and should have had an aggregate red early in the second half

Tessman looked horrible for his first five touches or so when he came on - then he settled down

Weah was no impact

Puli was no impact

McKenzie got exposed a few times

as always the last 20 minutes the altitude won …

 

It was a dumb take there had been no ground swell of hype around the player.

 

100 percent. He may not be as physically gifted as some of our other players, but his movement and soccer brain are better than most. Ironically, the entire team looked better when he replaced Pulisic.

 

"Different positions. Different teammates."

Still an outlier is an outlier.

 

Not in the sense being implied.

 

You are praising him for two assists. Yes, he had a great game in that department last night. The second assist was a veteran play. But take away the assists you have a bad play that cost us a goal. But the thing is if you are giving him heavy praise for two assits its an extreeme outlier to his normal professional performances.

 

He had a good all-around game. That is all.

2 key passes
47/52 passing
0 dispossessed
5 recoveries
4/4 ground duels
1/1 fouls/fouled

 

I have been a bit slow to come around to Luna, but I thought he was really impactful last night - won/got to first some important balls, clogged things up a bit and seemed to unbalance the Aussie a little (I think they game-planned on how to contain CP.)

And more importantly Poch seems a fan. I think barring some really bad games going forward Luna's a lock on the squad.

 

Brain fart on my behalf, because I know a guy named Alex Robinson.

I meant Robinson and Freeman…

 

I'll admit I was not excited by Roldan's inclusion in camp, but we have to acknowledge reality when a player plays well. He certainly was not alone with his poor defending posture that led to the Aussie goal. He did well in general and we don't score those two goals without his contribution.

 

Here’s my take on last night:

Freese - still hasn’t come up with a save where I’m like “dang that was a goal if he doesn’t miraculously save it”, I’ve had those moments for Turner, Steffen, even Horvath. He’s a solid keeper and his cross defense seems above average. 5/10

Richards - more of an average window for him but I’ll cut him some slack as his past few windows have been great. I would agree I’m not sure if he’s a CCB, or if he should be playing LCB OR RCB. He will clean it up. 5.5/10

Robinson - would be interested to see him use his speed and athleticism at CCB I think. Had a shaky window as others have drawn. Stock down probably. 5/10

McKenzie - didn’t notice him either way tbh. Still hasn’t really put it together with country, as I think he plays solid for club. Would love for him to take over a spot though. 5/10

Weah - love him at WB, so not sure if that means moving Robinson to LCB and making way for Weah at Left or Right WB but I’m for it. Defensively probably needs to be more polished but getting it deep and charging forward or find passes is nice to watch IMO. 6.5/10

Freeman - would agree his 2nd game was worse than the first but i wonder if the way Australia setup did not necessarily suit him. I believe his ceiling is higher than Scally so dont mind the picks here. Showed he could play RCB and the RB/RWB. 5.5/10

Sands - his profile is usually shaky on the ball, so thought he was at least better than normal on the ball. What I thought I would see, is wrecking people on tackles and being more defensive, but maybe that was just the setup as it seemed he and Roldan were rotating 6 to 8. Would love to see him in a back line of 3 more than a MF in this setup. 5/10

Roldan - give the man his dues, okay?? This season in MLS and with the Nats in his opportunities he’s looked much better than he ever has. Playing the dual 8 role seems to fit him much more than any role he’s ever played before with the Nats and he seems comfortable in the back 3 setup. Just missed 2 goals as well. If any player who was playing in a different league or 5 years younger, some of you would be raving. Stop the act. 7.5/10

Pulisic - would agree the offense seemed more stagnant when he was in but not sure that he was the cause for that. Still saw some flashes of brilliances on turns and runs before he went off. Hope it’s something small and he’s back. NA

McKennie - thought he was good Weston for the first time in a while for the Nats. Was good to see. Got the MLS assist on the first goal, and liked his roaming and freedom. 7/10

Wright - strikers are supposed to score goals. He did so. I thought his runs were puzzling a couple times, but he made the right ones when it mattered and converted when he had the opportunities. Very much stock up.

Balogun - starter no doubt right now after this window. Movement is great. Checking back to help others is great. Strong. Isn’t great in the air, but that’s something I can live with with the other things. No rating for this game.

Morris - had good moments and bad moments. Mixed bag, held his own for the most part, had some errant passes, but also found himself in good positions a few times. Going to be interesting to see his opportunities going forward if Johnny becomes available. 5.5/10

Tessman - good window. Can see his improvements. Good passer, solid on the ball. Goes both ways, box to box. Would like to see him get more stuck in sometimes but otherwise good overall. 5.5/10 for the game, 6.5/10 for the window.

Arfsten - good offensively all window IMO. Will always get hate, but if he was playing for Middlesborough already people would be mostly be okay IMO. He is what he is, and I think he’s a great option to have with a 3 at the back. 5/10 for the game, 6/10 for the window.

Ream - probably a decent sized winner after this game. Line breaking passes a lot in the 1st game, and it wasn’t there for the alternatives in the 2nd game. Wish he was younger, wish he was faster, but when the younger, faster options haven’t shown they deserve more of a chance, then this is what you get. 6/10 for the window.

Aaronson - was disappointed not to see him more as I think he’s more skilled than he gets credit for, and he showed that when he came on. Love his versatility as he could play WB if needed, play the 8/10’s, and if need be could play the 6/8’s. Had a good cameo IMO. 6/10 for the game, 6/10 for the window.

Any other GK - 1/10 overall because the fact we have not found a competitor is a little concerning for the form of the others.

CCV - didn’t get a minute of time. Doesn’t seem good for his future WC hopes. Would like to see Scally in his spot for his flexibility and ability to possibly play RCB and Left or Right WB.

Luna - thought he was lively last night and although he could’ve done better on both of his chances, says something that he was there to begin with. Thought he upped the tempo quite a bit when he came on for Pulisic. 6/10 for the game, 6.5/10 for the window.

 

Yeah. If you are gonna count the winger/wf/am guys as midfielders, then the number is gonna be higher.

Assuming 26:
3 GK:
5-6 CB
5-6 FB/WB
4-5 CM
4-5 AM
3 CF
-------
24-26

And some guys can play multiple spots, obviously.

For me.

Locks: 11
1. Pulisic: WF, AM, SS
2. Tillman: AM, CM
3. Jedi: LWB, LB, LM
4. Adams: DM, CM
5. Richards: CB, RCB
6. Ream: CB, LCB, LB
7. Dest: FB, WB, WM
8. McKennie: CM, AM, WM
9. Weah: W, WF, WB, FB
10. Balogun: CF
11. Freese: GK

Near Locks: 1
12. Pepi: CF

Looking Good: 3
13. Arfsten: WB, FB
14. Freeman: FB, WB, RCB
15. Luna: AM, CAM

In a Battle: 2
16. M. Robinson, CB, RCB, RB
17. McKenzie, CB, LCB

Bubble Battlers, Inside Track: 4
18. Turner, GK
19. Tessman, CM
20. Roldan: CM, AM, WM
21. Wright: CF, WF

Bubble Battlers, Outside Track:
22. Zendejas, AM, WM, CAM
23. GK3: Steffen (really clueless here)
---------------

If there are 26:
24. Another CB: Blackmon
25. Another CM: Morris
26. Wildcard: Aaronson: AM, WB, WF

If there are 30:
27. Cardoso: CM
28. Agyemang: CF
29. Zawadzki: CB, CM, RCB, LCB, WB
30. Musah: CM, RM, WB

Close but no cigar:
GK: Schulte
FB/WB: Tolkin, Harriel
FB/CB: Scally
CB: CCV, Zimmerman
CB/CM: Sands
CM: LDLT
AM/F: Sargent, Downs

I feel I am forgetting someone.

EDIT: Aaronson & Scally.

 

I tend to think it's pretty simple: Richards had a worse game, no Tillman, Tessmann was a sub, not a starter, the WF combo idea was inferior, and the striker was inferior. You make that many switches for lesser options, it's highly unlikely you'll see a better performance. I get that multiple decisions were based on injuries btw, and just wanting a look at guys like say Sands etc. It's fine, I'm not really that mad beyond thinking we should probably be getting looks at very edge guys like Sands as subs rather than starters but I'm not gonna lose my mind over it.

Also, in part because its true, in part because there may be some pitchforks on my Roldan take, I'll just add that Sands, Morris, Johnny, Berhalter not there, and even Tyler Adams just playing horribly for an extended period, Roldan has, if he's not gotten on the plane, certainly gotten on the gangway as I mentioned w/regards to another player last week. He hasn't been perfect, but he's been far more impressive than any 6/8 option I've really seen us try beyond McKennie, and Tessmann, and I think he played as well yesterday as Tessmann did on friday. As such, why should guys like Johnny, or Morris, or anyone else get a preference? They shouldn't. In the end, I've got 35+ caps worth of crappy to subpar play in my memory, but for Poch, dude has come over, and looked the part in back to back windows while guys like Johnny, Sands, and Morris never have. So if he's not on the plane, he's damn close. For me that's way too little sample size of good compared to bad, but I'm reasonable enough to realize that what happened 2019-2022 is immaterial when it comes to 2025 and what Poch is looking at: good to great on the field in limited appearances, highly coachable guy, fantastic apparently in the locker room and w/teammates, he'll value all of that a great deal, and why not when the other guys are largely disappointing or at best neutral to mid.

Good for him, if I can trash him for playing blah to awful for 3+ years, I can certainly credit him when he's playing well, but he absolutely needs to show up and underline that form in November and March, to earn a justifiable slot for me, but I'm not the coach, and as of now, I'd be shocked if he wasn't either on the plane, or damn close.

 

He has to actually come in and play well within Poch's set up. So far he hasn't played well within anyone's set up. Until he does so, he's not in the XI, and he's probably not on the plane at this point. Hopefully he gets it done over the next 8+ months and can turn that imagined utility into a reality.

 

Richards was WAY more at fault on that goal than Roldan & Sands. Though all three were culpable.

He had the assists. The 2nd one was fantastic. He almost scored on ascooping curler AND a low shot to the right

IDK what you were watching if you thought ONLY the two assists were all he did.

And even if that were true I find the "yeah, but other than the two awesome assists that won us the game" take to be, shall we say, somewhat questionable.

 

Wright with two very nice finishes. He doesn't look as active as Flo (who's runs are generally outstanding), but he sure did the job on those two goals.

Roldan comes away net positive despite the mess on the Aussie goal with a beautiful assist and a smart quick free quick. Roldan has always been a high-level player with physical and "in the box" limits, and he still is. The trick is whether he can make a team better by finding a way to emphasize his strengths and cover his weaknesses. Poch did that pretty well this window.

Agree that the team is less fluid with CP on the field. Could be due to a number of reasons and figuring that out may be Poch's biggest challenge apart from solidifying the defense.

Good to see a game without Ream only because it's hard to count on him being in elite form in nine months just due to age.

Before the window, I would have ranked the CMs (who played CM) as Tessman, Sands, Roldan Morris.

After the window I think it is Roldan, Tessman, Morris, Sands. And the player that I was most impressed with compared to expectations was Morris. He's still at risk of being a step slow, but he reads well and has good bullldog instincts. I didn't think Sands was poor -- just didn't show anything extra like the others did at times.

Weah on the left doesn't seem to work. One good cut in opportunity a game is not worth the inability to get to the line on the left.

Australia certainly had chances to steal it, but nice to get Poch's first from behind win.

 

Come on, that's nonsense, what argument is unfair that you've seen? Making reference to sample size as a comparison is legit. I can make both points and be speaking the truth in both instances when I reference that he was excellent in this window, and excellent in general for Poch, but that he also has an enormous resume of suck and largely anonymous starts and sub ons over 3 freaking dozen caps before Poch. Both statements are fair descriptions of his performance in the shirt.

It's not a matter of respect to speak honestly about someone's career caps, particularly when they are so distorted like they are with Roldan, who I haven't liked as an international, or Tillman, who I trusted to find his way, even while playing similarly awful to mediocre soccer, but in half as many disappointing caps as Roldan.

Sample size is real, and a tangible thing. That's reality.

Playing very good to great soccer with Poch is also a tangible thing, and reality.

I can nod to both without being considered disrespectful, if it is considered such, there's no point in this board, reddit or twitter or any criticism at all.