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

if "fitness" was an issue for wes, why isnt it for luna? if effort is the actual issue, does that make up for ability too?

 

Felt bad for her. Yikes.

 

I don't think there's any consensus that goal was on him, but rather a consensus that a multi-player breakdown lead to the goal.

I'm not a fan of international Roldan, and he was good this window, at times great, everything I found fault with for several years, was absent, and everything I wanted to see in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 was present. It wasn't just the assists.

 

It's interesting to see how split we are on him. I see it too, finds the right passes when possible, really ball secure, great passing vision, makes great runs, combo play, hasn't found the net, just missing last night, wasn't his best game, but was his typically solid good, self, got the typical 6.7 type grade such a performance earns, and yet reading the takes on him you'd think he was a 5.5 or worse. Very odd.

Again, not saying he was great, I think he had a great moment here or there, but overall, he was just fine, which was good enough in a semi-discombobulated squad missing two players Poch thought would be playing (Tillman and Pulisic) in Midfield, and his first choice striker. I though in such a situation, with an inferior CM's to Friday night other than McKennie, and inferior attacking weapons, the performance was understandably solid, if not special. Some clearly disagree.

 

Solid run down on who is on Poch's radar.
Daryl Dike and Brandon Vasquez would be the players that I would reckon can get another look from Poch. Our #9 role behind Balogun and Pepi in case something occurs to them in the run up to next Summer.

 

He's quite fit, he just has an oddly Fred Flintstone shaped body, effort and ability are there in spades.

 

I think its too late barring an enormous season with Dike which i find unlikely. Vasquez has vanished the past year+, and there's not enough games for him to get to play his way back in. Dike could, but we haven't seen Dike play NT level with club since spring '01, so I don't see the relevance.

Seems quite clear its Balo and Pepi, and Wright because of his versatility. Not sure he takes a fourth, but if he does, for now Agyemang, and White are probably ahead of Sargent and Dike etc.

 

This. We all see and rate players but I am always willing to adjust if someone sees the light. All I care about is the team and getting the best players to play well together. I'm actually happy if someone changes my mind by playing better than they used to.

 

I like to hear from those in attendance as they have a different view than us TV viewers. Sometimes hard to see stuff at the far end but you can much better see off the ball action and often see passes made or not seen better than those not there. Luna plays like a good Mexican midfielder. I mean that as a compliment. A lot of times that doesn't translate to the US team but his big body actually inoculates him from a lot of fouling stuff US players get and does make himself very available for passes which isn't always they type of mids we have.

 

Roldan also had two very nice attempts on goal in the first half. He was active throughout.

Can’t fault the guy. He clearly wants it.

 

Maybe I have posters on ignore who aren't acknowledging it, but I haven't seen any really weird takes, on Roldan in particular. He was really good this window, I'll be totally shocked if he's not called in for the November window, he earned a spot there, probably (I haven't actually gone to the trouble of counting up the roster options in CM and my preferences, but his performance was certainly worthy of another call up).

 

I think us fans would be stunned if Poch had to pick his squad today, and the 3 strikers were anybody EXCEPT Balo, Pepi, and Wright.

Dike, Sarge, and to a lesser extent Agyemang, have to hope to replicate what Hercules Gomez did in 2009-2010, when his goal scoring in league play vaulted him from the outside looking in, all the way to actually getting minutes in South Africa.

 

Vazquez also blew out his knee this summer

 

Watching players/teams grow and fight their way through adversity, through the ups and downs to success is what makes sports fun to follow.

 

Pepi has never been in a Poch camp, which is kind of insane. That's because of injury, but I could see if he had to pick a squad today, he doesn't take anyone who hasn't spent a minute with him.

But talent-wise, yes.

I'd be super interested to see what Poch says about Wright positionally. He's always seemed to me exactly what he played last night, but Poch was trying him as a winger for several camps, and he can't play our style of winger.

 

If he could just be a little more clinical in front of goal, my god what a baller he'd be. He had a really good opportunity last night from like 6 yrds out he should of put away. Against Ecuador he had one or two really tame efforts on goal where he should have done better.

But the technical ability and skill, the off the ball movement, always being an outlet for the ball, his attitude and workrate, its all there. There's just that little extra something missing from taking him to the next levels.

 

I miss chunky Luna -- that was a fun guy to root for.

 

More thoughts after sleeping on it:

• I don't think this was a particularly good performance. I want to give Australia credit here -- they are better than I think they present. You don't win 7 straight period without some good play. But the even xG tells a slightly more accurate story than the final score, I think, though it seems off a bit to me with some of our late chances.
• They are a good defensive team and I'm glad we didn't need to defend Ikarunda or whatever his name is for a whole game.
• We didn't create a ton of chances, and our goals were actually just really two good finishes. It's kind of the Enner Valenica back on us; if they had been scored against us, there'd be real concern about getting caught on the second napping and getting beat, but Haji really just took his chances on tough plays. Good passes by Roldan, but that finishing was big. And should not be relied on. But while Haji was his usual self otherwise, if you can finish, you can cover up a lot.
• We continue to have terribly bad defensive breakdowns. While the Valencia goal would have needed a strong play by Richards to stop ... this one looked more like the standing around of South Korea. There's blame to go around, but I continue to look mostly at Richards. He's the locked in CB, emerging team leader, he's not someone who should be looking at ANYONE to get the ball, especially when he's the closest guy between ball and goal. He was tentative and mediocre all game and it cost us a few times -- also the yellow, a pointless FK given up that was a flop, but there was no reason to hold, etc. Some of this is familiarity but we're going nowhere if we don't shut these down.
• The team looked worse with Christian because he's holding onto the ball too long. Call it whatever you like, but that's why. The new-look team looks good because the ball is moving quickly. Christian was getting the ball and probing via dribbling. One early play stuck with me -- he was breaking forward and Weah came up and past him on his left and Christian didn't even seem to give him the smallest of looks even though there was no extra defender for him. If that's Luna or Tillman, that ball is going to Weah. And likely comes back. You can't even give Christian the "new teammate" excuse -- this is Weah. Both he and Weah were guilty of trying to dribble multiple defenders as well. Dribble a guy if you can do it without slowing anything down. Otherwise, if there's an open guy, pass and move.
• I thought Weah played fairly well overall but was stuck in much the same spots as Dest is on the left -- too far back, too much build up, not enough attack and width in the final third. It'd be really good to find a third lefty. But I'm not sure how much of this is right foot and how much is not having some of the other build up players in the set up. Weah was good, but I will say that Arfsten was better at playing in the build up and THEN getting forward, but again, much of this is Tim's tendency to the dribble over the pass.
• Bonus points for Roldan no one has mentioned: He also blocked that one good shot on goal that Australia had towards the end of the first half that really could have been a goal.
• I said early I give Sands a pass because I want to give everyone's first game / first game in a while a pass. We've seen so many of these guys flub as they adjust. But I do wonder if his game style simply can't do what Poch asks. Sands and Tessman both seem most comfortable surveying, but the difference is that Tessman can move when asked. I think Johnny is more Tessman than Sands in that way, but he's definitely also more of that kind of guy than an Aidan Morris or Tyler Adams type. And that seems to be the way we are going.
• I won't hit everyone b/c I hit them before (s/o to Good McKennie! Back again!) but I will say Luna and Aaronson impressed in reserve. I think people forget that Australia is a good defensive team. I'm not even sure why there's a dichotomy on Luna except to say that I don't think people ever like to be happy with a reserve? He's not quite good enough to be excited he's starting, but he's absolutely our backup LW-as-CAM behind Pulisic. He plays the role perfectly, does everything Poch wants ... he's just not as good as Christian. But if you look as our other options for those guys, they almost universally play on the right side ... Tillman, Weston, Zendejas ... and the one with some left experience looked poor last time he played there (Weah) and isn't left footed.
• Aaronson looked good. Yes, he's always got the issue that the finishing isn't great. And he probably still gets muscled a bit. But I think the new quick passing and move zeitgeist of the team helps Brenden. If he plays a lot more like Tillman does, he's simply better. You want him more off ball than on ball.
• Morris was very uneven. I though he was better than most against Ecuador, but he again missed a couple of tackles that led to chances. He also needs to have a bit more composure on the goal chance -- we will not get a ton of those. I still think he's very much in contention -- he has a half year to grab that clear role that I don't think is going anywhere.

 

It's worth noting that Diego Luna turned 22 back in September. Finishing is something that definitely can be improved (see: Pulisic, Christian) and if he works, he will.

 

Yeah, breaking down the roster more by position ...

CF - Balo / OPEN
LW-as-attacking Mid - Pulisic / Luna
RW/CAM-as-attacking Mid - Tillman / McKennie*
CDMs / CMs - Adams / McKennie* / Tessman / OPEN
RWB / RB - Dest / Freeman
LWB LB - Robinson / Arfsten
CB - Richards / Ream / OPEN / OPEN
GK - Freese / Turner / OPEN

But that's only 20 players as I've listed McKennie twice (+1) and I've only included two players for the "RW" and CAM role. One of these guys is certain to be Tim Weah.

RW / RWB / LWB / LW - Tim Weah.

One will probably be selected with an eye to how we really want to use McKennie. If McKennie is starting next to Adams (or Tillman slides back), it's probably:

RW-as-CAM - Zendejas

I am tentative about putting Zendejas in. This is where Reyna would challenge

I really can't see benching McKennie in a healthy environment; it almost seems like it would take a Tillman or Pulisic injury to put McKennie forward.

Last one becomes depth where you want it. CB to play 3 ATB more? A third striker? More midfield depth?

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Obviously, some of these are presumptive and a lot can change. I don't think they are all locks. But I do think we are likely looking at a real bloodbath at CM. If we throw Tessman back in the mix, it's still likely just two slots because of Tillman's versatility, I think. And it's like four guys for it. Musah maybe could reposition himself for RWB depth, but Freeman's ability to play back more is something he probably can't replicate.

 

Funny aside, there's an "Argentine" steakhouse with three locations here in Tampa where when you step inside, you find out is actually Uruguayan because they have posters up of Suarez, Francescoli, Montevideo, etc. I guess they realize Uruguay doesn't have the same brand power when it comes to steak. I don't think it'll be as bad as when Colombia played here but I'm guessing a lot of Uruguayans won't mind making the trip from Orlando and Miami, so there could be a noticeable amount. Personally haven't met many Uruguayans here though.

 

My take, this was not a good game, we looked slow and unable to find cohesion. AUS dribbled and passed through us several times and looked good doing so. Our slight edge in size and speed saved us.

We went down early, but fought, stayed in the game, and won it. That IS a positive.

People saying that we looked better when Puli went off aren't realizing that Luna and Puli are two different style of players. The problem with us is that we usually replace one with the other when what is needed is both together. Luna type brings possesion and vision, Puli type brings attacking skill and speed. Good teams use both types of players. Unfortunately we've been so used to using specialized players who are subpar at other important and basic skills, and ignoring players who are very good at everything but not special at anything. Players like Morris, Arronson, LDLT, Ream, and others come to mind, but there are more. Roldan may be one also, but I'm not as high on him yet...

McKennie looked good, and i'm not a big McKennie as a starter fan, and still not, but he actually played like good old Weston.

Wright wasn't good, but did very well with his two chances. It is what it is.

Weah, just never liked him in a role where he touches a lot and still think he should have been a striker. But I think he could be a good WB, or first RB/LB off the bench.

I'm higher on Morris than some after this game, and depending on the formation he may be a good pairing with Adams, especially if we do go back to 4231 with Reyna at 10.

Freeman wasn't good, and he's just not ready to have that responsibility at this level. I think he may be the guy next cycle.

The back three was kind of loose and misses the experience and vision of Ream.

Roldan was good, but I can't help thinking he won't be able to keep up when the tempo increases. I still feel like there's something missing.

Aaronson is a starter for me (ducks head), and his experience as an attacker in the BL and EPL is highly underrated. Hopefully he gets more chances to show.

Balo, still the #1 guy, he's grown on me quite a bit.

Tessman wasn't great, but looks more like a guy who needs time to get into the game.

Now for my most unpopular and newest opinion. Arfsten is growing on me, and honeslty if we do go 352 he may actually beat Jedi or Weah for that spot. His defense is lacking, but his ability to attack and not be allergic to the ball at his feet in possession is very valuable to a team like ours.

 

Generally, agree but I think this is overly harsh on Richards. No, he didn't have his best game, but he was not tentative and mediocre all game.

I think Morris (who I haven't really rated) was better than this suggests. He made some tackles that none of the other CMs would make. Maybe he misses some because he goes in for more?

Along those lines, there is a difference between players that press to win balls and players that press for show. We need everyone to be willing to get stuck in when the opportunity is there.

 

It may in fact be an issue for Diego when/if he heads overseas.

It was not for Wes either in MLS .... but the quality of the play in Europe puts a premium on fitness by comparison.

Wes just seems fitter and more intense this year. Good for him.

 

I'm happy to change my mind on Roldan too. I still have some doubts about how useful he'll be at the WC level, but these last two windows, he's looked pretty good against WC-level opponents.

I think he's in a tough fight to make the final roster, though. Adams will clearly take a spot at CM, and you have to figure that Cardoso and maybe Musah are going to get another chance to make their case.