Pre-match: USA vs Uruguay friendly 11/18/25

I half watched the Mex-Uru game and did not recognize many of the Uruguayan players. They were missing some of their big guns, at least on the field. They may have been on the bench. Bielsa may really be experimenting this window.

It is a bit hard to judge opponents this window. Both Para and Uru have been battle tested after the marathon Conmebol qualifiers, so they know what they are about and may be experimenting more than us. We, on the other hand, have not much time under a newish coach to really get our sh*t together.

Regardless, we either get a battle tested A team in front of us or a more experimental team with players giving it their all to make the final WC roster. So, either way, win or lose, it is good competition, but I would not use it to project what would happen should we meet either of these teams in the WC.

 

I’d like to see the back 5 not fail as often when they are inevitably tested on a few turnover to transition phases. Thus includes Frease actually making a proactive play or save.

Id like to see Luna instead of Aaronson and Freeman tested in the hybrid role instead of Scally.

I’d be disappointed if the previous starters don’t get another run out and at least a half together.

Not terribly bothered by the result either way.

 

Not sure most of the same players will start. Poch seems to rotate a lot for friendlies and maybe Uruguay did too and we get their starters?

 

It’s definitely more probable that he rotates, but I’d personally just like to see more cohesion and stability game to game now.

I think it was more stable from Ecuador to Australia and would like that to continue.

 

Poch has seemed to not rotate much, but this game is on pretty short rest.

I wouldn't start Reyna again, as I don't risk him pulling a hammy since he's not been playing anything close to these kinds of minutes for like 3 years.

I might switch the whole backline and give those guys a shot.

Let Wright get some run, too (though Balogun is a clear #1)

----------------------Wright--------------------
------------Luna--------------Aaronson-----
-Arsften---Roldan--Tessman-------Dest-
------Trusty---McKenzie---Freeman-----
--------------------I Dunno--------------------

 

The Uruguay that played Mexico was weak. They looked weaker than the Paraguay team we played.

 

I think we may see some serious rotation for this one. I anticipate that the guys who didn’t get much of a run out against Paraguay to get the lions share of this one. Expect to see Tolkin, Berhalter, etc.

 

I’m interested most in Reyna. Does he start, so Poch can see if he can deliver back to back? Or does he bring him in off the bench, to see how he impacts the game as a 60th minute sub?

 

Hopefully he's been with a stretching specialist, in the sauna and cold plunges and multiple soft tissue massages.

If I'm Gio, I hire a specialist physio and they become his travel buddy. Lol

As for lineups, no idea, but I do like Freeman and Arfsten is pretty impressive with both feet. Luna I never can decide but love his determination. He and Aaronson are like gnats, they don't quit buzzing around. Tessman on first watch I thought gave the ball away a lot but second viewing he did more good than I originally thought.

 

From a straight analysis standpoint, I'd like to see:

• Pepi start. Balo is the clear #1, but I want to get Pepi involved, and I know who Wright is.
• I would like to repeat Reyna and Dest but with different instructions / teammates. Let's see a bit more patience from the RB/RCB and CM on that side, and run it back.
• Though I don't think they are in straight competition, I'd like to see Morris there instead of Tessman. I think he will naturally cover a bit more for Reyna but still makes a lot of box runs -- plus I think he's teetering on the edge so let's give him a chance to impress.
• I don't mind giving Scally another chance for evaluative purposes. I don't mind rotating to Freeman, either.
• Get McKenzie out there.
• I would consider replacing Freese but a lot would depend on what motivates him. He's a far more assertive keeper with NYCFC than he has been recently to my eye ... I think he's playing too safe. Maybe that's the plan, and there's no one on this roster that I think is better, but if he needs a kick in the pants, so be it.
• Luna over Brenden but I'd give him time and try to get him to play differently.

 

Thats nuts. If you aren't starting Balo then you gotta start Pepi.

 

No experimenting against Uruguay. Poch should start his top 11 from this camp. If those happened to be the same that on Saturday, fine, if 6 different starters - fine.
Beating Uruguay would be huge, and if somebody thought that Paraguay was a dirty team, wait to see Uruguay.

 

Agree completely. Let’s get our best and brightest and drub Uruguay. It’s what this team needs to prepare for next summer, we’re well past the time to experiment.
I don’t want to see Morris, Berhalter, Scally (sorry he’s not for me but I’m glad he got another look). If Miles Robinson is the guy for next summer, fine, play him again but otherwise we need to stop it with him and play McKenzie.
With this roster, play Tessman and Roldan 90. If they are going to the WC like it appears, let them build some chemistry in case we need them in a crucial match.

 

I think there's a chance Poch gives Reyna a second 70' as an experiment. Would also help his club situation.

 

Give me Haji up top over Pepi. He's earned that additional exposure as the guy up top, and he's shown he can do it. Additionally, he doesnt take 27 touches too many in the box on shots that should be one timed (thats not the first time hes done that either, that's why Im so hell bent on the change)

 

It would be better to sub him in around 75’ than to start him and watch him get injured again.

 

Nah man, death or glory. Anyway, his injury days are over…

 

I know that you're not saying this, and we have indeed have had a horrible past two years, but we aren't the 40th best team in the world, either. Very, very few teams have as difficult a time getting anything close to their first team together as we have had, and ELO doesn't reflect that.

 

On this short rest, I'm afraid that we will see a bit more rotation than really most benefits us. I don't know why we couldn't have played this game on Friday.

But in any case, I would like as close to what we saw in the first half of the last match as is practicable, with the possible exception of Scally, and maybe Reyna, given that he's rarely gotten 75 minutes and he has an injury history. I would probably, however, bring BOTH of them on in the second half in the same roles that they played against Paraguay. I'm giving Scally one more (small) chance to show that he can show promise at the wide CB role.

If not, then he's just on the depth chart at RB/RWB and LB/LWB, behind Freeman and Arfsten, respectively, most likely. That may or may not get him on the 26, because we primarily play with wingbacks instead of true fullbacks at this point.

 

Well we're now 39th, so things are looking up!

Really though, it seems what's happened is that we've lost too many critical competitive games since last summer, and Elo's formula produces bigger rating swings with competitive games than it does for friendlies, so the recent friendly results aren't doing enough to make up the ground we've lost.

Our biggest point swings since last summer have all been losses: vs Panama in Copa America (-39), vs Panama in the Nations League (-29), vs Canada in the Nations League (-25), and vs Mexico in the Gold Cup (-24). By contrast, the win against Paraguay yesterday only netted us +11 points.

In years where we've been closer to top 20, we've achieved that in no small part by picking up wins against top-40 CONCACAF sides (especially Mexico) in WCQ, Gold Cup, Nations League, etc. But we haven't had a competitive result (not even a tie) against a side like that since the Nations League win against Mexico in early 2024 now.

 

First thing I’ll say is I’m pumped for the game

 

Agreed, they've always had a lot of bite to their game.

 

Poch has molded the team well I must admit. It was rough going at first but these last run of matches has shown what this current generation can exist like when everyone is on the same page, having gotten to gel.
Can't wait to see what the boys can do on the field tomorrow!
GO! GO! U.S.A.!!!

Being wedged between Brasil and Argentina will shape a nation as such.