Pre-match: USMNT v Saudi Arabia Gold Cup - Thurs June 19

Brian White should get a look in game 2

 

It blows my mind that in all these years we haven’t had anyone as good as McBride. And he was just good! But he was good at everything combined with xdawg made him a great teammate and clutch performer.

 

Totally agree.

Freese has earned the tournament, at least until he screws up. There was a trial in the friendlies. Turner did draw the tougher assignment but he was not good.

From what we know of Saudi Arabia's team, this isn't as much of a test as it could be. We should just save Adams at minimum for the knockouts.

 

With Adams, if his toe is good to go get him a half v Saudi. He needs reps, too, particularly since I would sit him entirely for Haiti and going into the knockouts ice cold isn’t ideal.
If his toe isn’t all the way there, then don’t play him at all until it is.

 

Second hand info but I understand that most of SA's "A" team is at the club World Cup.

 

I think the issue is that turf toe is usually one of those things that only gets better with a lot of time but you can play on it if you can take the pain.

I don't think it is going to get all good at the Gold Cup, so if we are waiting for 100%, you likely send him home. If not, I think you just put the minimum time you can on the toe.

 

Unless Banks has a good start and a strong year, I don’t think there’s someone out there that displaces him in that CB room as a passer to pair with Richards. McKenzie always has one big mistake in him.

 

Great to see you back out on the pitch, boys. 👋 pic.twitter.com/KqWZHxcou2

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 17, 2025

Adams, Johnny, and Downs back in training

 

I’m with you, I don’t trust McKenzie, either. It’s a tough call. I thought Zimmerman didn’t stick out, good or bad, in his time on the field and that’s good just getting back into it, imo. I’d like him to take that role, backing up the starters and can help some with rotation. He brings some of the same issues Ream does like age and he’s slower than you’d like, so I dunno, I’m really hoping some good options shake out but I don’t think it’s coming from MLS.
I like McKenzie, I like watching him for Toulouse I thought he had a commanding presence in the handful of matches I saw. Maybe keep him out there through this gold cup and pray he gets it together.

 

Is Downs in training?

 

That struck me as part a Trinidad & Tobago thing. We could have trotted out the same lineup we did against Switzerland and won by 4 instead of losing by that. s

 

Adams, Cardoso, and Downs all look back.

Great to see you back out on the pitch, boys. 👋 pic.twitter.com/KqWZHxcou2

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 17, 2025

 

Turf toe is one of those injuries that screams, "We're managing this guy's minutes/letting him take it easy at this stage of the tournament that he's too good for." I'd bet Adams is completely fine. If he's not, turf toe is something that can linger/easily reoccur, and I doubt he'd already be back in training.

I'm pretty sure this was a case of letting Adams chill during a part of the tournament where he's not needed while avoiding another nonsensical firestorm from old men yelling at the clouds.

 

They don't ask you how, they ask you how many!

Deuce.​

 

White just doesn't have it. At least Agyemang has the physical qualities needed to be effective at international level. Perhaps, though I'm doubtful given his age, that he can develop further at this level with more playing time?

 

That all makes sense... Note all three of Downs Adams and Johnny are now back in training. Adams can start this one, Johnny can sub in, and then Adams can skip the third game against Haiti as long as they win which they should. Like 60% of one game across the group stage should be something he can handle.

Edit: basically what I was trying to say:

Yeah McKenzie should be given every chance in this Gold Cup to succeed because the alternative seems to be going into the World Cup a year from now with Tim Ream as a starter... yikes

Hoping to see something like this to start (but not expecting to, guessing we get Agyemang, McGlynn, Arfsten, and Ream since Poch seems to like them):

-------------------Downs----------------------
--Wright------------Tillman---------Luna--
-----------------Adams--LDLT---------------
Tolkin--McKenzie--Richards--Freeman
--------------------Freese----------------------

 

Sometimes they do ask how, it's not like the Zardes fluke goals off the right butt cheek and nose kept up... that is not a repeatable skill aside from maybe at times being a general "right place" thing.

 

Hell, I wouldn’t even be shocked if we see Turner in goal for this. Wouldn’t like that.

 

Downs I know nothing about and would like to see him play, but maybe next game?

 

That is far more likely as long as they already have 6 points... but I would start him in both.

 

Poch wasn't hired to develop players, he's a short term hire and was hired to win.

Wright and White are clearly better players that Agyemang, play them. Kind of like how some people in USMNT twitter/reddit/here want to find any reason to give another center back more chances to bench Ream, who has been our most consistent center back for the better part of 3 years.

 

I’m not sure white is better. He’s a little better at some things and worse at others. I’d like to see Downs.

 

US 4-1. Another total dominant performance.

 

The United States is certainly missing some players who are participating in the club World Cup and for other reasons.

Saudi Arabia is missing some key contributors, mostly in the midfield area and mostly who will be participating in the club World Cup

Notable absences include Hassan Al-Tombakti, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Mohammed Kanno, and Salem Al-Dawsari.