There's always one of these guys that makes it that hasn't been part of qualifying at all. Doesn't matter the country, but it generally seems to be younger players (but not always). Im thinking Vasquez is most likely that bet if he keeps up his scoring streak. Tolkin at left back could be interesting too. Could just as easily be Slonina though if one of Steffen, Horvath, or Turner is out. I want it to be Pomykal. Sooooo bad want it to be Pomykal. It probably will not, though. Im not sure if Djordje qualifies given hes recently been brought in, but hes a comeback story more than a "out of nowhere" guy.
Due to our issues at forward it will probably Brandon Vasquez. I watch the Fire every game and Slonina is nowhere near good enough to be a starter on the USMNT. He is decent shot stopper but flaps at crosses and his distribution at times is suspect. He has probably cost the Fire at least 5 or 6 points this season.
It might be less likely this time than past cycles due to the limited time in camp before the opening match.
Barring an injury crisis...................none. Zero. I mean, how is Tolkin going to make the roster? Scally, who's played a full season in the Bundesliga at RB/LB...............may not make the roster. An uncapped 5'7" fullback from MLS is going to jump over Scally for fullback depth? Right at the last minute? Really? We're not bereft of fullbacks. You can make a similar analysis for every guy mentioned above. I mean, Pefok just moved to the team that finished 5th in the Bundesliga last season. He might not make it. I can't make a case for Vasquez over Pefok. Or Wright. Maybe Dike, but I'm a big fan of a healthy Dike. And I think Pepi and Ferreira have more secure places than others do. Yes, guys have made a late charge. BUt its rare in the US program that its this late. People use examples like Herc Gomez and Edson Buddle. Those guys weren't uncapped when selected. Herc Gomez had been part of the program. He was on a Copa America roster, for instance.
Robby Findley made a WC roster back 2010 I believe and didn't have many caps. He was basically a one dimensional speed merchant. Pablo Mastroeni had few caps and made the 2002 roster and played a HUGE part in that campaign as a stay at home Dmid in place of an injured Chris Armas.
Our depth has grown tremendously over the last 20 years so to break in you have to be really really good. 25 years ago we had maybe 25-30 guys, now we have well over 50. Hell, we had 2 completely different rosters last summer. That never would have been possible 20 years ago. And it's not like there's some young phenom out there that hasn't been called in. The team is now the youngest it's ever been which kind of negates what we are looking for. All of those guys have been called in on a regular basis.
Robbie was literally the guy I was thinking of when I made this thread. The possibility that this is guy 23/26. It wouldn’t shock me if there was one. Might be unfair to others in the pool but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Theo Walcott and oxade chamberlain are guys I believe who did it for England too, no previous calls whatsoever then included in the World Cup. Happens even in larger programs
Does Pomykal count? He's been called up and capped by Berhalter, albeit a couple of years ago. Vazquez seems by far the likeliest candidate. I guess maybe Tolkin but who knows what Berhalter will do at the left back position in the September camp. The thing is even most of the fringe guys have been in at least one camp under Berhalter.
..................but they all had caps. Is it more likely that a guy such as Mihailovic goes, or one of these uncapped attackers than folks are mentioning? Mihailovic might be the frontrunner for MLS MVP. Pomykal, mentioned above, has been in camps and is capped. Berhalter has capped a ton of these fringe players. There are not many guys to mention here. Sure, we can all list our 5 favorite uncapped players. But the chances are low that they'll make the WC roster. The September camp is more like a send-off series than a camp to look at new players.
We have much more established depth now than we did at any point in the past. That alone will make it extremely unlikely that any uncapped player will make the team. When Findley and Mastroeni made the team, it was due to injury combined with a lack of depth. We now have more depth players at virtually every position. The other factor that makes it more difficult, at this point, to integrate another player is the lack of an extended camp before the wc. The only chance I can see is if Berhalter is feeling extremely desperate at forward and/or feels like the larger 26 man roster gives him the option of gambling on a player.
yeah it was pretty controversial too in the English press, but not a total WOW callup either apparently.
I would absolutely count Pomykal, yes, he has practically been not involved at all. I dont think it would be sincere to say that he has. If he was somehow included, I think he fits firmly into this category IMO
the simple answer is nobody the only real shot would be if johnson or jesus get hurt they will need an mls replacement and that could be a place for it to happen.
Except if the topic is "which player not called up by Berhalter will be on the roster".................the answer can't be Pomykal. By definition.
Scally vs Tolkin? I saw Scally play in the B1. After a great start, he really struggled. Struggling in the B1 doesn't make him better than Tolkin. It also doesn't make him worse. But we've already seen Scally with the National Team. Berhalter has clearly not been enamored with Pefok. Moving to Ligue 1 doesn't change anything.
Alex Mendez, if he hadn't already been called. A strong start in a good league could see him enter the frame.
I have watched Tolkien twice, but only on TV. I am not sure what makes him better than any of several other FBs we have. The hair is distinctive though.