'Getting minutes' isn't the same as excelling. If Johnny is getting the call in March, Musah, if he excels, will likewise get picked for the WC. Berhalter is off to a hot start in league and CCC. He should make the team as more than a 'last man'.
I don't know how much of the "attitude" talk is real and how much is hearsay. We don't real know what's going on behind the scenes. its like earlier in Poch's tenure folks were saying Scally was being "blackballed" for attitude and some golf cart incident. Meanwhile, he's back with the USMNT. So was any of that real? Nobody really knows. Attitude in the POSITIVE direction, like with Diego Luna, is clearly a positive factor.
Tottenham and Chris Richards's Crystal Palace later today no kidding has massive relegation implications, without exaggeration. Whoever wins that does a lot to help their safety plight, and whoever doesnt is absolutely dragged into it. Lets go palace!
So working backwards first I'd need to know the total roster size and then how many are available on game days. That is because players like Big Pat and Berhalter seem a package pair to bring off the bench for desperate minutes when down late. If only a certain amount of subs are available they are far less useful. If there's a roster of 30 then I take both anyway. Reyna is in a somewhat similar spot and may be competition with Berhalter for the free kick and offensive spark off the bench as is Luna. Can't believe we don't know some of these details yet.
Crystal Palace doing Leeds and Brenden Aaronson a favor. Winning 3-1 at the break over Spurs. Chris Richards with the start. Spurs had van de Ven sent off with a straight red, so they're in dire straights. There were a couple of weeks there where it wasn't looking so good for Palace. They've righted the ship enough to remain in Premier League.
Tottenham are actually going to go down aren’t they……… Imagine arsenal fans winning the title the same year Tottenham are relegated. They’ll have peaked in life. People are going to have to go to the ER in droves in London from erections lasting longer than four hours
A few interesting notes from ESPN's USMNT Big Board. Glad Carlisle is finally actually following Tessmann's play. Also a potential recruiting tug of war with Banks. Did he Jeff just notice that Ream looks poor in MLS? After going unbeaten in 13 games, Lyon has now dropped two in a row, with Tessmann among those who struggled. The tug-of-war over Banks between the U.S. and Germany has begun, with the player telling Sky Sports Germany last weekend that he was "very torn" about which country to represent at international level. [Ream] has looked somewhat vulnerable in the season's opening weeks, which will be something to keep an eye on going forward. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...ld-cup-big-board-50-roster-pre-world-cup-camp
As being scientifically speaking Tim Reams biggest fan, hope he is beaten out by someone for a roster spot. Emphasis on * beaten out* . Otherwise poch is absolutely taking him
My one big, "wild" prediction has been that Tim Ream WON'T be on the WC roster (for one reason or another). I think he'll be in this camp regardless of current form, but if his underlying metrics show steep decline (which is what I've been thinking will happen) then maybe it'll be enough for them to pass him by on the final roster.
I’d expect all the MLS guys to be at a bit of a disadvantage during the March window because they will not be as sharp as the Euros. Folks like Roldan and Berhalter may not look like they did at the end of the last season. I’m sure they’ll be in good shape. But shape and sharp are different.
The problem isn't Ream's decline and not being at the level you need anymore. Its just who the hell do you put out there instead? The fact remains that Richards is really the only guy that nobody has qualms about starting. All the rest have some significant question marks. Ream - age and speed McKenzie - good for a huge gaff per match Scally - Steady but not the best 1v1 defender Banks - IF you even get him to play for the US he has ZERO minutes with the senior team. So at the end of the day I'll default to Ream and his experience. Plus he's still the best out of teh back passer.
I actually think ream would take himself off the team if he thought he would hurt it. Maybe I'm wrong because a lot of guys almost need to be taken off in cuffs but I get a vibe he would want to embarrass the team and himself. He also could start working his way back into better shape and sharpness and it's not like the competition is France or Netherlands.
They'll be fine. Sebastian Berhalter, for example, will have played in 10 games by the time camp starts. Luna is the one that may struggle (if he's there at all), as he's still not played due to a knee injury.
Robinson is looking good so far. It's unusual for a defender to get the highest Sofascore rating when a team loses but he managed that against Minnesota. I watched most of the game and he looked fit and sharp.
I disagree that Tessmann struggled against OM. He was very solid even though he was shifted into more of a shuttler role.
Reyna rode the bench for BM. But to be fair the game didn't really lend it to him getting in. Bayern was up 2-0 at the half. Then early in the second half BM took a direct red for a PK and it was 3-0. Pretty much killed any chance he was getting in. Another match. Another no minutes. Clock is ticking faster and faster.
We should mention that Scally went 90 for Gladbach. Only three points above the relegation zone, even though they're in 12th. Lots of teams down there in the battle. The Bundesliga is weird this year. Every team up to 7th has a negative GD.
I keep seeing people say things like what you're saying here ("the game didn't lend itself to him getting in"). But I can't figure out what the game needs to be like for Reyna to get in. Down by 3? Don't want more goals against. Up by 2? Don't need his offense and can't risk shipping goals late. Tied? The other team has been pushing hard for a goal, so we need to maintain defensive integrity. What is the scenario where Reyna should get into a game?