USMNT: Looking to the Future

[Gotham Gator]

Looking to the future, I think everyone is in accord that we need to junk a lot of guys and start playing the kids. So, who is in the 23 for next month's friendlies? Which kids get a shot, and which veterans do we keep around for leadership?

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Altidore (27), Dwyer (27), Zardes (26), Johannsson (26), Wood (24), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), Lennon (20), McKinnie (19), Sargent (17), Weah (17)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Feilhaber (32), Kljesten (32), McCarty (30), Bradley (30), Bedoya (30), Johnson (29), Williams (28), Nagbe (27), Diskerud (27), Lletget (25), Stanko (24), Saief (23), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), Rubin (21), Zelalem (20), de la Torre (20), Pulisic (19), Adams (18)

CBs: Cameron (32), Ream (30), Besler (30), Gonzalez (29), Opara (28), Hedges (27), Birnbaum (26), Brooks (24), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Redding (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Spector (31), Lichaj (28), Villafana (28), Chandler (27), Garza (26), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Howard (38), Guzan (33), Melia (31), Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22)

 

[Ulrich]

Looking to the future, I think everyone is in accord that we need to junk a lot of guys and start playing the kids. So, who is in the 23 for next month's friendlies? Which kids get a shot, and which veterans do we keep around for leadership?

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Altidore (27), Dwyer (27), Zardes (26), Johannsson (26), Wood (24), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), Lennon (20), McKinnie (19), Sargent (17), Weah (17)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Feilhaber (32), Kljesten (32), McCarty (30), Bradley (30), Bedoya (30), Johnson (29), Williams (28), Nagbe (27), Diskerud (27), Lletget (25), Stanko (24), Saief (23), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), Rubin (21), Zelalem (20), de la Torre (20), Pulisic (19), Adams (18)

CBs: Cameron (32), Ream (30), Besler (30), Gonzalez (29), Opara (28), Hedges (27), Birnbaum (26), Brooks (24), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Redding (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Spector (31), Lichaj (28), Villafana (28), Chandler (27), Garza (26), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Howard (38), Guzan (33), Melia (31), Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22)

Cross off anybody over 28. Those that are 28 don’t have a shot if they aren’t starting regularly, so they could be crossed off too. It’s time to be brutal and pass out a lot of pink slips to guys that at best are only a bandaid for 1-2 years and should realistically be passed over by the next WC. Playing them wastes everybody’s time.

Edit: the GK is the one place this doesn’t apply because of Johnson. He should be in the mix for the next 4+ years.

 

[dannd23]

Our pool for 2022 World Cup (with age at time of WC) looking into my crystal ball

Forwards: Altidore (31), Wood (28), Morris (26), Wright (21), Josh Sargent (21)

Midfielders: Johnson (33), Nagbe (31), Lletget (29), Saief (27), Acosta (26), Arriola (26), Roldan (26), Hyndman (25), Gooch (25), Zelalem (24), de la Torre (24), Pulisic (23), Adams (22), McKennie (22), (Carleton (20)

CBs: Brooks (28), Miazga (26), Palmer-Brown (24), Carter-Vickers (23), Zimmerman (28)

FBs: Villafana (32), Chandler (31), Garza (30), Yedlin (28), D. Acosta (21) S. Dest (20)

Goalkeepers: Hamid (30), Horvath (26) Zach Steffen (25) Johnson (31)

Conclusion: Much better than now. But we need someone who can play LB opposite Yedlin. Hopefully it's Danilo Acosta.

 

[Ulrich]

Our pool for 2022 World Cup (with age at time of WC) looking into my crystal ball

Forwards: Altidore (31), Wood (28), Morris (26), Wright (21), Josh Sargent (21)

Midfielders: Johnson (33), Nagbe (31), Lletget (29), Saief (27), Acosta (26), Arriola (26), Roldan (26), Hyndman (25), Gooch (25), Zelalem (24), de la Torre (24), Pulisic (23), Adams (22), McKennie (22), (Carleton (20)

CBs: Brooks (28), Miazga (26), Palmer-Brown (24), Carter-Vickers (23), Zimmerman (28)

FBs: Villafana (32), Chandler (31), Garza (30), Yedlin (28), D. Acosta (21) S. Dest (20)

Goalkeepers: Hamid (30), Horvath (26) Zach Steffen (25) Johnson (31)

Conclusion: Much better than now. But we need someone who can play LB opposite Yedlin. Hopefully it's Danilo Acosta.

Scratch off Altidore. He’s been brutally bad for the MNT and we should be looking past him for answers. That said, he’s a poster boy for the Federation and they’ll never ditch him. He’s a guy that needs to leave MLS to compete for his club place - Toronto is killing his fire. For that matter, anybody on the MNT playing in MLS should look to move overseas - MLS matches aren’t inherently bad but roster rules and the rigidity of the salary cap create situations where many guys aren’t in jeopardy of being benched and lose their competitive nature of always having to fight: example- Bradley, Altidore, Howard, Nagbe, Dempsey, Besler - those guys were untouchable at their clubs and never showed the ruthless fight needed in matches (save for Dempsey but he was too old to constantly be counted on for a clutch goal).

 

[dannd23]

Scratch off Altidore. He’s been brutally bad for the MNT and we should be looking past him for answers. That said, he’s a poster boy for the Federation and they’ll never ditch him. He’s a guy that needs to leave MLS to compete for his club place - Toronto is killing his fire. For that matter, anybody on the MNT playing in MLS should look to move overseas - MLS matches aren’t inherently bad but roster rules and the rigidity of the salary cap create situations where many guys aren’t in jeopardy of being benched and lose their competitive nature of always having to fight: example- Bradley, Altidore, Howard, Nagbe, Dempsey, Besler - those guys were untouchable at their clubs and never showed the ruthless fight needed in matches (save for Dempsey but he was too old to constantly be counted on for a clutch goal).

Idk, I don't really agree about Altidore. He was pretty non-existent last night, I admit, but I thought he was insanely good against Panama on Friday. I get he is a polarizing figure in the US Soccer fan community, but feel he does so many things good other than just score. For example, his hold up play is entirely what created Pulisic's opener and countless other opportunites the other night.

I am also not saying he will start. I think in all likelihood it will be Bobby Wood and one the young guns in Wright or Sargent. But I think you want a veteran presence like Altidore on your roster-- if he is okay with playing second fiddle. Think of it this way. Right now, Wondolowski is getting call ups. If Altidore is that squad's version of Wondolowski, to me that shows enormous growth.

 

[Ulrich]

Idk, I don't really agree about Altidore. He was pretty non-existent last night, I admit, but I thought he was insanely good against Panama on Friday. I get he is a polarizing figure in the US Soccer fan community, but feel he does so many things good other than just score. For example, his hold up play is entirely what created Pulisic's opener and countless other opportunites the other night.

I am also not saying he will start. I think in all likelihood it will be Bobby Wood and one the young guns in Wright or Sargent. But I think you want a veteran presence like Altidore on your roster-- if he is okay with playing second fiddle. Think of it this way. Right now, Wondolowski is getting call ups. If Altidore is that squad's version of Wondolowski, to me that shows enormous growth.

No question Altidore played well against Panama, but that seemed more a result of Pulisic opening up the game and Panama having a missing midfield to help the defenders. I can’t think of any two game stretch for the MNT that I’d say Altidore was a dominating factor. As a forward, he has to be doing more than be a holdup player - he scored two whol goals in this Hex and one was a PK that Pulisic earned. Brian mcBride was a holdup player that got his head on every single cross in the box and was constantly either a threat to score or was bagging goals. He somehow figured out how to hold the ball and influence the attack, but Altidore isn’t doing that and I’m not sure he’s capable of it. We need our forwards to be hungry and dangerous every time they step on the field or make way for the next guy.

 

[JGarrettLieb]

Our pool for 2022 World Cup (with age at time of WC) looking into my crystal ball

Forwards: Altidore (31), Wood (28), Morris (26), Wright (21), Josh Sargent (21)

Midfielders: Johnson (33), Nagbe (31), Lletget (29), Saief (27), Acosta (26), Arriola (26), Roldan (26), Hyndman (25), Gooch (25), Zelalem (24), de la Torre (24), Pulisic (23), Adams (22), McKennie (22), (Carleton (20)

CBs: Brooks (28), Miazga (26), Palmer-Brown (24), Carter-Vickers (23), Zimmerman (28)

FBs: Villafana (32), Chandler (31), Garza (30), Yedlin (28), D. Acosta (21) S. Dest (20)

Goalkeepers: Hamid (30), Horvath (26) Zach Steffen (25) Johnson (31)

Conclusion: Much better than now. But we need someone who can play LB opposite Yedlin. Hopefully it's Danilo Acosta.

I think its time to start playing our youngsters, like really start playing our youngsters a la Germany after their Euro mess. I don't think you went far enough when you paired down the initial list. I'd rather give people who are at present playing in u-16's and u-15's shots. That way we can start really looking forward to winning the whole thing the cycle or two after them.

Here's my more brutally cut down version.

Forwards: Wood (28) (only if in CL), Morris (26) (Only if in CL), Wright (21), Josh Sargent (21)

Midfielders: Hyndman (25), Gooch (25), Zelalem (24), de la Torre (24), Pulisic (23), Adams (22), McKennie (22), (Carleton (20)

CBs: Miazga (26), Palmer-Brown (24), Carter-Vickers (23), Zimmerman (28)

FBs: Yedlin (28) (If in CL), D. Acosta (21) S. Dest (20)

Goalkeepers: Hamid (30), Horvath (26) Zach Steffen (25) Johnson (31) (Keepers are wierd with aging so this group isn't getting as much attention.

 

[dannd23]

No question Altidore played well against Panama, but that seemed more a result of Pulisic opening up the game and Panama having a missing midfield to help the defenders. I can’t think of any two game stretch for the MNT that I’d say Altidore was a dominating factor. As a forward, he has to be doing more than be a holdup player - he scored two whol goals in this Hex and one was a PK that Pulisic earned. Brian mcBride was a holdup player that got his head on every single cross in the box and was constantly either a threat to score or was bagging goals. He somehow figured out how to hold the ball and influence the attack, but Altidore isn’t doing that and I’m not sure he’s capable of it. We need our forwards to be hungry and dangerous every time they step on the field or make way for the next guy.

Agree to disagree. By the time Altidore is done, he is gonna be the all time leading scorer for the US (until Pulisic surpasses him). Sure, part of that is longevity, part of it is quality.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Looking to the future, I think everyone is in accord that we need to junk a lot of guys and start playing the kids. So, who is in the 23 for next month's friendlies? Which kids get a shot, and which veterans do we keep around for leadership?

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Altidore (27), Dwyer (27), Zardes (26), Johannsson (26), Wood (24), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), Lennon (20), McKinnie (19), Sargent (17), Weah (17)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Feilhaber (32), Kljesten (32), McCarty (30), Bradley (30), Bedoya (30), Johnson (29), Williams (28), Nagbe (27), Diskerud (27), Lletget (25), Stanko (24), Saief (23), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), Rubin (21), Zelalem (20), de la Torre (20), Pulisic (19), Adams (18)

CBs: Cameron (32), Ream (30), Besler (30), Gonzalez (29), Opara (28), Hedges (27), Birnbaum (26), Brooks (24), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Redding (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Spector (31), Lichaj (28), Villafana (28), Chandler (27), Garza (26), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Howard (38), Guzan (33), Melia (31), Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22)

Give Jonathan Gonzalez and Joshua Perez call ups.

 

[JGarrettLieb]

Agree to disagree. By the time Altidore is done, he is gonna be the all time leading scorer for the US (until Pulisic surpasses him). Sure, part of that is longevity, part of it is quality.

If the USMNT had any balls Jozy would forevermore have 41 goals and 110 caps. He's going to be on the downslope of his career age wise by the next time we are in a World Cup. Why bother spending the USMNT training hours on him?

 

[Mario]

my thoughts on Altidore are odd. he's a useful/useless kinda player that you need because he's always a threat no matter how bad he is. He's like a target man that opens up the second striker. This is something not all of our forwards can do. he allows pulisic or dempsey...wood...dwyer to do their thing. Having two like forwards doesn't always work out as it says it should on paper. He's very strong on the ball but is keen to miss chances and give up possession cheaply. With that he's also marked 100% of the time because if you give any forward with his experience, decent speed, height and strength, he could do what he did against Panama. You need him but you always feel like the bench should do better but they really don't- without him.

 

[Keith Putnam]

It's been nearly sixteen hours since the loss and Arena has not yet announced his resignation.

 

[dannd23]

It's been nearly sixteen hours since the loss and Arena has not yet announced his resignation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/918149230551855104

It's not up on their website.. for now.

 

[Gotham Gator]

It's good to think about who may be around in 4 years, but it's inherently speculative since we don't know who will be healthy or in a good club situation.

I am more interested in who we start in 4 weeks. The reboot of American soccer begins with friendlies that are just around the corner. I think we need one veteran at each position to provide leadership, but otherwise go 100% with new guys. The fewer people we have from the debacle of the last year, the better.

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), McKinnie (19)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), de la Torre (20)

CBs: Cameron (32), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Chandler (27), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22) (3 of the 4)

 

[dannd23]

It's good to think about who may be around in 4 years, but it's inherently speculative since we don't know who will be healthy or in a good club situation.

I am more interested in who we start in 4 weeks. The reboot of American soccer begins with friendlies that are just around the corner. I think we need one veteran at each position to provide leadership, but otherwise go 100% with new guys. The fewer people we have from the debacle of the last year, the better.

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), McKinnie (19)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), de la Torre (20)

CBs: Cameron (32), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Chandler (27), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22) (3 of the 4)

Overall agree with your points, not nearly as much with the player selection, but I get your point. Also, I wish we had a 19 year old forward named McKinnie, but unfortunately Weston McKennie is a CDM

 

[Ulrich]

It's good to think about who may be around in 4 years, but it's inherently speculative since we don't know who will be healthy or in a good club situation.

I am more interested in who we start in 4 weeks. The reboot of American soccer begins with friendlies that are just around the corner. I think we need one veteran at each position to provide leadership, but otherwise go 100% with new guys. The fewer people we have from the debacle of the last year, the better.

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), McKinnie (19)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), de la Torre (20)

CBs: Cameron (32), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Chandler (27), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22) (3 of the 4)

You forget the most important guy? I’d like Pulisic there.

And Jones is finished. No need to even have him around. Beasley too. There are other guys that can provide leadership.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I like Jones for leadership, because he was nowhere near the shitshow of the last few months, and nobody can question his passion.

Let Pulisic take a break and focus on Club duties until next year.

Brain fart on McKennie. Pulled that off a website that I think had old information or something. Put McKennie in at midfield and take off de la Torre. Put Wood back in, I guess.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I really want the fewest possible people who played on Tuesday and probably in the more recent games. The lack of passion and intensity was sickening. A lot of those guys should never wear the jersey again. Most of the rest need a long timeout. There are a few exceptions, of course.

 

[sbrylski]

It's good to think about who may be around in 4 years, but it's inherently speculative since we don't know who will be healthy or in a good club situation.

I am more interested in who we start in 4 weeks. The reboot of American soccer begins with friendlies that are just around the corner. I think we need one veteran at each position to provide leadership, but otherwise go 100% with new guys. The fewer people we have from the debacle of the last year, the better.

Forwards: Dempsey (34), Agudelo (24), Morris (22), McKinnie (19)

Midfielders: Jones (35), Acosta (22), Arriola (22), Roldan (22), Green (22), Hyndman (21), Gooch (21), de la Torre (20)

CBs: Cameron (32), Miazga (22), Palmer-Brown (20), Carter-Vickers (19)

FBs: Beasley (35), Chandler (27), Yedlin (24), Vincent (23)

Goalkeepers: Johnson (28), Hamid (26), Gonzalez (22), Horvath (22) (3 of the 4)

Play the youths. Play the U-20's with a few guys like Brooks and Yedlin mixed in if they're available, plus a few of the better U-17's to start working on chemistry.

 

[Ulrich]

Play the youths. Play the U-20's with a few guys like Brooks and Yedlin mixed in if they're available, plus a few of the better U-17's to start working on chemistry.

When does Reyna get called in