I'm not sure freedom is what these guys need. I think Poch just had a tough time getting together a group of players to play together and get some chemistry. The list of injuries and players opting out of national team duty didn't help matters. But here, we had a chance to field a starting 11 that would play at the WC next year. Between now and then, we simply don't have any real, meaningful, competitive games. Playing South Korea was a good litmus test of where we're at though and we didn't take the opportunity. Instead, Poch didn't call in every player that he should have called in. Opting to fill the roster with MLS players instead.
From what I have seen in interviews and such, Poch does not do a good job communicating with players in the pool, including players who you would think would be selected for the WC squad. Why was McKennie not called up? It just doesn't make sense. Why did we start Ream and Blackmon at CBs? are we really gonna rely on a (will be) 38 year old to run our back line at the WC next summer?
The whole thing is a mess from the players to the coach. I don't see anything happening or changing that is suddenly going to make everything click. Depending on the group we get selected into, we could end up being seriously humiliated. Hell, even if we get an "easy" group, I don't have much confidence this team can dominate and advance without issue.
