USMNT Callups for Sept Friendlies

[meyers7]

Two friendlies this month, Brazil and Mexico. Here's the roster:

GK
Zach Steffen - 23
Ethan Horvath - 23
Alex Bono - 24

Defenders
DeAndre Yedlin - 25
John Brooks - 25
Eric Lichaj - 29
Matt Miazga - 23
Cameron Carter-Vickers - 20
Shaquell Moore - 21
Tim Parker - 25
Antonee Robinson - 21
Aaron Long - 25

Midfielders
Kellyn Acosta - 23
Paul Arriola - 23
Julian Green - 23
Tyler Adams - 19
Wil Trapp - 25
Weston McKennie - 20
Sebastian Lletget - 26
Timothy Weah - 18
Cristian Roldan - 23
Marky Delgado - 23

Forwards
Bobby Wood - 25
Gyasi Zardes - 27
Andrija Novakovich - 21

 

[businesslawyer]

I would like to see Jozy Altidore on the squad. It will be great if we have a better striker than him by the 2022 World Cup, but for all his flaws he's still the best one we have to play target striker.

I also hope someone is talking to Fabian Johnson and saying take the next year and a half off, and then come summer of 2020 if you're healthy and still playing well at the top level we'd love to have you reconsider.

Those are the only veterans not being called in or injured that I can see being at a level where they could start for us in 2022. I can live with the folks who are clearly in the best 22 but not going to be able to carry the water in 2022 being left out. See, e.g., Bradley, Michael, and Cameron, Geoff.

 

[SubbaBub]

Except the Jozy part.

I think we can find guys to produce better if given his caps. If we can't we aren't going far anyway.

I like the youth commitment very much. The oldest guy will be 31 in 2022.

Mix in the U21 guys not listed and you have a decent start on 2026 which ought to be the real focus as I think we are short on overall talent in key spots for 2022.

 

[LIuconn]

Lots of guys are flocking to European clubs right now. Gotta think those that flame out and return to MLS will be at the same level as a Wil Trapp. Love where the program is headed. And I think Josh Sargent just scored another goal. He's going to be on the first team sooner than later.

Anyone else see this trash? Christian Pulisic: Should USMNT fans start to worry about Borussia Dortmund star's absences? | Goal.com

 

[LIuconn]

Regarding this specific team, I'm all for it. Would have liked to see Pulisic pair with Weston, but these are meaningless games. Cool that Marky's there.

 

[Waquoit]

Except the Jozy part.

Can't agree more. They don't need him jogging around.

 

[ZooCougar]

I would like to see Jozy Altidore on the squad. It will be great if we have a better striker than him by the 2022 World Cup, but for all his flaws he's still the best one we have to play target striker.

I also hope someone is talking to Fabian Johnson and saying take the next year and a half off, and then come summer of 2020 if you're healthy and still playing well at the top level we'd love to have you reconsider.

Those are the only veterans not being called in or injured that I can see being at a level where they could start for us in 2022. I can live with the folks who are clearly in the best 22 but not going to be able to carry the water in 2022 being left out. See, e.g., Bradley, Michael, and Cameron, Geoff.

You lost me at Jody Altidore. He’s a donkey. Next.

 

[ZooCougar]

Regarding this specific team, I'm all for it. Would have liked to see Pulisic pair with Weston, but these are meaningless games. Cool that Marky's there.

These games are about putting tape together for the next coach to evaluate.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Anyone going to the Brazil match at MetLife? I'm taking my younger son (8), which shoudl be an experience for him as his older brother has spring baseball try-outs the same day. I'm looking forward to seeing what this USMNT team can do against Brazil, who seems to be bringing a mix of A and B players, which is what the USMNT faced when they went up against France before the Cup. Even if Brazil wins convincingly, I just want to see to energy, competitiveness, and hunger from this 'kids.'

And if I see Neymar pull-out one of his Emmy winning performances, the old defensive midfielder in me is going to be sorely tempted to lace-up and show him what an old-school slide-tackle feels like

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

You lost me at Jody Altidore. He’s a donkey. Next.

For 2022, the 33 year old won't even be a mule.

 

[meyers7]

You lost me at Jody Altidore. He’s a donkey. Next.

Well if you are looking for a donkey, Zardes is on the team. Altidore is light years better than him. Even on his joggiest of days.

However

For 2022, the 33 year old won't even be a mule.

Yea, he's probably gonna be well past his due date by the time 2022 rolls around.

Still probably the best FW we have, right now.

But I'm fine with us looking for replacements.

 

[meyers7]

These games are about putting tape together for the next coach to evaluate.

We should have the "next coach" in camp evaluating already.

Looking more and more like Berhalter or Vermes. They are just waiting for the MLS season to be over with. And wasting some good opportunities for the new coach to work with the team.

 

[ZooCougar]

Well if you are looking for a donkey, Zardes is on the team. Altidore is light years better than him. Even on his joggiest of days.

However



Yea, he's probably gonna be well past his due date by the time 2022 rolls around.

Still probably the best FW we have, right now.

But I'm fine with us looking for replacements.

Donkey

Donkey

Donkey

He should be booed out of every stadium along with that putz Michael Bradley.

 

[meyers7]

Donkey

Donkey

Donkey

He should be booed out of every stadium along with that putz Michael Bradley.

A couple of the best players we've ever had. Definitely make an all time 23.

You should give us a laugh and come up with your 23 man team. It would probably include Zardes, Beckerman and Heydude. They ran alot. Never saw them jogging.

 

[businesslawyer]

A couple of the best players we've ever had. Definitely make an all time 23.

You should give us a laugh and come up with your 23 man team. It would probably include Zardes, Beckerman and Heydude. They ran alot. Never saw them jogging.

Hint: it likely won't include any players with any ties to America or American soccer whatsoever.

 

[ZooCougar]

A couple of the best players we've ever had. Definitely make an all time 23.

You should give us a laugh and come up with your 23 man team. It would probably include Zardes, Beckerman and Heydude. They ran alot. Never saw them jogging.

Never on all four. Zardes is a poor man’s Altidore.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Never on all four. Zardes is a poor man’s Altidore.

I think one aspect of Altidore that we should be able to agree upon is the lack of a solid back-up for his holding striker role, especially as he has always been injury prone in the 2014 Cup, was a big mistake by Klinsmann. Jozy may not score many goals against strong, technical teams; but, his ability to clog the middle off the opponent's defense with the ball with his strength (not technical skill) and then distribute effectively (while also threatening to smash the ball on net) allowed players like Dempsey more freedom in the attacking half. Losing him and not having a back-up who could fill that role contributed to the US being ousted in the Round of 16.

Its an old wound; but, I would had preferred to see 1) Timmy Chandler replaced by just about anyone, 2) Chris Wondolowski replaced by an Altidore back-up, and 3), yes I know here comes the fireworks, Davis replaced by Donovan because Donavan could have been also used as a set-piece specialist, which is what Klinsman said Davis was for, and I would take Donovan 100% of the time over Wondo for when the USMNT needs a goal and has a 1v1 breakaway.

But, that is the past. Tomrorow's match against Brazil is the future, and hopefully a bright one for the USMNT.

 

[businesslawyer]

I think one aspect of Altidore that we should be able to agree upon is the lack of a solid back-up for his holding striker role, especially as he has always been injury prone in the 2014 Cup, was a big mistake by Klinsmann. Jozy may not score many goals against strong, technical teams; but, his ability to clog the middle off the opponent's defense with the ball with his strength (not technical skill) and then distribute effectively (while also threatening to smash the ball on net) allowed players like Dempsey more freedom in the attacking half. Losing him and not having a back-up who could fill that role contributed to the US being ousted in the Round of 16.

This is all obviously true. Unfortunately, we haven't had another player of that type. Terrence Boyd was the last hold up striker who showed promise but injuries just totally derailed that career.

 

[Waquoit]

Losing him and not having a back-up who could fill that role contributed to the US being ousted in the Round of 16.

Yeah, but so what? That's an ion ago in soccer terms. The last time I saw Altidore he was a late game sub and played like he was saving himself for the 3rd half. We don't need that.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Yeah, but so what? That's an ion ago in soccer terms. The last time I saw Altidore he was a late game sub and played like he was saving himself for the 3rd half. We don't need that.

Completely agree. Was just pointing out that even when the USMNT had talent in certain pockets, management often found ways to shoot themselves in the foot. Over the last two coaches, Klinsmann and Arena, a lot of it has been about US MLS players versus US Foreign players instead of field the best players and team possible regardless of where their club plays. Thus, it is so important who the next USMNT coach will be. The wrong coach could easily derail a potentially strong 2022 USMNT World Cup team (maybe the best team since 2002), just like the 1998 team was derailed by internal team strife

 

[ZooCougar]

I think one aspect of Altidore that we should be able to agree upon is the lack of a solid back-up for his holding striker role, especially as he has always been injury prone in the 2014 Cup, was a big mistake by Klinsmann. Jozy may not score many goals against strong, technical teams; but, his ability to clog the middle off the opponent's defense with the ball with his strength (not technical skill) and then distribute effectively (while also threatening to smash the ball on net) allowed players like Dempsey more freedom in the attacking half. Losing him and not having a back-up who could fill that role contributed to the US being ousted in the Round of 16.

Its an old wound; but, I would had preferred to see 1) Timmy Chandler replaced by just about anyone, 2) Chris Wondolowski replaced by an Altidore back-up, and 3), yes I know here comes the fireworks, Davis replaced by Donovan because Donavan could have been also used as a set-piece specialist, which is what Klinsman said Davis was for, and I would take Donovan 100% of the time over Wondo for when the USMNT needs a goal and has a 1v1 breakaway.

But, that is the past. Tomrorow's match against Brazil is the future, and hopefully a bright one for the USMNT.

There was no back up because he was the only player like that in the pool.

Zardes hadn’t been called up yet.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

There was no back up because he was the only player like that in the pool.

Zardes hadn’t been called up yet.

Their were some options with experience for alternate 'power' forwards on the USMNT radar who, while not as good as Altidore in his specific role, could have served as a workable back-up in case of injury - Juan Agudelo, Terrence Boyd, and Eddie Johnson. I believe all 3 were on the 2014 USMNT World Cup qualifying roster at one point or another with Boyd and Johnson both on the pre-Cup 30 man roster.

 

[ZooCougar]

Their were some options with experience for alternate 'power' forwards on the USMNT radar who, while not as good as Altidore in his specific role, could have served as a workable back-up in case of injury - Juan Agudelo, Terrence Boyd, and Eddie Johnson. I believe all 3 were on the 2014 USMNT World Cup qualifying roster at one point or another with Boyd and Johnson both on the pre-Cup 30 man roster.

None of those guys were playing regularly with their clubs and Aron J. And Wondo were. Johnson was on the front end of his heart condition too.

Where is Terrence Boyd now? That guy fell off the radar hard.

 

[businesslawyer]

None of those guys were playing regularly with their clubs and Aron J. And Wondo were. Johnson was on the front end of his heart condition too.

Where is Terrence Boyd now? That guy fell off the radar hard.

I think he's in the 2 Bundesliga. But he's been unable to stay healthy long enough to get into a lineup for a few years now.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Boyd = SV Darmstadt 98, Bundesliga Zwei