USMNT: Watching From Outside The Arena
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
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Timothy Weah on for Delgado now.
With Weah and Nagbe on the field, the US has two players whose fathers played for Liberia.
With Weah and Nagbe on the field, the US has two players whose fathers played for Liberia.
Decent speed from a huge dude like Novakovich there.
I believe that was only the second US shot of the game. The 4-1-4-1 formation really is the World's Least Interesting Formation.
I believe that was only the second US shot of the game. The 4-1-4-1 formation really is the World's Least Interesting Formation.
Adams looked great. Miazga and CCV were really solid too. A lot of positive stuff from the young guys.
That ref was terrible. Should've been two reds, but fine, OK, friendly. But he let the game get totally out of hand and ridiculously chippy for a friendly.
That ref was terrible. Should've been two reds, but fine, OK, friendly. But he let the game get totally out of hand and ridiculously chippy for a friendly.
Yeah. It's a familiar issue of "it's nice that they mostly looked better than the other team, but they didn't make many true quality moments."
I also can't speak to the quality of Paraguay's team for this friendly.
Still, cause for optimism. No Pusilic clones, but I could see many of these guys being capable contributors. I found myself thinking that if a few of these younger guys had been in the side in the T&T game, we might have had the energy and the legs to power through that soggy pitch and find a goal or two.
I also can't speak to the quality of Paraguay's team for this friendly.
Still, cause for optimism. No Pusilic clones, but I could see many of these guys being capable contributors. I found myself thinking that if a few of these younger guys had been in the side in the T&T game, we might have had the energy and the legs to power through that soggy pitch and find a goal or two.
Correct, he and Weah could still play elsewhere. Weah seems very unlikely as neither Jamaica nor Liberia would seem to be more attractive choices, and you'd think he'd have a very very difficult time cracking France's team. CCV has been part of the US program for a long time now, so you'd hope he's built some loyalty, but you could've said the same for Gonzalez at one time. If he breaks through for Tottenham before being cap-tied, I'll probably start getting nervous.
I may forever renounce my support for the USMNT if CCV switches after Klinsmann insanely neglected to cap-tie him in the 4-0 loss to CR.
The first two subs came at 2-0, technically with enough time left to salvage a point so whatever, but the third was Zusi on for Johnson in the 77th minute after CR had scored in the 74th to go up 3-0. Fucking absurd.
LOL, here's what I said that night in the old thread. Several other of my posts confirm that I was...unhappy with Klinsmann: "Criminal not to cap tie CCV. Probably not an issue but what the exact fuck is the point of bringing Zusi into this game."
The first two subs came at 2-0, technically with enough time left to salvage a point so whatever, but the third was Zusi on for Johnson in the 77th minute after CR had scored in the 74th to go up 3-0. Fucking absurd.
LOL, here's what I said that night in the old thread. Several other of my posts confirm that I was...unhappy with Klinsmann: "Criminal not to cap tie CCV. Probably not an issue but what the exact fuck is the point of bringing Zusi into this game."
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This is true but I generally think the NT coaches have to promise not to do shit like this to get the kid to appear. For all we know the agreement was to get him in camp with a promise not to play him
I'm not exactly sure how close to Paraguay's "A" team this was, but they did start Miguel Almiron, who we would all be drooling over if he were American.
Yeah, we really need to find another creative presence beyond Pulisic. With CP in there, we're putting too much on his shoulders and without him we're toothless. The current pool of mid-20s types may produce a few attacking midfield role players, but it's hard to see anything great: Arriola, Rowe, Saief. Pray for Carleton (and several other teenagers).
Despite the lack of creativity, I appreciated the comprehensive team defense on display. While that's a Very American Soccer thing to say about a game, the team defense has been disjointed and uneven for a long time.
Agree with this, and hopefully our younger guys are internalizing the 'defense = gaining control of the ball back' versus 'defense = keeping the ball out of the net' mentality.
I'm just as uninterested in Arena's self-serving attempts to frame the narrative around him as you are, but the story in this headline highlights the dysfunction of the USSF. Dan Flynn, ostensibly the chief business guy, has some serious health problems so key on-field decisions are delayed?
That's bad.
After all, when you have a chance to hire Bruce Arena, it makes sense to fixate on him and only him. /s. It's more infurating to me that he was the plan all along versus "the only guy who would take the job under the circumstances"
I found Arena's statements that the defeats to Costa Rica and Mexico to be a "fiasco for US Soccer" to be the height of irony. If losing to CONCACAF heavyweights is a catastrophe, how do you characterize losing to Trinidad & Fucking Tabago? Maybe he has a few chapters set aside for himself and Gulati. Or roster construction prioritizing MLS players over players competing in elite foreign leagues? This book is the sports equivalent to What Happened by Hillary Clinton.
Wahl: US has been invited to the 2019 Copa America
This is the regular Copa America, not the special version like the one hosted in the US in 2016. A repeat of the combined Copa in 2020 is TBD.
The US hasn't participated in the regular Copa since 2007. The trouble is that it occurs in the same summer as the Gold Cup, so the US can't send its top team to the Copa.
This is the regular Copa America, not the special version like the one hosted in the US in 2016. A repeat of the combined Copa in 2020 is TBD.
The US hasn't participated in the regular Copa since 2007. The trouble is that it occurs in the same summer as the Gold Cup, so the US can't send its top team to the Copa.
If you've got the options for both, wouldn't you want to send the A-team to the Copa and the B-team to the Gold Cup?
Is it a club release requirement issue?
On the "bright" side, by 2019 there's still gonna barely be a damn difference between a US A-team and a US B-team.
Yes. Clubs don't have to release players for major tournaments if the team is a guest invite like the US would be in Copa America.
I'm not exactly sure how much power they would have over it, but CONCACAF would also not be pleased.
Plus, if the US wins the 2019 Gold Cup, doesn't that give them an auto bid into the 2021 Confederations Cup?
There might not be a Confed Cup, they are thinking of replacing it with a larger, quadrennial Club World Cup
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-fifa/story/3246844/expanded-club-world-cup-could-replace-confederations-cup-infantino
This of course would make the Gold Cup even more useless, just merge it with Copa America already.
Eventually I’d like the summer cycle to be World Cup, Gold Cup, Copa Americas (combined Concacaf/Conmebol, fully FIFA sanctioned), Confed/replacement, repeat. Not sure if that’s realistic but it would give the US something to shoot for pretty much every year.
Earnie Stewart and Ali Curtis are interviewing for the GM job.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/04/05/stejskal-stewart-curtis-interviewed-us-mens-national-team-gm
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/04/05/stejskal-stewart-curtis-interviewed-us-mens-national-team-gm
If the position matters at all (which I am still not clear on), I would find those to be somewhat compelling choices, Stewart more than Curtis probably.
I'm still not clear on what if any responsibilities the position would have besides hiring the manager. Has anything been clarified on that, or is it still clear as mud?
I'm still not clear on what if any responsibilities the position would have besides hiring the manager. Has anything been clarified on that, or is it still clear as mud?
There hasn't been much update since the report in February that made the GM role sound like it will be way too limited in scope. Hiring/firing the USMNT manager, no control over YNT coaches, only a "voice at the table" with how the USSF interacts with youth development.
My hope is that lack of any real bites will force them to expand the role a bit, but I'm skeptical.
Oral history of the debacle in T&T from fans that were there:
https://sports.yahoo.com/fans-oral-history-u-s-soccers-nightmare-trinidad-090333548.html
https://sports.yahoo.com/fans-oral-history-u-s-soccers-nightmare-trinidad-090333548.html
Reading this must be like what a Seahawks fan would feel watching the Butler pick on loop for 20 minutes from every different angle.
Italy has confirmed a friendly for Tuesday, November 20 at 2:45, location to be determined. It's a safe bet that it will be in Europe: either in Italy or a neutral site. Both nations will have hired new coaches by then. FIGC is an even bigger mess than USSF right now as they are currently headed by an interim commissioner during their manager search.
http://vivoazzurro.it/en/news/two-friendlies-confirmed-italy-to-play-ukraine-on-10th-october-and-usa-on-20th-november/
http://vivoazzurro.it/en/news/two-friendlies-confirmed-italy-to-play-ukraine-on-10th-october-and-usa-on-20th-november/
The U17s are heading to Spain to play India and Norway.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Aaron Cervantes (Pateadores; Chino Hills, Calif.), Damian Las (Chicago Fire; Chicago, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (8): Axel Alejandre (FC United; Chicago, Ill.), Michael Barragan (Atlas FC; Guadalajara, Mexico), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; Douglasville, Ga.), Tayvon Gray (New York City FC; Bronx, N.Y.), Kobe Hernandez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Mason Judge (Chargers Soccer Club; Tampa, Fla.), Joseph Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Luis Flores (Shattuck-Saint Mary's; Half Moon Bay, Calif.), Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes; Tracy, Calif.), Cesar Garcia (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Jack Imperato (De Anza Force; San Jose, Calif.), Andres Jasson (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Adam Saldana (Real So Cal; Panorama City, Calif.), Peter Stroud (New York Red Bulls; Chester, N.J.)
FORWARDS (7): Adam Armour (North Carolina FC Youth; Cary, N.C.), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; Greensboro, N.C.), Diego Lopez (Atlanta United FC; Chino, Calif.), Joshua Pynadath (AFC Ajax; Amsterdam, Netherlands), Benjamin Redzic (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Giovanni Reyna (New York City FC; Bedford Corners, N.Y.), Ray Serrano (Seattle Sounders FC; Graham, Wash.)
Professional players are in bold. Pynadath and Barragan are on youth contracts at foreign clubs AFAIK. Reyna will likely go pro sooner or later, perhaps at NYCFC, perhaps elsewhere.
It's always hard to tell who exactly is the best prospect early in the cycle, but a lot of people really like George Bello (a left back!!!).
GOALKEEPERS (2): Aaron Cervantes (Pateadores; Chino Hills, Calif.), Damian Las (Chicago Fire; Chicago, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (8): Axel Alejandre (FC United; Chicago, Ill.), Michael Barragan (Atlas FC; Guadalajara, Mexico), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; Douglasville, Ga.), Tayvon Gray (New York City FC; Bronx, N.Y.), Kobe Hernandez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Mason Judge (Chargers Soccer Club; Tampa, Fla.), Joseph Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Luis Flores (Shattuck-Saint Mary's; Half Moon Bay, Calif.), Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes; Tracy, Calif.), Cesar Garcia (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Jack Imperato (De Anza Force; San Jose, Calif.), Andres Jasson (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Adam Saldana (Real So Cal; Panorama City, Calif.), Peter Stroud (New York Red Bulls; Chester, N.J.)
FORWARDS (7): Adam Armour (North Carolina FC Youth; Cary, N.C.), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; Greensboro, N.C.), Diego Lopez (Atlanta United FC; Chino, Calif.), Joshua Pynadath (AFC Ajax; Amsterdam, Netherlands), Benjamin Redzic (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Giovanni Reyna (New York City FC; Bedford Corners, N.Y.), Ray Serrano (Seattle Sounders FC; Graham, Wash.)
Professional players are in bold. Pynadath and Barragan are on youth contracts at foreign clubs AFAIK. Reyna will likely go pro sooner or later, perhaps at NYCFC, perhaps elsewhere.
It's always hard to tell who exactly is the best prospect early in the cycle, but a lot of people really like George Bello (a left back!!!).
I'd definitely be intrigued and could maybe get behind Wenger as a one-cycle-patch for the USMNT. It would have to be part of a broader strategy like "Wenger gets us to Qatar while Cordeiro and the new GM build the foundations for longer term success." I'm skeptical that Wenger would be interested in this or that the USSF is sufficiently organized for long term planning right now.
I'd take Wenger in any role in a cocaine heartbeat. Dude has forgotten more football than most people in USSF.
The latest U19 camp:
These players are all 2000s except for Booth, who is a 2001. The best 2000s are going to be with the U20s later in May, but the U19s are a useful way to keep the next tier of players involved. It makes it easier to identify it when some of them inevitably overtake some of the 1999s by the end of the U20 cycle.
Most of this squad was either on the U17 WC squad last year or on the fringes of the team. Sands is the only domestic pro at the moment. Reyes, Gloster, and Jones are in academies abroad. Booth is expected to join Bayern Munich when the paperwork for his Italian passport comes through. Watts has been trialing and will probably go pro at some point soon.
I'm intrigued about Soto. He's scoring for fun in the Development Academy (42 goals in 25 games). That doesn't prove he's an epic prospect, but it makes him interesting and it shows he needs to move to a higher level. Holcomb is another guy who scores for fun in the DA, but he's at a non-MLS club so his options are less clear.
These players are all 2000s except for Booth, who is a 2001. The best 2000s are going to be with the U20s later in May, but the U19s are a useful way to keep the next tier of players involved. It makes it easier to identify it when some of them inevitably overtake some of the 1999s by the end of the U20 cycle.
Most of this squad was either on the U17 WC squad last year or on the fringes of the team. Sands is the only domestic pro at the moment. Reyes, Gloster, and Jones are in academies abroad. Booth is expected to join Bayern Munich when the paperwork for his Italian passport comes through. Watts has been trialing and will probably go pro at some point soon.
I'm intrigued about Soto. He's scoring for fun in the Development Academy (42 goals in 25 games). That doesn't prove he's an epic prospect, but it makes him interesting and it shows he needs to move to a higher level. Holcomb is another guy who scores for fun in the DA, but he's at a non-MLS club so his options are less clear.
The U-20 squad for a camp that involves six days of training in Florida and a trip to San Pedro Sula for two games against Honduras:
GOALKEEPERS (2): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; Oxnard, Calif.), Seth Stiebel (Saint Louis FC; O'Fallon, Miss.)
DEFENDERS (6): Glademir Mendoza (Real Salt Lake; Phoenix, Ariz.), Manny Perez (N.C. State University; Garner, N.C.), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Chris Richards (FC Dallas; Hoover, Ala.), Sam Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Angel Uribe (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Frankie Amaya (Pateadores; Santa Ana, Calif.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Andres Jimenez (Envigado FC; Miami, Fla.), Richie Ledezma (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Alex Mendez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Aristotle Zarris (LA Galaxy; Sarasota, Fla.)
FORWARDS (6): Simon Becher (Oakwood Academy SC; Brooklyn, Conn.), Shaft Brewer Jr. (LAFC; Sacramento, Calif.), Wilson Harris (Sporting Kansas City; Encino, Calif.), Abdulkadir Haji (Manchester, N.H.; Virginia Commonwealth University), Ulysses Llanez Jr. (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Justin Rennicks (Indiana University; Hamilton, Mass.)
I bolded the professionals in the group.
This isn't close to the best U20 squad that could be assembled. I think it could turn out to be a fun team if they qualify and the best players are released for the WC. Getting through qualifying is tricky, though, when a number of top players aren't available.
GOALKEEPERS (2): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; Oxnard, Calif.), Seth Stiebel (Saint Louis FC; O'Fallon, Miss.)
DEFENDERS (6): Glademir Mendoza (Real Salt Lake; Phoenix, Ariz.), Manny Perez (N.C. State University; Garner, N.C.), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Chris Richards (FC Dallas; Hoover, Ala.), Sam Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Angel Uribe (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Frankie Amaya (Pateadores; Santa Ana, Calif.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Andres Jimenez (Envigado FC; Miami, Fla.), Richie Ledezma (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Alex Mendez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Aristotle Zarris (LA Galaxy; Sarasota, Fla.)
FORWARDS (6): Simon Becher (Oakwood Academy SC; Brooklyn, Conn.), Shaft Brewer Jr. (LAFC; Sacramento, Calif.), Wilson Harris (Sporting Kansas City; Encino, Calif.), Abdulkadir Haji (Manchester, N.H.; Virginia Commonwealth University), Ulysses Llanez Jr. (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Justin Rennicks (Indiana University; Hamilton, Mass.)
I bolded the professionals in the group.
This isn't close to the best U20 squad that could be assembled. I think it could turn out to be a fun team if they qualify and the best players are released for the WC. Getting through qualifying is tricky, though, when a number of top players aren't available.
Efrain Alvarez scored a hat trick for LA Galaxy II in USL play earlier this week. He turns 16 next month and is one of the best-looking prospects of the 2002 age cohort, if not the single best.
Unfortunately, he's been playing for Mexico over the last ~18 months despite being front and center of his US YNTs prior to that. Unlike Jonathan Gonzalez, this doesn't seem like a case of negligence and neglect, just a kid who wants to play for Mexico.
Maybe he'll change his mind, but he probably won't.
Unfortunately, he's been playing for Mexico over the last ~18 months despite being front and center of his US YNTs prior to that. Unlike Jonathan Gonzalez, this doesn't seem like a case of negligence and neglect, just a kid who wants to play for Mexico.
Maybe he'll change his mind, but he probably won't.
Agree. The information and updates are invaluable- it’s the way I keep up with US soccer.
Thanks guys.
Brewer is from Sacramento and played in Sacramento Republic's academy. He switched to FC Dallas briefly, then spent about half a year with RB Leipzig U19. That felt like a bridge too far for him from Day One, and not surprisingly he left the club fairly quickly and is now with LAFC. This season, he's only made the bench; while he's still young, I haven't gotten the sense he's all that great. That being said, I haven't had the chance to see much of him.
The current U20s do have some interesting wingers. Nick Taitague is with Schalke U19 and has gotten some good reviews. He's often part of a select group of U19s who train with the first team. Since Schalke is dropping their U23 reserve team, how they treat him this offseason will let us know a lot more about how they view his future.
Then there's Jonathan Amon, who has burst onto the scene this season with FC Nordsjælland in Denmark. He is one of those short wingers with great pace and great balance. He also seems to have decent technique...my hope is that he will become the player we thought Joe Gyau could be. Here are a few highlights from his most recent game:
Nice backheel here:
Solid pass:
Goal from a few weeks ago:
Then of course, there's Andrew Carleton, who has excellent technique and a lot of flair and creativity. He doesn't have outstanding speed or acceleration, so there are questions about his long-term future: will he be a winger or a #10?
The 1999 birth year is blessed. Shaft Brewer is arguably not even the best name among the group -- after all, Aristotle Zarris is on the roster, too.
Brewer is from Sacramento and played in Sacramento Republic's academy. He switched to FC Dallas briefly, then spent about half a year with RB Leipzig U19. That felt like a bridge too far for him from Day One, and not surprisingly he left the club fairly quickly and is now with LAFC. This season, he's only made the bench; while he's still young, I haven't gotten the sense he's all that great. That being said, I haven't had the chance to see much of him.
The current U20s do have some interesting wingers. Nick Taitague is with Schalke U19 and has gotten some good reviews. He's often part of a select group of U19s who train with the first team. Since Schalke is dropping their U23 reserve team, how they treat him this offseason will let us know a lot more about how they view his future.
Then there's Jonathan Amon, who has burst onto the scene this season with FC Nordsjælland in Denmark. He is one of those short wingers with great pace and great balance. He also seems to have decent technique...my hope is that he will become the player we thought Joe Gyau could be. Here are a few highlights from his most recent game:
Nice backheel here:
Solid pass:
Goal from a few weeks ago:
Then of course, there's Andrew Carleton, who has excellent technique and a lot of flair and creativity. He doesn't have outstanding speed or acceleration, so there are questions about his long-term future: will he be a winger or a #10?
Carelton strikes me as possibly the answer to "What if Sebastien Lletget had ever stayed healthy"
...and before that, not been stuck in a Big Sam team during many of his prime developmental years.
Reports out of Portugal indicate that Keaton Parks will be called up for the next set of friendlies.
https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/keaton-parks-pre-convocado-para-os-estados-unidos.html
Parks has made a few appearances off the bench for Benfica this season, but has mostly played with their B team. He is a funky player. His height and size make people think he's a defensive midfielder, but I've never heard a good review about him when he's been tried at the #6. He's a #8/#10 type with a nice possession-oriented one-touch passing game. 6g/6a for Benfica B this year. I'm not entirely sure how he fits into the player pool, but he has some intriguing skills and he could be useful if he continues to develop.
https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/keaton-parks-pre-convocado-para-os-estados-unidos.html
Parks has made a few appearances off the bench for Benfica this season, but has mostly played with their B team. He is a funky player. His height and size make people think he's a defensive midfielder, but I've never heard a good review about him when he's been tried at the #6. He's a #8/#10 type with a nice possession-oriented one-touch passing game. 6g/6a for Benfica B this year. I'm not entirely sure how he fits into the player pool, but he has some intriguing skills and he could be useful if he continues to develop.
I meant the whole lot of it, his injuries and illness really stalled his West Ham career, every time he was supposed to go on loan he either got hurt or sick until he was too old/ hadn't played in so long nobody wanted to take a chance on him. The manager changes hurt too, but getting stuck in U-23 forever and not training for long stretches really put his development on ice.
More names for the upcoming friendlies
I think I read somewhere that Sargent is supposed to be in camp for this one as well.
- Pulisic
- McKennie
- Palmer-Brown
- Carter-Vickers
- Novakovich
- Adams
- possibly Tim Parker
I think I read somewhere that Sargent is supposed to be in camp for this one as well.