OT: 26 tickets to USMNT
ESPN just put out a decent write up of a roster projection for the USMNT ahead of the World Cup. https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4755864/projecting-the-usmnt-world-cup-squad-who-wed-take-to-qatar
tl;dr looks like this:
GK: TURNER, Steffen, Horvath
FB: DEST, ROBINSON, Yedlin, Scally, Cannon
CB: ZIMMERMAN, LONG, Carter-Vickers, McKenzie, Richards
Mid: ADAMS, MCKENNIE, Musah, de la Torre, Acosta
Wing: PULISIC, REYNA, AARONSON, Weah, Morris, Arriola
Striker: FERRIERA, Sargent, Pefok
Thoughts? Anyone you think Gregg will call up that isn’t on this list? Anyone that should be left off?
September 29th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
I can't read about a coach named Greg/Gregg without thinking GERG.
I have no input on the roster but looking forward to it even though it was built with South Asian slave labor :/
September 29th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Sports leagues here in America boycott states over bathroom laws and voter ID laws, but we’re going to play in a stadium that was built with slaves, and takes place in a country where women and LGBT don’t have rights? I don’t understand this
September 29th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
Good point--I'll take a shot. When we can have potential impact through a change, we're more likely to advocate/boycott. We ostensibly have zero control over the the World Cup does. I still hear your point, though. It would be awesome if teams decided to boycott.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:51 PM ^
Not just BUILT with slaves, built with the BLOOD of slaves.
6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had died in Qatar since it won its World Cup bid.
Sickening how so many people pick and choose their outrage.
Nike shoes, anyone?
September 29th, 2022 at 7:00 PM ^
Having lived in Saudi Arabia can say those groups are without a doubt considered 3rd class and unequivocally looked down upon.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
Hard to believe Italy isn't in the World Cup, after winning the Euro.
September 29th, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^
They missed 2018 too!
And haven't made it out of group stage since they won in '06 which is pretty crazy considering Paraguay won their group in '10 and Costa Rica in '14
September 29th, 2022 at 1:14 PM ^
It's a hard ask to qualify in Europe, period. There's a reason they get so many nations admitted.
In fairness, Italy suffered some key injuries in the Euro and that didn't help their cause any. Still, yes, quite surprising they didn't make it.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
I'm going to watch, with great interest. But I worry that the results in the run-up may point to what we've all been worrying, that yes we have a new generation of fun players, but the world has kept pace, and (at least on the men's side) we're not a soccer power, period.
I'll look forward to being proved wrong.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
we're not a soccer power, period
we never have been and never will be
September 29th, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
i don't think most people would disagree. We could potentially get to the level of countries like Croatia, Colombia, Switzerland, etc... That 10-15 range I think is a reasonable goal to set for the next 15-20 years.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:15 PM ^
Croatia has made multiple semifinals and was a finalist last year. I'd be fine with that.
But Luka Modric and Davor Suker are not walking through that door.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
It could happen. But it's not a sure thing.
Honestly what surprises me more than the general "just ok-ness" of the team year over year is that the US has never developed a really elite player or even one that looks to be a danger to be one. Even middling countries do that regularly; Poland and Egypt and such. We've produced some goalkeepers but that's about it. Pulisic is our best player but he's not yet a "difference-maker" at an elite team.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Agree that it's strange we've never produced a really elite player. Poland and Egypt definitely do not do it regularly though. Lewandowski and Salah are by far the best players their respective countries have ever had. I don't think any other player in history from either country has been a "difference-maker" at an elite team (though as a Liverpool fan I will always have a place in my heart for Jerzy Dudek)
September 29th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
Ziggy Boniek was a difference maker at Juventus. He scored the goals to win the Cup Winners Cup, and won the penalty that won Juve the European Cup in the Heysel disaster game.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:00 PM ^
Agreed, I mean, Haaland is from a country with fewer people than live in Minnesota, but we can't somehow turn out at least one, international star/difference maker?
September 29th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Gio Reyna has the natural ability to be one of those world-class players, but his hamstrings are apparently made of string cheese, unfortunately.
September 29th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
Steven Gerrard had the same issues when he was 19. Give Gio time, it will work out.
Or it won't.
50/50.
September 29th, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
and (at least on the men's side) we're not a soccer power,
Klinsmann tired to put in a foundation to fix that -- it's a generational problem after all.
But people shit all over the dude.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:21 PM ^
He should've been a personnel director and not being a head coach. He was terrible as a head coach.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:31 PM ^
Not as bad as Gregggggg though.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
JK had pure shit to work with (which is why he had to mine kids of service members stationed in Germany).
The USMNT roster JK inherited was basically the love child of last year's Red Wings and this year's Tigers. While I'm on this rant, Sunil Gulati = post salary cap Ken Holland.
...and fuck Landon Donovan for being so entitled that he thought he didn't have to attend training camp while healthy.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:04 PM ^
What foundation did Klinsmann lay? He routinely changed tactics on the fly, he never played any young players past the 2014 World Cup (Brooks and Yedlin were the last ones), and the US Development Academy took such a downturn that they shuttered the program entirely.
Berhalter at least plays the young kids, is probably too idealistic with his system of play (the US should be less focused on possession and playing out from the back, with more focus on conceding possession, pressing hard and creating high-danger xG chances off turnovers), and the Youth National Teams are starting to find success again (we just qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 2008).
Either way, any "foundational" work is being done by MLS, USL, and European academies located here in the States. Clubs are motivated to develop better talent because it's fiscally rewarding for them develop their own talent vs paying for premium talent is fully developed (capitalism, baby).
September 29th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
I remember about 15 years ago there was a young black kid that was like 15 that was supposed to be the next big star in soccer. Sorry I don't remember his name but wondered what happened to him. If I saw it I would recognize it. I know you soccer nuts will remember. Did he get hurt? Seemed like a great kid but as I said I don't really follow soccer except at WC time.
Go Blue and Go USA!!!!
September 29th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
I believe you are referring to Freddy Adu.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
Freddy Adu? Jozy Altidore?
September 29th, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
That was probably Freddy Adu. Signed with MLS at 14, never really panned out and had a journeyman career across a number of countries. Honestly I think most people even at the time knew that he was way overhyped. It was just one of those things where 14 year had physically matured early and goes pro, and the hype about the "next pele" kinda went viral. There was no chance he'd live up to expectations
September 29th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
He was not over hyped...he was completely the real deal. Unfortunately, by all accounts of people around him then, he had absolutely zero work ethic, even as far as refusing to do warm-up runs with the team. Eventually everyone caught up to and then surpassed him. He coaches youth soccer in Maryland now and he's still only like 33 (which is mind blowing)
September 29th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
I think your assessment of him being physically mature early hits the nail on the head. This is an issue across most youth sports that kids who mature quickly are "better" at a young age. They may not end up being better in the long run once kids who develop less rapidly catch up. Famous examples are easy to come by--Michael Jordan, Tom Brady. But, how many kids are discouraged or overlooked simply because they matured physically a little more slowly than their peers or even because they are young for their grade. Sorry, rant over. This is something that's been on my mind.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:38 AM ^
If we are going to roll out Zim and Long as the cb pairing, ggg is going to have to adjust the tactics of the mf.
if other teams watch the Japan tape they will use those same tactics because Zim and Long don’t have the passing skills to break the line.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Yeah they have to play 10x more direct if they want to play those two as the CB pair, which really just means that they're not playing the right players, because Ream and Pefok play in more direct systems regardless.
September 29th, 2022 at 11:33 AM ^
My hope is that Aaron Long played his way out of the starting lineup this window. My other, closely related hope, is that Chris Richards is healthy for the WC
September 29th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
I understand the hesitancy on GGG's part to not pair Tim Ream with Zim... however, there's no reason Ream should be kept off the roster for CCV, Long, Richards, AND McKenzie.
Ream is arguably the most in-form center back for the USMNT, is playing week in and week out in the Premier League and he would provide some sorely-needed veteran leadership to the group.
I would feel so much better with him on the roster as insurance for Big Z if Zim picks up a knock or a red... you can then drop Ream into the lineup with the same dynamic vs. running out a Long / CCV pairing and having to change your entire style of play.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
Yunus Musah has become US's most important player, mainly because he has the ability to break lines himself on the dribble. GGG's system asks everyone else in the spine of his first-choice team to do things they're not good at.
(Zim and Long playing line-breaking passes, Adams receiving the ball on the half-turn, McKennie playing as a creator, not a disruptor).
September 29th, 2022 at 3:42 PM ^
I keep saying CCV would be the best pairing with Zim in the back to play the way Gergg wants to play but he seems to be out of favor. I don't understand it.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:42 PM ^
Edit: double post
September 29th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
I would have liked to see Busio get more opportunities in the lead up to the WC. I don't think we'll see him now, and probably won't see him in USMNT uniform until the next Gold Cup.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
Wait people still care about USMNT? I’m still waiting for the appropriate changes to be made to watch again. Until that time I’ll keep supporting my local club.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
What are the appropriate changes?
September 29th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
For the team? Needs better coaching. The last two friendlies were awful.
For soccer in the US? Need pro/rel. need to focus on developing our talent instead of the pay to play model. Youth clubs and academies are only for the rich here. Our system of development is so poor because of that compared to other countries. Oh and fans need to get out and support their local clubs. There’s already great soccer clubs throughout that don’t get the support they should because of MLS and the World Cup. Or Americans supporting European clubs in areas of the world they’ve never been.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
I've read your post, and I'm reading it again. The last two friendlies were, indeed, awful (though how do you know if you refuse to watch?).
But you're basically dead wrong about the rest.
1. Promotion/relegation: A fantasy. It's not happening in the US, nor should it. We do not have an ingrained soccer culture that dates back 100+ years here; the single-entity model has been THE crucial business decision that has allowed professional soccer to grow and thrive in this country. And the assurance of being in the "big league" all the time is a crucial part of that thriving, as the soccer-only stadiums that now saturate the league could not exist if there was a real chance that the occupant could get relegated and basically be a minor league team for years.
2. The academy system is growing significantly, including options that are definitely not "for the rich." There is work that needs to be done, yes, but using that as a reason not to watch the national team seems petty.
3. Fans do get out and support their local clubs in growing numbers. Minnesota, where I live, is growing its MLS fanbase significantly, and the smaller clubs are building real groups. You have surely seen highlights from a packed grandstand in Detroit. And resenting people for supporting *MLS teams* is, uh, not ideal.
4. Complaining about fans supporting soccer teams is... very counterproductive. So what if people support Tottenham or Barcelona? That gets them into the sport, and will in time grow support for teams here.
Ironically, it appears that you're angry that American soccer is not European soccer, and you get angry that people follow European soccer, and your response is... to refuse to support American soccer?
I mean, follow what you want. You don't have to agree with how things are done. You don't even have to like soccer at all.
But your reasoning appears specious. American soccer is not Europe. That's ok; it's still good, it is still improving, it is still worth rooting for.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
Pro/rel can already happen right now. Pretty easy to see the pyramid…
1. MLS
2. USL Championship
3. USL League One/NISA
4. USL League Two/NPSL
5. UPSL
6. local regional leagues
US open cup this year showed we need pro/rel. There was a USL Championship side in the finals. Just shows how close the level of play is between the top two leagues. But hey let’s keep pro/rel away right?
September 29th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
I feel like this was a deliberate non-response to the point made by Stephen about relegation vs. closed system.
September 29th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
The cries for promotion/relegation make no sense. You can have a professional league without promotion/relegation.
September 29th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
I thought I was going to disagree, but I agree with everything you said.
September 29th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
And music used to be good, and SNL sucks now, not like in my day, amirite?
September 29th, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
Found the Detroit City fan
September 29th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
does this mean you'll stop supporting your local club once the "appropriate changes" are made? You can only support a single team at a time or something?
Did you also give up on watching Michigan football under RichRod/Hoke?
September 29th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
No I wouldn’t stop supporting them. More people need to support local teams. Instead we get people that only watch the World Cup and support the corrupt organization. Way to go!
September 29th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
it's not an either/or, and the way you are a fan is not neccessarily how everyone has to do it. Yours is just a different flavor of elitism.