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Geisterfahrer said:
Love how much fight this team has. Poch has changed the culture, we were soft as baby poo under triple GGG.

I’m still not convinced by a lot of the MLS guys (Roldan, Berhalter, Arfsten, Miles, Luna and now Ream) but Freeman looks legit.
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Personally I think Berhalter, Arfsten, Luna, and Ream have a real shot to deservedly make the team. Berhalter showed last night that he's probably the best set-piece taker on the team, which is a definite weakness, and our depth in central midfield is not great (I would probably prefer him right now to, say, Tessman even though Tessman plays in a tougher league, or Aidan Morris; whether there's a spot for one of those guys might depend on whether Johnny Cardoso can get healthy and back into form by the spring). Luna is definitely a risk to get bullied against some opponents, and the attacking midfield picture is crowded - Pulisic and Tillman are presumably locks, which leaves Reyna, Luna, and Brendan Aaronson, among others, fighting for 1-2 spots - but personally I think he's been more impactful than Aaronson, at least, lately. Arfsten has played pretty well lately and is probably in a dogfight with Freeman for that last wing-back spot assuming Dest, Weah, and Antonee are all healthy. I used to dislike Ream, but he was one of our best and most consistent players in the 2022 cycle; he's a billion years old now and his quickness holding up at the WC is a concern, but if nothing else I think Poch recognizes that he's a respected team leader with a ton of experience and (assuming no health issues) he's likely to make the team for that reason alone.
 
I'm thinking our best XI that would play if we had a WC match tomorrow, assuming everyone is healthy, is something like:

Balogun Pulisic
Robinson McKennie Musah Dest
Adams
Raam Richards McKenzie
Freese

To me the back line is obviously the most unsettled position; Richards is a lock if healthy but several guys are probably in play for those other two spots (Scally, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Miles Robinson). I also wonder if Poch will want to get both Tillman and Pulisic on the field, which would probably mean more of a 3-4-2-1 look with Tillman replacing either McKennie or Musah.
 
rodoheel said:
Personally I think Berhalter, Arfsten, Luna, and Ream have a real shot to deservedly make the team. Berhalter showed last night that he's probably the best set-piece taker on the team, which is a definite weakness, and our depth in central midfield is not great (I would probably prefer him right now to, say, Tessman even though Tessman plays in a tougher league, or Aidan Morris; whether there's a spot for one of those guys might depend on whether Johnny Cardoso can get healthy and back into form by the spring). Luna is definitely a risk to get bullied against some opponents, and the attacking midfield picture is crowded - Pulisic and Tillman are presumably locks, which leaves Reyna, Luna, and Brendan Aaronson, among others, fighting for 1-2 spots - but personally I think he's been more impactful than Aaronson, at least, lately. Arfsten has played pretty well lately and is probably in a dogfight with Freeman for that last wing-back spot assuming Dest, Weah, and Antonee are all healthy. I used to dislike Ream, but he was one of our best and most consistent players in the 2022 cycle; he's a billion years old now and his quickness holding up at the WC is a concern, but if nothing else I think Poch recognizes that he's a respected team leader with a ton of experience and (assuming no health issues) he's likely to make the team for that reason alone.
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Berhalter is great on set pieces, but Tessman is far more talented. It’s not really a close call.

I like Ream a lot, I like all the guys that show some ferocity (Luna, Berhalter, even Roldan), that prove they’ll bleed for it. But the talent gap between them and our top guys is massive. Johnny Cardoso vs Roldan is not a fair fight.
 
Geisterfahrer said:
Berhalter is great on set pieces, but Tessman is far more talented. It’s not really a close call.

I like Ream a lot, I like all the guys that show some ferocity (Luna, Berhalter, even Roldan), that prove they’ll bleed for it. But the talent gap between them and our top guys is massive. Johnny Cardoso vs Roldan is not a fair fight.
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Tessman may be more talented, but has he looked better in a US shirt than Berhalter? I would argue no. Talent isn't the sole thing that's going to determine the squad. There's system fit, form, and personality to consider. I don't think it would be crazy at all to take Berhalter over Tessman. At least at this point; still several months to go in which people may get hurt, fall out of form, etc.

You're not going to get any argument on me with Roldan vs. Cardoso. I think Roldan is a very long shot to make the team; I'd have him last in line out of all the CM we've been discussing. But Cardoso has barely played this season due to injury and has never really had a good performance for the national team. On talent he's absolutely the 4th CM on the roster behind the big three (McKennie/Musah/Adams). But will he stay healthy and get in form over the next few months? And, will we be taking 5 CM on the roster anyway? Probably depends on how many attacking midfielders Poch wants to take from the Reyna/Luna/Aaronson group. If two of those guys make the team along with Pulisic and Tillman, does that mean only four traditional CM are on the team? I'm not really sure and haven't really tried to crunch the numbers. Maybe 5 CM go regardless. But if they do, I think Berhalter has as good an argument as anyone, right now, to be that guy. In part because he's been in good form for the national team, and in part because he has a skill set (set pieces) that we may need. Sort of like how Brad Davis made the team in 2014.
 
rodoheel said:
Tessman may be more talented, but has he looked better in a US shirt than Berhalter? I would argue no. Talent isn't the sole thing that's going to determine the squad. There's system fit, form, and personality to consider. I don't think it would be crazy at all to take Berhalter over Tessman. At least at this point; still several months to go in which people may get hurt, fall out of form, etc.

You're not going to get any argument on me with Roldan vs. Cardoso. I think Roldan is a very long shot to make the team; I'd have him last in line out of all the CM we've been discussing. But Cardoso has barely played this season due to injury and has never really had a good performance for the national team. On talent he's absolutely the 4th CM on the roster behind the big three (McKennie/Musah/Adams). But will he stay healthy and get in form over the next few months? And, will we be taking 5 CM on the roster anyway? Probably depends on how many attacking midfielders Poch wants to take from the Reyna/Luna/Aaronson group. If two of those guys make the team along with Pulisic and Tillman, does that mean only four traditional CM are on the team? I'm not really sure and haven't really tried to crunch the numbers. Maybe 5 CM go regardless. But if they do, I think Berhalter has as good an argument as anyone, right now, to be that guy. In part because he's been in good form for the national team, and in part because he has a skill set (set pieces) that we may need. Sort of like how Brad Davis made the team in 2014.
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OMG you had to remind me of Brad Davis. One of couple you could single out for taking Landon’s spot.

I’d bet you $1 that Roldan makes the team and Musah doesn’t.
 
rodoheel said:
I'm thinking our best XI that would play if we had a WC match tomorrow, assuming everyone is healthy, is something like:

Balogun Pulisic
Robinson McKennie Musah Dest
Adams
Raam Richards McKenzie
Freese

To me the back line is obviously the most unsettled position; Richards is a lock if healthy but several guys are probably in play for those other two spots (Scally, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Miles Robinson). I also wonder if Poch will want to get both Tillman and Pulisic on the field, which would probably mean more of a 3-4-2-1 look with Tillman replacing either McKennie or Musah.
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musah does not appear to be part of poch's plans whatsoever.

he hasn't been called-up since march and is rarely playing for atalanta.

something will have to change for him to be a part of the calculation.
 
4thgenheel said:
musah does not appear to be part of poch's plans whatsoever.

he hasn't been called-up since march and is rarely playing for atalanta.

something will have to change for him to be a part of the calculation.
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This is a good point. I actually didn't realize how little he had been playing for his club team.
 
rodoheel said:
This is a good point. I actually didn't realize how little he had been playing for his club team.
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yeah, it's not ideal because as you said he's probably in our most talented 11 but the lack of national team call ups and club minutes don't bode well.

i think there's uncertainty about how he's best used. his decision making and defensive instincts aren't great so he needs to be paired in a midfield with guys who excel in those areas. his athleticism and physicality and ball carrying ability are high level.
 
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4thgenheel said:
yeah, it's not ideal because as you said he's probably in our most talented 11 but the lack of national team call ups and club minutes doesn't bode well.

i think there's uncertainty about how he's best used. his decision making and defensive instincts aren't great so he needs to be paired in a midfield with guys who excel in those areas. his athleticism and physicality and ball carrying ability are high level.
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That makes me lean to thinking that I actually should have us in a 3-4-2-1 in our best case starting lineup right now:

Balogun
Pulisic Tillman
Robinson McKennie Adams Dest
Ream Richards McKenzie
Freese

But I dunno if we could hold up in the midfield with that group. It would be asking a lot of Adams and McKennie.
 
I don't see how Cardoso or Musah make the team, and I really like Musah. I feel like both have been bypassed due to their lack of playing time and/or injuries. I hope one or both can get back on track. Berhalter can really put the ball on a platter with his set piece delivery, and I don't know if you saw it or not, but in that scrum with Paraguay the other night, he was one of the first folks in there standing up for Freeman. This is probably going to sound crazy, but if you have a team that actually likes and trusts each other, plays for each other, has a couple of guys that are good at holding the group together, and really and truly doesn't care who gets the accolades, that type of team is going to do well. You see it in multiple sports and various levels. I felt like this particular group in this cycle had that.
 
rodoheel said:
That makes me lean to thinking that I actually should have us in a 3-4-2-1 in our best case starting lineup right now:

Balogun
Pulisic Tillman
Robinson McKennie Adams Dest
Ream Richards McKenzie
Freese

But I dunno if we could hold up in the midfield with that group. It would be asking a lot of Adams and McKennie.
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yep - something like this looks like our best based on current conditions.
 
rodoheel said:
That makes me lean to thinking that I actually should have us in a 3-4-2-1 in our best case starting lineup right now:

Balogun
Pulisic Tillman
Robinson McKennie Adams Dest
Ream Richards McKenzie
Freese

But I dunno if we could hold up in the midfield with that group. It would be asking a lot of Adams and McKennie.
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That would be a pretty great starting 11. Can only quibble. I think Gio is more talented than Tillman, better vision and line-breaking delivery, but Tillman has better work rate and recovery, and Poch loves him.

I thought Trusty looked really good Tuesday as well. He was effective defensively but very good playing the ball forward including the assist on Freeman’s second. He had several other excellent balls into midfield, and his athleticism and speed is way beyond Ream. Ream will get badly exposed in WC. I’m not sure Trusty is the answer necessarily but his play was super encouraging.

Another good back three could be Freeman, Richards, McKenzie.
 
Geisterfahrer said:
That would be a pretty great starting 11. Can only quibble. I think Gio is more talented than Tillman, better vision and line-breaking delivery, but Tillman has better work rate and recovery, and Poch loves him.

I thought Trusty looked really good Tuesday as well. He was effective defensively but very good playing the ball forward including the assist on Freeman’s second. He had several other excellent balls into midfield, and his athleticism and speed is way beyond Ream. Ream will get badly exposed in WC. I’m not sure Trusty is the answer necessarily but his play was super encouraging.

Another good back three could be Freeman, Richards, McKenzie.
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I agree with you about Reyna's natural gifts, but he's currently a long way from the height of his powers after wandering in the wilderness for a few years. While he's been refreshingly good in his recent USMNT appearances, he's barely playing for his mediocre club team. Tillman, meanwhile, is just now coming off injury but before the injury was playing regularly for one of the best teams in the Bundesliga. I just don't think there's anyway Reyna is playing over a healthy Tillman in the WC barring a significant reversal in their fortunes between now and then. Tillman is simply a better player at the moment.

And yeah, really the back three is anyone's guess. I think Ream is less likely to be exposed in a back 3 than if it were a 2-man CB pairing, but certainly a valid concern whether he can still stay with world-class players at his age. He's just so much more experienced at both the highest levels of club and international soccer than any of the alternatives.
 
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