ASN: Ideas on Berhalter’s 23-player USMNT roster for October friendlies

The October USMNT roster is out and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides up some ideas on it

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 05, 2023
12:00 PM

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UNITED STATES nationwide workforce head coach Gregg Berhalter names a 23-man roster on Thursday for the workforce’s upcoming friendlies towards Germany on Saturday, Oct. 14 in East Hartford, Conn. after which towards Ghana on Tuesday Oct. 17 in Nashville, TN.

The roster accommodates largely very acquainted faces as 19 of the 23 gamers had been a part of the workforce’s September camp. One of many 4 gamers who was not a part of the workforce final month is Gio Reyna, and that will probably be an enormous story when camp opens in Nashville subsequent week.

There are just a few absences which might be notable – corresponding to Antonee Robinson, Walker Zimmerman – that Berhalter was anticipated to deal with later within the day on a convention name.

Right here is the roster together with some ideas

The Roster

(Membership/Nation; Caps/Targets)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 33/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 12/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 28/2), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 52/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 12/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 26/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 6/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 7/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 17/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 46/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 29/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 20/4), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED;64/0)

FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 34/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 4/2), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 1/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 18/9), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 62/26), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 33/5) 

Gio Reyna returns

We knew that Gio Reyna was going to return to the nationwide workforce before later. Berhalter mentioned final month he hoped Reyna would have the ability to return in October. Matt Crocker instructed media earlier than the USWNT sport in September that Berhalter and Reyna had spoken, and that Reyna could be known as up if wholesome. Reyna was with the workforce as not too long ago as Nations League however this, after all, will see him play underneath Berhalter.

Everybody is aware of the circumstances of this. Everybody is aware of the ugliness between the 2 that began with the World Cup and continued for the next a number of months. It doesn’t matter what, the state of affairs might be by no means going to be perfect. Reyna’s dad and mom, Claudio and Danielle, are prone to be on the video games and in shut proximity to the workforce.

However the purpose of this camp on this situation is to ascertain a working relationship, tackle the media about every thing, and transfer on. Ideally, after this camp, there will probably be little to speak about between the 2 events in future call-ups and the story will attain its conclusion.

The opposite situation about that is about the place Reyna is as a participant, proper now. He was injured in Nations League towards Canada, and he missed all of preseason. He has made the bench for Dortmund the previous two weeks however has but to play.

Expectations for Reyna at this camp have to be dialed again. He isn’t in place to start out these video games and his minutes are in all probability going to be restricted – which sounds acquainted. However hopefully each events perceive him having a restricted function once more.

Maloney’s first call-up

ASN has spoken with Lennard Maloney twice. The primary was forward of his first U.S. U-20 camp in 2018 (he performed in two U-20 camps that fall and people have been his solely U.S. call-ups at any age stage till now). The second interview was this previous July forward of his first Bundesliga season with FC Heidenheim. He mentioned that within the final sport of the 2022/23 season when Heidenheim was promoted in a dramatic win. Maloney was compelled out of the sport early within the second after a collision knocked him unconscious. However he was in a position to sit on the bench and watch his workforce prevail.

He mentioned that when he realized his workforce was being promoted, his first ideas had been on being in a greater place to make the U.S. nationwide workforce.

“Everybody says it and I mean it too – it’s an honor to play for your country,” Maloney mentioned. “When we won that last game, it was one of my first thoughts, too. The World Cup is coming up soon. What better way could there be than playing in your own country in front of your family and friends? It is also a goal that I have to play for the United States. I’d be more than honored to get that call and step into the plane, fly over. But in the end, the coach decides. If he needs me, I’ll be there. Otherwise, I’ll just keep watching all the games.”

Final season with Heidenheim, Maloney switched positions from central protection to defensive midfield. He mentioned he loved the swap when it was carried out by Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt.

“He came to me, ahead of the Hannover game where one of our midfielders got injured during the week and he said we want to try something,” Maloney defined. “That game was pretty good. From there, every minute I got more in midfield was making me better. I’ve learned a lot – like getting more comfortable with the ball and seeing more space and passing and where you have to pass and stuff like that. But I think putting me in midfield was a good thing.”

What can American followers anticipate from Maloney?

For one, he covers lots of floor however will not be significantly quick. He in all probability received’t have the ability to play as a lone No. 6. He’s very defensive in nature and is a wonderful protect in entrance of the backline. He works extraordinarily arduous in his twin successful, aerials, and within the bodily facet of the sport.

He’s considered a wonderful teammate and a simple participant to get together with.

Midfield formations

The continuing seek for play with out Tyler Adams continues. Having Yunus Musah sit additional again has been working properly, however there must be extra choices as properly.

Johnny Cardoso and Lennard Maloney additionally each play the No.6, however each are totally different than Adams and will require the workforce to shift formations to presumably two defensive midfielders in a double pivot.

Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna are extra attacking midfielders and Luca de la Torre is a hybrid midfielder who can serve lots of totally different roles.

With Reyna probably restricted, Tillman and de la Torre are prone to play vital minutes.

Weston McKennie and Musah are mainstay starters. However the remainder of the midfielders listed on this roster have been much less safe with their roles and their taking part in time. This camp is an enormous alternative for all of them.

Working with the U-23 workforce

The primary U.S. U-23 roster is anticipated to be launched on Friday. With that workforce kicking off, it probably reduces the necessity for the complete nationwide workforce to call-up younger gamers simply to have them sit the bench. If their golf equipment cooperate and launch, youthful gamers who’re within the combine for the complete nationwide workforce can go along with the U-23 workforce the place they will begin video games, play lots, and take management roles the place they should produce. That may be an enormous growth software. Then after the Olympics, the highest gamers from that workforce are in a greater place to compete for minutes.

There are lot of gamers on this class however some are Tanner Tessmann, Bryan Reynolds, Aidan Morris, Duncan McGuire, John Tolkin, Caleb Wiley, Jalen Neal, Cade Cowell, and others. Gamers like Neal are injured, however we’re prone to see loads of gamers who’ve been capped in 2023 to be with that workforce.