ASN: USMNT October roster launched: Reyna & Pulisic out, McKennie returns, large offensive shake-up

The USMNT roster for October is now out. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks all of it down along with his ideas on all of it – together with the return of McKennie, Musah, and Richards, the accidents to Reyna and Pulisic, and the highest story – the crew’s offensive shake up. 

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Brian Sciaretta

Posted
September 28, 2021
9:00 PM

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UNITED STATES nationwide crew head coach Gregg Berhalter at present named his 27-player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Jamaica in Austin on October seventh, away at Panama on October tenth, and in opposition to Costa Rica in Columbus on October 13.

With this roster there’s a lot to interrupt down. The September window provided some clues about who consists of the core group of gamers, and this roster largely retains the core group of the crew collectively from each summer season tournaments in addition to the primary three qualifiers.

The type of among the gamers had dictated adjustments – however the greatest story would be the accidents that may hold each Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna out of motion. There are additionally the foundations within the U.Okay. and different European-based international locations that stop gamers primarily based there from touring to red-list international locations corresponding to Panama. That lack of firepower will fore others to step up.

Right here is the roster in addition to my ideas.

The Roster: (Membership/Nation; Caps/Targets)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (New York Metropolis FC; 9/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester Metropolis/ENG; 23/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 10/0)

DEFENDERS (10): George Bello (Atlanta United; 4/0), John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 45/3), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona/ESP; 13/1), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 7/0), Shaq Moore (Tenerife/ESP; 11/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 46/1), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim/GER; 3/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 15/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 12/2), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 67/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 40/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 17/1), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Heracles/NED: 3/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 32/8), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 25/7), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 6/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 28/0)

FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Purple Bull Salzburg/AUT; 10/5), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 8/0), Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca/ESP; 5/1), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; 1/1), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 13/1), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 62/14)

An enormous shift in offense

The largest takeaway from this roster is the massive shift in offense. It’s a slightly large shake-up at this stage within the sport. Even with Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic each out with accidents, there are different important adjustments.

Gregg Berhalter dropped each Josh Sargent and Jordan Pefok from the roster in a pair of daring choices on the No. 9 place. As well as, Daryl Dike was not added to the crew as a alternative. 

A part of this, concerning Sargent, may very well be defined with the U.Okay guidelines that might stop him from going to Panama. 

There’s loads of proof to justify not bringing in Sargent (even for the primary and final video games) as he has struggled for each the nationwide crew not too long ago in addition to since shifting to Norwich from Werder Bremen. The choice to take away Pefok, nevertheless, is extra noticeable. Whereas he hasn’t scored a lot for the nationwide crew, he has been scoring targets in droves for BSC Younger Boys.

As an alternative, it appears like an enormous vote in confidence in Ricardo Pepi who had an outstanding debut with the crew in opposition to Honduras with a purpose and two assists. Pepi can even be joined by the return of Gyasi Zardes – who has been enjoying nicely for Columbus.  Tim Weah and Matthew Hoppe also can each play the No. 9 place as nicely.

Each Zardes, Weah, and Hoppe weren’t on the September roster and their inclusions have shifted out gamers who’ve been outstanding with the crew because it returned from the COVID shutdown final 12 months.

The wing place can be a giant shake up. With out Pulisic and Reyna, Berhalter has additionally elected to drop Konrad de la Fuente. That’s maybe a bit stunning because the Marseille winger earned the beginning within the crew’s first qualifier. The Miami-area native, nevertheless, has gone chilly in France these days after his large begin since his transfer from Barcelona.

This determination, nevertheless, might be possible to attract some consideration because the variety of pure wingers (who play solely that place for his or her golf equipment) is small. Weah fluctuates between wing and ahead, Brenden Aaronson is usually a central No. 10 in Austria – even gamers like Yunus Musah and Cristian Roldan play the wing as a second place. The return of Paul Arriola makes him one of many few pure wingers on this roster.

The underside line is that among the many wingers and middle forwards, you’ve gotten Sargent, Pefok, de la Fuente dropped (together with Reyna and Pulisic) in favor of Hoppe, Zardes, Weah, and Arriola.

That may be a large shakeup.

McKennie returns

The massive story of the final window was the dismissal of Weston McKennie for violating crew guidelines. It was later reported that he had left the lodge room and introduced again no less than one visitor – which had been in violation of crew coverage.

McKennie performed the crew’s first sport, a 0-0 draw with El Salvador, and struggled. He was dismissed upon the crew’s return to Nashville. Since his return to Juventus, McKennie has continued to play and his type has been up and down.

This camp goes to be revealing. It’s actually doable that he’ll present up with a chip on his shoulder and desirous to make a press release. That might be a giant enhance to the crew’s midfield. Mckennie may have numerous eyes on him, and he may very well be closely motivated to indicate his worth to the crew.

Whereas nothing is about, search for McKennie to deal with the media early in camp to place the current recollections of September to mattress and as an alternative deal with the long run.

Large additions: Musah, Richards, de la Torre

Outdoors of the offensive shakeup, there have been three large additions to this crew.

Within the midfield, Yunus Musah, who was not a part of the September roster as he solely not too long ago returned to the sector following a preseason harm. The No. 8 from Valencia was an enormous “dual national recruit” earlier within the 12 months, however he went as an unused substitute within the last rounds of the Nations League in June.

In current video games at Valencia, Musah has carried out pretty nicely nevertheless it has been apparent he’s nonetheless attending to the purpose the place he’s totally match.

Luca de la Torre is one other addition to the midfield that may please followers. The San Diego native has been an everyday starter for Heracles within the Eredivisie and whereas that membership is midtable in that league, his numbers are sometimes wonderful. He doesn’t rating or help too typically, however he does cross nicely (with an extended vary), he’s not often dispossessed, and wins his duels.

Chris Richards is a participant Berhalter charges extremely however sadly hasn’t been ready to make use of a lot in 2021. The younger central defender has gone on one other mortgage from Bayern Munich to Hoffenheim the place he has continued to impress. This previous weekend he was named to Kicker’s Bundesliga crew of the week.

It is going to be fascinating to see how central protection is lined up. Miles Robinson has performed nicely for membership and nation. Berhalter has given Mark McKenzie essential minutes in 2021. Tim Ream is seen because the crew’s savvy veteran. That results in John Brooks – who is without doubt one of the crew’s most completed defenders however can be a participant not enjoying nicely.

Different notable omissions/inclusions

As with every roster, there are at all times some gamers individuals are shocked had been overlooked. We’ve mentioned Jordan Pefok, Josh Sargent, and Konrad de la Fuente already – however there are others.

Joe Scally has been very spectacular at each proper and left again for Borussia Monchengladbach however he’s nonetheless at a really early stage in his profession. Even when he made the roster, he can be behind Dest and Yedlin on the proper. Antonee Robinson is the beginning left again and Berhalter in all probability needs one other left-footed back-up (whereas Dest also can play on the left).

The addition of Shaq Moore is considerably stunning. Moore hasn’t been enjoying a lot for Tenerife in Spain’s second tier and has been a backup since returning to the membership from the Gold Cup. His addition may increase questions on Julian Araujo not but being keen to simply accept a call-up.

Julian Inexperienced was not named to the crew once more and Berhalter seems content material with the opposite choices at every of the positions Inexperienced performs – No. 8, wing, or second ahead.

Jesus Ferreira wasn’t named to the crew and that was a shock. The younger FC Dallas attacker has been in red-hot type these days and Behralter has spoken extremely of is earlier appearances with the nationwide crew.

Matt Miazga’s omission shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock. Sure, he began for Deportivo Alaves in a current win over Atletico Madrid, however Berhalter clearly favors Brooks, Robinson, Richards, McKenzie, and Ream proper now. Different central defenders who had been minimize had been James Sands and Walker Zimmerman and each of these gamers are within the combine with Miazga.

Ethan Horvath was left off the roster and his struggles at Nottingham Forest in all probability made it a smart move to stay along with his membership and try and win the beginning job there.

General ideas

There are additionally quibbles anybody might have, however that is among the many strongest rosters doable for the U.S. crew to discipline with the large accidents to Reyna and Pulisic – possible the crew’s two finest gamers.

The crew has quite a bit going for it. Robinson and Dest are prime fullbacks. Central protection is loaded proper now. Adams-McKennie-Musah may very well be a powerful midfield. Kellyn Acosta is an ideal back-up in many alternative midfield positions with De la Torre being a deserving newcomer. The crew also needs to really feel comfy with Aaronson and Weah on the wings.

The questions stay

1)      Who begins in purpose?
2)      Is Pepi able to be “the guy” or will it’s largely Zardes up prime?
3)      Is there sufficient depth on the wings?

Whereas gifted, it is simple to neglect how younger and inexperienced this crew is.

13 gamers are age 23 and youthful:The squad averages 20 caps and 10 appearances in official competitors. The common age is 24 years, 203 days.

9 gamers need to make their World Cup qualifying debut: Gianluca Busio, Luca de la Torre, Matthew Hoppe, Sean Johnson, Shaq Moore, Yunus Musah, Chris Richards, Zack Steffen and Tim Weah.

That being stated, Berhalter is assuaging the youth and inexperience with continuity and chemistry. In whole, 18 gamers return from the September spherical of qualifier and 24 gamers had been half one of many crew’s two championships through the summer season ( 14 within the Nations League, 12 on the Gold Cup, and two on each).

This window will as soon as once more be a take a look at of depth however the U.S. has the gamers to get it carried out.