ASN: Flawed U.S. Roster Presents Andi Herzog With Problem

On Friday america U-23 coach named a 20-man roster for the Olympic qualifying match that begins on Oct. 1 in Kansas Metropolis. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta shares his ideas on the squad under.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
September 19, 2015
1:30 PM

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Jordan Morris offers massive enhance
Two weeks in the past Jurgen Klinsmann talked about that Jordan Morris may be part of the complete nationwide group for the October 10 CONCACAF Cup showdown with Mexico moderately than taking part in with the U-23 group for Olympic qualifying. Later, when the Stanford College ahead was named to the preliminary roster for the Mexico match, it added to the hypothesis that he may miss the Olympic qualifying effort.

Whereas John Brooks and DeAndre Yedlin are age-eligible for the U-23 group, neither has ever been a part of it. Morris, however, had been an necessary a part of the squad and is definitely the group’s finest objective scorer. 

U.S. U-23 coach Andi Herzog and Klinsmann got here to the suitable determination with Morris. He’s a key participant with the U-23s and a possible starter; with the senior squad he could be extra more likely to function a backup.

The Miazga—Carter-Vickers partnership

The 2015 U-20 World Cup featured top-of-the-line defensive performances ever from an American youth nationwide group. Central defenders Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter Vickers established a principally impenetrable wall and developed large chemistry.

Each gamers are younger nevertheless it seems as if Herzog goes to proceed to roll with these two for Olympic qualifying. It will likely be the third official worldwide match the 2 have performed collectively in 2015.

So whereas the 20-year-old Miazga and Carter-Vickers, 17, are younger for an under-23 competitors, Herzog is hoping that these two can reprise their robust performances from earlier within the 12 months.

Who will begin in objective?

First-choice U-23 goalkeeper Cody Cropper underwent knee surgical procedure final week and can miss Olympic qualifying. That was an enormous blow to the group and creates a battle for the No. 1 shirt. 

Zack Steffen is taking part in for Freiburg’s reserve group however is coming off an impressive exhibiting on the 2015 U-20 World Cup. Ethan Horvath was the backup for a lot of the final U-20 cycle however was denied his launch for the World Cup—which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him. The Colorado native is now beginning in objective for  Molde FK and has performed in—and carried out properly in—Europa League video games and Champions League qualifiers.

Each are viable choices for Herzog. It will likely be fascinating to see who emerges as the highest backstop.

Inexperienced’s absence is noteworthy

Herzog mentioned that a number of gamers weren’t launched for this match and it was pretty apparent who most of these gamers had been. Rubio Rubin is a high younger American ahead who performs for Utrecht’s first group and Shane O’Neill is now taking part in for a Belgian group that’s determined for factors. Neither will likely be a part of qualifying.

However what about Julian Inexperienced? Did Bayern Munich decline to launch the 20-year-old World Cup goalscorer? Or did Herzog merely resolve that Inexperienced wasn’t ok? A U.S. Soccer consultant mentioned that Herzog opted not to talk about particular gamers however the coach could be chatting with reporters forward of the match.

If Herzog merely determined to not embrace Inexperienced, it might be a shocking setback for the Tampa-born attacker. It has been a horrible 12 months for Inexperienced on the membership degree, the place his mortgage to Hamburg didn’t lead to significant taking part in time. In the summertime window he didn’t exit on mortgage and as a substitute remained with Bayern’s reserves. Now it might seem his inventory has light on the worldwide degree as properly.

Protection lacks depth

Other than the scarce choices for outdoor midfielders, an enormous concern for this squad is the general lack of defensive depth. It ought to hardly come as a shock on condition that the 2013 U.S. U-20 World Cup group struggled within the again and now Brooks and Yedlin usually are not taking part in with this group and they’re a part of this age group.

As an alternative, it’s constructed on gamers who lack skilled expertise or are taking part in there out of place. Fullback Eric Miller will not be incomes common MLS minutes whereas Dillon Serna solely performs left again for youth nationwide groups. All through his complete membership profession he has performed as an attacking winger.

Birmingham Metropolis launched Will Packwood after final season and he hasn’t been caught on with an MLS group regardless of a number of trials. Carter-Vickers is likely one of the most proficient teenager American gamers however he’s nonetheless solely a reserve group participant and is the youngest participant on the group by a large margin.

Backup fullback choices are skinny ought to suspensions or accidents restrict Herzog’s decisions. Matt Poster can play proper again or central protection. Marc Pelosi can play left again in an emergency and Jerome Kiesewetter has performed proper again sometimes for the reserve group at Stuttgart.

Extra Roster Issues

The 2012 U-23 carried the burden of excessive expectations and when it didn’t qualify for the Olympics it was an enormous disappointment. This unheralded group, nonetheless, is not going to be anticipated to dominate. Sure, the U.S. ought to qualify for the Olympics and the chances are that it’s going to. However there are many holes on this group—an absence of fullbacks, younger central defenders, and no wingers.

Of the 4 forwards listed on the roster (Alonso Hernandez, Morris, Maki Tall, and Kiesewetter), none are starters for top-flight skilled golf equipment.

The midfield is comparatively skilled however solely Luis Gil and Wil Trapp have logged skilled minutes previous to this 12 months. Pelosi, Fatai Alashe, and Polster are of their first MLS season. Gedion Zelalem is doing properly within the Scottish Championship however he is not facking top-tier competitors. Emerson Hyndman has not been with Fulham’s first group this season.

Extra vexing, each midfield participant on the roster is primarily a central midfielder. However they cannot all crowd within the center—any person must enterprise out large.

That Was Then and This Is Now 
If the Yanks survive qualifying, the dialog shifts fully. The Olympics are 11 months away and the three overage alternatives will add much-needed expertise to the group.

And lots of the gamers not launched for this match, together with Rubin and O’Neill, in addition to the injured Cropper, Desevio Payne, and Khiry Shelton, will possible be accessible. Age-eligible senior group gamers like John Brooks and DeAndre Yedlin may also obtain roster spots.

Plus there are different under-23 gamers beginning to step up for his or her golf equipment now who might get a shot on the Olympic roster. Paul Arriola is again to taking part in for Tijuana, Lynden Gooch is closing in on the primary group for Sunderland, Sean Davis has been efficient with the Crimson Bulls, and Tim Parker is likely one of the finest rookies in Main League Soccer.

It is completely potential {that a} reconstituted United States Olympic group may very well be a robust medal contender come subsequent summer time. 

Merely attending to Rio, nonetheless, will likely be an incredible problem.