ASN: MD-1, USMNT roster ideas, place battles and points for November

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta presents up his ideas on the USMNT with the primary leg towards Jamaica quick approaching. He appears on the roster, the place battles, and the way it builds for the longer term. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
November 12, 2024
12:00 PM

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THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL group is presently in camp getting ready for its Nations League quarterfinals towards Jamaica the place the groups will play in Kingston on Thursday, November 14 and in St. Louis on Monday, November 18. On Sunday, head coach Mauricio Pochettino named his roster for the video games and for his second camp, he continued with principally the identical group of gamers.

After a combined outcomes and uneven performances in his first window, these will function the primary aggressive video games for the USMNT coach who was employed in September.

Listed here are my ideas on the roster, the group, and the place battles forward of Thursday’s sport.

USMNT NOVEMBER ROSTER
(Golf equipment, Caps/Targets)

GOALKEEPERS (4): Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona Atletic/ESP; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 47/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 15/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 64/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 48/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 17/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 46/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 15/1), Johnny Cardoso (Actual Betis/ESP; 17/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 9/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 43/1), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 4/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 16/0)

FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX; 10/1),Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 31/11), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 74/31), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey/MEX; 9/4), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Alex Zendejas (Membership América/MEX; 9/1)

Why no backup fullbacks?

On the roster, Pochettino chosen the conventional first alternative fullbacks (minus Sergino Dest) in Joe Scally and Antonee Robinson. He didn’t choose the conventional backups. With proper again, Marlon Fossey had the position since September whereas Shaq Moore was on the Copa America squad. In the meantime on the left facet, Kristoffer Lund was dropped and he has misplaced his beginning job not too long ago at Palermo.

As a substitute of attempting new backups like John Tolkin or Bryan Reynolds, Pochettino is opting the backup positions go to gamers who can play there as second positions. Specifically, left-footed central defenders Tim Ream or Auston Trusty on the left. On the proper, Yunus Musah and Tim Weah have performed the place with their golf equipment.

For me, it means that Pochettino has a precedence to call the strongest gamers to a roster, even when meaning shaving off a number of gamers who’re in backup positions. As a substitute of backup fullbacks he introduced an additional central defender and an additional midfielder.

It’s inconceivable to say but what the strategy will probably be because the cycle strikes ahead. However for now, it was the primary small shakeup on the roster.

Central protection mixtures

Within the two October friendlies, Pochettino checked out three central defenders – and it could have been two had Mark McKenzie not been injured in warmups. As a substitute, it was Ream and McKenzie within the first sport and Ream and Miles Robinson within the second sport.

Now along with these three, Auston Trusty and Chris Richards are additionally on the roster. Richards not too long ago returned from a hamstring damage to make the bench over the weekend for Crystal Palace however he was an unused sub. As a substitute, he enters this camp having not performed since September twenty first – a span of eight weeks. Whether or not he’s too rusty to play in these video games stays to be seen.

We nonetheless don’t know what Pochettino believes is his greatest central protection mixture or whether or not he needs to make use of these video games to guage extra potentialities.

Midfield cohesion

One of many extra encouraging features of this roster is that eight gamers on the roster are recognized as midfielders (Brenden Aaronson is curiously labeled a midfielder regardless of sometimes being listed as an attacker in earlier rosters) and all of them have been taking part in effectively over the previous month since October. Aidan Morris continues to do effectively for Middlesbrough, Tanner Tessmann has damaged by at Lyon, Johnny Cardoso is on the upswing at Actual Betis, Malik Tillman has been a purpose why PSV are atop the Eredivisie title, Gianluca Busio has been one of many higher gamers on a Venezia group that’s struggling in Serie A, Yunus Musah not too long ago got here off an enormous efficiency within the Champions League towards Actual Madrid,  and Aaronson has been part of Leeds United’s second place standing. On high of this, Weston McKennie is a mainstay with Juventus.

This could create lots of competitions for minutes for these coming two video games. Pochettino has a to work with. Gamers ought to really feel that they should be at their greatest to see the sector and in the event that they get the prospect, they should reap the benefits of it.

If the USMNT doesn’t get good performances out of its midfield, will probably be very disappointing given the membership type of all the gamers on the roster. Pochettino wants to search out mixtures that take advantage of the expertise and type.

Choices within the assault

Christian Pulisic is the group’s greatest participant and is the center of the assault. Pochettino mentioned he’s curious and excited to have Tim Weah on the roster for the primary time. That ought to create the expectations that these are the 2 wing choices. After them, it’s not clear. Cade Cowell is unproven with the nationwide group and Alex Zendejas has by no means seen his Membership America type translate over to the USMNT (and at instances he appears nervous the place he forces the difficulty).

With Wright out, the backup wing choices are up for grabs for unproven gamers. As a younger participant, Cowell ought to really feel probably the most excited concerning the alternative forward. He’s had some spectacular video games for Chivas in Liga MX.

There may be additionally the prospect that Pochettino may fill the backup positions by midfielders corresponding to Aaronson and Tillman, who’ve each performed on the wing.

In heart ahead, Brandon Vazquez and Ricardo Pepi get the nod with Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun injured.

Vazquez may probably have lots to achieve as a result of Pochettino on Sunday indicated he was impressed with Vazquez in the course of the October camp. Sadly for Vazquez, Pochettino mentioned the previous FC Cincinnati ahead didn’t get the minutes he anticipated after he returned to his membership, Monterrey.

Vazquez has his foot within the door – which he by no means received beneath Gregg Berhalter. However he must impress on this camp after which power his manner onto the sector with Monterrey. If he does, he may get a leg up on the competitors.

However Pepi may even be seeking to impress, and he has quietly been getting extra minutes at PSV the place he’s displaying himself to be a very good choice to ultimately exchange Luuk de Jong. Nonetheless, he has the identical issues as Vazquez in that he doesn’t play lots – though (additionally like Vazquez) he does have good manufacturing numbers when he does play.

I count on each Pepi and Vazquez will probably be hungry and there ought to be no drawback motivating these two gamers who’ve each needed to struggle for the whole lot up thus far of their careers.

Kochen inclusion

Diego Kochen was one of many shocking picks for this roster and it’s one more indication that U.S. Soccer charges the Barcelona Athletic goalkeeper extremely. Score younger goalkeepers is troublesome and growth at this place additionally requires luck to find a spot the place the participant can discover minutes. However U.S. youth nationwide groups have struggled to provide excessive potential goalkeepers in latest cycles (a part of that is because of the truth that no such American goalkeepers exist).

It would not appear seemingly that Kochen will play this window and he’s extra more likely to be with the U.S. U-20 group in 2025. However it is a solution to give confidence to a younger goalkeeper whereas additionally getting a first-hand look.

Shocking omissions

Any roster all the time has names which might be surprisingly (to various levels) not included. We’ve already spoken about Kristoffer Lund whose absence is because of him dropping his beginning job at Palermo and Marlon Fossey who has been up and down at Normal Liege. At this level, Ethan Horvath’s omission shouldn’t be a shock as he’s glued to the bench at Cardiff Metropolis because the backup goalkeeper. However Horvath has been a constant a part of the USMNT for years that his absence deserves a point out.

Tyler Adams wasn’t included however his absence was an apparent determination on condition that Adams has solely simply returned to motion with Bournemouth, and that’s the place his priorities ought to be after lacking a lot time.

Paxten Aaronson looks as if he’s probably the most important absence given his excellent first three months of the season at Utrecht. However to incorporate him requires bumping one other participant – maybe his brother.

There are different gamers who have been hoping to contend for the backup fullback spots – which went to no person. Bryan Reynolds appears seemingly the subsequent man past Fossey as he’s in the identical league and maybe even higher than Fossey. John Tolkin appears to be an choice after Lund. Tolkin continues to have a pleasant season with the New York Purple Bulls, and he performed effectively for the Olympic group this summer time. 

Pochettino elected to deliver lots of midfielders and wingers to this camp. He simply ran out spots to think about gamers like Jack McGlynn, Diego Luna, Griffin Yow, or Lennard Maloney (who has a slight damage, however seemingly wouldn’t have been included anyway).

Heart forwards, with out Balogun or Sargent there are others to think about together with Pepi. Damion Downs has six targets on the season for FC Koln and Duncan McGuire had one other double-digit season for Orlando. However Brandon Vazquez did sufficient in October to impress Pochettino for one more probability. Nonetheless, it’s as much as Vazquez to earn extra taking part in time for Monterrey.

Shifting ahead

We’re nonetheless within the early phases of the Pochettino period. He was employed in the course of the September window after which he needed to concentrate on the October and November home windows. It all the time appeared unlikely he was going to make important adjustments to the roster for these two camps. As a substitute, the strategy has been about observing, attending to know, and introducing his administration model to the prevailing core.

However after this window, there’s a longer interval for Pochettino to check the group and the gamers and do what he needs to do.

As soon as this camp wraps up, he could have roughly eight weeks till the annual January camp, the place he can take a look at a number of the high home group – my guess is on the youthful facet with gamers like Luna, McGlynn, and many others. Then he could have one other two months till the March camp (which will probably be a complete of 4 months between worldwide home windows).

One of many greatest takeaways from Pochettino’s media name on Sunday was that wished gamers who have been determined to play with the nationwide group and who handled each sport like a World Cup closing. That was a trademark of the U.S. group within the 90’s and early 00’s.

These themes have been additionally echoed by Pochettino in how he seen “dual national recruiting” in that he needs gamers to persuade the federation that they

Right here is the complete quote from Mauricio Pochettino on twin nationwide recruting with the #USMNT. – the boss would not undergo from #DualNationalPanic pic.twitter.com/AbyzLcd0hJ

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 11, 2024

are determined to play for the U.S. nationwide group. Not that the federation is determined to have the gamers.

Pochettino additionally went on so as to add that perhaps much less expertise is best if it has a group that has extra desperation and want.

It’s a philosophy I agree with as effectively in relation to participant choice and twin nationals. All of it comes all the way down to desperately desirous to play for the U.S. group and treating each sport as essential. Gamers have to all the time suppose that their jobs are on the road. For any participant home or overseas, that is key.

After this camp and heading into 2025, I believe Pochettino will begin making extra noticeable adjustments to the USMNT – each in roster picks, but in addition in what it takes to remain on the USMNT, and the way the gamers line up.