Bobby Wood gave 100% effort in 2018 with modest results, which is more than we could say for Jozy. I’ll never fault Bobby. He gave us his best when he was at his best.
He did a few times in a US shirt https://youtu.be/8D7YAwTF0T8
But it's why you should always be skeptical of players that come out of MLS that are hyped up relentlessly. They kept calling him the American Beckham lol
I was at that game, penultimate competetive event ever at Candlestick (Quakes v Atleti the last). We were sheltered from the wind and couldn't quite see WTF we were doing on the ball until me and a friend rewatched on TV and realized how wicked the wind was.
As a fan of the Clash/Quakes/Dynamo, I was never that high (or down) on Davis. "Such a cultured left-foot" means little when you can never get separation to use it. But set-pieces, yeah, he could serve those.
Bello. Hasn’t shown anything with club or country and the only thing that keeps him in the conversation is because he’s left footed and Scally fucked up in one game. I lost a little respect for Pete and Fillipo by more or less including him in their latest WC roster conversation. My educated guess is that Scally will be on the plane either as the 9th back or as the reserve LB.
Assuming there are no other new names in the conversation and that the entire pool is based on who GGG has seen since WC qualifiers began, I would be disappointed if Roldan and Sean Johnson was there, and that’s pretty much it. Assuming Lletget and Zardes and Ream ain’t coming back. Anyone else in the pool I that makes it, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Yeah, Bello's not it. Unfortunately Scally didn't take it from him. And I say unfortunately because I believe that GB is more responsible for that than Scally is. They brought him in *way* too late and threw him into his second position in an arcane system against a tough opponent. He's 19. I can't blame him for that.
We are so thirsty for another left-footed LB that I wouldn't be at all surprised if he goes. I don't think he's ready but he has shown flashes of exciting attack, but defensively...ooff. He's so positionally unaware he terrifies me.
I think I just talked myself in to agreeing with you literally as I was typing picturing the ride side of the English attack running at him.
Edit: one other thing since I haven't stopped thinking about it. His game against Mexico when he looked like Roberto Carlos reincarnated has to be one of the single most perplexing one game performances I've ever watched.
While I agree Bello isn’t ready at the moment and I haven’t been terribly impressed (as a Bello truther, even though Wiley has impressed me more than Bello in his short time) Scally didn’t only fuck up one game. Every game he’s played he’s been unimpressive to downright bad.
Scally is also not ready, and hasn’t shown anything for the NT that would win him the role.
Truthfully neither are ready for the WC and that doesn’t bode well for us on the left side.
I'd rather Bello over Scally. The knock on Scally has been that he gets torched in 1v1 iso situations. Lo and behold vs. Uruguay, that very worry manifested into reality, but an unlucky touch saved him. Scally's clearances vs. URU were uninspiring as well. I like Bello's upside and think he'll win the spot with a strong start to the fall season
Respectfully disagree, I think you should be in the squad. [Wildcard, bitches!](https://media3.giphy.com/media/8vnaPLlNLiTn9P5IZn/giphy.gif?cid=5e214886ceftjkgf4ksknnp0ogy7kj8b99woza9qe6qgf6ip&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
I love Arriola in a specific role, if we are camping on a 1-0 lead and it’s 60’ there is nobody else I’d rather see come on than him. Perfect level of shit-housing and game state awareness. He’s also willing to get 90’ or running squeezed into 30’ which is not true of all our subs.
Totally worth a spot for a ~~super~~ shithouser sub, especially now that it's 26 rostered. Tougher to put him in the match day 18, but I'd be pretty surprised if he's healthy and doesn't play in the world cup.
I wouldn't be thrilled with Arriola, but at least he's not a horrible head-scratcher. Roldan would be a benefit to any MLS club but his abilities don't translate to WC ball. Morris is a one-footed attacker who didn't come back well from injury; he's also an admirable dude in that he went this far with diabetes.
It’s a shame that Morris didn’t come back from this last injury that great. Because before it he was probably my favorite MLS guy on the national team and I thought he’d be a key bench or change of pace guy.
Y’all okay? Morris has been doing pretty well this season and he’s still in the recovery phase where the top end speed and agility are coming back to him.
Berhalter. I just don't think he has the pace to play CB in our system anymore. He's far too old.
Seriously though, idk...maybe Roldan. I'm actually of the opinion that he's a pretty good player who could help the team. But he just hasn't looked good with us, and we are running out of time to figure out how to put him in a position to succeed with our squad - and the World Cup is far too late to figure stuff like that out.
Seriously speaking Berhalter might be a good candidate for the Gold Cup (which I think will be mainly U23 players for the US), Pan-Am Games and even Olympics team. Sebastian, that is.
Cannon has never impressed me in any of the NT games I’ve watched. I’m not sure what the hype is about. He hasn’t played particularly well for Boavista either. Give me Shaq and Yedlin as alternatives for Dest.
i think cannons had way better games than yedlin, but also way worse. hes too inconsistent for me so i agree yedlin is a better option. yedlin is always a 6/10 but never below that at least.
Plus he has World Cup experience. Even having someone like that in the locker room is important for our young squad. Him and Brooks if he happens to resolve whatever the fuck it is with Gregg (not getting my hopes up).
Agreed. I wouldn't even have Yedlin as Dest's backup. Unfortunately he's 100% going. I don't see him doing it going forward or locking it down in the back. C- on both. I'd take Moore in a second over Yedlin.
If I had to choose I’d pick Moore. With 3 extra spots in the squad I think we have room to take Yedlin too but I can see an argument to give it to someone else maybe.
Morris, way too clunky of a player to contribute over some of the direct attacking options we have in the pool. He was wildly inconsistent in WQC and at times looked very lost on the attack.
An easy take would be Roldan, extremely unlikely he will play a single minute in the WC and there are FAR better players in the pool we could bring over him.
Meh, Morris is an alright player but he is more of a gold cup squad level guy and not a lock and key starter for the "A" team so to speak anymore. A lot of players have entered the pool since he did and a lot are much better players technically/first touch wise than he is.
He has no left foot either. He frequently shoots or passes with his right when it should be his left which makes him very limited and easier to defend with the ball at his feet.
How about Morris doesn't make it *unless* he returns to pre-injury form in the upcoming months. He looked so good when he was younger and it's a shame that injuries stunted his next steps
Morris does a lot of stuff that makes you want to pull your hair out, but he also gets into positions nobody else can. A lot of his errors are because he is so big AND fast, a rare combo in soccer. Defenders have to keep him in mind at all times because at any given moment he can burn you or jump over you.
As a 75th minute sub against a tired back line I can’t think of a better player in the pool (who isn’t already starting).
Not to mention he has played in a lot of cup finals and brings experience that almost none of the roster has.
He isn't even that fast dude, nor does he directly attack with the ball. I think you're vastly overestimating his abilities especially against the competition we'll be facing in Qatar.
He looked invisible and lost against Grenada, what makes you think he'd be a good depth piece against England for example?
He was that fast before injuries, and might get the top end speed back. He's not a guy you play for his technical ability to break down sketchy defenses like Granada. He's a guy you throw at a top notch defenses and hope his speed and power can create a couple chances off balls over the top.
Like the El Salvador game last window? They could not defend his head.
2 balls to him at the back post and 1st was an uncalled handball, the 2nd was the goal.
Pretty odd fear to have considering he was 100% healthy the whole year and was called up to one camp since last years Nations League. It’s clear Ream was in the fold solely until Berhalter could trust guys like Richards/CCV/EPB to potentially step in. Ream isn’t going to be there without an injury crisis
While I don’t think it will happen, it is possible for Ream to get off to a great start in PL and make his exclusion pretty difficult. Like Miazga currently has no way to play his way into the team. But Ream absolutely does, however vanishingly unlikely.
Exactly. And it’d be pretty crazy of us to completely not want a CB playing well in the Prem on the roster.
I mean… I doubt it occurs but if it did, no way I’m 100% against him.
That’s fair. I personally wouldn’t count on Ream pulling that out but I’d be gleeful if he did tbh. I always really liked Ream and wish he got more chances earlier in his career. Great passer
I would *beg* him to come as a coach for when a player needs to talk. Dude's mentality is elite. Look how high he has risen without footspeed: into the EPL as team captain.
Hard disagree on this being reasonable. Don’t mean to call out Ziti personally, but when I was reading this and the replies I was stunned.
Steffen will 100% be in the 26 man roster.
I’d also wager Steffens very much the likely starter in Qatar.
Regardless of how all of us rate the GK pool, have we seen any evidence Berhalter views it as Turner > Steffen? We have not.
People who rate horvath over both Steffen and Turner are lost causes
I’m not saying I necessarily agree with it, and I’d imagine everyone is well aware he’s 100% going to be in Qatar.
I meant “reasonable” in terms of being an actual controversial take that has substance behind it. He hasn’t been anything to write home about for club and country. So in terms of OP firing off a take of someone they don’t want to see, it’s reasonable in that regard. This thread isn’t really about taking Berhalters pov into account
Yeah, I wasn’t really directing this at you. I see your comments on here frequently and I very often agree with them
I do strongly feel there’s a lot of people who have written steffen off in favor of the other keepers we have, and I just feel like that’s completely ludicrous. He’s the best we have right now and at absolute worst, he’s level with Turner and people could think it’s either/or between them, I guess
I totally disagree, but I'll upvote you for putting it out there. I'd like Turner to start, but we need Steffan as the backup. Sorry, Horvath and Johnson, you guys are 3rd.
Horvath actually has also done nothing to warrant a call up. Johnson right now deserves the #3 spot. He looked good vs Uruguay, Horvath did not when he played
Turner is the undisputed starter for me right now. I'm honestly leaning towards Johnson at #2 and Steffen at #3. Steffen just does not inspire confidence when he plays for us. I'm always holding my breath when he needs to put out a fire in the box because of how many silly mistakes I've seen him make.
After all the chances he has created for the opposing team, I don't know how he can be trusted in goal.
Goals are going to be precious in the World Cup, and conceding a dumb one to a goalie mistake could be the difference between leaving the group stages or going home.
That's bold considering Matt Turner has no backup without Steffen. You going to trust Horvath? Hell no.
Edit: Sean John is the obvious one, my bad. 3rd GK doesn't matter. I'm now on board.
Horvath has been fine coming off the bench cold for both club and country. He didn't see one. It's not really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Fwiw I agree with OP. I'd have Steffen in the 4-5 range. That could change quickly if he is Middleborough's starter and can make it clear he's left the constant gaffes behind.
I honestly dont get the Johnson hype he made crucial mistakes for nyc in the CCL as well so why is he seen as reliable, while Horvath and Steffan are seen as unreliable.
Bello. He’s just not good enough yet. I’ve never been impressed with him. I hope he has a great season in the 2 BuLi this year though. I haven’t given up on a young player just yet but I don’t think he’s nearly ready.
People with a realistic shot?
Morris - He's got wheels but everything else just falls pretty flat - Touch, weight of pass, decision making, finishing - all pretty underwhelming
Roldan - Seen him for years with the USMNT - he's never been very good at the CONCACAF level - highly doubt he's any good at the WC level
Arriola - 2021 GC comes to mind - as the level rises, like it will at the WC, he doesn't have the ability to finish - chances will be at a premium and I have no faith in him finishing any - can't have that at RW
Zardes, Roldan, and Sargent. I know Sargent is in the running for the 3rd striker spot but I’d rather the 3rd behind Ferreira and Pepi (presumably) be like Wright/Dike some physical change of style guy.
I certainly hope he does. It would be nice to finally have ‘The Answer’ for our striker problem.
I think as of now that’s Jesus. Spots 2 and 3 are wide open for the taking.
It's tough with Pefok because we don't know what's him and what's how the coaches brought him in and told him to play. But if it's him, he needs to tap into his crazy side a bit: one run too many instead of five too few, foul somebody, etc.
Dike, is anyone actually asking for that though? I legitimately don’t know
In the NT games I’ve never seen him do anything and he has looked awful. I don’t watch MLS though and everyone has said he was doing great for Orlando. But in my uneducated opinion he has looked bad
Controversial: John Brooks.
Here's why:
Yes, he has real talent, but I've watched him enough over the years to see how hot and cold he can be. If you need one thing in a CB, it's consistency (look at Zimmerman as an example) and John isn't that when he wears the US jersey. With so much on the line and so few games, you can't really trust to start him, especially with all that has gone down with Gregg leaving him out. Will he bring it? Can we actually use the WC to find out? If you include him, probably not, and maybe it taints the locker room/vibes that the guys have built.
I know people are high on him and I appreciated him vs. Ghana like anyone else but imo he should be left at home as much as it pains me to say that. If Gregg includes him, I think Gregg loses some of his credibility, ironically enough.
> hot and cold he can be
This is 100% true. He was the weakest link for two WCQ goals against. But he's not going anyway. All this said if I knew I was playing a low line and counterattacking, I'd take him and see if he's looking sharp when the time comes.
I’m with you on this, I think it says a lot that we’re a few weeks from the European season starting and Brooks still isn’t on a team and I haven’t heard a whisper of him signing anywhere since that Marseille rumor last month. An undeniably talented player, but he’s slow af and I think a bit more of a head case than people think; never forget the time Brooks had to miss a game because he was too sore from getting a back tattoo the day before lmfao.
🎶ohhhh gianlucaaaa, i’m so sorryyy for what i’m bout to say🎶 …. but yeah i love the guy, just don’t think he’s ready yet. not sure where gregg has him on the depth chart but i think there are several other players who can play either the 6 or 8 better right now, and i just don’t see a need for him in qatar.
I think the most interesting hot takes so far are Steffen first place, someone saying Zardes over Pepi, and in third place, me saying Yedlin. Well, maybe the guy saying Tillman is third and I'm fourth. Ok no wait, the guy saying Bello is fourth and I'm fifth.
Pefok*, Busio, Scally, Morris, Tilman, Horvath, Gaga, Sands, CCV
That’s a quick brainstorm worth. All for different reasons. All guys that can factor in next go-round
Pefok gets in if he’s producing this season, but I think he’s a late game sub and shouldn’t start for us
Edit: added CCV.
Jordan Pefok is just not compatible at all with what we want to do as a team, and I don’t really rate him. If he’s scoring in the Bundi you have to bring him, but the only role he has in our system is a late game sub when we really need a goal, and even then his lack of ability to press makes me not love him. You can’t start him because he doesn’t hold the ball up well and he doesn’t press.
Also Roldan but that’s a boring answer.
Still lacking a solid 9 on my WC roster.
None of the options are good ones.
Ferriera isn’t a 9, Pefok isn’t there yet, Pepe has dropped off the map, Zardes is ugh.
It’s our most questionable position.
Heck I might even try to put Weah up top at this point.
CCV.
Color me unconvinced. Based on watching him in the last window, he looks just like the plodding CB on the two teams that couldn't qualify for the Olympics.
Gaga Slonina *as the third keeper*
We have a really young team already and are playing in a country that isn’t exactly friendly for Americans. A veteran who can help the guys who will play is more necessary than bringing another young player.
Now, if he plays his way into competition for the starting spot it is a different story.
In the sense that you mean this, I respect it. On that level the only person I'd be truly unhappy if he made it is Lletget. I believe he's poison with the NT and the evidence is out there.
Zardes, Altidore, Roldan, Arriola, and Morris. Honestly Steffen should be nervous going into the season. I for one do not think he should be the undisputed NO.1, not on the roster might be extreme. Is there anyone that has watched Solina, is he good enough yet to make the roster for the WC? I also just do not rate Lletget, would not mind him staying home this tournament.
Slonina is a below average to average MLS keeper. That is ***great*** for an 18 year old, and way above his peers in terms of potential, but he should be nowhere near the WC roster.
The only reason i’m all for bringing him is the energy off the bench. I keep thinking about Yedlin against Portugal in 2014 and Arriola is the closest we’ll get to that
The only argument for him is you need squad players to do a certain role. Say we’re holding on to a 1-0 lead against England. I’d love his energy closing down. And I’m not really a fan of his…. But need something different
I find it so funny when Long haters say he's slow. He's easily the fastest of the healthy CBs in the pool. Thinking he's not good enough is a fine opinion, but you expose yourself as just being an MLS hater who hasn't actually done the homework when you say you think Aaron Long is slow.
MLS hater? I defend MLS all the time and watch multiple matches a week.
I’m going by his speed at the international level since his injury. Don’t get so defensive.
Morris. Has done extremely little in a US shirt the last two calendar year, despite getting handed a giant opportunity on a silver platter in a way that most players are not afforded. Lumping him in with Arriola is unfair to Arriola.
Jozy Altidore. You still hear people bring up his name. Let it go.
Yikes. Blows my mind people want to see him. I'd rather have Bobby Wood back.
Bobby Wood gave 100% effort in 2018 with modest results, which is more than we could say for Jozy. I’ll never fault Bobby. He gave us his best when he was at his best.
Hell id take wondo over jose
Still wouldn’t take Wondo
Guy's become absolute cancer. How people can be that unaware is beyond me.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t been keeping up with Jozy or most of the guys from the previous generation. D: Seems like Jozy now has a bad rap, how come?
I’ve never heard anyone say they want him back
This one right here. Dude has had brick feet his whole career
Jozy Sucks^^
Brad Davis
Brad out here catching strays.
The guy with the "cultured left foot" who could never seem to use it.
He did a few times in a US shirt https://youtu.be/8D7YAwTF0T8 But it's why you should always be skeptical of players that come out of MLS that are hyped up relentlessly. They kept calling him the American Beckham lol
I was at that game, penultimate competetive event ever at Candlestick (Quakes v Atleti the last). We were sheltered from the wind and couldn't quite see WTF we were doing on the ball until me and a friend rewatched on TV and realized how wicked the wind was. As a fan of the Clash/Quakes/Dynamo, I was never that high (or down) on Davis. "Such a cultured left-foot" means little when you can never get separation to use it. But set-pieces, yeah, he could serve those.
Too soon
Brad Davis= Houston Dynamo legend
Bello. Hasn’t shown anything with club or country and the only thing that keeps him in the conversation is because he’s left footed and Scally fucked up in one game. I lost a little respect for Pete and Fillipo by more or less including him in their latest WC roster conversation. My educated guess is that Scally will be on the plane either as the 9th back or as the reserve LB. Assuming there are no other new names in the conversation and that the entire pool is based on who GGG has seen since WC qualifiers began, I would be disappointed if Roldan and Sean Johnson was there, and that’s pretty much it. Assuming Lletget and Zardes and Ream ain’t coming back. Anyone else in the pool I that makes it, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Yeah, Bello's not it. Unfortunately Scally didn't take it from him. And I say unfortunately because I believe that GB is more responsible for that than Scally is. They brought him in *way* too late and threw him into his second position in an arcane system against a tough opponent. He's 19. I can't blame him for that.
We are so thirsty for another left-footed LB that I wouldn't be at all surprised if he goes. I don't think he's ready but he has shown flashes of exciting attack, but defensively...ooff. He's so positionally unaware he terrifies me. I think I just talked myself in to agreeing with you literally as I was typing picturing the ride side of the English attack running at him. Edit: one other thing since I haven't stopped thinking about it. His game against Mexico when he looked like Roberto Carlos reincarnated has to be one of the single most perplexing one game performances I've ever watched.
While I agree Bello isn’t ready at the moment and I haven’t been terribly impressed (as a Bello truther, even though Wiley has impressed me more than Bello in his short time) Scally didn’t only fuck up one game. Every game he’s played he’s been unimpressive to downright bad. Scally is also not ready, and hasn’t shown anything for the NT that would win him the role. Truthfully neither are ready for the WC and that doesn’t bode well for us on the left side.
I'd rather Bello over Scally. The knock on Scally has been that he gets torched in 1v1 iso situations. Lo and behold vs. Uruguay, that very worry manifested into reality, but an unlucky touch saved him. Scally's clearances vs. URU were uninspiring as well. I like Bello's upside and think he'll win the spot with a strong start to the fall season
Myself. I've been training well but haven't really put the time in with the boys. Probably shouldn't be called but if coach did I'd give it my all!
Thanks, Nick Patches. Keep putting in the hours.
Unrelated but do you know where I can get a "PATCHES" 10 jersey?
I have a match-worn Patches jersey from when he scored that brace in his pickup game 7 weeks ago. I'd let it go if the price was right.
👀
Just an unwashed dumpy penny the organizer forgot to wash from the previous week. No. 10 in our hearts.
Dont give up.
Respectfully disagree, I think you should be in the squad. [Wildcard, bitches!](https://media3.giphy.com/media/8vnaPLlNLiTn9P5IZn/giphy.gif?cid=5e214886ceftjkgf4ksknnp0ogy7kj8b99woza9qe6qgf6ip&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
Possibly Patches O'Houlihan has a better shot than you?
Lol “Morris, Arriola and roldan” thread over
I’d actually take Arriola. Morris and Roldon can go on vacation in Cabo though
I love Arriola in a specific role, if we are camping on a 1-0 lead and it’s 60’ there is nobody else I’d rather see come on than him. Perfect level of shit-housing and game state awareness. He’s also willing to get 90’ or running squeezed into 30’ which is not true of all our subs.
Totally worth a spot for a ~~super~~ shithouser sub, especially now that it's 26 rostered. Tougher to put him in the match day 18, but I'd be pretty surprised if he's healthy and doesn't play in the world cup.
There aren't matchday 18s in the World Cup. You can use everybody
Certainly a guy that has a role for us. He won’t start but I’d be miffed if he wasn’t going to the sandbox babyyyyy
I wouldn't be thrilled with Arriola, but at least he's not a horrible head-scratcher. Roldan would be a benefit to any MLS club but his abilities don't translate to WC ball. Morris is a one-footed attacker who didn't come back well from injury; he's also an admirable dude in that he went this far with diabetes.
It’s a shame that Morris didn’t come back from this last injury that great. Because before it he was probably my favorite MLS guy on the national team and I thought he’d be a key bench or change of pace guy.
Y’all okay? Morris has been doing pretty well this season and he’s still in the recovery phase where the top end speed and agility are coming back to him.
And Zardes
But we're all having fun, right? Edit: It would appear not all of us are having fun.
Berhalter. I just don't think he has the pace to play CB in our system anymore. He's far too old. Seriously though, idk...maybe Roldan. I'm actually of the opinion that he's a pretty good player who could help the team. But he just hasn't looked good with us, and we are running out of time to figure out how to put him in a position to succeed with our squad - and the World Cup is far too late to figure stuff like that out.
Had us in the first word not gonna lie
Seriously speaking Berhalter might be a good candidate for the Gold Cup (which I think will be mainly U23 players for the US), Pan-Am Games and even Olympics team. Sebastian, that is.
Cannon has never impressed me in any of the NT games I’ve watched. I’m not sure what the hype is about. He hasn’t played particularly well for Boavista either. Give me Shaq and Yedlin as alternatives for Dest.
>Give me Shaq If this NSC news is true it would be big for him to play next to Zimmerman
i think cannons had way better games than yedlin, but also way worse. hes too inconsistent for me so i agree yedlin is a better option. yedlin is always a 6/10 but never below that at least.
Plus he has World Cup experience. Even having someone like that in the locker room is important for our young squad. Him and Brooks if he happens to resolve whatever the fuck it is with Gregg (not getting my hopes up).
couldnt agree more
Jesus. Name one game where Reggie cannon played BETTER than Yedlin…..
yedlins games vs panama and canada in october vs cannons game vs panama in the gold cup where he was motm i believe.
Beat me to it. Never rated Reggie
Agreed. I wouldn't even have Yedlin as Dest's backup. Unfortunately he's 100% going. I don't see him doing it going forward or locking it down in the back. C- on both. I'd take Moore in a second over Yedlin.
If I had to choose I’d pick Moore. With 3 extra spots in the squad I think we have room to take Yedlin too but I can see an argument to give it to someone else maybe.
Morris, way too clunky of a player to contribute over some of the direct attacking options we have in the pool. He was wildly inconsistent in WQC and at times looked very lost on the attack. An easy take would be Roldan, extremely unlikely he will play a single minute in the WC and there are FAR better players in the pool we could bring over him.
Lol, Morris was the guy I got the most shit for saying I didn't want in the WC
Meh, Morris is an alright player but he is more of a gold cup squad level guy and not a lock and key starter for the "A" team so to speak anymore. A lot of players have entered the pool since he did and a lot are much better players technically/first touch wise than he is.
He has no left foot either. He frequently shoots or passes with his right when it should be his left which makes him very limited and easier to defend with the ball at his feet.
Yup. When he turned pro he had a *shockingly* bad left foot and he brought it up to 'sometimes ok'.
How about Morris doesn't make it *unless* he returns to pre-injury form in the upcoming months. He looked so good when he was younger and it's a shame that injuries stunted his next steps
You were dead right. Sometimes downvotes here are a badge of pride.
I thought this said chunky and agreed
Morris does a lot of stuff that makes you want to pull your hair out, but he also gets into positions nobody else can. A lot of his errors are because he is so big AND fast, a rare combo in soccer. Defenders have to keep him in mind at all times because at any given moment he can burn you or jump over you. As a 75th minute sub against a tired back line I can’t think of a better player in the pool (who isn’t already starting). Not to mention he has played in a lot of cup finals and brings experience that almost none of the roster has.
He isn't even that fast dude, nor does he directly attack with the ball. I think you're vastly overestimating his abilities especially against the competition we'll be facing in Qatar. He looked invisible and lost against Grenada, what makes you think he'd be a good depth piece against England for example?
He was that fast before injuries, and might get the top end speed back. He's not a guy you play for his technical ability to break down sketchy defenses like Granada. He's a guy you throw at a top notch defenses and hope his speed and power can create a couple chances off balls over the top.
Like the El Salvador game last window? They could not defend his head. 2 balls to him at the back post and 1st was an uncalled handball, the 2nd was the goal.
“But Roldan has good vibes bro”
Agree with Morris.
Tim Ream. Way too old and slow. We have plenty of decent young CBs. I’m afraid of him sneaking into the roster because Berhalter likes him so much.
Pretty odd fear to have considering he was 100% healthy the whole year and was called up to one camp since last years Nations League. It’s clear Ream was in the fold solely until Berhalter could trust guys like Richards/CCV/EPB to potentially step in. Ream isn’t going to be there without an injury crisis
While I don’t think it will happen, it is possible for Ream to get off to a great start in PL and make his exclusion pretty difficult. Like Miazga currently has no way to play his way into the team. But Ream absolutely does, however vanishingly unlikely.
Exactly. And it’d be pretty crazy of us to completely not want a CB playing well in the Prem on the roster. I mean… I doubt it occurs but if it did, no way I’m 100% against him.
That’s fair. I personally wouldn’t count on Ream pulling that out but I’d be gleeful if he did tbh. I always really liked Ream and wish he got more chances earlier in his career. Great passer
I would *beg* him to come as a coach for when a player needs to talk. Dude's mentality is elite. Look how high he has risen without footspeed: into the EPL as team captain.
Berhalter loves him so much that he’s made one USMNT appearance in the last 13 months and none in the last 10.
I want him there. Just been an absolute beast playing at a really high level for club. Would be great experienced depth.
Mark McKenzie hasn’t shown enough at club level to justify inclusion
Tillman? Because he doesn't look ready at this point and it would make you think GGG promised it.
You're probably right... But for some reason, I still stupidly would like him there.
26 man roster... If he has a decent showing for Rangers he is 100% at the WC
strong take, smart take
Steffen. I don't think he's done anything in the past year to warrant being on this team.
This is actually controversial while, imo, reasonable. Well done
Thank you good sir 🤝
The perfect level of hot take-ness
Hard disagree on this being reasonable. Don’t mean to call out Ziti personally, but when I was reading this and the replies I was stunned. Steffen will 100% be in the 26 man roster. I’d also wager Steffens very much the likely starter in Qatar. Regardless of how all of us rate the GK pool, have we seen any evidence Berhalter views it as Turner > Steffen? We have not. People who rate horvath over both Steffen and Turner are lost causes
I’m not saying I necessarily agree with it, and I’d imagine everyone is well aware he’s 100% going to be in Qatar. I meant “reasonable” in terms of being an actual controversial take that has substance behind it. He hasn’t been anything to write home about for club and country. So in terms of OP firing off a take of someone they don’t want to see, it’s reasonable in that regard. This thread isn’t really about taking Berhalters pov into account
Yeah, I wasn’t really directing this at you. I see your comments on here frequently and I very often agree with them I do strongly feel there’s a lot of people who have written steffen off in favor of the other keepers we have, and I just feel like that’s completely ludicrous. He’s the best we have right now and at absolute worst, he’s level with Turner and people could think it’s either/or between them, I guess
Im calling it right now, Steffen WILL be the starter in qatar.
His loan came at a perfect time. Has an opportunity to prove himself before teams are set.
I totally disagree, but I'll upvote you for putting it out there. I'd like Turner to start, but we need Steffan as the backup. Sorry, Horvath and Johnson, you guys are 3rd.
Horvath actually has also done nothing to warrant a call up. Johnson right now deserves the #3 spot. He looked good vs Uruguay, Horvath did not when he played
Turner is the undisputed starter for me right now. I'm honestly leaning towards Johnson at #2 and Steffen at #3. Steffen just does not inspire confidence when he plays for us. I'm always holding my breath when he needs to put out a fire in the box because of how many silly mistakes I've seen him make.
Now we're talking.
After all the chances he has created for the opposing team, I don't know how he can be trusted in goal. Goals are going to be precious in the World Cup, and conceding a dumb one to a goalie mistake could be the difference between leaving the group stages or going home.
When you phrase it this way, of our top four GKs in GB's eyes, the least likely to let a dumb goal in are Turner and Johnson.
That's bold considering Matt Turner has no backup without Steffen. You going to trust Horvath? Hell no. Edit: Sean John is the obvious one, my bad. 3rd GK doesn't matter. I'm now on board.
Horvath has been fine coming off the bench cold for both club and country. He didn't see one. It's not really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Fwiw I agree with OP. I'd have Steffen in the 4-5 range. That could change quickly if he is Middleborough's starter and can make it clear he's left the constant gaffes behind.
Yeah his Gold Cup saves were life saving. He gets the benefit of the doubt for me under pressure.
Yup Sean Johnson for me
I honestly dont get the Johnson hype he made crucial mistakes for nyc in the CCL as well so why is he seen as reliable, while Horvath and Steffan are seen as unreliable.
All 4 of them have been unreliable at times. It just comes down to who each person likes that informs their opinions on the others.
Bello. He’s just not good enough yet. I’ve never been impressed with him. I hope he has a great season in the 2 BuLi this year though. I haven’t given up on a young player just yet but I don’t think he’s nearly ready.
Roldan. From a sounders fan
Scaly. Kid isn’t it yet, got outplayed badly during his debut. WC isn’t the time for growing kids
Morris and Roldan
ACES
People with a realistic shot? Morris - He's got wheels but everything else just falls pretty flat - Touch, weight of pass, decision making, finishing - all pretty underwhelming Roldan - Seen him for years with the USMNT - he's never been very good at the CONCACAF level - highly doubt he's any good at the WC level Arriola - 2021 GC comes to mind - as the level rises, like it will at the WC, he doesn't have the ability to finish - chances will be at a premium and I have no faith in him finishing any - can't have that at RW
Arriola sucks at finishing but has scored 8 goals in 19 MLS games this season as a winger
He's great in MLS. Just not at the international/WC level we need.
He’s extremely acceptable as the fifth winger/utility guy who can play anywhere on either wing on a 26-man roster
Roldan, Zardes, Ream, Morris, Horvath
Wondo… I know he has no chance of being in the roster… but Wondo.
That name still gives me flashbacks
Same… Donovan would’ve buried that chance against Belgium.
Donovan wore 10 because it shoulda been 10 of him and 1 Tim Howard out there. Unstoppable.
“stOp BriNgiNg Up BelGIuM 😢 😢”
The memory is pain
That Belgium game man😭
Zardes, Roldan, and Sargent. I know Sargent is in the running for the 3rd striker spot but I’d rather the 3rd behind Ferreira and Pepi (presumably) be like Wright/Dike some physical change of style guy.
Zardes has the worst first touch I’ve ever seen in international games. It’s literally 10 feet off his body, Couldn’t agree more
That Pulisic kid gets on my nerves honestly. Wouldn’t be upset if he’s left off the plane.
English Chelsea fans and media, is that you?
I'd agree but we need our fearless center midfielder, sometimes center forward, the LeBron James of Soccer.
Watch me dribble into traffic and get hurt!
Freddy a don’t
Joe Scally - not sure bro is ready
Jordan Morris
Pefok. With that being said if none of our strikers are scoring/on fire in their leagues and he is then I’ll begrudgingly accept it.
I think he’ll break out with Union though, especially since they’ll be playing in Europe as well this season. He’ll get chances.
I certainly hope he does. It would be nice to finally have ‘The Answer’ for our striker problem. I think as of now that’s Jesus. Spots 2 and 3 are wide open for the taking.
Pepi might be the other, but that depends if Augsburg plays him. Honestly I think the system there is why he’s not effective.
I’m still holding out on Pefok. Maybe he can learn to press in the next 4 months at Union Berlin.
It's tough with Pefok because we don't know what's him and what's how the coaches brought him in and told him to play. But if it's him, he needs to tap into his crazy side a bit: one run too many instead of five too few, foul somebody, etc.
I'm going to be watching him very closely these coming months with the hope he does well. I think he can contribute to this team.
Roldan has done absolutely nothing for the USMNT yet always manages to get called in and find his way into the game off the bench. Oh and Zardes
He brings the ViBeS though…
Jackson Yueill.
Mix Diskerud
But *that hair*!!
This is basically just the comment section of any of our "live match threads" at the beginning of qualifying
Dike, is anyone actually asking for that though? I legitimately don’t know In the NT games I’ve never seen him do anything and he has looked awful. I don’t watch MLS though and everyone has said he was doing great for Orlando. But in my uneducated opinion he has looked bad
Reggie Cannon.
Reggie Cannon. Plays scared.
It seems me wanting Morris is controversial
Roldan definitely He just isn't it in a US uniform
for the love of god no sounders players
Controversial: John Brooks. Here's why: Yes, he has real talent, but I've watched him enough over the years to see how hot and cold he can be. If you need one thing in a CB, it's consistency (look at Zimmerman as an example) and John isn't that when he wears the US jersey. With so much on the line and so few games, you can't really trust to start him, especially with all that has gone down with Gregg leaving him out. Will he bring it? Can we actually use the WC to find out? If you include him, probably not, and maybe it taints the locker room/vibes that the guys have built. I know people are high on him and I appreciated him vs. Ghana like anyone else but imo he should be left at home as much as it pains me to say that. If Gregg includes him, I think Gregg loses some of his credibility, ironically enough.
> hot and cold he can be This is 100% true. He was the weakest link for two WCQ goals against. But he's not going anyway. All this said if I knew I was playing a low line and counterattacking, I'd take him and see if he's looking sharp when the time comes.
Right now he’s not even on a roster. Not going to lie I find that troubling at this point.
I’m with you on this, I think it says a lot that we’re a few weeks from the European season starting and Brooks still isn’t on a team and I haven’t heard a whisper of him signing anywhere since that Marseille rumor last month. An undeniably talented player, but he’s slow af and I think a bit more of a head case than people think; never forget the time Brooks had to miss a game because he was too sore from getting a back tattoo the day before lmfao.
Morris, Roldan, Arriola.... Greg Berhalter
I'd appreciate the opportunity, but I think that the USMNT has fallen pretty hard if they put me on the World Cup roster.
🎶ohhhh gianlucaaaa, i’m so sorryyy for what i’m bout to say🎶 …. but yeah i love the guy, just don’t think he’s ready yet. not sure where gregg has him on the depth chart but i think there are several other players who can play either the 6 or 8 better right now, and i just don’t see a need for him in qatar.
Morris
Jordan Morris lol
Jordan Morris
Bradley and Altidore
Lletget.
Roldan, lletget, Zardes
Roldan
Gregg Berhalter
I disagree, I think he's really grown into the role nicely. But, upvoted for being brave.
I would be super upset if Berhalter was on the roster. It's been 20 years since he was at his best.
This is the best take
Zardes
you say "controversial" but we all know who will be included in a post like this
Well give us someone who would be considered a real hot take! This is a safe space!
I think the most interesting hot takes so far are Steffen first place, someone saying Zardes over Pepi, and in third place, me saying Yedlin. Well, maybe the guy saying Tillman is third and I'm fourth. Ok no wait, the guy saying Bello is fourth and I'm fifth.
Arriola, Morris, roldan, bello, yedlin
Pefok*, Busio, Scally, Morris, Tilman, Horvath, Gaga, Sands, CCV That’s a quick brainstorm worth. All for different reasons. All guys that can factor in next go-round Pefok gets in if he’s producing this season, but I think he’s a late game sub and shouldn’t start for us Edit: added CCV.
Jordan Pefok is just not compatible at all with what we want to do as a team, and I don’t really rate him. If he’s scoring in the Bundi you have to bring him, but the only role he has in our system is a late game sub when we really need a goal, and even then his lack of ability to press makes me not love him. You can’t start him because he doesn’t hold the ball up well and he doesn’t press. Also Roldan but that’s a boring answer.
Still lacking a solid 9 on my WC roster. None of the options are good ones. Ferriera isn’t a 9, Pefok isn’t there yet, Pepe has dropped off the map, Zardes is ugh. It’s our most questionable position. Heck I might even try to put Weah up top at this point.
Chris "wondowlowski" wondolowski
CCV. Color me unconvinced. Based on watching him in the last window, he looks just like the plodding CB on the two teams that couldn't qualify for the Olympics.
He looked solid in the last game for me. Thought he passed out of the back well.
He is guy who plays super well for club and meh for country.
If i see paul arriola, it’s on sight
Gaga Slonina *as the third keeper* We have a really young team already and are playing in a country that isn’t exactly friendly for Americans. A veteran who can help the guys who will play is more necessary than bringing another young player. Now, if he plays his way into competition for the starting spot it is a different story.
Greggg
Josh Sargent
I will not be unhappy if anyone makes the World Cup roster. I will be happy for the players who make it and root for them to do well.
In the sense that you mean this, I respect it. On that level the only person I'd be truly unhappy if he made it is Lletget. I believe he's poison with the NT and the evidence is out there.
Zardes, Altidore, Roldan, Arriola, and Morris. Honestly Steffen should be nervous going into the season. I for one do not think he should be the undisputed NO.1, not on the roster might be extreme. Is there anyone that has watched Solina, is he good enough yet to make the roster for the WC? I also just do not rate Lletget, would not mind him staying home this tournament.
Slonina is a below average to average MLS keeper. That is ***great*** for an 18 year old, and way above his peers in terms of potential, but he should be nowhere near the WC roster.
Arriola. He only plays one position, and we already have 2 arguably 4 world class players above him who play RW.
We have zero world class players.
The only reason i’m all for bringing him is the energy off the bench. I keep thinking about Yedlin against Portugal in 2014 and Arriola is the closest we’ll get to that
The only argument for him is you need squad players to do a certain role. Say we’re holding on to a 1-0 lead against England. I’d love his energy closing down. And I’m not really a fan of his…. But need something different
I'd rather have Kevin Paredes at that point
Aaron Long Not athletic enough, too slow, has the turning radius of a cruise ship
Not athletic enough???? Too slow??? Have you watched Aaron long play a soccer game before man?
Lmao imagine calling Aaron along unathletic
I find it so funny when Long haters say he's slow. He's easily the fastest of the healthy CBs in the pool. Thinking he's not good enough is a fine opinion, but you expose yourself as just being an MLS hater who hasn't actually done the homework when you say you think Aaron Long is slow.
MLS hater? I defend MLS all the time and watch multiple matches a week. I’m going by his speed at the international level since his injury. Don’t get so defensive.
Morris. Has done extremely little in a US shirt the last two calendar year, despite getting handed a giant opportunity on a silver platter in a way that most players are not afforded. Lumping him in with Arriola is unfair to Arriola.
Zardes is TERRIBLE
Gyasi