US Men's National Team (5 Viewers)

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

So how do we get the most out of Weston if we were to tweak GGG's 4-3-3 (whether he uses a 4-1-2-3 when Adams is healthy, or a 4-2-1-3 when his not)? Do not feel tied to using a form of 4-3-3. I am desperate for something different.

IMO Weston has been our best player over the entire season. Pulisic has also been very good but not quite as consistent. We need to structure around both of them being on the field. I feel like Pulisic can function where ever we put him, but I want to replicate what Weston is doing for Juventus when he is with the nats.

Weston has played as a Mezzala in a 3-5-2 system with Allegri. Primarily on the right. I don't think that formation translates to Gregg's 4-3-3 unless you change the fullback roles. A Mezzala is a "half-winger", an attacking midfielder operating primarily in the space just inside the opposing fullback. With only the wing back in the back 5 occupying the wider space when there's an overlap. If we played him in that space with both a winger and an overlapping fullback, it would be a mess. It's already often kind of a mess just figuring out how to get our wingers and our fullbacks to not get into each other's way.

So the question is whether Weston's form translates to him playing a box to box 8 role. That's what he plays for the US. We know he can play it. But if we think this is the best that Weston has been, we have to acknowledge that he hasn't been this good playing more centrally.

 

[The Z Machine]

While it may be Wes's best form anx possibly his best role, I'm not sure we have the other players to compliment him properly, specifically as a back 3. But then again, Gio can sit the bench as far as I'm concerned... Can Puli play as the second striker? Or would Weah? Or would Puli play the same role as Wes but on the left?

 

[NewlyRetired]

While it may be Wes's best form anx possibly his best role, I'm not sure we have the other players to compliment him properly, specifically as a back 3. But then again, Gio can sit the bench as far as I'm concerned... Can Puli play as the second striker? Or would Weah? Or would Puli play the same role as Wes but on the left?

I still think Pepi and Balogun could work up top, with Pulisic in the hole, something like this (assuming all healthy). Adams would be hogged tied back but Weston could be more box to box ish

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest......................................Weston.....................Jedi
.................................Pulisic
.............Pepi...........................Balogun

Subs:
Luca(Weston), Weah(Wing Back), Musah(Weston or Adams), Sargent(striker), Johnny(Adams), Scally(wing back), Reyna(Pulisic), CCV (defender)

 

[NewlyRetired]

Great save by Callender. We need a keeper to emerge quickly

https://x.com/ByDougMcIntyre/status/1761942129641738675?s=20

 

[El Floppo]

Who's this Adams guy?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Who's this Adams guy?

O minutes played in the entire season

And yet he still has the same amount of goals and assists as Reyna

Oooof

 

[The Z Machine]

While it may be Wes's best form anx possibly his best role, I'm not sure we have the other players to compliment him properly, specifically as a back 3. But then again, Gio can sit the bench as far as I'm concerned... Can Puli play as the second striker? Or would Weah? Or would Puli play the same role as Wes but on the left?

I still think Pepi and Balogun could work up top, with Pulisic in the hole, something like this (assuming all healthy). Adams would be hogged tied back but Weston could be more box to box ish

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest......................................Weston.....................Jedi
.................................Pulisic
.............Pepi...........................Balogun

Subs:
Luca(Weston), Weah(Wing Back), Musah(Weston or Adams), Sargent(striker), Johnny(Adams), Scally(wing back), Reyna(Pulisic), CCV (defender)

I don't hate it, but I don't think that's the formation Juve is using.

 

[The Z Machine]

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest.......................................................Jedi
.............Weston............................Weah
.....................Puli.............Balogun

 

[The Z Machine]

The above would put Wes in that mezzala role with Weah doing the same on the opposite side. Let Puli float as a second striker. The biggest questions i have are 1) can the back 3 handle a press and transitions with either Dest or Jedi up high? 2) Can Weah operate opposite Wes and not give up technical ability on the left when combined with Jedi. 3) If Adams can't go, who do we slot in there? This is not unique to this formation. 4) Even if Puli gets hacked can Wes and Weah and Dest provide enough service to Balogun to create offense?

 

[The Z Machine]

I do like it as it allows other angles of attack rather than pumping balls into the box when Jedi or Dest or Weah get behind their defender. Wes can play as a traditional #8 but maybe he's better seeing more of the touchline.

 

[NewlyRetired]

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest.......................................................Jedi
.............Weston............................Weah
.....................Puli.............Balogun

I like it all accept for Weah's spot. Weah has never played that position before and I am not sure it suits his skill set. Weah's entire career has been wing, wing back and a little striker (but that has been a while since he has played at the 9).

If the position plays a little deeper to connect to Adams and Ream, Musah could play the Weah spot since he is more of shuttler in the midfield. If not Musah, this is roughly the spot that Luca plays for Celta.

 

[The Z Machine]

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest.......................................................Jedi
.............Weston............................Weah
.....................Puli.............Balogun

I like it all accept for Weah's spot. Weah has never played that position before and I am not sure it suits his skill set. Weah's entire career has been wing, wing back and a little striker (but that has been a while since he has played at the 9).

If the position plays a little deeper to connect to Adams and Ream, Musah could play the Weah spot since he is more of shuttler in the midfield. If not Musah, this is roughly the spot that Luca plays for Celta.

I thought that Weah and Wes were at times competing for the same role at Juve. But maybe that was a wingback role...

I do wonder if someone like Luca or and up and comer could take that spot where I have Weah penciled in. Maybe that's a role for Gio or maybe Puli moves over and someone else takes the second striker role. I don't think Pepi and Balogun would work well together up top.

 

[El Floppo]

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest.......................................................Jedi
.............Weston............................Weah
.....................Puli.............Balogun

I like it all accept for Weah's spot. Weah has never played that position before and I am not sure it suits his skill set. Weah's entire career has been wing, wing back and a little striker (but that has been a while since he has played at the 9).

If the position plays a little deeper to connect to Adams and Ream, Musah could play the Weah spot since he is more of shuttler in the midfield. If not Musah, this is roughly the spot that Luca plays for Celta.

I thought that Weah and Wes were at times competing for the same role at Juve. But maybe that was a wingback role...

I do wonder if someone like Luca or and up and comer could take that spot where I have Weah penciled in. Maybe that's a role for Gio or maybe Puli moves over and someone else takes the second striker role. I don't think Pepi and Balogun would work well together up top.

Yeah and Swag were both taking turns playing the wingback role at the beginning of the season while Swag was still settling in and convincing the team he belonged. He's been in the MF ever since.

 

[El Floppo]

Relying on Adams...

 

[El Floppo]

.........................Turner
.............Miles........Ream........Richards
..........................Adams......
Dest.......................................................Jedi
.............Weston............................Weah
.....................Puli.............Balogun

I could see swapping out Jedi with Dest (Dest is playing LB at PSV), pushing Weah to the RWB role, putting Musah in next to Swag or in the 6, switch CP and Balo (although I'd hope they're fluid up top) and getting best man available in for Adams- Maloney, Musah, Johnny.

 

[zoobird]

Looks like Copa America ticket pre-sale is going on now and regular ticket sales start on Wednesday. I'm looking at the USMNT-Uruguay tickets, and I don't see any tickets for row #s lower than 11. Does that mean that the better seats aren't available until Wednesday and it worth waiting? Or does it indicate that there's some other group of people who will get first shot at those tickets, and it's better to just buy what I can before ticket sales are opened to everyone? [all of this is assuming I can talk my wife into taking a trip from NJ to visit her friend who lives in St. Louis]

 

[zoobird]

Looks like Copa America ticket pre-sale is going on now and regular ticket sales start on Wednesday. I'm looking at the USMNT-Uruguay tickets, and I don't see any tickets for row #s lower than 11. Does that mean that the better seats aren't available until Wednesday and it worth waiting? Or does it indicate that there's some other group of people who will get first shot at those tickets, and it's better to just buy what I can before ticket sales are opened to everyone? [all of this is assuming I can talk my wife into taking a trip from NJ to visit her friend who lives in St. Louis]

Entire process has been such a mess. Now when I go to the page on ticketmaster, it appears that the ticket sale is starting RIGHT NOW, contrary to anything I've read anywhere else.

 

[El Floppo]

Has the next camp roster been named?

I could see Gio being left off for Johnny, Maloney and LDLT... Although GGG has a history of including good players who aren't playing for their clubs. And Yueill.

 

[zoobird]

Looks like Copa America ticket pre-sale is going on now and regular ticket sales start on Wednesday. I'm looking at the USMNT-Uruguay tickets, and I don't see any tickets for row #s lower than 11. Does that mean that the better seats aren't available until Wednesday and it worth waiting? Or does it indicate that there's some other group of people who will get first shot at those tickets, and it's better to just buy what I can before ticket sales are opened to everyone? [all of this is assuming I can talk my wife into taking a trip from NJ to visit her friend who lives in St. Louis]

Entire process has been such a mess. Now when I go to the page on ticketmaster, it appears that the ticket sale is starting RIGHT NOW, contrary to anything I've read anywhere else.

Each time I go in, I get a different result. It does appear that it's just presale currently. But where I saw 100s of tickets for sale a little while ago, now when I go in, there are no tickets listed.

Pretty sure I'll just wait till Wednesday and take my chances.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Preliminary roster released for Nations League. It is a long list

======

Preliminary USMNT Nations League roster​

---

GOALKEEPERS: Drake Callender, Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Gabriel Slonina, Matt Turner, Diego Kochen, Patrick Schulte, Sean Johnson.


DEFENDERS: John Brooks, Reggie Cannon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergino Dest, DeJuan Jones, Kristoffer Lund, Mark McKenzie, Shaq Moore, Kevin Paredes, Tim Ream, Bryan Reynolds, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty, Caleb Wiley, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman.


MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Gianluca Busio, Johnny Cardoso, Luca De La Torre, Diego Luna, Lennard Maloney, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman, Timothy Tillman.


FORWARDS: Folarin Balogun, Taylor Booth, Ben Cremaschi, Cade Cowell, Jesus Ferreira, Bernard Kamungo, Jordan Morris, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Jordan Pefok, Brandon Vazquez, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, Alex Zendejas, Griffin Yow.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Paredes listed as defender.

Gio listed as forward

both Booth and Adams listed.

I think Scrabble is youngest on list

 

[El Floppo]

Good to see Brooks back in the fold.

 

[El Floppo]

And that's a really solid bunch of callups.

Any names that should be there? Dual nats to give a camo to..?

 

[TLEF316]

Guess Koleosho isn't ready to make a decision yet (or is just telling us no)

 

[El Floppo]

Have we ever had two sets of brothers in the same camp?

 

[El Floppo]

Sorry... This isn't the actual roster for the camp, right? It's the full list of eligible players for the competition.. right?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sorry... This isn't the actual roster for the camp, right? It's the full list of eligible players for the competition.. right?

Correct. Massive preliminary list. This will be cut down by more than half.

 

[El Floppo]

Guess Koleosho isn't ready to make a decision yet (or is just telling us no)

I feeli like @prefontaine has mentioned some dual nat names the last few months... Who I don't think I'm seeing here.

Only one I could think of is Sonora... But didn't exactly cover himself with glory in recent call-ups. Then again, cough cough zendejas. Eta... Sonora is just a missing name, not one of Pres names.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Good to see Brooks back in the fold.

He has been listed on these massive preliminary rosters for a while now but never makes the cut.

 

[prefontaine]

Sorry... This isn't the actual roster for the camp, right? It's the full list of eligible players for the competition.. right?

Correct. Massive preliminary list. This will be cut down by more than half.

I think we're going to have a full U23 camp at same time so I would guess this is both rosters (plus a few more)

 

[prefontaine]

I feeli like @prefontaine has mentioned some dual nat names the last few months... Who I don't think I'm seeing here.

Slonina, Kochen, Bajraktarevic, Cremaschi, and Kamungo are all dual nats that are not capped tied anywhere.

Guys that would have to switch (and hopefully will): 2004 Koleosho, 2005s Buck, Misitano, and 2006s Stefanovic, Barajas, and Campbell. Actually not sure if Misitano needs to file or not but he's supposedly working on US citizenship. All of those would be at least in the mix for the Olympic squad.

I'm pretty happy if this is our Senior and U23 rosters. I'd say RBW and Pukstas should be on U23s but no one else stands out as huge misses.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'm pretty happy if this is our Senior and U23 rosters. I'd say RBW and Pukstas should be on U23s but no one else stands out as huge misses.

It feels very light on CB's for the U23's...I wonder if they are planning to use a couple of the overage spots on CB's for the Olympics

 

[TLEF316]

I'm pretty happy if this is our Senior and U23 rosters. I'd say RBW and Pukstas should be on U23s but no one else stands out as huge misses.

It feels very light on CB's for the U23's...I wonder if they are planning to use a couple of the overage spots on CB's for the Olympics

I assume Neal will start if healthy. But yeah, given the rest of the group, using an over age spot there would make a ton of sense.

Would also like to see Sargent up front (assuming they only bring 2 strikers to the copa)

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am still a bit confused that Adams and Booth are on this list. Both the semi finals and finals of Nations League are in March. It seems extremely unlikely that either would be healthy, fit and in game shape for the Nations League.

Is Adams closer to returning than I think? I would have expected if he was on this list, that he would be actively training at this point with the hope to join the team in a couple of weeks.

 

[prefontaine]

I'm pretty happy if this is our Senior and U23 rosters. I'd say RBW and Pukstas should be on U23s but no one else stands out as huge misses.

It feels very light on CB's for the U23's...I wonder if they are planning to use a couple of the overage spots on CB's for the Olympics

I assume Neal will start if healthy. But yeah, given the rest of the group, using an over age spot there would make a ton of sense.

Would also like to see Sargent up front (assuming they only bring 2 strikers to the copa)

I think we're probably going to use 2 of the 3 overage spots on CB. There just aren't any in the pool at that age.

it won't surprise me if in a few years time, guys like 2005s Wynder, Dettoni, 2006s Akinmboni, Banks, Stefanovic and some younger guys are in the pool. But every one of those guys is eligible for the 2028 Olympics. There are really no 2001 to 2004 CBs outside Neal that have emerged to this point as USMNT quality.

 

[prefontaine]

Is Adams closer to returning than I think? I would have expected if he was on this list, that he would be actively training at this point with the hope to join the team in a couple of weeks.

I read last week that Adams is back practicing and expected to be in the gameday squad for this weekend.

 

[NewlyRetired]

He has been inconsistent but there I times I saw him play for the U17's where he popped off the screen. We have so few natural left footed players, that may artificially cause him to be noticed when watching.

=======================

Brian Sciaretta

@BrianSciaretta

I’m hearing the Philadelphia Union have come to terms with recent U.S U-17 World Cup attacker David Vazquez

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is Adams closer to returning than I think? I would have expected if he was on this list, that he would be actively training at this point with the hope to join the team in a couple of weeks.

I read last week that Adams is back practicing and expected to be in the gameday squad for this weekend.

oh fantastic! I completely missed this news!!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is Adams closer to returning than I think? I would have expected if he was on this list, that he would be actively training at this point with the hope to join the team in a couple of weeks.

I read last week that Adams is back practicing and expected to be in the gameday squad for this weekend.

oh fantastic! I completely missed this news!!

This below is from a couple of hours ago. Sounds like they will start him with the reserves, which makes a lot of sense given how long he has been out

==================

Asked how soon midfielder Adams could return to fitness, Iraola told the Daily Echo:

“Tyler has started training with the group.

In the past week he has started training quite normally.

Not everything, but most of the things he does with the group.

Now it is a matter of taking the rhythm of his teammates.

It is very possible also maybe, if everything works, he plays some minutes with the second team, because after almost one year he will need some rhythm.

We will try to fit everything so he can have some minutes.

From there he has to build. But he is doing really well.

No pain and he is training well, so everything is going in a good direction.”

 

[NewlyRetired]

These hamstrings freak me out....

Adams is already on back to back hamstring problems. Hopefully the surgery did a good job but we all remember how much Jozy struggled with this injury.

 

[TLEF316]

I'm pretty happy if this is our Senior and U23 rosters. I'd say RBW and Pukstas should be on U23s but no one else stands out as huge misses.

It feels very light on CB's for the U23's...I wonder if they are planning to use a couple of the overage spots on CB's for the Olympics

I assume Neal will start if healthy. But yeah, given the rest of the group, using an over age spot there would make a ton of sense.

Would also like to see Sargent up front (assuming they only bring 2 strikers to the copa)

I think we're probably going to use 2 of the 3 overage spots on CB. There just aren't any in the pool at that age.

it won't surprise me if in a few years time, guys like 2005s Wynder, Dettoni, 2006s Akinmboni, Banks, Stefanovic and some younger guys are in the pool. But every one of those guys is eligible for the 2028 Olympics. There are really no 2001 to 2004 CBs outside Neal that have emerged to this point as USMNT quality.

Yeah, wynder has talent but he'd likely be out of his depth playing u23 right now (at least based on the last time I saw him). So yes...bringing our 5th and 6th best senior CBs to the Olympics (say miles and mckenzie) would make plenty of sense

 

[NewlyRetired]

I just saw on twitter that the U20 WC qualification overlaps the Olympics so there may be some choices to be made about who plays where.

 

[NewlyRetired]

If the ladies ****ed up Dos a Cero, I am going to be mighty annoyed

 

[El Floppo]

Huge win for mex.

Anybody watch? Reading a defensive blunder, and a couple well taken goals. None of which explains why the US didn't score.

 

[The Z Machine]

Huge win for mex.

Anybody watch? Reading a defensive blunder, and a couple well taken goals. None of which explains why the US didn't score.

Because they lack world class goal scorers and the rest of the world has caught up to them? Although looking at the first 2 group matches, them steamrolled Dom Rep and ARG.

 

[zoobird]

Sorry... This isn't the actual roster for the camp, right? It's the full list of eligible players for the competition.. right?

Correct. Massive preliminary list. This will be cut down by more than half.

I think we're going to have a full U23 camp at same time so I would guess this is both rosters (plus a few more)

I'm assuming that this is NOT the Olympic roster and that there will be a separate (overlapping) list for that. Seems like that list should include guys like Tolkin, Neal, Gutierrez, Brady, maybe Zach Booth and others.

 

[zoobird]

New guy to follow - Kahveh Zahiroleslam. American striker for St. Truiden in the Belgian League. 21 years old, 6'4" and has quietly become their starting striker with 4 goals so far. Dual eligible for Iran, but hard to picture him taking that path!

 

[NewlyRetired]

New guy to follow - Kahveh Zahiroleslam. American striker for St. Truiden in the Belgian League. 21 years old, 6'4" and has quietly become their starting striker with 4 goals so far. Dual eligible for Iran, but hard to picture him taking that path!

The 4 goals came in a span of 4 recent games too I think. He also has a goal in a cup game.

Looking at his wiki, he scored 9 in 12 games in the lower levels of USL.

Came out of Yale, where he played 1 season.

Might have to call this one Scrabble2....

 

[berndog]

Wasn’t sure where to put this and it may be old news but if anyone is looking for Copa America tickets for Charlotte the presale is open and the code is BOA24CA.

 

[zoobird]

Wasn’t sure where to put this and it may be old news but if anyone is looking for Copa America tickets for Charlotte the presale is open and the code is BOA24CA.

Those codes are personal - limited to something like 12 tickets per code.

Regular sale starts tomorrow.

Also noticed that they seem to be releasing additional seats each day of the presale...there are a whole mess of seats for USMNT-Uruguay that are available today (through presale, not resellers) that were not available yesterday. Not sure if they'll release additional seats when regular sale starts tomorrow, and not sure how specific this is to each venue.