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USMNT 2025

Richards stepped in nicely and harangued the ref about the bad challenges from Australia. He later gave a hard foul to the first Aussie offender. Appreciated that.

To me Balogun and Wright have two striker spots now.

Alas Josh Sargent doesn't have the juice. Guessing if Ricardo Pepi gets healthy that third striker spot is his. If not him maybe Agyemang.

Could also theoretically play Weah at CF.
 
McKinnie losing that extra weight I think is showing he has a bit more burst.

The team the last 2 games had so much more creativity in passing and shots.

Fun to see moving forward more often, and did it for the most part without CP
 
Watched the Ecuador game but did not see the Australia game.

Really attacking line-up against Ecuador. Quality on the ball all over the field - and it showed. Created a ton. But man, do we get carved open defensively. I put most of that on the mids, not the D line.

The Ecuador goal was really on Morris and not Richards. He gambled, a la Judah Mintz at the top of the zone, missed and Richards was left exposed on the diagonal. Asking a CB to cover that type of diagonal run at full speed is asking a lot. He!!, asking anyone to cover that run is asking a lot.

I like three at the back. My son and I were having the discussion about being outnumbered in central midfield in a 3-4-3. I think an Adams and Musah/McKennie can handle it. You start going to Morris, Cardoso and less athletic, less physical mids and I think you will have a problem.

But the problem with a 4-3-3 is that our outside backs are just not that good defensively with the possible exception of Scally. The extra CB helps.

Poch does have a lot of options at his disposal - guys who can play different roles as well different formations. I think Balougan is most important player on the team. Nobody else provides what he does in terms of all-around play. He HAS to be healthy next summer.

Team definitely looking much better and that is encouraging.
 
two games in a row with lots of offensive chances and Pulisec not on the field is a good thing.

We may play well in the WC, generate chances, but not score and the D will give up a soft goal or 2 and kill us.
 
Forza Azzurri said:
Watched the Ecuador game but did not see the Australia game.

Really attacking line-up against Ecuador. Quality on the ball all over the field - and it showed. Created a ton. But man, do we get carved open defensively. I put most of that on the mids, not the D line.

The Ecuador goal was really on Morris and not Richards. He gambled, a la Judah Mintz at the top of the zone, missed and Richards was left exposed on the diagonal. Asking a CB to cover that type of diagonal run at full speed is asking a lot. He!!, asking anyone to cover that run is asking a lot.

I like three at the back. My son and I were having the discussion about being outnumbered in central midfield in a 3-4-3. I think an Adams and Musah/McKennie can handle it. You start going to Morris, Cardoso and less athletic, less physical mids and I think you will have a problem.

But the problem with a 4-3-3 is that our outside backs are just not that good defensively with the possible exception of Scally. The extra CB helps.

Poch does have a lot of options at his disposal - guys who can play different roles as well different formations. I think Balougan is most important player on the team. Nobody else provides what he does in terms of all-around play. He HAS to be healthy next summer.

Team definitely looking much better and that is encouraging.
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Really good analysis. One thing I will say about 3 at the back, and leaving the midfield under-manned, is that a number of managers these days are taking one of the back three and sliding them into midfield. Not so sure our guys fit that mold, but we did look pretty good in a back three, much less exposed to the counter.
 
upperdeck said:
two games in a row with lots of offensive chances and Pulisec not on the field is a good thing.

We may play well in the WC, generate chances, but not score and the D will give up a soft goal or 2 and kill us.
Expand...

If Ream is in a back three, then I think we are less likely to give up the flukey goal.
 
cusefan88 said:
Adams-Mckennie together are a fantastic CM pair. Hope they're healthy and in form in June 26.
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You might also consider Tessman with Adams.
McKennie might be better for us playing in the front 5.
 
IthacaMatt said:
You might also consider Tessman with Adams.
McKennie might be better for us playing in the front 5.
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He's quite versatile. Let's be honest in an absolute pinch he could probably play RWB.
 
cusefan88 said:
He's quite versatile. Let's be honest in an absolute pinch he could probably play RWB.
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Right now, this would be my starting 11, assuming all are healthy, of course:

CF: Balogun

Attacking Mids: Pulisic Weah

Wingbacks: A. Robinson McKennie

Holding Mids: Tessman Adams

Back 3: McKenzie Ream Richards

GK: Freese
 
cusefan88 said:
He's quite versatile. Let's be honest in an absolute pinch he could probably play RWB.
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It might be the best way to get him on the field. Poch could play Weah there, and that's how I first wrote my 11, but I'd like to see Weah closer to the goal, and I think McKennie has the skill be wide and meet the demands of wingback, both going forward and back. He also seems to have the legs for the role, with his new-found fitness.

I would use Tessman in a holding role on Antonee Robinson's side, so Jedi can bomb forward at will. I would put Adams as the other guy at the base of the midfield, and have McKennie and Weah on that side of the field. I think those guys combine well and have pretty good chemistry.

Right now, McKenzie or M. Robinson are the weak links, in terms of possession out of the back. Both are pretty solid defenders. But the back line needs Ream calling out who covers who.

You can't play Ream on the left side by himself, even though he and Robinson know each other so well. I like him way better in the middle of a back three, so he can be the calm guy to pick out the pass to break the press, but he won't get isolated covering a faster guy out in the channel toward the side of the penalty area.
 
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The Athletic with their updated squad projections after the October friendlies:

www.nytimes.com

26 for 2026: USMNT World Cup roster projection after October friendlies

Plenty can – and likely will – change over the next seven months, but here's how we see the USMNT World Cup squad after the latest camp
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Pretty fair assessment. We seem to have a couple decent options at the 9, which is great. After the top several attackers, though, the depth in attack (who are the game changers we can bring off the bench?) - that's not settled yet.
 
November roster announced - Gio Reyna and Joe Scally get one last shot to make an impression.
Riccardo Pepi is back in the group after a Champions League goal. Dest is also finally back.

Pulisic, Chris Richards, Tim Weah, Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson are all out.

Seems like this is literally the last chance for a number of guys, especially with a number of regulars missing. All we have left is the March window and then pre-tournament camp.

www.espn.com

As the World Cup approaches, can the USMNT impress in final tests of the year?

With only months before the start of the World Cup, can the United States -- even with some key absences -- finish the year on a high note?
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
Reyna with the early goal, a great way to come back into the team.
He and Dest are very creative guys, who I hope stay healthy and make it to the World Cup.

Aaronson runs around a lot, but hasn't really done much. Arfsten is pretty good at left back. He's really growing on me.
 
IthacaMatt said:
Reyna with the early goal, a great way to come back into the team.
He and Dest are very creative guys, who I hope stay healthy and make it to the World Cup.

Aaronson runs around a lot, but hasn't really done much. Arfsten is pretty good at left back. He's really growing on me.
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Arfsten is definitely best with a 3 CB setup. He's a nice player that I hope tests his level in Europe the next year or two.

I'm not a magical Euro pixiedust guy but I like to see guys challenge themselves at the club level.
 
2-1 win over Paraguay. Reyna with an excellent game. Balorin gets another goal. Pepi should have had one, too.

I was happy about the fight at the end of the game. That kind of thing can really bring a team together. Looking forward to the game on Tuesday vs. Uruguay.

I'm not sure that Scally took his chance. If Dest and Freeman are healthy, Scally won't make the WC squad. Luna is a great guy to come off the bench. He's a lunatic (pun intended). He's like an Aaronsson who is a better passer.

Defense was pretty good, and withstood some pressure late. Freeman took a kick or two from Paraguay players when he went down. Hope he wasn't hurt.

This team is looking a lot deeper than it did 6 months ago.
 
IthacaMatt said:
2-1 win over Paraguay. Reyna with an excellent game. Balorin gets another goal. Pepi should have had one, too.

I was happy about the fight at the end of the game. That kind of thing can really bring a team together. Looking forward to the game on Tuesday vs. Uruguay.

I'm not sure that Scally took his chance. If Dest and Freeman are healthy, Scally won't make the WC squad. Luna is a great guy to come off the bench. He's a lunatic (pun intended). He's like an Aaronsson who is a better passer.

Defense was pretty good, and withstood some pressure late. Freeman took a kick or two from Paraguay players when he went down. Hope he wasn't hurt.

This team is looking a lot deeper than it did 6 months ago.
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As of now I think Musah, Scally, Aaronson are on the outside looking in. Musah doesn't play much at club level and then Scally hasn't been great at USA level. Aaronson is an interesting player but all he can really do is press and I don't think he's well-rounded like a Luna.
 
I watched part of the first half and most of the second.

Believe Balogun has scored in 3 of his last 4 starts for USMNT.

Former SU player Miles Robinson started for the third straight game. He just might have a shot starting in the World Cup.
 
US v. Uruguay begins in about 90 minutes. Uruguay has a very solid defense, and a strong midfield. But they are not so gifted in attack, compared to most other South American national teams. They are the 'Italy' of CONMEBOL. If we get a goal or two tonight, that will be a huge statement in light of guys like Pulisic who are missing from the current squad.
 
sutomcat said:
I watched part of the first half and most of the second.

Believe Balogun has scored in 3 of his last 4 starts for USMNT.

Former SU player Miles Robinson started for the third straight game. He just might have a shot starting in the World Cup.
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Even if he doesn’t start, he’s a solid guy to have coming off the bench. I think our D will be deeper this time around if all stay healthy. We need Dest and Antonee out there. Dest can do so many things.
 
PeteCalvin said:
Even if he doesn’t start, he’s a solid guy to have coming off the bench. I think our D will be deeper this time around if all stay healthy. We need Dest and Antonee out there. Dest can do so many things.
Expand...

I think Balogin is going to be the guy at the 9.
 

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